(He brush grabbed…? Dude, this gotta stop, loooooo)
Mamoru nodded his head at Daichi, yet adverted his gaze to Rigel as everyone else went to go to bed. “Are you staying here with Daichi or are you going up with the rest of us?” Who know’s what’ll happen to him if he suddenly decides to show up….
(Looooo, I had been going to say he brushed his hand up against hers but I didn’t like how that was worded so I had been deleting it. I must’ve gotten distracted >_< )
“I…” Rigel looked to Kohaku, giving her hand a small squeeze, “Do you want me to stay?” His hand was slowly getting burned, but he tried desperately to ignore it and remind himself that he was worrying about Kohaku dying, he wasn’t strapped to a metal table in the dark. Not there, I’m not there, I’m safe. I’m here.
Kohaku began to breathe compulsively, her mind still spinning from the icy plunge. “….I….. I…” She stuttered and shuttered, struggling to speak. “….R…..Ri— Rig…. Rigel…..”
Daichi didn’t want to interfere, but he didn’t think he had a choice. “Why don’t we let Kohaku rest up for the night? And you should get some sleep too— you’ve had a stressful day today….” We all did, truthfully…
Rigel gave her hand another squeeze before finally pulling away and giving a nod to Daichi, “Be safe,” He told him, then walked a few steps away from the fire, subtly nursing his burnt hand by pressing it against his abodmen. That familiar pain… Rigel shook the memory away, forcing them downdowndowndown…
(Ooo)
As time progressed, Daichi found it harder and harder to keep himself awake, but Kohaku’s breathing was much smoother and calmer since she had a chance to sleep. “This is the first time in years since an accident like this happened… It’s a miracle that we believe it can still occur.” Help her, Ryuu, He folded his hands together. Bring her back…
Rigel went to the guest room, turning over an over again in his fitful sleep until the light filtered through to signify morning. Rigel slowly sat up, nursing he hand. It hurt even more now, red and irritated.
Kohaku stirred, and Daichi was brought to consciousness. “Kohaku?” He asked to see if she was awake.
“Y—yes?” Her voice was stronger than it has been, but she still sounded a bit weak.
“I’m just checking to see if you’re okay…. How are you feeling this morning?” Daichi approached her, being extremely cautious of the greenish coals, which seemed duller.
“I’m…. fine…” She opened her eyes just enough to see. “W… were you holding my hand…..?”
“Unfortunately no,” He said truthfully.
“Then… who was that??” She was extremely confused.
“….That was Rigel.”
Rigel stretched, standing up and walking into the brisk morning air of the mountains. He pressed his hand to his abdomen, trying his best to ignore the familiar sting as he started his walk back to where Kohaku was.
Kohaku was a bit confused. “I don’t…. I don’t understand…..” She wasn’t sure why a human would care so deeply about any Doku Ningen in general.
Daichi’s stomach growled, and he advertly changed the subject, “…..I’m beginning to get a bit hungry… hopefully the host has something in mind that’s both appetizing and good for you.”
I sure hope so…. She was just about to say something when Rigel appeared at the doorway.
“Uh, hi, are you two doing okay?” Rigel asked as he entered, letting his hand fall to his side but kept it angled away from them in attempt to try to hide the burn. “I’, sure you both need rest… I hope they can provide food for you.” Rigel looked over his shoulder as if the elk would appear at any moment.
Kohaku sighed, her ears twitching a little. “I am….. a… bit hungry myself….” She pulled her tail to her side to stroke it as she usually would. She thought about Rigel holding her hand, and she wasn’t sure what to feel. “I…. where’s everyone….. else?”
“It looked like they were still sleeping…” Rigel trailed off, a little unsure but overall he didn’t know. “It’s early… I can go look for food, if you want me to?” Rigel asked but he was already taking a step towards the door again.
“Well,” Daichi broke into an unpredictable yawn. “Judging from the impression the townsfolk got when they saw you, I bet the host should help you in doing that…. however, I have a feeling that you should stay indoors for the sake of your safety.” He was almost sure that man was getting closer by the minute, and even if he wasn’t, it was always good to be safe just in case.
Kohaku merely closed her eyes to get some lightweight rest before she could be back on her feet again.
Rigel nodded, walking out the door in search of the host. He cradled his hand against his chest now that the prying eyes were gone, taking a deep breath and looking over his shoulder once more.
(Did we nail down whether Peter was going to kidnap some of them or something else was going to happen or…?)
(I feel like it was going to happen, but not right this instance. Maybe a tad bit more down the road.)
The elk came down the stairwell just in time to see Rigel awake. “Did you get a good night’s rest?” He said, getting his attention. “I see that you’re nursing your hand… is something wrong?”
Rigel immediately dropped his hand to his side, paling for a second, “I-I- Yeah, I slept well, uh, there’s nothing wrong…” He pressed his palm flat against his abdomen so the elk wouldn’t see, he wouldn’t know.
He nodded, his leaf twiching. “Very well… I was just about to go out and get some food for you and your friends… and…” He lowered his voice a little, even though everyone in the house knew. “I’m sorry for how Takeo greeted you… it’s been so long since we ever saw a human being….” He approached the door. “I’d advise to stay here, and I’ll get you a robe of some sort. Meanwhile, make sure the fox doesn’t go anywhere— she should at least have something to eat before getting back on her feet.”
“Uh-“ Rigel didn’t know what to say, what could he say? “Thank you, for, uh, helping us.” If they hadn’t been there, Kohaku… she would be… Rigel shook away the morbid thought, nodding in thanks before heading back to Kohaku’s room. He kept his palm pressed against his clothing, knowing that if anyone saw, they’d be instantly worried. Not about the burn, but about the- Rigel took a deep breath, hiding his palm and ignoring the pain.
The elk left the house to go and get the things he promised, while Daichi still waited in the room. He let out an oppressive sigh. “I’m still curious as where to go after this…. we can’t stay here forever….” He noticed Rigel positioning his hand strangely, and he asked, “Is everything okay??” I can heal you if you need it….
“What?” Rigel asked hesitantly, trying to avoid or at least delay the moment, “Everything’s fine.” He told Daichi, chewing his lip and avoiding the man’s eyes. Don’t show him, it will be fine, it will be fine, just don’t let them see what you did…
“If everything was fine, you wouldn’t have your hand like that,” He grunted. “What did you do to your hand? Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.” He’s clearly hiding something…. Daichi didn’t want to be awfully nosey, however, some things just couldn’t go unnoticed.
He tried to put off the moment further, “There’s nothing wrong,” Rigel meant to sound nonchalantly, but it came out more as a squeak. Please don’t look, please, please don’t see…
Daichi really didn’t want to be aggressive. “It’ll just be worse by the time you need to use your hand.”
Kohaku had her eyes closed, but she was still listening. “I…. I… b-burned your h-h-hand…. didn’t I….?”
“No, that’s not it,” Rigel said immediately after Kohaku spoke. He didn’t want her to feel like she was responsible for this, not in any way. This was his hurt to bear, and he was the one that caused it- he needed it.
Daichi was a bit irritated. “If you insist…” I really shouldn’t bug him about it if he doesn’t want to talk about it… He sighed, waiting for the elk to come back into the room, no matter where he was.
Kohaku let out a breath she was holding in. “Is… where’s everyone else??”
“You still need to get some more rest,” He knew she already asked, and he was afraid she was getting some kind of short-term memory loss. “Everyone is either still sleeping or probably out and about, I don’t know.”
(Nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu, Daichi YOU MUST LOOK AT RIGEL”S HAANNNNNNNND
lol, do what u want)
“Don’t worry, Kohaku, food is on it’s way…” Rigel trailed off, pressing his hand flat against his abdomen. (so if someone cough cough were to reach out and grab it… cough lol)
(AAAaaaaaaaa i didn’t know what you wanted!!1 PANIKKKKKKK)
(Lol, ur good Biramisu, Rigel’s being difficult lol)
Daichi gave up on him being preserved and grabbed his hand. “….It’s no use in lying,” He grunted gruffly, staring at the burn. “When you get found out, things can get much worse…”
Kohaku nearly began to cry. “I… it’s my fault…. I… I should’ve…. told you I was getting hotter….”
(There. Jeez, Rigel…. ugh….)
Tears welled in Rigel’s eyes when Daichi looked at his hand. When the small cuts of self harm shown on his palm, open to their eyes. “I- I- I had t-to, it- it- it f-felt like when- like when he h-hurt me- I thought- I thought it was him,” Rigel explained through sobs that started to form. Because late last night when he closed his eyes, he thought he was back in Peter’s room, he thought that the burn was on fire. So he gave himself a different kind of pain.
