Another day, hard at work. As he worked, he intently hummed a series of short melodies. Ringo polished the giant bell hanging from the roof, secured a small box rumored to hold a demon, and boxed some incense a guy gave to him.
Lastly, he adjusted a small handheld mirror tediously and stopped to look back to his desk. "No glint..." He looked at the bell that was trapped in resin instead of a nice polish. "No ghost..." And then at the once box, now a ball of tags marked purify. "No pesky demons!" he finally spoke aloud, his cheers filling new peace returned to his shop.
And so, he had to reward himself, by flopping behind the counter to his small shop, and napping. Who says he doesn't work hard? He is always willing to put one hundred percent... into making sure he can nap peacefully. But it seems fate wants him to do Much more...
The doors to his shop shoot open, not to the boys expectations of course. "Those fist hungry maniacs are supposed to be on a beach!" Ringo thought resentfully before brightening his expression enough to show a, courteous, amount of irritation.
But his half welcoming expression is swiftly replaced with a dumbfounded glare. An unfamiliar girl was entering his shop and she wasn't cramming a giant box through his small door. And she looks like she would want cursed stuff with the black war paint around her eyes.
He settled his expression to a blank smile and wave "How may I help you?" he tilts his head curiously, eyes now closed, still smiling. Ringo waited for about five seconds for an answer but the stranger just stared at him. "Um... excuse me... Do you need anything?" his kind demeanor wavered and the girl just continued to scan Ringo.
She had been studying him like she were a police officer spotting a potential suspect. The moment her gaze locks onto the feather, her glare intensifies as she starts approaching Ringo. "So you do have something you need-" Suddenly Ringo is interrupted by a kick he ducks under swiftly.
"What.-" Before he could rise up from behind the counter a spear pierces through. He hastily drops to his side to avoid the blade "WHAT THE!-" He rolls out of the way of the spear as it tries to skewer him from above. Ringo quickly hops over the counter, grabbing the spear in the process, and disarms the crazed lady by jabbing the bottom of her palm. He held the spear out of reach from this complete stranger to force a pause to the violence.
"What is wrong with you?" He questioned with a tone that wasn't angry or silent, it was just judgmental. Why was this complete stranger trying to kill him? "Who even are you?"
"You are the reason he even left all of us!" The girl angrily accused.
Ringo shook his head confusingly. "There are a lot of 'he's out there! specify."
"Banbusa Ochiba..." Saying the name seemed to make her angrier as she tries and fails to grab the spear back.
Ringo rolled his eyes and shook his head again, out of frustration this time. He audibly groaned "You blame me because that idiot left you?" His words sank in the air for a few seconds. The girl thought about what he said before settling on more anger, quickly jabbing Ringo in the gut and reaching for the spear again. She manages to grab hold but Ringo swings her towards the door and shoves her out.
Ringo was about to follow her outside, but it started to rain. "You should look for Banbusa instead of chasing me! Whoever you are." Ringo suggested. The girl was about to introduce herself but Ringo locked and closed the door before she could.
Now outside, in the middle of the rain, she decides to join her small army in the Fumei family hotel. As she walks into the door she is greeted by happy smiles for her return. There was a short chaos to settle in the fifty girls that decided to book at the same time, but that calmed down before She returned. Leaving the ten happy girls lounging at the entrance.
"Did you get any leads Lee Yin?" The girls tossed a towel to the Lee Yin (spear girl) who promptly dried her black hair out. "No, but I did find the person Ochiba loves." This brought collective shock to all of the girls.
"What does she look like?" a shorter, brunet asked.
Lee yin shook her head "It's not a she, but a he." she stated. The girls were shocked again, they were all left for a guy. "W-well... is s-he pretty?" a tall, black haired girl asked, trying to rationalize the fact a guy left them for another guy.
"He looks like a boy." She ran the image of him through her head "But he does have a little bit of those girlish features." Lee Yin stated, Remembering the softer looking skin he had, and his subtly rounded face.
"Should we wait till the rain goes down before we return." The prior brunette suggested. Lee Yin mutely nodded and sat at the stairs, waiting. Some of the other girls returned to their idle chatter while others discussed the new information.
It was the middle of the night when the rain cleared and Lee Yin brought whoever was awake and a tea pot of hot water. She had a hunch.
The door was still locked as she suspected, so she quickly went to the back of the shop to find a window large enough to climb through. "Alright, one at a time. Watch each others back." Lee Yin ordered, climbing through first. She landed on a bed and entered the quiet home.
She turned to watch another girl climb through but the girl stopped. She slowly started backing out of the window, a bead of sweat dripping down her face. "B-B-behind you..." she whispered, stopping just at the edge of the window for a quick escape. Lee Yin turned to see an angry looking stork behind her. She jumped slightly, but braved her self to face this bird. "It's just a bird. I can take it down easily!" Lee Yin boasted, giving herself more confidence.
But that bravery Jumped out of her body and ran when the stork burst into flames. The girl in the window hopped over to the shop behind her and ran. A few chased to get her and the rest saw the flaming mass of feathers dash toward the window and block the path, which made them high tail it back to the hotel.
Now there was just Lee Yin, trapped, and terrified. She reached for her spear but that was left in the umbrella rack in the hotel. her legs shook and gave out when the stork got closer. And Lee Yin raised her hands to ward evil along with the pot she forgot she had.
She quickly tossed tossed the pot at the bird, succeeding in a way that she didn't expect. At least her hunch was right though, the bird was gone, And she found Ringo. Though, seeing the glimpse of his naked body froze her before he could quickly dash to the bed and wrap himself with a blanket.
She was dazed, which was helpful for Ringo when he dragged her out of his shop, propped her up on her feet and pushed her out, simply waving goodbye.
Lee Yin robotically walked into the hotel. She looked to nearest girl and absentmindedly asked, "Which is my room..." The girl was saying something else but all Lee Yin listened to was ,"Room sixteen..." she simply nodded and walked away while the girl spoke.
Once Lee Yin reached the door to her room however, she finally came back to her senses. "I need a new plan..." She thought, retreating to her room to sleep and later have dreams of eating poultry, and ending up in jail for eating said poultry.
A rare moment in these chapters occurs, as a second day arises. Ringo woke up to see armed girls climbing through his window. Now he was slowly backing out of the shop as five girls blocked the way, forcing him into the center of a circle.
Lee Yin walked to the center, her war paint fiercely refined. Lee Yin and her crew of fifty managed to surround Ringo outside of his shop as planned. "I should ask your name before we kill you." she pointed her spear toward the feathered boy.
Ringo quirked an eyebrow and slacked his eyes. "She threatens to kill me, and now she wants my name?" he could only sigh and humor her "I am Ringo Konotori. Who are you?" he asked, again.
"I am Lee Yin, leader of the Warriors of Vengeance." she claimed proudly. placing her spear on her shoulder. "Once we kill you Ochiba will be miserable and aimless." It was a plan some others considered, for different reasons.
Ringo pinched his nose bridge and sighed. "I hope you know how ridiculous you sound." His muttered comment almost made the girls attack him "Just move on, be better than the fool."
All of the girls considered the words. It was so simple, and not a crime... But would Ochiba succeed? Lee Yin looked at Ringo "Do you love-" a loud gasp stopped her question "Ochiba!!" one of the girls shouted, pointing toward the green haired man.
Ochiba attempted to escape but the girls had dragged him to the center of the crowd. He knew Lee Yin was standing in front of him just off of the feeling of hatred she emitted. But to his pleasant surprise Ringo was standing next to her.
"Ringo?" he looked at the feather for assurance before hopping to his feet and rushing to embrace Ringo. Quickly Lee Yin blocked his path, The tip of her spear dangerously close to his face. Ochiba quickly put his hand up "Lee Yin... how are you?" He asked nervously, trying to get rid of enough anger to back away.
She answered coldly, "I'm doing quite fine." her tone low, warning Ochiba to watch his actions. "Would you clarify why you ended fifty relation ships?" She asked sharply.
Ochiba was more nervous "I-I was, young...-" Lee Yin jostled her spear, still dangerously close to Ochiba's face. "The truth Ochiba!" Lee Yin barked, "You had two years to think about what you did. You were honest about that when walking out that door." There was regret and a hint of sadness when she spoke. But she patched her wounds with anger.
"I did love you, all of you." He gestured toward the crowd but flinched when they all growled at him.
Lee Yin shot more daggers at Ochiba. "Fine." She then pointed her free hand at Ringo "You love this person do you not? Ochiba." She asked knowingly.
Ochiba nodded. He cautiously looked toward Ringo, who placed his hand on his forehead, and shook his head, yet again rejecting him.
Lee Yin smirked at the silent interaction and continued. "So... you left us all for him, why?" This wasn't a question she had the answer to. Maybe if it were reasonable, she could go easy on him and just hospitalize the idiot.
Ochiba fidgeted, cautiously picking his words. "I... wanted to... prove, that I am... loyal to Ringo. To prove he can trust me..." he began trailing off, passing glances to Ringo, who didn't look the least bit touched by the gesture.
This, sadly, wasn't a good reason, and Lee Yin was barely holding her fury together. The other girls were about to charge in and pummel Ochiba, but Lee Yin held her spear in the air, mutely demanding them to stop. Her spear quivering in her hands, Her next question was ready, she points her spear at Ringo and asks, "So if he is gone you will be miserable." A sinister smirk crossed her face.
"Well now don't be hasty..." Ochiba's panicked expression was enough of an answer for Lee Yin. A smirk spreads across her face as she looks at Ringo.
Ringo slowly pushed the spear out of his way with a finger "Well what do you mean... gone?" Ringo asked, worried about his fate. He wasn't exactly on good terms with a few ghosts either.
"You said something about moving on right?" Lee Yin asked, recalling Ringo's last attempt to escape harm.
"Well yea, you should go and live happily! Without being a murderer." Ringo had a glimmer of hope in his eyes. Maybe he could get out of this unscathed! Lee Yin seemed smart, maybe she was finally understanding that she can just move on. Maybe...
"Hold your hand out." Lee Yin demanded, Reaching into a pocket on her white, floral patterned, long sleeve silk shirt. She looked like she was about to cackle at the genius of her plan. "Do you love Ochiba?" she asked, having figured the answer by now.
"No." He stated matter-of-factly. "Now that that is settled." Ringo turned to go inside his shop, but Lee Yin grabbed his outstretched hand and pulled him back.
Still holding his hand, she leaned in and whispered, "Do you truly hate Ochiba?" A girl in black stood beside the two, a fancy looking book in hand. "Do you?" Lee Yin asked again, loud enough for Ochiba to hear with his frightened expression.
Ringo quirked an eyebrow at the girl "I do." he answered, skeptically scanning the situation. But His attention is brought back when something cold slips on his finger. He looked at it, unwisely blanking out the conversation around him, Till a hand touches his chin. "I do." Lee Yin was looking at Ochiba smugly, still holding Ringo's chin.
"Why are you..." Suddenly Yin tosses her arm around the back of Ringo's head and slides her free hand behind his neck. The situation dawned on Ringo too late and he could only spit out "Wait!-" before his lips lock with hers.
It was a short peck thankfully, but it was his first. Lee Yin let go of him to turn toward Ochiba and brag but, Ringo blanked it all out again. The feather was flaring and flapping in the air, all in an attempt to calm Ringo down. In fact, Ringo was too confused, his emotions mixed, He didn't know if he should be happy, angry, or... sad? Why would he be sad? the questions, and his mind in general, began to fog. "Wait. what happened?"
The slight jostling of his body brought him back to the world. Ochiba looked dismayed, The warrior girls looked happy, so did Lee Yin, she looked especially happy. "That's right Ochiba. You lose! the one person you loved the most is now mine!" she boasted with a condescending tone. She had clung herself onto Ringo's arm at some point, showing off what she had just stolen from Ochiba
Ringo looked at his hand, the silver shimmer on his skin. "Oh..." He was deeply confused, he thought they would hurt Ochiba and that would be that. But now he was unofficially married?
"Well this is a fun thing you two have going, but I have to go to work" Ringo began to walk to his shop But Lee Yin still clung to his arm and followed.
"Lets work together honey" she cooed, It surprised everyone but Ochiba. Since she didn't seem the lovey-dovey type.
Ringo chuckled awkwardly "Oh... You should go with your friends! Celebrate for as long as you want." he suggested.
Lee Yin giggled awkwardly "Dear... I'd..." This was becoming difficult for her to say "want to... Spend it with you..." They both fell silent, and suddenly burst into more awkward laughter.
Ringo braced himself "H-h...Hon-Honey." Lee Yin cringed "We should discuss this... Over there!" He pointed to a random alley and darted the moment Lee Yin looked away. But years of chasing Ochiba all throughout china made her fast, fast enough to catch up with Ringo.
"Whereare you-" She put her hand on her mouth and changed her tone. "going honey?" She asked cutely. clearly on her wits end with the sweet talk the moment they were far from the crowd and Ochiba, She half shouted "What are you doing Moron!" The two stopped running.
"What are You doing! deciding to marry me out of the blue?" he flashed the ring she gave him.
"Exactly! So play along!" She tried to grab him but he side stepped the swipe "It's all part of the plan to get rid of Ochiba!" she added.
Ringo held a finger up. "Have you ever tried violence?" He suggested, as if all of the girls weren't willing to kill Ochiba.
"Have you?"
"Yes."
"Did it work?"
"For a bit..." he began looking elsewhere.
"He is here now." She gestured to Ochiba who was pummeled for a bit but not killed "So it didn't work well enough!"
Ringo simply turned his head "Worked for twelve years..." he muttered defensively.
"Well this will work forever." She flashed her matching ring. "Ochiba would leave you alone for the rest of your life!" She added, smirking confidently when she saw Ringo contemplating the offer.
"No." He surprisingly refused the plan.
"Why?" she growled, more frustrated than she expected.
"I can just hospitalize him." Ringo stated.
"Forever?" Lee Yin countered.
"Well..."
"Listen. once he leaves, I will. Is that fine?" She held her hand out, if he denied... she would have to settle for "plan B". Thankfully he shook her hand after some deep thought.
She clamped his hand with a vice like grip "Okay. lets go." After a kind smile she dragged Ringo off.
Ochiba sat silently, thinking deeply about the situation. "It's obviously not official, and I doubt she plans to stay with him forever. So I need to be patient."
"Girls!" Lee Yin called, landing in the center with Ringo in tow. "We're done here. leave this man to cry in a puddle of his tears!" Most of them were hesitant to leave, but had hope their leaders plan would work, Leaving just Ringo Lee Yin and Ochiba on the street.
"So... Honey! You must introduce me to our new home!" She cooed, rubbing needles in Ochiba's wound.
Ringo looked at her for a moment, before hesitantly conceding "Lets..." as the two talked he whispered "You are not living with me."
"I am." she grunted. crushing his hand before he opened his mouth. "We will have all the time together~!" she said loudly, just to rub it in. Though Ochiba wasn't the only one who heard this.
-early in the night-
Yukue, oblivious to the chaos that was on the streets, entered her family home-tel. But to her surprise her mother father and brother were waiting on her, and not crushing her with bear hugs. "Yukue." Her father Heiwa called, "Come sit..." had she done something wrong? did they find out about that time she slept with...out.. doing her homework... She quietly sat, her slight blush fading. The older Fumeis whispered to each other.
It was decided between the three that Omoide would break the news. "Sister...We know you feel strongly for Ringo"
"No-"
"Which, is why... We should tell you he...has gotten married." The whole family braced for an outburst, love was new when it came to yukue, so they prepared for the worst.
"Okay?" Yukue just shrugged her shoulders and left to her room, ready to continue the cycle of doing her homework.
The hotel was quiet and peaceful, not how it should be when Yukue arrives. She was busy doing her science homework, something she notoriously struggles with. and instead of busting through the door, her family quietly stalked through the cracked door. she was peacefully working, not doodling, not grumbling, just working. Working was the only thing on her mind, just like Ringo for a while.
Speaking of apples, Ringo was sitting on his his bed crisscross. He seemed to be adamantly denying Lee Yin's attempt to stay in his home. "I can cook!"
"So can I."
Lee Yin looked down at the soup he made "This bowl of spice isn't food."
"Just cause you're to weak to handle my cooking doesn't mean I can't cook" he proudly claimed.
"Just let me stay."
"No." he stubbornly refused to let her stay in his home. Lee Yin thought this would be easy, nice honestly. Ringo wasn't bad looking and he hated Ochiba... She thought he was going to be fun, but he was just stubborn and insufferable.
"Why? do you have a girlfriend or something?" she questioned, already assuming he didn't.
"No." he could consider his rival as close enough to get out of this situation. why didn't he? It's not like it would be any different. Eat together, spar together, and pick on each other. Maybe he could try that some other day.
"Then let me-"
"No. I don't want you sleeping in my house. especially after you say I cant cook..."
Lee Yin groaned, they had been arguing about this for hours. She was actually tired! And he wasn't even letting her stay? "What about your shop?" she suggested.
"Its far too cursed. you may get possessed."
"You live with curses?"
"Yes. people threatened to tell the cops I'm holding onto a few stuff used for what they say is 'gang violence'. Its stupid, honestly..."
She rubbed her forehead, the things she has been learning made her wish she went with plan b. "You are weird."
"Are those divorcing words?" He asked, pulling out a paper from under his pillow." It was a divorce paper of course. totally normal to have under your pillow.
"Why do you have that?"
"They say a fairy puts a house and car under your pillow..." he joked.
She was deeply considering signing that paper "Idiot..." she was completely fine with hospitalizing Ochiba for the rest of her life all of a sudden.
"Can we just tolerate each other till Ochiba is gone?"
"Well I'm going to sleep in the tree then." Before Lee Yin could ask how, Ringo already splashed himself with cold water, turning into his full black and white glory.
"The lengths you go..." Lee Yin sighed. she could only face palm as the bird flew out of the window. falling fast asleep in his tree. "Maybe I should just kill Ochiba, its permanent, and easy. Though something compelled her to make this plan work, pride maybe.
-Midnight-
Ochiba was sitting inside of an okonomiyaki shop complaining through frustrated tears to the chef. "I mean, Who gets married to get rid of a person?" He figured the marriage was a cruel plan, he wasn't that stupid.
The head chef scoffed and nodded "I know right? It's so rude." she drank some water to cool down from being near the hot stoves.
"I swear I wont let Ringo go." He declared. though he would be postponed because the head chef spat water on him, turning him into a leaf.