Chapter Text
They are all sitting around Masako who brightly smiles at everyone. She had asked after the events that happened after she ended up in the hospital and all of them told her, amidst much shouting and contradictory arguments.
Yasu asks, "So destroying the onryo also woke them all up?"
"Yes," Lin says, "I did tell this before. Nagisa was using their blood to fuel her magic. She used Kaito all this while because she couldn't kill him. Even Masako."
"Yes," Masako nods, "I felt her in my head sometimes."
"So you shut yourself off from her getting too deep," Naru says. Masako nods in confirmation.
Yasu notices Houshou for the first time. He is here, but his eyes are all unfocused as if mentally he is somewhere else. He asks, "Eh, earth to Bou-san?"
"Do you think Kosuke is a good name for a boy?" Houshou counter questions.
"What?" Yasu says.
"Oh!" Masako cries, "You finally told him about your pregnancy?" she asks Ayako. Yasu just mimics a fish.
Ayako nods. Then she sharply says, "You are not naming my child!"
"Excuse me? "My"? That didn't happen only because of you! And how did everyone know before I did?"
"Because like the idiot that you are, I knew you would say stupid things like that! And you are not naming our kid!"
And some things really do not change at all.
It was on the insistence of Yasu and Houshou that Naru grudgingly agreed to this trip to Beppu. Everybody suddenly wanted to go to the beach. Lin smirks because he knows Naru, despite his nonchalance, was glad about some break after the haranguing case at the Kawaguchi onsen.
They had checked in a hotel real close to the sea. The pier is a few minutes' walk from their hotel. Ayako and Masako immediately beeline for the spa. Houshou, John, Mai and Yasu decided to head to the beach. Lin is left in his room with Naru. He is unpacking his bag when he asks, "Are you even going to go outside?"
"And ruin my perfect complexion?" he yawns, "Never. I saw a little book shop near the hotel. I am going to head there." He leaves.
Lin shakes his head. He already knows what is on Naru's itinerary: sleep, read, avoid others, sleep some more. He decides to go find the others on the beach.
The air is crisp and he really enjoyed it. It had been awhile since he last been on a beach. He opens his shoes and crunches the sand under his toes. It felt nice. He looks up trying to locate the others when he spots a lone figure in a white dress standing at the pier. That is Mai's dress. He walks over.
Mai is taking deep breaths and thanking Naru for not being a jerk when they had requested him. Huh, he wanted to come as well, she scoffs. Suddenly she feels a warm touch on her shoulders. She looks up and smiles. It is Lin.
"Weren't you supposed to be with John and all?" Lin asks.
"Yeah. They heard something about sand baths and abandoned me," Mai replies. She leans into him and says, softly, "But this is nicer."
He chuckles as he wraps his arms around her and pulls her close. He kisses her neck. She sighs, greatly appreciating the warmth. Then she says, "Lin?"
"Hmm?"
"What did I do exactly that day?"
"You helped me."
"How?"
He pulls back and asks, "Don't you remember?"
"No." She turns around to face him.
He runs his hand through his hair, "You fused you energy with mine. If it weren't for you, I couldn't have fought the demon dog."
"Uh," she shuffles her feet and dips her head, "I saw all of your shikis, like they were right in front of me. How could that be?"
Lin curls his finger under her chin and raises her head. He kisses her on her forehead. He says, "Naru said that you might have potential as an onmyouji."
Her eyes widen, "Me? What? Was Naru on drugs when he said that?"
"I kind of agree with him."
"But! Me? An onmyouji? How?"
"Do you know how strong your spiritual energy is?" when she shakes her head, he sighs, "It is too strong. You will need to control it, tame it. And I think onmyoudo can help."
She dips her head. She let his words sink in slowly. She picks at the button on his shirt and says in a little voice, "You will help me, right?"
"Of course," he gets all shy next as he puts his hand over hers, "After all, I…uh, I love you, you know." Yes, now he knows. It was not hard. It was always there—the faint echo in his mind that maybe, just, maybe he is capable of loving someone back like Mai, who has never asked anything of him. She was ready to wait for him. But he will not keep her waiting any longer. He will be honest to her, and more importantly be honest with himself.
Mai looks up and giggles. When he looks at her all confused she says, "Yeah, I know. I love you." She stands on her toes and kisses him. She can feel him smiling under her lips.
This all that she needs.