Switches & Spices

Chapter Ten

TW: Scars

"You're welcome, Izu."

Warmth. Slowly drifting, swaying here and there, feeling like I was wrapped in a cocoon of earthy cinnamon-scented warmth and comfort that kept my worries and nightmares away.

The faint sounds of voices hit my ears, though I retreated into the warmth, desperately trying to hold onto it, not ready to leave the bubble of safety. When was the last time I had felt this safe and secure in my sleep? I couldn't recall. There was a pull...

I had to wake up. I was snatched from the warm safety, unable to fight it any longer, my eyes snapping open and coming to consciousness with a jerk of my legs. I wanted to lash out in anger of being pulled from my safe warmth, though my vision caught carmine eyes, the knowledge of who they belonged to calming me down again immediately. Then, the sensation of a hand moving from my forehead, a shallow sigh escaping me.

"Shu..." A small mumble of my friend's nickname, I glanced to the side, seeing her worried violet eyes, a tight smile on her face as she shifted from concerned to relieved.

"Hey, sis. Took you a bit to come out of that one. His arms must be reeeeeeeally comfy, huh?" Her thin smile turned in a smirk, and it took me a minute to catch on, my cheeks suddenly flushed red. I looked back up to Eijiro, not missing the tint of pink to his cheeks, Mana snickering a little at the sight.

"You, uh... Good to be on the ground now, Izumi? Shu here was all worried, thought she was going to attack me when she saw me carrying you." His uncertain tone made me snort, and I nodded slightly, groaning as he lowered me to standing slowly, hand on his sturdy arm to keep myself steady.

I was still half-asleep, my muscles slow to respond for a moment. I glanced around blearily, rubbing at my ey- aviators, before moving them up to my hair, rubbing my eyes. Ah, he had carried me into the shop. That's right.

"Thank you, Eijiro... And yeah, she's a softy though, don't let that exterior fool ya." I peeked back to Mana, watching her raise an eyebrow, daring me to say any more. Though Eiji's laughter made both of us look back to him, seeing his brilliant grin on display.

"Oh, I had a feeling... Best friend's the same way. Maybe once you get massages set up, I'll send him over! Think he'd actually go for it if it's with someone like him. Maybe. The guy needs a dozen sessions... I keep telling him that self-care is manly, but does he listen? Noooo..." I snickered a little, shaking my head.

Oh jeez, someone like Mana too? Maybe I'd find a way to be out of the store for that... And hide the more expensive breakable stuff. Surely the mortar and pestle should be safe? Halfway joking, of course, she was able to handle herself damn well. Wouldn't be my friend without it. And a friend of Eijiro's surely wasn't that bad.

"Oh, you told him about the massages? Yeah, should be a few days, but I might take him early. Should get the table in the morning. Ooh, does he need an adjustment too? I'll be magnanimous and give a Fiery Asshole discount." Mana's grin was suddenly just as bright, excited surprisingly. It piqued my curiosity, but I heard Eiji's booming laughter before I could poke fun at it, remembering suddenly that he had to go back.

"Shit, you should head back. I'm sorry, probably wasted time... Oh, here, send yourself a message so we've got each other's numbers. I wanna make sure you get back without anything happening, and if anything happens during the shift..." I tugged my phone out of my pocket, unlocking it and opening up the text message screen, holding it out to him. He hesitated before taking it, tapping out a message and inputting the number, making sure it sent to his phone with a glance.

"Okay. I'll send you a text when I get there, and uh... Make sure to get rest, and eat something, yeah? Promise me? I'm sure that healing took a lot of energy. You sure you're good now?" He handed me back my phone, and I nodded, smiling up to him before reaching up to gently pat his warm cheek with my right hand as I had before I took to the skies, careful of the claws still attached.