Chapter 37: Standing Together
Miwa took extra time in the shower to examine her leg. The bleeding finally stopped, and the water washed away dried blood and yakuba extract, leaving behind two small, raw punctures in her skin. Thankfully, they no longer looked like the gaping, bleeding holes she saw last night. The water also soothed the lingering pain in her muscles, but the needles crawled back into her nerves the moment her skin left its warmth. She didn't linger, no matter how much she wanted to, because Kurama would think she had fallen again if she took too long. She couldn't dry herself with a hand wave, like usual, so she was forced to use a towel. She changed into some comfortable clothes, and left the bathroom, sitting herself down on her desk chair while Kurama applied a new set of bandages. But just as he finished, another knock came at the door.
She and Kurama both looked at each other, curious about the unexpected guest, but they soon caught the scent and relaxed. Kurama got to his feet, silently gesturing for her to stay while he handled it, and opened the door for Kuwabara.
"Oh, hey," their tall friend said, an unusual frown on his face, "You really are here."
Kurama blinked, a bit puzzled by the odd greeting. "Miwa is here as well," he answered, stepping aside to show her waving from her desk chair.
Kuwabara waved back, his shoulders relaxing, and was ushered inside while gratefully nodding his head. "Sorry to bother. I had a bad feeling something happened to one of us last night…" His eyes trailed down to the fresh bandages on Miwa's leg, and his mood darkened. "And it looks like I was right."
Kurama and Miwa glanced at each other. "Occupational hazard," Miwa said casually, "but I'm fine now."
Kuwabara sat down at the floor table. "That's good to hear. I checked on Urameshi first, but he was fine." He looked at Kurama. "I called your house after, and your mom said you were here."
"I got bitten by a jorougumo," Miwa explained, extending her leg even though he could not see the marks.
"A what?"
"A female spider demon," Kurama said. "They're venomous, but I had a remedy that seems to be working."
Miwa nodded. "I'm in much better shape now than I was last night."
Kuwabara's eyes shifted between them, strongly suspecting he wasn't being told the full gravity of the situation. Last night, the bad feeling had been so strong it ripped him from sleep like a horrible nightmare. He lay awake for another thirty minutes, long after the bad feeling passed, debating if it was something he should act on. The uncertainty drove him crazy until he gave in and marched over to Yusuke's apartment that morning. He knew his friends were tough but seeing them all safe was a genuine surprise to him.
"Well, the important thing is that everyone's fine," he said, finally deciding it was okay to relax.
"Thank you for checking on us, Kuwabara," Miwa said, leaning her elbows on the back of her chair. "Your Spiritual Awareness is really impressive, as always."
"You're telling me," he said with a sheepish grin. "More and more demons have been coming to this side. I think my senses have been on high alert for at least a month."
Kurama's demeanor turned serious. "Kuwabara, have you noticed anything strange recently?"
"With what? Other demons?"
"Yes."
Kuwabara pursed his lower lip as he poured through his memories from the past few weeks. "I mean, I've heard some guys at school talking about an abandoned hotel that's haunted, but I haven't noticed anything bad."
Miwa narrowed her eyes. "Even though your senses have been on high alert?"
Kuwabara shrugged. "I always got this weird tickle feeling when ghosts and spirits were nearby, ever since I was a kid. I'm probably still adjusting to the amount of Demon Energy swirling around these days."
Kurama held his chin, thinking. "Tell us about that hotel rumor."
"Uh…nothing really unusual, all things considered. Some upperclassmen have been sneaking in at night because they say you can hear voices or see weird shadows moving on the walls. We've seen weirder stuff, to be honest." But he shivered anyway, as if sensing that place from far away.
Kurama pondered on the information for a second, and then he looked at Miwa. "When Iizuna came by earlier, he said that some demons have been getting sent back for causing trouble, and they still don't know why Rakuen decided to attack humans."
"Who's Iizuna?" Kuwabara asked, correctly assuming Rakuen was the jorougumo.
"Miwa's coworker."
She made a strange face hearing Iizuna be referred to that way, even though it was true, but then she frowned. "...I'll ask more the next time I see him, but I hope this hotel thing isn't related. After what happened with Rakuen, I'm getting a bad feeling."
Kuwabara frowned too, his eyes darting between them. "Wait, you guys really think something might be happening?"
"I'm not sure," Miwa said, shaking her head, "It's just speculation at this point, but if your Spirit Awareness is on high alert, then it's best for all of us to be cautious."
Kurama and Kuwabara both nodded grimly. "I'm heading to Urameshi's stall later tonight. I'll ask if he's noticed anything weird." Kuwabara said, rising to his feet, and he smirked at Kurama. "You keep an eye on her, alright? I know how antsy she gets."
"Yes, that is why I am here."
Miwa rolled her eyes.
Kuwabara did not say it aloud, but he knew about their plans for tonight. It was the other reason he wanted to check on his friends after his premonition woke him up in the night. He knew how much Kurama had been looking forward to the illumination event, and he hoped Miwa's injury wouldn't hamper their plans. He was happy to see Kurama here and looking after her, and something could still happen, even if they did not leave the apartment.
"I'll see you guys around then. I actually came here in between errands with my sister."
Kurama stood up, intending to see Kuwabara out. "Thank you for stopping by."
"Yes," Miwa said, watching from her desk chair, "I appreciate it."
"Don't worry about it," he answered, waving casually, "Hope your leg heals up soon."
Miwa waved and watched Kurama escort him outside. She wanted to believe that Kuwabara's Spirit Awareness was only adjusting to the influx of demons to the Living World, and the high alert feeling it was giving him was nothing to worry about. However, she could not ignore the fact that something strange was going on. Kuwabara wasn't wrong about her being antsy. Once Negura's team finished interrogating Rakuen, she would have to read the report very thoroughly.
But until then, Miwa had to survive the illumination.
{00}
Just as he promised, Kurama kept a close eye on her in the hours leading up to their departure. He even went out and bought take-out food for them to eat, trusting Miwa to not fall in the twenty minutes he was away. She didn't, which they were both happy about, as well as the venom's aftereffects not affecting her appetite. When it came time to leave, Kurama waited outside so she could change her clothes. Miwa hobbled over to the closet, opened the door, and pulled out her sweater. She hadn't worn it since trying it on in the store, and he would likely notice the rare addition to her wardrobe. The material was soft and warm in her hands, and even though it had remained hidden in her closet for days, she still liked it as much as when she saw it on the rack.
This was it, after a month of waiting.
She changed her clothes, slowly, carefully, and without falling over. Saya insisted on pairing a black skirt with the sweater, and underneath Miwa wore insulated leggings to keep her warm. She slowly turned around, just like she did in the store changing room, and scrutinized her reflection in the mirror. An outline of the bandages stuck out a bit through the leggings, although not particularly eye-catching. There was an obvious limp as she moved around, but she did feel good about her overall appearance.
Miwa didn't know what would happen tonight. After everything that happened, she hoped it would be a peaceful respite from the events of last night.
She picked up her black backpack, slung it over her shoulders, and carefully walked outside. The cool air hit her face immediately, and Kurama watched her lock the apartment door.
"You look nice," he said, smiling as he offered his hand as support.
The same words he said at Shiori's wedding, but this time they held a very different subtext. "Thank you," Miwa said, taking his hand.
After linking their elbows together, it was easier for her to walk at a slightly faster pace, as well as descend the stairs. Each step down was slow and careful, taking much longer than it normally would, but his support was invaluable in descending safely. Kurama was patient, and his arm around hers was warm. But even when they got to the street-level, he did not let go. He explained that it would help her conserve strength, especially for all the walking they would be doing. She knew it was true, but that did not stop her face from feeling warm. In the past, he supported her through more debilitating injuries by slinging her arm over his shoulder. It would have worked just as well here, but it would also stand out far more. Ironically, walking like a couple arm in arm was their least conspicuous option, and it was the first time he helped her walk in this manner.
"Are you sure you want to go?" he asked.
Miwa studied his expression. He didn't support her this way to make her uncomfortable or embarrassed, and he wasn't asking because he thought she was forcing herself. He was asking purely out of concern for her injury, having seen the initial damage firsthand.
"I'm sure."
"...Alright then."
It took longer than the usual fifteen-minute walk to the station, and each step sent needles through her nerves and pain to her weak muscles, but Miwa was unfortunately no stranger to difficulty while walking. With Kurama's support, they made it to the train platform without incident, and after getting on the carriage, he quickly found a seat and sat her down. It took twenty minutes for their train to reach their destination, but with each stop, more and more people filed in until the carriage was standing room only. Maybe they were going to the same event, and Miwa was grateful to be able to sit; her wobbly legs would have a hard time balancing in a crowded, moving train.
When they arrived, many of the passengers also exited the train, so they waited for the numbers to thin before Miwa stood up. Kurama was watching carefully, looking for the safest path before the doors closed. Some passengers noticed Miwa's limp and kindly made space for her, but most kept their eyes forward. They left the carriage to the cool autumn air and a crowded platform. Miwa's slow pace was more noticeable in the crowd's flow, and most people went around her without bumping their shoulders.
Most people.
A tall man was less graceful going around her, and his bicep collided into Miwa's left shoulder with unintentional force. It pushed all her weight onto her injured leg, and her knee buckled. Pain and numbness shot through her body, and she instinctively clung to Kurama's arm. He was quick enough to catch her before her leg completely collapsed, and they stood still waiting for the pain to pass.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
Miwa nodded, the panic of nearly falling quickly subsiding. "Just gimme a second…"
The tall man profusely apologized, but Miwa insisted that everything was fine. The platform was narrow, it was an accident, and she wasn't injured further. The man apologized one last time before excusing himself; it seemed he was late for something important. When Miwa found her balance again, they continued their walk off the platform and out of the station, where there was significantly more open space. It took another fifteen minutes to walk to the botanical garden, and the last remnants of sunset quickly faded away. Without the sun's rays, the air quickly dropped in temperature, and Miwa was glad to have worn her sweater. They walked along the perimeter wall, and from this angle, the faint glow of illumination lights tinted the early evening sky a faint glow. Even the quiet chatter of the people already inside the garden made its way over the wall. It sounded like the event garnered a lot of attention, but at the same time not as crowded as the train station, so Miwa wouldn't have to worry about bumping into anyone else.
There was a line for tickets to get inside, so Kurama led her to a bench nearby, sat her down, and volunteered himself to line up alone. Miwa sat down without much fuss, knowing that despite her stubbornness, conserving her energy would be better for her in the long run. In the meantime, she watched other groups of various sizes walking by, both for the event and those just passing through. It was nice to see everyone keeping their volume to a respectful minimum, even as they lingered outside, and there was a growing excitement in Miwa's stomach that she was actually here. She knew insisting on coming with her leg injury was reckless and put more burden on Kurama than necessary, but he was still as patient and attentive as ever when helping her walk. His arm supporting her weight was warm the entire way here, and she doubted he would ever complain. She turned her head to check on his progress in line, and he was already at the front speaking with the staff. He didn't seem to be put out by her stubbornness, or for bearing the responsibility of being her walking stick. Of course, he knew how to hide that from her, but she really hoped he wouldn't. At least not tonight.
He came back and offered her his hand. "Shall we go?"
Miwa took his hand, smiling despite her reservations. "Yes."
He helped her to her feet, and they linked arms again. Miwa didn't realize it before, but it was surprisingly comfortable being this close to him. In the days leading up to the event, she expected herself to be a blushing, flustered mess, and that was without expecting to link arms this way. Maybe a part of it was her need for his assistance, making this closeness a necessity, but it wasn't only that. She was safe this close to him. Always had been, whether she was injured or not. And even though this was undoubtedly a date, he had no expectations of her, no need for her to give him an answer to his confession by the end of the night.
Although, Miwa intended to do just that. She made him wait far too long.
They entered the main hall first, passing through historical displays, ground maps, and even a small diorama of the entire garden in its everyday, non-decorated state. But when they went into the garden proper, the world became illuminated with orange light. The pathway was lined with maple trees, and small lamps strategically placed beneath them spotlighted the different colors of the leaves. Dozens of reds, oranges, and even yellow shades painted a luminous cloud above their heads, swaying gently in the breeze with a quiet rustle. They stood in awe for a moment, taking in the sight of brightly colored leaves backdropped by the dark evening sky.
"It's beautiful," Miwa murmured.
Kurama looked over to her and smiled gently. "I'm glad you think so."
Miwa's slow pace made traversing the orange path a calming, leisurely experience. Everyone around them was walking slowly, so her limp didn't make them stand out at all, and the crowd's quiet chatter commenting on the beauty of the trees added to the richness of the atmosphere. After walking a certain distance, they even passed by a small speaker playing quiet orchestral music, and everyone stopped talking to let the instruments build on the calming serenity of the trees. Every now and then, Kurama and Miwa stopped to read the plaques on the side, detailing the different species or naming the doner allowing a specific tree to be planted in the garden.
After the maple trees, the path led them into a new area illuminated with royal blue. But instead of spotlighting the trees up above, the blue light colored a thin mist coating the ground. The new area was a meticulously curated garden with small sections dedicated to different plants, trees, and flowers. The mist stayed low, hovering just below the leaves of even the smaller flowers. Miwa could sense the many carefully placed fog machines hidden behind rocks and bushes, and some guests spent extra time in certain spots, spinning to swirl the mist around their ankles. Miwa wished she could do the same, but instead she waved her hand to make the mist swirl extra high around some laughing children. It was mainly a test, to see if more of her abilities had returned, and she was delighted that something as simple as this did not cause any pain.
"...Did I thank you yet for the extract?" she asked quietly.
He chuckled. "Of course you did."
"I mean it, though," she said, "I think it's because of it that I could be here today. And…" She looked away, a bit bashful, "And because you're helping me walk."
His smile softened. "Admittedly, I was against it at first, but now I'm glad you came. You've been working hard, Miwa."
The muscles in her cheeks tensed, and she hoped the lights were dim enough to hide her blush. "...I worked hard because I was looking forward to this." After insisting on coming here with an injured leg, there was no way he didn't know that. "I wanted this to be the first day I finally relaxed."
Kurama looked up thoughtfully. "Well, in a way, that is what you did today. I made sure of that," he added with a little grin.
"I mean, I guess that's true…"
He chuckled and led her to the next area. It was a small bamboo grove, illuminated in forest green. As the wind passed above them, the stalks rubbed against each other, filling the air with quiet creaks and rustling leaves. It was probably the tallest exhibit in the entire garden, and Miwa had to roll her head all the way back just to see the sky. The rock path made a small trail through the bamboo, and a simple roped fence kept visitors from stepping off. Even the fence was decorated with white string lights, looking like bright sparkles near the ground. Kurama seemed to like this area, pausing to watch the stalks move in the wind and listen to the leaves bristling against each other. It was peaceful and relaxing in this space, like a snapshot of a picturesque time long past.
After some time, Miwa even forgot the pain in her leg.
They slowly explored the different areas of the garden, each one illuminated and decorated with its own theme. In the center of the garden was a medium-sized lake, the main backdrop for a small rest area with tables, benches, and food stalls set up just for the event. The lake itself was not illuminated, and in the dark, it reflected the different areas of the garden surrounding it, like a mirrored surface. Kurama led Miwa to a bench at the edge of the lake, and she gratefully took the chance to sit down and rest her feet. In the meantime, Kurama went to browse the food stalls. Even from a distance, the scents of different hot foods were tantalizing.
While she waited, Miwa looked up at the sky. While difficult to see at night, she could sense clouds gathering and moisture condensing. There was a chance it would rain, perhaps a light drizzle. Miwa didn't think her powers were recovered enough to prevent it, but she also made a conscious effort not to impact the weather unless it were necessary. She didn't want to worry about unintentional consequences, and under Enki's rule, she wasn't sure if that would be considered "mischief." Luckily, she packed a small umbrella in her bag.
But, as she contemplated the weather, a small, green head popped out of the water right at her feet.
"Woah, it's a snake girl," exclaimed a squeaky voice.
Miwa looked down. It was a young kappa. The emergence of his little head, no larger than a lily pad, made ripples spread across the lake, and he looked at Miwa curiously. He carefully balanced the water in the little yellow bowl on his head, and the water swayed around with a light shimmer of demon energy.
"Hello there," Miwa said, smiling at him.
"What are you doing here?" the kappa asked, and then he looked past her. "I smell another demon, too…"
"We're just enjoying the scenery," Miwa explained. "Do you live in this lake?"
"Yup," the kappa chirped, but then he backed up warily. "...You're not planning on taking it over, are you?"
Miwa laughed. "No, no, don't worry about that."
The kappa looked around, taking in the crowd of humans. Small fish gathered around him, clearly comfortable with his presence. "The humans made the place really fancy again."
"Yes, it's beautiful."
"It's so noisy now," said the kappa, pouting and blowing bubbles with his mouth, making the fish turn away.
Miwa stifled her laugh this time, not wanting to appear rude. "Today is the last day of the event," she explained. "This place will be back to normal soon."
The kappa looked back at her. "I'm used to it," he sighed, blowing more pouty bubbles, "I run off to other lakes when I can't stand the noise."
Miwa leaned closer to him. "Can I ask you something?"
He shrugged indifferently. "If you want."
"When you visit other lakes, do you see demons behaving strangely? Or hear about things like that?"
The kappa pursed his lips. "...They think I don't see anything because I'm small, or they don't care if I do because I'm a kappa."
"They?"
The kappa opened his mouth to answer, but he stopped and stared suspiciously behind Miwa.
"It's okay," she said gently, knowing Kurama had returned without even turning her head. "He is my friend."
Kurama sat down slowly, recognizing the kappa's wariness right away. "I'm sorry to interrupt," he said politely. He set down the food he bought onto the bench. The rich smell of fried noodles was delicious, making even the kappa turn his head. "Would you like some?" Kurama asked.
The kappa seemed more suspicious of him, perhaps sensing or smelling that Kurama was a fox, and he shook his head. "If it's not cucumbers, I don't want it."
Kurama chuckled, taking the kappa's wariness with patience and grace. "Sorry, they did not have any for sale."
The kappa pouted again, but to Miwa, he looked more upset about not getting cucumbers than offended by a fox offering him food. He sighed, blowing a few more bubbles, and looked back at her. Slowly, his eyes trailed down her leg. "Did they do that to you?" he asked, but whether he smelled the wound or saw her limping around, she did not know.
Miwa leaned closer to him, part of her wishing she could kneel at the lake's edge. "A demon did this to me," she said slowly. "But who are 'they'?"
The kappa stared thoughtfully at her leg. "I don't know who they are, but they all smell weird. I've seen them talking to other demons about how we should be the ones ruling the Living World."
Miwa and Kurama glanced at each other, recognizing that rhetoric.
"They just ignore me because I'm small," the kappa muttered, not noticing the silent exchange as he pouted to himself.
"You said they smell weird," Kurama chimed in. "What do you mean?"
The kappa turned to him, for some reason less wary compared to before. "I dunno," he admitted, "I don't mean that they smell bad. They just smell…weird. You'll get it if you ever smell them."
"But why did you think they hurt my leg?" Miwa asked.
"...Because of how they talk," the kappa explained. "They like to egg on other demons. Either into starting fights or to make trouble with humans." The kappa pursed his lips, scrutinizing Miwa with his stare. "But you don't look like the type to start fights, so I thought one of them got your leg."
She let out a good-humored chuckle; this kappa had no idea who he was talking to. "The one who did this to me didn't smell weird."
The kappa shrugged again. "Then I dunno if I can help you."
"No, no, you did help. Thank you."
The kappa grinned proudly. Behind them, a small child started loudly proclaiming they could see a funny-looking frog in the water, making the kappa flinch.
"I'm leaving," the kappa said, pushing himself away from the edge. "Make sure the humans don't leave a mess in my pond." And without even saying good-bye, the kappa dove down and disappeared into the dark water, leaving behind ripples on the surface as the only indication he was ever there.
The human child - a little girl delighted by Miwa's blue mist in the earlier exhibit - ran up to the pond's edge and peered into the water with wide eyes. Her gaze focused on the center of the ripples, and she patted the water's surface, as if that would bring the kappa out of hiding. The child groaned and raised her hand to try again, but then her mother appeared out of nowhere and scooped her up into her arms, quietly apologizing for the disturbance she caused. The little girl protested, staring at Miwa as if wanting to ask about the funny-looking frog, but the mother hastily walked away.
When the child was gone, Miwa picked up the fried noodles Kurama bought. The once-hot food had already cooled to a lukewarm temperature, but she didn't mind. The taste was just as delicious as it smelled.
"...What do you think?" Kurama asked, taking a bite himself.
"It's hard to say," Miwa said, staring out at the lake. The ripples were gone, and the water's surface stilled enough to reflect the botanical garden. "According to Iizuna, Rakuen didn't talk to anybody before she went on her hunting spree."
"True, but he also said other demons have been getting sent back for causing trouble. It could be because of 'them'..."
Miwa frowned, thinking of the similarities between 'their' rhetoric and Rakuen's motives for attacking. "But she even hunted alone…"
They fell silent, eating their food while thinking about the kappa's words. His story both answered some questions and raised many more. Even his insistence on how weird 'they' smelled added to the mystery. But with limited information, there was no point ruminating on it further. Miwa's priority was to focus on Rakuen, and other than a curiously similar motive, there was no proof the kappa's story had any relevance to this case.
They finished their food, and Kurama tossed the plastic containers in the nearest garbage bin. He returned with a fresh smile on his face and held out his hand. "Shall we continue?"
Miwa stared at his hand for a moment, nearly forgetting the reason they had both come to the botanical garden. This wasn't the time to brood over Rakuen or the nebulous relations between humans and demons. They came to spend time together, and because he wanted to reward all the work she had done so far. Slowly, tentatively, she took his hand, and she resumed her previous position, wrapping her arms around his as easily as if they had always stood together this way. They walked away from the lake, leaving the kappa's home behind, and Miwa occasionally glanced at the sky, knowing that sooner or later, rain would fall. But even that didn't matter; she would know when it was time to seek shelter.
They slowly perused the rest of the garden, admiring the different plants, trees, and the numerous illumination designs. Lights of many colors, white lights highlighting the vibrant colors of autumn flowers, and the quiet footsteps of admirers witnessing that same beauty. As the night went on, the families with children disappeared, the crowd thinned, and soon only older friend groups and couples were left walking around. Miwa did notice this, but only as a matter of course. Not as a reflection of the mood a place like this could create. The romance of illuminated displays in a nighttime garden went unnoticed by her until they passed through a particularly lush tree grove.
It was the last exhibit on the garden's main route. These trees did not change color in the fall, so they were decorated in a way to welcome the winter season. The thick, green branches were adorned with hundreds of strands, each one extending to another tree, connecting the entire area with light. They were predominantly white and various shades of blue, representing the snow that would soon come to these branches in the following months. Even with the lights, the thick trees cast a dimness over the quiet and secluded path; its own little winter world as the rest of the garden bade farewell to autumn.
This was where they passed a teenage couple, most likely high-school-aged, trying to keep their giggles at a low volume. Their arms were linked, just as Miwa and Kurama's were, but they clearly were not doing it to help someone walk, or to keep each other warm. They just wanted to be close, to feel their connection as they strolled through the beautiful space. The boy whispered something in the girl's ear, making her blush and giggle again. She whispered something back, playfully kissed him on the cheek, and after a moment, they left the grove. Their interaction, as innocent as it was, wrenched Miwa's attention away from the illumination. Their intentional closeness, the girl's emotions showing themselves in her red cheeks, and the proximity as they whispered in each other's ears. It was so natural and fluid, as if this behavior was completely normal to them.
Miwa was reminded of their fight at the tournament, and how after she passed out in Kurama's arms, he gently kissed her on the forehead. The action was as natural to him as those teenagers, a genuine expression of his emotions at the time. And several hours later, he confessed his feelings to her. Miwa felt a faint blush on her own cheeks as she remembered seeing what happened on the recap footage and smacking her forehead to find the nonexistent proof of what he had done. Miwa looked down at their linked arms. Could she and Kurama ever become like those teenagers? Naturally seeking each other's closeness? Expressing their feelings through whispered words and physical exchanges? It was one of many ways their relationship would change if she gave him the answer he wanted.
She looked up at the sky. "...It's going to rain in a moment."
Kurama followed her gaze. He could not sense it like her, but even he could see how the clouds blocked the starry sky. "Should we find shelter?"
Miwa shook her head. "It'll pass not too long after. I might be able to keep us dry if we stay under the trees."
They stepped closer to a tree with a wide trunk, fortunate to be in this space as the rain clouds approached. Within minutes, a light drizzle splashed against the leaves above, nearly imperceivable through the trees. But moments later, larger drops began to fall, their quiet patter filling the air when they hit the trees and the ground. Miwa held out her hand, diverting the drops that filtered through the canopy. Swirling mist around children had felt effortless, but consistently diverting rain made the dull pain in her system throb like a pulsing heart, and pushing through that pain took more strain than she would have liked. Defeated, she pulled out the umbrella from her backpack. Kurama understood what had happened and took it from her hands, opening it up and holding it above their heads. Without Miwa's power, water drops landed freely on the umbrella, adding a plastic sharpness to the sound of rainfall.
"You'll be back to normal soon," he said, kindly looking forward instead of at her disappointed frown.
"I know…"
They stood in silence, listening to the rain. Miwa, like many others, had always liked this sound, finding it calming and meditative. Kurama came to appreciate it over time, but he thought the sound had a claustrophobic edge to it, as if it audibly defined the limited space in which he was safe from getting wet. From what Miwa could sense, the rain would probably linger for fifteen minutes at most, and then the clouds would move on to another area. No footsteps came towards them. No voices filled the air. The entire garden had stilled, its guests quietly taking shelter wherever they could to wait for the rain to pass.
Even though she failed to keep them dry, Miwa still felt emboldened by the rain. "...Can I ask you something?" she said, keeping her voice low so their conversation would be hidden.
"Of course…" Kurama answered, now turning his gaze to her.
Her cheeks flushed, and it had nothing to do with the cold air. "I haven't forgotten about how you feel about me," she said, fiddling anxiously with her hair. "But how long have you been hiding it?" The worry had plagued her since his confession. She could only imagine what it would have been like for him to hide it while witnessing her growing attraction to Hiei. Or if it were even possible, his feelings being the reason he didn't want to be found as Shuichi Minamino. "I understand why you hid it from me, but… I can't believe I never noticed all this time."
Kurama chuckled quietly. "You shouldn't worry so much. I think I was only aware of it myself since the Dark Tournament, and we were very…busy back then." He looked up at the sky, listening to the dull, claustrophobic sounds of rain on their umbrella. "Since becoming Shuichi, the only demons who ever called me by my real name were those who held a grudge against me. I didn't realize until you appeared as Himari that I had never been able to just be…myself as a human. You were the only one in Living World who I could speak with freely, and the way our human lives changed us made me understand you as 'Miwa.' It felt like we were equals, even if most of it was part of our friendship facade."
Miwa's blush deepened. She had always thought her early years as Himari were a burden, constantly relying on him to adapt to the human way of life. She had no idea just being there as his ally had such a profound impact.
"I also liked being equals with you," she said slowly, too afraid to even look up. "You were…special to me, in a different way from before we came here. But that's why I didn't want to confuse them if it's the same thing as my oath..."
He smiled playfully. "Does that mean you've considered accepting my feelings?" Miwa sputtered a bit, unable to answer right away, so Kurama continued. "Or…is it hard for you to imagine being with me that way?"
Miwa fiddled with her hair again. "...A little. I think I would still be happy, even if things didn't change between us from now on."
She wasn't saying this because she didn't want things to change. Change was expected since they stepped onto the Okunenju plateau together. She just didn't understand what he hoped to gain by her accepting his feelings, what would be different if they transitioned from friends to romantic partners. Other than perhaps…the obvious. A part of her resented him for kissing her forehead when she wasn't even awake to experience it.
He was quiet for a moment, perhaps following her exact train of thought. "You're right," he said calmly. "We could stay like we are, and I still would consider myself lucky to be one of your friends."
"Then… What do you want to be different?"
After pondering over his confession for months, Miwa finally found her own answer to this question. She just hoped his answer was the same…
He stared at her, his calm expression betraying none of his thoughts or emotions. He kept them from her, not wanting to influence the answer she ultimately gave. "...If I could have only one thing," he said, "I would like to be a part of your next big decision about your future. Not as a friend giving you advice, but as someone who will be a part of that future." He gently took her hand, just as he did at the tournament infirmary. "If the infinite possibilities of the future still frighten you, then I want to navigate through them with you."
The rain continued to fall, showing no signs of stopping just yet.
It was the same. His answer was the same…
His hand was warm in hers, just like it was when he first confessed. Without any thought of feeling embarrassed, she gently closed her fingers over his palm. "I also want that…" Miwa slowly looked up at him, steeling herself to say something once hidden from even herself. "...because a part of me has loved you for a really long time."
Before Hiei, before Himari Shimizu, and before their separation across dimensions, Youko Kurama was the first outsider who ever recognized her abilities completely as her own. Her tribe ignored her interest in heroes and adventure, and Shirai attributed the skills she learned to her heritage. Youko Kurama knew none of that, knew nothing about her, but he decided the skills she learned were worth keeping. When they became Shuichi and Himari, he was just as confident in her abilities, and their new dynamic made her wish they could be real friends. Her devotion to him was not tied to the oath she swore, like she had believed for so many years. It was truly a devotion to him and everything he came to stand for in her life. Belief in her. Recognition of her. The first one to ever accept her exactly as she is, not by what she was or where she came from. The one who wanted her to be with him, without needing a reason to make it so. If Miwa hadn't let her own oath cloud her perspective, she may have recognized those feelings a long time ago.
"I don't want to just follow you anymore," she continued, a warm blush creeping back into her cheeks. "I want us to figure out our After, together…"
Kurama dropped the umbrella and pulled her into another embrace, as tight and earnest as that day on the Okunenju. Only this time, Miwa had the strength to lift her arms and return it. She wanted to. She had to. In that moment, it was the only way to reciprocate the sincerity he had shown her for all these years. His arms were strong, his body was warm, and her fingers gripped his jacket, as if he could be any closer than they already were. The rain filtered through the leaves, splashing cold droplets on their heads, but neither of them noticed. Finally, finally, the last piece of Miwa's chosen After set into place, ending the cycle of her oath forever. Their shared past, their connection once based on a lie, all accumulated to this moment, when Miwa's path no longer followed someone else, but instead merged into one with the most important person in her life.
This was the place where Miwa was meant to be.
"I might still be a nuisance to you," she said, pulling away from his arms, "but I-"
He leaned down, cutting her off by gently pressing his lips to her forehead. For a moment, she stopped breathing, all her attention centering on his warm, affectionate kiss. And this time, she was awake to experience it in full.
"I don't mind that at all," he whispered, his lips brushing against her wet skin. "In fact, I'm looking forward to it."
Her face burned. Yet even Miwa, who was so sensitive to the cold, paid no notice to the rain slowly soaking their bodies in the autumn air. Her thoughts lingered on the sensation of his lips on her forehead, touching her skin, and the emotions he conveyed through them. Love… He loved her, and she felt that more through his kiss than his confession. And to her surprise, her blush faded away, and she found herself smiling and laughing. "...I am, too."
Above them, the clouds moved across the sky, and the rain followed, sparing them from further rainfall. The luminous botanical garden now had an extra sheen on the leaves and plants, as if it was planned for the clouds to come and further beautify their surroundings. Patrons slowly emerged from their shelters, marveling at the lovely sight, and the world around Miwa and Kurama slowly came to life once again.
But they were different now. Two demons living human lives, pledged to each other in a brand-new way.
{00}
The next morning, Kurama was waiting outside her apartment door, offering to be her walking stick again on her way to school. His unexpected offer made Miwa blush, an odd feeling to have so early in the morning. But unlike before, she accepted his help without hesitating or humbly declining it. Days after getting bit, her leg remained stiff and sore, and his help was absolutely needed. However, that meant Saya witnessed his walking stick status when they arrived on campus, and when he dropped her off at her classroom. Although Miwa limped around and had bandages peeking out of her socks, it was clear to her human friend that something else had changed.
Before classes even started, Saya bounded over to Miwa's desk with an unusual excitement for the first school day of the week. "I have…so many questions," Saya said, slapping both hands on Miwa's desk and looming over her friend. "But first, what in the world happened since I last saw you?" she asked, frowning at Miwa's leg. "I swear, if you tell me that this means your date was cancelled…"
Miwa shook her head. "I uh…I tripped on the apartment stairs," she said, giving the excuse she and Kurama planned on their walk here. "It's not as bad as it looks, and we still went to the illumination."
Saya stared at her skeptically, trying to remember if she had ever seen her friend do something as clumsy as tripping. "Then…" She grinned and pulled a chair closer to whisper, "...I guess things went well?"
Her keen insight astounded Miwa, no matter how many times she witnessed it. Even so, the question made Miwa blush again. "Yes, we're…dating now." That word felt so strange and foreign to her. While not untrue, it didn't seem to properly convey the full intricacies of their relationship.
Saya covered her mouth with her hands, perhaps to muffle a squeal, or to hide the giddiness of her grin. "So? What made you decide to accept his feelings?"
Miwa looked nervously at her desk. Despite spending so much time in bed thinking, she still didn't know how to properly explain this to Saya or Tsutsumi. Or even to Yusuke or Kuwabara, when the questions inevitably came. Yusuke and Kuwabara knew about both of her lives but explaining it to them still seemed extremely complicated. Saya and Tsutsumi, who only knew her human identity, would be even more difficult. The context and background just didn't line up to accurately represent it. "I don't think it was really a 'decision.' It was more like… I realized how special to me he really was. Has been, all along."
Tsutsumi's advice at the mall was to consider how she would feel if someone else became the most important person to him someday, and she decided that she wouldn't be okay with it. Even before meeting Hiei, stepping aside for Maya Kitajima was such a difficult thing to accept. She remembered not wanting to be sidelined, to lose her place as the most important person in his life. While stepping aside ended up becoming unnecessary, she really was jealous back then, without even knowing it.
Saya dropped her hands, showing her grin softened to a regular smile. "Himari, I know it's a little embarrassing at first, but you should enjoy this. Don't be like me and Taichi and dance around each other all shy and stuff. It's such a waste."
"Easy for you to say," Miwa groaned, "You didn't have to hang off Tsutsumi's arm just to walk around the moment you two got together."
Saya giggled. "True, but it's sweet of him to help you. And even though you showed up to school like that with a limp, I'm pretty sure it won't be long before other people notice something has changed."
"I don't think I want to deal with that right now…"
"It'll be fine," said Saya, waving a dismissive hand, "I'll bet most people will just think that it's about dang time."
Miwa giggled. "I'll probably be hearing that from some other friends very soon…"
"Oh, you definitely will. We haven't even told Taichi yet."
{00}
After filling in Tsutsumi, about both the leg injury and the relationship update, he and Saya took it upon themselves to help her get lunch during the break, insisting she do as little walking as possible. Saya graciously volunteered to be her alternate walking stick in between classes and made sure the teachers were also aware of Miwa's limp, effectively excusing her from P.E. that day. Once school ended for the day, Saya handed her off to Kurama at the shoe lockers like a parent dropping off their child.
"Make sure she gets home safe, okay?" Saya said, waving good-bye with a grin that was more directed at Kurama this time.
They both waved good-bye to her, but Kurama's smile appeared much more pleased than Miwa's. She was still a little embarrassed from her continued need for a walking stick and Saya's blatant excitement, but Saya leaving for club practice finally granted her a reprieve. Once they changed into their outdoor shoes, Miwa took Kurama's arm again and they slowly left campus. At least her limp wasn't as pronounced as the day before, and hopefully she wouldn't need a walking stick tomorrow.
"...You knew she would behave that way," Kurama quietly reminded her.
"Doesn't make it any less embarrassing… She's been teasing me about you for years."
He chuckled. "She's a very observant girl."
"You know," Miwa said, "With all these demons running around, I would not be the least bit surprised if she suddenly developed Spiritual Awareness."
"It's possible. She's already been near us for the past few years."
As they walked home, Miwa was surprised at how…normal everything had been between them. While walking to and from school, and even returning from the botanical garden, they still chatted about the usual things. Tests coming up soon, Kokoda's studies for high school entrance exams, and updates on Takeo's move back to his hometown. There wasn't a grandiose change in their dynamic or behavior, like she had been afraid of. At most, Kurama's mood was particularly bright. Despite spending another day as her walking stick, he wasn't as concerned with her ability to walk compared to yesterday. He simply appreciated his ability to help her, as if it were a special privilege. Even Miwa, who was a blushing mess around him for months, lost that near-constant anxiety and became surprisingly calm around him; calm and…happy. Maybe there was never a need to be afraid of change by accepting his feelings. Dating, in love, in a relationship; whatever word was right or appropriate for what they were, maybe they had already been this way for a long time. The only real change was seeing and acknowledging its true shape and how deeply they cared for each other.
Suddenly, a demonic presence appeared from nowhere, making the two of them tense up. They thought, for a moment, that it was Iizuna bringing news about Rakuen's interrogation, but they would have smelled him coming. This one appeared so quickly, too quick to smell because he himself was quick. Miwa and Kurama carefully turned around to Hiei's black silhouette standing nonchalantly in the middle of the human street.
His sharp, red eyes surveyed them, and then they pointedly looked down. "...What the hell happened to your leg?"
Notes: It's finally happened! No more dancing around their feelings! I had similar trouble understanding how their relationship would be different if it became romantic. I kept imagining them quickly ending up like an old married couple because they have known each other for so long. I thought really hard about what would truly be different with them, especially because I didn't want the romance aspect of this story to focus on physical changes in their relationship. This chapter ended up much shorter than recent chapters, but I hope their date lived up to expectations. I based the event off of an Autumn illumination at Rikugien garden in Shinjuku.
But now that these two idiots are finally together, the plot happening around them can continue, and Hiei is back for a mysterious reason. I'm excited to get started on the next step of Miwa's investigation.