Interview with the Yokai

Chapter 7

" Let's see how long you can keep that smart mouth," Tanahashi said and nodded at Kanto and Tobe who each grabbed one of Shoji arms. This was getting extreme even for Tanahashi, he usually wouldn't get this violent. He might bully someone here or there, but he never really hurt anyone, today seemed different, he seemed like he was going to really hurt Shoji.

Tanahashi reached back and Shoji prepared himself for the pain that was going to come when his fist made impact, but it never came. Tanahashi's fist went back and kept going back until he was lifted off of his feet and thrown over Noriko's shoulder crashing face forward, planting into the ground. Kanto and Tobe let go of Shoji and charged at Noriko, Shoji sprang forward to try and even the odds, but both Kanto and Tobe were taken care of the instant they came in contact with Noriko. As Kanto charged, Noriko sidestepped, stuck out her foot, causing Tanto to lose his balance and with a violent swing of her arm chopped Kanto at the base of his skull causing him to go limp and fall to the ground like a sandbag. At the same moment that she swung to chop at Kanto, Noriko grabbed Tobe's hand mid punch, she twisted it upwards, used the same momentum from her chop, to spin her body so that her back to was to Tobe's, and leaning forward drove Tobe into the ground with an earth shattering Shoulder Toss.

" You bitch, why don't you mind your own business!," Tanahashi screamed, he got to his feet and charged at Noriko. Tanahashi had a stick in his hand taking wild swings at Noriko, but none of them landed. Noriko wasn't fazed at all, she simply dodged every attack like fighting and armed opponent was ordinary for her. Finally Noriko made her move, she sidestepped one of Tanahashi's swings, spun, got behind him, and then in one motion, she drove her knee into the back of Tanahashi's knee, while pushing his head down. Tanahashi's forward momentum sent him careening towards the wall in front of him, his head had a short but violent competition with the wall to see which was harder. Tanahashi was on the ground, he turned to lay on his back, blood trickling down from his forehead.

" I thought I made myself clear last time, if I caught you bullying Shoji-san again you would be dealing with me. Now get up and go," Noriko said her voice leaving no room for arguing. The three got up groaning and slowly shuffled off.

" You really saved me there, again. Thank you Noriko-san," Shoji said bowing.

" There's no need to thank me Shoji-san, what type of friend would I be if I just let those three beat you up," Noriko said, helping Shoji dust himself off. " I have to get going, I came running over here and I'm still i my Gi and sweaty from practice," Noriko said.

" Ok, I'll talk to you tonight, we're still studying right?," Shoji said.

" Yes," Noriko said as she ran off.

That was twice Noriko had saved him, not including the fact that she had fought Benihime on his behalf. Even though Noriko always acted like it was something a friend would do, Shoji knew the true feelings that motivated her actions, weren't just feelings of friendships. Noriko might not be as outright as Yayaka in stating her interest, but eventually Shoji was going to have to acknowledge them. Shoji owed Noriko that much, the only thing that worried him, was that he truly felt Noriko was a friend, that was not something he felt about the rest of the girls. He had barely ever talked to Benihime outside of school paper interviews, Yayaka was too sexually intense for him to be able to stand much time around her, and the less time spent around Mari the better. Confronting Noriko about her feelings could jeopardize the friendship they were building, perhaps it was best to let her feelings play their course.

An arm gently and swiftly wrapped itself around Shoji's shoulders, the hand that was attached to it, wrapping around his throat, a single finger gently scratched his neck. Shoji stopped dead in his tracks, his heart racing, he turned to see a smiling Mari, " stop sneaking up on me."

" It would be that easy for me, though I would never do it, that fox would lose her temper. Keep in mind though, that while that fox wants you alive, she doesn't care much about a beating or two. Noriko-chan likes you," Mari said.

" I know she has a crush, I'm not that blind when it comes to girls," Shoji said, his heart still racing.

" It's not a crush, she is falling for you, she cares about you. I don't understand why, but that's not my business, I'm her best friend and I will support her. What is my concern is you pulling another act of idiocy on the level of the one you pulled with Benihime-san, on Noriko-chan. I'm not going to force you to go out with Noriko-chan, that's not what she would want, but if your half ass, wishy-washy, nature leads to Noriko-chan being hurt because you can't make a clear decision, there will be no Noriko to save you from me. Do you understand?," Mari said, her voice in a playful tone that did not match how menacing her aura was.

" I...I understand," was all Shoji could get out.

" Good, you should buy me milk at dinner," Mari said.

" Milk?," Shoji asked.

" You may not realize this, but I'm the one who keeps telling Noriko where you are so she can save you. She might not want anything from you, but I want milk," Mari said as she ran off. Shoji was left to realize that he might not be given the option of simply letting Noriko's feelings play out for the sake of their friendship, it would be best if he resolved the issue. The only problem is that there was a lot of danger in doing that to, he did not doubt a single word of Mari's threats.