"A drink?" Chiyo asked, pushing the scarlet vessel forward.
The two were seated in the shade of a tree, the filtered sunlight reflecting off the pearls of sweat on their faces and their unsheathed blades, all resting against the huge oak.
Ei took the pitcher, emptying its contents. She hadn't realised how dehydrated she was, and if Chiyo hadn't reminded her, these needs of the flesh would have stayed in the farthest corners of her mind, till much later.
The short duel had, as Chiyo had expected, stretched to hours of several sessions. Not that she minded. Ei's excitement was infectious.
"Did it help?" Chiyo enquired.
Ei had requested Chiyo for a short spar— a request for her company unsaid and implied— looking a bit troubled. Whether troubles born out of rulings of Inazuma, or simply an uneasiness that can not be explained; Chiyo hadn't pestered Ei for details.
And, just as she had all those times, when Ei had relentlessly sought her out for Karuta practices—out of her stubborn desire to win—Chiyo had agreed.
It had been a simple proposal—pure, like a child's desire to play—with not even an ounce of entitlement, or authority.
Nothing unfamiliar there, though.
In all her life, Chiyo hadn't known any Yokai that followed the Narukami Ogosho out of some obligation to follow rules, societal norms, or contractual agreements. Indeed, very few Yokai lived life with such boring constraints. No, something about Ei and Makoto just made them natural leaders. They were simply Inazuma's facts of life, much like the unfettered winds or the ever running streams. Comforting. Beautiful.
A psychological support, an anchor in Eternity.
"It did, thanks for that."
Moving her body had let out a pent-up energy inside Ei, and added a mysterious clarity to her thoughts. She was feeling much better now.
Chiyo's sword art was unique, her blade ceased to appear rigid, seeming to flow with the rhythm of the Oni maiden's dance; accompanied by her flapping jūnihitoe—the heavy robes carried gracefully by Chiyo. It rejuvenated the spirit.
Where Ei's thoughts went, so did her eyes. While following the blade, they landed on a discrepancy. "It's chipped."
Following Ei's gaze, Chiyo held it near for a closer look. "So it is."
"May I?"
Chiyo handed it to Ei, for her inspection.
"Hmm, it has seen much wear and tear, attempting to repair it all will only make the crystal brittle. Would you like a new one? One forged by me?"
"Of course. It would be an honour to wield any blade crafted by you."
Ei went on and on about her plans on crafting this new blade, things that Chiyo most certainly wouldn't have understood—not being a blade-smith herself—had they been spoken in a different way. Ei had a way of breaking things down elegantly, as masters of their craft often do; it felt as natural as breathing when it came from Ei, the timber of her voice as soothing as the cicadas' buzzing. And so Chiyo just listened on, laying her head down in Ei's lap.
Chiyo stared at Ei's face, noticing the subtle differences, how it looked a lot more relaxed than it had before. It made Chiyo giddy.
The sun had shifted in the skies, the clouds sailing along as the day became windy. Crimson eyes were fixed on the azure, the thoughts running behind them, a mystery.
A gust passed over the pasture, bringing with it a blade of grass. Chiyo caught it.
"Say, Ei, do you think I would make a good mother?"
A beat of silence, as the question caught Ei by surprise.
"Chiyo, are you planning to…"
"Mm," Chiyo hummed, twirling the blade. "What do you think, would I be good with children?"
"Yes," Ei replied, after a moment of silence. "I can easily see you playing with the little ones, and making them laugh."
"Really?" Chiyo sat up, facing Ei in a seiza. She brought her face close to Ei's. "Don't lie now, I will catch it."
Ei touched their foreheads together, her eyes fluttering shut as she spoke:
"Luminous and beautiful,
you chase away any darkness
from your loved ones
Your loving-kindness,
will be warm, nurturing and protective
For the little blossoms—"
A kiss on the forehead, between the brows, silenced Ei; while the Oni's laughter filled the meadow.