juvenile onmyoji

Seimei sat in the hot spring pool surrounded by large and small stones.Beyond the wall, the foothills are in the distance.The night is thick, and the white water vapor mixed with the smell of sulfur spreads out from the milky white soup pool.

Qingming was the only one in the pool.They stayed late, and most of the guests were asleep.

He sat quietly by himself, with a folded cloth towel soaked in hot water covering his head, which was already freezing cold.He took it off and soaked it in hot water.The pool water rippled finely, he suddenly covered his heart, and his face was reflected on the surface of the water.

No, it wasn't his face, it was someone else's.

Seimei glanced at the fence in the middle of the pool.Opposite is the female soup.He calmly pulled out a barrier to cover Nantang.

"What you can't do, you can leave it to me. I'll help you keep her." Qingming's lips on the water surface moved, but his voice came from his body.

"It's you?" Qingming slightly hooked her lips, "I haven't seen you for a long time, why didn't you come out?"

"You changed all the utensils, big and small. Not only that, but you cast spells on them behind her back. Those utensils are like smooth icebergs to me, and I can't even climb them."

"I see." Qingming said with a smile, "It seems to be quite effective. Then, how can you help me keep her?"

"You fell asleep and let me come out. When you wake up, she will be yours." Heiyi Qingming said.

"It's mine? It's not likely," Qingming said mockingly in his eyes, "there's a high probability that I won't be able to wake up. Is this a new way you came up with to occupy my body?"

"Whatever you think," Heiyi Qingming looked at him lazily, "an unattractive guy."

"Not attractive? You look like me, maybe you do too?"

"I'm different. If you don't have charm, you can make up for it with courage. If I were you, I would destroy the wooden sign."

"Destroy, won't she be angry? This is your courage?" Qingming's sarcasm grew stronger.

"Then you want to do this?"

"Anyway, I won't miss you. I don't want to do something she doesn't like. But I won't be as direct as you. I will use other methods." Qingming said slowly.

"any solution?"

"Then I can't tell you." Qingming disrupted the water surface with a splash, removed the barrier, and leaned towards the fence in the middle.

"Xiaoli, is there anyone over there?"

"No more." Along with the girl's soft voice, there was also the sound of splashing water.

"Have you finished washing?"

"Wait a little longer."

"Well, let's wash slowly."

Seimei leaned against the rocks by the pool, looked up at the moon.The coldness of winter, the snow on the side of the pool, and the side of the hot soup pool with the smell of sulfur are very interesting.But the happiest thing is being with the people you like.Even if you can't see each other through the fence, you don't feel lonely anymore.

Why do you feel lonely?This feeling has always surrounded him.It's like it's etched into his bones, like it happened a long time ago.

……

Lizi came out of the pool, quickly grabbed the blanket and draped it over her body and ran back indoors.

"It's so cold, it's so sour to soak in hot springs in winter." She muttered as she dried herself and changed into a bathrobe.

Walking to the lobby where men and women shared a room, Seimei was already waiting for her here.

The boy leaning against the wall stood there with bare feet.Her half-dry hair, handsome features, and undisciplined expression were hidden in the half-dark light. She just glanced at it, and her heart beat wildly.No matter how many times you watch it every day, it will be amazing.

When Qingming heard the footsteps, she turned her face to the side, and a smile filled her eyes immediately.

"What's that?" Lizi cast her eyes on the thing in the opponent's hand.

"Plum wine. I was going to drink it in the soup pool, but I found out that I forgot to bring the cup."

"So it is."

Walking all the way back to the room along the closed corridor, it was very warm.It may be that the New Year is approaching, and there are a lot of people going to the city to do business and buy things, and they can only book one room.

Walking back to the room, Qingming picked up the rope as before, and blocked it with a curtain in the middle.

"Master Seimei's birthday is coming soon, right? How come I remember that it seems to be just around the corner?" Riko sat on the tatami and looked up at the other party.

"Tomorrow." Qingming closed the curtain.

"Tomorrow?" Lizi's eyes flashed with inconceivable light, "But I haven't prepared anything."

Qingming smiled slightly, "It doesn't matter, since my mother passed away, I haven't had the habit of receiving birthday gifts. I won't celebrate either."

"why?"

"Because she passed away on my birthday." Qingming said lightly.

"Sorry." Pear said hurriedly.

"It's been a long time, there's nothing to mention." Qingming finally smoothed the curtain with his hands.

Riko stood up and took out the quilt from the closet and spread it out.After hesitating for a while, he asked again, "Master Seimei, why did God Inari fall?"

"At that time, she had no believers, and her body was getting weaker and weaker. So if you don't become a god at the beginning, your power will not be attached to believers. Once you decide to take the path of faith, you will be very passive."

"Her strength is getting weaker and weaker. On my birthday, I was sent to the challenge. I waited for a long time for her to come back for a birthday meal, and then I waited for her covered in blood. She held a small The white porcelain fox, it was my birthday present."

Seimei's voice was flat, as if talking about other people's affairs.

"Who was calling at that time?" Lizi asked.

"I don't know. My mother didn't say it, and she probably thought it was meaningless to say it. The battle between gods cannot be shaken by human power."

"I can't blame you for liking foxes so much."

Qingming smiled softly, "Father said that when I was first born, I had a human body with fox ears and a tail. It took a month for the ears and tail to disappear slowly."

"Why did you disappear? It sounds so cute." Lizi asked with her cheeks in her hands, blinking her eyelashes.

"Half-demons are usually like this." Qingming stood up and blew out the candles on the lampstand, went to the other side of the curtain and lay down.

Lizi also lay down, "Master Seimei, can you make ears and a tail now?"

"do you want to see?"

"Want to see."

Lizi waited for a while, until there was no sound from the other side of the curtain, thinking that the other party was asleep.She also closed her eyes, ready to fall asleep.

A hand reached out, took her arm and pulled it lightly, and she rolled into the embrace with a clear breath.The young man's lean and powerful arms and chest made her heart beat wildly in an instant, and she couldn't help but whisper, "Master Qingming..."

Hey, what is this?The other party took her hand and touched a furry thing.

It still seems to be sharp.

"Is it an ear?" She asked in a low voice, she touched it without Qingming's lead, "Huh? There's another one."

"Of course there is one more ear, both ears are two." Qingming's voice was amused.

"Master Qingming, have you conjured up fox ears? Is that what I touched?" She exclaimed in a small voice.

"Yeah." The boy replied with a smile and a shyness in his ear, "Just touch it, it's absolutely impossible for you to see it."

"why?"

"It's going to be weird. I don't want you to remember me like this."

"How come, Seimei-sama with fox ears, just thinking about it is so cute. Where's the tail? Has the tail turned out?"

"That... Do you want to touch it too?" The boy's voice was a little hesitant.

"I want to touch."

"That's it, I'll touch it for you."

Qingming suddenly became stingy, and stuffed the tip of a fluffy tail into Lizi's hand.

Imagining Seimei's appearance at this moment in her mind, Lizi couldn't help laughing.The tail was pulled out of her hand immediately, and the ears were shrinking rapidly.

"Ah, don't take it away, I didn't laugh at you."

"Go to sleep." Qingming let go of her hand, pushed her lightly, and she rolled back to the side of the curtain.

"I didn't even touch it a few times."

Qingming reached out and rubbed her hair, and said softly, "Go to sleep, I have to get up early tomorrow."

She pressed her hands together under her face, "Okay, Master Qingming, I'm going to sleep now."

"Ah."

After saying this, there was a complete silence from the other side of the curtain.Lizi opened her eyes in the dark, but couldn't fall asleep.It was late, and it was late when they came to lodge.From the moment she took a shower, she felt that if she could see the time, it would be almost twelve o'clock.

There was another round of tossing and turning, and the mattress made a rustling sound.Suddenly, he touched something furry in his palm.She froze slightly, like a tail.Will Seimei-sama reveal her body when she sleeps at night?

"If you touch it again, you will have to sleep." Qingming's voice came from the other side of the curtain.

Lizi held back her laughter, and stretched out her hand to touch her big fluffy tail.In the dark, the touch of the hand is particularly obvious.

This is such a fluffy and soft tail, she thought to herself.

After touching her a few times, she let go, "I'm fine, I can go to sleep."

Seimei replied with a soft "um", and quietly drew his tail back.

Outside the window came the sound of the night watchman hitting the gavel, exactly twelve times, and Lizi knew it was early morning.

"Master Seimei."

"what?"

"Happy birthday, you are now 17 years old."

"Well," there was a hint of a smile in the faint voice, "you should grow up soon."

"I'm going to wait until the pear blossoms are in full bloom."

"No wonder your name is Lihuazi. Is it April, I remember."

"Will you give me a present?"

"meeting."

"what to give?"

"This, you have to think about it. I will give you the best."

……

When the morning light fell on Lizi's eyelids, she woke up.Turning his face away, he saw Seimei without any surprise.Most of his body went over the curtain, his left hand was under his face, his right hand was holding her hand tightly, and he was in a deep sleep.

She waved her hand lightly.Seimei seemed to feel her movement, and slowly opened his eyes.

"Master Qingming," she pulled out her hand to show him, "My hand is numb from your grip."

"Sorry." Qingming sat up, as if she was still not quite sober.

"You held my hand again last night, is it because you are afraid of the dark?" She turned her back to tidy the mattress.

"No," came the boy's faint voice from behind, "I was afraid that you would leave."

"Where am I going?" She stood up and pulled down the curtain and folded it.The quilts of the two were also rolled up and put back in the closet.

"I don't know, I always feel that one day you will leave without saying goodbye."

"No. I will tell Seimei-sama wherever I go."

"Where are you going?" Qingming raised his eyes and asked.

"I'm not going anywhere." Lizi said, "But now I want to have breakfast."

Qingming smiled, "Well, let's go together."

Lizi rearranged her clothes, picked up Ben Pingling who was on the ground, and took it with her.Put away the little paper figurine used to guard Ben Pingling.

Qingming glanced at Bell unobtrusively, his eyes darkened slightly.

Because they checked out directly after breakfast, they took everything with them.In fact, it’s nothing, Qingming is carrying a small bag, and Lizi is carrying a paper-cut satchel.

"When can I see Seimei-sama turning into a fox?"

"Wait for the day when my wish comes true."

"What is Master Seimei's wish?"

"Don't tell you."

"Could it be protecting Heian-kyo?"

"It's more important than that."

They chattered a little all the way, and came to the lobby of the dormitory to have breakfast.After eating, I checked out the room, and repeated the steps from the last time. I bought dried fish and went to Cat Island on the boat of Haizuotou.

Cat Island is as colorless as ever, even more lifeless than what I saw that time.

The entire island was quiet and there was no sound at all.No matter where you look, there are black and white objects, and there is even a faint smell that makes people feel very uncomfortable.

Qingming was on high alert, and Lizi followed him through the forest.It was snowing here, and the land was originally white, making it difficult to distinguish the road for a while.

She thought of meeting Qianxi Nu here, and it felt like yesterday.Fear is easy to breed in places that were originally quiet, but when Seimei's mother built her first shrine here, she suddenly became less afraid.Even a little kinder.

It didn't take long for them to reach the small village in the center of Cat Island.What makes one's scalp tingling is that all the houses here are in good condition, but people and domestic animals are gone.The whole village was immersed in death.

Looking in through the window, you can see meals on the low table.Qingming opened the door and walked in, picked up the food and looked at it, "It doesn't seem to be long."

Lizi squeezed the rice balls on the plate with her hands, then walked to the backyard and took a look at the chickens raised by the villagers, "Master Seimei, look at these chickens are very energetic. I feel like the owner just left after feeding the food."

"That's right." Qingming nodded, "Could it have gone somewhere? We should search the whole island."

"That's easy." Lizi took out a few cut-out birds from her satchel, blowing them, and let them fly out. "We'll find out in a moment."

During the waiting period, she and Qingming went to other people's houses to check.Everyone seemed to be going out in a leisurely manner, and it was not obvious that they had been attacked at all.Not only that, but those cat demons are also gone.

It didn't take long for the paper bird to fly back.They hovered in front of Lizi, as if they were going to take her somewhere.

"Let's follow them." Lizi ran out of the yard, with the paper birds leading the way.The more she ran, the more familiar the road looked.Isn't this the direction to Inari Shrine?

"Xiaoli." Qingming chased after her, "Go behind me."

Lizi knew that he was worried about the danger ahead, "I think it's okay, because if something happens, the paper birds shouldn't react like this. They seem to have found something..."

Her words broke off suddenly.Because of the fog ahead, the paper birds stopped and hovered in front of her again.

Qingming frowned slightly, "Why does it feel like the fog is blocked by something?" He stretched out his hand to touch it, his eyes slightly surprised.

Lizi also stepped forward to touch it, "Is it a barrier?" A transparent wall isolated the white mist inside.

Qingming touched the transparent wall and walked a few steps sideways, "It's not an enchantment, the kingdom of the underworld is devouring this island. Because it takes a long time to completely drag the real world into the underworld. So we can see inside. If it completely devours the island , we cannot see."

"Why devour the island? And only such a small piece?"

"Maybe there are things inside that they don't want to show?" Qingming said in a low voice, took out a charm and threw it out lightly.The transparent wall was immediately dissolved with a mouth.

Lizi walked in right after him.Once inside, I immediately feel much warmer.

Seimei caught a glimpse of her surprised expression and curled her lips slightly, "Because it's winter in the world. Although the underworld is very cold, there is a limit to the coldness. Compared with our winter, it looks very warm."

"So that's how it is." Lizi said, why did she suddenly find this contrast a bit funny.

They walked all the way to the opposite side of the Inari God, but there was still no one there, and the temple was incomplete.Only the torii at the entrance stands intact.

Qingming walked over and touched it lightly, especially the place where Lizi's name was engraved.

"Master Seimei, what is this?" Riko asked, pointing at the torii gate.On the pillar, there is a crystal clear snowflake pierced deeply.This snowflake is very big, like a small fruit.

Seimei pinched the snowflakes, and the snowflakes melted instantly.

"Here and, ah, and here, it's everywhere." Lizi ran into the torii gate and pointed around.

Qingming walked in, frowning.

"So, what's going on here?" Riko asked.

Seimei frowned, thought for a while and said, "No matter what happened, it must have something to do with Izanami, the Lord of the Underworld."

"Lord of the Underworld?" Lizi repeated it lightly, thinking of Styx who was suppressed by God Inari.It is very strange why the first shrine of Inari God was built on such a remote island, and it just blocked the exit of the Styx River?Is this why she was framed later?

"Let's go." Qingming said, "This place has been swallowed up by the kingdom of the underworld, and the things you want to see will no longer exist." He walked out first.

Lizi followed him and went out, watching him close the entrance again, she asked suspiciously, "Then I'm here for nothing? I didn't find anything, so I want to go back to Heianjing now?"

"No," Qingming smiled softly, "I probably know who killed the residents on Cat Island."

"who is it?"

"It's just a guess, I want to hear her say it myself."

……

They rushed back to Changlu overnight.

In a wagashi shop that was about to close, Lizi bought several pieces of fruits, large and small.

Back at the dorm where she stayed before, she stacked wagashi from big to small, cut out a small candle with paper-cutting, and borrowed the shopkeeper's pen and ink to draw patterns on it.After blowing the drum, it is a three-dimensional candle.

"What is this?" Seimei looked at the weird wagashi suspiciously, "Why are there paper-cuts on it?"

Lizi said with some embarrassment, "Although Master Seimei does not celebrate his birthday, I can't do without any presents. This is a birthday celebration ceremony in my hometown. After making a wish, blowing out the candles will make the wish come true. There is only one birthday in a year. I don't want to Let you miss it."

"Your hometown," Qingming smiled slightly, "the ceremony is very special." He looked at the light flames on the paper candles, "Will the wish really come true?"

"Sincerity leads to spirit." Lizi said with a smile.

"My heart is very sincere." Qingming clasped his hands together and closed his eyes facing the wagashi tower.I couldn't tell what wish he had made, but it was very solemn.

After opening her eyes, Seimei blew out the candles according to Riko's instructions, and ate a small piece of wagashi.

Lizi clapped her hands with a smile, "That's great, it will definitely come true."

A smile appeared on Seimei's face.

Because it was late, they casually ate some rice balls in the lobby, and then made soup to prepare for bed.

Lizi went to Gong's room before going to bed, and when she came back, she was pulled by a hand at the corner of the courtyard.She was about to scream when she saw Seimei's face.The oil in the stone lamps in the courtyard swayed desperately in the night wind.It shredded his face into pieces.

This is not Qingming, although the clothes are the same as his, it is still not him.

"Who are you? Why are you pretending to be Seimei-sama?" She took a few steps back, with no charms or paper-cuts on her body.The only thing I can do is a few knot seals.The person who is suddenly very grateful for creating the knot seal technique is prepared for someone like her who has a lot of forgetfulness.

"Ending the bondage technique?" The other party raised the corner of her mouth lazily, half of her left hand was sealed, and she couldn't move.

"Bad Qingming?" Lizi opened her eyes slightly, "You, how did you come out? Is this the body of Master Qingming?"

"It seems that you are still very familiar with me." Heiyi Qingming said with a smile, "Well, I occupied his body. Because his aura is very close to mine recently, I tried it just now and I was able to drive him away. "

There was an unbelievable light in Lizi's eyes, and her lips moved slightly, "You, you are really a bad thing. Get out of the adult's body quickly."

Qingming in black raised the corners of her lips, her slightly raised single-lidded eyes held the girl's clear shadow, "It's not impossible to leave, it depends on whether you listen or not."

"What do you want me to do?" Lizi's voice trembled, and there was great anxiety in her heart.

Qingming in black folded his arms and looked at her, "Today is also my birthday, I want to hear you sincerely wishing me happiness."

Lizi's eyes froze instantly, and she asked in disbelief, "Is that all?"

"Yeah, that's it, that's all I want. I've worked so hard to get this chance. It's only for a short time. Soon he's going to wake up. I'm going to fall into a deep sleep. So, hurry up Order it." The boy couldn't help urging.

"Have you noticed that you have given me the bottom line. I know you are going to fall asleep soon, so I don't have to listen to you." Lizi slightly bent her lips.

The boy's eyes immediately sank.

"Aren't you going to play tricks?" "Happy birthday, Master Qingming." The two words sounded at the same time, and Qingming in black was slightly taken aback.

In the dim light, it was difficult to see his eyes clearly, only the corners of his slightly raised lips could be seen.

"Not bad," the boy said with a hint of joy in his voice, "Then, let's return him to you first."