The flower was indestructible once attached to its target. Youko wound the vine around her arm and watched it settle.
"That's…a weird feeling."
"It's finding your life force," he explained, "that way it'll always know where you are even if you keep it in that odd bag of yours."
"It's a backpack. And it's feeling my life force? That's so…"
"Amazing?"
"Suspicious." She grinned at the expression on his face. "I didn't even know I had a life force to feel up."
He decided to ignore that. "The only way this flower will wilt is if you die. Please do try to keep my property safe."
She understood his meaning and flushed at his proximity. "I'll do my best."
"And priestess?"
"Hmm?"
"Next time I visit we'll fully immerse ourselves in kitsune culture. None of this 'sleeping bag' nonsense."
Her laughter followed him out as he and Kuronue made their exits. It was high time to return to the more tedious obligations that waited him at home.
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