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Kiun yawned and the white sleeves of his robes slid down as he stretched. His arms that were usually so sore from all his work seemed lighter for the first time in months. He couldn’t remember when he had last felt so relaxed. Nothing could beat a good nap.
He placed a fresh blanket on the bed and fluffed up the pillow, resisting the urge to fall right back onto the mattress. Even though he’d just gotten up, the thought of another round of sleep was rather tempting. There was nothing wrong with napping a little bit more, right?
After all, napping was good for you…and he always worked hard…he could grant himself a few more minutes of rest. Yes, just a few more minutes…
The door opened and Kiun’s master came in. Takemikazuchi, a war god with the power of lightning. Too bad with his immense power came a terribly bad temper. Takemikazuchi was outraged and he didn’t try the tiniest bit to hide it. His hand clenched around the doorknob, and he stared icily at the only other person in this room. Which sadly happened to be Kiun.
Well, there went napping time for today. Kiun cast a quick but longing glance at the fluffy pillow, then bowed before the god.
“Welcome back, Takemikazuchi-sama. Was your outing a pleasant one?” Kiun asked. However, one look into Takemikazuchi’s eyes was enough to regret the question immediately.
If looks could kill, Kiun would be running the other way right now. Slowly, Kiun got back on his feet while Takemikazuchi continued to glare at him in silence.
“Takemikazuchi-sama, are you angry or something?”
Since Takemikazuchi was somebody who couldn’t keep too quiet for too long, he seized the opportunity to reply in the loudest way possible. He pointed at the white-haired Shinki and shouted: “You bet I am! Why do you always have to sleep when something important is happening?!”
Kiun blinked. Had he missed something?
Given Takemikazuchi’s disheveled look, Kiun guessed that his master must have gotten caught up in a fight with a powerful Ayakashi. But that alone couldn’t be the reason for Takemikazuchi’s foul mood. Kiun had napped through tons of big battles, and it had never been a problem.
It wasn’t like he didn’t care about his master’s wellbeing. The other Shinki usually handled themselves well and Takemikazuchi had become strong over the last centuries. Kiun had watched his master grow up, struggling through countless hardships to leave the boy behind, who had just learned to wield a sword, turning into the proud war god he was now. He trusted his master’s strength and that he could overcome any opponents. That’s why he could always rest with ease, even if Takemikazuchi was out.
Though…Now that they stood so close and Takemikazuchi was still giving him an angry look, Kiun noticed the dark circles under his eyes and those gave him a true reason to worry.
“Takemikazuchi-sama, have you slept lately?” Kiun pointed at the bed. “I’ve just changed the linen, you could lay down right here if you would like.”
Takemikazuchi’s face darkened and if looks could kill, there would be a dead Shinki collapsing onto this very bed right now.
“Good that you have time to change the linen instead of actually helping me out in battle!” he screamed.
Well, that backfired completely , Kiun thought.
After his short outburst, Takemikazuchi harrumphed. Like a sulking child, he stomped across the room, over to a corner of the that was the farthest away from the bed, and remained there, still as a statue with arms crossed and continued to give Kiun the evil eye. The Shinki sighed.
“Should I bring you some tea?” Kiun proposed, seeing how his offer to get some decent sleep wouldn’t bear fruit very soon. Takemikazuchi exhaled and demonstratively turned his head away. Kiun took this as a yes and headed to the kitchen.
While preparing the tea leaves, he pondered about Takemikazuchi’s weird behavior. He was acting way too hostile, even for his standards. Kiun was used to his tantrums and the deathly glares didn’t bother him either. It was the dark circles under his eyes that ruffled him. There must be something on Takemikazuchi’s mind that he was too proud to speak of. And instead of accepting any help from his guidepost, he preferred sulking and playing the annoyed one.
The way Takemikazuchi had turned his head away and silently scoffed at him… Kiun felt like time had been turned back and he was looking at the boy who had just been reincarnated from a forsaken god. His master may have grown up as a warrior but deep inside, that child remained, that was reluctant to accept any assistance. Even from his own guidepost. Some bad habits simply died hard, no matter how many centuries had passed. Whether it was Kiun’s napping or Takemikazuchi’s stubbornness.
While those thoughts were still coursing through his mind, Kiun grabbed the plate with teacups and headed back.
Nothing could have prepared him for the sight he would find as soon as he entered the bedroom again. Takemikazuchi was stretched out on the floor, his chest rising and falling in an even rhythm.
Kiun almost dropped the plate but got a hold of himself in time and quickly placed it onto a nightstand. He couldn’t believe his master’s stubbornness. He had been so exhausted that he had fallen asleep on the floor, but he was too proud to take the bed.
Sighing, Kiun walked over to the slumbering god. At the very least he could be a good Shinki and take his master to a spot that was a bit more…honorable for a divine being to rest. Kiun kneeled down and gently slid one hand under the silky veil of black hair, grabbing one shoulder, while he tried to get a hold of his legs with the other. In any other scenario, Takemikazuchi would have probably killed him for making such a bold move. That was the good thing about being asleep: he couldn’t possibly fight back and try to poke out Kiun’s eyes or something.
Little did Kiun know, Takemikazuchi wasn’t exactly asleep…though he wasn’t exactly awake either. When Kiun tried to pick him up, he suddenly moved and fell out of his arms. His body was still curled up on the floor like a sleeping tiger cub, but his head had found a new place to rest on.
“Stay like this, it’s more comfortable,” Takemikazuchi mumbled as he rested his head on Kiun’s lap, completely oblivious of the situation.
Kiun, on the other hand, was more awake than ever. And honestly, he would have preferred Takemikazuchi’s death glare to have sent him to the realm of the dead before. This was beyond embarrassing.
If the other Shinki caught them, Kiun could probably pack his things and become a Nora. Or even worse, if Takemikazuchi woke up now and noticed the position they were in…Kiun would be happy to just end up as a Nora.
Of course, he could push his master away and stand up before there were any misunderstandings. Yet Kiun couldn’t find it in his heart to move right now. More than escaping the awkward situation, he just wanted his master to rest. Besides, the silky hair on his lap looked so inviting to play with...
At first, Kiun resisted. Toying around with hair wouldn’t be appropriate behavior for a Shinki. However, he had already decided he would let the god sleep and he needed something to cover up his own embarrassment. Eventually, he gave in and started to play around with Takemikazuchi’s hair. It felt strong and shimmered, just like he remembered from the old days when he used to tie Takemikazuchi’s ponytail. A small burst of electricity seemed to travel through his hand whenever he touched a new strand. He found some small dirt crumbs – probably remnants from his battle with the Ayakashi – and brushed them away. That way, he continued to work his way through the silky veil until he had pushed the last bunch of hair aside and uncovered the bare neck. Kiun’s hands froze.
A bite mark tainted the otherwise fair skin. Most of the wound had been treated but the edges still shone in the deep purple of Yasumi. How could he get hurt at such a vulnerable spot?
Guilt struck Kiun. If a god had carried away such a deep wound, the opponent must have been fiercer than he had anticipated. Kiun’s fingertips brushed the purple mark, but the touch was already enough to disturb Takemikazuchi’s slumber. His brows furrowed.
“Takemikazuchi-sama, this wound,” Kiun whispered.
“If you wouldn’t have slept, this wouldn’t be there,” Takemikazuchi mumbled. Never would Kiun have thought that his master speaking while literally lying on his lap could hit him so hard. He let all the black hair slide out of his hands, so the neck was covered again. To be honest, the wound was the smallest problem. Takemikazuchi was a god and his body regenerated quickly. It should be healed after a night, probably even after this nap.
No, the wound wasn’t the problem. It was that Kiun had failed him as a guidepost. And…
“Takemikazuchi-sama, please use your lightning, before you get hurt like that,” Kiun pleaded. Takemikazuchi turned around and blinked at Kiun, his eyes half-closed as if he could go back to sleep any second now.
“And give you elders another reason to murder me? Is that what you want, Kiun?” he said in an icy voice. Kiun was used to his hot outbursts, but the coldness in his words while he was half-dozing was like a slap in the face. He reached out for Takemikazuchi’s face; he pushed Kiun away and turned his back, burying his head in the bend of his arm.
A long silence followed and when Takemikazuchi finally broke it, his muffled voice sounded desperate. “You know damn well that the elders will kill me if I make one false move. And yet here you are napping through my battles, then ask me why I won’t use my lightning. I’m sick of all of you. And you most of all, Kiun.”
Slowly, Kiun let his hand sink and stared at the black hair facing him instead of the god’s eyes. Only the dark veil was visible…and underneath it the faint purple wound reminded Kiun of his error. For the first time, he realized just how raveled their situation was: Whenever he tried to approach Takemikazuchi, he got pushed away. Yet if they stayed apart for long, all that followed was hurt.
“Takemikazuchi-sama,” Kiun said. Takemikazuchi didn’t move..
Kiun inhaled deeply and struggled for the right words. Memories of the past centuries flashed up and vanished like lightning. The misery of the previous god Takemikazuchi had started with a thunderbolt as well and ended with his Shinki rioting. Kiun had barely known his old master, but he had accompanied the Takemikazuchi resting on his lap during his entire life. He’d witnessed his outbursts and his peaceful moments; his eagerness to fight and his fear of using lightning. Whether Takemikazuchi liked it or not, Kiun would walk this road with him – make sure the mistakes of the past are not repeated.
“I would kill you without hesitation if you hurt other humans. It’s my duty as an elder,” he began, and he could feel Takemikazuchi twitch upon his remark.
Quickly, Kiun continued and as he spoke, he gained more confidence in his words. “But I won’t let it come to this. I would rather stay by your side and be your guidepost for a few more centuries. And not just any Takemikazuchi, but the god that is right here with me in this room. You and only you.” He placed one hand on his master’s shoulder and was glad to feel how his muscles relaxed under his touch.
“You can summon your lightning. As your guidepost, I will always make sure that you don’t stray from the right path,” he concluded. Takemikazuchi finally looked at him. Judged by his expression he was still more asleep than awake, but something in his face had lightened up. And if Kiun wasn’t mistaken, even the bags under his eyes weren’t as deep as they had been earlier.
“And you promise you won’t be asleep anymore during missions.”
Kiun had to suppress a laugh. “I can’t promise that, but I’ll try my best.”
“Useless Shinki,” Takemikazuchi mumbled with a faint smile before he fell silent, and a strange tranquility settled in the room. As Takemikazuchi continued to rest on Kiun’s lap, he drifted back off to sleep. The only sound that remained was the steady breathing of a god who seemed to enjoy the first peaceful moment he had gotten in ages. Kiun started to play with his hair again. The purple mark had faded.
Gradually, the repetitive hitting of raindrops against the window joined Takemikazuchi’s breathing. The sky had turned grey. The first sounds of thunder roared through the walls. Kiun just hoped those lightning bolts flashing up in the sky would be a good omen for him and his master.