Nikö

“Aren’t these demon-shanking moments supposed to bring us closer?”
Nikö flashed a crooked smile and scratched the back of her neck.
“Are you allergic to me or something? You keep, um, scratching.”
“No. It’s just a thing.”
“See, right there. That’s what I’m talking about. What if there was an emergency? Who do I call? Where do you live? And then there’s little things like I don’t even know your name.”
“It’s Nikö.”
“What, like Superman? You just go by one name? I mean your first and last name. What did your parents name you?”
Raising the sheathed hammers above her head to stretch, she started to walk ahead but only inched forward a few steps.
“My name. I’m not called by a name where I’m from. A least not one you can pronounce. But I heard a human, long ago, read from a scroll describing our great deeds. In it I was known as Honsei Nichima.”
“Well, Honsei Nichima, I am honored to meet you.” His hand was not met with hers, nor were his eyes.
“Please call me Nikö. And it remains to be seen if you will remain so honored.”