At this moment, Fujiwara Reya sat up and waved his hand, as if trying to sweep away the humid air lingering in the summer.
"Come over here." He greeted, then gave a slight smile, a kind of helpless smile unconsciously revealed. It was an attitude that could successfully make others feel friendly, at least Kasahara Fumi thought so.
She stepped over the railing and sat down beside Fujiwara Reya with bent knees.
The summer cicadas noticed the woman’s intrusion.
However, considering the Mountain God’s friendly attitude towards her, the cicadas didn’t fly away.
Fujiwara Reya lay horizontally on the grass, using his arm as a pillow. The inside of his arm was very pale, with veins showing through. There, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, sparkling brightly. Instinctively, Kasahara Fumi felt that he was truly clean, as clean as the sunlight.
"Where did Aunt go?" he lazily asked.
"Hmm, you guess." Kasahara Fumi gave a shallow smile.
"I guess you and she must have a big conspiracy." Fujiwara Reya cleverly rolled his eyes, unabashedly revealing the youthful enthusiasm for reasoning, "You know she wants to monopolize me, and you just happen to need Asuka and me to have no romantic feelings, so you both hit it off? For example, you help Kuri find a chance to tie me up?"
He guessed half right, Kasahara Fumi’s expression remained unchanged, even feeling somewhat smug inside.
"You are quite strange," she paused slightly, then said, "like a boy who enjoys making insect specimens, categorizing human emotions and neatly storing them in little drawers in his room. Occasionally taking them out, actually testing them. Hmm, you have such a hobby."
"You are also quite strange," Fujiwara Reya said as well, "usually speaking so blandly, but occasionally saying one or two long sentences, hmm, as rare as showers in a desert."
"Isn’t that good?" Kasahara Fumi indifferently said, stretching out her bent legs.
Even covered with a long skirt, her slender, straight beautiful legs could be seen through the fabric, with highly sensual and moving curves.
"Quite good." Fujiwara Reya lay back down, his upper body half leaning against the outside of her thigh, "Responses that are quick and concise, not leaving people guessing. Most importantly, the information your eyes reveal when you answer is richer and more honest. So most of the time, I don’t listen to what you say but just watch your eyes when you speak."
Kasahara Fumi slightly shrugged her shoulders.
"By the way, I almost forgot to mention, you’re calculating me, you know." Fujiwara Reya lifted his long eyelashes, gazing at her, "In this regard, I’m a bit petty, Sister Fukaeri, please be prepared for retaliation."
After hearing these words, Kasahara Fumi’s expression still didn’t change. Her soft neck quietly rose and fell, with the dark blue sky as the background, her vibrant orange hair outline and overly distinct delicate features became more beautiful. Her always-clenched lips, thought of something, slightly opened as if in a smile, revealing bright and white teeth between them.
Fujiwara Reya turned sideways, contentedly smelling the scent on her leg.
A faint, subtle fragrance, like red maple leaves drenched by autumn rain, a very rare and exquisite scent. After sniffing for a while, engraving this scent into DNA, he asked, "What’s the background of the female merchant from Tochigi County?"
"Surname Tanemura, widow of a local major family."
"Why did she come to Minami-Izu?"
"According to Abbot Kiyoka of Shusanji Temple, she came here a month ago for vacation and tourism. She inadvertently heard that Huang Songyu could construct barriers, so she paid a large sum to purchase a bit from the temple."
"Do you think there’s anything fishy about it?" Fujiwara Reya seemed to encounter a difficult problem, sitting up on the grass again, "A mere female merchant shouldn’t have such a large entourage of bodyguards. Furthermore, the appearance of the Fox Clan and Ghost Clan seems too coincidental."
"I only believe in evidence." Kasahara Fumi looked toward the ocean down the mountain.
"Where is Mrs. Tanemura?"
"Protected by the monks in the temple."
"After all, she’s a big benefactor," Fujiwara Reya sighed, "if it were me, I’d protect her first too."
Kasahara Fumi remained silent without speaking.
The cool sea breeze brushed her cheeks, her orange hair swayed gently, bringing a scent that Fujiwara Reya found particularly pleasant.
"What perfume and body wash does Sister Fukaeri use?"
"Hmm?" Kasahara Fumi looked at him puzzled.
"This scent hits me right," Fujiwara Reya replied earnestly, "I want to buy it and use it too."
Kasahara Fumi gave him an impassive look, her tone laced with a bit of a headache, "I don’t use that kind of thing."
"Not even body wash?"
"Imagining Sister Fukaeri without using body wash, just wiping her smooth body with a towel, body wash that produces bubbles indeed shouldn’t be present."
"...You’re too improper!"
The two chatted while waiting for time to pass.
The lush tree leaves let through the sun’s rays, a few seagulls flapped their wings lightly, flying from the sea to the mountains and forests.
After about half an hour, two colleagues from the Onmyo-ryo walked out from a side hall, heading straight to Fujiwara Reya’s side: "Hello, Director Fujiwara."
"How is the situation?" Fujiwara Reya sat up straight.
"The maidens from the Capital City only came here because of a commission and are not involved with last night’s incident," said the senior colleague, "Kansai Branch also sent a letter, and after this inquiry, please allow them to return to the Capital City. Is that okay with you?"