Chapter Text
The battle with the Serpoians had been tough (to say the least), the whole gang felt the toll. They stumbled back to Momo's house, bruised and beaten but not defeated, as Seiko was making dinner with Turbo Granny.
"You've all looked better." Turbo Granny huffed as Seiko nudged the spirit to be fully hidden behind the counter. “Hey!” She shouted back indignantly.
"Come sit and eat, you guys" Seiko called the kids over, ignoring the small cat yokai. She laid out the crab legs and onigiri that made Momo's mouth water.
The rest of the crew sat around the table in the main room, as Seiko started slowly assessing the youngins wounds from the kitchen.
They're definitely getting stronger. She thought as she noticed the wounds, while they were evident (it had not been a walk in the park and there would surly be bruises come morning), they were not as bad as the last battle with the aliens. The training had been paying off. But the scars on their mind will still take time to heal. She noticed other things too. Like how Aira and Jiji sat closer together than they used to when they first joined the rag-tag group. Or when Vamola would look questioningly at a phrase by someone. Distant worry on her face; like everyone would disappear in a moment. Kinta would lean over and tell a lame joke she wouldn't understand. But it was enough to jolt her out of her worry.
And Momo and Okarun? Okarun was trying his best to keep it hidden. But whenever Momo got too close to danger (or too far from him in general) something else took over. Something instinctual. And Momo could feel it too. Today was no different.
Okarun, still in his semi-yokai form, flinched at every loud sound. His eyes constantly moving from around the small home. Scanning. Searching. Everyone noticed.
He was more silent than usual also. Less observant, more distant. He couldn't get the image of Momo being attacked by the aliens out of his head. Her body falling to the ground right before he went all out to catch her. The smack of a Serpo beam hitting her right shoulder. Her cry out in pain as she narrowly dodged an attack. He couldn't let go of her. Not any of them. Not the only family he had ever known.
Seiko forced them all to eat. Not letting them leave the table until they all finished their plates, and then another.
She could be mother hen to this group of misfits. Spirits know, most of their parents didn’t care if they came home most nights. She made an extra point to rile up Turbo Granny. To draw out a few laughs from them and remind them they were still just kids.
After dinner, they tended to their wounds from battle. The conversation became lighter. Laughter came easier. Finally being able to breathe. To feel, in their wholeness that for now, they were safe.
The TV added necessary white noise to their crowded thoughts. Jiji and Kinta were laying out futons for them all to sleep. It had become a tradition for their group. They felt safest here. Together.
Momo needed all of them close as well. Even Aira, who she couldn't stand. But had become more bearable as she grew closer to them all… and to Jiji. Jiji and Kinta, who always kept their spirits up. Making jokes, funny faces and giving love so easily. Kinta so willing to be himself. Giving silent permission for everyone to do the same. Jiji, whom love came so easily to give and receive. Ever since he was young. Spirits know, they all needed that. Vamola, who viewed everything with wonder and curiosity. Okarun, who… she had become closer to than she even realized. These were the people that knew her, truly. Beyond her hot temper. In spite of her pride.
Her eyes shifted to find Okarun. I've been doing that a lot latey. She thought absentmindedly. Before she could dwell on the thought more, she noticed him inching towards the door.
He was still in his yokai form. Grey skin and white hair with flaming stripes. He body moving with so much tension compared to his human form, which Momo knew would be exhausted when he returned to himself. His eyes flicked to hers. He froze half way through the door to the house and Momo knew right away what he was up to.
He didn't have to say anything.
As the rest of the crew made to relax in the main room with popcorn and bad reality TV, Momo grabbed his hand and marched upstairs to her room. Turbo Granny was snickering and everyone else was pretending not to look. But she couldn't care. Not when they all made it back safely and he was still beating himself up. Doubting what he meant to everyone.
To her.
"Momo..." was her first clue that he really was not okay. Okarun would blush hard, and doing something that made her heart... beat totally normal.
The second was her name. Momo was reserved for a different kind of closeness. The kind you can only get by being on the battlefield together. Protective. Possessive. Known. He wouldn’t use her first name if he wasn’t still scared.
The third tell was the look in his eyes as she turned to gently nudge him inside her room. The look nearly broke her.
It was shame. Shame of the fear. Of the rising need that he couldn’t control. His mind kept going back to the fight. To every one before that they barely survived. He promised to get strong enough to protect his family. He didn't want to let anyone down.
She grabbed and pulled him close before he could say anything. He held her waist gently. Hands flex slightly as he spoke in a low, frantic voice.
"Please let me do a quick run around the grounds." It's like he had been practicing this in his head to prepare for this moment. "I need to make sure there's none left. I'm the least injured."
He rambled in that low frantic voice she knew wouldn’t go away unless she held him. She knew because it was the same with her. Her breath would only settle after battle when he was close to her. Tucking her head into his chest and crouching on the concrete.
He would need more than his head on her chest. But the feeling her heartbeat helped him start to descend. The steady pulse that assured him more than words. Alive. Here. With you.
"We're all here." She whispered into his head as he carried them to her bed. She saw through this too. No matter how much her heart fluttered.
He wanted her to rest, often prioritizing her rest to his own and because it was close to the window.
Quick escape. Momo thought as she held to him tighter. She wouldn't let him go that easy.
"Talk to me, Okarun." She sat in his arms on her bed. Neither giving too much attention as they normally would. Until she leaned closer.
Okarun’s eyes went wide as he transformed back to full human form. He got flustered easily, but this was different. Miss Ayase, in my arms. His mind only had a minute to adjust before she scooted closer again. Aliens and yokai? No fear. At least not anymore.
His best friend on his lap, pulling herself flush again his chest? That got him scared in a way he never thought he could. He held her tighter but she could feel him shaking.
"Miss Ayase, I-"
“Finally you’re back!” She beamed. After another moment, “...I missed you.”
It’s almost inaudible. Okarun thought his brain might short circuit. He truly felt the sparks coming from out of his brain.
He stared at her and took another breath. How could he explain this to Miss Ayase? What she meant? What this chosen family meant in the years of isolation before?
He didn't deserve her. Or any of it.
He almost confessed it all. Not yet. He wanted so badly to do it. Tell her he loved everything about her. To cross the invisible line they toed and be bold.
But he couldn't lose her though. Not to aliens, not to his stupid feelings.
He knew he couldn't lie to Miss Ayase. So he pivoted.
"I'm sorry, I don't feel like I can rest until I make sure we're all safe." He knew he was mostly repeating himself. Those were the safest words right now. "That you're safe."
That slipped out. He was too exhausted to hold himself back fully. It was innocent enough. The beast he locked inside himself begged him to share more. To take.
“Dummy…” She sighed into his neck Unable to look at him but unable to move away. She too was tired and it wasn’t just from the battle.
”I don’t say this to scare you more,” she continued slowly and softly. Their eyes met. The faint sound of the TV downstairs hums behind them. It’s the only other sound other than their combine breaths. The room felt electric. “But if they really wanted to get to us again they would now. Right now.”
She really didn’t want to scare him. But she hoped this was the splash of cold water that could help him actually rest and let his guard down. To ease his worried soul.
Him changing back was a good sign. She kept pressing gently. Leaning till their foreheads touched. The yokai inside Ken begged to be free. To let him be free. Free to hold her. Kiss her. To be hers fully. He gulped as he shoved down those desires… at least enough to act on them.
“We have to take these moments when we can.” Her words brought him back to the present. As well as Turbo Granny letting out an angry scream from downstairs. No doubt a result of Jiji or Seiko’s teasing. The group's laughter reverbating off the walls of the house. Finding its way to Ken's heart and staying there. “See?”
She could feel his grip loosen slightly. A grin tugged at her lips while a half smile found his. Ever so slightly.
“We keep each other safe.”
He was silent for a moment. There was still so much he wanted to tell her. The fear and anxiety kept him quiet as he held her. For now, that was enough.
She had to admit, this was one of the few times she felt more nervous than him. Recently, it had been more soothing for him than anxiety inducing to be touching her.
Small touches. Light presses on her palm to get her attention. Him gently moving her hair out the way when they were on the school rooftop for lunch. Cradling her in his arms after any small misstep in a fight.
She was still getting used to their “relationship” in all but words. Okarun had a larger curve in getting use to it all. But he held her steady now. Held her close. That was enough for her too.
“You’re right…” He started. Planting the soft affirmation into her hair. Almost like a prayer.
She saw his eyes still flick to the window every now and then. Is that where he thinks he’s most useful?
“You’re needed here, dummy…” She’s blushed hard. The room was dark with only the moon light to illuminate them. He was blushing too.
Bravery. Ken took another deep breath. He wanted to be brave, to not give into the base instincts to run.
He still couldn’t understand how he was lucky enough to be her friend. To be this close. The words almost came spilling out again. So he tried for bravery again… but maybe not all the way. He had to be sure she felt the same.
“I just don’t know what to do with everything I feel…” He had to get the last part out.
”for you…” He was clutching her again. His lifeline. Holding for dear life. Dreading the moment she pushed him away. Like everyone else.
Momo’s eyes went wide for a split second. She shifted them to lie face to face on her bed. It’s not the first thing they’ve slept together but it is the first time in her bed. Alone. She felt the shift and change. Could he feel it too?
“I just don’t know where to put all these feelings...the urges they bring up….” Exhaustion had hit them in full swing. Both blinking with heavy eyelids. Ken couldn’t bring himself to give more explanation than that. They continued staring at one another, hoping this wasn’t all a dream.
Momo pulled him closer until they were in each other’s arms again. No space. Just their breath and two heart beats.
“Try giving it to me.” She whispered as they drifted off to sleep.
Okarun shook his head and smiled. The first real smile of the night. Gently pulled her closer. She always said the last thing he expected. Always accepted him too. Maybe, just maybe, he could be like everyone else. Close to others. Open to himself. The beast beneath his skin purred. As if it liked the thought.