Tidal Florette - A Painted Soul I

Kaiya - 23

Watching the haunting display of skeletal frames gliding over then dipping beneath the surface, humming in discordant song with each other, loses its novelty after several hours of uneventful sailing. Another day following the herd passes. The sunlight fading from the sky gives Kaiya enough reason to return below desk and risk running into Inei. Still not an inkling of our true destination, but at least we're on the way.

Michi will be relieved from the helm by one of of the other maidens soon, Kaiya gives her a moments glance to confirm she'll follow before descending the stairs. Every time she looks into Michi's eyes, she feels an anxiety hinging between eager excitement and a crushing guilt. Her excitement she understands, the attraction is natural and having the comfort of a companion in the night eases the journey. The guilt, on the other hand, has become more complicated each day. With only a week passing since Yumi's death, Kaiya can't help but feel like she's betraying her even further by stepping directly into a new relationship. Yet there is also guilt that her mind constantly wandering back to Yumi is unfair to Michi, who has been wonderfully supportive and understanding of Kaiya's need to grieve. I'll always want her back... maybe it's part of the curse, maybe it's just love... but I'll always wish I could be hers again.

Kaiya is also anxious that whatever curse was placed on her may pass on to someone else, if it was her intimacy with Yumi that imparted the influence in the first place. Chances are Inei is just pressing for details for his sordid imagination to utilize behind closed doors... Although, that is when her eyes glowed the most... Michi has never mentioned my own eyes glowing, so I couldn't be using whatever power Yumi had by accident... Even so, Inei's lack of assistance with her understanding the curse that's been placed on her has made her all the more wary of what it could do to others. The most he's revealed is that it makes her 'vulnerable to the clutches of darkness' and therefore it's all the more crucial she listen to his guidance. Sounds like an excuse to keep me in line, does he really think he can pull this shit with an Endo? I'm sure marrying me is fantastically helpful for his political purposes, but does he think just because I'm a woman I'll let him leash me into submission?

Stepping into her cabin, she is relieved to have made it through the halls without an encounter with her husband. She's made all the effort to reestablish the pleasantries since the tension over her taking the helm, even though Michi has let her practice more while they're sure Inei is preoccupied. As far as she can tell, Inei has let the incident go and is slowly offering her more information of the situation. The destination remains unknown, anything on his sword is a mystery, but it's becoming clearer he has major plans for this 'honeymoon'. He's begun musing over his distaste for the Dawnthrone and the Empress' colluding with the night-fueled reapers have arisen, making Kaiya suspicious that the Ignited Temple is mobilizing. I'm genuinely unsure which party my father would sooner support. The Dawnthrone is dedicated to the high god, as we are, but if the Empress has veered from that loyalty then I suppose we're no longer bound to them... At the same time... I will never swear my loyalty to Inei... and if the council is anything like him I have no interest in assisting them...

A light knock at her door breaks her out of the spiral of circular conclusions. Michi steps into the room quietly, latching the door behind her and turning to let out a shocked gasp as Kaiya catches her with a kiss. Her lips are soft as silk, warmed by the heat of her breath. Kaiya pulls her close and speaks softly, "I wanted to thank you... for dealing with me... I'm going to try not to drink tonight" She immediately recoils inside over that commitment. "As much."

Michi laughs, eyes sparkling as her cheeks flush with mild shyness. "You can drink as much as you like, I'm honored to be here for you."

Kaiya pulls away slightly with concern, "Is that all this is? Another responsibility of yours imposed by that foul-minded snake down the hall?"