Stream of Dreams

"You have gone unconscious at least once during each session" (Hibiki)

"H-Hey, my track record isn't bad!" (Kohaku)

"Let's see… Coliseum, Clothing store-" Makoto started counting off his fingers.

"ONLY FOR A MOMENT" (Kohaku)

"Still counts, the slip we're hearing and this. How's everyone else?" (Makoto)

"I'm at 4 if we count near-death experiences. I don't think Hotaru has any…" (Hibiki)

"She passes out to-" (Makoto)

"You're so right, so 1?" (Hibiki)

"Then I had… 1 if we count near-death experiences." (Makoto)

"Then isn't mine-" (Kohaku)

"BREAKING NEWS: WATER BOY NEARLY DROWNS!" (Hibiki)

"..." (Kohaku)

"Oh, now you're quiet. You're right though. You're just the worst at taking care of yourself." (Hibiki)

"I can't be blamed for that one!" (Kohaku)

"No, but the other two are a different story. Mr-" (Hibiki)

*Click*

I made some distant murmuring when I stirred. Staring face to face with a wooden grid ceiling.

A towel on my head was drenched in my sweat. A lady with light brown hair and these lavender eyes with lighter pupils took off the towel before wringing it out and placing it in another.

"H-Hi." (Kohaku)

"Ah, you're awake. Hold on for just a moment, Shion!" She called out through the door before she refolded the small towel and placed it back on my head, letting this chill take over and soothe the heat I was drowning in.

Her attire was all in a shade of purple. Sort of like ours if it wasn't for the color and slits from the shoulders of her kosode.

It wasn't long before little stomping grew louder and the sliding door "Yes, mama!" A small blonde girl came in beaming, her outfit contrasted her mom in yellow. There was no doubt the two were related. The eyes were a dead giveaway.

The two shared a hug before she gave her daughter instructions.

"Could you get our guest their serving?"

"Mhm! I'll be right back!" (Shion)

"Thank you, dear."

I made a move to push myself up but found it difficult to even move.

"Oh, please stay where you are. Your body isn't in very good condition right now. It's adjusting to everything."

"Adjusting?" (Kohaku)

"More or less. I believe introductions are in order first. My name is Miroku Orikasa, I'm the high priestess of The Land of Demons."

"I'm Kohaku and y-you're our help?" (Kohaku)

'I don't think I've ever seen her before. She's beautiful.'

"You could say that. The others should be done shortly." (Miroku)

Uh, is there a reason I can't…" (Kohaku)

"Move?" (Miroku)

"Yeah that..." (Kohaku)

"Your fox friend shared a story of your little accident and that didn't go over too well with about… everyone. It's just an idea for now." (Miroku)

"Idea? What idea?" (Kohaku)

"After hearing it, Hanashi thought it was a reaction. You've only turned into water a few times?" (Miroku)

'Him again!'

"Y-yeah but, I'm doing it just fine!" (Kohaku)

"The others aren't sure about that. After a slip into red water your white hair is now pink and now, you're going through another period of being sick again." (Miroku)

"So, what's that supposed to mean?" (Kohaku)

"That it wasn't normal water, blockhead. Is there anything else on your mind besides adventures and animals?" Kuda made his way through the sliding door with a rice cracker sticking out of his mouth.

"High priestess?" (Kohaku)

"Yes?" (Miroku)

"Was the creature out in the water an alligator or crocodile?" (Kohaku)

"OH, YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!" Kuda dropped his cracker in his burst of anger.

Miroku seemed taken aback at the question, chuckling under her breath before responding. "It's a crocodile."

"YES! AHH!" Traces of electricity rolled off my skin like I was shot with two tasers.

Her smile dropped as she looked me dead in the eyes, "Stay still."

"Y-yes, ma'am." (Kohaku)

"..." (Kohaku)

""..."" (Miroku+ Kuda)

"So, there's more to why I can't move." (Kohaku)

"Let's leave it at people reassuring you wouldn't be up for a while." (Kuda)

"And you let them!" (Kohaku)

"You don't know how desperately I had to plea for your life. Just to get you out of their hands, you got away with this. Take it or die." I could've sworn Kuda saw something no one should've seen with the utter void in his eyes staring down at me.

I swallow my complaints and reminded myself that he was there to look out for me. Chuckling a little got me a soft paw jab to the face that got a laugh.

"I got the food right here, mama!" Shion came back with a wrapped bundle.

"Thank you, Shion. How's everyone outside?" (Miroku)

"It's fun! Hotaru and Hanashi teach me how to mess with Taruho. Makoto is quieter but I think that's why Taruho likes him more." (Shion)

"Is there anything you want to tell just me?" (Miroku)

The small blonde ran up to her mom and whispered in her ear which had them both giggling.

"Go have fun, okay?" (Miroku)

"Mhm!" She kissed Miroku on the cheek before running off. The way she watched Shion run off the room was like being greeted by a roaring fire at home on a frigid winter day.

"Are you ready to eat?" (Miroku)

"I-" (Kohaku)

"Say 'ahh'" (Miroku)

"A-ahhh?" (Kohaku)

I died. I wanted to escape this moment so bad except, that I didn't. I didn't know how I made it through, red-faced and being fed onigiris. It was amazing, being sat up and fed. I shut my eyes after taking a bite to keep from embarrassing myself further.

Top-tier memory, being fed by the high priestess. I wished the moment lasted forever except, that I didn't. 10 minutes of me, her, and three onigiris, salty.

As much as it was awkward, I enjoyed every minute.

"I only wish she could experience days like this more often." (Miroku)

"Mm-*GULP* Won't she?" (Kohaku)

"That can't be certain." (Miroku)

"Why can't it?" It was strange, without [Mind's eye] I knew this place. I was certain. Like it's the back of my hand.

'Why don't I know her?'

"..." I didn't want to be rude, so I ignored the flashing red circle of a new quest at the corner of my vision.

"If Shion is having fun now, I don't see why it has to end. I want to go out and play too." (Kohaku)

She had a soft smile on her face but a solemn look in her eyes. Someone else's appearance came to mind; shadowed, sharing a similar expression to the one I was seeing now.

"You know what it is?" (Miroku)

"Not really." (Kohaku)

"Dragons are symbols of authority, good fortune, and providers of life with how they control the weather, but you look like there's something else on your mind.

"I don't know, it's odd." (Kohaku)

"Looks like you're not the only one to feel that way." (Miroku)

"I guess." A playful tone responded.

'Huh?!'

I started waving my arms around, finally being able to feel my legs again when Hotaru landed on the ground.

"C'mon! You said you were gonna teach us!" She tugged on Miroku's kosode before running out of the room.

"Oh, alright, we'll be back soon. Take good care of him." She left the room after saying that.

"Wait, where did she even come from?!" (Kohaku)

"Now, that's a good question." Another silvery voice replied.

I looked back to the roof where Hanshi looked back at me without a care in the world.

"Spiderman." (Kohaku)

"I'm not about to take shit from a fucking sponge." He dropped down, lugging a backpack and murdering me.

"Ah! What was it anyways?" (Kohaku)

"..." Hanashi turns to Kuda.

"..." Kuda avoids eye contact.

"MM, MM!" All that lead to the salty taste and lack of oxygen I was experiencing

"GET OFF! I GET IT! WE DIDN'T TELL HIM!" (Kuda)

"So, you're saying he didn't ask that first?" I could catch my breath for a second when he lifted the pillow off my face, straddling me.

"Well…" (Kuda)

'LIE TO HIM, DAMMIT!'

"MMPH!" (Kohaku)

"Shh, it'll be quick." (Hanashi)

"HANASHI, NO!" (Kuda)

"Fine, I'll call it quits. I'm just playing." He tossed the pillow aside like it wasn't going to be his murder weapon.

'I kinda want to know how he plays normally.'

The large-chested man was giving me a view I wasn't regretting, I might've been fine with dying if it was with them instead.

"Can you get off me?!" (Kohaku)

"Why should I?" (Hanashi)

"Ha?!" (Kohaku)

"You pay attention a lot more when you hear something you like and clearly, you're listening. Are you trying to tell me something?" (Hanashi)

When I couldn't get another word in, the shit-eating grin on his face bloomed.

"So, what do you want me to do?" (Hanashi)

'1 of me and 1 of him. What the fuck could he want?'

What I wanted wasn't something you could just demand of someone, asking would be even weirder.

What I could say had the chance to change how he interacted with me. But so could what he would say. I looked over to Kuda, tail relaxed. Still.

It was never up when he had the pillow on me either. Whatever he was seeing this time, he accepted it and kept his cool. A rare instance.

I like to think Kuda has more of a danger radar than I do like when I was talking on the tree with Hanashi before. Just emphasizing what I hated about him more.

I can't tell. There's no sense of green or red when he speaks. No truth, no lie, all truth, all lie? It's frustrating. He's more like Sirius in that way, better than Makoto in phrasing things.

'Ah, screw it.'

"Kuda, could you leave us for a bit?" (Kohaku)

"Alright, call for me if you need me." The small black fox exited the room, his footsteps growing fainter as I looked over him.

Promising myself to not lose in anything physical if I ever made a bet with him again. Part of a tattoo I couldn't make out before went past his elbow and up to his shoulder. Switching to a brighter shade of red than his own.

"You won't tell anyone?" (Kohaku)

"Not a soul. I do like knowing you need that stun more than I thought." (Hanashi)

"S-shut up!" (Kohaku)

*Click*