Uncomfortable Affection

"Welcome back, sis."

The aforementioned sister grunted in a very unladylike way and crossed her arms. Tears of frustration had fallen, before drying and being replaced with a deep pout that even their companions found humorous.

"I'm still mad at him though," he grinned at the glare he received, "but I'll drop it for now." He leaned in close to her face and peered around to stare inquisitively at where she had been stamped in place.

"You seem remarkably well considering you were practically squished like a bug." Her brief snort of laughter drew his attention back to her face. She shrugged nonchalantly.

"I thought I felt something crack, honestly, but all I feel now is bruised and mildly relieved…" she sighed very deeply and glanced to where Mizuki was now talking distractedly with Ryō. "anyway, look after Sorrel. I need to do something." Michael spluttered sharply, attempted to say something and stopped when he noticed she'd already left him. Relief filtered through his system. All that time Evelyn had been hiding and faking the real her to cope with reality. Yet it seems a little danger had finally snapped her right back into the driver's seat, even if at best it was shaky in resemblance. He curled the little fox in his arms closer to his heart and, for once, didn't feel the deep sadness of his own loss. He had realised when she went down, what to really keep in focus.

Evelyn ventured towards the two males with a purpose in her step. Once she was within distance, her arms twitched, and she immediately wrapped them around the Shadow with green eyes. Said eyes went impressively wide at the open display of affection and flickered with speed to an amused golden orb for assistance that would not come. He gaped at his friend beneath his mask, awkwardly patting the back of her head as she pulled away. A low rush of air sounded as Ryō was released, only to be sucked back in to choke on as the blue-eyed woman descended on Mizuki instead. He struggled to make any noise other than light sniggering and backed away with his hands up when that same golden orb that denied him help, flickered to his wanting the same. Instead, Mizuki reproached the action and Ryō, gingerly pulling her a little bit closer. The odd tingle of something magical itched his nose with her scent.

"Arigatou. Both of you." Ryō and Mizuki smiled, the former walking off to tend to Michael who was somehow managing an overly playful fox atop of his head.

"It wasn't your fault. No one's actually." She began to ramble, face as light against the soft fabric of his hitatare. "An'…uhm…'bout the name.." this time it was partly muffled, embarrassment flooding her system like a tsunami. Mizuki was, however, too busy trying to figure out why she smelled of pure magic all of a sudden. Eyes dilating at the power within. He took a long audible sniff of her neck and hair. Evelyn jumped back and out of his arms in a shot, flushed, flustered and an accusing finger pointed directly at his face. Her other hand was itching to punch him.

"Did you just sniff me?!?" Mizuki had the briefest moment to let a flash of guilt show before he schooled his face and coughed quietly, if not awkwardly. Ryō had mostly heard it all, so he couldn't help the amused noise that filtered out at his friend's predicament. On the other hand, Michael was too busy hopping around with Sorrel nipping at his legs to even notice anything else around him.

"You smell of magic." Evelyn stuttered out a reply.

"That d-doesn't mean you can s-sniff me!" The male scratched his cheek.

"It was the only way to identify what it was."

"Did you [have] to sniff me, though?" He shrugged gently and folded his arms into his sleeves.

"I suppose not." Evelyn went to open her mouth in retaliation but got interrupted by his continuation instead.

"Would you rather me wait until you bathe?" She choked, Ryō choked and Mizuki grinned mischievously, anger from the battle completely forgotten.

"Gack!" She brushed passed the male with a red face, balled fist tapping him out of the way as he slid back and let her pass. The look Ryō gave him made his lone eye twinkle, because who doesn't expect the fox to be sly and mischievous. His friends blank look said it all as he joined the three of them.

"Really, Mizuki." Ryō groaned.

After some time, to collect and settle themselves, all of their small party was ready to set off again. This time in a much more careful and closely knit formation. Michael had finally calmed Sorrel down to the point that he had curled up around his shoulders to sleep and the brunette had now taken to groaning petulantly about how his ankles were to his sister. Describing the sweet little fur ball as nothing more than a fuzzy ankle biter. Meanwhile Mizuki and Ryō were quietly discussing the current day's events.

"Teh think they'd try somethin' so forthrigh'." The silver streaked male bemoaned, eyes alert and face scrunched up beneath his mask. Mizuki wasn't any better, for the brief twist of focused anger on his face made even Ryō a little wary. Such a strong reaction made little sense to the wandering samurai.

"Whatever foul creature they serve will no doubt be on to us once they relay back to them…" he paused in thought and tilted his white head towards Ryō. "Were they mayhap…a tad afraid? Do you think?"

"Hmm. More like petrified if I av' teh say." He pursed his lips at the answer and heaved a great sigh of annoyance.

"It seems we have more than my kin to deal with." Both men cast a withering glance at each other, then the foreigners and their unusual pet.

"We need to get a home-base, aniki." Ryō shrugged his left shoulder and groaned from the ache. During the fight the silver and black-haired male had sustained a shallow stab wound from a sneak a attack while he had been busy gazing worriedly at his friend, though the man had instantly regretted it once his feet had been swept out from under him.

"Your accent has slipped, Ryō." He snapped his head at a smirking Mizuki.

"Eh?"

"Intense emotions, it seems, pull out your accent." The silver male brought a hand to his mouth to muffle the chuckle as Ryō's eyes widened humourlessly in challenge. "You're quite attached already, no?" Ryō snorted and pointedly ignored the old demon, mumbling incoherently under his breath. "Hmm? You'll have to speak up, I can't hear you." The glare shot his way did nothing but fan the flames of mischief within Mizuki. He smiled fondly at his companion before letting his eyes fall towards the horizon. No doubt, from this point onward things will begin to get harder than ever for them all.

From the changing of the winds of magic, he could feel evil begin to settle and push.