.
.
"Human," Aihi says.
The human blinks, hair mussed and eyes still heavy with sleep. Aihi leans over him, her arms brushing against his bare side. "I would like to experience this...intercourse...of which you speak," Aihi says.
"What?" the human jumps up, but Aihi presses a hand to his chest. His eyes are wide and he's blushing a deep red. "I thought...but you said we can't. You're an ayakashi and I'm...." he blushes harder. "I would never make you do that," he says. Aihi's mouth thins.
"This is not your decision," Aihi says. "Besides. Is this not what you've dreamed of, when you locked me in this room?"
"Yes, but..." the human stammers. "No! I mean, I was lonely, I just wanted some company--"
"Then here," Aihi says, and she leans against him and offers a small kiss.
xXx
.
The human sleeps, his body curled around hers and his arm draped across her chest. Aihi shifts and he sleepily accommodates, letting her rest her head against his shoulder.
Aihi blinks, squinting her eyes against the watery moonlight filtering through the room. The human feels warm and she likes the feel of him pressed up against her side. He smells nice too, and Aihi nuzzles her face a little against the space against his chest.
"Ayakashi." His eyes blink open. Aihi enjoys the way he feels, and she presses her body closer. "Did this really happen?" he says.
"Hmm." Aihi watches him, curious, as a parade of emotions seem to cross the human's face. Shock, wonder, elation, until it settles into something resembling worry. He looks lonely.
"Human, you do not look happy," Aihi says.
"I'm not--I mean I am! I just..." the human looks flustered. "I just....sometimes you can be close to someone, but still feel distant. Do you understand?"
Aihi considers. "You feel distant from me?" Aihi says.
"No! I mean..." the human flounders a little. Aihi feels sorry for him.
"Human," Aihi says. She is careful to keep her voice soft, and she wraps her arms around his waist. "Do not worry yourself. You are my human." She brushes back an errant strand of hair, her fingertips settling against his face. "I will not do anything to make you sad."
There is something in his eyes - Aihi can't quite place it, but then she sees the tear slip, then another, and she does what she's seen other humans do and she pulls him close. "Foolish human," Aihi says, softly. "Do not be sad."
She drops a small kiss on his forehead and hitches him close; then she breathes deeply and closes her eyes.
xXx
.
The human is annoyingly energetic today. "And we'll light candles and I'll bring you the most beautiful kimono, and I'll show you the riverside where the fireflies are."
Aihi frowns. "I have seen fireflies," Aihi says. "And besides, I thought I could not leave this house?"
The human grins, then takes her by the hand. Immediately she can feel the spell bind them both.
"You have bound yourself to me?" Aihi says. She frowns again. "How annoying."
"You can always eat me," the human says.
"Tch. You would not be a very satisfying meal," Aihi says. She stares at their bond, disdainfully. "You do not trust me?"
The human looks ashamed.
Aihi does not blame him. Ayakashi do not form bonds as humans do, and if he were to let her go outside, she would have nothing stopping her from leaving. Even now, the spells that bind her here are weak; though she could easily escape, she does not wish to harm him. Aihi steps forward, then takes the human's hand.
"Do not worry yourself," Aihi says. She grips his hand tightly. "You have every reason not to trust me."
The human bows his head. "Forgive me," he says. Aihi huffs.
"Stop apologizing! We are going to see the fireflies, correct?"
The human looks up. A huge smile spreads on his face.
"Good," Aihi says. "Now ready yourself, human. I expect to be taken out in style."
xXx
.
Aihi doesn't need to sleep. As an ayakashi, her strength and stamina are twelve-fold that of normal humans. But increasingly she finds herself sleeping beside the human, crawling under the covers and wrapping him in her arms.
The human likes to cuddle. Aihi blushes a little when he does, but that is a human reaction, and Aihi has lived with humans for far too long. Sometimes the human presses up against her, blushing deep and stammering. "Ayakashi. I was wondering...ano..."
"You wish to reaffirm your connection with me?" Aihi watches him quietly, her hand lightly touching his hip.
"I--yes. I mean, only if you want to."
"Foolish human." Aihi tries not to smile. Wordlessly, she undoes her kimono, letting it drop past her shoulders, then puddle around her feet on the floor.
It is a curious feeling, standing naked and in human form. There is a thrilling sensation of feeling strong and vulnerable at once. The human drops to his knees, then presses his face to her belly, rubbing his chin against her skin. Aihi sighs, and the human tilts his face upwards, his lips against her skin.
When he slips inside her, Aihi can't help but wonder if this is the power of being human, the power to make her sigh and beg and clutch at his arms as if he were something beautiful.
He sleeps with his face pressed against her shoulder blades, and Aihi feels at peace.
xXx
.
"Ayakashi?"
"Hmm?"
"Do...do ayakashi love?"
Aihi opens her eyes. "We do not," Aihi says. The rims of the human's eyes darken; she can see the dull hurt at the corners of his eyes.
Aihi softens, then touches his face with his fingertips. "I am...attached," Aihi says, softly. Her eyes flick upwards, meeting his. "I do not know what that means, and I do not fully understand, but I wish to stay with you."
The human's face brightens. "Really?"
"Mmm." Aihi leans against him. "You speak too much," Aihi says. The human smiles.
xXx
.
His brother dies. Aihi tries to ignore the human's eyes as he comes to the realization that his family's burden falls to him, and that he cannot fail.
That night, she sees the paper spells scattered on the floor.
xXx
.
What was this feeling? Aihi struggles to keep her mind clear, but her eyes are unfocused. There is a tightness in her chest, and dimly she raises a hand to her face and realizes her eyes are wet with tears.
The kimono falls; she takes her true form and steps through the door.
xXx
.
"Ayakashi."
Aihi turns, surprised to hear that voice in the middle of the forest. It is the human, her human, standing beneath the moonlight and rubbing his arms.
"What do you want?" Aihi says. The human looks frail and pale; there are dark circles under his eyes, and the corners of his mouth tug into a frown.
"I miss you," the human says.
"Tch." Aihi turns, training her eyes onto the horizon. There are dark trees abutting the nighttime sky. "You do not need me, human. You mistake me for a fool if you think I don't know that much."
The human's mouth twists. He holds himself tighter, shivering a little in the cold. "I was hoping you would stay," he says. His voice sounds sad and he closes his eyes. "But why would you? Ayakashi can't love, you told me that--"
"What?" Aihi turns sharply. The human meets her eyes.
"I couldn't keep you there," the human says. "It was our contract. A year and then I'd die. But I couldn't....my family depended on me, and it wouldn't be fair to you."
"You wanted me to stay?" Aihi feels the muscles in her shoulders loosen. Suddenly she feels lighter, and unexpectantly unsteady on her feet. Her face twists. She feels like she's going to cry.
"Ayakashi--"
"Aihi," Aihi says. A tear slips down her face. "My name is Aihi."
The human's face is drawn. He takes a breath, then pulls her to him, holding her close. "I'll take you home," the human whispers. He presses his hand into her hair.
xXx
.
Under the covers, the human feels warm. Aihi nuzzles her face against him, whispering into his ear.
"Shall we reaffirm our connection, human?"
And the human blushes and smiles.