“Not bad...” Kumari admitted, still panting. “For someone used to practice with his sister.”
“For your information?” Ichimaru threw him a gourd full of water. “She hits harder than you.”
They laughed together. They were exhausted from almost an hour fighting each other without pause, and now rested under the shade of two trees, their swords lying on the ground. Both had more than a cut from the other’s blade, Kumari’s right sleeve was slightly ripped by the dog demon’s claws, and Ichimaru had taken more than a punch during the brawl, but it was nothing two demons couldn’t handle.
“Wow, this practice sure made me tense. Hey, Kumari! Sing something for me to relax!”
“Shut up!”, he shouted, and almost hit Ichimaru’s face with the gourd.
“You know I’m sorry about that day. I didn’t mean to disrespect you and your family. I was just too pissed off…”
“I know... It’s alright.” Kumari assented, smiling. Ichimaru had his way softening someone’s heart with a joke before asking for apologies. “Let’s call it even.”
“For what?”
“You slew the monster that killed my father. I never thanked you for that.”
Ichimaru waved his head, smiling.
“Think nothing of it…”
They remained in silence for a while, watching the sunset. Kumari took a deep breath, enjoying the peaceful feeling that flooded his heart. He gave vent to all his anger while fighting Ichimaru, and Kumari knew that the dog demon had purposely let him land some punches he could have dodged easily. Although he was never going to admit it, the bear demon felt grateful to him. Even though annoying, the constant taunts had put him in touch with his feelings. Ichimaru was just like that; no mask could last long around him.
As if he had guessed his thoughts, the silver-haired demon turned to him.
“I wanted to ask you for some time… Be honest, what’s with you and Sazume?”
“What?!” Kumari blushed immediately. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, come on… ‘Please, keep it! It belonged to my mother’. ‘Oh, no, you should give it to someone special’. ‘That’s what I’m doing’!”
“Shut up…”
Ichimaru burst out laughing, seeing how uneasy the young noble was with the subject.
“You’re so in love with her…”
“Ichimaru, don’t talk about what you don’t know! Love… It’s not something that just happens; it’s something you build in time, something you grow. I barely know her.”
He laughed again.
“You talk about feelings like you can control them! You’re wrong… Sometimes, they just pop out of nowhere. You can’t explain, you just accept it… Or spend the rest of your life afraid of the things you’re feeling. You’re not afraid, are you, Kumari?”
“Alright!!! I admit it! I like her, okay?! Happy, now?”
“Yeah...” Kumari didn’t hide his surprise. “I mean, if you get just one step closer to her, I WILL have to kick your ass. But, at least, you’re a nice guy.”
And, as if nothing had been said, Ichimaru just put himself up and said he was off to get some food. It was getting late, and they needed to rest before hitting the road on the following day.
Kumari looked discreetly at the dog demon, puzzled, before lying down under the tree’s crown. He asked himself if he could call that a friendship. Once more, Ichimaru had forced him to admit something he didn’t have to courage to talk about before, and again he was grateful to him.
It was true. There wasn’t one single day he wouldn’t think about her.
