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Chapter Text

"What are you doing?" Mafuyu stares at me as I lead her into the house. She doesn't seem to notice or comprehend at all the large, bleeding slash across her right shoulder and collarbone - Akito's handiwork. Toya trails behind me, worrying at his bottom lip and ready to fetch anything I'll need.

I unbutton Mafuyu's vest and peel it off, along with her shoulder pad (a lot of good that did) and hand it off to him, rolling up her sleeve to expose the wound. It's not as deep as I thought it was, and Akito didn't hit anything major.

"I'm trying to help you. Can you unbutton your shirt so I can bandage your collarbone?" I realize too late that, with her injured arm, she likely won't be able to do as I asked without hurting herself more. But before I can even open my mouth, she's easily undone the top two buttons of her shirt and lowered her arms again.

I blink and gape for a moment before recollecting myself. There's a wound to be tended to, whether or not she feels it. I turn to ask Toya to leave - usually in medical settings, modesty isn't exactly the top priority when your patient is bleeding to death, but I don't need Toya's help and seeing even a small bit of Mafuyu's skin would likely stain his conscience forever. But he's already gone, leaving a bucket of steaming water and a neat stack of bandages in his place. I smile to myself. Even though it takes time away from my own pursuits, he's talented and learns rapidly. He could even save more people than me, in the long run.

I work quickly, wrapping from the dip of her neck, under her arm, and all the way around her shoulder and down to her upper arm - for good measure. She watches me silently, not offering assistance or thanks.

We're... close, but I wouldn't say friends. I was the one who found her half-dead on the side of the street and nursed her back to health, yes. But we don't have conversations together. We don't laugh together. I'm the healer who follows her around, who wraps her wounds because she doesn't know better. I'm not even sure she can laugh.

I stand up, brushing dust off of my knees and stretching backwards.

"I'm finished." I lean back down to rebutton her shirt - I had to unbutton it a bit more to wrap underneath her arm, and even though I know she can do it herself, I don't want her to hurt herself.

Other people might get flustered or awkward seeing people's bodies, but it's my job. If it saves people, why does it matter what I see? But I still look away, for a different reason. Her pale, veined skin reminds me too much of my family. She's always looked near-dead and sickly, but it's more intense on skin that hasn't seen light. Too close for comfort to my mother's corpse and my father's barely-breathing body.

"Kanade?" I jump and realize I'm still bent over her, fumbling with her buttons. My face flushes. "Ah- I'm fine!"

She tilts her head in confusion. "I was going to ask if you were going to stand up."

She means well. I know that. But I still can't push away the shard of hurt that pierces my heart.

I will save her.

Chapter Text

Ena's familiar scream rings through the air. As always, I sit up.
Look around for too long and waste too much time. Then run to my window, just in time to watch her body tumble out of the room next to mine. To watch his arms reach out in a vain attempt to grab her. To watch her nightgown slip through his fingers like evaporating mist and flutter down into oblivion.
It was my favorite nightgown of hers.

And that's when I wake up. Every. Single. Time. Her heart-wrenching scream still rattling in my skull as I respond with my own heartbroken one.

I'm sure everyone else is used to it now. Kanade stopped trying to give me sleep medicines a while ago. I bet she doesn't even wake up anymore.

I sit up slowly, shaking off the nightmare. I pull my own nightgown closer around my body - the body she used to love, now scarily thin and scarred and I'm sure unlovable. On trembling feet, I pad to the door. I stop briefly to rest my head against the grainy wood and let the cold of the doorknob sink into my palms. Then squeeze in a heavy breath, and open it.

There's eight other doors - one for each member of our party, though I doubt half of them are ever used. I'm the only one who isn't with anyone else - though Kanade denies it and Mafuyu doesn't understand anything I ask her, I'm sure they're together, and I know for a fact the other six are paired up. Tsukasa and Rui are WAY too loud to keep anything a secret, Emu is constantly kissing Nene, and Akito and Toya have been together since Ena was alive.

I pick Akito's door - directly across from mine - and knock gently, gnawing on my knuckles nervously. I know for a fact they never sleep in Toya's room - he keeps all his medicines there instead of a bed. I've seen it before - I still don't believe there's that many different cures for foot fungus.

I hear a sigh, a small whine, and a whisper that sounds like "I'll be back," followed by a puckering sound that must be a kiss before the door half-opens. Akito glares at me, only wearing a sheet very badly wrapped around his body. There's a few incriminating marks on his neck, but I don't have the energy to tease him.

"I really don't want to baby you right now. Go bother Tsukasa or somethin'." He goes to close the door, but I shove my foot in the opening.

"Please, Akito." I blink furiously. "I know you had a nightmare too."
He frowns. "And how exactly-"

"Toya refuses to do anything with you at night if we have to work the next day. I'm assuming you woke up and had the luxury of someone to comfort you." I gesture at his neck.

"Well, go sleep with Kanade or Mafuyu."
"That's-"
"Nightmare, Mizuki?" Toya's head pops up behind Akito's.

I nod. He smiles sadly and opens the door fully, stepping through the threshold to hug me. Thankfully, he's somewhat dressed - shirtless, but with soft sleeping pants that tickle my bare legs.

"Toya!"Akito growls. Toya's head shifts against my forehead to look at his partner. "Come on, Aki. The least we can do is try to help."
"Why do we have to help? Can't they get someone else?"

"If I died, I don't think you would just move on with someone else. At least I hope not."
It's the same argument he always makes, but it softens Akito enough to step back so Toya can pull me inside and close the door. He winks at me, and I smile gratefully.

"You didn't even bring a blanket?" Akito huffs.
"I don't want one." It's too hot in here already.  It's summer again, too close to that night in both date and temperature for me to be comfortable.

"Fine." He sits down on the corner of the bed farthest from me and Toya, who still hasn't let go of me. "I'm assuming you don't want to be in the middle?" He asks. He's tall enough that his breath whispers against the top of my head. Not like Ena. I was taller than her.
I shake my head. He reluctantly releases me, laying next to Akito, and I take the edge.
"Do you need anything else, Mizuki?" He looks back at me questioningly, though I can tell from his eyes he's aching to get back to Akito.

Their presence is enough, and Akito would kick me out if I asked for anything else. I shake my head again, watching as Toya folds his arms around Akito's back and whispers in his ear.

My heart aches for Ena and I choke back a sob.

Chapter Text

"It's way too early to be awake..." I roll over in a vain attempt to get Tsukasa to go away.

"You say that every day! Come on, rise and shine!" He shakes my shoulders, though it doesn't have any real bite in it. I bat at his face and then bury my nose in his neck. He sighs and pulls me up to a sitting position.

"A future hero's partner must be able to wake up! I might have to replace you if you can't." He huffs.

"You and I both know you wouldn't." I mumble. It's the same empty threat he always makes. It doesn't even faze me now.
"Well, just please get up. It's a wonderful day for drills!"

I sigh, picking my hairbrush up off of the nightstand and running it through my hair. Tsukasa's already dressed and ready, hair still damp from its wash and not a speck of dirt on his clothes. He waits by the door patiently, puffing out his chest and patting his sword absently. I stand, setting down my brush and grabbing the small ribbon I use to tie my hair.

"Would you, my dear~?" I bat my eyelashes, offering the ribbon to him. He laughs and pretends to roll his eyes, taking it and sitting me back down so he can reach the top of my head.

"I can't believe I've been seduced by such a common mage," he gripes.

I grin, though he can't see it, and turn my head once he's done to catch his mouth with mine.

"But your life would be so boring without me! And I did not seduce you." I protest against his mouth. He laughs again. I adore the sound.
"I seem to recall you trapping me in a barn to get your first kiss?"
"That was- It was Nene's idea!"

"I could believe that," he muses, "if I didn't recall you saying that was the best idea you'd ever had."
We're cut off by Nene's voice from the room next door.
"What did I do?"

"Ah- nothing!" I yelp. She's terrifying when angry, and she'll definitely be angry if she finds out that-
"Rui was trying to blame one of his schemes on you!"
"I was not!"
 

 
"I'm hungryy!! Why can't we eat first?" Emu flops dramatically into my chest, whining and putting the back of her hand to her forehead in a "woe-is-me" fashion. 

"Breakfast isn't ready yet. You can go help Kanade and Toya if you want it to be done faster." Nene crosses her arms. Emu stiffens and shakes her head furiously. Kitchen duty is her least favorite.

"Fufu, well, if you aren't hungry anymore, we should start drilling, hm?" I push Emu away from me and into Nene, who yelps and glares at me.
I shrug, trying to hold back a giggle, and procure a small flame in my palm. "Whoever can hit twenty of my targets first gets priority in the breakfast line!"

Emu squeals and vaults off of Nene, readying at least five fireballs in each hand. I snuff out the sparks in my hand and conjure ten targets in front of myself, backing up so they have enough space to shoot properly.

I glance over to Tsukasa, who's sparring with Akito, Mizuki, and Mafuyu. Mafuyu is as collected and emotionless as always, but there's dark bruises underneath Mizuki and Akito's eyes.

Toya steps out of the house to watch, and I note he also has bags under his eyes.
I wonder what happened. I'll have to ask later.

"Rui! Watch out!!" Emu cries. I duck just in time for a pulsing pink ball of fire to pass over my head.
"Sorry!!"
 

Chapter Text

I wonder what's wrong with them.

Besides Tsukasa, who's always been this slow and dumb, everyone else's pace has significantly decreased. I'm not trying much today, and I'd have already fatally wounded Mizuki twice, if we were using regular swords and not wooden sticks.

For some reason, Kanade got into a very long and loud argument with Tsukasa about using them. I'm still not sure why she's so focused on me.

"Alright, let's wind it down! Breakfast'll be ready in a couple minutes!" Tsukasa puts down his stick and pats me on the shoulder. I stiffen. "You did very well today, Mafuyu! Especially with that nasty wound!" He grins.

"What wound?"
"Ah... your shoulder wound? The one Akito gave you yesterday?"

Akito huffs next to me. I look to him, trying to find the joke. There is none. "I'm not sure what you mean."

"Just forget it! You should rest now. I'm sure you're tired." I'm not, but I sit down on the stone bench where he put his stick. Mizuki yawns and sits down next to me. "I sure am!"

"Am what?" They raise an eyebrow.
"Tired?"

"Ah. What's wrong with you, then?" They pale. "Nothing...?"

"It's obvious. Don't try to hide it."

"It's none of your business." Akito snaps. Toya and Kanade, who had joined him at the door likely to announce breakfast, both wince.

"I don't have a business."

"You don't understand anything!" Mizuki growls. "Are you even a fucking human?!"

I start to stand. Kanade's probably wondering why I'm not coming to eat, like always. As I'm heading towards her, something crashes behind me. I turn to look, and it's Mizuki, tripping over themselves to... run into the bushes? In the same moment, something slams into me.

A stinging sensation pulsing through hundreds of little nerve endings I never knew I had, a deep ache in my shoulder and neck and back and everywhere.

What is this feeling?

Darkness is creeping into my vision, and I'm tumbling backwards, and someone's body crashes into my head. Kanade, judging by the soft voice shouting my name.

Then strong arms are cradling me, and Toya's ponytail brushes my nose. I can hear Kanade furiously rattling off instructions to Toya, but it fades out as the void of unconsciousness claims me.

Chapter Text

I hate her.

At this point, she only exists to ruin what's still good in my life.

Mizuki might be a crybaby, but they still don't deserve that kind of treatment. Mafuyu can't even begin to comprehend what happened. She's got a perfect life, with Kanade doting and fawning over her every move. Even Toya's succumbed to her helplessness. I don't feel bad for hurting her, not a bit.

But I'm left standing in the courtyard, with Tsukasa, Rui, Emu, and Nene all staring (or pretending not to stare) at me.

I turn to follow Mizuki. It's my only option. I'm hungry, but I don't want to face Mafuyu or Kanade or anyone else's pitying gazes. I don't want to comfort Mizuki either, but we can at least feel sorry for each other together.

I push branches out of my face as I follow their path of blundering destruction. It's not a steep trek or anything, but I'm taller than them and they didn't clear any of the branches that are perfectly at eye-stabbing height for me.

Something snags my foot. A root, I'm guessing, by the way its firm grip encircles the width of my ankle. I pitch forwards, hitting the ground hard. Pain shoots through my palms and left knee. Well, that's fucking fantastic.

I sit up, inspecting the damage. My pant leg is split open and I skinned my knee on some rock, plus my hands and elbows are scuffed. Not enough to stop me from continuing, but-
"Akito!"

It's Toya. I can't say no to him, no matter how shitty I feel.
"Over here!"

He finds me quickly, bending over to look at my knee. Worry is adorable on him, but I'm fine. I pull myself up with his shoulders, and he sputters but follows me out into the air again. The courtyard is cleared, thankfully.

"You don't want to eat with everyone else?" he comes up behind me, clasping his arms around my stomach. I lean back against him. "No."

"How about I take you to the infirmary and patch up your knee, then?"
"Is Mafuyu there?"

"I don't think so. I believe Kanade brought her to her room."

"Alright then." His hands slip down to mine, intertwining our fingers and leading me inside. The house we all share is a small two-story stone and wood building - bedrooms and Kanade's infirmary on the bottom, and kitchen and living area on the top. We have to walk through the hallway where all of the rooms are located to get to our destination, and through Kanade's half-open door I can see her fussing over that unconscious monster. Toya catches me looking and turns my head around with his hand.

"Don't watch. They deserve their privacy," he chastises.
"She doesn't deserve anything," I growl.

He pulls me inside the infirmary and shuts the door. "Do you know what she's been through?"
"I don't give a fuck."

"You should." He rustles around in a cabinet underneath the singular bed in the room. I sit down and watch him between my knees. He rises and closes the cabinet, holding a small roll of bandages and a cloth.

"I don't know the specifics, but-" he starts, rolling up my pant leg.
"I don't want to hear it." I cross my arms and look away. I can hear the frown in his voice.

"Well, I'm telling you anyway. Unless you want me to go away?"
"...No."

 "That's what I thought. Now, as I was saying, I don't know the specifics. Kanade found her collapsed in the courtyard really early in the morning and brought her inside. I think she'd been with Kanade and the rest of the party for a couple weeks before us three joined and I started apprenticing."He pauses, leaning down to scrub a reluctant piece of dirt off of my skin. "Turn your leg a bit for me?"

I obey, and he slides his hand underneath, lifting it and wrapping a thin bandage around my knee. He tries three times to tie it before succeeding - I really should get injured more often, he's insanely cute when he's focusing - and rolls my pant leg back down. I hop off of the bed, and he goes to put everything away and wash the cloth.

"She's a refugee from the mountains. Her mother was some type of sorcerer, I believe, and..." He bites his lip. "She was kept as a puppet for nearly her whole life. She doesn't remember much, but what she does is painful, from what I've overheard."

A puppet. The strongest type of dark magic - Rui's our strongest mage, and he's only ever managed it once, for a few minutes on a squirrel. It slowly sucks out a being's life force and sentient instincts, turning them into shells of creatures that only obey the spellcaster's wishes.

I don't care.

Chapter Text

"Dinner's going to be ready when you're back, okay?" Rui kisses the top of my head. I nod, at the same time not wanting to let go and also wanting to be at my sister's side.

"She'll be okay," he whispers, ruffling my hair and pushing me forwards. I doubt that, but it's easier to cling to the comfort of his words.
 

"Tenma Tsukasa. I'm here to visit Tenma Saki?" I fidget with a hangnail on my index finger as I give the healer my name.
"Family?" she gestures at me.I nod. "And... friends?" She looks to Emu and Nene. They nod too, and she seems satisfied.

"Alright, follow me. I believe your parents are here as well."

We follow her down a short passage pocked with doors, all of which have wood plaques with the names of the patients carved into them, until we get to a door near the end of the hall with the name Tenma Saki chipping off of its beaten plaque. She's been here for so long, I know almost all of the workers here.

The healer - one I've met a couple times, but I've forgotten the name of - pushes open the door, closing it behind her as soon as we're all in. My mother and father sit on uncomfortable-looking metal stools by Saki's side. She's as pale as always, bruises from leeches and other treatments dotting her arms. Her hair has long since lost its pink tinge, fading to grayish-white instead, and she still looks heartbreakingly young.

I always forget she's not even eighteen yet. She hasn't ever been in a relationship, and all of her friends moved on long ago while she stayed bedridden. When I was younger, I would bring my schoolwork in to do with her, since she couldn't attend herself. Of course, it was many grades ahead, but she still readily absorbed everything. She doesn't deserve this.

"Big bro!" She smiles weakly. My parents look up briefly, and give me equally depressing smiles. My heart sinks. Both of their faces are stained and puffy with tears.

Emu moves closer to me, squeezing my elbow.
"Well..." the healer looks uncomfortable. That means it's bad news.

"Now that everyone's here... I'll give the report for the month." She takes in a deep breath and fixes her gaze squarely on the floor before continuing.

"Miss Tenma's condition is unstable at best. And fatal at worst. She hasn't been doing very well at keeping food down recently, and if the malnutrition continues, then..."

She'll die.

The truth we've been dancing around for seventeen years.
And suddenly, I can't take it.

It's unbecoming of a future hero - who should be brave and face down any monster with untainted confidence. Saki's no monster, but she's the scariest of all. I can't just run a sword through her. That's the opposite of what I need to do.

I practically break through the door in my haste, my need for space. And Rui. He'll comfort me. He'll tell me everything will be alright, that we can find someone to heal her.

But we won't. I know we won't, but right now I can only handle the lies.

Our house isn't far from the infirmary, but I still nearly collapse once I'm inside. Only when I'm crumpled on the floor do I hear Emu and Nene shouting my name. Rui, Kanade, and Toya appear immediately, like moths to a flame. Kanade lifts my head, scanning my neck and torso for wounds. Toya runs to Emu and Nene, demanding to know what happened.

Rui scoops me into his arms as soon as Kanade has issued me a clean bill of health, brushing my bangs out of my eyes and resting my suddenly exhausted body in his lap.

"It's his sister," Toya ushers Emu and Nene, both looking frazzled and wind-blown from chasing me, inside, closing the door behind him.
"She's..." he grimaces. He doesn't have to say it; it dawns on Kanade and Rui immediately.

"Is she already...?" Kanade whispers. Toya shakes his head.
She turns her attention to me. "Tsukasa?"

"H-huh?"
"How would you feel if I went to see her?"
I blink. Kanade's the best healer I know. She's kind and calm, and no one's ever come close to death in her hands. Why didn't I think of that sooner?

"Th... that would be okay."
She nods, standing up with a quiet huff. "I can go right now, if that's okay?"

"Y-yes. That's fine."
Rui hoists me up, holding me tight around the waist to keep me upright. I'm glad for the help - I don't think I can stay on my own. Emu silently hugs me, then leaves with Nene. Kanade heads out a moment later, Toya on her heels, and I'm left alone in the entryway with Rui.

"Do you want to go back and see her?" he murmurs in my ear.
"Not right now. I don't think I can." I'm ashamed of running away, too, but I think he already knows that.
"Alright. There's... ah..."

Not more bad news. Please.
"We got a message while you were out."

Why is he so hesitant, then? That's not bad.
"It's a report of some mountain monsters in a town an hour or two away from here. The townsfolk are asking for our help as soon as possible."

An hour or two.

That means an hour or two farther away from Saki.

Chapter Text

It seems like everyone's taking a side.

Ena or Mafuyu.

Those who know what happened to Akito's sister - Mizuki, Aki, and myself - and then those who don't but know what happened to Mafuyu - Mafuyu herself, Kanade, and me as well. I'm stuck between them both. I wasn't there to see Ena's mangled body or meet her husband, but I also wasn't there when Mafuyu was freed from her puppet chains.

I trust Kanade. And I love Akito. I have to treat Mafuyu, even though Akito thinks we should let her die. And I have to console my friends every time Mafuyu says something heartless.
What do I do?
 

Kanade and I return late, our bodies casting long shadows on the cobblestones as we walk in silence. They kicked us out when visiting time ended, since neither of us work there, and she's been staring dejectedly at her feet and frowning.

Her shoes click against the stone, along with a loose strap of her bag that she either doesn't notice or care about enough to fix. We reach the gate and I unlatch it, holding the door open for her. She mumbles thanks and I turn back to close the door behind me, expecting her to go on.

But when I turn to face her again, she's in the exact same spot as before, frozen at the threshold. I stumble into her and she yelps, burst out of the paralyzing bubble she'd been in, and grabs the door frame.
I'm about to apologize when I notice what had her frozen.

Mafuyu's door is open, and I can barely make out her dark shape curled up in a corner next to the door, sobbing and muttering to herself.

I've never seen her cry before. I've never seen her even remotely emote any emotion but confusion before.

Before I can blink, Kanade's collapsed in Mafuyu's doorway, checking her for fatal wounds and fretting. I watch as she brushes Mafuyu's wrists, neck, chest, and stomach with the back of her hand, then sitting back and clasping Mafuyu's fingers with her own smaller ones.

"Kanade...? Should I...?" I don't know what to do.

She shakes her head, nodding towards Akito's room and shuffling so she can close Mafuyu's door.
I go to Mizuki first, knocking quietly and peeking my head in. They're still awake, blinking at me with soft pink eyes.

"Everything alright?" I whisper. They half-smile and nod, and I return the gesture sadly and leave.

Aki opens the door before I even raise my fist to knock. "What's happening over there?" He gestures with his chin to Mafuyu's closed door. I shrug, pushing myself inside. His voice is thick with sleep still, so I'm guessing we woke him up.

A door bangs open down the hallway and Tsukasa's heavy footsteps pound past us. Akito rolls his eyes.
We listen as he knocks on Mafuyu's door, Rui's quieter footsteps following him. Even through a closed, heavy wood door I can still hear Mafuyu's sobs.

"What's happening?" 
Tsukasa echoes Aki, sounding much more kingly and a bit annoyed.

"I don't know," Kanade whispers. "It could have something to do with what happened earlier. She was saying her shoulder hurt, which is odd."

"You can understand her?" That's Rui. I can barely hear it, but Mafuyu's still mumbling. Even a few feet away from her in the hallway, though, I couldn't make out a single word.

Kanade must nod, because Rui makes a "hm", sound and Tsukasa yelps.

"I'll exempt both of you from morning duties, but at least try to get her to sleep." Tsukasa finally harrumphs. The door shuts and both of their footsteps recede back to Tsukasa's room.
"Must be serious, eh?" Akito says it with a smile, even though it isn't remotely funny.

Chapter Text

"Stop it..." Mafuyu rocks back and forth in my arms. She's started repeating it, and won't answer what she wants to stop. She won't respond to anything I say. But it's easy to guess what she means.

"Mafuyu, please listen to me," I try again, trying to pull her up or reach her wounds. But she's heavier and stronger than me, and she won't budge.

"Stop it, stop it, stop it! Stop it!" She's getting louder, and her voice is a bit hoarse. I need to get her to stop talking and to pay attention to me so I can help her. It's clear she can feel pain now, and I need to redress her wounds. What if one of them is infected?

I try to think - what will stimulate the body enough not to hurt her, but to get her focus on me?
I can't reach most pressure points, and I doubt she'll feel it anyways. The only thing I could theoretically wrestle enough to face me is her head, but what would I do? There isn't much I can do without hurting her... oh.

It's for medical purposes, right? Modesty and embarrassment don't matter if someone's life is on the line, and  Mafuyu's very well could be.
I wrap my hands around her face, pulling up as hard as I can. She looks up at me, though she's really staring straight through me. I tuck curly purple strands behind her ears, since they had started to stick to her eyelashes and cheeks - just so she can see better.
Then I cup her face and lean down, pressing my lips against her open mouth. She keeps talking for a second, slightly bitter breath warming my tongue, then shuts her mouth and goes limp in my hands. I yelp, catching her neck before she knocks it on the floor. She sits up slowly, reaching up to grab my hand with her uninjured arm. Tears stop rolling down her cheeks, pooling in the corners of her eyes instead and then drying up completely.

She starts to shake, and stands uneasily, forcing me to stand too since she still has an iron grip on my right hand.
"What did you just do?" Her usually deathly pale skin is flushed pink and she's blinking furiously, trying to clear her vision of tears.

"I- I was trying to get your attention..." Now it's my turn to mumble.
Mafuyu frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You were crying and repeating 'stop it', and you wouldn't look at me."
"Couldn't you have done something else?" She's back to staring blankly, the flush gone from her face.

"No, you're too strong and I couldn't get to any pressure points." I look down at my hand, which she was still holding. She followed my gaze and squeezed. At first I thought it was a reassurance, which was odd, but then she doubled over and nearly knocked me back to the ground.

"Mafuyu! Wh-" She was crouched, shaking even harder, and led my hand up to her shoulder. I could feel her blood pulsing and throbbing through the fabric. She whimpered, pressing her face into my shoulder.

"You're usually stoic when you get hurt. What's wrong this time?"
"It hurts."

"...Ah." I could deal with that. People's injuries usually hurt, so this should be a normal procedure.

"Has this ever happened to you before?" My voice softens. She shakes her head and whines, starting to rock back and forth again.
I remove our hands from her shoulder and tug lightly.

She stands and lets me lead her to her bed - the only furniture in the whole room - and sit down. I grab my medical bag from where I'd thrown it on the floor and start to pull out supplies one-handed, the other still glued to Mafuyu's.

Chapter Text

Akito and Toya are ignoring me, as always. Well, Toya tries to interact, but Akito dissolves the conversation into flirting and I'm happy to lose myself staring at my lunch.

You can see why I'm surprised when Kanade's soft voice crashes my pity party. She seems friendly, as always, but she's got the last person I want to see practically attached to her. Mafuyu isn't looking at me, but at the floor.

"Hey, Mizuki. Can we sit with you?" Kanade smiles. I stiffen and stare pointedly at Mafuyu.
"You can. I don't want to see her."

"Actually..." Kanade turns to the taller woman, pulling her forward. "We talked last night and she has something to tell you."
Well, fuck me. Is she actually going to apologize?

She still looked as blank as ever, except for a small flush on her cheeks that made her look slightly more human. "I don't know exactly why I'm saying this, but..." she paused and looked back at Kanade, who mouthed "I'm sorry" and nodded in my direction.
"I'm sorry."

At least she was direct about it, I guess. I don't really believe her, but she gets points for trying. Maybe 0.5/5, if she doesn't talk to me for the rest of the day.

We keep eye contact for a minute or two, and then I finally relent and let them sit. Our lunch area is a long bench against the wall facing our practice courtyard, partially shaded by the overhanging roof of the house. We don't have a big enough table for all of us, so we just use wood stools Emu and Tsukasa made last year. 

"Where were you two in the morning? I heard Tsukasa say he exempt you from morning duties?" I smirked at Kanade and raised my eyebrows suggestively.

She blushed nearly imperceptibly and looked away. "Mafuyu was feeling pretty bad and I got back late from seeing Tsukasa's sister, so we were up for a while."

"Up doing what?" I nudged her shoulder.
"Does everything really have to be about sex?" Mafuyu frowned. It seemed to be a genuine question.

"I mean, it usually is." Nene, who was sitting under a tree with Emu a few feet away, answered. I snickered. 
Emu looked apalled. "No it's not! That's your fault!"She threw a handful of shredded grass at Nene, who waved a hand to magically blow it away from her face.

"I'm not continuing this conversation." Nene sighed and threw a stick back at Emu, who responded by tackling her. They collapsed, laughing and rolling around in the grass. My heart ached to be one of them, with someone else to spend your days with.
 

Toya, my savior, was asleep, and Akito wouldn't let me in. He'd had to slam the door in my face three times for me to give up and slump against the wall, sobbing to myself and waiting for Ena's screaming to fade.

Go sleep with Mafuyu or Kanade. That's what he always said. It was half a joke, half an insult, but I found myself knocking on Kanade's door anyways.

"M-Mizuki?" She blinked at me, rubbing one of her eyes. She was wearing pale silk shorts and a tube-like top with loose ribbon straps. "Are you alright?"

I tremble, then collapse against her, nearly knocking her down. My tears and snot are probably staining her clothes, but I don't care. She lets out a small "oh" and pulls me inside.

"Nightmare?" I nod.
"Do you want to stay with me?" I nod again.
I flop onto her bed and curl up in the smallest ball I can. She chuckles and puts a soft blanket on me, laying carefully on my other side but not touching me.

"If you ever have a nightmare, you can stay with me. I know you might prefer Akito, but..." she trails off. A small shock runs through me.
"You know I sleep with Akito and Toya when I have a nightmare?"

"Your screams still wake me up every time. And... I've heard you two arguing. I don't want to interfere in anything you're doing, so I try not to listen."
"We're not-" The way she says it, I'm taking someone else's partner to comfort me when I feel bad. "Him and Toya..."

"I know. I meant... you might be more comfortable around them."
Because it was his sister, and they were both there. She doesn't say it, but I hear the words anyways.

Chapter Text

"We got everything, so we should head home." I pull up my list , slashing a finger in the air to check off the last item, then vaporize the magical projection and pick up a crate.

Tsukasa nods, following my lead and staying unusually silent. We're leaving for the next village over this afternoon, and though he hasn't said anything about it, I know he doesn't want to go.

"If you don-" I start. He cuts me off immediately. "I'm going! As a future hero, I must participate in every battle I send my party into!"

"As a current brother, you must be with your sister when she needs you." I counter. He looks torn and heartbroken.
"K-Kanade said she was doing better." He says weakly. I bump his hip with mine. "It's your choice, love."

I look around, watching as one side of our path starts to be taken over with trees and bushes. 
An idea suddenly springs into my head.
"Actually..." I turn and grin at him. "May I have those crates for a moment?"

He holds them out to me, looking perplexed, and I set my own load down before taking his, piling our supplies next to a bush and tapping it lightly. A second, identical bush springs up right next to it, covering our things completely.

Tsukasa yelps. "What did you do to our stuff?"
"It's an illusion, don't worry." I take his hand and pull him into the bushes.
"Why?" He already knows.

"We've got extra time, and I want you to feel better, of course!" I grin, tucking our bodies behind a tree thick enough to hide us with ample room to move. He sighs and relents, letting me sit him down and then pull him into my lap. "Just don't leave anything Mizuki or Nene can see."

"No promises!" I respond gleefully, blocking whatever response he might have given with my mouth. I hug him close, turning my head and pressing our faces closer. I open my lips, letting my tongue into his mouth and collapsing back against the tree. He pulls away, heaving in heavy breaths, and curls his head against my chest.
It leaves his neck exposed, and I take the opportunity to cover him with kisses while he catches his breath. Lung capacity is possibly the only thing I'm better than him at - where I'm not even close to winded, he's panting like some wild animal.

It could also have something to do with my tongue, but...

"Stop distracting me!" he accuses once he's caught his breath. I nip at his earlobe and grin, though he probably can't see it.
"And? Is it working?"
"...Yes...." he groans and sits up, kissing me again. I slide my tongue into his mouth, tickling the top of his palate and making him nearly choke. He sputters and collapses against me, half-laughing and half-yelling my name.
"You look like a cat that just tricked someone out of their dinner," he gasps.

I materialized purple cat ears onto my head and twitch them, winking at him. He shoves his face into my tunic to hide his obvious blush.

While he's distracted, I slide my hands against his sides and unbutton the bottom of his jacket, sweeping it aside so I can untuck his undershirt. I rub my hands against the bare skin of his sides and stomach, enjoying the shiver and small moan he let out.

I start to move my hands lower, but he stops me, squirming enough to steal my attention. He kisses my lips quickly and then glares at me.

"Rui."
"What?" I try to sound as innocent as possible. It, obviously, doesn't work.

"We are not having sex in a bush."
"We're not in a bush! We're under a tree!" I protest. He grumbles, "Same thing," and leans back into me.

"We should go. We're going to have to walk at night if we get back too late." He says it, but he doesn't sound convinced. I laugh.
"Alright, fiiine."

Chapter Text

"...Why does Rui have fox ears?" I'm asking a genuine question here... he didn't have any animal appendages, last time I checked.

Mizuki laughs and Rui calls back, "they're cat ears!" Kanade and covers her mouth to hide her giggle and Toya leans into Akito's shoulder to stifle his. I blink, confused, which only earns me more laughs.

"...On that note," Tsukasa huffs, glaring at Rui, "We're almost there! Onward, my brave companions!"

Emu cheers and runs a couple paces farther along the path, dragging Nene and Rui with her. Kanade stops, making everyone behind her - Mizuki, Toya, and Akito - along with myself, stop with her.

"Tsukasa? Do you mind if we stop for a bit?" She kneels down, adjusting her grip on her medicine bag. Said man pauses and turns, walking slowly backwards to listen to her. "Why do you need to stop? Are you alright?"

"I'm perfectly fine," she stands back up, stepping closer to me, "but I'd like to redress Mafuyu's wounds before we arrive, in case she has to fight immediately when we arrive."

"Oh, that's a wonderful idea!" He nodded, turning back around to yell at the others farther ahead.

Kanade's sitting in my lap, letting her traveling cloak cover my body while she examines my shoulder wound. Her tongue is stuck out in concentration, and she kept biting it when she mumbled a note to herself. Every so often, her bangs fall into her eyes, and she has to stop what she's doing to push them back. It's quite attractive, and I'm sure one of the men in our group is admiring her at this very moment. Possibly Toya, since he's so close to her through his apprenticeship?

"Can I look at that other scratch?" She pokes my ribcage gently, indicating a cut Mizuki had given me last week. "Sure."

She turns her head, distracted by something. I follow her gaze, watching her swat at Rui, who was sitting next to us and leaning against his partner while watching.

"Go look at Tsukasa!" she scolds. He laughs.

"Don't worry, I'm not stealing her. Just interested in you two's... status."

She turns away, unwrapping the bandage on my ribcage. "...What?"

He gestures at her general hand direction - he can't see through her cloak, which is drooping down her shoulders like a curtain over my bare chest.

"Well," he turns back to Tsukasa, listening to his conversation with Emu, Nene, and Toya to see if he should add something before turning his attention back to us. "You seem pretty physically close."

"I'm a healer." Kanade huffs. "That's normal."

He raises an eyebrow, smirking suggestively at me. Kanade rubs salve on my scab, which tickles, since it's in a sort of sensitive area, which leads me to involuntarily shudder. Rui grins like the animal he got his ears from, wide and toothy and smug, and turns away with a wink.

"...This is okay, right?" Kanade asks after a moment, wrapping a new bandage around my ribs.

"Of course. Why wouldn't it be?"

She sighs, a tiny smile teasing the corners of her mouth. She rebuttons my shirt and helps me back into my armor, then stands and leans down to pick up her bag.