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Ch. 24: More
Nazrin impatiently paced about the tea room, her arms still hugging on to Suika's gourd. Hijiri Byakuren was still seated at the table that now featured a near-empty tea pot and glasses, quietly and patiently waiting. Some distance away, Toramaru Shou had broken off from the table and was seated on the tatami with her legs crossed and her eyes closed, trying to meditate in an attempt to emulate her master's patience.
Tap, tap, tap, tap… Nazrin continued to pace about the room, specifically against the window, pausing occasionally to look out of it. The window looked out over a section of the gardens that surrounded Myouren temple, but it was the wrong section! Evidently, Kogasa and Suika had gone somewhere else.
Tap, tap, tap, tap, pause. Tap, tap, tap, tap, pause.
Shou uncomfortably opened one eye to see Nazrin once again glancing out the window, before closing her eye to try to resume her meditation.
Tap, tap, tap, tap, pause. Sigh… Tap… Tap… T'ch, scurry, scurry, scurry, scurry…
"Nazu," Byakuren called out simply. "You're disturbing Shou-chan."
"S-Sorry Byakuren-sama," Nazrin stopped and bashfully apologized.
"It's fine," Shou stood up and gave all up all pretence of meditating. "I want to know what's going on too," Shou marched up to the window and glanced out at the already darkening and still raining sky. "It's dark already, and the rain has yet to let up. They really shouldn't be out right now…" Shou said.
"Be patient, Shou-chan, they'll come back in eventually," Byakuren assured Shou.
"O-Okay…" Shou replied, but otherwise continued to stand by the window. "Huh? Oh, look," Shou turned her attention to the now night sky. "It's stopped raining," she observed, as the drizzle slowly lifted like a curtain of silk against the darkness.
Byakuren smiled. A sign, perhaps? She thought, as she lifted the near-empty tea pot to refill her tea.
"Oh… we're out? Nazu, would you kindly refill the tea-pot please," Byakuren smiled at Nazrin.
"Oh! Right away, Byakuren-sama!" Nazrin picked up the tea pot and brought it out of the room.
That's right, Byakuren thought as she finally took her turn to glance out the window. Suika and Kogasa might appreciate to have some warm tea waiting for them when they get back.
"It's stopped raining…" Suika looked out from under the pavilion roof. "H-Hey… maybe we should head back now, Kogasa. Kogasa?" Suika gently nudged a sleeping Kogasa leaning on her side.
Moments ago, after standing foolishly in the rain for minutes, Suika finally decided to haul a crying and apologetic Kogasa to the nearest shelter. As light and warm a rain that was, getting drenched was not comfortable at all. Taking shelter in a garden pavilion, Kogasa had yet to regain her composure, so Suika had no choice but to sit and accompany her.
It was then that a soaking-wet Kogasa decided to fall asleep on a soaking-wet Suika's side.
O-Okay, so there were a lot of problems with the current scenario, but first and foremost, it really, really was physically uncomfortable. I mean, you try sitting around in wet clothes with something wet pressed against you under a humid night sky! Suika shifted around uncomfortably; the moisture was starting to pool in places she really did not like it to pool in…
"N-Ngh…" Kogasa started to stir under Suika's shifting. "S-Suika?" she drowsily opened her eyes.
"Hey Kogasa," Suika greeted her. "Feeling better?"
"W-Wet…" Kogasa a little lethargically squeezed her blouse, water readily escaping through her fingers. Did she really fall asleep like this? Her fingers were pruney…
"Haha… and you were supposed to keep me dry…" Suika chuckled a little, while Kogasa looked at her embarrassed. "Well," Suika left Kogasa's side and got up. "I think we had better head back where it's warm and dry, right?" Suika extended a hand to Kogasa, inviting her to get up as well.
Kogasa grabbed Suika's hand, and Suika pulled Kogasa up. "C'mon now, let's go!" Suika turned to move off, but suddenly found herself pulled back a surprisingly strong force, causing her to nearly lose her balance. Stumbling a bit before recovering, Suika straightened to see an innocent looking and slightly surprised Kogasa still holding on to her hand, anchoring Suika to where she stood.
"Um… Suika? Are you ok?" Kogasa asked, unsure as to why Suika was stumbling about. "You looked as if you were going to fall there."
Suika raised one eyebrow as she stared at Kogasa's hand gently holding her own, fiercely rooting her to the spot. But of course… Suika mentally palmed her face. She had falsely assumed they would walk off separately, and thus proceeded as if she were free of Kogasa's vice-grip… Suika looked up sighing, was about to ask Kogasa to kindly let go, found herself met with Kogasa's smiling face, then sighed again. N-Never mind…
"Uh… Suika?" Kogasa repeated concernedly.
"F-Forget it Kogasa…" Suika gripped back Kogasa's hand and this time pulled Kogasa along with her. "Let's… just go," the pair started to make their way back to Myouren temple. Before I lose my composure too, Suika added inwardly, Kogasa's little hand in hers making her want to faint yet again.
"Ok!" Kogasa grinned happily and proceeded to rush to Suika's side so as to link arms with her again as usual, causing Suika to once again feel that familiar rush of discomfort, which was further exacerbated by the fact that neither youkai had dried just yet.
"K-Kogasa…" Suika shifted a little uncomfortably, "Is it really necessary to walk with me, you know, like this every single time?" she asked.
"What's wrong?" Kogasa returned the inquiry, a puzzled finger on her lips.
"N-No! Nothing!" Suika looked away quickly, her cheeks burning. Kogasa… you really got to stop this…! "It's just… you know," Suika continued, still turned away from Kogasa, "It's admittedly a little hard to walk like this, with someone clinging to me and all…" It really was, although Suika would never admit Kogasa was feather-light to her, so it wasn't difficult to her physically.
"Mmmm… Okay," Kogasa disengaged from Suika a little, and settled for simply holding Suika's wrist in both her hands. "But, isn't it a little more difficult this way?" Kogasa asked, still a bit confused.
"Ah… No, this is fine, actually!" Suika said with relief as she made the mistake of looking back at Kogasa to see Kogasa holding her wrist cutely with outstretched arms in the shape of a V- Gah! Suika turned away immediately again, her cheeks nearly drunk on blood and heat.
"I don't know…" Kogasa was musing at the side, her lips pursed. "My previous master used to hold me real tight, real close all the time!"
… That was wrong in several ways.
"Urk! Ah-ah-ahhh… I-Is that s-so?"Suika faintly and shakily asked, trying her desperate best not to picture Kogasa being embraced in all sorts of lewd- Y-Yah, exactly like tha- Damn it! I'm imagining it, aren't I? !
"Yup! " Kogasa beamed, oblivious to Suika's discharge. "Although, of course, I don't really care much for her anymore…" Kogasa gave a little "humph". "Any other time, she would just dump me in the back and forget about me."
"Yeah… that's real bad- Huh?" Suika's nasal faucet finally shut itself off. Dump… her in the back…? "Kogasa…" something wasn't right. "What were you talking about again?" Suika turned to look at Kogasa.
"Huh?" Kogasa had a look of puzzlement. "Oh… my old owner? I was saying I don't really care about her anymore," Kogasa's face had an expression of distaste at her least favourite memories.
"No, no, before that!"
"Huh? Oh…" Kogasa's expression changed to one of bliss again as she addressed her new owner, "I was saying you have to hold me close, silly! I mean, how else would you hold an umbrella?" Kogasa gave a little giggle. "If you don't hold me close, I won't be able to shelter you properly, right Suika?" she giggled again.
"… Umbrella…?" Suika mouthed inaudibly. Why hadn't it hit her before? She had been referring to herself as such all the time… Suika simply gazed at Kogasa took to gazing at Kogasa, a frown slowly knitting itself into her eyebrows.
"Oh! And don't you dare make the same mistake of just throwing me to the side when you're done with me! Not like a certain someone," Kogasa teasingly chastised Suika, unaware of Suika's changing mood.
And the gourd too… I was wondering why anyone would feel like that about a mere object… Don't tell me…
"I mean, if you don't store me somewhere cool and dry, well, I'm going to grow-" Kogasa paused a little, embarrassed to go on. "Well… Let's just say I don't really enjoy mould up my-"
Sh-She still talking about herself like a… Like a…!
"But I trust you, Suika!" Kogasa smiled. "I know you won't- Hyah? !" Kogasa startled as Suika suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Wh-Wha…? Wh-What's wrong?" Kogasa's smile instantly vanished as she finally noticed the change in Suika's expression.
"That's enough," Suika said firmly, her expression one of anger.
"H-Huh?" Kogasa trembled a little. Wh-Why… Why was Suika mad? "Did…" Kogasa was concerned, but also pained that Suika would be unhappy. Did she…? "Did… Did I do something wrong?" Kogasa gently grabbed Suika's forearms, trying to soothe her.
"N-No… You did nothing wrong, Kogasa," Suika could barely get the words out from between her clenched teeth.
Kogasa's… She's a…! Suika's eyes focused on Kogasa's, the fierceness in them reflected in Kogasa's uncertain and hesitant ones.
Kogasa's a person!
So… how can she…? How can she think of herself as an object…? My object, no less… Suika's forearms tightening their grip involuntarily, causing Kogasa to wince.
"O-Ow!" Kogasa winced. "S-Suika! I-I'm sorry!" Kogasa pleaded. She was not entirely sure what she did wrong, but she desperately tried to get the Oni to calm down.
Her plea only served to increase Suika's guilt and self-directed anger, causing Suika's grip to strengthen.
"O-OW! Nngh... S-Suika!" pain and panic shot up Kogasa's arm to her heart. "Wh-Why are hurting me? ! It's me! Your umbrella!" Kogasa cried out. "S-Suika! It's me- Hyah!" Kogasa felt the pain in her arm subside before even realizing she was just shoved away by Suika.
"S-Suika….? Wh-"
"STOP IT!" Kogasa was silenced by Suika's sudden outburst, her heart stopped, unsure how to react to Suika's sudden rage. Suika's arms were still outstretched as they were seconds ago, Kogasa pushed down before her, her rear on the damp soil, her heels digging into the soft ground from being shoved. Suika looked up, a little stress vented from her outburst, only to be greeted by another wrecking image.
Kogasa, hurt on the ground, wide eyed and tearing.
"K-Kogasa… I-I'm sorry…!" Suika knelt down next to Kogasa. Kogasa inched a little away, still staring wide eyed at Suika.
"K-Kogasa… Listen!" Suika grabbed Kogsa's arm, and Kogasa started to pull away.
"Listen, Kogasa!" Suika forcefully pulled Kogasa closer, and the reaction Suika got from her sickened Suika. It was a look of fear…
"L-Listen…" …but Suika didn't care. It was absolutely vital that Kogasa understand what she felt. Because Kogasa…
"You're not my umbrella! Okay?" Suika tried to say it as gently as she was saying it firmly. I-It was absolutely… absolutely vital… Because…
Kogasa's look of fear turned to horror and revulsion.
"Are you dumping me?" she very steadily whimpered.
"N-No…" for a moment, Suika's determination faltered. I-It was… absolutely…
….
"… I understand…" Kogsa looked down and gave a half-hearted tug of her arm.
"… No… You don't understand-"
"Let go…" Another tug of the arm.
"N-No, Kogasa…!"
"Let… go…" A more furious tug of the arm.
"Kogasa!" Suika tried to move in to embrace Kogasa, fearing Kogasa might just break off without understanding.
"LET GO OF ME!" Kogasa started to struggle violently, to no avail. "LET GO OF ME SUIKA! LET GO! LET-"
"Kogasa," Suika finally managed to secure the furiously struggling Kogasa in her arms. "Kogasa, listen! Ow! P-Please! Just calm down for a moment-"
"LET! GO! P-Please…" Kogasa cried tears. "Wh-Why does everyone do this to me? ! Why are you getting rid of me now? !"
"I-I'm not getting rid of you-"
"THEN WHY DID YOU SAY I'M NOT YOUR UMBRE-"
"BECAUSE YOU'RE MORE THAN THAT!" Suika shouted, not realizing her own eyes were red too, the loud yet hesitant words having forced their way out more off their own accord rather than of her own will.
Immediately, Kogasa stopped struggling, her eyes still wide, but now the horror in them gone, replaced with something more shining, the same sort of hope that was in her heart.
"Wh-What do you…?"
"You're more than that… O-Okay?" Suika asked a little overly consciously, afraid she might come across as too aggressive after how she just roared. "Y-You're not an umbrella , Kogasa, not anymore, and you're definitely not 'mine', do you understand?"
"H-Huh…? I…? Hah…!" Kogasa flinched, but did not struggle anymore as Suika clasped her hands on her shoulders and gave them a squeeze.
"Can an umbrella laugh, Kogasa?" Suika asked her earnestly. "Can an umbrella think, or speak, or feel happiness, sadness and pain?"
"… I…" Realization now blooming a little next to the warmth of hope in Kogasa's bosom.
"Can an umbrella cry, Kogsa?" A few tears managing to leak their way out of Suika's eyes against her resistance, "Because to me, you're more than just some stupid object to me Kogasa!" she exclaimed. "To me… You're a person," Suika finished with an awkward smile.
"…" Kogasa's lips parted, the air pushed out by her tightening, beating chest. But… she still had questions though… "Th-Then… what sort of person am I to you?" The little youkai asked, her heart expectant.
… Ack!
"I uh…" Any tender feelings Suika harboured from their recent little moment suddenly drained away. Gah! In my emotional outburst, I said some stupid things! …W-Wait! C-Come to think of it… If you re-read all the things I just said… D-Doesn't it sound like…? !
"… S-Suika?" Kogasa's brightly shining eyes dimmed a little as second after silent second ticked by.
"Ah… Y-You're…" Damn I can't lie, and the stupid umbrella's grown on me… "Y-You're, um… S-Someone special I guess?" W-Well, it's not like I like her that way anyways… right…? "S-So um… I guess that settles it! Yup! Y-You're someone specia- Hyah!" Suika's air supply to any further words was cut off as a purple umbrella had just launched herself right into her midsection.
Kogasa was smiling the brightest smile she had ever had as a person, hugging her special someone.