ホタルは精霊のようなものですよね？

6. 特別な場所

"where are we going toru!!"
"my special place"
"i cant see a thing with this on, what if i trip!!"
"you won't"
he pulled akeno along making sharp twists and turns, then she felt grass beneath her feet
"toru are you going to murder me?"
"no"
"okay good then it's fine then"
he stopped
"why would i murder you"
"i don't know!"
"are you ready"
"yes i've been ready! can i look now?"
he hummed as he untied the clothing from her face.
"you can look"
her eyes fluttered open as she gasped at the sight before her
"what in the.."
there they stood in the middle of the forest upon the top of a hill, that were full of fireflies that lit up the area beautifully. they matched the stars that were in the sky.
"this is beautiful toru.."
"i come here to get away from my father"
"it's so pretty"
"you like it..?"
she nodded, her eyes sparkling
"good"
they laid on the grass staring up at the sky, the fireflies almost blending in with the stars. the night was warm with a calming breeze that swayed the trees around them, as if they were dancing, like they were happy. akeno closed her eyes, taking in the heartwarming smell of lavender and jasmine, one tear after another started a journey down her cheek
"akeno.."
she hummed, her eyes still closed
"why are you crying"
her eyes fluttered open as she looked at toru, who was looking at her with worried eyes
she hadn't even noticed she was crying herself
"oh..i..don't know"
she wiped her tears away with her hands
toru held out his arms, as she hugged him the tears began to flow on their own. toru patted her head, comforting her quietly.
they stayed like that for a few moments until she had calmed down. she pulled away.
"toru..?" she called her voice shaky
"yes"
"i'm scared"
his heart clenched knowing she was talking about her illness
"i'm here, i'll always be here"
"toru?"
"yes"
"can i hug you again?"
he nods opening his arms, waiting.
she lowered herself into his embrace, him closing his arms around her back. her hold around him tighter than his. they stayed like that for a while until toru spoke
"akeno"
it was quiet
"akeno.."
he moved away a little to only find out she had fell asleep.
"oh.."
he lifted her up onto his back, and began to walk home.

. . .

laying her down on the bed, tucking her in. he stood by the doorway and looked at her for a moment, she looked so peaceful. he smiled, turning off the light and went to bed himself.
akeno woke up the next morning, confused.
"how did i.."
she looked around trying to remember what had happened, then it came to her. she face planted her pillow, grunting. her cheeks began to taint a certain shade of pink.
"why did i do that.."
her hands gripped the pillow as her legs flung up and down
"embarrassing..!"
she walked downstairs finding food waiting for her on the counter alongside it a note that read:
"i've gone out to go get some food, i'll be back soon, warm this up when you're hungry, i also left ice cream in the freezer."
she smiled picking the note up laughing a little at how monotone it sounded to her.
reheating the food she sat the stool swinging her legs back and forth childishly, then she heard the door open along with bags crinkling
"i'm home"
he murmured not sure if akeno was still asleep or not
"welcome back toru!" she responded smiling widely
he looked up at her, his eyes unnoticeably lightened up. he nodded.
"have you eaten"
she got up setting the food on a plate
"i'm about to!"
"oh, okay" he said placing the bags onto the counter
"delicious!!"
toru nodded giving her a gentle smile before starting to unpack the shopping he had got while he was out "good"
he carefully placed all of the shopping away, and began to move onto washing the dishes
"toru no, i'll do it"
he shook his head "its fine"
"ehh?" she whined, eating her food
"how did you sleep"
"great, that reminds me..did you carry me home last night?"
he nodded "mmh, you fell asleep in the forest, it must've been from all the crying you did yesterday, probably tired you out"
"i guess so, thank you"
"for what" he asked placing on of the dishes away
"comforting me, and taking me home" she said quietly, picking at her food a little
"i wanted to help somehow, even if it wasn't much"
she shook her head disagreeably "no, that was perfect"
he turned off the tap, drying his hands "i'm glad"
she smiled "i'm glad you're here with me"
he looked at her not knowing what to say "can you not eat anymore"
she looked at the plate nodding, "i'm full"
he took the plate from in front of her emptying the rest of the food into the bin, and then placed it into the sink.
"toru!" she said almost whining like a little child
"hmm"
"i want to go on a walk"
he looked at her almost as if she was crazy
she looked around wondering if she'd said something wrong "what?"
"looking like that..?" he said pointing at his own head
she got up and hurried to the bathroom a horrified scream was heard moments after
"my hair!!!"
toru sighed, giggling to himself as he continued to wash the dishes
akeno came back down a while after, looking how she normally does, she cleared her throat.
"anyway as i was saying" she exclaimed pointing towards toru who was now cleaning the counter
"i want to go on a walk with you!" she demanded standing on top the counter
toru looked at her then at the counter
"i just cleaned that.."
"i'm sorr- no! me, you, walk, now!"
he stared at the counter not answering, she jumped down from the counter huffing
"fine! after you clean the counter!"
he nodded "okay"
she smiled tilting her head a little "let's have fun!"