Disclaimer. I do not own Yashahime. All rights belong to the creators.
CHAPTER FOUR
Reasui scooped the powdered herbs into a small pile, then grabbed the remaining herbs and walked outside. Takechiyo was flying towards her, with Moroha on his back, holding on to the pot.
Reasui went around the hut, to the back. She dug a hole, then put the herbs in upright. 'These are sturdy. With some careful planting their roots will grow back.'
Whump
Takechiyo landed heavily on the ground, and Moroha fell off. "Ack! The water's going to spill!"
Reasui ran up to them, and grabbed the pot. "Careful. You could've hurt yourself."
The tiny tanuki was on the ground with his tongue out. "I'm so tired. I can't move."
Moroha patted the back of his shell. "Good work! I permit you to rest!"
Reasui flicked her forehead. "Pay attention. Or the pot will spill."
Moroha grabbed one end of the pot, and together they dragged it back into the hut.
Now the problem was getting back onto the hanger.
Reasui nudged Moroha. "This thing's pretty sturdy. I think we can probably just push it right into the fire."
The other girl, hesitated. "Is that safe? I mean, it's made out of metal. The fire will heat it up."
Reasui motioned for Moroha to let go. "I'm a fire elemental kitsune. It'll be safe for me to touch it."
With much effort, Reasui pushed the pot into the fire, then heaved a heavy sigh. "Finally. I really think that using such heavy metal is inconvenient."
Bending down, Reasui scooped up the powdered herbs, and stood up. "Now. After I put the herbs in, we wait a bit until they are mixed in with the water. Then we'll put the crab in."
Moroha turned and sat next to the basked that the crab was trapped under. "I'm hungry already haha!"
The kitsune smiled and turned to face the pot. She dropped the herbs in, and brushed off her hands. "There we are."
Moroha watched Reasui stare at the pot. "Are you really fireproof?"
Reasui hummed, then lifted a tail and put it into the fire. She took it out, and it was completely fine. "Tadah."
Moroha's eyes grew huge and she clapped. "Wow! That's amazing!"
Reasui walked over to the basket, and put a hand on it. "Actually. I'm not always fireproof. Should I lose concentration, I'll get burned."
She raised one sleeve, and Moroha gasped.
A long ugly scar ran down the side of her arm, starting from her shoulder and ending at her elbow. "This. Is the price of loosing focus."
Moroha reached out to touch it, then thought better of it.
Without another word, Reasui picked up the basket, and snatched the crab. It clacked angrily at her. Reasui dropped the crab into the pot.
Moroha stood up and walked over, drooling. "Can we eat yet?"
Reasui gently pushed her back with a tail. "Hey, be careful. You'll get spit in the food. Why don't you get Takechiyo? I'm sure he'd like to eat too."
"I sure would!"
Right on cue, Takechiyo bounded into the hut, smiling. "Come on come on! How much longer are you going to make us wait?"
Moroha giggled at him. "What happened to not being able to move?"
Takechiyo suddenly prostrated himself onto the floor. "Ow! I'm in so much pain! Oh no!"
Moroha grabbed him and started pulling his ears. "You liar!"
"Ow! Now I really am in pain!"
Reasui slammed her tails down on the ground, making them stop. "It's ready, when you're done doing that."
Moroha tossed Takechiyo into the air and bounded forwards. "Hurray!"
Reasui caught the falling tanuki with a tail, and turned to grab some bowls piled up. She picked up three, and handed one to Moroha.
Moroha grabbed the ladle that was on top of the hanger and served herself. "Just a minute Moroha."
The smaller demon looked at her, as Reasui went and used the ladle to sever some crab legs. "Here you are."
She put two in Moroha's bowl.
Moroha started scarfing down the food. "This is amazing! I think I'm in love!"
Takechiyo wriggled out of Reasui's tail and landed on the floor. "Me next!"
Reasui poured some broth from the ladle into the bowl, and put some crab meat in his. "This is for you."
She handed the tanuki the bowl, amd he stumbled a bit. "Woah! This is heavy!" He sat down, and sipped on the broth. "Can you cook for us all the time?"
Moroha looked up from her bowl, food all over her face. "I thought you were a wanderer. Now you only want to stay because Reasui can cook really well."
Takechiyo pointedly ate some crab meat so he wouldn't have to answer.
Reasui made herself a bowl and sat down next to Moroha. "This is pretty good…but I think I could have done better."
Moroha gawked at her. "What are you talking about? This is amazing!"
Reasui smiled dryly. "Yes. I think you said that already."
Takechiyo waved a hand. "You know, people are their own worst critics."
Reasui sniffed and looked away. "Aren't you smart?"
Moroha gobbled down the rest of the stew. "I want seconds!"
Reasui was still staring in a random direction. "Go ahead. I think I'll go outside for some fresh air."
She stood up. "Excuse me."
Reasui stalked out the hut, and up the hill. She stopped by the tree, and sat down. "I'm my own worst critic huh? I've heard that before."
She glanced at her arm, thinking about the scar. "In the end…I haven't changed my thinking at all. You were right, Master Honta. Self criticizing gets you nowhere, you lose focus."
She laughed quietly, and gazed up at the sky. "I will try harder, be more focused. A sharp mind is just as good as a sharp sword."
END OF CHAPTER FOUR
Author Notes
-It's true, isn't it?
-Sometimes, the most frightful things…are ourselves.
