The Cursed Iris

Sprout 32: Ayame and Katsumi

Nightfall came and the air was chilly. Miya was feeding the animals she summoned earlier, Chiyoko and Katsumi decided to go off to have a conversation alone. Usagi was practicing her control over her spirit energy. Then there was Natsume, "Uh Natsume don't you think you're a little too close?" Ayame wondered why she was so snuggled up to her.

"Aw don't be like that Ayame," Natsume whined. "I thought you wanted to be closer."

Ayame did want to grow closer to Natsume, but she was way too close.

"Listen you've changed a lot since we've come back. I wonder why?" she mumbled with a nervous tone.

Natsume's eyes were softer as well, she seemed more approachable than she was when they first met. Ayame didn't mind, but this new Natsume didn't make her feel right. It was like she didn't have that same attitude from before.

"Well after I saw what you all did to help me see my master off I didn't know how to thank you. So I decided the best way would be getting to know you better."

Ayame didn't really see the need to be thanked, because she thought that's what anyone would do for a friend. Although she and Natsume weren't on the best of terms when they followed her of course. Even still she couldn't leave someone like that, especially if she were able to help. She may have been powerless in that situation, but if she would've let Natsume die then she would've been truly powerless.

"It was no issue. I mean you care for Katsumi, right?" Ayame asked. "Well Katsumi cares for you, so even if I had declined he would've went himself."

Natsume stared at her, "But even after our argument I still couldn't abandon you. Especially not after I called you a friend," Ayame chuckled. Her demeanor was timid. "Even though we weren't, I guess?"

"Ayame there's something you should know." Natsume said.

Ayame heard that her tone was serious like she had to drop some really terrible news. She didn't want to hear it if it were terrible though. She was too scared of what Natsume might say to her.

"Y-yes what is it?"

Natsume began fidgeting, which baffled Ayame, "W-w-well the thing is," she stuttered, "I wasn't exactly honest with myself back then. I wanted to be friends, but you were a dragon. So I thought you and your kind were the cause of my problems. That's why I thought if I killed you then maybe just maybe my master would rest in peace."

"Really?"

"Yes because I had heard her talking one day when I was younger saying it was all of their faults. Either the dragons or the gods; then I heard her say that what if the gods never existed. Maybe my future would be secured with certainty," she nodded.

Ayame noted her tone was different from before. It was more somber than nervous now.

"I-I'm sorry for the way I treated you before." Natsume stuttered.

"Tsubaki Hoshinomiya was your master huh?" Miya asked.

Natsume and Ayame turned to her, "Yes she was. Did you know her?"

Miya's expression wasn't exactly readable. But Ayame felt like even if she did show a different expression than a smile she probably wouldn't be able to read it either way.

"Knew her?" Miya laughed. "I've faced her in a sparring match before."

"You have?" Ayame and Natsume asked in unison.

"Sadly, I lost," she replied with a proud smile.

They both stared at her with confused expressions, I don't think she would be laughing if she lost. I'm starting to think Miya has a few screws loose, Ayame thought. Miya seemed like the type of person who laughs or smiles whether they win, lose, or whatever. Maybe she had learned something from her encounter?