HP: Spirit Talker

POV Junko Hoshino

The woman was thinking about paying off the unpleasant contract with 'trophies', but then Se-dono started bringing in foreign newspapers, especially French ones, in which her son was featured. She read and could not believe what her son had foolishly gotten himself into, for everyone knows that the West is a poisonous swamp of sneaky snakes.

She had almost decided to go and save her stupid son when new articles screamed about a "bloody hero" who had chopped up many terrorists into a "red salad" at some European holiday. For a while after the news of Sora's enrollment in some magic school in Britain, Junko was busy dealing with the Ayakashi — they were up to something, and that fact couldn't be ignored. And then they had to leave silently and quietly — Lissa was intoxicated with victories, so the allies started to notice personal subordinates. Only a quiet departure could save her group from problems and scandals.

The woman was afraid that Sora had found out about her plan and had fled Japan, and was still angry with her. However, their meeting had dispelled her fears, it had gone very well, it was too bad that she had to wait a few days for a normal conversation.

But she had never expected to meet her son, to see Crimson Tigress Lan, Yusheng Lan again. Walking through the portal, another surprise — obviously a new home, but with an unexpectedly strong Zashikiwarashi whose magic could be felt everywhere. Also, somewhere underground, the attention of a very strong spirit of earth and seemingly fire could be felt. Where did all this come from? Who helped him? What is the payment?

Thinking about all of this, Junko looked around slowly, not wanting to miss anything. The main building of the house, with individual pavilions or smaller buildings still unfinished, white stone walkways, Japanese stone lanterns everywhere, and a traditional garden area that had not yet been started. Construction equipment and temporary dwellings on wheeled platforms were scattered about.

A large three-story building of simple architecture, obviously for servants, and two buildings that look like large workshops. Obviously the work is far from finished, but you can already see what it will become. And even further away, three hundred meters from them, despite the dusk, something massive was being unloaded from large trucks by the light of powerful spotlights, and two concrete mixer trucks were frozen to the side.

The woman turned her head again, noticing the masts of wind generators on the highest hills. But the woman's main attention was elsewhere. A path led up to one of the relatively flat hills, and at the top was a broad, topless pyramid of logs, glowing in the light of torches and surrounded by fluttering flags.

Junko turned to ask her son a legitimate question, but he was looking toward the house, where a group of men were approaching them. The servants were easy to identify — they had a very low level of magical power. Junko didn't like the blonde girl, she didn't understand why, she didn't like her and that was it! And not to say that she was frankly weak, like a woman in a dark simple dress under a warm coat, or that family, but something slightly annoying.

The girl with swarthy, even golden skin, wrapped in a fur coat with a hood, was interested in a strange scent of magic that clearly gave off darkness, but without anger or madness. But it was the girl of about twelve or thirteen who made Junko tense up the most — she was a creature she had never met before, and the shadow of magic very similar to Sora's made her tense up involuntarily.

The girl, not paying attention to anyone else, immediately took the boy's hand, just like children hold on to their parents; Sora herself also took it as a norm. At some point, Junko felt the ground shake beneath her feet: what kind of mother does this girl have, when there's nothing familiar about her at all? And when did Sora have time, since the child was so big? Though her eyes are not Hoshino's, which is strange.

Then Sora briefly introduced everyone and led them to the hill. Unfortunately, the woman didn't get any details about who this Afiri and the more interesting Kiriko were, nor any reasons why Lan had been invited.

And the fact of their presence was disturbing: Her father had once told her the story of how her family had left the nest in China after an internal coup, arrived in Korea, where they were almost destroyed in an attempt to capture them, and then came to Japan, where they received a blessing from the local Kami.

Junko remembered the delegations of the Lan clan and had even witnessed the last duel between her father and the now third wife, Lan Niao. Why they had come to Sora now was understandable, and it made her afraid. Even if she were to destroy the Crimson Tigress personally, she would not be able to stop the numerous clans.

There were no outsiders on the hill, not even a priest, which puzzled those present. But Sora didn't even raise an eyebrow. He stepped forward, and the first body, wrapped in a white cloth, appeared in his arms, which he carefully placed on the tree. Then he placed the second and the third. After returning to the people, the son was silent for a while, looking at the work of his hands, and then spoke.

— Today we bid farewell to a father and his two daughters. Hoshino Genosuke, — Junko felt herself being led away, but Nanao stopped her in time, looking anxiously into the pale woman's face, afraid to hear the continuation, but Sora was merciless. — Hoshino Marika, — the woman closed her eyes, feeling the burning moisture on her cheeks, her chest feeling heavy and empty. — Hoshino Manami...

The rest for the woman turned into a gray fog with occasional flashes of reality. One of those flashes was the sight of Yusheng Lan's bloodthirsty, literally bestial grin.

She squinted so that her eyes were invisible, only the thin lines of her lashes, but the wide grin of her snow-white teeth, slightly sharpened and enlarged fangs, spoke for itself. Junko didn't remember how she got to the house and what Zashikiwarashi had brought her, the potion had worked well, leaving a crushing pain in her chest and an emptiness in her soul. She had longed to find this family, to meet them, to hug her sister and nieces, to make fun of Gen-kun who was too strict and serious....

How could this be? Why was fate so cruel to them? What did they do?

— I want to show you all something,— the son's voice with its intonation caught the attention of everyone at the table. — But I warn you, if you have weak nerves or are too impressionable, you'd better not see it — you won't be able to sleep. — While the people digested what they had heard, Sora turned to Kiriko, his face softer, more friendly. — Ki-chan, go play with Momo-chan, okay? — The girl studied her son's face for a few seconds, looking VERY carefully into his eyes, then nodded and walked away. — Lizzie?

— No, — the blonde shook her head.

— You might be disappointed... — The boy asked in a strange tone, looking into the girl's eyes questioningly.

— I have made my decision. — The girl replied stubbornly, sending a wave of irritation through Junko.

Sora didn't ask the others, just glancing at Yusheng who continued to glare. There were no servants at the table at this time. With a wave of his hand, a large, beautiful goblet appeared in the corner of the large living room. A few sparks ran along its lines, a wave of light....