Through Thick and Thin | Benimaru

Chapter 10: The Great Clash

Benimaru awoke the next morning groggy and unaware of where he was. It was certainly later than he usually woke up, though not by much. His right arm was thrown over his eyes to keep out the sunlight and his left arm felt to be stuck under something. Even more curious was that he wasn't sleeping on the bed completely and his legs were dangling off the edge.

It took a few minutes of him trying to recall the previous night before his face flushed a bit when he realized that the weight on his left arm was Katsumi. Surprisingly, she had slept through the rest of the night after waking up that once. Despite having started tossing and turning a few times after, she settled back after Benimaru would pull her closer and gently kiss her forehead.

"Why do you tease me like this, Katsumi," Benimaru whispered to the sleeping girl. She nuzzled her head against his chest, which was acting as her pillow, but otherwise made no indication that she had heard him in the slightest. Benimaru sighed before giving up and staring up at the ceiling, continuing to lay there with Katsumi so that she could have her rest. It didn't take long before the red-haired kijin fell back asleep listening to the even breaths of the blue-haired girl next to him.

The second time Benimaru awoke that day wasn't as pleasant as the first. He felt someone staring at him, which caused him to toss his head in discomfort while sleeping before finally deciding that he couldn't ignore it. As soon as he opened his eyes, he regretted it since his eyes met the disapproving blue ones of Souei. He flinched, glancing over slightly to see that Katsumi was still sleeping before quickly gesturing to Souei that he would see him outside. Knowing that Katsumi needed the sleep, Souei reluctantly shuffled to the door, though he didn't leave as he kept his eye on Benimaru.

Gently, Benimaru sat up, trying his best not to move Katsumi too much, before slipped his right arm under her knees and lifting her slightly off the bed. She was sleeping soundly, thankfully, but Benimaru wanted to make sure she was comfortable before he left to face hell from her cousin. He swiftly pulled back the blankets on the bed and knelt on the mattress, shifting her so that she was centered on the bed and her whole body was resting comfortably. Carefully, Benimaru slipped his arms out from under her, tucked the blanket over her and began to retreat, the bed moving slightly as he shifted his weight off.

As he got off the bed, Katsumi's eyes opened, her sunset eye seeming to pierce through him and she rolled slightly so she was facing Benimaru, albeit she was clearly only half awake and heavily disoriented. Benimaru didn't spare Souei a glance as he quickly placed a gentle hand on her head, stroking her hair to lull her back to sleep. Clearly comfortable and sleepy, she closed her eyes.

"What time is it?" she mumbled quietly, curling into a fetus position and pulling the blankets over her face as she yawned.

"Too early for you to wake up, Katsumi," Benimaru replied gently. "I'll be right back. Just go back to sleep."

"Does the blackbird need to go catch the early worm?" she mumbled, already beginning to fall asleep. It had been a while since she had slept properly and she wasn't about to let this chance escape.

"More like I need to escape a lion coming after me." Benimaru didn't want to glance back, but he knew Souei was still glaring at him. He could feel it. Katsumi clearly didn't hear it as her breathing had indicated she was already asleep.

Knowing that he still had to talk to Souei, Benimaru decided that since he had already walked into the lion's den, he might as well try to get away with as much as he could before he died. And so, while knowing that Souei was still there watching his every move like a hawk, he leaned over and kissed Katsumi on the forehead to the left side of her sharp, white horn.

Before Souei could react, Benimaru quickly raced out the door past the blue-haired male and disappeared down the street.

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