【Ch. 1 - Interloper】

Right, I guess I should introduce myself properly. Eminent messenger of the divine, Tama, at your service. Usually, someone of my station would be nothing more than your common wandering spirit, occasionally playing tricks on an errant wanderer or simply wasting the days away.

But, by some stroke of luck, my family some time ago was given an opportunity to serve in the most quintessential tasks of our kind: To act as messengers and couriers to-and-from shrines of the esteemed Inari Okami.

In part, it was probably due to our pure white fur, which, for one reason or another, is fairly common amongst my family. The kami must keep up appearances, it seems.

Not that I share this trait with them, mind you. My own locks are those of your typical raven beauty. Still, its not as if I receive grief or ridicule for this, nor am I the only messenger employed lacking in this department.

One has to wonder if it actually mattered, truly. The spiritual realm of the modern era really is quite lackadaisical at the end of the day.

Incidentally, I am currently working my courier duties as we speak. It has been about a week since my sister's wedding and my life has more or less returned to its regular tedium.

With correspondence slung in a bag over my shoulder, I travel down one of many paths we messengers use. Dotted by torii gates at set intervals these paths, entirely within the spiritual realm, connect together the numerous shrines underneath Inari's domain.

If I were to describe it, it's not unlike walking down a park trail. Seemingly endless forests recede into the distance on both sides, and only the subtle glow of the path's surface really belies the true mystical nature of it.

These paths' most notable trait, though, is that the distance travelled along them is much much shorter than those in the mortal realm. Your usual space manipulation magics and shenanigans. Granted, it just means more package organization and hunting down recipients for us messengers.

Modern human technology does end up surpassing this method in many ways, though. Instantaneous electronic messaging without the need to hand pen letters is certainly a convenience enjoyed by humans that we spirits do not.

On top of that, a lack of even simple carriages does dampen the convenience of the shorter journey with limits to the amount and size of parcels. It's a small wonder we still do it this way in a sense.

Well, no matter how much we try to integrate and adapt to the world around us, we are still bound by the habits of tradition in many ways. Not that we'd disappear or something if we stopped, it's just longevity tends to have a habit of slowing change.

It keeps us busy, at least. No use complaining too much.

As I'm on my way, other messengers are a fairly common encounter. Typically we'd scarcely exchange looks but there is the occasional back and forth from those that I recognize.

“Ah, Tama! Please pass on my congratulations to Tomoyo!”

I also received more than a few of these requests from those who were not in attendance at my little sister's wedding last week. Oh yeah, said sister's name is Tomoyo. You don't need to remember that.

“Of course. I'll let her know.”

Not that I remember everyone whose requested this, or even really try. Even if they meet Tomoyo later, they'll probably have a typical congratulatory exchange without mentioning me anyway, so I couldn't care less.

No, I'm not still bitter or anything.

These useless conversations spring up a handful more times on my trek today. Apart from that, its your typical quiet day, really. The passage is entirely uneventful most days, so it allows for a fair amount of contemplation. Really, a quiet workplace.

While I continue to have idle thoughts, a cool breeze picks up behind me and I pause for a moment to enjoy it.

“Huh?”

Wait.

A breeze?

That shouldn't be possible.

This entire realm is cut off from the outside world. Weather phenomena do not, _should not_, happen in here. Even something as simple as the wind.

I snap around once I realize this. It was coming from a ways off the path. My hands reflexively reach for and tighten around the strap of my bag.

Fixing my gaze in the general direction of the wind, I watch what appears to be a crack floating in the distance slowly open in front of me, light pouring out from it.

Eeeh? It looked identical to the formation of one of the gates we used to traverse between realms within shrines. But this was nowhere near a shrine, or anywhere else that'd let you to open one easily.

Even within an area where you could open one, they are not something you'd just open anywhere without expending a copious amount of spiritual energy, either.

This had to be the work of an immensely strong spirit, yokai, or even a kami to be capable of forming a gate here. I gulp involuntarily, frozen in space, and watch it fully manifest in front of me.

It's not as if I could run from something that powerful, anyway. Damnit. Please, at least be benevolent.

My gaze fixes on the gate as a shadowy figure emerges slowly from the light. It turns its head back and forth at the surroundings before settling at looking straight ahead as it proceeds. Its steps were slow.

“W-where the hell...?”

It spoke. A male voice? I instinctively ease up a little once I heard that question... was he confused? As the gate closed behind him and the light faded away, I could finally get a good look at him.

The reason for his confusion became immediately obvious once I did.

Dressed in a regular suit you'd find on an everyday salaryman was a young man with a look of utter bewilderment on his face and a hand scratching his head.

A regular human.

“” “”Eh?”” “”

An exclamation escapes from us both as our eyes lock with each other.