Fuuma Tokiko - 1
It was in the early morning, the sun was about to rise. Fuuma Tokiko woke up sooner than others since she needed to do some preparation before heading out for a mission.
Quietly sipping the warm tea in the kitchen, Tokiko listened to the faintest noises from the floor above. She observed the footsteps that started from the Young Master's room.
He was doing it again. It had been like this ever since the Great Ashen Tree incident.
Despite getting discharged from the medical bay not that long ago, and having barely enough rest due to paperwork, Kotaro continued to wake up early. He tip-toed down the stair, already wearing a tracksuit, and put on the shoes. He planned to make a few laps around Gosha. Tokiko had nothing against that routine, it was a decent exercise necessary for any Taimanin to do.
Still, Kotaro's case was not entirely the same. He still needed a support stick to help him walk. She didn't want him to strain his body right after the treatments.
"Oyakata-sama."
"Tokiko. Good morning."
Kotaro simply greeted with a glance thrown over the shoulder. He didn't seem surprised once she made her presence known by standing behind him.
"Shouldn't you be resting at the moment?"
"I'll just take a walk outside." He noticed she was wearing the Taima bodysuit at this time. "Are you about to go on a mission?"
"I will be away shortly and return in the evening."
"Stay safe."
"Rest assure."
Kotaro unfolded the support stick and leaned on it as he headed toward the door.
"I think you should rest for some more, Oyakata-sama."
Tokiko had no intention of letting the conversation end. The topic stayed. It hadn't been that long since the doctor allowed his discharge, he should have prioritized his well-being first and let his strength to recover naturally instead of trying to regain it back.
"I rested plenty these days. Can't just stay in the house and do paperwork all the time. Besides, it's just a walk."
"But as a reminder, please refrain from engaging in any heavy activities. I know you've been to the training ground."
"I have." Kotaro didn't deny the fact. "Just to throw shurikens at the dummies."
Tokiko raised an eyebrow at his words, arms folded.
"And doing some stretching to my arms and leg. Nothing serious, I promise you."
"...very well."
He smiled.
"I'm off then. See you later, Tokiko."
He walked out and closed the door. With his current condition, she felt a bit uneasy. But it couldn't be helped. Kotaro had made up his mind, and she couldn't try to convince him otherwise, not when his eye was filled with a newfound determination.
Such an expression had been the talk among the Task Force members in town. Whatever happened back there, Kotaro started to become much more motivated than he'd ever been.
"Oh! I almost forgot..." Kotaro reopened the door and spoke to her through the gap. "You're going to stop by Asagi-sensei's office first, aren't you?"
"I am. Do you need something there, Oyakata-sama?"
"I left a document there. You should take a look at it before starting the mission."
"A document?"
Without sharing anymore detail, he left.
Tokiko wondered if he would ever tell her the reason to such a change. Perhaps...tonight, she could try asking him about it. For now, she should be prepared for the mission.
And to get that document he mentioned at Asagi's Office.
...
...
Knock Knock!
"Come in."
In the evening, Tokiko visited his room, bringing with her first aid supplies, towels and a water-filled basin. Kotaro was at his desk, writing another report on the laptop. He stopped typing as soon as she set down the med kit.
"It's time to change the bandages, Oyakata-sama."
Progress saved. He turned to her with a curious look.
"You're back. How was the mission?"
"A success. Thanks to your instructions in the document." Tokiko made a thin smile.
"That's good."
A large towel spread on the floor, Tokiko prepared it in case water spilled from the basin while she was using it. Sitting on the towel with Tokiko, Kotaro began taking off his shirt and unwrapped the bandages around the torso.
"It seems your body is healing well." Tokiko said as she looked over his arms where there used to be injuries. "The scars are barely visible."
Such recovering speed was possible thanks to Kiryu Mikoto, who supervised the surgery, and Yuuna-sensei, who managed to stop the mad scientist from adding anything weird to his body. The upgraded techs from the medical facility also contributed to the improvement of his well-being.
Tokiko dipped a small towel into the hot water, already mixed with herbal medicines, and applied to his skin. Kotaro jolted as it brought a burning pain, his lip pressed together to endure the moment. In order to be fully recovered, this had to be done.
Tokiko understood his reaction and tried to clean him as gently as she could.
"Oyakata-sama, your back."
"Okay."
His back faced her and the towel changed place.
"Ack!"
"It will be over shortly." Tokiko reassured.
"I'm never getting used to this feeling."
"Then perhaps you shouldn't have acted reckless."
"S-Sorry."
A moment of silence filled the room, just the noises of water splashing inside the basin. It was a conversation that happened once, they needed not to be reminded about it again. Tokiko didn't want to recall that bloody sight on a stretcher when the Task Force brought him back. Kotaro wouldn't want to see the tears on his family's faces, not when his own action caused it.
"It's done." Tokiko grabbed a bandage tape. "I'll start wrapping your shoulder first."
As Tokiko leaned closer, the fresh tape began to wrap around him. She was so closed, almost like she could give him a hug from behind and he wouldn't notice the gesture.
Maybe...
If she stopped for few seconds to embrace him, that might have been okay. He wouldn't notice...N-No, now was not the time for that.
"My mission." Tokiko spoke up, shaking off the thought. "When did you look into it?"
"Two days ago."
It was a simple mission. She was tasked to escort a contractor of Section Three to one of their HQs. With Tokiko's Evil Eye ability, watching the surrounding and guarding the client at the same time by herself was something she could pull off with ease.
"There was an ambush...an assassin tried to take us down using a sniper rifle." She revealed. "We suspected he was hired by the opposed organization. He hid at one of the blind spots where my Clairvoyance could have missed out."
Kotaro had pointed out a crucial detail like that in the document. Not only that, the document even included the area map where the escort took place. He marked all possible locations where the ambushes could have happened.
"But with your analysis, I paid careful attention to those locations and was able to detect the enemy. Once they'd been dealt with, the contractor reached the building safely."
Tokiko was able to return home sooner than expected. The missions progressed smoothly thanks to the document she'd read beforehand.
"I'm glad."
"Well, I think it's amazing that you had taken an effort to analyze my mission, Oyakata-sama."
Even though it was a mission assigned by Gosha in person and not part of the Task Force's objectives, Kotaro still made the time to help out.
"But surely you didn't do all of that while pulling an all-nighter, did you?"
"Eh, n-nope."
"It seems like that was the case." Tokiko grumbled after hearing his stutter.
"It's an important mission given to you. I couldn't just ignore that."
"Oh. Was it because they assigned a solo mission to me?" She asked. "I heard you've been taking measures to reject any solo mission assigned to Task Force members."
"That. Also because you're my family."
An answered without any hesitation in his voice. While Kotaro wasn't looking at her, Tokiko found no need to hide the blush on her cheeks. The bandage tape stopped rolling, her hands remained on his firmed back. Tokiko had half a mind to spread her arms and embrace him right this moment.
He was worried about her, she felt good to know the unspoken feeling from him. Tokiko understood that he cared more than enough to come up with a tactical plan that left no room for flaws for her Evil Eye usage. As if he truly had a thorough understanding of how her Clairvoyance works.
"Tokiko, you're done?"
His head slightly turned, the closing right eye came to her view.
"Ah! J-Just a moment..."
That was so closed. She nearly lost against the urge to hug him. Tokiko continued to wrap the bandage around him.
"Regardless of your decision, Oyakata-sama. As part of the Elites, I will have to abide by the Codes. Gosha should come first, I'm sure we all understand this part of our lives."
"I know." He said so simply. "That's why whenever you, Saika and Amane has to take on a mission alone, I'll do my best to provide some insights before you started."
"That would be a big help." Tokiko smiled. "However, I wouldn't want you to overwork yourself."
The Captain of the Taimanin Task Force, such a role had given him the necessary push to bring out his best qualities. He became someone whom others found reliable on the battlefield and entrusted their lives to his commands. Perhaps, these bonds he made with everyone were part of the reason that fueled his motivation.
"You've changed, Oyakata-sama."
"You think so? I haven't done much in anything though."
"That's not true at all. I can tell you've been working hard."
The change she mentioned might have been a little significance, it was truly there. It was a milestone of his growth.
"It's done."
Finished, Tokiko cut off the tape and tapped on his shoulder gently.
"Thanks, I'll get back to work."
Kotaro put on his shirt and resumed his work at the desk. Tokiko cleaned up everything before taking her leave, not wanting to disturb his concentration on the report. Though, Tokiko now often wondered. If he would ever wanted to talk about what happened, about the reason behind his motivation, something only he knew and had yet to share with anyone else.
"Tokiko."
Suddenly, he turned back and looked at her with a thin smile.
"When you're free, can you help me with shurikenjutsu? I want to check on my basic form."
Maybe she should put that question to the back of her mind and continue to support him with ease. Everything he needed from her, she would always be willing to lend a hand.
"Of course, Oyakata-sama." She shared the same expression. "You just need to call me when you're ready."
To Tokiko, Kotaro was more than just a little brother after all.
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