You Illuminate My Path

(Y/n)'s P.O.V

"What?" I ask dumbfounded. They all nod. "Two months," Tomoe repeats.
"Two months?"
"Two months, now stop asking."
It felt like I died a little inside every time he said 'two months'. Shaking my head, I try to replay everything I remember since Alicja showed up at the shrine. The church, walking, the library, the fight.....then waking up in prison. Have I really been out for that long?
"(Y/n)," Nanami says carefully, afraid that I might snap at her. I turn to look at her.
"Any updates on Onikiri and Kotetsu?"
Hearing their names make me upset.
"No," I whisper just loud enough for them to hear. Nanami bowes her head.
"Let's go home," Tomoe insists.

***

When we arrive at the shrine I'm pleased to see that everything has gone back to normal. Tomoe sends Kurama away with a threat and starts to cook dinner. Throughout those two months they haven't found a way to become friends, I see. Sad.
Sitting down, eating (favorite food) a thought hit me. Actually it hit me so hard I fell slightly backwards. (Hehehe)
When Tomoe helped me escape, it went too easy. No guards, no nothing. It's quite suspicious...

I put my empty plate/ bowl aside and go to my room. Nothing has changed.
Walking to my closet to change into something comfortable, I see my phone laying on top of my desk. "I wonder..." I mutter to myself. Picking up the phone I type in the password that I surprisingly still remember. I've gotten a few messages. One of them came from a classmate.

"Hey (Y/n)!
Just wanna check up on how you're doing? You didn't show up for finals and no one has heard from you...so...where are you? Are u okay?"

I sigh, moving on to the next message.

"(Y/n)? You okay?"

It was from Hazel. I immediately type in my reply.

"Yeah..."
"No you're not. Tell me."

She replied almost instantly.

"I uh...I've been kidnapped and been out for two months. Also I still can't find Onikiri and Kotetsu..."

"(Y/n)?" I hear someone say behind me.
It's Hazel. She has her arms wide open and I don't hesitate. I start crying.
She pats my back lightly. "Aw, don't cry."
"I can't help it," I sob.

Finally when all the crying's over we sit down and talk.
"This reminds me of the old times, ya' know?" I say, laughing. "It sure does!"
"So...how come you showed up so quickly?" I ask.
Hazel stares into the distance for a moment before answering.
"I'll always be there for you," she says.
"Aw, sweet."
"Shut up!"
We both start laughing.
"So about that Tomoe guy..." Hazel begins.
"Don't even get me started," I warn.
Giggling, she backs off.

.......

"What about Nanami?"
"Hm?"
"Nanami. How is she?"
I sigh heavily, not trying to hide my annoyance at all. She arches her eyebrow at my reaction.
"She's fine," I say, "but she won't be if she messes with me."
Her eyebrow arches once again. Ugh.
"It's just....I hate her?!" I say a little louder than I expected.
"Why? I think she seems nice," Hazel states.
"She is, but...ugh..."
"How did you two start? Good or bad?"
I sigh. "Good."
"Then what happened?"
Thinking it through, she says: "Take your time. Imma go get some water."
She stands up and heads toward the door before I tell her to wait. Hazel turns around, confused.
"What if Tomoe sees you? Or Nanami for instance?" I ask.
"What's wrong with them seeing me?"
Her eyes widen.
"Does Tomoe think that...I tried to kill you?"
"Well, yeah," I say. "She looked like you...a lot.."
"And you didn't tell him that it wasn't me?" she asks. Her voice is calm. If anything I want her to yell at me. Tell me that I'm a horrible friend because I feel like one. How could I not tell Tomoe about my best friend? I shake my head at her question. Hazel cracks the door open and looks outside, then back at me.
"You have your chance to tell him now," she says. My eyes widen. Now? How the hell can I go over this with Tomoe now?
Getting up, I look through the crack and see Tomoe cooking our dinner. I slam the door shut. "What the he-" "I can't tell him now." She raises her eyebrows. "Care to tell me why? You're making such a big fuss over it. Just go out there and say: Hey Tomoe, that girl who tried to kill me a while ago is actually my best friend and she doesn't mean any harm, okay?"
She made a peace sign and tried to act cute. I swear...

Opening the door, I rehearse what I'm going to say. "Stay here, okay? Don't come outside unless I tell you to."
Hazel nods and makes herself comfortable while messing around with some of my belongings. I step into the kitchen and forget everything that I'm supposed to say when Tomoe sees me.
"Oh, there you are," he says, smiling ever so slightly. "Is something the matter? You look...nervous."
I gulp. How am I supposed to formulate it?! Taking a deep breath, I say: "Tomoe, we need to talk."
Oh no, it sounds like something terrible happened to me...
He looks at me with wide eyes. "What's wrong?" "I uh...we should probably sit down." I gesture towards the table. He nods. "So...?"
"So...um, that girl who tried to kill me, the one stepped out of the portal?" I pause. Tomoe nods once again. "She...she is actually my best friend..."
Tomoe looks so confused that I'm tempted to go get my phone and take a picture and put it as my screensaver.
"Her?!" he exclaims.
"Hold up! I'm not done yet," I say, raising my arms. Tomoe calms down, but I can tell that he has a lot of questions running through his mind. "My best friend...is not actually the girl who tried to kill me. They both just look alike. Hazel could never do such a thing to me. To anyone."
"So...doppelgängers?"
"Somewhat. I have no idea what that monster was, but it's most definitely not Hazel."
I look at Tomoe who looks everywhere else but at me. "That's weird..." he mutters. I bite my lip. "Do you want to meet her?" He looks up in shock, but then calms down. "Of course."

"Hazel, you can come out now!" I call. After a short while she walks in. "Sup."
Tomoe just glares at her. He doesn't look too happy...
Clearing my throat, I introduce them to one another. "Tomoe, this is Hazel. Hazel, Tomoe." They both just nod at each other.
"Tomoe!" I hear someone call. Nanami barges through the kitchen door. She stops abruptly and glares at the three of us. "Who is she?" she asks, pointing a finger at my best friend. Then she realizes...

"Oh my goodness (Y/n) get back, she's here to harm you!" Nanami yells while pushing me to the back of the room.
I push her away from me. "For f's sake, Nanami! Do you see a battle going on in here? Cause' I friggin' don't," I snap.
Hazel glares at me. I huff and walk back to the table where the others are.
Hazel reaches her hand out to Nanami.
"Hi, I'm Hazel."
Nanami looks at Hazels hand for a moment before deciding to take it.
"I'm Nanami, nice to meet you!"
I feel like gagging. This girl is too much.

We all sit down and discuss a few things. Make things clear. "Oh, I see," Tomoe says. "So you two met as children and went to the same school until you," he points at me, " had to move out of town due to your fathers work." Hazel and I nod. Yep. We're lying to his face, but it's the only way. I can't tell them that I went from living a normal life to being zapped into another world where I'm a goddess.
"But, (Y/n), where's your father now?" Nanami asks. I stare at the table. "Somewhere out there," I whisper. There are no further questions. Hazel gets up.
"It was really nice meeting you guys, but I have to leave now."
She walks outside while waving back at me.

"She's nice," Nanami mutters. I can only agree. Then suddenly, from the corner of my eye I see a rabbit. It bows. "Hello miss (Y/n). I've been sent here to deliver you an invitation." The rabbit hands me a decorated piece of paper. "The council would like for you to attend a meeting."
Then it disappears.
I read the invitation out loud.

"Greetings, (Y/n).
We would like to invite you and Lady Nanami for dinner while discussing some current issues revolving around your shrine spirits. We can't wait to see you.
The council."

Looking up at Tomoe I raise an eyebrow.
"Looks like we're gonna have to find you two some traditional wear." He sighs.

Aaaah I haven't updated in so long.
Sorry ;-;
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'll try to update again as soon as possible!