After the gods had robbed him of his own godhood, for centuries Ranmaru had just been living life. Who was he if not Suzaku? He realized that after being stripped of his position that he took his godhood for granted. He didn’t regret his decision, but now he almost wished the gods had killed him entirely. What purpose on heaven or earth did he even serve? Now that he wasn’t the Vermilion Bird, he was nothing.

He wandered aimlessly, losing track of how many years went by.

Creating the Karasu Tengu Troupe was really something to cure his boredom, and keep him distracted.

Thats why he messed with you. A spirit medium working as a librarian in the yokai academy? Now that was definitely something.

You were his favorite, while he was your least favorite. Constantly messing with you, you swore to him every day you’d exercise him, yet he always seemed to escape you. He never failed to disrupt the peacefulness of the academy library, knocking over bookshelves or filling up the checkout cards on the inside of the books. He was a nuisance to end all nuisances. What you never would’ve guessed was the emptiness that such a lively, and seemingly careless yokai harbored. He intended to keep it that way, not wanting anyone to see the vulnerable side of him, he’d lost enough pride as it was.

So as long as you never took him seriously, and never asked questions, he’d find himself enjoying your company—or rather, plaguing your personal space.

Like any day, you were sweeping the shrine you had built on the island. You were its sole caretaker, meaning you had a lot of work to do outside of being a librarian at the academy. It was always in good condition, that is if Ranmaru didn’t have anything to say about it.

He stood on the other side of the shimenawa that hung from the entrance of the shrine.

“It’s a beautiful day out, why don’t we go to the beach together?”

He asked mischievously.

“I’d love to see you in a bathing suit.”

He continued, despite knowing you’d just chase him with some talisman of yours until he was crying at your mercy.