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Ema loved Louis's hair treatments, both because of his infectious tranquility, and the refreshed and energetic feeling the treatment gave her. Once, she asked if it was a bother, after so many hours with others’ hair. But he said her hair was refreshing, as it was his favorite. Still feeling guilty she asked if she could style Louis’s hair in return.
“I know it won’t be as good as what you do, but…I always feel so nice when you do my hair, so…I hope to do that for you.”
“Hmmm? Actually, I’d love that.”
The first step was washing his hair. “C-close your eyes, please.” He obliged, and she started. Thankfully, she’d peeked enough times while he was washing her hair to know which products to use. When she’d finished, he hummed and said it was nice to have someone wash his hair.
Time to dry his hair. Ema tried to hold the dryer to the curling brush the way Louis had done for her, but she immediately got the brush stuck in his hair, and he had to help get it out. When she apologized, he gently took her hand and ran her fingers through his hair.
“Eh?”
“Chii-chan, turn the heat down and use your fingers as a comb,” he instructed her in a soft voice. She did as she was told, gently combing his hair in the direction he told her. He closed his eyes as she worked.
“You know, you can open your eyes if you want.”
“I know, but your touch is so relaxing, it makes me want to close my eyes,” he replied with a deep, satisfied sigh.
Ema forgot herself and giggled. “You’re like a puppy!” She scratched him behind his ears, and his eyes flew open.
“I’m sorry! Was that bad?”
“Not at all; I was just surprised, is all.” He reached up and slowly tucked some stray hair behind Ema’s ear, then lowered his hand, delicately tracing the hair’s path as it fell over her shoulder and down her arm. Ema’s face grew warm. “I actually really enjoyed it. Could you do it again?” His voice lowered just a bit, and something about that made her skin tingle.
She continued to dry and comb his hair, adding in some scratches, until it had dried into soft, fluffy waves. It felt like clouds in her fingers! Then it was time to style the front. She had to finger-comb his bangs and fringe back and treat it with the dryer, so it stayed in that position,
“Um, sorry; this may be a little close,” she said as she leaned close to his face and reached for his hair.
“Get as close as you need, Chii-chan.”
“O-okay.”
Though nervous at first, Ema soon fell into a comfortable rhythm. Louis’s soft hair was soothing on her fingers. And with his eyes closed again, he looked peaceful, like he was asleep. The skin at his hairline was incredibly soft; Ema wondered if all his skin was that soft.
She didn’t realize that she was leaning ever closer until his eyes fluttered open. Normally, she’d feel embarrassed, but her brain must have short-circuited, because she was frozen, inches from Louis, with her fingers in his hair, unable to move, or even think, as if under a trance. She stayed still even when Louis touched his forehead to hers and laced his fingers into her hair.
“What is it, Chii-chan?” His soft voice sounded genuinely perplexed.
The trance broke, and Ema wanted to back away immediately. But with their hands in each other’s hair like it was, she couldn’t do so without hurting them both. So, she lowered the hair dryer and looked away, stammering an apology.
Louis tilted his head thoughtfully before gently guiding her chin back, so she was once again looking him in the eyes. Ema’s face burned. “Why are you apologizing? I told you to get as close as you need, right?”
“B-b-but—”
“If it’s you, you can do whatever you need, okay?”
“O-okay.”
Ema finished Louis’s hair, the whole time asking herself why her heart kept racing when Louis’s presence usually calmed her so. He gazed thoughtfully into the mirror when she was done.
“I, um, I know it’s not as good as what you do but—”
“It’s perfect, Chii-chan.” He looked her in the eyes. “I feel more alive than I have in a while. I’ve forgotten how much I like having my hair done.”
“R-really? W-well, I can keep doing this…only if you’d like, of course!”
Louis surprised her by standing up, so he leaned over her. He took some of her hair and held it to his face. “I’d love that. In fact, I want you to be the only one to style my hair now!”
“Ah, you don’t need to go that—”
“It’s true, though. In fact, I think…hmmmm…I think I want you to be the only one allowed to touch my hair!” He smiled brightly. “That’s okay, right?”
“Um, y-yes, if that’s what you want.”
“And, Chii-chan?”
“Yes?”
With the hand not already holding her hair, Louis took her hand and leaned closer until their eyes met. She hoped he wasn’t close enough to know how hard her heart was pounding.
“Will you also…not let anyone but me touch your hair?”
“Huh?” It was a strange request, but his eyes pleaded with a seriousness she’d never seen from him Louis before.
“Well…Juli is okay. And our parents, of course. But…no one else. And…especially not my brothers, okay?” Ema thought of all the times her stepbrothers patted her hair. Did Louis not want them to do that anymore? Why?
He clasped her hand tighter. “Please, Chii-chan?” His eyes were desperate. She didn’t understand, but if it meant so much to him, she didn’t mind.
“Okay.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
It was only then that he became the calm Louis she knew once again.