Through Thick and Thin | Benimaru

Chapter 13: Demon Lord Milim Attacks

Katsumi huffed as she finally got Benimaru back into his bed. He was swaddled up again, his arms tucked tightly to his side as he continued to wriggle around in his cocoon. Benimaru, in his horribly drunken state, had managed to fall asleep while walking back to his house, thus causing both Katsumi and himself to collapse onto the road.

"I'm never letting you drink more than two cups from now on," Katsumi said as she glared down at her red-haired friend. Her sunset eye gleamed and seemed to pierce through him, so Benimaru turned his head away like a guilty child. He wasn't that drunk was he?

"I'm not drunk," Benimaru slurred, his voice muffled by the blanket wrapped around him. Katsumi stared at him in disbelief, but gave up quickly on trying to argue with a drunken seagull.

"Yes, yes. You're as sober as a drunk Shion, Benimaru. Now sleep." Benimaru complied, closing his eyes as if actually sleeping. However, after a minute of silence, his eyes snapped open and he stared intensely at Katsumi.

"What was Rigur saying earlier?" Katsumi flicked his forehead, taking full advantage of the fact that he couldn't retaliate since he was still wrapped like a burrito.

"Nothing, just sleep off the alcohol, Benimaru."

"No, he was trying to tell you something, wasn't he?" The red-haired kijin wriggled a bit as if to loosen his blanket cage before proceeding to roll toward the edge of the bed. He successfully freed himself and stumbled to his feet on the opposite side of the bed from Katsumi. The blue-haired kijin quickly stood up as Benimaru swayed dangerously on his feet.

"He really didn't say anything much."

"But he did say something!" Benimaru insisted, stumbling his way around the bed to stand next to her. He stared down at her and, as he did so, he took notice of their height difference. A thought flashed through his mind about how delicate yet strong she looked as he towered over her.

"He really didn't say anything other than the fact that he thought I was a good friend. Now lay back down, Benimaru. I really don't want you to fall again." Instead of listening to her, he stared down at her in silence before he wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug. Katsumi's face flushed, but she said nothing but gently returned the hug and patted him on the back lightly.

"I was worried that he said it before I did..."

"Said what?" Benimaru pulled away slightly to look at Katsumi. She leaned back slightly to meet his eyes, his arms locked at the small of her back and hers resting on his muscular back. Despite having hugged Benimaru before, she was incredibly aware of how close they were at that moment. It took all that was in her to hold back a blush.

"You really don't know?" Benimaru slurred out slightly. She shook her head in confusion. What was she supposed to know? Benimaru sighed and released her, flopping backwards onto the bed and throwing his arm over his eyes. "This is worse than I thought."

"Hey," Katsumi complained as she reached over and slapped his knee. "I know you're talking about me, Benimaru."

"You're so dense..." Benimaru mumbled as he shuffled around and pulled the sheets over his head. Katsumi stood by the bed glaring at him but not quite understanding what he meant exactly. How was she dense? Dense about what?

"What do you mean dense, you stupid pelican?" There was no reply from Benimaru. "Benimaru?"

She reached down and lifted the blanket back gently, only to find that Benimaru was asleep and his breathing had evened out completely. Gently, Katsumi sat down at the side of the bed and brushed his unruly red hair out of his face, lightly grazing over his black horns. Shifting ever so slightly, Benimaru turned toward her and slung an arm over her lap. She froze as her long blue hair brushed his face and caused him to scrunch his nose. Thankfully, he settled back down without waking up. Smiling, she carefully pushed her hair behind her shoulder and shuffled herself under his arm, cuddling close like she always did while adjusting her head so that her horn was pointed away from Benimaru.