Chapter Thirty-Seven

The dragon's declaration rumbled the sphere, and the gigantic bird-like creature that was wrapped around it screeched in its sleep. Ruffling from the wings announced it had slipped out of place, and it struggled in an attempt to regain purchase. Suddenly, another screech filled the air, this one of pain.

Jerking his head to look behind him, Kenshin noticed instantly that the cross-shaped gashes in the bubble were no longer completely covered by the dark red feathers of its underbelly. One corner had been exposed, and from that corner, spurts of dangerous fire released like pressurized water from a geyser. Searing pain stabbed into Kenshin's cheek, and he dropped to his knees in surprise. Overhead, the cries of the large bird became angry and stubborn.

X

Kenshin woke with a gasp and slapped a hand over his left cheek. Smoke filled his nostrils, and hot liquid covered half his face and neck. Sitting up with a jolt, he tried to catch the blood pouring from his cross-shaped wound, but found his hands were not suited for containing fluids.

"Crap!"

Two seconds later, the lamp at the head of Kaoru's cot flicked on, and he turned to find her kneeling on her mattress with the salamander stretched like a barrier between them. Concern marred her features, but the moment she half-stood his right hand shot up to stop her.

"Wait. Stay there, Miss Kaoru. It's dangerous." She paused indecisively, then looked down when one of the salamander's clawed feet pushed against her knee. Slowly she settled back onto her shins.

Pressing his left hand into his cheek in hopes of stalling the blood, Kenshin closed his eyes and pulled in a deep breath. Concentrating on his surroundings, he could hear the sizzle of his blood eating through the bedding and his clothes. With delicate precision, Kenshin stole the heat out of everything within arm's reach of his body, and the spare futon was abruptly cold beneath him. The sizzling ceased.

Now to stop the bleeding.

Standing slowly, Kenshin tried a small smile for reassurance.

"Everything's fine, Miss Kaoru. I just… need to clean up. Don't touch anything." His free hand was held up once more. "I'll take care of the futon when I come back. You should go back to sleep." He could feel her frown as he hurried out the door.

Standing over the sink and letting the faucet run cold water into the basin, he scowled at his reflection in the mirror. Blood smeared all across his face, jaw, and throat, and dripped from his chin into the sink. His shirt was ruined, as was the futon, no doubt. Even his hair was clumped together in spots as the hot liquid attempted to meld the strands into one.

It had been ages since the wound on his cheek had bled this badly. Lately, when it did bleed, it was only a drop or two. To see it all but gush blood was disconcerting. After all, the wound was directly connected to his core, and the blood more potent and precious as a result. He could not afford to lose too much of his life's blood. Especially while host to the Kagu-tsuchi.

I had hoped it would have healed after nearly two hundred and fifty years.

A part of him was afraid it never would, that something deep inside of him had been stolen and not just wounded. Stolen… or lost.

Raking a hand up through his bangs in frustration, he winced immediately afterwards as the blood still covering his fingers transferred to the top of his head. Now the shorter strands were sticking up haphazardly in all directions. Completely unamused, Kenshin continued to scowl at himself in the mirror. Then blinked when something out of place caught his eye.

Straight up from the downward curve of his right eyebrow, a dark shadow about the size of a coin was attempting to stay hidden at his hairline. Narrowing his eyes and leaning closer to the mirror, Kenshin angled his head to study it.

Is that a scab from the other day?

Touching it gingerly with his forefinger, his eyebrows shot up to find the mysterious growth was pointed.

What the…?

His face was nearly pressed into the mirror now.

Is that a horn?!

Pushing back the bangs on his left side, Kenshin felt a second horn scrape against his palm before he actually saw it.

What the hell is this?! Am I growing horns?! Is that even normal?!

Maybe not for a fire demon.

The distinction caused him to pause, and he leaned back from the mirror slowly. Scenes from his dream rose up in his mind, and with an alert and awake brain, he saw certain parallels more clearly. The dragon had resembled the salamander in some ways, but in other ways, it had looked decidedly different. Since the salamander was merely a piece of himself, it was safe to assume it mimicked parts of his true form, but to a lesser degree. Did that mean his true form had changed?

I haven't added on to the charm since the night I returned from the mountains. I wonder, would it be different now? I don't feel much different myself, though.

Should I worry about this? Maybe I should go back and see Hiko-sama. I know becoming a dragon was a vague goal I set for myself, but I thought it would be something a bit more… sudden? Intense? Majestic maybe?

Now one eyebrow was raised skeptically, and he had all but forgotten the blood still dripping from his chin.

Wait… does a dragon live longer than an elemental?

The expression on his face lightened thoughtfully.

It seems reasonable.

Something like a weight lifted from his chest, and he leaned against the sink.

If I could extend my lifespan, I wouldn't have to leave Kaoru alone.

Learning Kaoru could possibly live double his lifespan had worried him. Leaving a human, even a resurrected one, alone in the world was inviting danger in many ways. Imaging what Genzai had spoken of also chilled him to the bone. What if Megumi's calculations were incorrect? What if her body gave out before the soul seal in her brain did? What if she had to spend years trapped inside of a lifeless body? If she were alone, no one would even know or be able to help.

I do need to be better… for myself and for her.

First, he needed to figure out what was going on with his scar. Luckily, the bleeding was finally starting to slow.

The only tie he had been able to put together over the years had something to do with using more of his power than he was used to. During the war, the wound had bled a lot, and had even put those fighting beside him at risk a time or two. While under Megumi's care, the wound had bled only when she had pushed him too far. After that, he had made a point not to use his powers much at all. Not until Hiko-sama and his hellish training on the mountain.

Strangely enough, he had only bled once while under Hiko's tutelage, and that was when he had attempted to show Hiko the hottest flame he could manage at the time. The only problem with his theory, though, was this time he had been doing nothing. In fact, he had been sleeping.

And dreaming about dragons… or a dragon to be specific. Maybe it has something to do with the horns. Are they meant to show me I've grown? Did my wound react to some weird growth spurt I had in my sleep?

And what was up with the giant bird?

Although it was just a dream, something about it stuck with him. It was clear the bubble was meant to represent his core where the Kagu-tsuchi resided, and the twin gashes in it a depiction of the wound inflicted upon him in that Arctic Lab so long ago. Even the dragon could be explained by his own desire to better himself. Then what exactly was the meaning behind the bird?

Kenshin wasn't even sure if he knew what kind of bird it was. Surely no bird or demon he had ever seen was so vibrantly colored. Although covered in flames, hints of the color staining its feathers had shown through. Not only was it deep red, but it was also gold and blue and even dark green. In addition to being an unknown creature, its presence was also mysterious. Why had it looked as if it was using its body as a stopgap for the wound in the sphere? Especially when it was not exactly immune to the fire spewing forth from the Kagu-tsuchi. Worst of all, why was it snoring like some middle-aged man during an afternoon nap?

Kenshin shook his head.

You're probably just overthinking it. It was just a dream… right?

The bleeding eventually stopped after a few minutes, and the stinging pain turned to a throb in his cheek. Turning off the facet, Kenshin stepped back into the middle of the room and carefully burned away the blood on his body. His shirt was officially ruined, so he tossed it into the trash. Clean again, but now topless, he sighed at his reflection.

The cracks he had previously self-inflicted upon his human-like visage from overcleaning had finally tightened back into small lines, but had now once more lightened to pink in aggravation. Hopefully some more sleep would smooth out the remaining irritation. Curiously, despite the effort he put into the human façade meant to conceal his true form, the horns were still there. Now, after one pass with his cleansing fire, they even glowed slightly like hot magma.

Great. How am I supposed to hide those?

Flattening his hair over them self-consciously, he reached for the door with his free hand.

In the hallway, Kenshin froze to find Kaoru seated on the floor across from the bathroom door. Her arms were folded against her chest, and her knees were pulled up tight against her forearms as she squatted in place. The salamander waited next to her patiently. As soon as he stopped, she stood quickly and offered him what she held.

"Miss Kaoru, what are you doing?"

Her arms moved up and down demandingly, and he glanced at the folded set of clothes she had brought for him. His expression softened.

"You're a lifesaver."

A brief grin tugged at her mouth, but it disappeared when her head tilted to one side. Once freed, her hands immediately and without hesitation reached up to touch his face. For the first time in a while, her lips moved as if attempting to speak her distress aloud.

"Everything is alright. It just… happens at times." She looked confused but also concerned. Bunching the extra clothes into one hand, he flattened his other over her knuckles. "You shouldn't be worried, Miss Kaoru, but… I'm strangely happy that you are."

One of her dark eyebrows lifted, and he chuckled.

"You should…"

Abruptly, the soft radiance of her sapphire irises lit up in the darkness of the hallway, and he read her excitement before her hands disappeared from his cheekbones. More confident of herself than ever, she threaded his bangs with her fingers and parted his hair like a curtain to reveal the twin horns now sprouting from his hairline. Her mouth opened with a gasp of surprise and delight, and she shot up to her tip-toes for a better look.

Catching his balance against the wall behind her, Kenshin blinked at her incredulously, but relaxed under the blatant wonder in her stare.

So much for keeping them hidden.

"Do you… like them? They're kinda new."

Eagerly, her head nodded, and then he felt her fingers touch each one with careful consideration. The small circle of her mouth transitioned into a happy smile of white teeth. Entranced by the glow of her features, his hand on the wall pulled back to gently cup her face.

"Let's keep them between us, though. Okay?"

She nodded again, and her eyes finally dropped to return his gaze. The cheerful expression brightening her posture remained in blissful innocence, even as his own slowly melted away. Sharing a secret with him seemed to have heightened her joy, and the warm atmosphere between them hummed with comfort and trust. Inviting affection tightened in his chest, and he meant to lean his forehead into her own when something sharp latched around his ankle.

"Ow!"

Hopping back on one foot, Kenshin threw a brief glare at the salamander on the floor. The protective charm glared back, and Kaoru blinked at the both of them in confusion. Laughing nervously, Kenshin searched behind him desperately for the door.

"You should go back to bed, Miss Kaoru. I'll get changed and follow. Don't wait up."

A skeptical frown creased her brows and lips, but she shrugged and turned to head towards her bedroom. With her back to him, he was free to fully glower at the salamander as it sauntered after. The tip of its tail whipped into his legs 'accidentally' before it was out of reach, and he kicked after the elusive appendage in frustration.

I will unmake you.

The link between them seemed to laugh, as if daring him to try.

Left to stew about the encounter, Kenshin watched it lumber down the hallway, but despite his annoyance with the protective charm, he was also a bit grateful. Though he would never say so to it. Then again, perhaps he didn't have to, since it was a part of himself. As the salamander turned into the doorway that Kaoru patiently held open, Kenshin's attention focused on its movements and his frown turned pensive. The salamander was too big and too slow. It looked intimidating, but size and physical strength were not what made it powerful.

I need to put some more thought into it. It also might be beneficial to make sure it can protect itself to an extent, otherwise what Iizuka did to it will just keep happening.

Contemplating his options, Kenshin retreated once more into the bathroom.

To give himself some space and time, Kenshin purposefully took longer than necessary to change and return to Kaoru's room. As he entered the half-lit space, it occurred to him that he no longer had a clean place to sleep. Fortunately, he found that Kaoru had already taken care of that for him as well. The ruined futon had been folded carefully and placed next to the door, and a new futon he wasn't aware of being available had been laid out for him.

Upon seeing that he was back, Kaoru pointed at the futon with a tired yawn, then flicked off the light once he was situated. Now in the dark, the glow of the salamander's tail and soft breaths from its nose clearly outlined Kaoru's arm as she hugged and snuggled into its side. Crossing his arms behind his head, Kenshin side-eyed the salamander, mostly in return annoyance, but also partly in envy.

"Lucky bastard."

Kaoru's head popped up in response to his whispered insult, and he tensed.

"I-I said good-night, Miss Kaoru."

The hand wrapped around the salamander lifted to wiggle her fingers at him, and then she flopped back into the mattress for sleep. Kenshin sighed a breath of relief, and the salamander huffed at him in amusement.

X

Akira stood in the hallway outside of the small lab and nervously flattened out the small wrinkles in the front of his shirt. Genzai had sent him down to help study the tears collected from the young human. It wasn't exactly his specialty, but Akira had readily agreed, since Yukishiro Tomoe was leading the study. Now standing outside of the door, though, a small tangle of gloom had developed in his stomach, and he wished he had said no.

Not only was Tomoe the single most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on, she had also proven herself to be kind, gentle, and loyal. She held herself like a lady, her movements were graceful and fluid, and her voice was soft like cool silk. Just looking at her produced a warm and fluttery anxiety in his chest, and though he knew it to be unreasonable, he wanted to be near her. Talking to her seemed slightly daunting, but if he could listen to her, that would be fine.

Regrettably, Akira knew himself, better than anyone else. He knew he was awkward and clumsy, and that he wasn't good with social interactions. Practically living at his job had cemented that into place. He was also acutely aware that he was plain looking, which was why he wore his daitengu mask everywhere he went. Not a few others had laughed at him for being so plain. After all, tengu were a proud race of demons, and he was a stain on their reputation. Especially for one who had achieved the rank of daitengu.

All that aside, the honest truth boiled down to Yukishiro Tomoe being unavailable. Even if he had the confidence to attempt a courtship, he was not the type of person who believed it to be acceptable to desire another person's wife or girlfriend. Even if her relationship did not appear to be close or currently in a good way. To Akira, trying to split up a couple sounded awful, and he knew it would tarnish whatever relationship happened as a result.

Shaking his head, he lifted the hand at his stomach and pulled down the red daitengu mask so that it covered his face completely. The access badge he had been provided shook between his fingers as he swiped it over the entry lock, and then he took a deep breath before entering. Some kind of conversation echoed through the rooms as the door closed behind him, and he tucked in his wings tight to his sides before navigating the smaller space he was in. The two conversing became clearer once he was in the main room.

"Megumi-sensei said you have to put up the new one since you fried the camera lens on the old one. She's not going to charge you this time, at least."

Tomoe's voice was tinged with laughter, and Akira paused to watch the fire demon in front of her scratch the back of his head.

"I'm not really good with electronics, Tomoe-san. I'd probably just break that one, too."

They stood next to the couch, and both were looking down at something laid out on the cushions. The young human was nowhere to be seen.

Tomoe sighed.

"Well, I certainly don't know what to do with it. Maybe I'll call the IT department. Megumi-sensei will probably fuss, though."

"Wha…" Akira cleared his throat as both of them turned to look at him standing in the door to the rec room. "What do you need? I-I might be able to help?"

Himura dropped his arm to point at the couch.

"Apparently I overexposed the lens on the security camera yesterday. Megumi-san wants to put a new one up."

Tomoe half-bowed in greeting as he slowly approached, and he sucked in a breath to bow even lower. While staring at his feet, he glanced at the new security camera and parts spread out on the couch.

"That shouldn't be too hard."

"Do you know a lot about electronics?" The coal demon's voice spoke to him directly, and his breath caught in his chest uncomfortably. Trying hard not to look at her when he stood, he nodded his head and unfortunately forgot to blink. With the tengu mask, he looked quite strange.

"I know a little. I-I love to tinker with things, that's all."

"Ah, like a gearhead?" Himura looked thoughtful, and Akira stiffened in mortification. "Or is it a technophile?"

"I-I wouldn't go that far." Movement out of the corner of his eye caught Akira's attention, and he jumped to find the human girl standing behind him. "Oh! I… didn't see you there."

Blue eyes were wide and alight with something he wasn't quite sure he had ever seen before, and she was staring at his wings intently. Rubbing his shirt self-consciously, he bowed his head.

"How are you this morning, Kamiya-san?"

Kaoru blinked and tilted her head at him curiously.

"I don't think she's used to that name." Himura spoke up, and Akira stuttered.

"D-do you mind if I call you Kamiya-san?"

She looked thoughtful, and then shook her head with a grin. Akira relaxed in relief. Suddenly, she started making hand signs at him in quick succession. While he froze indecisively, Himura started laughing and Tomoe scolded them both.

"Slow down, Kaoru. I think your excitement is making him nervous, and really, Himura-san, don't just laugh, tell us what she said."

"Well… basically she wants to know if you can fly with those wings."

"Oh, why yes. Yes, I can."

To his surprise, Kaoru jumped up and down in place, and then started making even more robust hand signs. When Akira glanced at Himura for further translation, he was surprised by the small frown that was hardening his features. Tomoe, of all things, started to giggle, and it was the cutest sound he had ever heard.

"Kaoru, stop. I don't even need to know what you're saying to see you're getting Kiyosato-san in trouble, and he hasn't even done anything." Kaoru looked confused, and Tomoe circled him to brush back her bangs and whisper something in her ear. Abruptly, Kaoru's head whipped over to Himura, and she gasped. Skip-stepping over to him, she grabbed him by the hand and looked appropriately contrite. Thankfully, her actions softened the dangerous glint in his violet eyes.

A ladder was set up for him to reach the corner where the broken security camera was situated, and he sat on the top step carefully while removing the old hardware. The mask was pushed up to better visualize what he was working on. A small set of tools had also been provided, and he was quite happy to perform the task. Working with technology and electronics was soothing to his mind, and he spent much of his free time pulling old electronics apart, fixing them, and putting them back together. He was also aware that it was the other half of the reason why he was anti-social.

Trying not to hum as he separated the wires, he half-listened to the conversation happening below him.

"Is Enishi stopping by this afternoon?" The fire demon's voice was trying to sound nonchalant, but Akira missed the inflection and focused only on the person of topic.

"I believe so. I'm not sure if they'll be sparing today or not. Kaoru looks fine, but her face is still quite bruised, and I'm still worried about the knock she took to the head."

"Hmm." Himura hummed in agreement. "As long as he's here. I have to work today."

"…I'm surprised. You two have gotten really close lately." Tomoe laughed in amusement. "That love tap he gave you yesterday doesn't look so bad this morning."

Himura groaned, but glanced over to make sure Kaoru didn't hear them. His voice lowered when he responded, and Akira leaned in without realizing it.

"Your little brother has one helluva a right hook."

B-brother?!

Overbalancing on the ladder, Akira swiped desperately at anything within reach, and squeaked in alarm when the ladder tipped to one side. Both wings shot open to cushion his fall, and he landed on his back behind the couch with a loud crash. The tengu mask perched on his head went flying.

"Are you alright?!"

Laying in the half bowl of his wings as they pinched inward against the wall and the back of the couch, Akira blinked open his eyes to find Tomoe standing at his head. Throwing one arm over his face in humiliation, he groaned but offered her a hesitant thumbs up.

"Y-yes. I'm fine."

X

A/N: What a bunch of cute nonsense. I mean, there was important stuff, too, but I was missing some of the lighter interactions. The salamander biting Kenshin made me laugh, so I hope it made you laugh as well. I also realized I needed to develop Akira a little before proceeding, so that was fun. He's kind of a cute character to write about, at least in this story. I'd like for him to be strong in his own way, but I like balancing it out with being clumsy and awkward. (I can relate!) I was having a little bit of trouble forgetting about his mask, but I will work harder not to leave it out! Next chapter, Yutaro makes his return debut, and Kenshin agrees to a double date with Yahiko and Tsubame. Thanks for sticking with me through all the serious stuff. Now, on to the mush! XD