Title: Kokuhaku
Fandom: Sakura Spirit
Rating: PG
Length: 940 Words
Content Notes: No warnings applicable.
Author Notes: Post-canon by several years.
Summary: Narumi has a confession for Machiko.

* * * *

The forest never seemed to change. The humans of the village had been taught to respect its boundaries and only go there for foraging and hunting. If anything, the pact that had been established between humans and spirits had only served to make the place seem more like it had in the years before the humans had adventured that high up into the mountains – more primeval, if that made any sense. To Narumi, though, it had started to lose its sense of majesty, since she had to go there almost every day to patrol, or to escort a party of villagers searching along the pathways for mushrooms.

But she did not always go into the forest for business. She occasionally had to go there to visit Machiko, one of her oldest friends, and she had come there again for that reason. Or so she told herself. This visit had acquired a purpose that had been seeping into her heart for a long time – since she and Machiko had renewed their ties, in fact.

"No playmates today?" The familiar voice came down from up in the trees, and Narumi looked up, nodding. Miyo accompanied her from time to time, though she promised to stop coming almost every time, due to finding herself in unlikely predicaments, sometimes due to the spirits playing pranks, sometimes due to a deep-seated clumsiness that only seemed to affect her outside the heat of combat. And yet she invariably agreed to come back, seeming to forget all of her prior discomforts.

"Miyo's still upset about losing her shirt to a thorn bush last time," Narumi replied as Machiko descended to the ground, dropping soundlessly to the pathway in front of her, one fox ear twitching as a dead leaf touched its tip while drifting past her. "She'll get over it, I'm sure, but she'll need a little time. Again." She shook her head, half-smiling to herself. "How are things? Seen Tsuyuri around lately, or is it just you and Maeko?"

"I think Tsuyuri's off visiting Takahiro again," Machiko said, tapping her chin, "trying to get him to come back and see Miyo or something. Maeko's at home trying to teach Sakura what food tastes like." She wrinkled her nose. "Not that slimes care about that, but it's a nice idea. Might keep her from eating out of the garbage." And she tilted her head. "So what are you doing out here, Narumi, since you're here by yourself? It's too early in the day for patrol, and ... you're shuffling your feet." She grinned. "What is it? Did you meet somebody? Because that's the kind of face that says you did."

"I, uh –" Machiko had always been good at reading her tells. "– well, yeah, I guess I did, but they don't know yet. I haven't really said anything." Her cheeks must have been as red as her hair. "I came out here to ... talk about it. Before I lose my nerve, you know."

"Well, as your best friend, that's what I'm here for." Her fox ears both straightened, as if to show she was ready to listen. "So! Boy or girl?" That took Narumi aback, though she should have expected the question, considering that spirits did not discriminate by gender in terms of affection. When she did not answer, Machiko added, "Or maybe more than one? Are you going to try and do things the complicated way?"

"N-no, Machiko, it's just one," Narumi said, "and it's a girl. Maybe that's why I'm a little unsure." A deep breath. "Or maybe that's just because of who it is. I mean, I'm –" Machiko had her eyes narrowed, though she still smiled. "Something on my face?"

"You've figured it out, haven't you?" Her tone changed, but Narumi had a blank expression, not understanding. "Haven't you? What have you got to say?"

"You can probably tell," Narumi admitted. "It's you, Machiko. I like you. I just –" She shook her head again. "– I didn't know what that would do to our friendship. We almost lost that, and ... I don't want to risk losing it again, but I still had to come out here and tell you, see how you felt about it." She exhaled. "There. I feel better now."

Machiko replied, steepling her fingers, "Well, I mean, I was hoping you'd figure out that the option's always been there. I've been open to the idea ever since we both got our memories back. I've always liked you, Narumi." Another big grin, showing off the points of her teeth as she rested her fists on her hips. "So! I accept your confession, and that's that." Her face softened. "But you don't have to do anything about it right away. I promise. Neither one of us is the shy type, but ... if you don't want to rush, don't rush. The world's at peace right now, and we've both got plenty of time." A parting wink. "Think it over. When you're ready to tell me more, come and see me again."

And she disappeared into the trees, making only the smallest of noises.

Narumi thought, bowing her head, placing one hand over her heart as she felt its beat slow down to a normal pace, That's one step. And she looked into the trees, feeling like she could lose herself in their midst if she stared at them for too long. I'll be back for the next one. Wait for me a little longer, Machiko. She turned to go back to the village, though she did look over her shoulder one more time before leaving.

END.