The Slumbering mind reveals all.

Chapter 13

The next day, Okami didn't even look for Soma to make peace with him. She just wasn't in the mood to deal with him, it was too much work to break through his ice wall and she was just too tired. There was only one mission today so she could spend the rest of it sleeping in her room. Lindow did say it was important to get your rest.

All she had to do was take out an Ogretail and Cocoon Maidens in the City of Mercy with Lindow and Sakuya. The mission went by pretty quick, she just wanted to go back to her room and be done for the day.

"Huh? You seem down… " Pointed out Sakuya.

"No, it's nothing. Really…"

"Mmm…" Sakuya didn't fully believe her, but dropped the subject none the less. "It's like the Aragami have suddenly gotten stronger, smarter, rather more sophisticated."

"Of course, each time they devour something they gather knowledge from it, sometimes even its memory," answered Okami. "Like how a baby learns by sticking things in their mouth."

"I see… But hey, we've been doing some advances too. And we've got allies like you to rely on!" This made Okami smile a little.

"Hey guys let's go!" Lindow called out to them. "The mission isn't over until we get home."

. . .

True to her word, Okami spent the rest of the day in her room, not even leaving for her meals. Which caused a commotion with the others; she never missed chow time in the Mesh Hall.

"Strange, this is a first for Okami." Lindow commented.

"Come to think of it she did seem a little out of it today." Sakuya said with concern in her voice. She look upon the empty spot at the table were Okami should be sitting with sadness in her eyes. Where was she, this was one of her favorite times of the day. She loved interacting with them as she would call them her 'pact.' Heaven knows how the girl could find the sometimes questionable food appealing, but seeing her enjoy the food actually made it taste better. Now her worry only made it taste bitter.

Noticing Soma's somewhat sour face she asked him. "Do you know something about this?"

"She's no concern of mine." His voice was stern and he wouldn't look her in the eye.

"Ah, so you do know something." She sighed in relief as she read into his body language.

"I know nothing." Soma replied with more coldness in his voice.

"Perhaps you scared her off with your jerkish attitude." That comment from Kota earned him a sneer from Soma.

"That's not even a real word."

"It is, NORM it!" Kota said in unashamed triumph.

"Maybe you should go check on her Soma." Lindow suggested.

"Why should I?"

"Because we're all in the same unit, we look out for each other." Lindow said seriously, and then added to the point with humor. "Besides I'm the leader, I could make this into an order."

"Bastard," with that said Soma got up to head out. "This is an abuse of authority, you know."

"Yeah, yeah. As if you wouldn't have gone even without an order." Soma could hear the hint of hidden meaning in his voice. Ignoring him, Soma continued on to his destination.

After exiting the elevator, he rushed through the Rookie's Hall to avoid being seen as he headed to her door. Reaching her door he raised his hand to bang on it, but he hesitated. Did he really want to see her? Did she want to see him? No, he wouldn't let his actions be ruled by wild thoughts. He had damn orders to follow and he'd see them through, nothing more. With his determination returned he knocked on her door.

"Hey, quit your sulking already." But he got no reply from the other side. He knocked again.

"Ignoring me won't make me go away." Silence was his answer. He was starting to get aggravated by her silent treatment. He began to bang on the door.

"Open the door, dammit!" As he pulled his fist back to bang again the door slide open. With a memo to tell her to lock her door he walked right on in. He looked around the room to find her lying on her bed.

He approached her sleeping body with the determination to wake her up and give her a piece of his mind. But something in the back of his mind told him to let her sleep, removing that peaceful look off her face would be a sin, but he shoved that though back where it came from and continued on. Standing right above her bed looking down at her, his eyes slanted at the sudden acceleration of his heart from being so close to her. She looked so vulnerable and fragile unlike the fierce fighter she was, it brought out a hunger in him. He wondered if she would break from his touch, if her lips were as soft as they looked. He sneered from his lack of control, but returned to the task at hand.

"Hey, get up." He shook her but she didn't budge. He shook her again. "You can't just lock yourself away, starving yourself. You need to eat."

She groaned, opening her half-lid eyes looking up at him. There was a glaze in her eyes; one could tell she was still asleep. Slowly she reached her hand toward him with a smile.

"Hey Kage." She said drearily, wrapping her arm around his neck she dragged him down onto the bed with her. Soma stiffened as she pulled him closer to her. "I know you're hungry, but I'm tired. Just let me rest for a while, and then we can hunt for Great Birds, your favorite."

Soma didn't know what to do. He could break out of her grip easily and risk waking her while in this questionable position. But something inside him wanted him to stay put. All thoughts of escaped lost as she sighed and continued her sleep talking.

"You know Kage," her breath tickled his ear. "I met a boy just like you. He may come off as mean and cold, sometimes he can be a little bit of a brat. But deep down he's actually kinda sweet. He's a kind, caring person. But he hides behind a hard shell because he's scared of being hurt. But I hope, like you, Soma will eventually open up."

"Hey!" Soma protested at her description of him. But the sound of her heartbeat and her calm breathing was lulling him to sleep in its rhythm.

"What, I was complementing you."

The warmth of her chest must have been making him brave because he began to talk back to her. "Do you… do you hate him … for being so cold to you?"

"Do I hate him, no. You know me, I'm too lazy to hold pointless grudges, Kage." She sighed, as if taking advantage of his hood sliding down during the whole process she slowly brushed her fingers through his hair with her loving care. "Hating him would be like hating you, which is something I can never do."

"Hmm, quit comparing me to him." He mostly mumbled that to himself, but she still heard it.

"Aw, is my little brother jealous?" She gave a chastise kiss on the top of his head. "Don't worry; big sis isn't being taken from you. He'd have to beat me in battle to truly win my heart."

Fire, the room must be on fire in order for Soma to feel this hot. He had an uncontrollable urge to embrace her and run for the door all at the same time.

"Don't go Kage," she was beginning to fall into a deeper sleep. "I've missed you so much. You and… Shiro…"

When silence filled the room for a long time, he slowly removed himself from her arms and got up. He looked down at her and saw a single tear try to escape her eye. Using his finger he gently wiped it away, his finger lingered admiring the softness of her skin and it's warmth. Shocked at his own actions her retracted his hand in a flash and headed to the door, locking it as he left. Pulling his hood back on he strolled down the hallway.

He planned to leave without being seen, to his dismay the others were there waiting for him by the hall benches.

"How is she?" asked Sakuya.

"She's fine, just tired." But as she got up to head toward Okami's room, Soma said. "Don't wake her up, just let her sleep."

"Did something happen Soma?" Kota was wearing a sly grin.

"Nothing happened." His eyes shot daggers at Kota to no effect.

"I don't know, you got quite the peach blush on your cheeks."

"Hey!"

"You know, you're right Kota, he does seem kinda flushed." Lindow teased on. "His breath is kinda raggedy too, as if he just got done fighting a Gboro."

"Shut up!" His voice was cold, "I'm telling you nothing-"

Then he stopped, Okami came out of her room like a zombie on a brain hunt. Still asleep she walk passed Soma not even noticing the other, mumbling something incoherent as she clumsily got soda from the machine next to them then headed back to her room. She bumped into Soma but continued around him now mumbling about something warm while she dragged herself back to her room. The others paused for a second after she closed her door. She must have been really tired.