Embers || Ikemen Revolution || Sirius

Chapter 18 ~ Bubbles

"Careful, Chutney," I said as I watched the little racoon wash the curtains with me. She was too distracted by the soap bubbles to remember to scrub. I feel that way all the time.

It was the next day, since Sirius was gone all afternoon yesterday. I had decided I wanted to wash the curtains today, help out a little! And Chutney came to join me.

Chutney squeaked in response, waving a clawed hand at the bubbles that floated into the air.

I giggled a bit, turning back to the scrubbing. Seeing that I was back to scrubbing, Chutney did the same thing, copying me. I wouldn't want to force her to help me wash the curtains, but she refused to do anything else.

And being out in the open, I can let the mostly empty Magic Crystal recharge. Maybe I'll get it to full charge this time before I use it all up. It's charging slowly, but surely.

Instead of leaving it in my pocket today, I decided to put it outside, bathing in the sun. There weren't many people out to notice the glimmering stone anyways, other than Chutney, who was very curious at first.

Chutney squeaked when she saw that I had gotten distracted and stopped scrubbing, as if telling me to get back to work. "Okay, okay," I giggled, rubbing Chutney's forehead with my elbow. "I'm working, I'm working!"

Chutney seemed to smile at me as she squeaked, getting back to her end of the curtains as well. At this rate, we might be able to finish pretty soon!

"What are you up to, little lady," I suddenly heard a familiar voice ask, right as a big shadow fell over me.

I looked up to see Sirius smiling at me from above. I was crouched down on the floor after all.

"Hey there," I beamed up at him.

Chutney squeaked in response, holding up the curtains as if showing him that she's working and helping out. I giggled as the racoon scrubbed the soap against the fabric, hard, creating a bunch of bubbles that flew up into the air.

"Chutney is a really smart girl," I said, watching the little racoon chase the bubbles. "Chutney, do you want me to finish up your work?"

Chutney seemed to shriek in shock before hurrying back and scrubbing again.

I looked back up at Sirius' smiling face. "Yes, she really is a smart little girl." But there seemed to be something hidden in his gaze that I can't quite place.

It probably wasn't anything important.

I turned back to my scrubbing, Chutney doing the same thing. It was quiet for a moment.

"Pff." Sirius held a hand over his face as he watched me.

"What," I asked, looking up at the tall guy. "What's so funny?" Chutney turned to cock her head at Sirius as well, her little fingers still clutching the soapy fabric.

At that, Sirius burst out laughing.

"Is my way of washing weird," I asked, feeling a tiny bit self conscious.

"Yeah, it's weird," Sirius said, wiping away a tear. "I don't know where you came from, but around here, it's not really normal to see a racoon wash the curtains."

I looked at Chutney, and couldn't help but giggle as well.

"By the way, what is this?"

I froze for a moment as Sirius picked up the Magic Crystal that I was still charging.

"Oh, um," I hid my face in my hair. "Blanc gave it to me," I said carefully. "I was studying magic, cause I wanted to learn how to use it. It just seems so, uh, interesting and fun!"