Side Story Shinobu POV: Wilted But Not Withered (2)

"Not that it matters, but why do you care what he thinks?"

"I don't know. I guess I'm just afraid of making a mistake. If I get kicked out of this cave, then I'll really have nowhere to go."

"I wouldn't worry about that." Inari chuckles.

"Why not?"

"That arrogant boy is always trying to save the day. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if something happened to you."

"Why? He barely even knows me."

"I'm sure he doesn't quite understand it either." Inari muses.

"What?" Shinobu asks. Inari floats wistfully through the air as she puts her thoughts together.

"How are you feeling?"

"What?"

"Right now, what exactly are you feeling? Describe it as precisely as possible."

"Umm, confused mostly. I'm still a little embarrassed because I had an accident, but I'm feeling good." A small smile grows across her face as the young girl thinks through her current situation.

"Are those your emotions?"

"Yes? Why wouldn't they be?"

"How would you know if they weren't yours?" Inari presses forward while ignoring Shinobu's question.

"I… don't know."

"So you may be feeling someone else's emotions and just don't know it."

"No, These are my emotions! I'm feeling safe because I got away! I survived!" Shinobu shouts.

"Trauma, interesting. I'll get to that later but let's focus on one thing at a time. How would you react if you were struck with an emotion that clearly was not one of your own?"

"I told you, I don't know."

"I don't either, but I believe Nick does."

"What are you talking about?"

"That day, he put himself out there to try and save you. How were you feeling?" Inari flies in close to watch Shinobu as she responds.

"Scared, everything felt hopeless. I was trapped."

"And how was Nick feeling?" Shinobu looks up as she thinks back to that day. She pictures the all too familiar terror in the boy's eyes. It was as if she were looking at a mirror."

"He was scared," Shinobu replies after a moment's hesitation.

"And did he have any reason to be scared at that moment? Was there anything in the area that was threatening or shocking him?"

"No, we were just sitting in class."

"So, we have an instance where he was clearly feeling an emotion that wasn't his own. If he was scared without having a trigger or a cause of that terror, then it had to be coming from somewhere else."

"He was feeling my emotions?" Shinobu asks as she tilts her head to one side.

"It's only a hunch, but I think it's a reasonable explanation. Something similar happened when he and I first met, and I've caught glimpses of it several times since then."

"He feels other people's emotions?"

"I should clarify that this isn't anything particularly unusual. I've been watching you humans for many years, and I've noticed how well you can empathize with others under the right circumstances. You humans are inexorably linked with each other whether you want to be or not. One person can come in and brighten a whole room or kill the mood by misspeaking. Picking up on other people's emotions is a cornerstone of how humans interact with each other.

From what I've seen of Nick, he appears to experience these sensations more intensely. It's almost as if he gets infected by the emotions of the people around him."

"…" Shinobu stares in confusion at the leader of the fairies.

"Again, this is just a theory, and it obviously doesn't happen all the time, but I see hints of it occasionally. In fact, it happened the first time we met. He and a bunch of other young humans were running from some giant monsters in the forest."

"I remember that!" Shinobu shouts as she jumps up excitedly.

"Yes, I forgot you were there with them." Inari muses. "Woohee and I were exploring a cave when a boy fell through the ceiling, trapping her. I was hoping they'd leave so I could rescue Woohee without them noticing, but she cried out for help which drew their attention. I stayed close behind them and held back the urge to run and save her.

Much to my surprise, Nick walked up and helped her with the same gentleness I would've used when treating her. Ha, seeing the smile on his face while he was talking to her made me think I was looking at my own reflection. And then, when the boy he was with suggested killing her, he took the words right out of my mouth. It was as if he pulled out the rage boiling up in my stomach and spit it out himself.

"Wasn't Nick just being helpful?" Shinobu asks.

"Maybe so, but the similarity in our emotions was uncanny. He also has a tendency to mirror the posture of others. Look how he's standing the next time you see him, and you'll see." Shinobu tilts her head as she thinks over Inari's suggestion. The leader of the fairies continues. "Then there was your situation. You both had the same terror on your faces when you entered my woods that night?"

"We did?"

"Yes, I also find it interesting how much he changes his demeanor when talking to Josh. It's as if he feels comfortable taking the mask off and just speaking bluntly."

"His mask? You mean he's faking all of it?" Shinobu pulls her arms in at the thought of being manipulated by another man.

"No, I'd say he tends to mold himself around others. Honestly, I think he does it just because he wants to make people more comfortable." Shinobu drops her shoulders slightly at Inari's response.

"So, you don't think he's dangerous?"

"That's the big question, isn't it? Despite how much I've talked to him, I still don't know what he's after. Why help us fairies or save you? I can say it's because he felt we both needed help, but that doesn't explain how it would benefit him."

"I'm scared…." Shinobu curls her body up and holds her legs to her chest.

"You should be; you're currently in a forest filled with some of the most dangerous monsters on the peninsula. You'd be a fool not to be worried."

"That's not what I–"

"I know what you meant, but I'm saying you have much bigger concerns than the intentions of that annoying little boy. For now, he's your ally. I can assure you that."

"Okay," Shinobu replies softly.

"Now, you still have some time before the others come back? Is there anything you want to do in the meantime?"

"Um, could you teach me about magic?" Shinobu asks as she looks up at Inari with big puppy dog eyes.

"You…" Inari pauses for a moment before responding. "To think I'd have to deal with another annoying child."

"Is that a yes?" Shinobu perks up excitedly.

"Fine, but I'll only teach you a bit. I don't need you running to the humans and teaching them all my tricks."

"Yay!"

"Yes, yes, now come over here so we can get started."

"Yes, sensei!"