Fabulous readers,
Greetings and salutations. Please enjoy this thing I've made you. It was killing me inside and I had to write it because of reasons. The whole fox familiar story has been bugging the shit out of me lately, so I thought I'd expel my feelings in the form of not-so-creative-writing. I don't usually read or watch these kinds of romantic comedy-type-things, but when I do, I fall for it hard. I'm happy to be here amongst this fandom, and hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.
-I don't own this because I just don't-
Their love had grown through the months and blossomed as the days turned into years. For a year now, Nanami had been in charge of Mikage shrine; for an entire year, Nanami had grown and learned with the spirits that protected her and her new home; for an entire year, Nanami had settled her heart onto one man and loved him above anything else.
It had not been for a whole year, however, that that particular man had entirely loved her back. Only recently had they accepted the growth of romance and stood beside each other as lovers.
Nanami would give anything for her Tomoe, and in return, he would give anything for her. It had taken a lot of effort to get where they were. Through many bleak times, through many tears, they had endured and it seemed now that there was nothing left to do but rake in the spoils. Yet life was not so predictable, and it often threw many complications towards Nanami.
Though they had now recognized their love for each other, it did not affect their daily activities. Nanami still attended school while Tome followed her faithfully. She spent her time with homework, or Kami duties, and above all, she did her best to keep her spirits high each day. She had little to no self esteem when it came to herself, or her relationship with Tomoe. Often, she thought herself a burden on him. She tried hard to make him proud, though it seemed that nothing impressed him.
It had taken her some time to notice, but it soon became common knowledge to her that Tomoe did share a deep appreciation for her. She had seen it once when she met him in the passed, and she had seen it again when he explained to her he needed her in order to exist. Tomoe's life had become meaningless with out Nanami. It was frustrating, though, whenever she approached Tomoe about his feelings, he would casually avoid them. For a long while, all she had wanted was to have Tomoe show these pure emotions to her, to see his true feelings without facade, or jokes.
She never thought that day would come. She slumped on the table as she watched TV. She had the day off and planed to do an eternity of nothing. She would relax and take her mind off of Tomoe, a feat easier said than done.
After minutes of staring at the TV with out comprehending it, she flung her body backwards, landing on that tatami mate beneath her, arms sprawled, and hair tussled in a tangled mess around her face. She let out an exaggerated sigh as she stared at the ceiling, letting her feelings wander. She would be grateful if Tomoe showed her even just a little affection. He had once been so passionate when she met him in the past, but presently, it was a rare treat that he show her such emotions.
Maybe if they went on more dates, Tomoe would get used to showing his true feelings around her? Maybe... Nanami played out scenarios in her mind, envisioning Tomoe whispering sweet nothings in her ear, envisioning him confessing his love, envisioning them in passion together, kissing under the starry sky. She squealed and covered her face, hiding her blush and embarrassed expression. That would be nice! If only she could somehow get it to happen. She sat up and clapped her hands together, deciding she would ask Tomoe out on a date.
She stood and trotted from the room, off in search for her fox. She seemed happy, giddy even. Her body was on fire with determination as she bobbed in an out of the various rooms in the shrine, calling out Tomoe's name as she searched.
When she found him in the kitchen, she smiled and called out to him, stepping towards him as he turned to her with an uninterested expression. "What it is?" he asked with the same mild tone he used with her often.
She froze and shut her mouth tight. What was she doing? It was highly inappropriate to ask him on a date. She was the girl; shouldn't it be the other way around? She shook her head. "I was wondering," she said, losing her excitement fast. "If you'd-" she mumbled something and scratched at her arm. "If you weren't too busy tonight..." She plastered an expression of mocked happiness on her face and spoke through her nerves. "Maybe we could go out somewhere-"
"I'm busy," Tomoe stated without allowing her to finish.
Her face dropped, and her heart thrashed in her chest. The pain took her by surprise and left her without a breath. She shrank back, twiddling her fingers.
Tomoe glanced at her. "Do stop fidgeting; it's unbecoming for a lady," he said casually, depleting Nanami's self confidence even further.
Knowing nothing else, Nanami laughed and stepped out of the kitchen. In a hurry, Nanami fled from Tomoe's harsh words and judging eyes, running into her room and slamming the door behind her. Maybe she shouldn't have bothered him. She sunk to her knees, defeated. What if Tomoe had turned her down because he thought asking him had also been unbecoming for a lady? It was the only logical explanation. She sunk further into her sulking state, rolling on the floor in embarrassment. "Tomoe, you jerk," she sniffed as she closed her eyes, clutching tight to her pillow from her bed.
The light outside dimmed. All of the trees settled, and the sky darkened to a hue of lavender and velvety red as the cicadas outside quieted to a dull lullaby. The heat of the day melted into the cool night air and everything came to a still peace.
Nanami had fall to sleep. She was at peace, separated from her anxiety and fears now. She slept without dreams and dusk dimmed to night. She woke as she rolled over, opening her eyes to the night sky out her window. The stars all gleamed down onto her face. The moon rose into the view of her window and caused her to squint.
In that moment, she was in a haze, but when reality hit her, she sat up and brought her hands to her face. Why had she slept so long!? She scrambled around her room; the whole day wasted all because Tomoe had, yet again, said something mean to her. She was feeling useless, she lay face down on the floor and groaned. If Tomoe could see her now, he would be disappointed for sure.
She watched as the trees outside her window rustled in the wind. She allowed herself to calm as she watched the night sky, relaxing herself again. Tomoe wont know. She'd be fine as long as he would never find out. After all, he did say he was busy for the evening.
She bit her thumb, wondering what Tomoe could possibly have planned. Was he planning to go off into the Yokai world? She narrowed her eyes, fearing that he was plotting to slip away and spend time with those raccoon women. Tomoe did enjoy the beauty of them. What made them so beautiful anyway? She sat up and glared. So they had fancy kimonos and beautiful hair, pretty faces and make up to exaggerate that fact, elegant manners and talent in pleasing men. She pouted and slumped her shoulders. Could she be like those women?
In the quiet of her room, she shuffled around, peeking into her draws and pulling out bits of colorful cloth. Perhaps she was still hazy with sleep, or perhaps she was simply bored, but she busied herself by dressing in the various kimonos she had received as gifts in the passed year. She stared at herself in the mirror as she wrapped the cloth around her small body. They were not complicated kimonos and were easy enough for her to dress herself in, though she could never get the sash on by herself. She struggled as she twisted her body, trying to get the obi to corporate.
The door to her room opened, going unnoticed by her. She still struggled as Tomoe stared. If she had turned, she would have seen the look of adoration that befell his expression upon seeing her. He cleared his throat, announcing his presence.
Nanami stopped, her body freezing. She turned her head slightly and dropped her jaw as Tomoe entered the room, quickly coming to her aid. He was never one to ignore Nanami when she attempted to wear kimonos. He had taken a liking to her wearing them and casually called her "eye candy" whenever she wore one.
She flinched as Tomoe's hands came to her collar and down the front of her garments. He adjusted her kimono proudly and lay the cloth down gently, his fingers grazing across her exposed flesh for only a brief moment. "You are exposing too much of your chest," he said, correcting her error. She shuttered, coming to a realization at the situation. Her eyes stared at their reflection in the mirror and she focused on Tomoe's hands as they slid down the creases in the cloth, grazing over her bosom so casually.
She stepped back. "I've got it," she said as her face flashed red. She shooed his hands away, wanting him to leave her as quickly as possible. "Besides, I thought you said you had plans for tonight," she said as she turned away from him, fixing her own clothes, pulling them high up to her neck. This indeed was embarrassing; surly Tomoe would think her even more unladylike after seeing that. She shuttered and quickly tightened the sash around her waist.
She could hear Tomoe sigh as he shifted. "I did. I had planned to watch the full moon tonight."
Nanami stopped and looked back to her familiar, noting the expression on his face. He looked at her with an endearing sort of gaze and she shuttered to think that such a gaze was because of her.
"I had hoped you would join me." He stepped closer to her, outstretching his hands towards her. He gripped onto her shoulders, smiling at her. "Though I think I have found something more beautiful to watch," he said as he continued to fix her Kimono, running his hands further down onto her waist and adjusting the sash. Her clothes loosened as he untied her sloppy knot. She could feel a breeze wash across her body from where the kimono gapped.
For some reason, Nanami's tongue refused to cooperate; she merely stood there as Tomoe fixed her up. By now, she normally would have pushed him away, scolding him for being to fresh with her, but the feeling of him rustling with her clothes pleased her. She closed her eyes and shuttered, tears welling beneath her eyelashes and slipping down her face. "I'm sorry; you must think I'm not very lady like. Needing you to dress me. I can't even put a simple kimono on," she said, her voice wallowing in self misery.
"I don't think you're ladylike?" Tomoe repeated, his voice coming closer to her. "Whatever gave you that idea?"
"You're always criticizing me, and I thought you had turned down me down today because I-"
"A flower cannot grow beautiful if it does not get the care it needs. Soil, water, sunlight, these are things every flower requires to become vibrate and stunning. A flower is still a flower, the seed is beautiful and when it sprouts, its green leaves are lush. A flower is beautiful before it blooms."
Nanami looked curiously at Tomoe who did not bother to look up from the colors of her kimono. He ran his fingers across the flowers embroidered onto the cloth. She too drew her attention to the colors of the leaves and the budding blooms. She had only ever noticed the flowers before, but now that she was looking, she could see the lush green, and soft colors in the budding peddles.
"You are a flower, Nanami, and you will only grow more beautiful with the proper care. I say things because I want you to grow into the most vibrant flower in all of Japan. You have my love, and I only love beautiful things," he said. Despite the shallowness of the comment, Nanami couldn't help but feel glad for it. She smiled. The way he looked at her, it was the way he looked at her when he had asked her to marry him in the past. She had always been Yukiji to him. Their love was a love that bloomed in the past, and flourished in the present.
"Tomoe."
They spent a moment staring at each other. The moon had spilled it's blue light into the room and illuminated the stunning white of Tomoe's hair, his eyes were aglow, fiery and passionate. Why hadn't she ever noticed that before?
At her waist, Nanami could feel Tomoe's fingers pull away at the kimono. His hands briefly slipped inside and touched her hip. "Let me see your beauty," he whispered gently.
Nanami's attention snapped to what was happening; she went to push him away, but when Tomoe's hand traveled up to her stomach, she stilled herself. She had wanted him to show affection, had she not? But this sort of affection, was she ready for it?
Tomoe had moved towards her, capturing the flesh of her neck under his lips. She released a shaky breath and kept her body still as he grazed his hand across her breast. Her kimono let loose and slipped down her shoulder, exposing part of her body to the still night air. She shut her eyes tighter as Tomoe gave one final tug to her kimono and let it slip down her body.
She stood before him, eyes closed, and exposed. She could feel Tomoe's eyes devouring her, studying her as he caressed her small chest. He was so gentle. Since she could not see, her senses had heightened, every soft touch of the hand was amplified, every breath was like a whispered poem on her skin. She could hear his heartbeat; she could feel his gaze.
"You are more beautiful than the moon," came his voice.
Just as soon as it had happened, it was over. She felt Tomoe reach around her and pull her clothes back on, tightening them in the front and trying her sash loosely around her waist. She felt a cool touch of lips upon hers and then nothing.
When she opened her eyes, Tomoe had gone from the room.