Chapter Text
The light of the dawn bathed the room in a warm, orange glow as Mika opened his eyes and yawned loudly, and unfolded his legs from underneath himself and stretched out his arms high above him, letting out a contented sigh.
"It's nice of you to finally join us, Kagehira."
Mika bolted upright and looked over to Shu, already dressed and groomed, and ready for the day. "Nnah Oshisan, why didn't ya wake m' up? I woulda got up with ya if ya woke me!"
Shu huffed and shook his head. "I need you to be in perfect condition if you're going to stand any chance of protecting me, so I'd rather you get your rest now, and be able to fight if the need arises. Now, hurry and make yourself presentable. We will eat, visit the market, and leave this town for the next."
Mika scrambled to collect his meager belongings: his only real possession he treasured was his greataxe, and the items in his satchel were inexpensive and unimportant. "I aint gotta do anything else, Oshisan, just gotta eat n' be ready fer th' day." His gaze switched from Shu down to Mademoiselle, and he gave the doll a broad smile. "I nearly forgot, g'morning Madonee!"
He looked back up to Shu, and furrowed his eyebrows at Shu's expression. It was almost vacant, like Shu was there but he was lost in deep thought. Mika tilted his head to the side and looked a little closer at Shu's face, ignoring the beauty for now, and waved his hand in front of Shu's face. "Oshi-san? Are ya feelin' okay?"
There were a few more moments of no recognition, until Shu blinked purposefully a few times and his eyes focused back on Mika. . "Kagehira, why are you so close? "
"Nnh m' sorry Oshisan, ya looked a bit confused and I was worried about ya."
"Well, there's no need for that. I am fine. Let us depart."
The pair wasted no time that morning: after a simple breakfast of bread and cheese, they made their way to a few market stalls to pick up some supplies for the road. Now that Mika was with him, Shu was able to pick a few choice articles of clothing to pack and take with them, alongside some other supplies he deemed necessary. Though, he did defer to Mika for a few choices, he regrettably informed Mika he'd never actually been on the road on his own before, so there were a few gaps to his knowledge.
"Nnah, Oshisan, if ya never travelled on yer own before, how'd ya manage to last this long with no one t' help ya?"
"If you must know, it hasn't been very long since I actually left my home. So perhaps it was the world rewarding me that I came across you so early on in my travels, so that you may carry my items and fight my battles."
"A simple thank ya would be fine, Oshisan. "
It had been a few days since the unlikely pair began travelling together, and they had formed an amicable partnership in their short time together. Admittedly, Shu was remaining rather closed off about his reasons for travelling and his life circumstances, but it hadn't bothered Mika. They found themselves enjoying the other's interests: Mika enjoyed hearing Shu talk about art and fashion and finery, and Shu found an odd comfort in hearing Mika's tales of travel and adventure, and of his life growing up in an orphanage.
Mika respected Shu's instructions, though, and didn't ask questions about the details of Shu's life that he didn't share on his own, and stayed away from the topic of Mademoiselle altogether. He did still greet her every morning though, and there had been some points where Mika noticed that vacant expression on Shu's face, before he snapped back to himself and immediately scolded Mika.
One of their biggest hurdles had been sleeping arrangements when they were too far away from an inn, though. Mika carried their two bedrolls himself, alongside their other supplies, but a bedroll on the floor was unfortunately something Shu hadn't managed to get used to in his short time travelling. Mika tried to use all his knowledge of nature to make it as comfortable as possible for the prim and proper man, but nothing could compare to a bed, and Shu's body made him painfully aware of that.
They'd made a brief stop in the City of Fairhaven, but there was a nervousness around Shu that Mika couldn't ignore, and he finally surmised it had to do with a family crest he was seeing on a lot of on soldiers, and other travellers.
Shu had finally been able to relax again once they'd left Fairhaven, and their path was leading them directly South. Shu seemed to be dead set on leaving the nation of Aundair as quickly as possible, if their pace was any indication.
But Mika couldn't keep up the pace forever. He was forgoing much of his sleep every day so that he could keep a watch every night, making sure Shu and Mademoiselle stayed protected.
It was during one of their evenings, cosied up to the base of a large tree, that Mika finally built up the courage to ask Shu. They'd been traveling together for a little over two weeks, and Mika was exhausted.
“Nnn, Oshisan, m’ sorry I gotta do this but I gotta make a request.”
Shu looked up from where he was fixing a button of Mademoiselle's dress, and raised an eyebrow at Mika, gesturing him to continue.
“I know ya hired me t’ protect ya and t’ make sure ya can sleep soundly at night and t’ make sure m’ ready t’ fight but I ain't got much sleep since I met ya, m’ afraid m’ not gonna be able t’ help ya if I don't get some more sleep soon.”
Shu looked taken back, and Mika was worried he'd vastly overstepped his position.
“Kagehira!” Mika flinched and closed his eyes at Shu's tone. “Why did you decide to keep this from me for so long? I was under the impression you were sleeping too?”
“Nnah? Oshisan I've been keepin’ watch like ya asked me to?”
“Kagehira, you already informed me on our first night that you would be able to wake up easily should anything attempt to ambush us in the night. Good grief, boy, you are useless.” Shu pointed an elegant finger at the bedroll laid out next to their fire, his face painted with determination. “Sleep, Kagehira. I may only be a human but one night of little sleep will not impact my cognitive abilities. Sleep, and rest, so that you may regain your full strength. And, furthermore, when we eventually arrive at Lathleer, we will remain at an Inn for a number of days, to allow you to rest and recover properly.”
Mika guiltily studied Shu's face, finding only anger and annoyance at Mika's misunderstanding. He sighed loudly and frowned at Shu, “but, Oshisan, you gotta-”
“Enough. Go and rest. Please.”
Mika made a noise of discontentment, but didn't dare go against Shu's order. He nodded to Shu and paced over to the bedroll, placing his greataxe next to him, before crawling in and closing his eyes. "G'night Oshisan, g'night Madonee."
Mika awoke a few hours later, bleary eyed and groggy, to the sounds of two voices behind him, towards the large tree they'd set their camp at. The one was clearly Shu's but the other sounded as though it belonged to a young girl. Mika was in half a mind to chalk it up to how tired he was, but he couldn't stop himself from listening in to the strange conversation.
"…but Shu-kun, this is partly your fault, too. You were too strict with him in the beginning, so of course he thinks he has to lose sleep for you."
The girl's voice was soft, with an almost musical quality to it, and Mika felt a warm glow within himself as the voice filled his mind.
"Hmpf, you may be right, but the boy should learn to speak his mind. He should not be as timid as a mouse when facing me. I have held his weapon of choice, and you are aware of how monstrously heavy it is. Kagehira is strong in body, and should be strong in mind to match.
"Oh Shu-kun, you really are an idiot~"
"Mademoiselle, please."
Mika inhaled sharply at the name. 'Madonee? Nn he can't mean th' doll, right? Why's she never spoke t' me before?'
The girl sighed softly, and Mika heard a faint rustling of leaves. "I am you, and you are me, Shu-kun. We both know in your heart that you must give him permission to match you: you are headstrong, but he hasn't left your side, yet."
Shu audibly clicked his tongue, "He simply requires my money, Mademoiselle. That is all."
"If you believe that, you're more stupid than I thought, Shu-kun."
The guilt of eavesdropping was becoming far too much for Mika to bear. He coughed loudly and turned to sit up in the bedroll, purposefully not looking over to Shu. "Nnn, 'm sorry fer listenin' in to ya talkin' but I woke up n' ya were chattin' n' I thought I coulda ignored ya but I couldn't n'… if there's somethin' ya don' want me t' see then 's fine, I can lay back down n' pretend all this was jus' a dream, kay?"
There were a few beats of silence, and Mika was worried Shu had simply up and left, before there was a quiet command from the girl. "Shu-kun… Tell him."
Shu was quiet for a few moments longer, but a defeated sigh passed his lips. "Fine, but only because you wish it, Mademoiselle. Kagehira? You may cease averting your eyes."
Mika nodded and turned towards the voices, his eyes widened with confusion at the sight he was presented with. A small girl, around the age of twelve, was perched very neatly on Shu's folded up bedroll: long, golden hair flowed over her shoulders and down her back, her eyes, a blue as crystal clear as The Silver Lake, and her dress was pristinely laid out around her. What struck Mika the most, however, was Shu's expression. He was guarded, suspicious almost, like a mother lion ready to pounce and tear to shreds anyone who dared come too close to her cubs. But Mika was smart: smarter than he gave himself credit for, anyway. He didn't understand much of the situation that has presented itself, albeit unwillingly, to him, but he knew one thing.
"Madonee?"
The girl smiled warmly, the corners of her eyes crinkling as she did so. "Hello, Mika-chan. It's so nice to finally meet you."
"Hmpf, you say that as though you haven't been talking about him constantly, Mademoiselle."
Mademoiselle giggled, a pearl of laughter that resonated within Mika and brought forth the warmth once again.
"Fufu, Shu-kun, you know it's different for me to talk out here than it is to talk in your mind~."
Shu sighed and rolled his eyes, but Mika noticed the corner of his lips twitch almost imperceptibly.
Mika's gaze flicked between the two, his mind racing and his body tensed like a coil, wanting to spring open and expel all his energy in one swoop. He pounced up out of the bedroll and paced towards the pair, feeling a pang of sadness that cut him deep at the split second of fear that flashed across Shu's face. He didn't mention it, though, and dropped himself on the grass opposite Shu and Mademoiselle.
"So Oshisan am I allowed t' ask about Madonee now?"
"You're insufferable, Kagehira. But yes, we will offer a few explanations to our… condition."
"It may get a little confusing, Mika-chan, so stick with us, okay?"
Shu's expression had softened from the suspicious air he'd had a few moments ago, but he still kept an air of caution around himself. "Mademoiselle is part of me. We share a mind, but we are two people. She is—"
"I am the Doll you know as 'Madonee', Mika-chan, but I can only take this form for a short time each day. I usually speak through Shu-kun, and, if you're okay with it, I'd like to continue talking to you even when I don't look like this. Is that okay, Mika-chan?"
Mika nodded enthusiastically, then froze and looked to Shu for permission, but received an exasperated eye roll in response. "Do not look to me, Kagehira. This body we share is as much hers as it is mine. If she wishes to speak to you, then it is not my place to stop her."
"What Shu-kun means, Mika-chan, is that he's happy we don't have to hide anymore. He was getting awfully lonely not being able to talk to me like this. Fufufu~ He may seem indignant and easily exasperated, but he's a gentle soul underneath it all~"
"Mademoiselle!"
"Fufu~ It seems I said too much. Do you have any questions for us, Mika-chan?"
"Mademoiselle, do not invite him to learn more of our secre—"
"Madonee, is it 'kay if I get a hug?"
Mademoiselle and Shu shared a look, and Shu's furrowed eyebrows softened. Mika glanced between the pair of them, seeking permission, and Shu breathed out a sigh as he leaned his back against the tree, delicately folding his arms over his chest in the process. "Do not look to me for permission, Kagehira. That is her body, for her alone. I do not wish to hold any modicum of control over her when she has the ability to take her own breaths. Though, Mademoiselle, my heart, you have limited time remaining in this form for today. If you are to take action, do so with haste."
Mademoiselle nodded and stood gracefully, closing the gap between her and Mika in a few small steps. Mika stared up to her with wonder written all over his face: mismatched eyes of amber and lapis sparkled in the moonlight, and Mademoiselle chuckled quietly at him. She knelt in front of him and ignored the hum of discontent from Shu as she knelt in the dirt, and reached her arms forward to clasp her hands behind Mika's neck, and pulled him in gently. He melted into her almost immediately, the care he took to make sure his horns didn't catch on her a stark contrast to the tremors that wracked through his body at the first kind touch he'd received in… as long as he could remember. He sniffed and rubbed a hand across his face to wipe away the tears, and reached down to wind his arms behind her back, clutching at the back of her dress.
They stayed that way for a while, Mademoiselle whispering soothing words to him as he sniffed quietly in her arms. Shu had been silent for the most part, giving them the time they wanted together without interrupting. But as he felt his magic waning, he rose quietly from his place by the tree and came to rest a hand on Mika's shoulder.
"Kagehira, her time has come to an end today."
Mika pulled back from their embrace and looked down at Mademoiselle, who simply smiled at him, and reached her delicate hands around to wipe the residue tears from his face.
"I'm sorry Mika-chan, but we'll see each other tomorrow, okay?"
"Nnn, ya promise?"
She leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. "I promise~"
Her form began to blur in front of him, and after a few blinks, it felt as though his vision cleared quickly, leaving only the beautiful porcelain doll clutched in his hands.
"Oshisan I-"
"Hmph, do not hold her so casually. She did not give you permission to touch her when she is in this form."
『Fufu, Shu-kun, don't be mean to Mika-chan. He can hold me like this whenever he wants~』
Mika's eyebrow raised at the new voice that came from Shu, it was high pitched and almost comical, as if Shu was poorly imitating a girl’s voice, but Mika understood. His gaze switched between Shu and the Doll he was holding, and he settled on speaking down to her. "Madonee? Can I still talk to ya? Even when yer a doll?"
『Of course you can, Mika-chan. I've always been here inside Shu-kun, we are both our own person and each other. Ahh I'm so happy that I don't have to hide from you now, Mika-chan~』
"Mademoiselle, do not coddle the boy." Mika's gaze flicked back up to Shu as his voice switched, and he unsuccessfully attempted to stifle a smile. "Do not give him permission like that. What if he gets dirt on you?"
"Oshisan ya don't got much faith in me do ya?"
"I have faith enough in your combat abilities and your ability to guard me. I do not have faith in your ability to keep Mademoiselle pristine."
『Such a worrier, Shu-kun.』
"Hmmph. Enough. Kagehira, it is barely even dawn yet, get back into your bedroll and sleep. I will not have you complaining of exhaustion when we resume our travel tomorrow."
Mika grumbled under his breath and offered up Mademoiselle, who was delicately plucked out of his hands immediately and without thanks. "Fine, 'm gonna go back t' sleep. G'night Oshisan. G'night Madonee."
"Goodnight."
『Sleep tight, Mika-chan~』