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The darkness was perfect. It was not an exaggeration to say I couldn't see my own hand in front of my face. There was no light present at all. I fumbled in front of me for the door of the cabinet I had been locked inside, only to fall flat on my face. A spotlight suddenly shone down on me, revealing a pristine white floor, perfectly smooth and free of blemishes. I stood up, and stepped out of the spotlight. I immediately fell into the darkness.

And then I saw the light again, as I crashed into an identical circle on the floor.

I looked back where I came, expecting to see a second light, but instead saw nothing. It was as if I had fallen back where I started. I carefully edged to the border of the white light, and pressed my hand to the floor, only to have it go right through, exactly where the light ended, as if the light was making the ground solid. Then I heard laughter. The laughter of an old, feeble man.

"Always amusing to see the lesser ones try and flee."

"Indeed," I heard another voice, "Though, he figured out he wasn't going anywhere faster than most."

"Perceptive," the first voice croaked, "Which is why he's here, of course."

"Indeed," a third voice said. "Shame, really. Seems like a bright guy. Not very athletic or charismatic, but intelligent nonetheless."

"Benten-sama, you're not sweet on the poor guy, are you?" The second voice broke into a hearty chuckle.

"No, Hotei." The third voice, the only one even remotely female sounding, replied, "Just stating the facts."

This whole time, I could not see where the voices were coming from. Aside from the light that I was now sitting cross-legged on, there was nothing. I was tense, becoming less scared and more angry as these beings that I couldn't even see talked down on me. As if sensing my emotions, the first voice spoke again.

"I say it's time he saw what powers lie beyond his world." Suddenly, more spotlights shone around me, seven in all, in a perfect circle. Within three of the seven circles sat massive beings, having the appearance of men but with the proportions of giants, all looking down on me. The center-most of the three was a man that looked very old and very frail, with a forehead of almost hilarious height. To his right sat a fat man that looked very similar to the traditional depictions of Buddha. To the left of the man sat a rather curvy female of mesmerizing beauty. My eyes lingered upon her for a bit too long, and she gave a wink that shocked me back into awareness.

I turned and stared right into the eyes of the man in the middle. "Alright, Forehead. Where am I and why am I here?"

The man balked for a moment, then burst out into another feeble chuckle. "Boy, you got guts, I'll give you that. My name's Fukurokuju. And I, along with these two here," He raised his arms to the side as if to indicate the people next to him, though it looked more like a shrug, "Are going to decide your fate for the rest of your life, if you are going to have one at all."

It was my turn to balk. "Excuse me, but I think I should have some say in what happens to me."

"It would be wise for you to listen, and not speak," the female said.

"I'd listen to her," the fat man added. "She is a goddess of wisdom after all."

I looked at the fat man, and let him know just what was going through my mind at the time. "I'll try to keep that in mind, Fatty."

"Fat and happy," the man corrected, much to my dismay. "But perhaps you best hold your tongue, lest you lose it."

"I think I'll keep my ton--" I was cut off suddenly, and felt the first pangs of true fear I had felt since entering this darkness. My tongue was suddenly gone. Like it had never existed.

"And here I thought you said he was smart," spoke the fat man. I was awestruck when I looked up at him. In his hands was a stick, seemingly no bigger than a toothpick in his hands due to his size. He held the stick over a fire, and it took my brain a few seconds to register what was on the end of the stick. He was roasting my tongue. Over an open fire. Even if I could speak properly, I don't think I could have managed words.

"Oh, Hotei. I think you broke him, poor thing. That was a little harsh, though. Even the smartest of men will do stupid things if they don't know all the facts. Then again, the smartest of men know when they don't have all the facts."

"Does that mean I can't eat his tongue?"

"Sure, you can. As long as you replace it. After all, he can't well defend himself or his actions if he doesn't have a tongue to speak with."

"Ah. Well," I watched helplessly as he swallowed my tongue, "Thanks for the meal!"

Thankfully I felt my tongue back in my mouth within moments, as if it had never been gone. It wasn't as if it had been ripped out and regrown. It was simply not there, and then it was. Still, nothing quite like not having a tongue to make you grateful for having one.

"Well, speak up," Fukurokuju said, but I kept silent I was too afraid of what would happen next. "Ah, I was afraid of that. Hotei, how many centuries have you been a god? You should know better than to behave that way."

"So...you really are gods?" I spoke up, meekly. I could feel my voice wavering. I was truly terrified of the beings before me now. Though somehow, deep down, I knew that there was someone else I was more terrified of. I don't know why that thought crossed through my mind at that moment, but...

"Yes, we are three of the seven gods known as the Seven Lucky Gods. As I said before, I am Fukurokuju, god of longevity. This is Lady Benten, goddess of wisdom, and Hotei, god of happiness. If you like, you can call me Forehead. It's easier to remember, after all." He laughed his feeble laugh once more, and I could help but smile a little, despite myself. "Now, to the matter at hand. You are here because you saw something you shouldn't. Something that must remain in the spiritual world, and not in the mortal world. If you have anything to say, say it now. If not, you may choose between imprisonment in our world, having us alter your mind so as to pose no threat to us, or death."

"All because I saw Tamamo's ears? I have to choose between imprisonment or death because someone else showed me something I wasn't supposed to see?"

"Wait, I thought he was here because he saw the kitsune send us the old lecher in the hotel?" Hotei spoke up.

"Oh, my. This complicates matters. We were only aware that you had seen her capture the creature. You say you saw her ears?"

"Yeah, I-"

"There's a fourth option, if you're willing. It will be hard, though, and your life will still never be the same." Benten finally spoke up, suddenly seeming alarmingly serious in contrast to her relaxed attitude earlier. "We can make you a spirit. If you are a part of this world, and abide by its laws, then there is less risk of you exposing it. You will still be able to interact with the mortal world as you always have, and move around freely. However, know this: if you agree to this, and you still do something that endangers this world, the punishment will be far more severe than what we offer now."

"You are sweet on him, aren't you?"

"Silence, Hotei. You are still a child. Sometimes I wonder why you were allowed to be a part of us."

"Hush, now, Benten. Hotei. And let us listen."

"May I ask a question?"

"You may." Forehead smiled, a slight smile directed at me that he seemed to keep hidden from the others.

"What made you change your mind? Why are you suddenly willing to let me be a part of your world, when you were so eager to end my life to protect it before?"

Fukurokuju chuckled again. He seemed to have predicted my question. From the looks of it, Benten had too, and she had a look I would go so far as to call admiration in her eye. She smiled and answered, "Because you're already a part of it."

***

I wouldn't be able to resume my life for some time, though exactly how long was unsure, they said. I'd be living in a manor as a guest, located somewhere in the mountains of Europe. There, I would be instructed and trained, given lectures on history and culture that any child of the spirit world would have been given. Arrangements were to be made to ensure that my place in life would not be lost unduly. Should I remain longer than my allotted vacation time, which was likely, another spirit would take my place in my job for a time, posing as me. Normally I would have objected to this, but I was too dumbfounded when they told me to argue.

I still didn't understand what they said about me already being part of the spirit world. I was never afforded the chance to ask about it, either. I wondered if it might have something to do with the two worlds comment Tamamo had made, but I didn't know if I would ever see her again to ask.

The door I stepped through when it appeared seemed like a perfectly normal, if overly ornate door. Its appearance belied its impact on my life, for it was the doorway to a very strange, new future. My future.