Chapter 14: Chapter 14 – To Japan!

Three days had passed quickly. Kai's daily life in those three days was just as usual: opening the restaurant, working, and then training his ability with Amber at night.

The Phoenix girl was really patient with him and taught him how to control the Phoenix Fire better. Not only that, but she also taught him how to activate a barrier without using a Talisman. She said he could do it too, because of their contract.

Saying he wasn't excited to wait for this day was an understatement. He woke up at 3 AM when the people were still sleeping, and the sky was still dark. He had already prepared the necessities he needed to bring to Japan.

Change of clothes, some money, and his phone. He didn't forget to bring 3 Talismans he got from looting the troublemaker and the gun, slipping them inside his bag.

Usually, he should be worried about bringing a gun. But Amber's suggestion of their transportation had made him calm.

They plan on doing something special to get to Japan.

"Kai, are you ready?" Amber opened the door of his room and entered. Looking at him stuffing his last clothes into his bag, she continued. "It looks like you're ready."

"Yeah." Kai nodded, smiling at Amber. "We are going now?"

"Yes! Let's go to Japan."

"I can't wait anymore."

***

During their talk and planning for the last three days, they finally decided on their means of transportation.

First of all, Kai was not a wealthy man. He didn't have a lot of money to spend on transportation, and Amber had no money at all because she didn't need it.

He suggested they should sell something in Kai's room to get the money, but Amber quickly shot his idea down, saying she had perfect transportation. They were in the Supernatural World, so why limit themselves to normal transportation?

Kai didn't think of that at all and immediately agreed to Amber's idea without hearing it first. It was his mistake; he couldn't take his words back. Because right now, he kind of regretted it.

[How is the air up there, Kai? You're fine, right?] Amber's voice resounded in his head.

"I am fine, but… I certainly didn't expect this kind of transportation!" Kai shouted.

Currently, they were in the sky with Kai riding a massive bird with flaming wings and tails. Its head looked like a crane with a long neck with a feathered crest adorning it. If someone saw the bird, one would immediately scream it was a Phoenix.

That bird was Amber's true form; her figure was easily bigger than 10 meters. It wasn't her true size, but it was enough to fly with Kai on her back. He sat silently, feeling the air brushing past his face as his hair danced in the air.

[Hahaha, but it is fast and free! I can fly, so we don't really need transportation in the first place!] Amber replied. [Also, I have put the same barrier to keep myself from being seen by satellite and below. Don't worry about it!]

"That's not what I am worried about. Are you sure it is fine, me sitting on your back?"

[If it's you, then I don't mind. Hold on tight, Kai. I will increase our speed so we can arrive in Japan in an hour.]

"J-Just be careful not to hit any plane." He begged. It would be bad if they hit a plane because Amber was too excited.

[Don't worry about that! We won't be hurt even if we hit a plane head-on.]

"That's not what I mean, but whatever."

Amber's answer baffled him and made him worried at the same time, inviting a wry smile. They wouldn't be hurt even if they hit a plane? How strong was Amber?

Still, that didn't mean the plane would be okay. It would fall, and he didn't want to create any unnecessary trouble.

'Let's just hope we arrive safely.'

***

Kai had forgotten something important. Something called a timezone existed, and he chose to go to Japan early in the morning. He arrived in Kyoto in just a 2 hour flight; it was fast.

Amber proudly puffed her chest and asked him to compliment her, and so he did so. She really worked hard, making his heart beat faster every time she increased her speed. She was faster than the plane because she didn't need to rest or stop at the airport.

Still, when they arrived, it was already 8 PM in Japan. So there was a 13 hours difference in time which he had forgotten like a fool. No, he didn't even think they would arrive in Japan in only 2 hours. He had been expecting 11 hours of trips.

The first thing he did wasn't walk around but check in at an inn with Amber because it was already night. They wouldn't be able to get a room if they were too late.

"This is a nice room," Amber exclaimed as she entered the room they had rented for a week. They had gotten a good deal and managed to cheaply secure a room in the ryokan in the middle of Kyoto.

The ryokan – a traditional inn in Japan – also had a hot bath they could use right outside their room. It was a private bath.

"Indeed." Kai followed from behind and closed the sliding door, entering the room with traditional Japanese ambiance and decoration. The room was big, with enough room for a few people and furniture. A door on the right of the room was a closet and where their bedding was located.

"The receptionist said there are two futons, some kind of bedding, in this room, so we can just sleep together."

'Still, why do people always think that we are a couple?' His eyes darted at Amber, who opened the sliding door to reveal the

Right. The receptionist thought they were a couple, so she offered a special discount for a couple in a room. At first, Kai was about to rent two rooms, but the discount made him think twice. Thankfully, Amber didn't really mind because she wouldn't sleep at night, to begin with.

A Mythical Beast didn't need to sleep, unlike a human.

As Amber looked around the room, he began to unload his clothes into the closet.

"Hmm, I like this room." She hummed with a bright smile. "Kai, if you are done, let's take a look at some shrines! You might be able to see a Spirit Fox if you're lucky."

"A Spirit Fox?" He asked, glancing at Amber.

"Yes. They are often found in shrines around Japan. They are small and cute, so you will like them."

'Spirit Fox, huh?' He mused in his mind.

He had heard about a Mythical Beast, Nine-tailed Kitsune called Kyubi no Kitsune from Japan. Kitsune meant fox; maybe they were related to one another?

Anyway, he had planned to have fun and enjoy the Supernatural World while he was in Japan. He wouldn't refuse such an invitation.

"Sure. Can I pat them if I meet any?"

"You can." She giggled. "That's just like you, really curious about the Supernatural World."

"I can't deny it." He shrugged his shoulders after pushing his bag inside the closet and closed it. Turning to Amber, he smirked. "I am a man driven by my curiosity."