Stay The Night

He's never been more happy and relieved to see Kagura, but at the same time, he's never been so angry at her before.

Kagura really just did that. She left Iga and went to look for him the moment she found out. How many hours, or hell, even days, has she been looking for him? Did she leave right on the day he left too? He wouldn't have been surprised, if that's the case, but that doesn't mean he's any less annoyed right now. This isn't something she can simply decide to involve herself into. He can't go about his mission AND keep an eye out for her at the same time. If he were to see her harmed in any way because of him, he'll never forgive himself.

Hayabusa has yet to say a word to Kagura. He strides over to her, forgetting to return her greeting as he's still dumbfounded and entertaining a mess of thoughts that keep running across his mind. He's only a foot away from her when he finally manages to say something, the only thing that rises from the storm of feelings stirring within him as he looks at her sweet, innocent expression.

"What...what are you doing here?"

Kagura blinks owlishly at him. "I went to look for you. You didn't even say goodbye before you left, you know."

"I..." He starts but trails off, words failing him now more than they usually do. He's always been awfully taciturn, struggling to express himself verbally since he was little and even until now. Fortunately, Kagura doesn't need words when it comes to him. She knows what he means, sometimes before he even realizes it himself.

"It's getting late, and it does't look very safe out here, don't you think?" Says Kagura, looking at the two unconscious goons that tried to pick on Hayabusa just now. "Do you know a place we can stay?"

She has the audacity to say that like she doesn't owe him an explanation. Then again, he owes her an explanation, too, for leaving without a word to her, so he does't press further. Not right now, at least.

"I know where. Come with me."

***

Between the time they found each other earlier until now, as they settle in for the night, Hayabusa finds he's overcome the initial shock he felt. As he stands there and stares at Kagura's small frame sitting at the edge of the bed, combing her hair and humming a tune that hangs at the tip of his most distant memories, he realizes he has just enough courage in him to confront her.

Just barely enough.

"Kagura."

He doesn't sound as certain as he usually does, and he knows that she knows too. She turns to him, the sweetest of smiles on her face.

Well. That got him good, but he gulps down his apprehension as he urges himself. They really need to talk.

It crosses his mind at that moment, how strange it is that he's brave enough to hunt down the shadow traitor all on his own, but he can barely keep his composure when faced with Kagura. Hayabusa doesn't even remember when and how he started having feelings for her; he still remembers laughing his lungs out at that one time Kagura snorted soup out of her nose, several years ago, for heaven's sake. Now, suddenly, she's the loveliest person in his eyes.

But maybe that affection isn't actually sudden. Maybe it was just a matter of realizing something that's always been there, before he knew what it was. Before he knew of love the way he does now.

"Yes, Haya?"

He swallows the plethora of various, equally strong feelings rising in his throat, and finally speaks.

"Why did you follow me here?"

Her smile doesn't waver as she answers. "I figured you could use some help."

Hayabusa gives her a puzzled look, his back leaning against the wall and his arms crossed. "Help?"

"Yeah, on your mission. A helping hand won't hurt, right?"

Now he's looking at her incredulously. She wants to... help him? He knows better than to underestimate Kagura- she's the most powerful onmyouji in her clan as of now, after all, but that doesn't mean she can just come all the way here to help him on his mission. She's strong, yes, but is she strong enough? What if she just ends up getting hurt? What if he can't save her in time?

"It's too dangerous. You shouldn't have come."

Kagura shoulders sink, and she pouts in indignation. "And why not?"

"I don't want you getting hurt. We don't know how strong the shadow traitor is."

"Well, I don't want to entertain the thought of you in danger just as much. We can at least look out for each other if we're in this together."

Looking out for each other. Is that how she sees it? It's a nice way to look at it, he'll admit, but it's not convincing enough. He sees it more as a liability than an advantage- not only does he need to focus on his mission, he has to make sure now that she's safe as well. That's two things that can go wrong, as opposed to just one.

"I just... I don't think it's worth the risk. I even left without telling you so that you wouldn't follow me."

"Do you really not want me here that much?"

"It really is dangerous."

"If it's so dangerous, then what makes you think I would be okay with just staying in Iga knowing you're doing this all by yourself?"

"I was trained to do this. You aren't."

He didn't mean to sound so harsh, but it's true. Kagura lets out a huff in frustration.

"I know you've been training for this for ten years now, and I really do believe you're the strongest ninja in Iga, but do you really not want any help?"

"Well," Hayabusa starts, staring at the floor right in front of his feet. "If only the stakes weren't so high."

"Like I said, Haya, we can look out for each other. Doesn't that make it less risky?"

"Not when there's the added risk of losing each other."

Kagura scoffs. "Don't be so negative. Look, with two of us instead of just you, we have a better chance of taking him down together. I'll help you, with this."

She picks up the Seimei umbrella from beside her and presents it to Hayabusa. Even when it's closed, he can still sense the power surging through it, potent and volatile. He remembers something Kagura told him before, how onmyoujis need to be extremely careful with their magic. Shikigami can turn on their masters and kill them if an onmyouji isn't strong enough, and yet here Kagura is, wielding an object that hosts a hundred of them. Her mastery of it makes it look easy, but it'd be foolish of anyone to think they can do it like her.

"We can do this together, just trust me."

That actually works in making him feel hopeful, if only in the slightest. He looks away for a bit, and when he looks at her again, he sees that same sweet smile from earlier. Kagura's blue eyes are bright with hope as they look at him.

"Do you trust me?"

It really is no fair, how she can do this to him and have her way. She's managed to convince him enough, and besides, it's not like sending her back alone is the better option here either. She's already here, she's too stubborn to budge, and who knows, she might actually be of help.

"Fine," he says with a sigh, but there's the ghost of a smile on his lips that Kagura inevitably notices.

She perks up, visage alight with happiness. Jumping up from the bed, she captures him in a tight embrace, her small arms wrapped around him as far as they can reach and her cheek against his chest. Hayabusa hugs her back.

"I won't let you down, Haya. I promise."

Well, he still has his doubts, but he's willing to give it a shot. She makes him feel that way, somehow.

"I'm counting on you."