Work Text:
Eiden never forced Rei to visit the mansion. That’s not to say he had never invited him, but Eiden had never made it a requirement. Sure Rei was always welcomed, but he found it difficult himself to walk in unannounced. Still, he often hung around the gardens or peeked through the windows from the treetops. He couldn’t deny that he wasn’t caught a couple of times. Eiden was never the first to notice but he definitely surrounded himself with wary peers.
It wasn’t difficult to hide himself in front of the Grand Sorcerer’s human clan members. The Vice-Captain, priest, and the Sun Lord would often throw suspicious glances at his perch but they lacked sufficient evidence to investigate. It was slightly more difficult to conceal himself from the e-droid and the wolf yokai. The bobbing heads of white and black often snooped around the gardens at all times of the day. However their attention was easy to divert. By throwing a stick to the nearby bush and cooing a couple times, Rei could easily send them on a wild goose chase for hours.
The older yokais, on the other hand, were impossible to evade. The two forest dwellers found him easily, often immediately catching his eyes without needing to search the trees. They left him alone for the most part, neither finding any malicious intent from Rei to call him out. Rather, their look of indifference made Rei shiver. The fox yokai’s smile signaled no interference, rather he seemed just as curious of what Rei got to observe. But the other’s golden glare carried an unspoken threat if Rei tried anything.
But that left one other. One that Rei couldn’t understand at all. They had met before, while regulating the Water Altar, but their conversation was strictly formalities. He was quiet and evasive then, and he remains the same now. Yakumo could tell when Rei was outside the window. He didn’t do a good job of purposefully avoiding eye contact. Rei thought it was amusing. He would often put himself in positions where he can clearly be seen and force Yakumo to turn away in an attempt to pretend not to see him. Despite his closeness to the Grand Sorcerer and others of the clan, Yakumo never brought up Rei’s presence to the others. Meaning Yakumo wasn’t threatened by Rei, but he wasn’t willing to acknowledge it either.
Twirling his pen in between his fingers Rei leans his back against the tree trunk. He isn’t very high off the ground, but it’s enough to swing his feet. The mansion’s trees are quite sturdy. The bark is strong and well cared for. Rei has fallen asleep here more often than he’d like. The night air is calm and quiet. Everyone is finally settling indoors. The feeling of solitude is quite similar to the forest at the Water Territory.
His green eyes peers through the window with little strain. The light from the room is a soft yellow, making it feel more homely as the small group prepares dinner. There’s a muted cheer as Yakumo steps out of the kitchen carrying a covered tray, but when Blade walks out with a similarly hidden tray the group hesitates to place it on the table. How cozy. Everyone excitingly reveals the hidden foods. As delicious as the food looks, even Blade’s, Rei finds himself observing the joy on each individual’s face instead.
Lifting the notebook from his lap he scribbles a quick line of notes. However as he writes, a small jab of pain hits his palm. He sighs as he stops his hurried writing, giving his hand some time to recover before finishing his sentence. Suddenly a different sharper jab pierces through his temple. His hand immediately flies to his head, holding an imaginary wound.
Father cooes from a nearby tree branch.
“Yeah. I guess it's time to go home.” The persistent headache makes it difficult for Rei to sit up straight. His breathing grows a little faster. The sides of his cheek start to stretch and itch. Little black feathers emerge from the side of his face. Rei lets out a defeated groan as he lay stiffly against the trunk. Of all times.
Father cooes once again. Rei ignores him. He had already used the stabilizing potion he prepared for this journey. He didn’t expect to lose track of time so badly.
With nowhere else to look, Rei stares straight through the window. They are seated now. It’s a bigger group than usual. The only people missing are Kuya, Quincy, and Dante. Scratch that, the fashionably late fox yokai has just arrived. He appears with a puff of purple smoke. There’s a couple of groans and rolling eyes, but he’s led to a seat with open hands. Well, more like aggressive tugging. The wolf yokai is rather excited to lead him to a seat next to him.
Rei’s chest heaves up and down. What’s that like? It’s been so long since he spent time close to others. Sure he is never alone, Father accompanies him everywhere, but to be in a large crowd like that. . . Rei couldn’t tell if it sounds exhausting or comforting.
His eyes close as he breathes through the pain. In all his years spent in the forest by himself he never really felt loneliness. After all, you can’t miss something if you have never felt it before. But now, by watching their little dinner party inside, a twinge of sadness blooms in his body. It didn’t help that he feels more vulnerable now that his body is in chronic pain.
What would it be like to join them? Eiden often invites him over to the mansion to either play or rest. Rei never saw the purpose in leaving the comforts of his own house to exhaust energy on some strangers. And yet he finds himself taking a short visit every so often to observe the clan’s behavior. Short visit. Rei sighs, unable to fool himself. He visits often and stays for at least a couple of days. Every time he had to take a trip back home, he could feel himself leaving a part of his heart here with the rest of them.
Despite wanting to remain hidden, Rei finds himself enjoying the little game of chase he plays with Garu and Blade. He has no doubts that they know and only indulge him with his wild play. Rei finds himself smiling often when they burst through the garden doors and begin running around like children.
If he really wants to, Rei likely could interrupt the dinner party similar to what Kuya did. There might have been groans of protest but ultimately he was accepted into the circle. Then again, they’ve known Kuya for a while. It makes sense that his presence isn’t much of a surprise. Rei really didn’t know if he can handle the rejection or awkwardness if the group isn’t happy with his attendance.
After all, he’d been rejected by at least one of the members. Yakumo blatantly ignores him every chance he gets. Rei can understand if it comes from a place of anxiety, but the rejection still stings.
He winces as his arm suddenly twitches in pain. He really should be going home.
“Um. . . Mr. Rei. . .” A soft voice fills the garden’s silence.
Rei flicks his eyes upwards, a scowl creeping up his face before he even realizes. The hand over his throbbing arm adjusts to hide the emerging black feathers.
Yakumo had opened the window and is now peering through with concern filling his eyes. “I-I was wondering. . . Do you want to come in and have dinner with us. . ?” His voice is soft. Even Rei has a hard time picking it up.
The rest of the group continues to chatter and eat, ultimately ignoring Yakumo’s actions. Only Eiden glances over. He somehow makes eye contact with Rei. Eiden smiles and lifts his hand in a small thumbs-up gesture.
“No. That’s alright. I was about to go home.” Rei mutters. He’s honestly more surprised at the fact that Yakumo is finally talking to him directly. Not like he can make eye contact right now though. It’s likely that Eiden encouraged Yakumo to speak up. Rei can’t help but roll his eyes. Now the gesture feels insincere.
Yakumo’s body trembles as he leans over the window sill, trying to talk closer to Rei so only he can hear. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to. . . B-but I made a lot of food. An-and you haven’t eaten all day. . .”
Rei raises his eyebrow. Had Yakumo been observing him too?
Yakumo realizes his implication and his eyes grow wide. “I-I wasn’t watching you. I’ve just seen you around and I was wondering if maybe you were feeling a little left out. . . .” His voice trails off.
“I can’t hear you.”
“S-sorry. Never mind. . . Ignore that, I don’t want to assume. . . But I. . . I understand how you feel.”
Rei can’t help but scoff. As if a well loved yokai like him would understand anything about being alone. He’s surrounded by a clan that relies on him and dotes on him. He has loving grandparents who shelter him. All his anxieties and worries are solved with a simple talk with his beloved Grand Sorcerer. Like he would understand what it's like to experience loneliness.
Yakumo blinks at Rei’s look of doubt. “Um. . I. . .” He takes a deep breath, preparing himself to open up. “I used to. . . struggle too. I didn’t know how to approach other people or yokais. . . ” His hand reaches up to stroke the obsidian gemstone. “I-I noticed you in the trees a lot. But I didn’t know how to invite you in. Uhm. . .” His eyes begin to fill with tears.
A flicker of emotion passes through his eyes. One that Rei couldn’t catch but still it manages to pique his interest. The serpent yokai had a story. One that Rei never heard before. Perhaps he could figure out how the descendant of the Serpent of Disaster turned out so meek.
“Alright.”
Yakumo’s face lights up. “You’ll join us?” Relief floods his eyes, replacing the wet tears. Why does this excite him so much? Rei plans to figure that out soon.
“Yeah yeah. I may as well.” Rei brushes off his enthusiasm but a flood of warmth fills his cheeks.
Father hops off his separate branch and onto Rei’s shoulder. The pain in his body is still persistent, but something warm from deeper in helps Rei climb off his perch and through the window.
It’s loud inside. But it's not the troublesome kind of loud. It feels. . . Comfortable.