This isn't going to help.

[bloodsong1]

Wakamiya tapped one elegantly shod foot as she waited for Reiki-chan and her escorts to return. The entire island was buzzing about the news of impending nuptials. Only Reiki-chan could have found a bride for the God of All Winds! Wakamiya cared less for that then Reiki-chan's health. Her bird friends had informed her of the abuse the Great Fire had inflicted and the kitsune who had stepped in. The House of the West was well known even here in Miyajima and while they worked with the humans on a regular basis; few, if any, mortals actually KNEW. Wakamiya sighed lightly when Shippo-sama and one of the Stone Generals appeared, Reiki-chan cradled very closely to Shippo-sama's chest. A tiny flicker of jealousy turned the hot spring kami's eyes rose.

"It's about time!" She called, strolling over. The White Stone General shrugged and glared at his companion. Wakamiya's jealousy flared higher when Shippo-sama nuzzled Reiki-chan.

"Wake up, Reiki, we're here," He crooned softly. Wakamiya ignored him to peer into her favorite mortal's face. Reiki-chan wrinkled her nose and blinked her eyes open.

"Did anyone get the plates of that truck?" She groaned. Wakamiya looked at White Stone, who blinked. Shippo-sama chuckled.

"It wasn't a truck, Reiki," Reiki-chan groaned again and wiggled in the kitsune's arms. He gently set her on her feet and held her steady. Wakamiya and Reiki-chan reached for her head at the same time.

"Owww," Reiki-sama blinked at Wakamiya, glanced around. "What happened to my head?"

"The Great Fire threw you into the wall," White Stone growled. Wakamiya hissed and began carefully smoothing Reiki-chan's hair aside. She leaned into her touch and the female kami's jealousy faded to smugness.

"I have a concussion, don't I?" Reiki-chan asked, still blinking.

"Let me see," Shippo-sama said, taking Reiki-chan's chin in one hand. Wakamiya hissed again when she found a goose egg on the back of Reiki-chan's skull. Shippo-sama used foxfire to examine the mortal's eyes.

"Yes, you're concussed. Your right pupil has a delayed response. Wakamiya-san, is there a clinic here with Xray capabilities?" Wakamiya barely stopped herself from kicking the kitsune.

"Reiki-chan does not need a clinic. I will heal her!" Wakamiya swept her arms around Reiki-chan and started leading her away.

"But...Waka-chan...clothes!" Reiki-chan protested even as she leaned into her strength.

"Don't worry, Reiki! I'll get you a fresh yukata!" Shippo-sama called. Wakamiya snorted.

"Men aren't allowed in the women's bath!" She shouted over her shoulder.

"Not a problem!" Wakamiya entertained drowning the obnoxious kitsune for his presumption and finally dropped the fantasy as suicidal. The House of the West avenged its own with extreme prejudice. She helped Reiki-chan to the locker room and propped her against a metal box to undress her.

"Waka-chaaaannnn," Reiki-chan whined as Wakamiya removed her shoes and socks.

"Hush. You have been grossly mistreated by the Fire and you stood up to the Wind Bitch. You are in no condition to do anything except relax and heal and I will make sure you do just that!" Wakamiya insisted, starting on the pants. Buttons and zippers she was only passingly familiar with, but she figured them out. A white cylindrical object was tucked against Reiki-chan's short lavender pants.

"What is that?"

"Translator. Keep it safe," Reiki-chan said, hands busy with her top. Wakamiya batted her fingers away and gently removed the translator with the short pants, folding the device into the clothes. Reiki-chan leaned forward as she carefully worked the top clothes over her head, cushioning the bump with her hand. Reiki-chan sighed when cold fingers touched the overheated skin.

"Does cold help with concussions?"

"Cold decreases swelling, shrinks the blood vessels, yes," Reiki-chan mumbled. Wakamiya shook her kimono off and tossed it over Reiki's clothes. Wrapping one arm around the mortal's shoulders and keeping her other hand on the bump, Wakamiya walked them into the onsen. Setting an influence block on the door, she helped Reiki-chan to a stool.

"Lean against me, Reiki-chan," Wakamiya whispered, pulling Reiki-chan's shoulders into her stomach. Reaching around, she used the showerhead to soak a cloth with cold water. She folded it and slid it between her skin and Reiki-chan's head, right over the bump. Reiki-chan sighed again and leaned back further.

"You're taking such good care of me, Waka-chan," She said, smiling a bit dazedly into the mirror. Wakamiya smiled back, folding her arms over mortal shoulders and letting her hands gently brush the skin above the moon tattoo.

"I will do everything in my power to see you leave my island with a smile, Reiki-chan."

The mood was spoiled by a bouncing, naked, redhaired girl barging in waving a yukata in the air.

"I found one, Reiki! Do you like it?" The transformed kitsune asked, displaying it proudly. The yukata itself was dark blue, with pale green and tan leaves scattered along the sleeves and hem. Wakamiya sneered.

"What are you hoping for, kitsune?"

"It's beautiful, Shipp-a? Shippi? What do I call you?" Reiki-chan asked.

"Call me Shi-chan! You really think it's beautiful?"

"Okay, Shi-chan and yes, it is." Reiki-chan leaned forward and felt the back of her head. Wakamiya smiled smugly. The lump was much smaller and Reiki-chan's eyes looked clearer. "Wow, Waka-chan, you have a wonderful gift of healing. I think I'd like to go outside."

"Let me wash you," Wakamiya said, reaching for the sponge.

"I'll do it!" Shi-chan scuttled over, draped the yukata on an empty partition and lunged for the soap. Wakamiya fought back, making the floor slippery. Shi-chan squealed as she fell on her bum. Wakamiya turned up her nose, only to blink in surprise as Reiki-chan was washing herself with her hands. Both women stared, unable to help themselves as Reiki-chan carefully cleaned up and rinsed off.

"Please, you two. I'm not worth it," She said softly before heading outside. Wakamiya recovered first.

"You arrogant fox! What were you thinking, bringing her your house colors?"

"She liked it!" Shippo-sama fired back, getting to her feet. "I didn't see her giving YOU any meaningful looks!"

"She won't sleep with you!"

"You don't know that!"

"Hah! I have it from her own lips she won't have sex with anyone in this world because her heart has to be involved!"

"I could win her heart!"

"No you can't!

"Yes I can!"

"Disgraceful!"

"Such outrageous behavior!" Two new voices intervened. Demon and kami turned slowly. A group of middle aged mortal women shook their heads disapprovingly as they claimed shower stations. Wakamiya's mouth fell open.

"I blocked the door!" She protested.

"Did you? I couldn't tell," Shippo-sama sneered.

"I wouldn't have either of you with that attitude," A matriarch announced as she rinsed herself. Wakamiya and Shippo-sama glared at the mortals.

"Hmph!" Shippo-sama snatched the yukata away from a curious housewife and stormed away. "I'm leaving this with Reiki's clothes. Don't pull anything, stone tumbler!"

"She still won't sleep with you!" Wakamiya shouted after her. Tossing her head at the reproachful looks from the mortals, she stomped outside and slid into the bath. Reiki-chan looked at her sadly.

"I'm really not worth fighting over," She said. Wakamiya seized her face in both hands and stared deeply into her eyes.

"You are worth DYING for, Reiki-chan," She said firmly and collapsed to add her own tears to the ones gently falling from the Void Walker's face.


Well, I hadn't planned on it, but now the idea of a Crystal Tokyo-House of the West alliance is firmly stuck in my head. Oh, the fun I will have with this!