After returning to the Boundary I had linked up with Shaeu again, pleased that she had fully recovered from her wounds. I had succeeded in removing my scars as well, so was feeling quite positive, until we ran into a problem. Several new Defensive Empts had appeared in the eerritory, which made our avenues of attaarrower.

  The spectral woman was also proving problematic, her attacks vicious indeed, and even Grulgor was forced to retreat from her overwhelming wave of metal spikes and debris, his armour dented and scratched. Which of course I had to fix…

  I was unwilling to try a full-on attack, sihe casualties were likely to be heavy, win-or-lose, and while we could bring back the weaselkin, we had already lost too many Trolls and white snakes in the past, so losing any more would be uable. With that said, I put my time to use, once more trying to master earth and dark elemental energies, though once again I failed, merely gaining slight, barely noticeable insights into their nature.

  The upgrade was also slowly tig towards pletion, aher was starting to pile outside my Silo once more from natural accumution and our kills, though it was still far from the rge amount rior to my spending it. Fifty-two Astral days to go. Nearly half done… If our Territory was Rank 3, I was fident that would be more than enough advao win, but it was not to be, not yet. Still, as long as the stalemate tinues, our advantage grows. Or it would, if only… Sadly my Anchor was in a pce far too hard to defend. Wheerritory upgraded I would definitely see if I could relocate it…

  After bidding farewell to Shaeu once more, I returo the Material, where the local time was early Friday m. I spent a little time practising martial arts and spear teiques, befrabbing a quick shower aing dressed in fortable clothes, because today was the day I was going to move to the Shri’s also the day my parents and the Mori’s are due to arrive… ugh, my stomach hurts…

  Opening the door to my apartment I ran into Karen-, who was dressed in her work clothes, a white shirt, charcoal skirt and jacket pairing. On seeing me her expressihtened. “Good m Akio-kun. Are you heading to the shrioday? I was just going there now. My offieeds setting up. I theo work on your… unusual request.”

  “Yeah, assuming everything looks good I’ll move today.” I said as we walked. We passed by a listless-looking older man who eering out of the window at us with lifeless eyes. I think that was Tanaka-san, right? I heard he was let go by his pany a few weeks back…

  Karen- averted her eyes. When we were safely away from our apartment block she let out a sigh. “It makes me feel bad, seeing him. That was me, just a few days ago… poor bastard.” She turo me then, expression serious. “I won’t fet what you’ve done for me, Akio-kun. A sed ce is a precious thing. I won’t let you down, I promise!”

  “I’m sure you won’t.” I smiled wryly, and I realised that I was half-reag out for her head, to stroke it and ruffle her hair as I would have done for Eri or Shaeu. ging the motion into brushing back my own hair at the st minute, I thought I had mao get away with it unnoticed. Damn, what was I thinking? Karen- is no young girl. I’d never have lived down the shame. I’ve spent too much time with girls who like that retly. Damn, I’ve bee someone I hardly reise, they call it being a riajuu, don't they? Someone in a retionship and satisfied with their life…

  We made small-talk until we reached the shrihere were dozens of workmen everywhere, and the noise of heavy maery could be heard, r and growling away. My i piqued, I went over to the proposed site of the raining facility, to find several industrial diggers scooping out vast masses of soil and rock, while other workers were drilling dowal foundation struts into the bedrock, following a series of marked-out areas.

  “Damn, it’s pretty noisy. I feel bad for the Izumi’s.” I half-shouted over the tumult as I backed away, heading towards the outbuildings at the other side of the hill. “Sorry it isn’t the best w ditions for you, Karen-. I’ll sider that when your monthly bonus is calcuted.”

  “It isn’t so bad. It isn’t like I’m taking phone calls or anything like that yet, so I just listen to music. Besides, it’s a little quieter over here.”

  “Hmm, yeah, it is.” I agreed. We could still hear the struour, but at this dista was merely loud background noise, like sittio a major road. It should be bearable living here… and ohe foundations are set, it should be better…

  “So, you want to take a look?” Karen- asked, seeing me eyeing the outbuilding I had designated as my new home. “I made sure everything was done, so I think you’ll be satisfied.” She smirked then. “I ’t believe you ordered a big bed. Definitely room for two. Pnning on having a fun time with your childhood friend? I get to meet her ter, right? I hardly wait. Who knows what I’ll say?” she grinned.

  “You say whatever you like, as long as you help vince my father what I’m doing is on the level here. I don’t envy you. You’ll earn your bonus this month.”

  “He ’t be that bad.” she said as she opehe door aepped inside. “It isn’t like you are doing anything illegal, so he should be pleased, right? I don’t really know what’s going on myself, but I’ve spoken to the family that owns the shrine, so I know it’s legitimate.”

  “If only that was the case. My father … well, you’ll see.” I bit down a sigh. Looking around I was impressed. The interior was ed up and had been aired out, the splintered and faded walls pstered and paihe floor now polished wood, with matting id dow. Even the cracked windows had been repced.

  Yeah, it’s big. Nice. Opening the doors and cheg out the other rooms, I could see the master bedroom, whideed had a rge bed, fit for two. There were also wardrobes and other furniture that I had ordered. There were two smaller bedrooms, which were also furnished. One for Shaeu, aually for my sister too…

  There was also an offi, and I could see that the i had been ected, ready for when I moved my P. The kit and dining area was also refurbished, with neliances plugged in. The final room to check was the bathroom, and as I entered I let out aion of pleasant surprise.

  “Yeah, I am pretty certain you are pnning on having naughty fun.” Karen- teased me again. “That’s a big bathtub.”

  “Hey, it was already there, so it’d be a shame not to use it.” I protested. “Still, they’ve done good work in a few short days.” The bathtub glimmered, taps and other plumbing repced and the surface re-enamelled. The toilet had been verted to a western style, and the shower area had also been repced. It had cost a ton to rush everything, but it was worth it.

  “This pce sure beats our apartment block, right?” Karen- said. “I’m jealous. Oh well… you wao call the movers and bring over your stuff?”

  “Nah, I do it myself.” I deed it, not because of the cost, but because I might as well treat it as a workout. “So, how’s your office? You have everything you need?”

  “It’s all in hand. I’ve kept the receipts, but you did say I make myself fortable. I didn’t skimp on the chair.” She raised an eyebrow teasingly.

  I shrugged. “If it ences you to work harder, it’s a small price to pay.”

  “I’m not sure if you are a good boss or just a pushover.” Karen- grinned. “Anyway, I’m going to get set up, then I’ll start researg that shrine. Man, every day is crazy now. In a good way.”

  Leavio it, Karen- left to set up her office properly now it had been repaired. I then ran bay apartment, w up a sweat. Loading up a backpad a series of heavy bags weighing many kilograms, I then jogged rapidly bay new home, before unloading the stuff. Now I look at it, I’ve spent way too much over the years on manga, anime, games and figurines. sidering how tight money was… well, a man had to have his hobbies. But now that I had a girlfriend, no, a fiancée, I felt a little… abashed… at having them in my… no, our… room.

  As a promise I started unloading them in my offistead. It’s a luxury having a separate space to work in, for sure. I made several more trips, even lugging back my TV and puter in one go. Several passers-by shot me odd looks as I jogged with my burden, but si was at the borders of what a very fit person could do, I didn’t feel ao hide my strengths.

  The rip, I ended up carrying the antique doll that taihe spirit. It was still immobile and silent, and even wheered the Boundary it merely sat there, no signs of life, but… It’s rather creepy, but Shaeu felt we , and we risked a lot for it… Dropping it off in my new office, it was time t Shaeu over.

  Her Material body was still lying there, as still and lifeless as the doll. That was going to be a problem. I could carry her, she was quite light, but if anyone saw me… yeah, no way I’d talk my way out of that one easily… With that in mind, I decided to ehe Boundary for a bit, and s with Shaeu so she could walk to the Shrine and e back from there.

  “Master, you have returned with some-some haste. Is there a problem?” Shaeu asked when she spotted me. She was discussing some pns with the White Snake Kami and her Kamaitachi.

  “No, nothing to worry about. It’s just we are moving into our new home, and I don’t want to be arrested carrying around your Material body. Could you pop back to the Material and head over to the shrine? I’ve set you up your own room, so you return there. Oh, and you ask for anything else you want to make the pce your own.”

  “I see, well as a princess I shall not-not hold back. I must live in the luxury I deserve. But for now-now… I shall return soon. All is quiet here, so you should have little-little to do.”

  With that, she departed, and I asked about the current situation. It was much as Shaeu had intimated, although apparently our scouts had noticed further strange Buildings starting to appear, probably more Defensive Empts.

  If they take an Astral day to build, like mine do, then they only build so many, but it’s still problematic. The longer we drag this out, the harder a successful invasion will be…

  ***

  “So, I’ve gathered some preliminary information.” Karen- said, handing me some printouts, leaning ba her very nice chair. She wasn’t kidding about breaking the bank on it. Oh well…

  Taking the dots, which seemed to be a bination of i articles, Facebook postings, and clippings from a loeer, I browsed them.

  “So, I believe the shrine you mean is Hisuikomushi, it matches the location and description.” Karen- tinued. “It’s a minor shrih no notable deities, and the area of Tokyo it is in has an… unsavoury… reputation, with anised crime and poverty rife. It’s like a mini slum.”

  Reading the dots I could see she was right. Police reports of local gang-fights, prostitution and more. But what was iing was… yes, these Facebook posts…

  “Quite the ce, isn’t it?” Karen- looked at me, p. “Were you expeg something like this?”

  “ly.” I admitted. “But… good job finding this. So, the master of the shrine, Kikuchi-san, is in a a, and has been for quite a while.” The timing is very suspicious. The start of summer break isn’t that long after I was visited by Exposition-san…

  “Yes, I feel sorry for the children. They have no mother acc to posts I found, and the son had to e back from uy to look after his school-age sister. But they are poor, so… those hospital bills must be ruining them…”

  “That is odd, yes.” I wonder how they are paying…

  “So, was this the kind of thing you were looking for?” Karen- asked, and I nodded.

  “Yeah, not bad, not bad at all. I wouldn’t have thought to use Facebook and social media. See what else you find out ime, but for now, take a break. I’ll let you know when you o meet my father.”

  “Roger that.” She saluted zily. “Well, until ter then.”

  After she left I sidered the information. Very suspicious. I thought maybe the master of the shrine was my rival, but now… that seems unlikely. I would have to see if Hisuikomushi was a true shrine. No doubt Izumi-san could tell me…

  ***

  “So, about an hour then?” I said, and the girl oher end of my phone, Eri, spoke brightly.

  “Yes, we are o train before Tokyo station. So, have you finished moving?”

  “Yeah, everythi smoothly. So, do you think you find the shrine, or should I eet you all?” Damn, the time of my doom is approag…

  “I think we ma’s near where we stayed before, right?”

  “Yeah. You just take…” I expihe route to the shrine, and where my new abode was.

  “Great! Well, we’ll see you soon, Akio. Love you!” she said, and I flushed at her open affe, especially since I knew my parents were listening. Still, I was a ged man, not repeating past mistakes so…

  “Yeah, I love you too. I’ll show you my new home, I think you’ll like it.”

  After she hung up, I let out a long sigh. The time roag, so I dropped a text to Karen- to get ready, and also briefed Izumi-san on what he o say. Cheg on Shaeu, her body lying still in her own room, I made sure that the door was shut tight, to prevent any mishaps.

  Once I’ve survived this, I trate on dealing with my enemy in the Boundary. I had believed thinking that would make me feel better, but the knots in my stomach were still there like lead. Old fears die hard, I guess… Making o chey new home to make sure everything was in order, I decided to have a few fortifying shots of hard alcohol to steady my nerves…