(Characters © ZUN)
An Eternity With You
Part Four
"And here you go. That should be enough to last you a month."
"Thanks. Do you think you could help me out with this?"
Eirin smiles faintly, helping Mokou slip the right strap of the satchel filled with medicine over her shoulder.
"I haven't got any money on me this time," Mokou admits, adjusting the strap of her sling with her left hand. "But I'll pay you back. How much is it this time?"
"Well, this time it's free…"
The pleasant smile on the Lunarian's face turns into a light smirk.
"…if you'll tell me what you were thinking about last night in the middle of the forest," the silver-haired woman continues, almost as an afterthought.
"Wh— how do you know about that?" Mokou sputters, face reddening slightly.
"Kaguya told me how you initially refused to fight her," Eirin shrugs, almost as though Mokou simply asked about the weather. "I figure whatever you were thinking of must have been quite important, then."
The immortal girl sighs, stuffing her left hand into her pocket.
"It's… hmph. It's neither of your concerns, but… have you ever had something to tell someone, but — but you couldn't find the right way to tell them?" she asks, biting her lip as she looks up at Eirin. "Something terribly important?"
Eirin frowns slightly.
"…how important is this thing you have to say?" the Lunarian asks.
"It's — if I say it, it'll be the most important thing I've ever said," Mokou admits, fidgeting. "But I don't… I can't…"
The pharmacist's expression softens as Mokou looks down at the ground, scuffing one of her shoes against the ground.
"You… love someone, don't you?"
Mokou freezes, choking on her own breath.
"Wh-wha—"
"Ah, so that's what it is," the pharmacist nods slowly, her smile returning. "You love someone, but you don't know how to tell them, do you?"
Her face now a bright shade of red, Mokou finds herself unable to speak; she finally shakes her head, staring very intently at the floor.
"Would you like my advice?" Eirin asks, amused by the immortal girl's embarrassment.
"Y-Yes…" the white-haired girl mumbles, still unable to make eye contact with the Lunarian.
"Just tell them how you feel."
At this, Mokou snaps her head up, face still tinged red from earlier.
"Easy for you to say," she growls, tensing up. "You don't have to worry about rejection—"
"And if you wait because you're afraid," Eirin interrupts gently, "then by the time you do tell them… it may be too late. You have to remember that their time is limited…"
At this, Mokou is silent, mulling over Eirin's words.
"That'll be forty yen for the advice, due by your next visit," the Lunarian informs, gently turning Mokou around and leading her towards the entrance of Eientei. "Say hello to Keine for me, will you?"
"Yeah… Yeah, I will," the immortal girl nods, not really paying attention.
Their time is limited…
Even after Eirin has led her outside and gone back in, Mokou keeps walking aimlessly, lost in thought.
(I always feel like I don't quite get Eirin's character down right. But I do so love writing her, especially when she interacts with Mokou.
For those who are waiting on chapter six of Impossibilities, I swear it's close to done.
Please review!)