Omake: The Path to Enlightenment (Part 2) (ft. Kaname)

My room is just the way I left it, so I feel right at home again. It would've been nice to eat with the others, but with all that's been going on I think it's best that I take this time for myself. Buddhist training can boost one's spiritual health, though it can be hard not to miss the comforts of one's own home. 

In particular, memories of home flood through me. Some of them good, some bad. Either way, they're familiar to me, and that alone makes me smile. 

Part of me wants to try contacting Iori now that I'm back, but I refrain from reaching for my old mobile phone, which lies void of battery on my desk. I know for a fact I won't end up calling him, but a small voice in my head wonders that if I did, would he pick up?

As my inner thoughts begin to leak out I hear a knock on the door. 

"Kyo-nii, I said I could handle the dishes myself. Or, is this your way of showing you're worried about me after all?" I tease as I cross the room toward the genkan. 

I open the door, and who else stands there but Tsukiyo Mai. 

She's clearly uncomfortable, but she holds out a steaming cup of green tea. 

"From Ukyo-san," she says shortly. 

She says that, but why is she the one delivering it, then?

I put on a smile. "Oh? You have my gracious thanks. I shall happily accept the tea given to me by a lovely lady like yourself." I reach out to take the cup. The heat scalds my palms, but I pay it no mind. 

Mai drops her hands to her sides, and I brace myself for her hasty retreat. Yet she surprises me once again by keeping rooted in place. I tilt my head in confusion. I was under the impression that I made her uncomfortable. Why is she staying behind?

"Mai-san?"

"I'm sorry," she blurts out. She lowers her head in a deep apology. 

All words freeze on my tongue. Speechlessness is not a state I enjoy being in, but I can't help it. 

"W-Whatever are you apologizing for?" I ask. 

Mai raises her head a little to meet my gaze directly. Her face flushes a slight pink. "I'm sorry for being rude earlier. I–I'm not used to being around so many people. I lived alone before coming to stay here. Oh, but I won't be here much longer, really."

I seem to have underestimated my imouto-chan's friend.

"Think nothing of it," I say warmly. I raise my hand to pat her head. She tenses but doesn't pull away. "Yu-chan told me a little of what happened. I can only imagine how hard it must have been. Not being able to go back to where one call's home is so very sad, indeed. I hope you don't lose heart, though. My little sister invited you to stay, so she must treasure you very much. In fact, my brothers seem quite taken with you. There is no need to worry about imposing on us. We are glad to have you."

"Even so," Mai says under her breath. A storm of sorts swirls in her eyes. It's hardly the most intense thing I've ever seen, but still. 

"What are you worried about?" I ask her. There's a chance she won't answer at all, but there's no harm in asking. 

As expected, Mai's guard is raised and she straightens up again. 

"Sometimes it helps to have an outside perspective," I say. "I haven't been here for a while, so perhaps I can lend an unbiased ear to you."

"Hm." Her mouth curves into a frown, but I can tell she's considering it. 

"It seems I left a bad impression. I apologize for that," I say, conceding. "It was never my intention to make your stay anything less than pleasant."

Mai's head snaps up. "It's not that. I mean, yes, I think you're too forward," (her comment freezes my smile; she really holds nothing back), "But this is your home, and you should be allowed to relax and act as you want to at home."

She makes a good point there, but that's no excuse to bother a guest. 

"Thank you for saying that, but I agree that my charms are very intense," I admit. "I was simply happy to meet a friend of my imouto-chan and Yu-chan. Things must be going well at home if they invited you over to stay."

"They've been real nice to me even before I first came here," she says. 

"That's my younger siblings for you." I can't keep the pride from my voice. "I was surprised that Kyo-nii was all happy as well. He usually never lets anyone else in the kitchen."

"I heard that cooking's his thing, but I don't think he minds it when people help out."

"Oho. He must appreciate your cooking skills if he lets you help out with dinner," I say. I end up revealing the results of last time Ukyo let an unidentified variable into the kitchen. Needless to say, he was scarred for life and never let anyone else into his domain again. I laugh about it now, though Mai seems absolutely petrified. 

"Ukyo-san sure has it rough," she murmurs. 

"Mai-san, I don't mean to be too forward again, but it seems like you're self-conscious about staying here. Is there a particular reason for that? Other than me, that is." I flash her a teasing wink, wondering if such a gesture will offend her.

It goes over Mai's head. She purses her lips as she struggles to find the words. 

"It's what you'd expect, I guess," she manages to say. "I've been here for a couple weeks already. I don't want to overstay my welcome. So many people live here, so I don't want to disrupt things any more. For both your family and for me, I think it's best if I moved out as soon as possible."

"Independence is certainly a virtue," I muse, to which she silently agrees. "Though accepting and receiving hospitality is no less an admirable quality."

Mai looks up at me in surprise. I don't know much about this person, but what I do know is that wherever she was living before, she's been uprooted from her previous life. My family may have extended a hand, but I know very well how hard it can be to accept help that is offered. It's not only a matter of pride, but also concern for the other's well-being. One does not want to cause trouble for the other; this is a sentiment deserving of merit. 

At the same time, how much suffering could be prevented if we were more open to not only giving but receiving care? 

Silver flashes against the night's darkness. Against his chest hangs the cross into which he cries silently. We reach out to him, but he cannot hear our words.

I shake my head. 

Ema clearly cares about Mai; she would never turn someone away who needed help, and the same goes for my brothers. Mai might not be able to fully trust that, but I can speak to this as a member of this household. My family would never find it a burden to help another. I can only do my best to try and communicate this. Believing it or not is up to her.

The tea grows cool in my hand. I take this opportunity to drink deeply. The fragrance of the early flush hits the roof of my mouth. Ukyo choose the brand I like this time. I'll have to thank him for it later.

"Whenever you end up leaving, I hope you will enjoy your stay in the meantime," I say. "Even we adults like to take a breather once and a while, you know." I shoot her another wink. This time Mai sees it and her scowl returns. I laugh, glad that her previous fire has rekindled. 

She sighs at this, but the mood has lightened. "If you say so, but I'm still going to move out as soon as I can. Being around flirty guys isn't good for a person's health."

"Oh? But any decent gentleman strives to lavish any lady in his presence with gracious words. How else can we ever hope to spread love in this impermanent world?"

"I think we live in very different worlds, Kaname-san."

"Apparently so." I smile. 

And this time Mai smiles back. This development is so unexpected that once again, I'm at a loss for words. Women always look their most beautiful when they smile. 

Ah, but if I said that aloud now she'd probably scowl again. Truly, she reminds me of Kyo-nii.

"You're a lot easier to talk to when you don't try too hard, Kaname-san," Mai says. "You might want to consider talking like this around other people more often."

Without waiting for my reply, she turns and heads back down the hall toward the stairs. 

I watch her go, the tea in my hands having become lukewarm. The mellowed scent of tea wafts around me, and for a moment the world feels a little lighter. 

How unexpected that I'd find a enlightenment by stepping away from the temple. Truly, the world works in mysterious ways. 

I can see why Ema-chan and my brothers were so welcoming toward her. If only she knew how much they enjoy her company. Then again, it's life's great challenge to learn to accept others into our hearts. All we can do is our best. 

I glance over behind me toward the window at the other end of my room. Mai isn't the only one who's learning this. I think of Ema, Iori... and even myself. 

Mai is right that I will probably never see her again after today, but I muse to myself that if we were to talk again, maybe next time I'll hold back a bit and try to be more straightforward. I'm sure she and Ema would appreciate that.

The tea swirls in the cup as I close my door. My reflection gives me a knowing smirk. 

Then again, what are the odds of that happening for real?