Chapter 4
1083 Words
A mild, chilly breeze cleared out the mist and an outdoor hot spring slowly appeared. The deep bath was made with natural smooth stones. A reflection of the moon could be seen over the gentle water as it soothed the aching muscles of those that sought after its healing powers. In the hot spring, there was a young man enjoying the relaxing moment of a nice natural hot bath. He had his medium-length hair tied up in a bun at the back of his head. Occasionally he would wipe his face and neck with his hand cloth. Closing his eyes, soaking in the peace around him. Earlier in the day, it was full of madness. With a sudden strange anomaly appearing in Tokyo and an increase of demon portals opening around the country that is releasing chaos everywhere the demons went. With the day now coming to a close, a brief moment to rejuvenate is what anybody would want.
“How is the water temperature, your highness?” “Is it to your liking?”
Asked one of the servants dressed in a grey-colored kimono, standing nearby the hot spring. She was holding a large towel. Another servant dressed in a similar fashion was holding a Japanese-style bathrobe (yukata) ready.
“It is absolutely wonderful. Thank you Sato-san, Yamada-san.”
Said the young man as he looked at the two servants and smiled with gratitude. The two servants blushed.
“Please let us know if you need anything, your highness.”
Said the servant with the robe as she bowed. The young man smiled and nodded.
“He is such a kind, Prince. We are lucky we can serve him.” Whispered the servant holding the towel.
“We get the whole week off for the Spring festival. Usually, we don’t get any days off.” Whispered the servant holding the bathrobe replied.
Then all of sudden, the two servants felt a little wind rush between them from the bathroom door.
“Huh?”
Thought the servants as they turned their heads back with puzzled looks on their face to the prince, and saw a young boy with semi-long brown messy hair, butt naked running towards the hot spring.
“Cowabunga!”
Cried the young 11-year-old boy, as he jumped into the hot spring. Creating a big splash. The splashed water waved over the young prince soaking him completely wet. The younger boy continued to splash the young prince with water, giggling and laughing.
“This is fun!! I love this big bath!!!”
He said and giggled and splashed even more to the young prince.
The two servants were watching this exchange in fear while they saw their prince being splashed by what looked like an 11-year-old. Their bodies were trembling. They were holding onto each other afraid to receive the anger of the prince.
“Oh no… your highness…”
Whispered the servants together.
“Yakumo…”
Said the young prince with irritation as he stood up in the bath.
“Toya!”
Cried the young boy, Yakumo, as he tried to put the large, young prince in a playful chokehold.
“I missed you today so much!!”
Cried Yakumo as he grabbed onto Toya with a big smile. Yakumo’s smile always showed a double tooth sticking out like a little fang.
“Yakumo, dude.” “I just saw you a few hours ago in Tokyo.”
Said Toya as he grabbed Yakumo by the neck, pulling him away with a shaking motion.
“How many times do I have to tell you to behave in front of our staff?”
“Toya?” Replied with puppy eyes.
Still holding Yakumo by the neck Toya walked towards the edges of the bath. Placing Yakumo outside of the bath while Toya stood up in the bath exposing his firm chest, and well-sculpted abs of perfection while silently debating on either to stay in the bath a bit longer or not.
“Shift!” Toya commanded Yakumo. “Shift and apologize, I’m not the only one present here that you disturbed.” Motioning towards the two servants standing nearby who were averting their eyes as to not appear rude while blushing pinker than plum blossoms due to the sudden posture of the prince.
Yakumo changed his appearance to that of a tabby cat outside of the bath on the flat stone floor. Walking slowly with a lazy flick of his tail, Yakumo gave a sweet meow, looking up at the servants with large green eyes.
Toya rolled his eyes at Yakumo’s undignified childlike behavior and returned to his bath.
In the bath, Toya was once again relaxing, smiling, and wiping his face with a hand cloth. Yakumo was soon sitting in the bath next to Toya in an adult male form after receiving attention in his cat form from the servants.
“So that anomaly in Tokyo…” Yakumo glanced over at Toya waiting for a response.
“I don’t want to talk about it” Toya replied with eyes closed, using his dominant, deep baritone voice.
After the two young men enjoyed the peaceful bath, Toya and Yakumo were led by the servants to the large dining hall where the evening meal was served for them. Traditional tatami mats lined the outside of the room with a western-style light-colored wooden floor. The high ceiling could be removed with modern technology, although the paper lanterns that turned the room as bright as day were lit with magic fire. Yakumo became excited to see the elegant dining table in the middle of the room full of golden-plated assortments of fresh fish, meat, vegetables, and fruits.
“Yummy!! I’m starving!!”
Cried Yakumo as he shifted from his adult form to his child form and rushed towards the table to grab a little bite with his greedy fingers.
“Yakumo, seriously?”
Said Toya as he rolled his eyes.
“Ah, come on dude, we have been hunting down demons all day. Just a little bite won’t hurt.”
“Yakumo, I’m just as tired as you are but it’s polite to wait for the others to join us. They will be here in a few minutes.”
Yakumo couldn’t wait to eat. Keeping one eye on Toya and the other on a juicy piece of fried chicken, Yakumo slowly tried to sneak his greedy fingers to snatch the fried chicken.
Yakumo immediately felt his life in danger, as he slowly looked up.
- Writer
