"Okay, now talk it through again, just like you did with Mom," Yusuke said down to Nanashi.
Nanashi sat on the edge of her bed, still holding a slight tremble in her body. The cup of coffee in her hand was less comforting than it should have been. It was just over an hour after she woke up from the wind serpent's spiritual awakening. She was dressed now, but not much else. Yusuke was sitting in her desk chair. Genkai was beside him. Kurama was over by the bookshelf. Botan was holding up the briefcase so Prince Koenma could video call in to hear what she... dreamed of... that was not quite the right word.
Nanashi shook her head, throat constricting. She heaved a strong and intentional sigh to keep herself talking. "Kaze... the alchemists... his brothers..." she started. Just the thought of what they did made her mouth go dry. She shook her head, determined to continue. "The images of the wind serpent's, its life, I saw it from its creation while I slept. Kaze... Kaze was probably the worst of them, especially when he was on his own..." She stopped, taking a drink from her coffee, trying to find the motivation to continue.
"Please continue," Prince Koenma requested.
Nanashi took another swallow. "Okay," she said, trying to start anew. "The elemental serpents were created for demon hunting. They were, the alchemists, something else, to create such things. They were, the serpents, created to kill demons that got into the Human World. The way they were made, they grew stronger the more demons they were exposed to. They weren't exposed too many demons though, not nearly as many as I've been exposed to with the opening of the tunnel, or even at the Dark Tournament for that matter.
"They weren't good though. The creators, the alchemists. They thought simply all demons were evil, and all humans good. Like it was some kind of black and white, not a gray issue. They hunted them, the demons they could find, especially once they made that deal to act outside of the Spirit World authority. They..." she stopped shaking her head as an unbidden image of one of Kaze's kills pop up into the forefront of her mind. She shook her head, trying to clear the image from her mind. "They didn't care what kind of demons managed to slip into Human World. They, he, would have tortured and killed Yukina if they got their hands on her. Like he did with so many others. It was almost like a game to him, turned duty. Find them, punish them, kill them. He only ever sparred one."
The image of another one of Kaze's kills came up to her mind. A young, female demon having reached the point of begging for death at his hand. She stopped, taking a drink and needing a second. So many killed... the wind serpent used for all of them... She saw them, all of them, from its perspective. The weapon of such a killer transplanted into her own soul.
"This guy was no angel," Yusuke commented, grimacing.
"One, he just buried her in the dirt up to her neck, and left her there to die. It took days. And all she wanted to do was seek refuge in the Human World," she shared unbidden. "And he just watched. Checking on her everyday until she was nothing more than a pile of bones."
Botan made a sound of disgust.
"I know from what I've heard of the Demon World, it's more wild, savage, and barbaric. That not all demons are good, but not all humans are good either. But that doesn't excuse indiscriminate murder," she reasoned, stomach starting to churn.
Nanashi circled on, bringing herself to the reason Koenma had to be called. "Then one day, a child, a boy, came to him, to Kaze, after the others had passed away. Bothered by evil spirits, demons, and the like. The boy had already been awakened. He sought answers, to know what to do. Kaze told him black and white, demons bad, humans good. And it stuck. And that boy was the man we saw in Mushiyori City. The one leading the group opening the tunnel."
"Did you get his name?" Kurama asked her.
She looked up at him, shaking her head. She felt herself flush almost at the memory of him telling about what happened while she slept. Hiei sensing the wind serpent and her own distress and saving them by giving up his own energy. Then Kurama also doing it hours later when she was low on energy again. She wished he had not. The wind serpent had a bloody past and she almost wished it was no longer a part of her own existence.
"So how did boy wonder go from kill all demons to kill all humans?" Yusuke asked.
"I don't know, but there's no mistaking it's the same person," she answered. She shook her head, feeling the wind serpent stir in her mind, but she pushed it away, ignoring it. She did not want to hear anything it had to say. She sat her coffee cup down on the ground, unfinished. She covered her eyes with the heels of her hands. Demon murders popped up in her mind, making her feel ill. She jumped up, feeling suddenly like she was entrapped. "I need to get out of here," she said suddenly, rushing for the door. She knocked the coffee cup over in her haste, spilling the remains on the floor.
"Hey, hey, hey," Yusuke called after her, going up to her, but not quite touching her. She stopped in the doorway with him, ready to bolt. Yusuke reached over to her bed, "take your phone at least."
He snatched it up from her bed for her, where it had laid forgotten. The way he was looking at her was full of empathy and understanding. He did not even touch her when her phone changed hands. She shoved it into her pocket as deep and secure as it could go. She turned from him and the others, leaving the apartment in a rush with no real destination in mind. She heard the others call after her, but also heard Yusuke tell them off to not follow her.
She was running, going passed familiar streets, familiar shops, sinking into a steady rhythm like so many runs she had taken before. If anyone stared, she did not give them any heed. She felt her phone buzz in her pocket twice, but she ignored it. When she reached the more affluent area, by the river, she felt her phone buzz again. She stopped, looking down at the calm, tranquil water and feeling thirsty. An image of a water demon who tried to drown Kaze popped up in her mind, as well as Kaze's defeat of him. That kill she could understand, the water demon posed a threat. Not all demon were good, but not all demons were blanketly evil as he had believed.
She sat down on a bench by the river, thinking over the demons she knew and had met before. Only one Kaze would have sparred had they met today, and not the most innocent. She could not imagine being consumed with the desire to kill all of them, like it was the solemn duty he believed he was called to.
She looked around the area, seeing a park nearby, the one Kurama had once mentioned his mother would take him to when he was younger. Other children, with some parents nearby, were running around, playing, oblivious to the fact that if and when the tunnel opened in over a week, they would hunted down and slaughtered. That could not be allowed to happen either. No one could think these humans were deserving of slaughter either.
She felt her phone buzz again in her pocket. She pulled it out as her stomach growled hungrily. She felt physically tired and hungry, mentally tired, but surprisingly not spiritually tired. Perhaps the combination of not one, but two demons transferring energy into her had something to do with that. She forgot about the tiredness and the hunger though when she read the three unread messages in her phone. All three were from Kurama:
'Where are you? Are you coming back soon?'
'It is not safe for any of us to be alone right now when we do not know all the identities of the humans working on the tunnel. You should head back soon.'
'If you are not ready to come back, then one of us can meet you so you are at least not alone. Where can one of us meet you?'
She looked up from her phone, looking around the area. She brushed the hair out of her face, feeling a little sweaty from all the running earlier. She looked around at the building, some taller than others. She spotted Kurama's building not far off. She thought of a sweeter memory spent with him in his apartment, studying, but having fun trying to trip him up on questions... If his apartment was nearby...
'I'm alright,' she text back. 'But what's Hiei's address?'
He was quick to read and reply right away, 'what? Why? Are you in trouble? He is likely not home. Rare for him to be. Prefers outdoors as it reminds him more of the Demon World.'
'I'm alright. Address?' she sent back.
'Why do you want his address?'
She stared down at her phone, feeling annoyed. 'I want to talk him about something,' she responded back. Hiei was certainly a demon Kaze would have killed, or at least would try to kill. Not purely good, but not purely evil.
'He doesn't have a phone,' Kurama's text read back.
She clicked her teeth at such a stupid response. 'Of course he doesn't. Otherwise I would ask him instead. Address?'
'He's likely not home. Sometimes the cleaning lady who goes there once a week comments to me how nothing has changed or moved.'
She huffed, clicking on Kurama's number, calling him. He answered on the first ring. "Hello, Nana-"
"Just give me the address," she interrupted, trying to keep her voice down.
"I- where are you?" he asked, dodging her request yet again.
"Just tell me the address, Kurama," she hissed out. "And key code."
"Where are you so I can meet you? You might be upset, but it isn't safe with an unknown enemy about for any of us to be alone," he requested, sounding surprisingly calm and patient.
She was anything but. "For fuck sake, just send me the address and key code!" she swore loudly. She noticed two passersby looking over at her in astonishment. She hung up the phone, seething. There was no way to know the even which street it was on, let alone which building it was. It was nearby though, she was certain. Kurama had said so before.
She felt her phone buzz in her hands. 'If you agree to take the hairclip back and wear it until we stop the tunnel from opening, I will send you the address.'
'Fine,' she texted back shortly.
He sent the address and key code. She looked up, seeing the street it was on close by. Another message popped up. 'I will meet you there as soon as I can.'
'Don't,' she sent back. 'I'm not close,' she lied out of the desire to have a chance to be with Hiei alone.
She went up to the street, then the building. She climbed the stairs, finding the apartment with ease. She put in the key code on the door entering into a small, one room apartment with two closed doors. One had to lead to the bathroom, the other a veranda. Just inside the doorway, a kitchen was tacked on the wall with a small counter, stove top, sink, cabinets, fridge, and a small kettle. The room was sparse otherwise. One wardrobe, one low table, and one futon with one pillow and one blanket took up the remainder of the tiny room.
She closed the door behind her, kicking off her shoes as she went. She stepped inside the apartment. It looked unlived in, untouched, almost immaculate and pristine. Kurama was right, Hiei was not here, and had not been here for a while. She looked around the room, hoping for some sign, any sign that she was truly in the right apartment. Shyly, she opened the wardrobe just enough to spot a familiar black cloak and a whet stone. She was in the right place. She closed the wardrobe door, swallowing thickly. Beyond the coffee from this morning, she could not recall the last thing she had to drink. Not to mention eat. It had been far too long. Shyly, she stepped over to the kettle, filling it with water from the one basin sink. She boiled the water. Next, she opened the cabinets, rummaging through them, hoping when, not if, he found out, he would not get upset. She found a mug sitting upside down next to an unopened box of green tea and a few plastic bowls of instant noodles. She took out one of them, promising herself she would pay him back.
She made both a cup of tea and bow of noodles, consuming them at the low table. She wondered where Hiei was, hoping he would sense her in there, and come to her. She would welcome him coming in here in a huff, berating her for trespassing. Yet when she was finished with her meal, he never showed. She cleaned up, noticing only her trash was in the trash can by the door.
She paced the room, checking her phone. 'Let me know where you arrive, please,' read a text from Kurama.
'Too late,' she thought to herself and only to herself.
She decided she would give him an hour, and only an hour to show up, and then she would give up, leave, and go home. She yawned to herself, looking over at the futon, tempted. Physically, she felt drained still.
'In for a penny, in for a pound,' she thought to herself. She laid down on top of the blanket though, feeling quite too shy to lay under the blanket.
"Girl, what are you doing here?" she heard a sharp voice rap her out of her sleep.
She jumped awake, not knowing how long she had slept and needing an extra second to recall where she was. She looked up, shivered, and sat up, seeing Hiei standing over her on the futon, his futon.
"I..." she mumbled sleepily. "I wanted to thank you?" she rambled out. "For last night," she finished unsurely. She blinked around the room, looking here and there before meeting his gaze nervously.
"Hn, you don't sound certain," he cut to the quick. She whimpered, which surprising even herself. She wrapped her arms around her chest. "If you're going to cry, get out," he demanded harshly.
She looked up at him, blinking quickly. She shook her head. "I don't know if you should have..." she answered. He looked down at her curiously. She divulged everything she had shared with the others, and then some. He stared at her as she spoke, shifting his feet and looking impatient, but otherwise not hindering her. The only thing that seem to intrigue him was when she shared a few murders with him. "... and he gave me his murder weapon, the wind serpent. And it's in me, stuck to me, deep in my soul. I can't imagine keeping such a creature after what I've seen it do. You should not have given me, us any energy," she finished, feeling thirsty all over again.
He looked at her, face still for a few long moments. Then he laughed in amusement, chuckling at her expense rudely.
"What...?" she started, feeling her own temper flare. She rose up, standing over him know, even though she knew her being taller was in no way intimidating to him. "What is so funny?" she demanded.
He shook his head. "How else did he kill? He had a duty to kill every demon he came across, so how else did he kill? Or should I read your mind to get a better description," he asked, cocking his head up at her.
"He spared one, but I don't see what's so amusing," she huffed. She felt the wind serpent stir again, but she shoved it down, ignoring it.
"How many have you killed?" he asked, stepping closer to her. She backed away, stepping on the futon in her stockinged feet. He stepped closer to her. "How have you tortured with this weapon you know reject and fear? It's bound to your soul, but you could probably give it away if craves more demon deaths than pleases you."
She was backed against the wall, with him standing too close to her. She nearly raised her hands up to create distance between them, but it would make her touch him. "I don't want to kill any demons," she squeaked out, cringing at the thought.
"Oh, but you have, I've seen it," he pointed out. His voice had a sultry tone to it, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. "You remember your first kill? The water demoness who thought we were lovers? You had the wind serpent rip her throat out after she failed to drown you."
"She was going to kill me! What choice did I have?!" she exclaimed, twisting, half wanting to get away from him.
"Yes, what choice did you have?" he teased up at her. "Kill or be killed. That was the choice you made. What about the demon that bit you during the finale of the Dark Tournament?"
"I didn't kill him!" she insisted. "He was alive when I got him off of me."
"What about the triad demon you fought when you were trying to rescue Yukina?" he asked.
"I only knocked him out! Yusuke showed the same restraint with the other two," she insisted. "I didn't even try to kill him."
"And what about the humans infected by the insects back just before you got the wind serpent?"
"They would have killed me! And Kaze! They did kill Kaze, back before I knew what a monster he was."
"And what about Elder Toguro?" he continued. "If he was here right now?" he mused.
"I'd kill him," she said so bluntly it scared her. "Before he ever got the chance to lay his fingers on me again."
"And what about me?" he asked so softly, she almost did not hear him.
"What? Why?" she asked, offended. "Why would I ever touch you? Why would I ever try to kill you? What have you done to me, to anyone, that would warrant me to do that to you?"
He looked so amused, it pissed her off even more. He stepped back, looking her over. "What's stopping you right now from trying? You've got the wind serpent, stronger than ever, Kaze's murder weapon, all charged up and ready to go. From what I can sense, you've got Kurama's energy pulsing in your system instead of mine now. Use it." He undid his sword from his hip, setting it against the wall. Then he held his hand out wide and closed his eyes.
She shook her head, hands trembling at the idea. "What? No. Why would I?"
"Because I'll kill you if you don't," he threatened.
She sucked down a breath, watching him warily. He made the threat, but never moved. "You wouldn't," she said. "You wouldn't because you saved me last night."
"I didn't save you last night," he said, smirking.
"What?" she hummed, bringing her hand to her mouth.
He dropped his hands to his sides and opened his eyes. "Get out, girl, and don't come back," he told her, side stepping out of her way to the door. "I'll have the fox reset the code."
She took a few hesitating steps towards the door. She quickened her pace after that. At the door, she paused though. "Come with us, help us stop the tunnel. Maybe you can slip through it right before we close it."
"Get out, girl," he repeated.
"Why? Why bother saving the wind serpent, or me, if you'll just let the tunnel open anyway?" she asked.
"Out," he said more firmly.
She huffed under her breath, turning and leaving the apartment, head spinning. She felt the wind serpent stirring, but she ignored it, suppressing it. It was still a murder weapon, attached to her soul. She crossed her arms over her chest, wondering thoughts Hiei's rambling had made her wonder. Kaze killed because he felt it was duty. She had only killed to keep herself alive-
Her thoughts and her steps came to an abrupt halt when she saw Kurama standing there at the bottom of the stairs and in front of the entrance. He looked up at her, eyes full of patience. His hand hung at his side, holding something familiar. She engaged her steps once again and picked up her pace down the stairs, practically running into him when she reached bottom of the steps. She nearly went past him, but then halted and turned to face him. She snatched at his hand, taking the hair clip from him without a word. She turned away, walking this time out the door. He followed her, from what she could hear and sense. She was torn between wanting to flee from him and wanting to be near him. The wind had picked up now that she was outside, moving a few stray hairs into her face. She stopped, huffing. She faced towards the wind and pulled her hair together and clipped it in place. It gave him plenty of time to catch up with her and stand next to her. She did not say anything, but neither did he. It was a quiet sort of comfort.
"Thank you," she lisped out, voice cracking.
She felt her face grow hot, turning to him, like his energy craved to be near him. He held her, guiding her to sit down on a nearby bench by the river. She felt almost drowsy enough to fall asleep on him outside, but kept herself awake just in case. She did not want to go back home yet, to the room where she saw all those memories. She thought over those memories, wondering why the wind serpent ever agreed to kill like that for Kaze, but never for her. She wondered to about the one whom he spared, feeling overly curious now as to why if he thought all demons deserving of death. She heard his phone ring and felt him move to check it, but not answer it. He hummed softly under his breath, but made no comments otherwise.
When her neck felt stiff, she sat up, moving away to be at a more formal distance almost. "He spared one, Kaze," she said, following her own train of thought. She could tell he was listening intently, looking at her. She did not look back at him. "A demon. On the verge of death, being hunted by someone from the Spirit World," she explained. She pictured the hunter in her mind, but had no recollection outside of the wind serpent's memories of him. "The... hunter came to the Human World, tracked him to there, but lost the trail afterwards. Spent days and days looking, knowing he was in this province, but could not find him no matter how hard he looked. The hunter ran out of time and had to go back to the Spirit World, but went to Kaze just before his time expired. Kaze attacked him and subdued him. He hated the those from the Spirit World almost as much as he did the demons from the Demon World. He told Kaze about the demon, trading the information he had on the demon to spare his own life. When the hunter left, Kaze took over the hunt. He went all over the province, wanting to find this demon who alluded both the hunter and him. Weeks passed. He finally found him-" She stopped, hearing his phone ring again. "Take it," she conceded, clamming up.
He looked at his phone, and then at her, a conflicted look on his face. She looked passed him, seeing the afternoon sun starting to wane. She wondered at what time it was and how long she had been asleep at Hiei's. Then how long Kurama had been waiting for her at the front of the building. "It is my mother. I can call her back when you have finished," he answered, face twitching as he put the phone away. "Please continue," he allowed.
She felt her throat constrict. She sighed forcefully, and then blurted out, "that's who he spared." She wrapped her arms around her chest tightly, staring straight ahead. She saw the wind serpent's memories from the event, relieved to witness no violence for a change.
"What?" he asked. She could tell he was staring at her, but she did not look over at him.
"She was human, and noticeably pregnant. He couldn't bring himself to kill her," she rushed out tightly. "He wanted to, or at least to kill her unborn child, but he couldn't hurt her. It went against his beliefs to hurt another human, regardless if the child was now human or demon or a blend of the two now. He thought to wait, and go after the child after he was born, but the human mother would still be wounded to lose her child, who was technically now at least part human. He decided he would only hunt the child if he were evil like all the other demons," she finished. She lapsed into silence, not looking over at him. His phone rang again. "Take the call," she said, feeling irritable, but not wanting to snap at him.
She saw out of the corner of her eye him reaching for her. His fingers brushed her hair, but she flinched away. He answered the phone, staying next to her. "Hello? Mother?... No... no, yes... I have not forgotten," he said with a soft tone. She listened, half not wanting to ease drop, but hardly desiring to move away. "Yes, I am aware of what time it is... I lost track of time is all... With a friend... She is going through a bit of a shock... bad news is all... She is resilient... Oh... I, I am not sure..." he turned to Nanashi. She straightened up, looking over at him, meeting his gaze now. He covered the bottom half of his phone. "Family dinner, with her fiancé and his son, " he explained. "I am running a bit late. She said to invite you if that will help cheer you up, or at least to rush me home." He smiled softly, face reading affection. "I can understand if you don't want to-"
"Yes," she answered without thinking. Then she thought about it, feeling unsure of her answer. She was still feeling rather worn out, but the opportunity of meeting the one person Kaze spared rather than harmed had just been dumped in her lap, right before the world was ending. She was ready to jump on it. "If that's okay with you..." she mumbled out, unsure how uncomfortable it would be for him. He was frowning in his odd way.
"She has agreed... Nanashi, yes..." Kurama said into his phone. She felt herself flush at the idea that his mother knew her name, even though they had never met before. "We are the park near the apartment actually... Yes, the one we used to visit... We met there to talk... Yes, quite lucky... See you soon, love you, too..." he finished talking, and hung up. He checked the time before putting his phone in his pocket and stood up. "You do not have to come if you do not want to, but I need to go straight home, so I cannot walk you home."
"It's alright," she said, standing up next to him. "I'm not quite wanting go home yet," she excused vaguely.
His mouth formed a tight line. "At least text your aunt so she finally knows where and how you are. It has been hours," he instructed, turning to walk towards his apartment building.
She fell in step with him, pulling out her phone to quick send a text to her aunt to let her know where she was and who she was with. She looked down at her clothes, hardly dressed the way she would have been knowing she was going to meet a friend's mother and future step father and step brother. She smoothed at her clothes, fidgeting. If he noticed, he did not say anything. When they got into the elevator, she caught a glimpse in the mirror of her hair. It was a bit untidy and bumpy from her unplanned nap and then hastily thrown up out of the wind. She took it out of the clip, smoothed it over, and clipped it back up just in time to step off of the elevator.
When they walked down the hallway and stood in front of the door, she felt her stomach tighten, suddenly nervous. She wondered if this was a mistake and that she should rescind the acceptance to the invitation and leave before the door opened. It felt like too much of an intrusion and he was just tolerating her. It was all a rush, a split second yes, even as she wanted to see just who Kaze spared Kurama for. It was too late though. He punched in the code, opened the door, and side stepped to let her go in first. She stepped into the entry way, pulling off her shoes. He stepped in behind her, letting the door shut behind him. He was standing close to her. She felt an unbidden memory of once him kissing her and picking her up in this small space, even before she could kick her own shoes off.
"Suichi, are you finally home?" Nanashi heard a melodious voice call out.
"Yes, Mother," he called out, standing next to her. He took her by the elbow and guided her somewhat firmly through the hallway. She looked down the hall, seeing his bedroom, the room where he had lost control as Youko with her. She noticed a few boxes around the apartment as well. His hand slipped away from her as soon as they were in sight of his mother, future step father, and future step brother in the kitchen and seated at the dining room table. "Sorry we are late. Rough day for her," he excused politely and gently.
Nanashi looked at the the three new people in front of her, giving a quick bow to be polite. This was intrusive. She felt out of place.
"It's quite alright," his mother said, inclining her head towards Nanashi, eyeing her curiously. "Go ahead and sit down, please," she said, gesturing to the two of the three empty chairs, one was next to the younger boy and across from the older man. She stepped out of sight, back into the kitchen to set the table for dinner before all of them. She seemed a little flustered and tired.
Kurama sat down next to the man, leaving Nanashi to sit down next to the boy. The boy was staring up at her, making her feel even more out of place. "Are you Suichi's girlfriend?" the boy blurted out.
"Kokoda," the man next to him said in a short tone. "Don't be so rude, son," he instructed softly.
"No... I..." she started, fumbling. She looked over at Kurama as if to ask what to say.
"No, we are just friends," Kurama said patiently. "This is Nanashi, by the way." He shifted in his chair, pointing out each person. "This is my future step brother, Suichi, nicknamed Kokoda to help with the name confusion. My mother's fiance, Kazuya." His mother stepped back into view, setting the last plate of food down at the table. "And this is my mother, Shiori," he introduced last. She sat down next to him, which seemed to gladden him.
"Nice to meet you all," she replied, nodding her head at each of them in turn.
"I'm sure you two must be hungry. Suichi was out much too late last night, and then up much too early this morning," Shiori said caringly.
"I'm not too hungry," Nanashi said softly, trying for politeness. Her stomach betrayed her in the instant though, growling loudly.
Kokoda laughed boisterously at it. Kurama followed suit with a soft chuckle that smoothed out the awkwardness. "Long day, a bit too busy of one," Kurama excused for her. He started with the dishing out of the meal, passing her some food first before serving himself. The lot of them did the same and started eating.
"Kurama said you were having a bit of a rough day," Shiori said. "Some bad news. You can share as little or as much of it as you need to," she permitted.
Nanashi blinked over at her, unsure how she could possibly share about Kaze and his murders and the wind serpent in such mixed company. "An old... teacher... An old teacher from my old school. Passed away?" she finished, unsure how exactly to say any of it. Kurama next to her made the slightest nod.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," Shiori said softly. "We're the two of you close?"
Nanashi bit her lip, unsure how to continue, feeling guilty for lying. "No, but... he was influential..." she puttered out.
"Hopefully he is in a better place," Shiori said soothingly.
"Thank you," Nanashi said, finally turning the food on her plate. She took a bite, hoping conversation would turn away from her now.
Kurama seemed to pick up on her desire for that, which allowed her to be quiet and alone with her thoughts. She did jump into the conversation again when they talked about a move.
"You're moving?" she asked in a rush, looking up in surprise.
"Yes," Shiori explained, "but just down the road a bit to the house where Kazuya and Kokoda live. I'm surprised Suichi didn't tell you. It's bigger and in a better part of the neighborhood," she tisked. "A bit of riff raff has been getting into this neighborhood. I worry at the chance of some Yakuza finding their way up here."
Nanashi felt relieved, but felt her ears draw a little bit back at a bit of the classist comment. "We will move after the wedding," Kurama explained.
'If there is one,' Nanashi thought to herself. She felt the wind serpent stir, but did not speak to her. She felt lonely at the feeling of it.
The conversation flowed around her, but she tagged out of it. When dinner was finished Kurama's future step father and brother stepped up to clean up. Nanashi felt awkward to see it, looking about as if wondering if she should offer to help clean up as well. Before she could however, Shiori offered to give her a ride home in her car.
Kurama intervened before Nanashi could think of what to say to get out of it. "It's quite alright, Mother. She doesn't live far. I can just walk her home," he counter offered.
"Nonsense, the two of you have had quite a long day. It's not an issue," Shiori insisted. "Besides, I have been cooped up all day anyway packing and cooking."
Nanashi watched the exchange, unsure which way to go about responding. "It's okay. I can walk by myself," she said, standing up in hopes if she got her shoes on fast enough, she could slip out.
Shiori looked down at her with a soft, affectionately stern gaze. "You look worn out, my dear. Perhaps once I drop you off, you should head straight to bed to get a good night's rest."
Kurama was looking between the two of them. Nanashi felt ready to falter at her gaze. "The three of us could go together. I know the quickest route," he compromised.
Nanashi fidgeted, but nodded, figuring if she had to give in to his mother, it would be far better to have him in the car than to be left alone with Shiori.
"Very well," Shiori said. "I'll just grabbed my keys."
They left the apartment and were heading down the elevator quicker than Nanashi would have preferred. She felt more and more nervous as the elevator descended floor after floor. Kurama was quick to sit with her in the back of the fanciest car she had even seen, let alone been in. Kurama managed to steer the conversation as well as give his mother directions. The comments she made though made Nanashi feel flustered:
"... this a bit further than I expected... You sure you live in that neighborhood, oh... What does your aunt do again?... Oh... Oh, you're one of the scholarship students at the school. Kazuya's boss donates towards those... Mmm, we're here... Suichi, do walk her to her apartment. But hurry back. It's starting to get dark out."
Nanashi was quick to get out of the car, shutting the door behind her carefully for fear of scratching or damaging such an expensive looking car. Kurama slipped out the other door, walking briskly in be in step with her. She heard the door locks click once he shut his door. They walked into the apartment building and up the stairs quietly in step. When they reached her apartment door. "That's who he spared? And spared you for?" she said, mixed feelings about how she worded it.
He looked down at her, part wounded, part understanding. "She likes you. I have told her about you. A bit anyway," he explained. "What is safe for her to know." He sound a slight bit defensive.
"I... I just mean," she hummed. "I can understand why he spared her," she replied, thinking hard. She racked her brain to figure out how to talk about his mother honestly but not offensively. "You should probably head back to her before... mmm," she finished.
"She means well," he defended. "Have a good night. Just text me if you need to," he offered sincerely. He stepped closer to her.
She stepped back away from him, which made him halt. "Good night. Thank you. For everything," she replied softly.
She turned around, entering her own apartment as he walked back to his mother's car. She saw neither her aunt nor cousin were home. She kicked off her shoes, heading into her tiny bedroom. She shut the door behind her, leaned against it, and sunk to the floor. The rush and blur of the past two days went before her exhaustingly. Kaze had been a killer... the wind serpent had been the weapon of his means... She never made it kill like he had though...
She closed her eyes and took a stealing breath. "Get up here," she croaked out, summoning the wind serpent up, ready to finally face it.
She felt it stir excitedly, spooking her in its haste. It nuzzled its head against her cheek affectionately. 'Mistress,' it hissed in her mind happily.
She flinched away from it, but then studied it carefully. Its whole for was just so big now. From head to tail, it was the length of one of her arms to another. Its girth was thicker than her upper arm. Yet it felt weightless to her. "You will never kill the way he made you ever again," she told it thickly yet sternly.
'As you wish,' it responded, nuzzling under her chin.
Part of her recoiled. "We need to stop that tunnel from opening," she said firmly, picturing Shiori in her mind. She hardly knew the woman, but felt compelled to protect her with every fiber of her being. Her. Kokoda. Kazuya. Aunt Astuko. The children and parents at the park from earlier. Others she knew and had known...
'Yes, Mistress,' the wind serpent agreed, as if their combined wills alone could bring it into fruition.