Providence: Book One

Chapter Thirteen: An Abstract Wish

Chapter Thirteen

An Abstract Wish

"I think maybe Naoki has a cold." Rio said to Kotone, as the older girl scrounged around in her medicine bag for something she hadn't shown Rio yet. She looked up, her blonde curls bouncing around her face.

"Why do you think that?" Kotone asked, returning to her medicine bag.

"His moods are always hard to understand, but he's acting different. Last night, I dropped a cup of tea and he even helped me pick it up..." Rio tugged at her one long lock of hair. "There has to be something wrong, could you look at him for me Kotone?"

As Naoki had predicted, The Emperors men had come to Kajiri, going door to door looking for this mysterious healers apprentice. Rio was forbidden from working at the Apothecary anymore, so Kotone came to her to continue her lessons. Using Rio's supposed sickly nature as an excuse. They had flown under the radar so far, but Naoki was beginning to get anxious, he knew it was only a matter of time.

"I don't think there's anything physically wrong with Naoki." Kotone said with a knowing smile. "Call it healers intuition."

Rio quirked a confused eyebrow at her, but she didn't ask anymore questions.

The Door slid open with a hiss and the Baker Noboru came in with a plate laden with tea and snacks.

"I had a moment," he said when Kotone gave him a look. Rio thought he was blushing. He set the plate down in front of them and turned to leave.

"Thank you Noboru-san." Rio said brightly. Noboru turned back and opened his mouth to say something. But he simply shook his head and left.

"Naoki won't like this one bit," Kotone said as she picked up one of the rice cakes Noboru had provided.

"Naoki won't like what?" Rio asked. Kotone chuckled, covering her mouth to keep the food from falling out. She swallowed and fixed Rio with a motherly look.

"If you can't figure it out by yourself, then it's probably too early for you to understand anyway." she chuckled to herself and reached for another rice cake.

~x~X~x~X~x~

Ekirei thrashed about in Rio's head as she waited for Naoki and Suzu to return, she closed her eyes tightly, worried that if she opened them she'd she Ekirei again. Over the din in her chest she heard the closet door slide open.

"Are you alright Ri-Shiori?" Rio opened her eyes to see Suzu leaning over her, concern in her eyes.

"Oh, yes I just had a bit of a headache is all." She smiled at Suzu encouragingly as Naoki shouldered into the room. He didn't smile, but he seemed unusually upbeat.

"Get up and pack your things," he said. Rio sat up confused.

"Why?"

Natsu dug a hand into his pocket and retrieved a pouch heavy with coins.

"We leave for Himan tomorrow, best be ready."

~x~X~x~X~x~

Rio, Kotone and Suzu laughed and talked with each other as they packed their meagre belongings. Kotone had bought all four of them red bean buns at the market, and there was an all around atmosphere of celebration. All of them seemed to be having fun, except Naoki, who packed in silence and barely touched his bean bun. Once all of his belongings were safely bundled up he silently got to his feet and left the room.

Rio waited, expecting him to come back, but after minutes turned into hours and he didn't return, Rio began to worry. While Kotone and Suzu were playing a word game together Rio excused herself. She knew that given her current situation it was risky to be seen on the streets of Kajiri, so she kept her eyes down and her sleeves carefully pulled down past her hands.

The streets of Kajiri were surprisingly empty , only a few street venders straggled home from the market. A chill breeze made the trees above shiver and whisper. Kajiri seemed like a dead town, devoid of life.

"Shiori." a familiar voice caused Rio to turn around, one shaking hand pressed to her chest. Naoki's eyes were cold as he looked at her, looked into her. "Why are you here?" he asked her blandly. Rio flinched, had she done something to anger him again?

"I...you were acting strange so I wanted to make sure you were okay." she dropped her gaze to her feet. "A-Are you okay?" when she built up the confidence to look up at Naoki he looked bored, his eyes as cold and empty as stone.

"Naoki...what's wrong?" Rio's voice was a harsh whisper. Naoki blinked and when he opened his eyes they looked a little kinder.

"There's just something bothering me, that's all, it doesn't concern you." He moved to go around Rio but she held her arm out.

"It does concern me! I worry..." she paused, red faced. "I worry about my friends..."

Naoki's face twisted for a second, like he was having some internal struggle, almost as if he was in pain.

"Why have I never seen her?" he blurted, his face, normally carefully composed looked, for a moment, wild, even frightening.

"Seen who?" Rio asked dumbly.

"You know who I mean," Naoki said through clenched teeth. "The Goddess, Ekirei."

Rio paused, weighing her response, she herself didn't know why Ekirei refused to show herself, but it certainly wasn't Rio's fault.

"I haven't see her much either," she responded, frustration showing in her voice. "She's mostly inside me, inside my mind, whispering, slithering about. It's painful Naoki, painful to have her inhabiting my body."

Naoki pressed his hand against her mouth. He smelled of pine and sandalwood, a pleasing smell, Rio felt her eyes closing, despite herself. She wanted to be wrapped in the familiarity and security of her childhood companion.

"Don't you trust me?" he finally whispered. His voice was cracked, desperate, so unlike the Naoki she knew. Without fully realizing it, she was leaning against him.

"I trust you." she whispered, "and I don't want to hurt you." she looked up at Naoki. "That's why it's best if you and Ekirei don't meet each other, ever."

Naoki looked taken aback, in the slight glow of the paper lamps above them, Rio thought she could see his cheeks flush. He shook his head.

"Forget I asked," he murmured, releasing her. He stepped around her and down the cobbled street, back to the bakery, his head down and his shoulders hunched. Rio watched him leave, confused and distraught.

Naoki was course and rude, and even cruel, but despite all that, despite everything, Rio wanted him to like her.

Despite everything, Rio liked him.