Eitsu's Nine Lives (永津の九生) [yuri/GL yokai reincarnation story]

11 - Eitsubyou no Mikoto

"Hey, Tsu-chan, where are you going?"

No response. Eitsu continued to trot blithely behind the silent dancer without taking it personally.

Ayame was very offended. By Eitsu. "Tsubaki-dono, who is this rude boy? Did you fall for his pretty looks? Don't be fooled! Anyway, he's kind of angular, skinny, and he's shorter than you, he's not really so pretty after all! There are better..." She rambled on in this manner for a while without either Eitsu or Tsubaki responding. 

At last, Tsubaki ran out of energy. In her tiredness, she tripped not long after they left Yùhǎi. Eitsu caught her. 

"Tell me where you're going," she said, picking Tsubaki up easily.  The scene was a little funny, given their height differences, but she showed no strain. Ayame looked scandalised.

"Tsubaki-dono! This... this... WHO IS THIS PERSON?"

"... my pet," Tsubaki retorted.

"Her pet!" Eitsu echoed.

Ayame stared with her mouth open. "Tsu- Tsubaki-dono... You were that kind of person?"

"And you-" Tsubaki flicked Eitsu's forehead. Eitsu could only flinch since her hands were full. "Why are you following me?"

"Why not?"

Another flick. Eitsu's eyes watered, but she didn't repent.

Tsuabki sighed. "I'm tired."

"Then let's find somewhere to rest."

"I'm most tired of you."

"... sorry about that."

"What... what is your relationship really?" Ayame begged, her eyes spinning with confusion.

"Be respectful," Tsubaki ordered.

"Aw, Tsu-chan-"

"You don't know what this weirdo will do to a silly little girl like you when she's in the mood."

"..."

How does such an exquisite beauty manage to offend everyone present with a single sentence?

Eitsu plodded along meekly until they found a soft patch of grass where Tsubaki could sit and have her foot examined. It turned out she had twisted it during the fight with Rei, but stubbornly said nothing at the time. Now her ankle was swollen and hot. The medicinal tea she had drunk earlier had helped to boost her energy a little, but all the walking had hurt the foot further.

Ayame pushed Eitsu to once side and fussed over the injured limb, anxiously pulling out the herbs that Yuān Yì Fēng had given them and examining them one by one. "What is this one? This one smells weird, is it even safe? And this...?"

Eitsu slid past and picked up Tsubaki's delicate foot. The owner of the foot narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Ayame flapped about in panic but didn't dare to push Eitsu away again, as Tsubaki might be hurt even more.

"I seem to remember..." Eitsu said, looking at the foot thoughtfully, "... that I had a certain power..."

Tsubaki continued to frown, but then a sudden realisation came to her. "Wait... you're not...!"

Eitsu licked her ankle.

Tsubaki froze.

Ayame screamed.

The ankle healed.

In the next instant, both Ayame and Tsubaki had seized Eitsu by the collar of her robe with expressions of murder. She lifted her hands placatingly. "Hey, hey, I fixed it, didn't I?"