Nyanko da! (ft Natsume): A Brothers Conflict Fanfic

Omake: The Path to Enlightenment (Part 2) (ft. Kaname)

My room is just the way I left it, so I feel right at home again. It would've been nice to eat with the others, but with all that's been going on I think it's best that I take this time for myself. Buddhist training can boost one's spiritual health, though it can be hard not to miss the comforts of one's own home.

In particular, memories of home flood through me. Some of them good, some bad. Either way, they're familiar to me, and that alone makes me smile.

Part of me wants to try contacting Iori now that I'm back, but I refrain from reaching for my old mobile phone, which lies void of battery on my desk. I know for a fact I won't end up calling him, but a small voice in my head wonders that if I did, would he pick up?

As my inner thoughts begin to leak out I hear a knock on the door.

"Kyo-nii, I said I could handle the dishes myself. Or, is this your way of showing you're worried about me after all?" I tease as I cross the room toward the genkan.

I open the door, and who else stands there but Tsukiyo Mai.

She's clearly uncomfortable, but she holds out a steaming cup of green tea.

"From Ukyo-san," she says shortly.

She says that, but why is she the one delivering it, then?

I put on a smile. "Oh? You have my gracious thanks. I shall happily accept the tea given to me by a lovely lady like yourself." I reach out to take the cup. The heat scalds my palms, but I pay it no mind.

Mai drops her hands to her sides, and I brace myself for her hasty retreat. Yet she surprises me once again by keeping rooted in place. I tilt my head in confusion. I was under the impression that I made her uncomfortable. Why is she staying behind?

"Mai-san?"

"I'm sorry," she blurts out. She lowers her head in a deep apology.

All words freeze on my tongue. Speechlessness is not a state I enjoy being in, but I can't help it.

"W-Whatever are you apologizing for?" I ask.

Mai raises her head a little to meet my gaze directly. Her face flushes a slight pink. "I'm sorry for being rude earlier. I–I'm not used to being around so many people. I lived alone before coming to stay here. Oh, but I won't be here much longer, really."

I seem to have underestimated my imouto-chan's friend.

"Think nothing of it," I say warmly. I raise my hand to pat her head. She tenses but doesn't pull away. "Yu-chan told me a little of what happened. I can only imagine how hard it must have been. Not being able to go back to where one call's home is so very sad, indeed. I hope you don't lose heart, though. My little sister invited you to stay, so she must treasure you very much. In fact, my brothers seem quite taken with you. There is no need to worry about imposing on us. We are glad to have you."

"Even so," Mai says under her breath. A storm of sorts swirls in her eyes. It's hardly the most intense thing I've ever seen, but still.

"What are you worried about?" I ask her. There's a chance she won't answer at all, but there's no harm in asking.

As expected, Mai's guard is raised and she straightens up again.

"Sometimes it helps to have an outside perspective," I say. "I haven't been here for a while, so perhaps I can lend an unbiased ear to you."

"Hm." Her mouth curves into a frown, but I can tell she's considering it.

"It seems I left a bad impression. I apologize for that," I say, conceding. "It was never my intention to make your stay anything less than pleasant."