Chapter 4

The next morning, Tomoe woke up with a start. Somehow in the night, he'd made his way back to Nanami's side and was curled up next to her on the tatami. He spent a few precious minutes watching her sleep, wondering how he had bared being away from her for almost twenty years. He reached out and stoked the side of her face.

"Tomoe?" Nanami murmured, stirring "Oh, good morning."

"Good morning, Nanami," Tomoe whispered, planting a kiss on her forehead. He still couldn't get over how different she looked now. She felt so fragile that he could snap her in two with a flick of his wrist.

Eventually, Nanami moved to get up, and Tomoe followed suit. He left her to get ready, and headed towards to kitchen.

"Hello," he greeted Naoko as he entered. She jumped, letting out a shriek.

"I'm sorry!" Tomoe quickly apologised.

"It's okay," Naoko flapped her hand, before turning her attention back to the meal. "I'm just not used to people coming into the kitchen."

"What are you making?"

"A basic breakfast. Fried fish, rice and tea. Not much. But then I'm not much of a cook. Even though I do most of the cooking. Go figure."

"It smells divine." Tomoe said politely, "I can cook, if you'd like? I used to cook for Nanami."

"Did you?" Naoko looked surprised.

"It was a long time ago."

"Oh. Anyway, you can if you'd like, but we have next to no ingredients."

Tomoe opened a few cobwebbed cupboards and wrinkled his nose at the furry butter in the fridge.

"Maybe a shopping trip is in order," he concluded.

Naoko finished up cooking, and when Nanami came in, and the three started to eat.

"Ikadakimasu."

Tomoe helped Naoko to wash up, and once they were done, the girl headed out. Tomoe sat back down across from Nanami.

"I guess I should explain about things then." Nanami said. Tomoe nodded.

"Well." Nanami faltered. "I'm not sure where to start."

"Naoko," Tomoe began. "Her eyes are green."

"She can see spirits." Nanami explained "I wondered myself about them. Then, one day, a bakeneko somehow found itself in the garden. Naoko wanted to play with the kitty, and when she showed me that's how I knew!"

"So, she is not Mizuki's?"

Nanami laughed.

"I know they are the same colour as Mizuki's," she spoke, "But I never did anything with him. Naoko's eyes are like that purely because she can see spirits, nothing else." Nanami paused then, looking at Tomoe funny. "Do you really not know who her father is?"

He spluttered. "It would be rude to ask." Tomoe thought that was the safe option. Nanami laughed again, reaching her eyes.

"You silly fox! Naoko is your daughter! Do you not remember why you were banished in the first place?"

Tomoe deadpanned.

"I know it was just the once, but I guess that was it. A few months after you were gone, I found out I was pregnant."

"Naoko… She's m- She's my daughter?" Tomoe didn't know how to react. He was happy, of course. But he also felt sad, and guilty, for leaving Nanami to raise the child herself. He'd missed it.

"Of course she is. She's very bright, just like you. And headstrong," Nanami grinned. "Quick to anger."

"Alright, I get it," Tomoe smiled at her. He had a daughter! "Speaking of anger, where is Mizuki? haven't seen him in twenty years."

"He's probably gone out with Naoko, or he's hiding from you in the woods. He knew you were coming back, so he decided to run away and hide."

"And why would he need to hide from me?"

Nanami grinned again.

"He and Naoko are- well, they're going out."

Tomoe stood up immediately. He marched outside.

"You stupid snake!" He yelled into the garden. "Get back here! How dare you!"

There was a rustling in the bush, and Mizuki showed himself.

"Tomoe!" He said, flashing a smile "I haven't seen you in ages! How are you?"

"Don't you 'how are you' me, you snake! What have you done to my daughter!"

"Well, you weren't here to raise her." Mizuki shot back, looking up at him through his eyelashes. He smirked. "And I think the better question would be what haven't I done to Naoko?"

"Mizuki! Stop it!" Nanami scolded, coming outside "Stop annoying Tomoe. You haven't done anything with Naoko, and you know it."

Tomoe laughed, and Mizuki blushed.

Nanami suddenly began to cough. Mizuki rushed to her side, catching her as she bent double. He took her back inside, and then reappeared a moment later.

"Mizuki. What's wrong with Nanami?" Tomoe asked.

"Nanami is very sick," Mizuki replied sadly. "You've been gone for twenty years. A lot can happen to a human in that time."

"I really have missed a lot, haven't I?"

"Yes, you have." Mizuki smiled sadly. "I can show you what you've missed, if you'd like."

"With your incense burner?"

"Yes."

Tomoe took a deep breath, and then exhaled.

"Then, would you show me the past?"

"Depends," Mizuki flashed the most innocent smile he could muster. "Get down on your knees, and say 'Mizuki is the best familiar to Nanami ever!'"

Much to Mizuki's surprise. Tomoe got down onto his knees.

"Mizuki is the best familiar to Nanami ever." He mumbled. Mizuki stared at him in surprise for a second, but then smiled.

"Okay. I can take you back."

Mizuki led Tomoe to the spare room, and set up his incense burner. Tomoe laid down, and Mizuki lit the burner.

"I'll come with you," Mizuki said "I can talk you through everything that happens. I'll do it so no one can see or sense either of us, but we can see Nanami."

"Okay," Tomoe nodded.

The deep, musky scent filled his nose, and made his vision foggy. He closed his eyes, and drifted off into darkness.