Azrael gazed at the abandoned temple with a serious look. After catching Akeno before she sneaks away, they walked out of the town before reaching this place deep in the forest.

Japanese gods didn't really care about other supernatural beings entering their temples and shrines as long as you didn't destroy anything in it. You could say that they were rather chill people. At least less stuck up than most other gods. 

'Well, even if they were bastards, I doubt any god would still live in such dilapidated temples.'

He didn't have to wait for long before the sound of footsteps reaching him. He looked up and what he saw was a little girl wearing a blue skirt with a red tee-shirt. He smiled at this sight,

"So, this is where you live."

It was truly an inappropriate place for a child to live in. Akeno might be a supernatural being, but it didn't mean much. Even though he couldn't determinate her race, her power was clear, 

'Low-class.'

Any well-trained human with a good weapon could harm her if she wasn't careful,

'But what should I do?'

He truly wished to just take her with him to his home. But, if he did so without enough preparations, he would simply end up hurting her pride. She might be young, but in his eyes, she was far more of an adult than many ones. He decided to go slowly

"Akeno, don't you feel lonely while staying here?"

Akeno paused a little as she walked down the stair before shrugging, 

"Not really, I am used to it. Also, I am not alone, I have friends. Two to be exact."

His heart hurt at the mention of being used to loneliness. But, her mention of potential friends interested him,

"Friends? Could you let me meet them?"

This brought a much more sincere feeling on her face,

"Of course~!"

She immediately raised her hand, 

*Whistle*

A low whistle sounded. Azrael began to look around as he waited, this whistle was most likely done in order to call those so-called friends, he didn't have to wait for long,

"Oni!"

"Oni-ni!"

Two cute creatures appeared slowly from out of the bush. Azrael looked at them with wonder in his eyes. Those two little beings were just about 10 cm tall. One green and one blue, with a horn on their head.

He immediately recognized their races. They were Oni. More precisely a variant of Oni. Way weaker than the original one but more numerous. A more apt way would be to call them Imps.

The two imps continued to make their cute little cry as they slowly walked toward Akeno who bent down to pick them up.

Seeing her laugh like a normal eleven-year-old girl was truly heartwarming. The more he saw her like that, the more he wanted to know about her past.

He walked toward her, "Hey Akeno, I wanted to take a rest today. Why don't you follow me? I never really explored the town even though it has now been three months since I am here."

As he said that, he also crouched down a little and tickled the belly of the imps. The way they laughed was truly interesting. Perhaps he should also get a familiar? But with Evermillion he didn't really need one either.

Akeno, hearing his question hesitated a little before nodding shyly, it has been a long time since she truly took the time to play around. Once she left the town she didn't know if she would be able to have a day like that.

Azrael pretended to not see how her expressions darkened a little, he stopped teasing the imps and stood up before presenting his hand with an elegant bow,

"Would you give me your hand, my little lady? Let this day be a memorable one."

Akeno smiled at this theatrics and gave her hand with a haughty tone.

"You better make it one. Otherwise, Ufufufu, I will have to punish you."

'Is it me or did her personality switch a little? Na...Must have been my imagination.'