Kodama forests's Curse

Two years later

The door knocked assertivley, and Kayleigh jumped to her feet. Today was the day. Sprinting down the hallway toward the door, she was bursting at the seams with nervousness and excitement. Her brother was finally home. She threw the door open, and gestured for Dauirmuid to come in. He now had much neater hair, and he was wearing his familliar favourite clothes. They both hugged and sat down together, there was some awkward tension in the moment since they fought.
"Hey.. about the argument." Dauirmuid began.
"Water under the bridge."
"Okay."
"...So we're not allowed to talk about-"
"Never, for the sake of our lives."
"Right." Then there was more silence.
"Actually, on that topic; what did you tell Mum when I left?"
"Oh.. that actually took some really creative thinking." She said. "I told her you got a job in Derry and you were staying there for a while. And you could never call because you were working so hard."
"..Really? She thought I worked in Derry for two years?"
"Well, I'd pretend that I called you when I was out."
"Then what was your excuse for me not visiting you?"
"You won't beleive this. She didn't even ask!" They both laughed together, Dauirmuid felt rather upset she didn't ask about his wellbeing. But they never really had that kind of relationship anyways.
"...So now that you're back, will you be staying?"
"I don't think so."
"Oh, why?"
"Well, I'm 21 now. I think it's good I've made a life with someone so early on, and I wanted to keep that up."
"Aww, who's the lucky girl?" Dauirmuid turned around.
"Girl?" He said.
"Yeah?"
"Remember Lexi?" Kayleigh put her hand over her mouth.
"You two? I didn't know you liked men."
"He actually really wanted to meet you, if that wouldn't ruin our renunion?"
"Yeah, I'd like to meet him too."
"Okay then." Dauirmuid picked up his bag and took out a pen. "Now, this classifies as something we don't talk about. He just really wanted to do this."
"Do what?" Dauirmuid didn't reply, instead he threw the pen into the air, and when the pen landed on the floor it became a man. Kayleigh leaned forward in her seat in amazement as Lexi stood up and faced her.
"Hello! Nice to finally meet you!" He was slightly out of breath by the sound of his voice, he then stuck out his hand for Kayleigh to shake.
"How- how did you do that?!"
"He's somewhat like me, you know.. ghost wise."
"Ohh. Impressive." She stood up and shook Lexi's hand. "You want to sit down?"
"Yeah sure, please. It hurt like heck to be that small for so long." He sat down next to Dauirmuid.
"Could you.. like, hear us when you were a pen?" Kayleigh asked.
"Nice to meet you too." Lexi replied.
"...Is it.. serious between you two?"
"Not extremely serious really, we kiss sometimes-"
"We kiss all the time." Interrupted Dauirmuid, in the attempt to panic Lexi. Suprisingly he went with it.
"Yes we do. But nothing much more than that."
"Alright then." Then they sat together for a while longer, waiting for one of the others to say something.
"Can I get you guys anything?"
"No thanks." Dauirmuid said.
"And I don't really have to eat." Lexi added.
"'kay." Then there was more silence.
"So how long will you be staying?"
"When does mum get home?"
"Around seven."
"I'd say around then. Better to not see her at al honestly."
"I'll tell her you said hi?"
"Okay, thanks."
"So... what do you want to do while you're here?"
"Just wanted to catch up."
"Alright... how was wherever you went?"
"We went to live at my apartment in Florida."
"Florida? Whoa, was it nice?"
"It was pretty cool. We sometimes went out and did.. the... the thing." Dauirmuis gestured to his hands, but it didn't really make sense to Kayleigh.
"No need for details."
"Wait- no not that thing! We did yokai things." Lexi interrupted. He didn't like people thinking of him like that.
"I can only assume so many things of yokai, that doesn't narrow it down to anything." She mocked, Lexi was seriously flustered and had his hands over his face.
"Hey, calm down. She's joking." Dauirmuid tried to comfort him. "What about you? How was Ireland while I was away?"
"Eh, same old, same old." She said. "I got a job as well, and I'm in a relationship now."
"Ah. Good for you."
"Thanks, you too."

After more silence, catching up and jokes they said farewell again. Dauirmuid gave Kayleigh his new contact information and they went on their way. Kayleigh had missed him surprisingly, it was nice to see her brother again. As annoying or stubborn as he was back then.
It was quite dark really early, so whilst Dauirmuid and Lexi were flying they got to see the Belfast lights again. They were brighter than ever seemingly.
"I hope we can come back again soon, it's so pretty up here." Lexi said, in awe.
"Yeah, I missed this."
"..Well, away we go then." Lexi then turned a different direction.
"W-wait. America is east, is it not?" Dauirmuid asked.
"America? We're going to see Emerson!"
"Emerson?"
"Yeah, you know? The person that avenged your humanity? We're all the way in Ireland so might as well pay them a visit."
"Good point, well, away to Japan!"

Emerson was better than ever. They had taken the place of William since he died, and was doing well. They wasn't nearly as cruel as William was, so the residents were much happier. And Lexi was able to enter or leave whenever he wanted, since there were no longer any laws against kitsunes in their territory. Lexi and Dauirmuid stayed for the night in a guest room that seemed to just manifest itself in and out of Emerson's little house. When morning came they took a walk around the small forest and left for America.

"Well, that was quite the journey. Wasn't it?"
"Yeah, I can finally talk to my family again as well. I couldn't ask for anything better."
"That's so cute, you care about your mum and sister so much."
"You think so?"
"Of course." The two sat together on the sofa in each other's arms. They both knew that this could end at any point, but that made this all the more thrilling.
"Hey?"
"Yeah?"
"..I love you."
"Thats a but out of the blue.. but I love you too."
Their relationship is thought to have been long and healthy, a happily ever after if you will. Their love was a huge point in yokai history, for there was never before a couple of different ghost species. But that's far from the most amazing thing about their relationship. Rather, it was how such a love can grow from a simple call for help.

The end