Chapter Text
Most establishments in the Tengu Village do not have a name out of a lack of necessity. Rather, they are merely referred to things such as: the print shop, the other print shop, the izakaya, the print shop run by some exceptionally ornery Yamabushi tengu, the library, that other other print shop, and so on and so forth. After decades of structural upheaval and the village’s layout being shuffled around by the capricious whim of the tengu, distinguishing these facilities no longer became quite so important. So, it comes as no surprise when a building appears overnight without any sort of sign or banner indicating what it is. It’s probably another print shop.
As it turns out, it is not another print shop.
The new structure lies just out of the village’s reach on a plateau overlooking the vista, cradled by natural greenery. If not for some rising steam half-obscuring its vicinity, it would be a completely unremarkable sight.
Unremarkable, and quiet, except for the Great Tengu circling its perimeter in the dead of night. Her pet fox dutifully trots behind her.
“I like it,” Megumu says. “But did the tsuchigumo leave already? I would have personally praised them for such exceptional work.”
“They get uneasy when they come this far up the mountain.”
“I already knew that,” Megumu says, with a dismissive wave of her hand. “Well, I suppose it can’t be helped. Did you give them their payment, Tsukasa?”
Tsukasa salutes. “Yes, ma’am!”
Megumu casts a doubtful glance her way, but there’s an amused shine in her eye. Of course the tsuchigumo probably got swindled out of what was originally promised, and now they’re going to get upset and start causing trouble— or simply complain or some other, just to cause a headache at the top of the chain where Megumu resides.
But that’s not important right now. Megumu stops pacing when she’s arrived in front of the building. It really does look like nothing more than a plain bathhouse: slate roof tiles, the entrance partially blocked by a half-length curtain, a sturdy exterior that practically blends in with the surrounding trees. Within the heart of all that greenery is the mountain’s newest natural hot spring to bubble up from the earth— the source of all the surrounding steam.
Geographically, it makes little sense, but the mountain’s innards have been a mess for some time. So Megumu doesn’t question, she basks.
“Will you make the announcement to the rest of the tengu tomorrow, then?” Tsukasa asks.
“I should offer the tsuchigumo complimentary service first. It’s only the polite thing to do,” Megumu says, rubbing her chin. “But knowing them, they might make a mess if they were to actually accept…”
“Duly noted, Master Iizunamaru.”
“Don’t get cheeky with me. Hmm, but this would be so much easier if the hot spring formed closer to the village.”
A voice booms out from above: “But instead, this hot spring lies within my domain! How generous of you to build such a lavish offering in my name, o Daitengu!”
Kanako descends with the moon behind her, whipping the wind to violently blow through Megumu’s hair and skirt. Probably on purpose. Definitely on purpose.
Megumu, completely unsurprised by Kanako’s loud entrance, holds onto her tokin with one hand. Tsukasa ducks behind her, only to receive a faceful of fluttering cape.
“Your domain?” Megumu raises a brow. “I don’t remember inviting you here. What are you blathering on about?”
“Is something clogging your ears? It’s just as I said. This is my territory.”
“What? No it’s not.”
Instead of choosing to fire back with another rebuttal, Kanako plants her feet on the ground and her hands on her hips, admiring the front of the building with an approving nod. She ignores Megumu’s bewildered scowl. “Ah, it’s been some time since I’ve been to a traditional sentō. Or I suppose you’d call this an onsen? Either way… good job, Iizunamaru!”
“You really insist on acting like this was built for you, you dullard god?”
Tsukasa disentangles herself from Megumu’s cape and crawls up her back, to whisper in her ear. She cups her hand over her mouth so as to prevent Kanako from listening in— not that Kanako is even paying attention, strolling up to the facade to pat the wood. Megumu listens, pauses, and turns to Kanako.
“If it’s a deal you want, we can certainly make a deal.”
Kanako narrows her eyes to slits, though she’s grinning as well. “It’s always straight to business with you, Iizunamaru. You’re nothing if not predictable! Well, you might be surprised to hear that I didn’t actually come here to negotiate with you. It was the other god who noticed this place and was drawn by her curiosity.”
Tsukasa tries to whisper in Megumu’s ear again, but she’s met with a palm over her mouth. Megumu looks to the darkened entryway at the end of the short cobblestone path. Something inside moves.
“Oh, Moriya-dono? My apologies, I didn’t sense your presence.”
“Why do you address her with such respect but not me?!” Kanako snaps.
Suwako emerges from the darkness, hands folded behind her back, the top of her hat just barely brushing against the noren. Her tongue swipes over her lips and comes to rest over her chin. She nods to Megumu. “Hehe, don’t mind me. Just felt like taking a look around at my own leisure.”
Megumu feels Tsukasa stiffen around her shoulders, a lesser youkai’s natural instincts rendering her quiet. For now. She pats Tsukasa’s head in reassurance. The god of the accursed Mishaguji could overthrow the tengu if she put her heart to it, but she’s hardly a threat in her current state, nor does she actually have a reason to declare war while the tengu are offering their faith.
But that’s probably not why Tsukasa is suddenly so nervous. Maybe it’s because she doesn’t like gods who aren’t easy to sway. Megumu would feel the same, if she knew how to fear gods.
Suwako is just barely half her size. She cranes her neck up look up at Megumu and points directly at her face.
“The onsen is great. We’ll take it!”
Megumu blinks.
“I… wasn’t aware it was even for sale.”
“Ha! I’m just messing with ya. Seriously, you business-types are such stiffs. You hear that, Kanako? Yeah, that was a jab at you. Anyway, the cursed hot springs at the base of the mountain are nice and all, but I think I prefer this one for the view and privacy. You wouldn’t mind having a soft opening before anyone else gets to use the facilities? Right, Iizunamaru?”
Suwako’s smile widens, and widens a bit more. That wasn’t a threat, it was a demand, and Megumu knows better than to insult a god of her standing.
Kanako notwithstanding.
But still.
“… Very well,” Megumu says, nodding and rubbing her chin. Tsukasa opens her mouth to say something, but a subtle glare from Suwako keeps her silent. Megumu doesn’t seem to notice. “This bathhouse was intended to be for the tengu only, but I can make this work.”
“Ya sure can!” Suwako nods, the corners of her eyes crinkling. “It wouldn’t be very becoming of the tengu to hoard such a resource all to themselves. Ah, not that I’m calling you greedy or anything.”
If Megumu takes offense, she wisely doesn’t show it. She’s loathe to admit it, but the hot spring technically doesn’t fall within her jurisdiction… but it doesn’t belong to Kanako, either. Lines between territories are always blurred and shifting, and the tengu have always claimed things simply through brute force, but some matters require more… prudence.
So she might as well fling the doors wide open and see what happens. That sounds exciting enough. Tsukasa makes an unhappy noise.
“Point taken,” Megumu says. “I only ask that you bring your own towels, next time.”
Kanako leans on Suwako’s head. “Aren’t you supposed to offer complimentary amenities, you good-for-nothing tengu? What kind of third-rate hole are you running here?”
“If you ever get lost and forget that you’ve tread into our territory, I’ll be sure to personally guide you back to your shrine.”
“Was that a threat?!”
A normal human might boil alive in these scalding waters, but to a pair of gods, it’s nothing more than an exceptionally warm bath. The moon remains suspended high right over them, dancing off the surface of the spring. The hot spring isn’t quite as large as the pools that had bubbled up with the vengeful spirits from Former Hell, but they could easily envision at least a dozen youkai comfortably spaced around the edge. The facilities themselves carry an air of modernized luxury, surprising to see come from the vision of a staunch creature like the Great Tengu.
Suwako sinks low in the water with a contented sigh, while Kanako stares off into space and continues to mutter under her breath.
“Hey. Relax," Suwako says, reaching over to slap a hand on Kanako’s shoulder. “The plan worked out fine, didn’t it?”
“No, it didn’t, because Iizunamaru didn’t relinquish control of the bathhouse and she insulted me in front of you.” Kanako scowls, but even she’s not immune to the relaxing heat of the hot spring. The tension slowly eases out of her muscles, and she allows Suwako to move closer to her side. “This could have been a great boon for our shrine. Imagine the queue of humans waiting for a chance to dip themselves in a divine onsen!”
“Hold up, that’s what bothered you?” Suwako laughs. “That she was rude and I was there to see it?”
“Of course you wouldn’t be bothered. It’s all water off a duck’s back for you, Suwako.”
“Hehe. Wanna know a secret?” Suwako brings a finger up to her lips, resting her head against Kanako’s upper arm. “I scouted out this place because I just wanted a relaxing soak, and I figured you could use one too.”
Kanako looks down at her, confused. “You said this would be another venue to gather faith.”
“Yeah, whatever, that too! If you think it’s a good idea, I mean. I’ve been feeling stronger, I’ll admit.”
She… had grown a couple centimeters in the past few years. Not enough to warrant any sort of celebration, but the times have been good for both of them. Then again, Suwako could be holding onto that form just to annoy Kanako. It could be anything, really. Even so, Kanako finds herself with a warm smile on her face.
Arguing with Suwako is much different from arguing with the Great Tengu, that’s for sure.
“Anyway, I think it all worked out for the best,” Suwako says. “If Iizunamaru actually considered the idea of letting you into the fold, the hot spring would dry up while you two are butting heads. So what if the tengu won’t allow humans here? If they let the two of us in, that’s a victory in itself. Other youkai are bound to catch on, too.”
“… Haha,” Kanako chuckles. “I sometimes forget how much of a schemer you can actually be.”
“I may be old, but my skills never get rusty! Maybe.”
Kanako pats Suwako’s hat-less head, just because she knows that always annoys her. For that gesture, she earns a splash of scalding hot water right to the face.
“Anyway,” Suwako continues, affectionately jabbing her elbow at Kanako’s side for good measure, “let’s keep an eye on this place for the time being.”
“Do you think we could eventually wrest control away from the tengu?”
“Huuuuh? No, I don’t care about that. I’m just saying the water’s great. Those vengeful spirits at the foot of the mountain don’t bother me, but the privacy’s a nice change of pace, don’t ya think?”
“Heh. For now, until more youkai come flocking.”
Kanako and Suwako exchange knowing grins and settle into a comfortable silence, allowing the rising steam to envelop them. Whether or not they manage to grab a slice of the proverbial pie for themselves, the misfortunes bound to fall upon this bathhouse are sure to be spectacular to watch. The moon slowly drifts overhead, various youkai howl across the mountain, and the first night passes over the hot spring.
