Tenmiko One-shots

Take care of yourself

AU: POST-GAME

A dim glow abruptly woke Tenko from her sleep. She shifted slightly, propping herself up on one elbow as she looked around disoriented, her mind grappling to remember where she was while the remnants of sleep still fogged her thoughts. Squinting in the room's semi-darkness, it took her a moment to realize she was in Himiko's apartment.

Across the room, she noticed her girlfriend at the desk, hunched over her laptop, her fingers moving swiftly over the keyboard. The laptop screen, the room's sole light source, bathed the redhead's features in an eerie blue glow.

Tenko blinked a few times as her hand instinctively reached for her phone on the bedside table, her fingers fumbling in the dark, brushing against the cool surface of the device before she could grasp it. With a click, the screen lifted: it was 2:16 A.M. What was Himiko doing at that hour?

"Himi?" she called out softly, her voice still thick with sleep, "what are you doing up so late?".

Himiko flinched hearing Tenko's voice and turned immediately: Her eyes were tired; she hadn't slept well for days.

"Nyeh, sorry for waking you up" she replied, "I couldn't sleep, and I've been swamped with work, so I thought I might as well get some of it done".

"Himiko... you need to rest too".

"Don't worry about me, go back to sleep. I'll finish these quickly, and I'll join you in bed".

Tenko let out a deep sigh. Since Himiko awakened from the Killing Game, she had been busy again with her magic shows, especially the charity shows for children. These were successful and managed to attract both old and new fans. Consequently, her popularity skyrocketed, resulting in more performance requests than usual. Not only in Japan but also internationally.

While feeling enthusiastic and proud of her girlfriend's accomplishments, Tenko noticed that Himiko seemed distant lately, her mind elsewhere even when they were together. At first, she was worried that Himiko's distant demeanor meant she had fallen out of love with her. Eventually, she realized that the behavior was not a sign of waning affection, but of the overwhelming pressure of all those constant requests that were taking a toll on Himiko. Tenko couldn't help feeling guilty and embarrassed for having had that thought at the time.

To help Himiko, Angie-san willingly shouldered the responsibility of organizing and coordinating Himiko's schedule. However, the demanding nature of the work was also beginning to wear her down.

Tenko felt compelled to offer support and suggested to Himiko that they spend a tranquil Friday evening together. She planned to unwind by watching a movie and enjoying each other's company, providing Himiko a quiet moment to find solace and take a break from her work.

Tenko watched Himiko one last time before closing her eyes, hoping to drift back to sleep and soon find Himiko in her arms.

  

Tenko woke up from sleep again, this time disturbed by the rapid and continuous typing of the keyboard. She groaned, rubbed her eyes, and looked at the time: 3:50 A.M. Her gaze fell again upon Himiko, still glued to the laptop screen.

"Hey... is this so important that you can't rest?" Tenko asked as she got up and walked over to Himiko, placing her hands on her shoulders, her touch both gentle and firm.

"It's just stuff for the magic shows" Himiko replied, the frustration evident in her voice, "I needed to organize these... I thought I could complete them in time".

"Himi" Tenko whispered, "no amount of work is worth sacrificing your health for" She moved her hand to cup Himiko's face, gently lifting her girlfriend's head so their eyes met. "You've been pushing yourself too much lately".

Himiko looked away. "I know, but I have to, Tenko. I need to meet these requests, or everything I've been working on all these years will fall apart".

"Dear, you're completely exhausted. You can't even keep your eyes open".

"I know that, but I can't stop now" Himiko's voice began to break.

"You can't keep going like this! You're running yourself into the ground and is worrying me".

Himiko stood silent, the weight of Tenko's words sinking in. She felt torn, her shoulders tensing as she struggled to hold back tears.

Tenko leaned closer and gently closed the laptop, setting it aside while kissing Himiko's temple softly. She whispered: "Please, listen to Tenko, come back to bed, It can wait until morning. No more working tonight, okay?".

Hesitation engulfed Himiko as she contemplated the situation. The weight of the guilt tugged her heart, but eventually, she surrendered, letting Tenko guide her back to the soothing embrace of the bed.

Himiko finally tranquilized into the mattress, her eyes drifting closed while Tenko's strong hands ran through her hair, massaging her scalp. As she surrendered to Tenko's touch, she felt a sense of peace washed over her. The gentle caress sent shivers down her spine, making her melt.

As Tenko's hands continued their soothing motions, she felt her eyelids growing heavier. She was slowly drifting toward sleep... until Himiko broke the silence:

"Tenko... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry" she whispered, "I know I've been distant to you lately and obsessed with work. It's... I don't want to disappoint anyone. I don't want to disappoint you and Angie".

As Tenko listened to the poor mage, there were so many things she wanted to say to comfort her girlfriend. She understood that Himiko's dedication to her work came from a deep passion and desire to excel. However, the exhaustion was overpowering her. She whispered then what she thought was the best to say:

"Himiko, my love, you will never disappoint Tenko, and I know Angie-san would say the same thing. You're strong, much stronger than you realize, but you must take care of yourself first". She leaned closer, her breath warm against Himiko's ear: "You're doing your best, and that's what matters. Angie-san and I will always support you, no matter what".

"What if I can't keep up?" Himiko murmured.

"You should take it one step at a time, and make small changes. Allow yourself to relax, to see your priorities clearly so that you can find... a balance. Yes, that's the right word. Remember, this is the most important thing; you're human, besides being a powerful and beloved mage".

Himiko sighed softly, her eyes fluttering closed as she gave Tenko a small, yet sincere nod.

"I understand, I'll try following your advice and take things slowly. Thank you, Tenko, for always being patient with me. I love you, so much".

"Tenko loves you too, Himi," she said, leaning in and placing a final, tender kiss on the mage's forehead, "now rest, we'll talk more in the morning; tomorrow is a new day".