Bell found at home

"Hey, thank you Kiuo-chan, you didn't have to take me to the door, you know?" Sora smiled politely, turning the doorknob.

"Oh, Soora-chan, how could I let you be there alone? You almost fell twice while we were walking! My powers are weak, but I am still capable of defending my only BFF. Imagine how unfair it would be if another yokai ate you. And me being next to you is enough to scare all the small ones away."

"Em, I guess. But I need to go sleep now, my head starts to hurt." Sora put her hand on her temple theatrically. "And...just so you know, I almost fell..well... because I am clumsy...not because I can't control myself."

Kiyo looked concerned, "Okay... I was hoping you would invite me for a sleepover... But I guess..."

"No, Kiyo-chan, next time, I have work tomorrow, remember?"

"Yes..." Kiyohime looked tragic, but it didn't work: Sora would not bend under pressure.

She smiled and bowed, "Bye, Kiyo-chan, have a good night's sleep!"

The door closed, Kiyohime had nothing to do, but to go home alone.

Inside Sora sighed and took her shoes off and breathed out. The atmosphere, the pressure, and exhaustion from the last days were now very prominent. She almost fell asleep in the corridor.

However, she forced herself to go to the bathroom, wash her make-up off, and brush her teeth. When she came up to the bed in her striped pajamas with many black bows on them, she noticed a book on the floor. Usually, she would ignore it, but this was the book Yoshio had given her, so she felt a bit of guilt just leaving it there.

Weird, I don't remember dropping it, and it's open too. Oh, what's this?

Inside was a beautiful bookmark, depicting a golden bell. She squinted her eyes studying it. The bell seemed familiar somehow.

Do they have a bell, and a bookmark that looks like a bell too? Oh, I know! He made it himself, sitting outside while looking at it. Yes, that's it. Oh, how nice...

She brushed her hand over the bookmark, smiling. Then she heard a sneezing sound and froze.

Oh no. Is there someone here? Or am I having a hallucinatory experience due to exhaustion? Probably the second thing. Or maybe not, my professional knowledge gets to my head sometimes. Whatever.

She took the bookmark in her hands and decided to throw it on the ground with some force. At that moment she knew, it was no hallucination. Because the bookmark clearly swore and turned into a little crane.

"Hey, what do you think you are doing?!" it straightened it's wings.

"What, who are you?!" Sora's eyes were huge with surprise.

"It doesn't matter. I am going to eat you now!"

Tilting her head, Sora studied the little creature. Should I have let Kiyo in? Wow, what a surprise if I am eaten after she proposed a sleepover.

She said, "You seem to be rather small for that...And how come I can see you?"

"It's because I gracefully showed myself to you, that is why! Not many yokai of this level of power can do that, so just you know. And here you are offending me with insults about my size. I can transform into many things, so just we are clear."

"So why didn't you transform into a human then?"

"Um," little crane got quiet for a second, then looked at her, serious, "I will in a moment - after I eat your power."

"I see. So you can't be a human yet."

"Shut up! I just told you I will be soon!" the crane folded her wings.

"What do you think about not eating me, and instead having dinner? It seems that you had to spend some time in Yoshio's temple, and somehow foolled two very intelligent people. So it means, you are indeed more powerful than it seems on the one hand, and not powerful enough to fight on the other." Sora touched her chin, "But, you haven't tried to eat me before today, why? This book has been here for some time now..."

Little Crane turned her head. "Well, you were not considerate and shoved me in between the other two books. I couldn't transform, and only today I managed to move this stupid book. It took me a whole day, and the moment I thought I could eat you at night, you found me. Anyway," Yokai half-turned, "I will eat you after we eat dinner." The last part could be barely heard.

Sora smiled and went to the kitchen to put the kettle on. It seemed that tomorrow's lunch would've been plain rice too. Now that she had to cook, maybe lunch won't be so boring. She glanced at the crane,

"What's your name?"

"I am Yaotome, but others like me also called like that..." The crane climbed onto the kitchen chair full of herself.

"Okay, I will call you Belle. It's a princess's name, and also it's like a "bell" in English." Sora took out some mushrooms, carrots, and half of daikon.

Crane looked at her, with round eyes. Some tears appeared there. She tried to hide it by turning her head, however Sora caught it. She put the vegetables on the table, and came up to the crane, sitting down on her knees so they would be on the same eye level.

"Hey, you don't like the name? I am sorry, I thought you might like it, because you turned into a bell all the time. The pepper is called a bell pepper too. I assumed you liked bells. We can choose the name you like!"

"I-I, am not crying!"

"I didn't say you were."

"Oh, right. No, I like the name. I never had one, so you gave me one so easily... I don't know it's...*sob*"

"Okay, I am happy to hear you have liked it. Do you want some water to drink?" Sora wiped away a tear gently.

"Um, okay. But I prefer jasmine tea."

"Ha-ha, you remind me of Yoshi, you are so cute and overly serious too. I will make you some tea in a moment, and then I'll fry some vegetables with rice. How does that sound?"

"G-good." Little Crane wiped her tears away, curious to observe Sora cooking. "I don't eat meat."

"Just like Yoshi. I hope he likes you."

"I don't plan on meeting him again!" Crane's eyes filled with panic.

"Don't worry, you don't have to if you don't want to. Okay?" Sora saw the crane nodding carefully, so she sighed with satisfaction. "So, while I chop the vegetables, Belle, tell me about your life, and how did you end up in the temple unnoticed."

Her voice was gentle, and the crane started to trust her a little, so she decided there was nothing bad in telling her the truth. She sat comfortably, observing the chopping, and started talking.

"I am a small yokai, and usually I live around people. I take some small food from here and there. I like the markets because there are many vegetables, and many types of small yokai too. The more people the more yokai. We all like the same types of places. So I overheard Yoshio and the other guy talking about your power, while I was on my way to the market one morning. But then they mentioned they would see you soon or something, so I just jumped onto them. It's easy for me, I always have been very good at hiding. Nobody can detect me if I use my powers. Not even the most powerful yokai. It helps me survive, so no one can eat me."

"I see, " Sora put the frying pan on the stove, "You are one smart creature, are you?"

"Well. I can say so. I am pretty smart. And I am very good at hiding." She said proudly. "When is the food?"

"It's coming soon, be patient, Belle. My name is Sora, by the way."

"I think I knew that. But there is no need to introduce yourself, I am here only for the food. The moment I cultivate my full potential, I am able to become a little human, I am out of here."

"I see, so what's your plan to do as a human then?"

"I-I am not sure yet. But all the yokai around me want to be able to be human, so I wanted it too."

"Oh, you sure? Why would you want it just because everyone else wants it? Aren't you too smart for that?" Sora smiled at her.

"Um. Yes. But..." The crane was puzzled, and cornered.

Sora pushed further, "Listen, Belle. You don't have to eat my power right away. Consider this decision seriously. You are a powerful shape-shifter already, I think there is not much benefit to being able to transform into a human anyway. I would rather be invisible, honestly. It's pretty dangerous out there for little humans."

"Is it?" The crane frowned and put her wing in her beak.

"Yes, yes," she stirred the vegetables, "imagine how many strange humans and yokai are out there, wishing to eat others." She wondered if she was too harsh, but she wanted to live, so...

"Okay," Belle straightened, "I won't eat you then. I'll just follow you to observe the outside for now."

"Em... What?"

"I will turn to a bracelet, so I can there observing your life - what's unclear in that?"

"You want to spy?"

"No, I mean I just want to see what's about human life that's undesirable."

Sora contemplated this thought, nodding, "Okay if you wish so. I guess I will be able to talk to you, and if there is danger you will be able to tell someone about it."

"I won't be doing such a thing! I am here to observe, not save anyone."

"Sure," Sora smiled and put the plates on the table. "You can stay then, as long as you need. I like you, you are one sassy bird."