The story of two girls

It has been three days since we passed through Kanzai and Daizaiel hadn't spoken since then. We were at a stream, one that was supposedly Kanzai's secondary main stream. The water here was low so it was impossible to sink beneath it, hiding the bodily features. So instead, we just bathed back to back. Even so, I was blushing madly.

"Todoroki-senpai?"

"Mm mm?"

I had answered a bit awkwardly due to my current state. Hopefully Okonayami didn't notice it or she'd ask me something like:

'Are you ashamed?' And that'd be embarrassing. But instead, she inquired on our mad accomplice.

"Where's mister Razael?"

Razael? He was gone for two of the three days and I hadn't noticed because he had somewhat of a lack of presence. No matter how hyperactive he could get, he was a bit laid back.

"I told you to stop calling him that. Maybe ask Daizaiel where he's gone."

That was the first time I had called Daizaiel's name normally, or, according to my memory, at all. I don't think I've said Razael's name either.

We were sadly out of Erichin and I was fearing for my life. Every rattle of the bushes would send me shivering. Every move of the trees. We were in Sugiyura lands, being named off a great samurai, it's three town's and three towers were rumored to have never fallen in battle. Never surrendered to an enemy.

After a while, Aesthaea was to come visit to answer questions Daizaiel couldn't and to properly prepare us for Hirsugiminen and our coming future, which was supposedly in her hands. What kind of person was she even like?

"He's on duty." Daizaiel said. These were the first words I've heard him say since three days ago.

"What kind of duty?" Okonayami asked.

"He's a messenger of Hirsugiminen. Word has come to him that two generals along with Seikon are preparing an attack at the Mitsugan gates. If these petty acts keep up, we'd be looking at the coming of a world war two."

"World war two. Over a little feud, a whole world war?" Okonayami asked. The last world war, ww1, ended with Aesthaea's coming. How would another one be able to end now? We weren't that fortunate as to have another fallen angel come save us as we're at the edge of doom.

"Anyways." Daizaiel said. "I'm leaving now. The food won't come to us. Take care, I'll be right back."

"Okay."

Daizaiel got up from wherever he was sitting and headed back towards Erichin. Still, I didn't turn to look, nor at Okonayami, we were in the nude after all. As he left, Okonayami asked:

"Senpai, do you want me to wash your hair, it's awfully dirty. Besides, we've got time while Aka's fixing our clothes."

For some reason, she had agreed to patch up our clothes while we bathed. She said it would take a while and we'd have to wait naked until she finished. Wash hair?

"No, no, no it's okay. My hair's fine. Don't look."

I heard a sigh come from behind me.

"You shouldn't be so mistrustful senpai. Besides," She said. "I'm already looking."

I felt my face flush red. How could she not feel any embarrassement?

"No, Okonayami, I don't want you to wash my hair. Please stop."

I may have asked harshly but I was too embarrassed to take back my words. I heard Okonayami back down sadly.

"Okay, senpai, I understand."

We continued in awkward silence. I had already finished bathing but I still sat where I was, on the wet rock. I'd probably catch a cold. The feeling of Okonayami staring at me still haunted me, so I absentmindedly turned to look.

There was a little girl, she was naked. She was staring deeply into the water and would occasionally slap at it, as if trying to catch something. I smiled. I tried my best to focus on what she was doing, so as to not let my mind wander into dark places.

"Can I wash your hair?" I asked. She shivered. She was about to turn around but thought better of it. It was a bit uncomfortable to speak to someone without looking at them.

"You don't have to push yourself. If you don't want to, then don't do it."

"But, I do want to."

"Senpai. . . You're such a hypocrite."

Mitsugan gates

2001

Seikon Camp

Seikon, a hybrid, a mixture of a beast and a human, was with his closest allies in their camp, planning an attack a neighboring town, Kyugetsu.

". . .And then the liutenant will lead section b around this pass right here. And that's when we'll corner them, killing every man on the spot. If any one man here objects on this plan say so."

How thoughtful he must've been. To ask his subordinates for their honest opinion. Still, as they did, he knew that they would thoughtlessly agree.

"I object." Someone said. It was the liutenant himself.

"Oh, what do you have to say?" Seikon asked, surprised.

"The pass your referring to is a bit slant. If I were to lead a troop around there we'd be at the disadvantage. They may not all survive but they may defeat my troop and escape. After that, who knows, they may form an allegiance with brigands. . ."

"So what do you propose we do?" Seiko a asked a little too impatiently.

"I'm proposing we send section a to attack them from the upper end and if they try to escape, section b could be waiting under the mountains to ambush them. . ."

"Leave us." Seikon gestured for the rest of his men, excluding the samurai, to exit the room.

"There's something else." The liutenant continued.

"Is there?"

"It started out from the east but I have reason to believe that it has breached its way into Meirochi. The disease, Aesthaea's sin is here again. It poses a threat. . ."

"Nonsense. We are but mere men, liutenant, what threat do we pose to a virus? It does as it pleases, there's nothing we can do about that."

"I understand, general." The liutenant said, hanging his head, kneeling on the floor. Seikon was kneeling before him. "May I be excused?"

"Yes, you may."

And with that, the liutenant got up and headed towards the exit of the large tent. And as he was about to leave:

"Don't forget your place, Hataro, you are merely a place for the fallen, Danji. He was a great man. Do well in carrying out his duties. No, my mistake, Razael I should say."

The liutenant sighed. He hadn't expected it, but Seikon had seen right through his impersonation. A black cloak began forming from the shadows behind his back and he pulled it over his head.

He still had some words unsaid. But that was a matter for another time. He quickly left the tent.

Sugiyura

2001

Kanzai's secondary main stream

I wasn't washing it, it was more like I was playing with it, but Okonayami didn't object, so I continued. Still, I was blushing at our nakedness and the closeness of our bodies. Still, this was common between sister's so I had to think of it in that way. As sisters.

I let my hand freely slip through her shoulder length brown silk hair. My breathing was heavy with anxiety. For a moment, I leaned in and sniffed her hair. She jumped.

"S-sorry." What the heck was wrong with me and my impulses.

"It's okay. You're done right? I want to wash yours now. To, to return the favor."

I sighed. It seemed that Okonayami was getting impatient. So impatient to get behind me and play with my hair. So, she did. I felt her hand rub through my hair, picking at any objects that were alien to it.

"You seem to know what you're doing. Is this your first time, ya know. Washing hair?"

"Washing hair? Oh senpai, I have mine to take care of you know."

"Oh, right. Thank you, Okonayami."

"Yeah, it's nothing. . ."

"No, not that. Thank you for befriending me."

"O-oh." Okonayami smiled. She placed her hands around my neck. I jumped. The feeling was, too much.

"Okonayami you. . ."

"It's okay senpai. If you're embarrassed, just think of us as sisters. If I'm going to spend the rest of my life with you, I might as well get as close as possible."

For the rest of her life? I hadn't thought of it that way. Still, it was in her words when we first met.

'Let's spend every day together after this.'

Close as possible?

"So, senpai, have any secrets you wanna share? Just between us sisters."

Secrets?

"No, not really. You already know that I. . .I'm attracted to girls."

"Oh? Right, I forgot about that." I felt her body heat up behind me. "So then, how does this make you feel right now? You and I, like this?"

I hesitated. It wasn't a question I was willing to answer. I couldn't tell her that I'd gladly turn around and kiss her or something. In had to lie, to tell her that this, was nothing.

"No, it's fine. It's nothing really."

"Nothing? Well, that makes me sad."

"What? Why?"

"Its like we're making a memory, senpai. Those things are easy to lose so we should treasure them. It may be to you, but to me. This is not nothing, it's a special memory. For my senpai and I alone."

And yet again, I was speechless. I didn't know how to answer. She seemed so smart and wise for her age. What had life done to such a person so young to make her think that way?

"Okonayami. I'm sorry. It's-its special to me too."

"Well, that makes me happy." She said smiling brightly. I blushed.

"Geez, I'm so tired of this." A voice said. I turned around and my face caught up in front of Okonayami. She had a surprised look on her face as our noses brushed. I turned back around quickly, even though I had badly wanted to touch her lips with mine.

"Here." The voice continued. It was Aka, meaning 'red'. She thrust our clothes on the bank and left. I didn't want to move because Okonayami's hands were still around my neck and I didn't want to ruin it. This special moment.

"So, I guess we should get out now." It turned out that she was the one to speak first.

"Guess so." It was deja vu. Everything was always deja vu whenever I'm around Okonayami.

The sun was setting when Daizaiel came back to us with food and bad news. We were eating normally aside the fire when he decided to speak.

"We are to meet Aesthaea tommorow." He said. "Unfortunately I won't accompany you because she and I have some. . . Differences." That must be why Daizaiel was roaming the forest and not Hirsugiminen. "Also, I have some bad news."

"What?" Okonayami asked, gulping down a food.

"Don't eat like that." I told Okonayami, smiling.

"Okay." She said with her mouth full. I smiled and she did too, her cheeks puffing with it's roasted contents.

"Tch!" Aka remarked. Why was she so angry?

"Razael won't be accompanying you either. He's got some business to do."

Was that supposed to be bad news.

"So you know what that means, Aka." Daizaiel continued. Aka sighed.

"Yes, yes, I'll babysit them until we rendezvous at Kyugetsu, I got it." She said in a bored tone. Babysit?

"That is all." Daizaiel said and the place went quiet again. Even though his supposed lack of presence, the place was a bit empty without Razael. And only now, in the deafening silence, did I notice.

After some time, the fire was doused with water from the stream and we all went to bed. Except me. Here, the trees were slightly parted so I gazed up at the sky. I looked down at Okonayami.

'We are both dark, evil in our own way. But, that's why we need each other. Hopefully, that way, we can both be brought to light.'