[Inari Standoff]: We Bear the Same Scars

With Shinju and Taeko back on their feet, everyone gathered around the kitchen island in Yoko's house, a plate of charcuterie sitting between them all. Though, no one ate from it. The mood was far too heavy for any of them to have an appetite. The entire situation they were in was both dire and messy.

They were unable to trust the exorcists, Osamu was stuck in the middle of the worst standoff possible, and Taeko was given no choice but to bomb the hotel and kill Manami, putting her at odds with Yoko. All of that while Izanami and Yoko were nine months pregnant and due any day.

"Okay, let's just take this one step at a time." Shinju said. "First, Osamu is in danger. We have to find a way to get into that airport and get him out. Izanami's pregnant, so we can't use her for teleportation. The Shoku Twins have been under tight watch by the exorcists ever since the whole Rousoku incident."

"Now that they have Inari cornered, it's very likely they'll have loosened up the teams guarding the twins." Taeko said. "In case we really need to use that 'way out' Lucrezia built, we're going to need the twins anyway."

"Are you crazy?" Shinju recoiled. "We'll become even bigger targets than Inari if we do that. We can't be too hasty, Taeko."

"I don't know how else you intend to get into the airport without bringing the rest of the exorcists down on us." Taeko said. "If they've put up a Cat-One barrier around the place, then they're most likely camped in the surrounding area. Wanna try your chances at walking in without getting killed?"

"What if I went in?" Tsukiakari interjected.

Taeko crossed her arms, pondering the question. "No, that's a bad idea. They won't let you in, since you're the princess. Even if you did get through, the question then becomes how do you get out? If they see you walking out of there with Osamu and Inari, you'll be in deep shit."

"I'm sorry..." Izanami lamented, bowing her head. "I can't be of any use when Osamu needs us most..."

"Please, don't apologize, Izanami." Rei consoled, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder. "It's not your fault."

"So, whoever goes in there is going to walk out an enemy of Heaven." Kagutsuchi said. "Is that right?"

"No other way around it." Taeko answered. "Now that the whole world has its eyes on that airport, handling this like I did with Satori and you is impossible. That's another reason why we can't afford to have Gekko do it. It should be Shinju and I. That way, we don't lose Gekko's political capital if we end up thrown in prison for this."

Amatsuki leaned forward, her head aching from thinking about everything. "So, you'll need a quiet way to get down there, right? I might be able to help with that."

Everyone's heads perked up, and all eyes turned towards Amatsuki.

"Whoa, you can help them sneak in? How?" Kagutsuchi gasped.

"No, I can't help you get into the airport itself, but I know a few people who can help you get very close without being detected." Amatsuki corrected. "It'll probably land you right inside the exorcist encampment, though."

"That's fine!" Taeko said. "Shinju and I can figure it out from there."

"Who are these people you know?" Izanami asked.

"Come on, Izanami." Amatsuki laughed. "I was in the yakuza for god's sake. I know freelance cleaners, traffickers, accountants, the whole deal. I'll get you two hooked up, but it might take some time...and some money."

"Satori's legacy..." Shinju said, realizing what she meant.

"I always knew it would come in handy." Taeko said with a smirk. "Okay, it's decided. Shinju and I will sneak past exorcist lines and get into the airport."

"What about getting out?" Yoko asked.

"That'll be a gamble. Damn it, if Cyanide were here, getting out would be as easy as a coin flip." Taeko groaned. "We can't really worry about him right now, though. Gotta focus on Inari and Osamu."

"Gekko, maybe you can come with us to the encampment. I think it would be useful having you there." Shinju proposed.

"No, Shinju." Taeko growled.

"Shinju's right." Izanami interjected. "Getting past the encampment when they're surrounding such an important target is pretty ridiculous. You'll be caught for sure. But no one will fire upon you if you've got the princess of Heaven by your side."

Kagutsuchi. "Yeah, and you'll probably run into my sister, too. Amaterasu will definitely be there commanding the forces."

"Fuck..." Taeko sighed. "Fine. Gekko will come with us."

"Hmmm..." Shinju hummed, smiling as she gazed at Kagutsuchi. "Kagu, I know your Phantom Maiden days are long gone, but can you still levitate and stuff?"

"Huh? I honestly don't think I can..." Kagutsuchi said. "I think I can fly short distances though. I did that when I first came back to earth and landed in Europe."

Shinju slammed her hands on the table, standing up from her bar stool. "Good! Kagu, we're gonna need you to fly again!"

"What?!" Kagutsuchi recoiled.

"Hold on, what's your plan with Kagu?" Tsukiakari asked.

"Yeah, I'd like to know, too." Izanami said.

"Oh, I get it." Amatsuki sang. "You're gonna have Kagu scout ahead and survey the encampment."

"Precisely!" Shinju huffed, crossing her arms. "Think you can do it, Kagu?"

Poor Kagutsuchi's eyes darted across everyone's faces. She saw the hope and yearning in their eyes and couldn't bare the thought of letting them down. She shivered like a wet cat beneath her brown, leather jacket. But then she looked at her mother, Izanami, carrying her soon-to-be sister in her belly.

Izanami's eyes glistened with tears, for she wanted nothing more than to have her husband home safe, and her old friend, Inari, out of harm's way. Kagutsuchi's thoughts then turned to Osamu, the man who risked his own life to save her. She wanted to be there with him when his kids were born, so they could welcome them into the world together. But now, he was caught in the worst situation in his life.

She couldn't stand the thought of losing Osamu, or her mother, Yoko, or Tsukiakari being without their husband. If nothing else, Kagutsuchi was determined to do whatever she needed to to save her dear friend, Osamu.

"Okay!" Kagutsuchi hollered. "I'll work on my flying! I'll do it!"

"That's what I like to hear." Taeko said. "Amatsuki, how much time do you need to get everything set up?"

"A day, at least. Trafficking three people in the middle of an exorcist-controlled zone isn't easy, and it'll cost quite a bit of money." Amatsuki answered.

"That's about as much time as I'll need to get this flying thing together." Kagutsuchi said.

"A day it is, then." Shinju said. "Let's get the ball rolling on this right away! Everyone, let's do our best to get Osamu and Inari out of there!"

The girls all hollered in unanimous support. Yoko, Izanami, and Tsukiakari especially were moved to tears by everyone's determination to help. It was just as Rousoku said. Osamu saved all of their lives, helped each of them find their own happiness. Now, in his greatest time of need, they were all going to do the same for him.
Inari, even though she was still weak herself, dragged herself and Osamu onto the escalators, letting it carry them up to the next floor. She did this until they got to the fourth floor and dragged him back inside of the bakery, setting him on one of the tables.

Once more, she checked his pulse. That faint, rhythmic pulse in his neck let her know he was still alive. She pushed over the menus, utensils, and other restaurant items to make room for Osamu, taking deep breaths as she considered what she should do.

"This curse slowly necrotizes tissue, and the bastard shot it directly at your chest..."

Inari placed her hands on Osamu's bare chest. "I won't be able to take away all of the pain, but I can divide the curse evenly between us. We'll have enough time to get more blood and heal ourselves again. We can both live this way, mortal."

His blackened chest began to glow white as Inari maneuvered the curse from his body into hers, successfully taking half of it. Osamu's mark receded and shrunk, while an identical mark formed on Inari's chest. Osamu sat up like Lazarus from the grave, gasping for air.

"W-what happened?!" Osamu asked.

Osamu felt his chest, noticing the black spot. He turned to Inari, who pulled down her shirt to expose an identical black spot above her breasts.

"I took half of it to stop you from dying. If you died, I probably wouldn't be able to win. You, human, even though I'm disgusted with your kind, even though I cannot fully trust you...you're all I have right now."

"Inari...I'm sorry..."

Inari scoffed. "For what? If you weren't here, White Saint would've definitely killed me, if not Black Maria. It's because of you that we're alive. Now we really do bear the same scars."

Osamu wiped the blood from his face, forgetting how hard he had gotten hit there. Just touching it set off a cluster of nerves.

"I'll go get some ice. I'm sure they have some here." Inari said.

Osamu sat down at one of the tables, holding his hand over the black spot on his chest as the setting sun shined through the windows of the shop, onto the tables and checkered floors. Inari returned with a pack of ice and sat down with him.

"Thanks. I really appreciate you saving me." Osamu said.

"No problem. We're in this together after all, mortal."

"So...what happened? I don't remember anything after being struck."

"White Saint retreated. He took Black Maria away so she could get medical help. He will return here tonight to finish us off. This curse was meant to weaken us and make us easy to kill by the time he returned. I bet he plans to return here alone."

"Shit...It just never ends, huh?" Osamu sighed.

Inari chuckled. "Believe me, I know. Mortal, tell me something. You see a wounded fox goddess, witness her murder several humans before your very eyes, and learn that people are after her. For some reason, despite having people who love you and a life of your own, you decide to stay with the fox goddess and help her fight. You even pledge to offer your very heart to her should she ever need it. What is wrong with you? Have you lost the will to live?"

"No...I suppose...after being nothing but a failure these past few months...I'm trying to convince myself my life is still worth something, and that someone like you can get back on the right track."

"Someone like me?"

"I don't claim to know what kind of pain you've been through to end up in this awful position, but as I said, we bare some of the same scars. We've both lost something, and it changed us in some way. So what if I have wives? So what if I'm going to be a father? Since two of them are goddesses anyway, won't our children be demigods? And if so, won't they also end up as exorcists? When that time comes, will I be able to protect them? Or will I misstep again? Will I falter? Will my inability to do something cost me a child down the line? I wonder these things everyday, and it makes me feel...guilty."

Inari caressed Osamu's face with two of her soft tails, gazing at his trembling hands with eyes that seemed to recognize the uncertainty, doubt, and guilt coursing through his veins. "You stayed here to find yourself. But you also wouldn't see a problem with dying here, because you think you're nothing but a burden on the lives of those you love. Yes, I know the feeling all too well. We truly do bear the same scars. Mortal, your life has value. It's valuable to your wives and it's valuable to me. I need you in order to live. I think this experience, this tribulation, would be much more lonely than it is now if you weren't here."

Inari closed her eyes and smiled. "Last night was the first time I had slept at someone's side since..."

"Since how long ago?"

"Ah, it's a boring story. You wouldn't want to hear it. Just forget I said anything."

"No. I won't forget. You know a little bit about my scars. I want to know a little bit about yours. You don't have to tell me the details if you don't want to, but I think understanding you may help me understand myself. Please, do tell me. When was the last time you slept at a human's side?"

Inari smiled and rested her chin on her interlocked fingers, her tails slowly waving around behind her.

Inari: Very well. We could both die here come nightfall, so I may as well tell you...about some of my scars. After I do, I want you to tell me how you know Izanami and Gekko."

(Oh shit...I let that slip during the fight against White Saint, didn't I?)

"If you call her Gekko, you must be a good friend of hers. Only people close to her call her by her nickname. And of course, that would mean you’re someone very dear to Izanami as well." Inari said. "I used to know them back before everything went to hell. They were the two friends I was talking about earlier. I had no idea they were still around. So, won't you tell me about how you met them after I tell you my story?"

Osamu, seeing this as a prime opportunity to deepen his relationship with the only person he could rely on in that moment, nodded. "Okay. It's a deal, Inari.”