DARN. 2,000 words! Aren't you so proud of me..
While walking towards Okita's house, Kamui insisted on holding Okita's hands. Okita blushed and shook his head wildly, yet when it comes to Kamui stared at him with his sea blue eyes, Okita couldn't exactly resist.
"It's what friends do." Kamui said while holding his hand. He felt Kamui's long slender fingers wrapped tight yet gently around his own; Kamui's hands were cold, icy cold. He wondered if he is sort of chilly in this weather, but a qipao was neccassrily warm, especially since it's long sleeved. His own hand was hot, he knows, mostly from the embarrassment. He hoped his hand would warm Kamui's, maybe even just a little bit.
"Friends hold hands?"
"Good friends."
It makes him taste a tit of jealousy when he realizes Kamui will have to have experience to know this. Who could be Kamui's good friend, far, far away? He wondered. Kamui pretty, and he is nice, so he guessed it must have not been hard making friends if it was in Kamui's case.
But he's here now, right next to him. Guess that makes a different when you're an universe away.
He smiles a little bit because the raindrop dripped in a happy rhythm. Kamui is smiling, he knows not far away from his house where onee is there smiling. Happiness. Maybe this is what the feeling is called, he thought.
"Look, that's my house!" He excitedly points to his house which insight now. It's not a shabby house, a hand-down from generation of generation, and once the Okitas were very rich, he guessed, because his house is rather one of the largest one around the country-side. Though it's only him and onee. It sometimes can feel a little lonely in such big, empty space.
"It's grand." Kamui states.
He nods happily. Happy because he impressed Kamui, his new good friend. His step lightens and he skips a little in the water puddles. Kamui walked in his pace, while he stepped into any rain he can find, and their fingers always touching. Kamui is smiling gently, watching him as he goes, light-brown hair carried by the breeze, red eyes shining brightly. As they get closer, he could see Mitsuba-san over by the lily garden, checking on the plants. The umbrella had prints of sakura flowers, beautiful pink, almost like Kamui's hair. He yells out Onee! and Mitsuba-san stands up and turns, some hair falling on to her face. Her features softened as she saw it was him, the bright loving smile she did always give him. Mitsuba-san waved, and he waved right back. Kamui observed rather carefully, studying her, and finally as if in approval, cracked a smile.
"Onee!" He says as they approached her by the flowers, the air now filled with the elegant fragrance of lilies. "Meet Kamui. Kamui, this is my onee."
"Hajimemashite." Kamui bowed politely.
"Hajimemashite, Kamui." Mitsuba-san bowed right back, smiling. He wonders why people use such formal greetings, but it doesn't matter to him. Kamui seems to likes his sister, and he relaxed a little bit. It also seems onee likes Kamui too.
"Kamui, this is the lilies!" He points excitedly to the rows of graceful lily flowers, standing with their pride high even under the gray sky, droplets of water from the edges, the flowers looked refreshed.
"They're very beautiful." Kamui praised. He bend down next to the flowers and sniffed them, and with a satisfying look on his face.
"You told him about the lilies, Sou-chan?" Mitsuba asked with a smile, also bending down.
"Uh-huh. Me and Kamui are friends!" He proudly announced to Mitsuba-san. She looked to Kamui's direction, in a little surprise, but then her smile widened, and gave him a thumb-up. He felt the gleaming smile on his face though he can't see it.
"Good friends." Kamui says. "Best friends."
And with that, Mitsuba started to introduce about their plants. The basic ones for everyday eating were cucumbers, white radish, celeries, green beans and some whole grains plants they're testing out. With some fruits like grapes, which is behind the house and also apple trees. The flowers though were mainly focused lilies, which were their favorite of all. Some they sell in the markets as income. As they walked through the gardens Kamui looked around with his sea blue eyes in curiosity as if he did never seen such new things before. Then Okita remembered that Kamui is an Amanto, a Yato, as he called it. Mitsuba-san commented on his eyes, she told him how much she and Sougo loves the color blue, how calming and beautiful it is. Kamui nods and say thank you.
Everyone is laughing and smiling and having a good time. He felt the warmth from from his heart, rising, rising.
* * *
Lunch consisted with something fancy like fried squid and shrimp, not very common around the countryside and in fact very expensive. Since it's a special guest, she winked as she said this. Miso soup was extra good, some meat dishes, with some fresh picked cucumbers and the radish cut into thin, thin cuts sprayed with some green onions. Also fish for everyone. Kamui keep on asking for more rice, and even though he thought onee cooked a lot today, Kamui ate all of it.
"Mmm." The pink-hair boy said, smiling widely with rice sticking on his face, his braids goes swoosh swoosh as he eats. "Good food."
"Do you like it Kamui?" Mitsuba asked a question those answer was quite obvious.
"Yes." He nods. "Earth's food is the best."
Okita nervously realized how dangerous that comment might be. He looked to Mitsuba-san, whose smile did not drop. He's scared if onee would not allow him to play with Kamui, because he is Amanto. But Kamui is so nice and harmless, and he's human looking, unlike all the rumors that goes around the villages. He eats his shrimp and coughs on it. Kamui raised his hands and patted hum on the back, which is something onee usually do when he chokes on some food. Mitsuba-san smiled, her sleeves covering her mouth, the way a demure girl would.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing." Mitsuba shook her head. "It's just how attached you guys are, even though you met -- yesterday? Is that why you came home late?"
"No! Of course not!!" Sougo shook his head madly as if it's so very embarrassing, while Kamui gave a low laugh, in the very adult like way as Mitsuba-san did so too. He felt even more flustered. Did Kamui think he was dumb? Did he laugh at him? Sometimes he feels very childish compared to Kamui. Perhaps Amanto boys, even if looks like the same age as him, experiences a lot more. A Yato. He wondered how far away Kamui's home was, a place with no sun, where lily flowers can't grow...
"Heheh, he's so cute, isn't he?" Mistuba chuckles.
"Yep." Kamui agrees with a nod. "Adorable."
"HEY!" He protested, feeling a little left out from the conversation. "I'm right here! I can hear you!"
The lunch went on like this, in a pleasant, family sharing sort of way, that was heartwarming to anyone, even the so said cold blood Yato.
* * *
After the meal which was lavish indeed and beyond filling, onee suggested to run around a little and burn off the feast. She says she's going to do some work with the plants, too. He reminded her to take her medicine, and don't overwork herself. Mistuba-san waved it off with a smile, picked her umbrella and dressed in working clothes, she walked off.
He and Kamui are walking through the field of lilies. They're still holding hands, two umbrellas, one bleeding red one ocean blue. Okita chattered the whole way, Kamui listening. He looks up to the gray sky, and said how much he loves the sky when it's the beautiful blue, and around the fragrance of the lilies. Kamui looks up too.
"Hmm..." Kamui seems to be thinking. "Sou-chan. Did you know today is my birthday?"
"Really!?!" Sougo jumps with surprise. "Happy birthday! Why didn't you tell me? Onee could have made cake or some sweets! I could have gotten you a present!"
"You already gave me one." Kamui tilts his head.
"What?" He seems lost now.
"You're my friend now, right? That's a wonderful present for me." Kamui shine a smile in those gentle ways. He blushes wildly and shook his head.
"That's not enough!"
"Yes, it is. It's the best one I have so far. Along with a wonderful meal."
"But.."
"No buts." His finger on his lips, cold to the soft skin. "Now, when is your birthday?"
"July 8th." He replies. "Only 7 days apart!"
"That's a week..." Kamui says, and his lips curled. Enough time.
"What?"
"Isn't the festival in a week, too?"
"Yeah." Okita just seems to realize that. "Awesome! My birthday on the summer festival!"
"Yes. Indeed." He nods. Bending down suddenly, his hand reached for a lily flower that's bursting with growth. He picked it with an approval nod from Sougo, lift it up next to the red eyed boy's face.
"Lily and blue." He whispers lowly. "Your two favorite things."
"Yeah." Sougo gulps a little. Kamui is looking at him in those very serious ways, the blue ocean eyes calming yet stern. Almost a little sad, just like the color of blue is. He feel the touch of the flower buds by his ear, water dripping down slowly on his skin, the scent driven gently to his nose.
"Sorry there is no blue sky today."
"That's alright." He shook his head. "If there were blue sky, there would be the sun. The sun hurts Kamui."
"Do you like the sun?"
"I do. But if it hurts Kamui, I don't have to."
"But you will lose blue without the sun." Kamui's voice low.
"That's alright." And he means it. That's alright.
It wasn't enough in Kamui's eyes. His hand holding the flower still by Sougo's face, they're very, very close. His head getting closer, and he lay it down on Sougo's shoulder. The boy could feel the pink soft hair against his clothing, and Kamui's breathing, slow and warm. His heart skipped a beat, no, a couple beats.
"Kamui?"
"If I could give you both of them..." Kamui says.
"It's okay." He pats Kamui's back, though he doesn't know what really is going on, but he figured Kamui probably wanted comfort.
"Lily. Blue. Blue, lily..." Kamui chanted slowly, and raised his so that his gaze was straight to Sougo's. "If there were things such as blue lilies, would you still need the sky?"
And he had to give a thought about that. Blue. Lilies. If they were combined together, the bursting elegant lilies in the calming color of blue.. It would be indeed very beautiful. He guessed it was okay. He imagined himself running through a flock of beautiful blue lilies. The picture gave him a tingle and a smile runs up his face. He nods, and he means it when he does.
Kamui seemed now satisfied. His hand holding the lily, made a snap to separate the flower and the steam, and tuck it behind Sougo's ear.
"You look very beautiful." He breathed, and then it was the familiar smile of two lines. "Sou-chan should be a girl."
"Hey!" He becomes red again. Kamui starts running and Sougo started chasing him, laughing and smiling.
And the day goes on.
Phew!
FYI, the whole thing about birthday I wasn't really sure, but it's probably a month away, either June or July for both of them, Kamui is on the first and Sougo is on the 8th, I just pretty sure of that part..