HP: Spirit Talker

POV Junko Hoshino

— Junko-sama, how are you? — There was genuine worry and concern in the girl's honey-colored eyes.

— Thank you Maya-chan, I'm feeling better... .... — The woman squeezed out a hoarse voice and handed over the empty glass.

— What was that, Junko-dono? — asked another girl with ashy, short, disheveled hair and green-yellow eyes.

— I don't understand it myself. — The woman lay on the wide couch, staring at the ceiling and listening to the sensations.

— It was dangerous. — The ash-haired girl was squinting at the corner of the couch, standing in the corner near the exit to the balcony, thus remaining invisible to the view from the window, but controlling the entire interior of the hotel room. — It was strong magic, — the girl nodded thoughtfully to her thoughts. — But why didn't the amulets protect me? — She blinked again.

— No wonder, — Junko smiled weakly and hummed ironically. — I've never been good at any magic other than combat magic.

— Hmmm... strange... — The ash-haired girl looked away, obviously thinking about something else, and the woman who had been watching her out of the corner of her eye smiled imperceptibly.

— It's nothing strange, Nanao-chan, — Junko noticed how her address made her disheveled 'hair' tremble slightly in two places, causing her to smile even more openly. — The Hoshino clan has never been wizards, priests or monks. We have a different way of doing things. — The woman covered her violet eyes, remembering the old days when the clan compound of the elder family was always crowded and noisy. — Sora got his talents not only from me, but also from the thieves' clan.

The third girl present, her thick brown hair tied into a ponytail and lying on her lap, sat quietly by the couch. Her honey-colored, kind, slightly naive eyes looked at the two people talking with interest. It seemed that just a little bit more and she would have pointed ears on her head and her ample tail would start to sway from side to side in curiosity.

A simple tall glass was already cleaned by itself and a complex pattern of folk motifs spread out on the outside, with each second, the images became more complicated and details were added. But the young kitsune herself did not notice it, she just ran her hands over the glass, her slender fingers continuing to "draw" with each touch.

— Father! — Nanao grinned merrily as she noticed the young kitsune's actions, and her slightly cold expression changed to a laughing one, the corners of her mouth curving in a cat-like manner.

— You shouldn't believe that, — Junko took the Bakeneko's reaction personally. — Ms. Xie was able to get a lot of interesting facts and an unequivocal confirmation that Sora inherited the full range of gifts from both parents.

— Sora-sama is also a great painter..... — Maya remembered the work of a boy who had painted a beautiful landscape on one of the walls of the temple where the kitsune lived.

— And she cooks. — Nanao couldn't help but add, squinting so that anyone who saw her would immediately recognize her feline nature.

Junko had already opened her mouth to add something when all three girls heard a noise at the front door. In an instant, they were transformed. A Vakizashi appeared out of nowhere in Nanao's hands, but Bakeneko was in no hurry to unleash it, her eyes shining with determination. Maya, slightly startled but determined, stood with the woman in front of the couch, intercepting a naginata covered with a floral pattern with both hands. Junko held a tanto.

The doors opened and the two stepped inside, locking the door behind them, footsteps were heard, making all three visibly quiet. An elderly woman of very small stature and a tall, shapely girl with the body of a porn star entered the living room of the presidential suite, but the soft and friendly expression on their faces and eyes was confusing. The old woman grinned and gave the trio a mocking look.

— I told you, we have nothing to fear. So why are you grabbing your weapons for no reason? — The girl, who was standing two steps behind the old woman's right shoulder, looked at her acquaintances with curiosity.

— We went out into the night to escape the attention of Tenno-sama...'' — Nanao replied, cleverly hiding the vakizashi in a way that was unclear: here was the blade in her hands, an elusive movement, and the blade disappeared.

— Stupid children, hee-hee-hee-hee-hee! — laughed the old woman, looking at the trio of embarrassed girls with sparkling eyes. — None of you have sworn any oath of allegiance or service to her, so she has no right to force or persecute you.

The girl behind the old woman looked around again with a strange, curious look, shook her short, bright red hair, and went into the kitchen to make tea for everyone, snorting amusedly on the way. Nanao was the only one to follow her, her hair twitching again at the sound of the snort, but the bakeneko never showed her ears.

— But... — Maya shifted awkwardly, clutching her naginata and not knowing what to do.

— Hide the iron already! You're such a martial artist, hee hee hee! We're in no danger, the local magicians don't even know who we are.

— Se-dono, did you find out anything? — Junko, whose strength was recovering quite quickly, raised her voice.

— Not as much as I'd like. Thank you, Kokoro-chan. — The red-haired girl just smiled and offered the others some tea. — As it turns out, there are several factions of locals here at the same time, and the Chinese have arrived as well. We have to be careful, so Kurumi-chan will stay here for a while to get the information we need as carefully as she can. Now tell me, what has happened to you so far? — The tone of the older woman changed from cheerful and carefree to serious.

— I think, — Junko spoke somewhat uncertainly. — something happened to Sora. No, — the woman noticed the subtle change in the old woman's eyes and hastened to clarify. — It did not threaten his life, but it conjured something... evil. I don't know how to explain it... — Junko finished uncertainly.

— Oh, how difficult it is with your clan. — Mrs. Xie sighed heavily. — Okay, let's start from the beginning and take your time ....