Day 5, LN - Growing Close

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku gives a little squeak of surprise as the Dragon lifts her up. But she does not resist, not even passively by going slack. Instead, she puts her arms around Naida as best as the armor will allow, pulls herself closer in.

Safe, she thinks.

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Don't worry," the Dragon says softly, "I will put you down once the ground is firm, my lovely Yuuwaku-san~"

She carries Yuu the rest of the way to the outskirts of the village before walking with her back to the Blue Bird House, being a bit more proper since they were in town now, especially here outside the Crane embassy.

"We made it. Now you can get dry and rest up. Do you want me to watch over you?"

Naida got the impression Yuuwaku might be a bit nervous about possibly walking off again... with how she'd been back at the beach.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"I think..."

I do, she thinks. But can...

"Yes," she says, quietly, somewhere between shy and ashamed and eager.

[Kitsuki Naida]

Naida gives a small nod and a smile, "All right, let me take this off again..."

Off came the helmet and breastplate, Naida tucking them under her arm, "Now, that should be good. Let us head up, and I will make sure you are safe and warm and dry."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku nods quietly and leads Naida up. The staff still awake look on with bleary eyes as she does, and Yuuwaku simply looks at them until they look away.

Once in the room, Yuuwaku turns and bows to Naida. "Again, thank you," she says.

[Kitsuki Naida]

Naida leaned in and kissed Yuuwaku's forehead, where her jewels usually were when she was all dressed up, "Of course. Now, get changed into something dry and I'll make your futon then find a place for myself. You've had a long night, and I'll keep watch over you until the day repeats or the sun comes up."

Of course, it would be the latter, but Naida didn't know that yet.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Bidden as she has not been since she was a little girl, Yuuwaku nods and does so. Out of habit, she steps behind a screen to strip down and put on a sleeping robe, hangs her kimono to dry. Her motions are slow, controlled, but clearly speaking fatigue of a long day and brush with watery death.

Clearly.

[Kitsuki Naida]

Naida sets up the frumpled futon back to a neat state, the sleepwalker not having been so careful as to slip out gracefully. That set up she found a spot against the wall and assumed a sort of relaxed stance, leaned back against the stone wall of the outside of the building with legs extended. She did watch the clothes appear and disappear on the screen with a small smile, the sort of ritual of it all a nice change after all the strangeness.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku emerges, sees Naida standing for vigil. She walks over, kisses her on the cheek, whispers "Thank you" in her ear. "You are an excellent friend--more, but I do not know the word to call you."

[Kitsuki Naida]

Naida gives a light smile.

"I do not know the word either, but I know the sentiment, so thank you."

She cups Yuuwaku's face briefly, "You look exhausted. If you need anything else though, just say so. Otherwise, I'll make sure you're not disturbed, okay?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku blinks slowly, smiles somewhat sleepily.

"That will be nice," she says, "But you have to be tired, too?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

"A bit. I'll take a nap after the sun comes up or such. Don't worry too much about it, okay?"

If Naida had thought to bring her pipe, she might have taken it out at this point without thinking about it. Fortunately, she had not.

"If I get too tired, I'll order some tea up."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Okay," Yuuwaku says just before a yawn overtakes her.

"Excuse me," she says. "I think I probably should get some sleep."

[Kitsuki Naida]

Crawling forward, Naida helps tuck Yuu in.

"...you look pretty with your hair down too, you know that? A-Anyways..."

She clears her throat and looks away, "I'll be over at the window. If you need me."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Always...going to need you..." Yuuwaku says softly. "...thinks I'm pretty..."

And soon, very soon, her breath settles into the pattern of sleep, and her body is otherwise still.

[Kitsuki Naida]

Naida watched Yuu drift off before quietly heading back to the window. Rather than sit this time she leaned back on the mostly closed window, half sitting on the sill with her hands next to her. She was concerned for the Crane woman, but hopefully everything would be okay from here on out...

/scene

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

(Thank you!)