|
Ayame's ears pricked slighty at the male's groan, and she returned a softer, more subdued moan in her sleep. Her eyes flew open a second later and she jumped, pestle rolling off her leg and mortar spilling mugwort all in her lap.
She sighed dejectedly, writing it off as a loss. She had more important things to tend to, considering how late they both had slept. Turning to Jade, she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. "How are you feeling?" she asked. |
The hanyou girl was still here? How odd...why was she still here?
"Uh...not like moving anytime soon," he admitted, smooth and unperturbed. Even a demon of his rank required rest after such a beating. Normally he didn't need to move if he was hurt, he could fast for the time it took to recover. |
Ayame frowned. He seemed to be recovering okay, much quicker than any of her other patients. She wasn't experianced with demon healing, though, so she wasn't sure how much longer he would be unable to move.
"You hungry? I could go see if I can catch some more fish," she offered. |
"No. I'm alright for now," he assured her. "Perhaps you are not aware...but high-class demons, when incapacitated, normally just sit around until they feel better. If we have to move...we are not happy, and take it out on the creature causing us...discomfort. But we usually just wait it out, no food or water for a day or so. I'll be fine, seriously. My concern...is the villagers finding us. Particularly me."
His strange eyes turned slowly to the doorway. "No one's come calling, right?" he asked slightly sarcastically. |
At this question, Ayame's chest swelled with pride.
"If they had come, I would have heard them. I was awake for quite a while, it had been light for some time when I started to doze off. I set traps, so we're safe." The fire-cracker tied to the door was the only trap she had set, but she was quite certain no one else had entered the campsite. She remembered to smell for humans this time. For some reason, she was reluctant to part ways with the male. Having a companion for the first time in she didn't know how long had been wonderful. "I could stay and watch you," she offered, trying not to let the despiration creep into her voice. "I mean, I want to make sure you don't get caught again." |
"By all means then. Stay," Jade said in amusement, a small smirk tugging at his lips. This girl was funny, as if he needed her. But all the same, it wouldn't do to take chances...
"At any rate, if you do stay, I will compensate you for your troubles," he told Ayame. |
I don't like that smirk, sir. The thought came from out of nowhere, but it was true, she didn't like the way she was looking at her, like he didn't need her but was only humoring her.
"Having someone other than me in my space is enough compensation," she startled herself with the words coming from her mouth. "I've been alone for far too long. I guess that's why I've been forcing myself upon you, keeping myself around. If you don't want me to be with you, then I'll leave, if you see fit to not have me." |
The smirk instantly fell from Jade's face, replaced by a more sharp expression.
"None of that. You're right, I don't need you around. But if I wanted to get rid of you, girl...I would have done long ago. None of this drama, alright? I've no patience for it." |
Ugh, why do I have to be so awkward?!
Ayame stared at her boots, not knowing what to say. She was silent for a long time, wondering what exactly to do. |
Jade allowed Ayame to continue staring at her boots for a while, perceptive enough to realize that he may have caused her some discomfort, but he did not regret it. Things needed to be said, and it did not matter to him if the girl was younger than him, probably by a great deal. She needed to learn that drama had no place here in turbulent times.
Why he was teaching her this lesson...it was beyond his comprehension. It wasn't any of his business. "Do you have any more strawberries?" he asked, breaking the silence at long last. |
"Uhmm...."
Ayame crawled over to where she left her shirt. She picked it up and sniffed it, then pulled one out and took an experimental nibble on one. "They're a little squishy, but still edible." She carried the bag over, and, taking a chance, plopped down next to Jade and set the satchel between them. |
"Hmm...it's fine. I was actually thinking of doing other things with them," he commented. "That is...if you are willing to go out and buy some rice. I am physically incapable of moving very much, so I cannot join you. But if you bring rice, I can prepare us something I enjoy very much which includes strawberries."
|
"Actually..." Ayame reached into her tail, rummaging around. "I rarely ever have any money, and humans aren't too keen on letting me near their food, but I think I still have...aha!" She pulled a fair-size burlap sack from her tail. "I manage to steal a few grains here and there every now and then. I don't use it very often, but...." she trailed off as she examined the bag. She held it up, then hung her head. "I guess I have no choice but to go out and buy rice, then," she said sheepishly, holding the bag up. A few stray grains fell from a rather large hole in the bag. |
Jade snorted.
"Coordinated, aren't you?" he said with a chuckle. "Well I'm not going anywhere, so if you want to go get the rice now, feel free." |
Her ears pricked, but she ignored the jibe at her coordination.
"Alright then." Ayame stood up and dusted her knees off. "If I'm not back by noon, try to find another hideout." She meant the last part as a joke, but she suddenly worried a little. Most villagers wouldn't take kindly to a rouge fox sniffing around their storehouses. She would have to hope she was lucky enough to find wild rice, or untended rice fields. "Well. Be back in a bit." |
| All times are GMT. The time now is 07:15 AM. |