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“Tell me,” You gave a physical start at Kusuriuri’s silky voice snapping you back into focus. Started again when you found he was no longer traveling before you but right by your side, yellow-gold eyes shining in mirth at the fact you had been so distracted. “What are you thinking about?”
You felt your body heat and your palms begin to sweat in the sharp panic that pierced through your chest.
The way he was looking at you--could he tell what you had been lost in thought about? Could he tell you had been unable to get that ceremony out of your mind? A ceremony between a lovely couple who had looked at each other like they were the sole reason they still drew breath?
He couldn’t tell that’s what you were thinking of…no…no way--
The corner of his half-painted lips tugged upward. His blue-painted eyelids grew slightly hooded, making him look all too devious.
“What?” You bit in mock irritation to try and cover your bubbling nerves. “I’m hardly thinking of anything.”
“Lier.” He purred, leaning in closer to show you the utter delight this budding conversation was bringing him.
“Hardly.” You gruffed, turning your attention back onto the dirt path you two were following to get to the next town. If you didn’t look at him, maybe, just maybe, he would leave it be…but you knew you were foolish in such a hope.
“Shall I make a game of guessing?” He asked, tilting his head in just the right way for you to be able to see his growing grin out of the corner of your eye. To see that white and red-tipped hair flow around his face in a way that got all that thinking you were trying to avoid starting back up.
“There is no game to be had because I am thinking nothing of subsistence.”
“Ah…I see.” He gave a small nod of his head and you felt yourself relax the slightest bit. Maybe you hadn’t been all that foolish.
“Yes. Thank--”
“Something absolutely filthy then.” He spoke on velvet-dripped tones. Your body tensed up all over again. Tensed up so tight you thought something might snap under the sudden pressure. His words had you coming to a shocked standstill, head snapping around to gaze upon him fully.
All he did was smirk all too happily your way, a honeyed chuckle sounding from his chest.
“Did I guess correctly?” He took one long stride forward which brought him right back into your orbit. “You know,” He smoothed, eyes drinking you in and making you feel like you could catch fire at any moment. “I am more than happy to make any daydreams of yours a reality--”
“I was not thinking about that!” Your voice came out all too flustered for your own good because it only seemed to solidify his guess as right. “I was thinking what you thought about--” You almost choked on your own words in your attempt to keep from spilling them.
One of his circular, blue and red-painted brow rose in question. “What I thought about…?” He let the words glide slowly over his tongue. You watched him angle his head slightly to the side like some overly curious cat--overly curious fox.
“The sun is setting and we have yet to make it even halfway to the next town.” You rushed, starting back over the path.
“Come now,” Kusuriuri called after you. “Since when have I known you to be so timid around me?” His voice sounded next to you once more, as if he hadn’t fallen once out of step with you.
“I am not timid.” You again kept your eyes trained on the road ahead. On how there were a few large rocks on the side of it, some trees of the brightest green, and most definitely not on your former thoughts.
“Exactly.” He spoke in too much excitement. Excitement that had you casting a sharp glace filled with mock irritation his way. “Never. You let it known your opinions and thoughts regardless of who you are speaking them to. Least of all me.”
He was right. Very right. You were steadfast in your beliefs. In speaking your mind and letting it be known to all they could not change it. You didn’t care what anyone thought of you in turn but…that was exactly the problem, wasn’t it?
You found you cared about what his response would be. What his thoughts would be.
It frustrated you more than anything you’d ever been frustrated with before.
The brush of knuckles over your had you blinking away your worries and frustrations. Knuckles that guided your hand into his, which he held firm. His touch had you looking into those eyes of liquid gold. Eyes you could get lost in--could always find such comfort in.
“That wedding…it’s got me playing my own guessing game.” Kusuriuri kept still except for that of his elegant strides down the path. You had his full attention undivided attention. “The topic of which is what your thoughts on such things are.” He gave you a small nod, a hum on his lips as he mulled the topic over.
“It was a nice ceremony.” You nodded in agreement. “I see no problem with them. Though, I have seen one too many marriages end in the birth of a mononoke.”
“Oh…yes.” Your words came out soft despite your want to keep them even.
Of course, you thought, he wouldn’t want that.
Kusuriuri tugged on your hand lightly, bringing your attention once more away from your thoughts.
“Something tells me that is not the true topic. Only part of it.” You watched him closely…saw no judgment shining in his eyes at this line of conversion. At the notion that there was more to your thoughts.
“Have you thought about it? Marriage?” You started, fingers tightening the smallest bit around his. “About getting married yourself?”
“Marriage is not something I was brought into this world for.” You felt yourself grow--disappointed. You knew you shouldn’t have let him egg you to voice your thoughts. Knew you should have tried to keep such thoughts far from your mind. “I was meant to be alone. Forever. My purpose is tied to the will of the sword I carry.”
“I see.” You murmured, forcing a small, toothless smile to your lips.
And Kusuriuri--he smirked. Like he was amused by your dulled mood. You almost snapped your hand away from his just for looking as such when he leaned forward.
“Though, I am hardly alone now, am I?” You--blinked at him, not quite sure where he was going with this. “I have done many things I was not meant to do.” He continued, “The hands I hold were only ever meant to guide. The skin I touch only meant to be felt in the protection of its master. The secrets shared with me only meant to release the sword that guides my being.”
He stopped walking then, pulling you to a stop with him. His eyes were steady as they looked into your racing ones. Fingertips brushed over the round of your cheek…danced lower so that they could feel the delicate skin of your lips. Touched that sent your skin on fire.
“I was never meant to taste such sweet lips. To feel such warmth in my chest anytime I gazed upon another.” Your heart spiked at his words, sending a tingling jolt through your body. “You’ve changed things for me.”
“I have?” He gave a small nod.
“Greatly.” The smile that pulled at your lips was hardly that of a forced one. It was one sprung to life by the very joy rocketing through your soul. “I have many new things to discover thanks to you--with you, and if marriage is one of them, then I would gladly take that vow.”
You thought your heart might explode right out of your chest then and there. Thought you might melt into a giddy puddle on the ground if you kept staring into those warm eyes of his--kept listening to him go on about you in such a way.
“You are--madding.” You breathed, pulling yourself quickly away from the peddler you had come to adore to try and calm yourself.
“You’ve told me many times over.” He chuckled as you started down the path all over again. You risked a glance back at him, finding he was following after you. Finding that all too soft warmth in his eyes still shining bright as he watched you back.
“And I’ll gladly tell you a thousand more times over.”