The other day, I asked niisama whether I could do something for him so that I could try to help him with his sleep. He told me it was fine for me to do something for him as long as I wanted to, so I decided to make him something... something comfortable and healthy for his sleep during his restless nights. I hope he could sleep well soon.
Enju was searching for chrysanthemum and picking up herbs from the grass field in her small village. She kneeled on the grass while cherry-picking the highest quality of flowers and put them in her little basket that was made out of straw.
Sweat was all over her face. It was a sunny day after all. In the grass field, it consisted of a massive amount of flowers with different colours and shapes.
From what I've read, chrysanthemum will do the job.
She thought as she remembered that she asked her cousin to borrow her a herbal book some days ago. From the book, it mentioned that chrysanthemum could help people fall asleep quicker and improve insomnia.
After cherry-picking the best of the best, she returned to her estate and carefully put the chrysanthemum she picked into a plain white pillow that was sewed by herself.
Niisama doesn't like fancy designs.
She observed the plain white pillow she sewed and thought it suited her cousin very well due to his simple preferences. She smiled at the pillow she made as she hoped he would like it, then she headed out to his estate.
...
Someone was at the door, he quickly opened it with a smile, expecting a certain person to be here at this late hour.
"Niisama, I'm here."
He softened his expression more as soon as he saw her, he was wearing a white nagajuban beneath his large kimono, preparing to sleep.
"Enju."
Normally, he wouldn't wear the kimono, but since Enju was here, he wore a large kimono coat that resembled a haori to look more appropriate in front of his disciple and cousin.
"You mentioned this morning about giving me something and told me to prepare to sleep before you came, what do you intend to do?"
He asked, his tone showed that he was a little bit curious about the thing she had planned to do for him.
Enju handed him a pillow that was hidden in her back in a swift motion with a shy smile.
"This is..."
"A chrysanthemum pillow for niisama."
She said, smiling gently at him.
He looked at her softly after he took a glance at the pillow, although his expression didn't differ much, that he looked emotionless and callous, it still made her heart beat irregularly.
"I remember from one of the books you borrowed me, it mentioned that chrysanthemum could calm people down and make them feel relaxed, which reduced the chances of getting insomnia. I hope niisama could have more rests."
He took it with both of his hands slowly and observed the pillow Enju made for him with a certain degree of amazement.
"I have always known you are good at sewing, but I never knew you were this great. You even remember the other small things I taught you, not only knowledge regarding shinobi, but flowers and herbs too. In my opinion, this could really be sold as a commercial product, this is like something I see in shops."
"You are exaggerating, niisama."
"No, I really think it is that great. I am amazed. Thank you, Enju."
"Please don't say that, I'm happy to be able to do something for you. Hope it could help you with your sleep, even just a little."
He squeezed the pillow gently with his fingers to feel the softness and the thickness of the cotton. He then looked at her again, feeling an urge to interact with her more than usual, he was trying to push himself for speaking more than a few sentences like what he normally would do.
But...
"..."
As he parted his lips, nothing came out from his mouth.
What should I say...?
"..."
"...I will go then, niisama. I hope this could help you..."
"...Wait."
"Hm...?"
"..."
"If..."
"?"
"...If you don't mind, Enju, would you let me pat your head...?"
He spoke, his tone filled with uncertainty as he felt astonished himself, that this was the thing that came out from his mouth when he intended to speak more with his cousin.
Enju revealed a surprised expression, her cheeks started to flush, she averted her eyes from him just for a second.
She then nodded her head lightly with a redder blush.
"..."
Something warm and large fell on top of her head softly. She felt warmth, warmth from someone precious.
Niisama's hand.
Chōjirō patted her head repetitively in a gentle way.
"Your hair is really soft."
He commented idly as he continued his movements, as if he was drowning in his own world.
"Niisama..."
"Even though we are closely related, your hair texture is different from mine. My hair is rough, but yours is soft and smooth."
He said as he focused on patting her head, while observing her silk white hair.
"...it really makes me want to pamper you more whenever I see you."
His hand moved by its own, it started to go down further to her cheeks and ears.
"Aa.."
Enju's heart started to beat rapidly as she felt his hand brushed her side ear and her side cheek.
"Mm..."
"Hm? Are you getting tired, Enju?"
He asked because he saw Enju's eyes became droopy.
"It feels... comfortable."
She replied while smiling faintly, a satisfied expression.
I wonder why I feel this satisfied...
His hand moved down gradually and brushed her chin after brushing her cheeks.
"Um.."
"!"
Chōjirō stopped his movements after he realised the heat spreading out from her cheeks, and that his hand moved out of range.
"...! Sorry, I guess I got a little bit carried away."
"It's okay, niisama."
She said with a blush, maybe even a little disappointed, as his hand filled with warmth had left her head.
"Are you feverish though...? Your cheeks seem to be hot."
"! Oh, no, I'm fine."
"Really? I hope you're not pushing yourself."
"I'm really alright, I'm good."
She let out a small yawn.
"Enju, aren't you tired? Hm, instead of giving this to me, you should use it tonight to get some better sleep."
"No, I made this for you! I can't give you something I have used. Also, niisama is the one who always can't sleep, so you should use it."
"It's not a problem. You can use it before me, it should make you feel more comfortable with your sleep."
Chōjirō said, pushing the pillow towards her hands.
"No, I can't do that."
Enju pushed the pillow back to him with a stronger force.
"En-Enju? Don't push this hard, I am fine and you can use it first."
He pushed again.
The pillow was being pushed back and forth between their fronts.
"No.. I want niisama to use it first."
"If you push it that much, I will- ah!
A loud noise was heard in Chōjirō's room. His back fell on the futon.
Maybe he didn't want to use too much physical strength to push the pillow towards Enju to avoid any injuries she might have caused, Enju managed to force the pillow into his hands, however...
"...Who would have thought I would lose in physical strength... I guess I really need to train myself more..."
He muttered and quickly observed the small figure inside his large arms, he let go of the pillow and circled her waist as she fell on top of him. He must have done that to protect her from causing any injuries when he saw her fell down with him.
She looked down at him with big round blue eyes, blinking them silently.
"As I thought, I think you might have a fever. Your cheeks are red and you look feverish."
He said as he tried to land one of his hands on top of her forehead while the other one still circling her waist, but Enju avoided his touch and turned her head to an angle that he couldn't touch.
"I-I am fine. Niisama..."
He heard her stuttered.
"...As I said, please say you're not well if you are. Don't lie to me."
He attempted to lay his hand on top of her forehead again, however, this time, she grabbed his large hand using both of her small ones, while looking at him with her surprisingly big blue eyes, her cheeks flushed pink.
"En..ju...?"
He thought Enju looked adorable like that.
I don't know why I am so sensitive! But if niisama touches me more, I will be so embarrassed...
"Um..."
...
"Oh..."
!
He wasn't dumb, but he might be too insensitive when it came to things like this. However, by looking at Enju's embarrassed expression, he knew that circling her waist, and that she was lying on top of him was a weird position between a man and woman.
"I see! This position! Sorry... let's stand up properly."
They stood up and faced each other. Chōjirō brushed off the dust that might have fallen on the pillow.
Enju's cheeks were red, but she didn't say anything.
"... I guess I shall use the pillow first then. Thank you, Enju."
Enju shook her head to tell him that it wasn't a big deal.
"It's getting late, you should return to your room."
"Oh..."
Enju revealed a disappointed expression, feeling upset that she needed to leave him soon.
"Enju, don't show me that face."
He let out a sigh and gave her another pat on the head.
"Showing me that face makes me want to keep you here for a longer time."
"I- I didn't show you any weird faces...!"
Enju retorted.
Chojiro let out a chuckle after hearing her reply.
"It's really getting late though... or, would that be you want to spend the night here? Fufu, I'm a man after all."
He joked.
"Niisama! I... I-I'll return to my own room."
"Fufu."
Enju took another longing glance at him before she left his room.
"See you tomorrow, niisama."
"Aa, see you."
Chōjirō observed the pillow in his hands and smelt the sweet scent of chrysanthemum, the flowery aroma reminded him of Enju, he thought he could also smell the lingering scent of hers as he hugged it. With a small smile planted on his face, his head laid on the pillow Enju made for him.
Sadly though, he still couldn't fall asleep.
Well, of course. After all, he had already tried everything for this matter many times.
Alcohol, powder medicine... they had never worked. So why would something as small as flowers helped his sleep?
Although he knew he couldn't sleep though, he felt happy that his cousin always did so many things for him.
"Enju..."
He thought how considerate she was as he slept on the pillow, while smelling the scent of chrysanthemum.
"Thank you."
Author's note:
The idea was derived from the official Nightshade drama CD, 「蝶治郎と菊枕」, hope you enjoy reading this chapter!