Crippled

Chapter 7

Asama-oneesama." Issei said hesitantly, a question mulling over in his mind for the past half hour now, distracting him from his scribbling. "Are you a youkai?"

"Youkai?" She repeated, tilting her head thoughtfully, face scrunched up in concentration. "Hmm. I suppose that in some definitions, I would fit the term, though I've never really referred to myself as such. What brought this question on Issei-kun?"

"It's just…well, there was kinda an attack on me the other day and it was looking for me specifically." He explained, rubbing the back of his left arm absently, remembering the random spasms it experienced throughout the past week.

Asama's eyes immediately narrowed. "How would you say that? Did it know your name?" She asked sharply.

'This must be more serious than I thought.' Issei realized. "Well not by name, but it asked for the magician. Maybe it was someone else?" He offered awkwardly, knowing that there was no way in hell that was true but asking all the same.

"No." Asama closed her eyes and suddenly she seemed so much more burdened now, like she aged a couple of years in front of Issei's eyes. "I'm sure they were looking for you. What's more, I'm sure they were looking for you because of me. And for that, I'm sorry Issei-kun, I truly am." She bowed low, placing her hands on her lap, hair hiding her features. "I never intended for you, or anyone, to get caught up in my own troubles. It's such an embarrassment, looking at it now."

"D-Don't worry." Issei glanced to the side, scratching his cheek. "I mean, it was terrifying don't get me wrong." He admitted, remembering the feeling of terror he had felt when he had faced that oni. At the same time, he recalled that moment of pure exhilaration, of actually testing his magic against a true threat without a safety net to back him up. It was a strangely cathartic experience, empowering too. "But it was also pretty cool to know I could do something like that too." He continued with a small, if exhausted, grin. "Would've preferred if it weren't that sudden, but I guess it did some good for me anyways. After all, maybe He has a plan for me." He added jokingly, an inside joke between himself and a girl halfway across the world.

"Are you religious Issei-kun?" Asama blinked in surprise, tilting his head at him. "I'm sorry, but I've never pegged you as the type."

"No, it was just...nevermind." Issei sighed, dropping the joke and moving on to another topic. "Oh right, because of that oni attack, I'm going to Kyoto with Leviathan-san and Kaichou soon, do you want me to bring you anything?"

Asama's cup shattered in her hand.

Issei flinched.

"A-Asama-neesama?" He asked cautiously, a circle forming in his mind by instinct. "I-Is everything okay?"

She turned to him and, for a single instant, her eyes, usually so warm and carried within them a teasing light, was cold and utterly pissed off.

Issei's breath stuck in his throat, every single one of his instincts shouting at him, demanding that he get away now before the thing in front of him decides that it wanted to hurt him, his own self realizing, knowing that he'd have no way to defend himself if the thing attacked in earnest.

Asama blinked, and the moment passed, her looking down at the broken glassware with slight distress.

"O-oh. It seems I've let myself get the best of me." She picked up a particularly large shard, holding it up to her eyes with a sigh. "Such a waste of good tea." She muttered sadly, gathering the shards and placing them on the table. "Please wait here while I get something Issei-kun." She waved a hand over the spilled liquid and causing it to disappear, standing up in the same motion.