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Chapter Text

Ranmaru walked down the busy street holding a few bags with groceries, he won good in pachinko today so he decided to surprise his lutenint by being responsible and getting essentials for the next 2 weeks.

"Suzaku!" He stopped for a moment when he heard that name but kept on walking thinking it was just his imagination. Maybe someone said Suzuki and he misheard it, It probably wasn't even directed at him.

The only ones on the island who knew of his former name were Aachan, his troupe, class 2-3 and the four teachers.

None of them ever called him by that old name, not even Aachan did when he was drunk.

A hand roughly grabbed his shoulder "Stop right there Suzaku, I know you heard me." He turned around and saw a pretty woman or were they a man? Their chest was pretty flat but their features were quite feminin, they could give Byakko-chan a run for his money with those looks.

"Eyes up here pervert!" He looked up realizing that the person- no, the God was the same height as him. "I'm sorry ma'am you must have mistaken me for someone else." He tried to wiggle out of the conversation but the hand on his shoulder held him in place, damn it!

That's how he and the God (it was a guy, shame) ended up sitting in a small cafe run by madragodas, the God who goes by Akane Inari suggested going to the cafe some of Haruaki's students work at but Ranmaru pursued him against it somehow.

Ranmaru had a bad feeling about the whole thing, the last time he came into contact with anyone from Takamagahara Haruaki kun almost died and he became a placeholder shiki.

He knew this conversation was most likely going to be about the contract, how he was even able to make one dispite no longer being a God and hopefully about the punishment of his former co workers for trying to revive a dead man. (He was hoping for it to only be about the third thing)

"Suzaku, I will be keeping this short." "I don't go by that name anymore." Ranmaru aka 'former Suzaku' looked into the green eyes of the red haired God as he said that, the seriousness was evident in his tone. He was not Suzaku, he hadn't been Suzaku for the past milennium.

"You will have to go back to using it soon enough."

"Pardon?"

Akane cleared his throat "You will be gaining your status as the divine beast of fire back."

Ranmaru went pale trying not to scream the next words "Wasn't the day I was stripped of my godhood the day I died as a God? It was clearly said so"

"Those old geezers were just being dramatic, it was more like temporarily taking your status as a God and reducing it to that of a lesser being as punishment. Now that it's been long enough for you to learn a lesson you will be getting your powers back little by little."

"What exactly is that going to be like?" Ranmaru figited with his fingers under the table.

"I heard from your coworkers that you have made a contract with the desendent of the onmyoji Abe no Seimei. Being able to do that is just part of the transformation process, by the way those three will be put under sevalence when summoned and house arrest in Takamagahara if your curious."

"How long will this take? What about the human I turned? What of the yokai that live on this island? This is all too sudden!" Ranmaru gripped the table's edge trying to not sound paniced, it was not working.

"Not long at the current stage...about a month give or take. The former human will not experience any problems, as for the island it's your property so you can do what you want with it. But why are you asking about the yokai? Have you grown attached to them and your life as a yokai?"

Ranmaru stayed silent realizing he had fucked up, but there was so much he wanted to ask about in relation to his troupe, he had used his blood on them so would they face any consequences? Would they remain yokai like Aachan? Would they....no don't even think about such things!

Akane's displeasure about Ranmaru's wordless answer was evident through the wild swinging of his tail. "How foolish, you are a God Suzaku not some filthy yokai remember that. Why do you think you were able to summon your sword? Your status as a God was lowered and your powers were sealed not removed, so you have been a God for the past milennium as well."

Ranmaru just sat there, he thought those snobs were mocking him by letting him keep the sword, to show that he was utterly defenseless and would not be able to survive without their mercy. There were a thousand things going on in his head but one thought dominated them all.....

He was going to lose everything.

Chapter Text

Ranmaru weighed the pros and cons of telling this God about Tenmaru and Bonmaru and decided he would, there is no point in keeping it a secret especially when they could be in serious danger if he didn't.

By chance the heavens were against their involvement with him then he'd leave them as long as it ensured their safety, even if they hated him for it. They mean alot to him even if he doesn't really show it.

If not then he would try to keep things as they are.

"I have a question."

"Speak."

"Let's say if I turned a human into a yokai like 500 to 700 years ago and they are still alive what would happen to them?" He smiled awkwardly.
Akane was surprised he could understand what was being said with how fast Ranmaru was speaking.

"They will remain a yokai." Ranmaru breathed a sigh of relief.

"Aren't you going to ask who they are?"

"I don't get paid enough for it, even if I did I'd rather not get involved more than i have to, anything else?" Ranmaru liked this fellows 'only do what you are payed for' attitude.

"Not really, wait... may I have your number?"

"What for?"

"Just incase I remember anything to ask."

"I hope you keep your word." He handed Ranmaru a business card, it was quite simple with just contact information and a bouquet of foxglove flowers printed on the bottom right.

"Don't worry your not even my type." Ranmaru saved the number in his contacts.

-later-

"Haruaki kun~" Ranmaru called out to the man watering the Madragoda garden from on top of the school roof fencing, the tall man turned to the source of the sound with his whole body and ended up spraying Ranmaru with the hosepipe.

"A-a-choo!" Ranmaru coughed a few times, his chest and legs were currently wrapped up in a large towel like a backless dress with nothing but his boxers, his clothes hung up on a makeshift clothes line onthe roof and a guilty looking Haruaki was blow drying his hair and wings. (They are still on the roof)

"I'm so sorry!" Haruaki said for the 100th time, he kept blow drying the tengu's hair and wings while the other party kept silent.

Suddenly he noticed something odd, the captain's wing bases had bits of red that looked like pin feathers. There were a handful more all around the entire wing, you wouldn't notice them unless you were as close as he was.

"Um... Karasuma san? Are you by any chance molting?"

"Sorry what?" Ranmaru turned his head 180° and looked at Haruaki who jumped back in surprise, Ranmaru looked at his wings and sure enough he saw the dots of red feathers most of which were concentrated at the wing base.

Just then Marshmallow came excitedly declaring all the feathers had been cleared, showing the pastic bag with the fallen feathers. There were red ones mixed in with blacks.

Ranmaru turned his head to face forward and picked a red one from the bag staring at it with a look of anger like it was some horrible horrible thing, Haruaki touched his shoulder to get his attention and Ranmaru looked like his soul almost left his body. Haruaki would know what that feels like.

Ranmaru was internally cursing himself on how he had failed to notice his own wings, something that's such a big part of him. He hoped it only just started today or yesterday because he would not be able to look at himself in the mirror for being such an ignorant fool.

"Oh! What did you want from me Karasuma san?" Haruaki tried to change the topic "it doesn't matter, please keep what happened a secret and by 'what happened' I mean these feathers. Can you do that?"

"Ok!"

Ranmaru got up and went towards the tracksuit which was drying.

"It's still damp!" Haruaki warned him, he was aware that Ranmaru can easily catch a cold.

But the warning landed on deaf ears and in a flash the man got changed and left through the terrace door.

Yes he walked, not flew.

Chapter Text

(2 days later)

"Captain is something wrong?" Bonmaru put some rice in his mouth.

"What's this all of a sudden?" Ranmaru said through a mouthful of eggroll.

"Please finish eating before talking." Bonmaru sighed as he took a bite of his own roll.

The captain and lutenint of the karasu tengu gang were having dinner, the scribe was working a late shift at the snackbar and told them not to wait for him.

"Ok." Ranmaru gulps and props his head on his hand and smiled his signature suspicious smile.
Bonmaru didn't correct him about table etiquette like he would normally, he's known Ranmaru for 800 years and is well aware about these tricks of his to change the topic.

Something was definitely wrong.

"You've been acting weird lately and I'm worried captain."

"I'm completely normal. You're worried about nothing."

"Oh really? Then why did you bring groceries for 2 whole weeks perfectly? You always forget something when I tell you to go shopping for making dinner for one day." He ate another bite of rice.

"For the last time Bonmaru, I won good in pachinko and wanted to surprise you. That's all there is." Ranmaru wasn't lying, he did want to surprise Bonmaru.

"In doing that you ended up with a cold much worse than any before." Bonmaru was starting to realize he was just replaying the conversation from 2 days ago.

"Is that what you were worried about? Hahaha! Bon chan I got better the next day, it's going to take more than a cold to kill me." Ranmaru ended up chocking on rice due to laughing.

Bonmaru handed him a glass of water "Like chocking on dinner for example?"

After that the rest of the dinner went in silence as Bonmaru realized he was not going to get Ranmaru to talk.

He'll just have to ask Ashiya kun or go through the captain's phone.

As Ranmaru was picking up the empty plates and bowls Bonmaru noticed something was off.......

Ranmaru's hair looked longer and more orange? or was it red? The length was the width of two fingers longer (a/n sorry if it doesn't make sense) and if the overhead lamp for as dull as it was hit it just right it looked orangeish red. Like his eyes during sunset.

Chapter Text

(Takes place the day after the last chapter)

It was the end of a relatively calm school day when Douman's office door opened.

"Hello Ranmaru San, what brings you here?" Douman had proped his head up on one hand and was looking at the costs of repairing a classroom that was damaged during a fight, surprisingly not by any of the normal culprits (2-3) but two adult students who were ex wives (Douman will get the details from Sasaki sensei later)

"You sound surprised." Ranmaru sat down and took a cigarette from the desk in front of him, without permission as always.

"How can I not be? You actually used the door for once in your life, I'll be taking the last one so don't even think about it!" Douman grabbed the last cigarette and held it up.

"Very funny Aachan, anyways I've come to tell you something important." Ranmaru touched the tips of the cigarettes together and lit them with his free hand. The gods would be appalled that his divine fire was being used in such a way, at least many of the older stuck up ones would be.

"Well?" Douman inhaled the smoke.

"I'll be a God again in about a month so I want you to be ready for any legal problems Takamagahara might throw at you in relation to the island. Also keep an eye on Bon chan and Ten chan in case I get put under house arrest like the other three."

Douman began to cough histerically hearing what Ranmaru said.

"You...will..be....WHAT!?" Douman caught his breath, "Also legal problems and house arrest?"

"Well it went something like this......" Ranmaru narrated the entire incident that took place with Inari and why he was able to use some power from being Suzaku.

"So you're saying that you were able to use the power of Suzaku, not because you weren't entirely stripped of 'Suzaku' like we initially thought but because that little bit of Suzaku couldn't be suppressed?" Douman stared at the former, now soon to be god.

"Yep." Ranmaru leaned back into the chair taking a long drag of the cigarette.

"Well then why do you think there will be legal problems? You have leased this island to me for 200 years, I still have about 30 or so years left." Douman put the cigarette bud in the ashtray.

"We can't trust what loophole they might use to make the lease invalid, I'd rather not have to deal with that." Ranmaru put out his cigarette as well.
"You act like I want to."

"Exactly why I think we should go over the documents again, I'm pretty sure you still have them."

"Of course I do, should we do it tomorrow or wait until the weekend?"

"The weekend would be better."

"Alright then, now why do you want me to keep an eye on your two flock members?" Douman slipped his kimono off his shoulders leaving him in just his button down and hakama.

"Like I mentioned before, there is a possibility of me being forcefully put under house arrest as a way to 'keep an eye on me and teach me about modern God society'," Ranmaru ran his hand through his hair "due to this I would not be able to see them for however long, so just make sure they are ok and call Akira immediately if they feel strange." Ranmaru folded his arms over his chest trying to look nonchalant and calm.

Douman was well aware of how much Ranmaru cared about the two tengu so this uncaring act for him was meaningless.

"Alright then, should I just make them move in with me?" Douman said trying to get a reaction, he would check up on them daily since he quite liked them but not let them move in obviously.

"YOU'RE A GENIUS AACHAN! THAT WAY I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEM GETTING USED AS LEVERAGE AGAINST ME IF THEY ARE WITH YOU!" Ranmaru reached over the table to hug the younger man but ended up being hung upside down.

"One, stop screaming there are still people in the building and two, I was being sarcastic." Ranmaru looked like a dejected puppy.

Douman had to hold himself back from slapping Ranmaru's massive forehead which was no longer covered by his bangs.

"Aachan please! You're the only one I can trust! You know that!" Ranmaru wiggled against his restraints.

"Have you even told them all this?" Douman crossed his arms.

Ranmaru stopped struggling and looked guilty "I will be tonight, just needed to ask for your help first. Bon chan already suspects something is up."
"A safety net before the rope snaps?" Douman let go of the rope and Ranmaru fell to the floor with a dogtoy squeak sound.

"Yeah, how about making them pay rent to let them stay?" Ranmaru sat up, still tied.

"You really want me to let them move in."

"As a safety measure and for my mental relief. You know I wouldn't ask this otherwise!" Ranmaru stared at Douman, desperation evident on his face.

"Fine, but you need them to agree to it. I won't force them to move in, deal?" Douman untied the smaller man.

"Deal!" Ranmaru shot up and rapidly shook Douman's hand.

Chapter Text

"So let me get this straight captain, you will become a God again in a month with the physical transformation taking place as we speak," Bonmaru said.

"Yes."

"And want us to move in with Ashiya-kun as a safety measure incase the heavens want to use us against you."

"Basically, they aren't shy about using such tactics."

Tenmaru turned to Douman who was sitting next to their captain, "You agreed to this?"

"Only if you two want to, if not then nither of us will force you." Douman replied in a monotone voice.

"Like I said before, I don't want you guys to do anything against your will. This is completely up to you." The answer which Ranmaru wanted to hear was written all over his face 'ok/yes we'll move with Ashiya-kun' despite what he said.

Silence fell as Ranmaru stared at his troupe members. The air in the room was tense, like one wrong move and everything would fall apart.

"Can me and Tenmaru be alone for a bit to discuss this? Like maybe an hour?" Bonmaru spoke up.

"Huh!...I mean..um yeah take your time!" Ranmaru answered.

Hearing this Douman grabbed Ranmaru by the collar of his tracksuit and teleported them to his living room.

"Warn me before doing that would you!" Ranmaru rubbed his neck.

"Let's not waste any time and get to patching any loopholes in the lease right now. Time is basically money." Douman said firmly.

Ranmaru pouted, he knew how important it was but did not want to do it just yet. "Didn't we agree to do it on the weekend? Lets take it one small step at a time. We still have like 3 weeks till Takamagahara can make any moves."

"Alright, small steps then....." Douman tapped his chin with his index finger as he thought "Show me your wings then."

"Eh!? Why my wings?" Ranmaru got flustered. Douman's brows furrowed seeing the reaction.

(Flashback)

"Principal?" Haruaki walked into his office figiting with something.

"What did you do?" Douman looked at the taller man with an annoyed expression, how much would he need to make him run to pay for the damages this time?

"I swear I didn't do anything this time!....sort of...well I did drench the captain with the water hose." Haruaki's voice became smaller and smaller with each pause.

"What about it? Did he ask you to pay the medicine bill or something?"

"No, the thing is...here." Haruaki placed a red feather on Douman's desk.

Douman looked at him puzzled, "An explanation would be appreciated." He held up the feather and twirled it between his fingers, it felt familiar for some reason.

"It's something related to the captain thats all I can say." With that Haruaki rushed out of his office.

Thats what happened an hour before Ranmaru told him about becoming a God again.

(Present)

So that feather must have been Ranmaru's after all.

"What's the big deal? I've seen them a million times, both red and black."

"Well......they look kinda ugly and patchy." Ranmaru looked away like a virgin bride on her wedding night.

"How bad can they be? Plus red and black is a great color combination." Douman said.

"Fine, just don't get mad about the mess."
Ranmaru made his wings appear, a flurry of black feathers fell to the floor much more than normal. Douman thought Ranmaru would be featherless due to the sheer number of them on the floor.

He looked up and saw the other person's wings, the bases and tips were more red while the rest was mostly black but the red feathers seemed slimmer.

"The red ones look slimmer." Douman blurted out.

"Most of them are still pin feathers so it's a little hard to fly without being irritated." Ranmaru answered not being bothered by the comment.

Douman reached out to touch them, sure enough they felt waxy. He slowly pulled the wax cover tube off on one of the feathers.

"Since we have time why don't we free some feathers?" Ranmaru tried to distract Douman from the lease.

"You just want to do anything but paperwork."

"You can't really blame me, plus it helps distract me from thinking too much about what my dear roommates are talking about."

"Fine. But we will do the paperwork this weekend whether you want to or not."

With that the two began to work on the pin feathers, Ranmaru letting out and 'ouch!' or 'gently!' once in a while.

Douman received a text on his phone, he saw the message and then checked the time.

Exactly 1 hour.

"Let's go."

"Ok!" Ranmaru put away his wings and placed his hand on Douman's shoulder "Ready."

They appeared in front of the two men and sat down.

"....Well?" Ranmaru asked.

"We'll do it but on 4 conditions. First we'll only move in after you become a God again and leave in front of our eyes." Bonmaru nudged Tenmaru "Second we will be incharge of maintaining your hair and third you must tell us if anything feels wrong no matter what."

"And lastly please don't cut us out thinking the less contact the better, call atleast once every three days even once a week is fine too! But if the call doesn't come,"

"Then?"

"We'll use whatever means necessary to get to Takamagahara and find you ourselves." Bonmaru said.

Ranmaru stiffened, he was very well aware that was not an empty threat.

"Alright I agree."

"So do we."

With that the tension relaxed, Douman smiled seeing the three's dedication to eachother.

"Let's continue with the pin feathers then, two more pairs of hands will make it easier." Douman said feeling a little mischievous.

Ranmaru glared at him as the other two's ears seemed to perk up at the statement. Soon there were multiple hands working on Ranmaru's wings, some releasing new pin feathers while others picked up the fallen black ones.

Douman realized he'd have to clean up the ones at his place as well.

Chapter Text

"Sano kun." Tenmaru called out to the blonde boy sitting at the cash register of the bookstore, the blonde looked up from his book which was probably homework.

"What do you want?" He returned to his book after acknowledging the older man.

"I just want to know something, you don't have to answer if you don't feel comfortable of course."

"I'll be deciding that, shoot."

"Well.... I wish to know about Takamagahara, the country of gods." Tenmaru came closer to the register but kept a safe distance in case the teen's powers went haywire, he knows this might be a sensitive topic.

"Why exactly are you asking me?" Sano's voice was steady but due to all the years Tenmaru has lived he sensed the faintest trace of guilt and fear on the boy's face.

"Like I said you don't have to answer."

"I'll answer, just want to know the reason you're asking me."

"Well captain had said that back when he was a God the place was very much like the paintings at the time, I got curious about how it was now in modern day so decided to ask you."

"No, why me specifically."

"The Ogatas fell in the edo period and have been living on earth since then and I'd rather not be involved with Ebisu sensei."

"Good call." Sano leaned back onto the backrest of the chair.

"Well it's not too different from earth, mainly you'll see more people in traditional clothes. For most gods they live similar lives to humans till graduating high school then they have two duties-"

"Wait! why are you telling me all this extra stuff? I just wanted to know the way the place looked."

"Did you really? Your captain becoming a God once more is the hottest gossip of the gods at the moment, even me and Ogatas know about it." Sano side eyed him.

This kid is more observant than he looks, guess I'll take what he's giving then.

"Ah.... Please continue."

"Ok, so most gods live human adjacent lives till graduating high school, they learn about their duties while going to college, after that they work various jobs be it a barber or store clerk to run the country and fulfill their duties as gods alongside it, it alternates between God duties and civil duties."

"Can I ask one more question?"

"Hm."

"If the captain, who committed a grave taboo can return to being a God, what about you and the Ogatas? Unlike him you three weren't really stripped of your godly status but were banished."
Tenmaru felt a pressure build up, Sano seems to be holding back what Tenmaru recognizes as killing intent mixed with anxiety. He better not push him any further.

"I don't wanna talk about that, ask the Ogatas if you want to know about them yourself."

"Sorry, I'll shut up now. Thanks for the information." Tenmaru disappeared behind some shelves.

Sano just sat there, going back was not something he thought about much since it bought back memories but he knew it would be soon.

~later~

"Karasuma kun over here!" Rin called out from below a tree in the corner of the courtyard/compound.

Tenmaru walked over and sat down.

"Got the stuff?" Rin asked leaning against the tree.

"Right here." Tenmaru handed Rin an envelope which he kept in his bag, hopefully there would be no bag checks today.

"So what did you want in exchange?" Kou smiled.

"It's a bit personal but-"

"Suzaku, I'm guessing?" Kou interrupted.

"No, but refer to him as Karasuma san or just Karasuma, he still has 2 weeks."

Rin whistled at the statement "2 weeks are a pretty short y'know. But anyways what then?"

"I'm surprised you came to talk now, you must have found out more than a week ago right? So what took so long?" Kou squated to be at eye level with Tenmaru.

"Little bro I think you should stop interrupting."

"He's right, I'm an inch away from slapping that smile off your face Ogata kun. Also I'm the one asking questions here."

"Jeez." Kou frowned.

"It's about you two, please answer me truthfully."
The twins nodded.

"How much longer will your banishment last? If I remember correctly you two didn't commit any taboo, just destroyed some stuff."

"Some stuff is a very massive understatement Karasuma kun." Rin said.

"But to answer your question, about 50 or so years give or take. Sano's is a fraction of ours." Kou continues.

"It's best if we don't mention him for this topic, he seemed very disturbed when I brought it up. Not to mention his crazy brocon of a brother could be listening." Tenmaru said in a softer voice.

The three exchange glances and nodded in silent agreement.

"Anyways- how do you two know what is happening in Takamagahara? I understand for Sano kun to know through Ebisu but didn't you two fall well before the invention of cars?"

"We receive a magazine every month with the latest gossip, an old friend of ours helped out with getting various social media accounts and news channels of Takamagahara on our phones. We're willing to give you the links for them, at a price of course." Kou smirked.

"You guys are worse than us when it comes to villainy." Tenmaru side eyed them.

"I'm think you mean we are better at being villians." Rin gave an exaggerated bow.

"Whatever, what's the price?" Tenmaru was getting irritated.

The bell rang signaling class time.

"We'll decide after class, see you!" The two dashed off.

"Fuckers." Tenmaru scoffed and headed to class as well. Japanese with Abe sensei? Hope there won't be another hole in the board.

At least he got something, not really anything useful enough to help the captain but something is better than nothing. Hope the Ogatas are willing to negotiate.

Chapter Text

"Ack! Bon-chan be more gentle!" Ranmaru whined.

"I wouldn't have to be so ruff if someone had enough brains to braid their thick as fuck hair before sleeping!" Bonmaru kept detangeling the other's hair.

"I'm getting old ok? Plus it was just the bottom row of hair that used to be long and It was also pretty thin too. I have no idea why basically my entire head is long and thick now. Back in the BC and Heien era I could just run my fingers through it and call it a day."

Ranmaru's hair had grown at an alarming rate, at 2 weeks it was already long enough to cover his back, that half it's original length! Not to mention it was THICK.

"Just admit you're lazy." Bonmaru sighed.

"I'm back, but with useless information." Tenmaru threw his bag to one corner, loosened his uniform and sat down.

"Information is information, give it." Bonmaru began braiding Ranmaru's hair into two braids.

"So there a website and a few magazines that the Ogata twins use to get information on Takamagahara stuff, and yes I made sure they had no smut in there. Sano gets a subscription to the same magazines."

"Why no smut?" Ranmaru got a wack to the head.

"If you want sumt go to their room, with permission, they have a whole wall of it."

"Are they like, allowed to have that?" Bonmaru asked.

"Yeah, they are like 300 or something so it's allowed." Tenmaru opened a beer can, he may not smoke but a drink once in a while felt good.

"What's the name of the website and magazines?" Ranmaru opened Google, ready to type.

"You'll have to ask that fox, those two put up a tough bargain, no I am not asking Sano and dont expect me to even try to talk to Ebisu."

"Neither of us even said anything." Bonmaru put his own hair in a low ponytail.

"I've known you two for my entire life so guessing whats coming next was a piece of cake." Tenmaru took a sip of the beer while side eyeing the two.

"Fair." Ranmaru opened his contacts and began typing.

He got the name of the website but Inari doesn't like such gossip magazines so he doesn't know any. Bummer.

"Oof." Ranmaru looked like he got hit with a brick.

"Hm?" His troupe members looked over his shoulders, on the website there were various articles about him, some went back to the stuff from the BC era while others were debating if he should really be allowed back, some were just teen gossip level stuff like his lovelife and looks.

"There sure is a lot of stuff here, some photos even managed to make you look good." Tenmaru teased.

"What's this about?" Bonmaru clicked on a article and it opened.

Potential jobs Suzaku could have if he returns.
Reasons for and against them.

"There's a lot." Tenmaru took the phone and began scrolling.

"Care to explain?" Bonmaru turned to Tenmaru.

"Well to make sure Takamagahara runs smoothly around 90% of gods perform various jobs other than the godly duties they have." Tenmaru said.

"How do you know that Ten chan?"

"Sano kun."

"Captain have you been informed of yours yet?"

Ranmaru shook his head "No."

"Well what did you do before?" Bonmaru took the phone from Tenmaru.

"Nothing much, before the contract I was a freelance wood carver and jewelry maker."

"What about after it?" Tenmaru asked.

"During my contract with Seimei that was my job other than my normal godly duties. The job I will have now is going to be given to me, no consideration for my opinion. Humph!"

"But you are under a contract with Abe sensei now so shouldn't it count like back then?" Bonmaru looked thoughtful.

"Since Kyoto is not in danger of being taken over by yokai anymore it's not counted unfortunately, I could feel Inari grinning even through the text after I had asked that to him." Ranmaru crossed his arms over his chest.

"Let's look at the list then." Bonmaru scrolled back to the top of it.

"It's mostly speculation and nonsense." Tenmaru said.

"Let's still try it." Ranmaru opened a beer as well.

(1 hour later)

"Why the hell did they give so many reasons for dentist!?" Bonmaru burst out laughing.

"It's better than stripper at least." Ranmaru took another bite of beef jerky.

"They were right about one thing 'no one would pay to see him nude in the first place' HA!" Tenmaru clutched his hurting stomach due to laugher.

They ended up looking through various such lists throughout the evening.

(After dinner)

"Guys I got information on my job!" The three sat down as Ranmaru opened the email.

"DAYCARE WORKER!?" Ranmaru's eyes were wide like dinner plates.

"HOLY SHIT ASHIYA KUN NEEDS TO HEAR THIS!" Tenmaru grabbed his phone.

"Oh no you don't!" Ranmaru tried to grab it but it turned into a chase around the hideout.

"It says here it's part of a school group which has both a middleschool and highschool, so the kids will be either the teachers children or the younger siblings of the students." Bonmaru said to the two men running circles around him, he really wanted to trip both of them at that moment.

Chapter Text

"This one will do." Ranmaru read over the instructions on the hair dye box, it's the shampoo type so he can do it himself.

"How do you manage to always get your exact colour?" A familiar voice asked.

"Dunno, guess I'm just lucky." His friend answered.

The two teenagers turned around the corner and came face to face with the former tengu.

"Uh, hi?" Nyuudou said and Sano silently waved.

"Hello." Ranmaru greeted back, the two must be getting hair dye as well.

Sano looked towards the box in Ranmaru's hand "Don't get that one, there have been reports of hair basically disintegrating once in contact with water." He picked another box from the nearby shelf "This one is much better, we both use it, It's also cheap." He added the last part since he knew how much of a cheapskate the ancient man in front of him was (if Tenmaru is anything to go off of).

"Ah! Thanks kid," Ranmaru accepted the box "why do they even sell this then if there have been so many complaints?" He kept the other back on the shelf.

The two boys shrugged, the three began walking to the register to bye their respective dyes and bleach.

"Why do you want to dye your hair? It's already black." Nyuudou knew this was a stupid question and none of his business but he needs to know, also why was this guys hair so long?

"Probably going white due to old age." Sano payed for his bleach.

"Hey I have plenty of time before greys show up! It's for the tips not roots!" Ranmaru defended himself, he held up his hair which was in a low braid.

Nyuudou was so focused on the length that he didn't notice the orange tips, what the heck was going on!?

Sano rolled his eyes, Nyuudou snapped out of his trance when the yokai at the register called out his bill.

"To answer your question, I'll be forcefully turned into a God again and then put to work in a daycare along with my other duties. So in order to get some semblance of control I'll be changing my looks. Starting with covering these tips and designing a new outfit." Ranmaru handed his own box to the cashier.

"Wha..?"

"You ended up speaking your thoughts out loud man." Sano patted the other's shoulder.

Nyuudou felt his face heat up, this was embarrassing as hell!

While Nyuudou was lost in another trance Ranmaru walked past them and exited the store.

Ranmaru read the instructions one last time and started sectioning his hair, the shampoo type would have been so much easier. He should have asked bleach boy and cyclops for help.

Now that he thinks about it wasn't there another kid in Haruaki-kun's class who bleached his hair? He was the one who gave him and Aachan the sailor uniforms during the festival if memory servers him right.

"Cap- buhaha" Bonmaru burst out laughing the moment he stepped into the room, Ranmaru had made his hair into five horizontal rows with four ponytails each and every one of them was half covered with tinfoil. He looked hilarious, like a bamboo tree during tanabata.

"Shut up Bon chan!" Ranmaru's face flushed and he almost threw the bowl of hair dye onto his vice captain.

"You could have called one of us y'know and saved yourself from this." Bonmaru motioned towards Ranmaru's entire head.

"I'm finished anyways, just need to wash it off after an hour." Ranmaru went to the bathroom sink and rinsed the bowl.

"Are you really going to stay like this for an hour?"

"Yes."

"No plans to leave the house until it's washed off?" Bonmaru smirked.

".....Yes?" Ranmaru had a bad feeling.

"I have a construction job to do so all the house work is on you, if you even try to use weaponized incompetence just see what happens. I know you would do everything without a complaint if it was Ashiya san."

"One, I'm not that much of a scum. Two, I complain the entire time and get paid for it, just ask Aachan." Ranmaru crossed his arms, Bonmaru could not take him seriously at all due to the hair.

"Whatever, also you steal the money so it doesn't count."

"Don't you have a construction site to get to?" Ranmaru placed his hands on his hips. Bonmaru left after secretly taking a photo of Ranmaru with his hair like that.

(1 and a half hours later)

"Hmm..." Ranmaru stared at his hair as he dried it with a towel, it was now fully black from the roots to the tips.

After most of the water was removed he let it air dry while he worked on his new outfit.

He placed his tengu uniform next to him and drew a rough sketch of his old god one, this is going to be a long drawing session.

"What's all this?" Tenmaru saw his captain sitting in a circle of crumpled up paper with his hair open and drawing with a concentrated look.

Ranmaru just hummed and continued drawing, seeing that the older man was not paying attention Tenmaru decided to eat the pudding on the nearby table.

"Damn it!" Ranmaru slammed the sketchbook on the ground, Tenmaru was scared shitless since he forgot the other was even there.

"Finally done with whatever demonic ritual you had going on?" Tenmaru picked up his pen off the floor.

"Demonic ritual!?" Ranmaru felt offended, his drawings were not that bad!

"Look at this." Tenmaru held up his phone, on the cracked screen was a picture of Ranmaru sitting in a circle of paper balls with his hair like a curtain covering his face minus the concentrated look in his eyes. Ranmaru had to admit it was creepy.

"Ah, yeah it's kinda creepy."

"Kinda?" Tenmaru raised an eyebrow.

"Fine, very creepy."

"What are you making anyway?"

"My uniform, I need to wear specific clothes for my godly duties."

"Let's take a look then." Tenmaru picked up the sketch book from the floor.

"It's still very rough."

"This is so bad the author doesn't even want to describe it." Tenmaru was correct (trust me I'm saving y'all)

"Way to break the fourth wall Tenchan, anyways do you have any better ideas?"

"Many, how about Bon san, Ashiya kun and I design it?" Tenmaru suggested.

Ranmaru liked the idea, in a way the three could be with him metaphorically while away. He can also show off that he had people who cared about him regardless of what he was.

"Ok! But you three better not make me look like a clown."

"We would never. It's not possible to make someone look like something they already are." Tenmaru smirked.

"Why you little-" Ranmaru tried to grab him but the other dodged.

Tenmaru later got bonked for eating Ranmaru's pudding (which he stole from Ashiya)

Chapter Text

Due to various shenanigans the three gods needed to be called along with their supervisors.

"Is this really what you three have to deal with?" One of the supervisor's said.

"Yep, can't blame me trying to kill him now can you?"

The three supervisors exchanged glances.
"Byakko san's so mean!!!!!" Haruaki cried.

"Shut up!"

"Byakko please calm down......." Seiryuu was a little annoyed at Byakko for screaming at Haruaki but won't show it, he didn't want to admit he'd gotten attached to the human much like with his ancestor.

Poor Seiryuu got a kick to the ribs by Byakko as a response.

"Haruaki kun, here." Genbu handed him a handkerchief.

"This is why you're my favorite Genbu." Haruaki wiped his tears.

"Thanks?" Genbu didn't know how to respond.

"Where's that damn bird?" Byakko scanned the area looking for the familiar face.

"He's on the mainland for personal reasons, won't be back until day after tomorrow." Douman slid next Byakko immediately knowing who he was looking for.

"You little—" Byakko was pinned to the ground by his supervisor.

"Is it possible for us to know what kind of reason?" Genbu's supervisor asked.

"No."

"Shame we were looking forward to meeting him." Seiryuu's supervisor said, his smile didn't quite reach his eyes.

(Meanwhile)

"Sensei how are you feeling?" Kai handed him a glass of water.

"Much better than if I asked Akira kun to do it."

(Flashback)

Ranmaru breathed heavily as he felt his temperature rise, his body was preparing itself to be able to withstand his fire lest he be burned again. This was just as painful if not worse than his body getting colder and colder after he fell, at least when he fell the heat was short lived unlike this one.

"Hello Kai kun, it's been a while...."

Ranmaru didn't want his family to worry too much so he decided to spend the last week of the transformation with Kai kun in his personal clinic to watch and monitor his condition.

(Present)

Ranmaru had currently just finished a thorough wing examination. There were still a few stray back feathers at the base but the rest had fallen off, his wings had also gotten a onrageish hue over the red now.

Just like fire.

He didn't know how to admit to the fact that his mental health had ben slowly declining for a while now, he didn't want to leave his family to become the heavens puppet again......

"Sensei?" Kai put a hand on his shoulder.

"Ah, sorry- uh well—"

"It's ok sensei, just remember I'm also a psychologist not just a physical doctor."

"I know Kai kun, thanks for everything so far."

"No problem, I am your favorite student after all."

"That you are."

(On the island.)

Unfortunately for Douman the gods hadn't left, last time they were here there was too much chaos with Reiki to look around according to them. The supervisors also seemed too egar to 'look around'.

"Aww they're so cute!" Seiryuu cooed at the mandragoda on the school roof.

"Oi, didn't you feel insulted being compared to them during our fight?" Mame glared at the god.

"He what!?" Many of the small plant yokai began cursing him.

"It's not that I don't like them, it the fact that you insulted the range of plants I can grow and their quantity by comparing me to them."

"Oi! The heck are you talking about?" Marshmallow threw himself against the God's chest, it hurt like hell due to the after effects of Byakko's kick.

But Seiryuu didn't care since the plump yokai looked adorable when angry.

"Well, you guys can only grow certain types of flowering plants and fruites in the nightshade family right?"

"That's old news! We can grow anything Seimei kun asks us to! He doesn't need an overgrown lizard like you!" Marshmallow squirmed in the god's hands trying to break free.

"Oh really? I should really chatch up with the times then. Also, I know he doesn't need me, no one ever really does. I just like that someone as useless as me can get some semblance of priority with this contract."

The rooftop went silent.

"Hey! You're in charge of supervising this guy right?" Kawai chan pulled the other God's kimono.

"Yes, why?"

"Get him here on his days off!"

"Who are you to make demands of me!?"

"Kiyokaru kun please don't hurt them. Why do you want me to come here?" Seiryuu picked up the small yokai.

"To work on your self esteem."

"You've got high pride yet your self esteem is in the dirt. We're going to fix that!" Mame said.

"Guess you can't hide anything from animal instincts."

"It's common sense. Plus you literally just insulted yourself."

"Whatever, I'm not spending my days off here!" Kiyokaru said.

"You have no choice, your job is to be with me 24/7 when I'm out of the house."

"This job is a punishment for us supervisors more that you three."

"Too bad."

Byakko looked around at the jewellry on the roadside stand many of the other items were quite odd, why was there a cursed statue next to a probably fake diamond ring? Hell if he knew.

"Ah, this one!" He went to pick up a hairstick which looked like a sunflower but someone else beat him to it.

"This would look so pretty in your hair Kuniko chan~"

"Akira san you know I'm not a hairstick person, they keep falling out!" The guys daughter said.... Wait wasn't she in Haruaki's class?

"Fine~ I thought I could spoil you today at least." The guy kept the hairstick down.

Byakko picked it up, he's not sure why he liked it so much since it's not the style he usually wears.
"Hello Byakko san!" The girl said, here Byakko thought he could get away silently.

"You know him Kuniko chan?"

"Yeah, he's the God who tried to kill Seimei and is now under a contract with him." The girl said, if Byakko was correct her name was Utagawa.

"He... Tried to kill Abe sensei? I know I promised to behave on our outing but can't help but be mad..... And a little curious.♡" The guy began panting and eyes appeared all over his body.

"Don't worry Akira san, we can have fun examining them together." The girl jumped onto the man's back.

Byakko felt like he got violated just by the guy looking at him, he better leave before he actually gets violated.

Byakko quickly paid for the stick and ran with his supervisor and the crazy guy carrying his daughter right on his heels.

"WHY THE HELL ARE YOU AFTER ME TOO!?" Baykko's supervisor screamed.

"You're a God too aren't you~ ♡" The yokai pulled out something from his sleeve, an injection with a bright pink liquid.

"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT BYAKKO! I HATE THIS JOB!"

"JUST STHUT UP AND RUN YOU FOOL!"

Genbu walked along the entertainment district street, there wasn't much hustle and bustle due to being the middle of the day. He'd heard there was a live house nearby where you could win instruments if you played it the best, he did need a new gituar since the old one got broken by his boss. Hope the asshole falls down the third story window.

"Hey there handsome, going anywhere special?" A rough voice says.

The two gods turn to the source and see a muscular man with brown hair and glasses leaning against a wall, smokinga ciggarette and wearing a tight red dress that looks even shorter and sexier due to his build.

"Nowhere important, but willing to go wherever you lead us" Genbu's supervisor walked over.
Genbu sometimes thinks he's the one supervising.

"Hirio san, this is literally how you get scammed."

"Or laid." Hirio's face got turned to look back at the guy.

"Wanna find out which one lucky boy?" The brunette whispers into his ear.

"Hell yeah!"

(Later)

"It was a scam....." Hirio stood outside the club in a revealing top and skirt set.

"Told you so." Genbu held his red guitar case close to his chest as he read the prices of the drinks. What a ripoff!

"OI YOU BUM HURRY UP AND PULL THE GUY IN!" The old madam screamed.

Genbu proceeded to run like his life (well his wallet did) depended on it.

Chapter Text

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/491980057066340392/1411258197406253197/-8bdhl1.jpg?ex=68b4001e&is=68b2ae9e&hm=62ee0b0601ca2f1e969ebca41cd8b57cec44cefc668b110e5c3e89431d32bfcc&

Thank you @etsukiharu ffor drawing this 💜🖤

Chapter Text

Screams filled the air as the two tengu held onto the man in between them, hard enough to draw blood. But the screams were from them, not him.

"It's ok now you two...... Shhh I'm here....." Ranmaru tried his best to soothe them with his limited upper body movements, he doesn't remember the last time they had such intense nightmares. Was it because he'd be leaving tomorrow? No way, he's getting too ahead of himself.

"We're.....sorry.... So so.... Sorry!"

"What on earth do you have to be sorry for Benchan?"

"For......making you.........turn us into yokai....obviously." Tenmaru coughed and ended up scratching Ranmaru's arms further.

"Wha– I did that on my own free will! It was your emotions and desires that facilitated becoming yokai anyways, I just gave the final push. So I can't accept an apology for something I wasn't forced to do Yuuchan."

"Liar!" Bonmaru punched his chest, there was no force in it.

"Just admit you regret turning us already!" Another weak punch.

"Why do you force yourself to stay with us?" Tenmaru looked up at the older man.

"I could ask you two the same thing, why stick with me? Why do you two go along with my money schemes? Why do you two just not leave no matter how angry I make you?" Ranmaru thought it was a bad, horrible time for himself to break down. But maybe he might get answers to his questions?

"We....."

"You see...."

The two looked at each other then back to Ranmaru.

"You're family, the only family we've got." They said in unision.

"That's the answer to your question as well." Ranmaru pulled them close.

"You cheater! You need to give us a proper answer!" Tenmaru used some force to push the three of them down.

"It's the truth! My answer would be the same as yours!"

"Then say it!" Bonmaru held Ranmaru's face "look us in the eyes and say it!"

"I don't regret turning you two into yokai, didn't back then, don't now and never will." Ranmaru cupped the two's faces "we're family after all."

"Thank.... You....." Bonmaru hugged the other two tightly.

"Can you let go and bring the medical kit? We made a pretty bloody mess of the captain." Tenmaru tried to break free.

"Holy shit! One second!" Bonmaru finally took a good look at Ranmaru from the moonlight that was streaming in through the broken window.

"I'll turn on the light." Tenmaru did as he said.

"It's not that bad you two, I'll do it myself."

"We did this to you so we'll bandage it too. There's blood so the wounds need to be cleaned and disinfected." Bonmaru came back.

"I'll get the basen and cloth." Tenmaru hurried to the bathroom.

And so the next 30 minutes were spent dressing the wounds.

"You guys really do love me<3" Ranmaru teased.

"Shut up!" Both the younger men hid their blushing faces.

Thank goodness they were back to normal.

"Come on now kids it's time for bed." Ranmaru turned off the light.

"We're over 800 years old!" Bonmaru retorted.

"And I'm over 2000, now go to sleep."

The three layed down again and fell asleep, but the two tengu left their beds to hug Ranmaru in their sleep.

Chapter Text

"This feels weird." Ranmaru stood in the field that Inari told him about wearing his new work uniform. Apparently it was going to be a ritual that'll officially restor his godhood.

"Hope it's not a repeat of the last time." Douman lit his ciggarette and inhaled deeply.

"What kind of ritual even is this, there's no equipment or even people here." Bonmaru being a former monk had performed his fair share of ritualistic duties, then again he had no clue on how gods did rituals.

Tenmaru nodded, growing up in a temple made him familiar with many practices even if he never participated in any formally.

"It will likely start once-" Ranmaru got tied with a red and white rope, fuck!

"Ran-" Douman and the other two were tied up too, no no no not again!

Small fires lit up all over Ranmaru's body and snaked from the outside towards the center forming hot and bright vein like patterns all over him, the bandages on his arms and chest burned off below the fabric of his kariginu and the wounds from last night opened up intensifying the pain even more.

Even with the deep red colour of the outer robe the blood was clearly visible on the fabric with the pain of it all causing a deafening scream to come out of Ranmaru's mouth, like that of a beast beyond the earth.

Tears evaporated not long after leaving his eyes, literally boiling away from the heat inside him.

After what felt like an eternity the pain died down and with no longer hearing his own screams Ranmaru could hear Douman and his brothers calling for him.

"...... Ugh– bufl!" Ranmaru covered his mouth to stop himself from vomiting.

He was handed a vomit bag and let everything out.

"That's it let everything out." A hand stroked his back, Ranmaru realized the voice was Kai's.

"What the hell happened?" He chocked out after emptying his stomach and bag being thrown.

"According to the principal you quote 'got tied up, burst into flames and fainted right after' he didn't mention about how you got the wounds on your arms and chest."

"Got scrached yesterday by the two men with him, they didn't mean to hurt me." Ranmaru touched his rebandaged chest. Kai looked a little puzzled at that.

"I see.... Anything else other than the vomiting just now?" The red head took a clipboard from the side table.

"Nothing other than my ears lightly ringing, where are the three anyways?" Ranmaru layed back down.

"Three?"

"Aachan and the two guys with him."

"There were three people with the princpal. A short guy with very deep purple hair, a brunette with glasses and a kitsune with red hair." Kai assumed the kitsune was actually a God when he saw the three with Douman when Ranmaru was brought in and Ranmaru's expression shift at the mention of the kitsune confirmed it.

"Where are they right now?"