Some days after Tomia was cleaner now, walking through the forest as a beautiful ghost, her hair flowing behind her like snow.
And the tail she once dragged behind her now slightly coiled up and raised so it does not get dirty.
For a moment Tomia heard something, loud.
The sounds of rock and wood breaking, that wasn't normal, she rushed forwards to see what it was, curiosity getting the better of her as she eventually reached a temple she was crouched down at the top of a hill overlooking the temple and peered down on it.
Then she saw it, 3 people…humans?
"No, it can't be one of them punching through rock…humans are not that strong."
She thought to herself as she looked on with curiosity, something pulled on her heart as she found herself observing the scene, mainly the boy who was training. When she was looking at him something tugged on her heart and made her wanna move closer.
Then there was an older looking man with a scary look on his face, then a person that Tomia also took interest in.
A girl with blonde hair that seemed to radiate with energy and happiness as she appeared to be speaking with the others and laughing.
Tomia's body clenched as she frowned and thought to herself again.
"I want that…I wanna laugh and be with people that are nice"
She said and stood up and started walking closer, her heart pulling her there even though something in her whispered to not go, cause she'll be seen as a monster again.
In the meantime Kaito's family slowly dispersed as their father ordered a break. Though Kaito had the duty to clean up before he did so.
Yui stood off to the side and teased Kaito.
"Sweep better Kaito! See you left a spot there!"
She says and with a chuckle as she pointed towards a random spot.
Kaito looked back at her and pointed towards another broom that was placed against a wall not far from Yui.
"You know, if you're so smart there's another broom for you to take and give me a hand!"
Yui raised her hands in the gesture of giving up.
"Not my job Kaito…dad gave you this job and thus it is your duty"
Kaito laughed a bit and turned back to sweeping
"You're impossible"
After some time of sweeping Yui called out to Kaito with a bit of a worried voice.
"Hey…Kaito–?"
Kaito waved his hand to dismiss her.
"Yea yea, I know I missed a spot."
Yui raised her voice and stood up pointing to the gate.
"No! Kaito look!"
Kaito, a bit confused, looked to Yui then to the gate, at the gate stood Tomia, her legs shaking gently as she stood there staring at the two, tears running down her face, as she took a deep sigh and fell to her knees.
Before she could fully collapse Kaito rushed forwards to catch her.
"Hey! You okay? Speak to me!"
Tomia looked up at the boy, her eyes soft as she looked into his eyes and smiled, the tears still running down her face as she reached her hand out to his cheek and felt his warmth. She opened her mouth and let out a soft and sheepish.
"Hello~"
Before fully passing out in Kaito's arms, the exhaustion finally got to Tomia as she had not slept in days, letting herself rest in Kaito's arms.
Kaito, panicking a little, called to Yui who was frozen, staring at what was happening.
"Call for dad!"
Yui hesitating, shook her head and nodded, rushing to the temple to look for dad.
"Daad!"
She called out.
In the meantime Kaito picked Tomia up and started carrying her slowly to the temple.
"She's so light"
He thought to himself, the fact that such a young and pretty girl who was basically half naked in his arms barely crossed his mind, he had to help her.
Within a couple of seconds Yui came rushing to Kaito with their dad.
Their dad spoke loud and clear.
"Bring her to the guest room! Yui go make some warm towels and prepare some tea. I'll go get some tools to look at her!"
Kaito brought her to the guest room, it was a simple Japanese styled room with a futon in the middle of the room as he placed her down and covered her with a blanket, as he tried to pull away he noticed that Tomia was pulling on his shirt tightly, not letting go. Kaito then crouched down.
After some time of examination, their father stuffed his tools away and turned to Kaito and Yui who were in the room around Tomia.
"She's just exhausted, appears to be malnourished too and her body heat is very low. We should let her rest and see who she is really…but one thing is certain, she is a demon and a young one at that."
Yui nodded as she looked down at Tomia, with a gentle smile.
"I'm glad the girl's okay, she seems to have been really distressed…maybe she got lost, or somebody was hunting her? Otherwise she's really pretty, wonderful hair and the gentle skin and face"
Kaito was looking down on the girl, she had long let go of him..but it kept crossing his mind. What the hell was all that? Her touching his cheek and saying hello? Did she know him or what? Then her holding onto him? No surely nothing like that, she was probably just confused.
The three then stood up one by one slowly, with Kaito last as they slowly started to leave the room. Kaito before he left, turned up the heating in the room and then closed the shoji-sliding door behind him and walked to the kitchen.
When Tomia woke up she nuzzled into the blankets that were covering her, it was so warm in them and in the room.
"So nice.."
She muttered to herself and opened her eyes, the eyes fluttering in confusion.
"Where am I?"
She thought to herself as the place was unrecognizable to her. All she remembered before passing out was the boy who held her, his face and his warmth, his bigger hands making her feel safe and secure.
Tomia slowly sat up, looked around and found a gown folded beside her with some food on a tray and a note on it.
She picked it up and read it.
"Here's some clothes and supper when you wake up :)" - Yui
The paper had it written in it. Whoever was this Yui, seemed to be a nice person. Tomia stood up and picked up the gown, it was a pure white gown, that may have been a bit too big for her, but she pulled it over her head and wore it, the sleeves longer than her arms and the skirt of it so long that it touched the ground, she then knelt down in front of the tray and looked what food was prepared for her.
In the bowl was some Miso soup, on the side there was grilled fish along with some rice, it was still warm..though not hot, Tomia didn't care.
To her it smelled amazing and without hesitation she started gobbling up the food, her eyes filling with joy and spark as she stuffed her mouth, some tears appearing in her eyes again and a big smile tugging at her mouth.
"Sho ghood!"
She mumbled to herself through the food in her mouth, she didn't get to eat food this good in ages, it was like a luxury.
When she was done with the food she looked around the room, it was a very rustic and historical styled Japanese room. Only difference was the windows installed for better insulation. She walked to the window and looked out, it was evening she looked up at the sky and saw the stars. Ever since she escaped the snow, stars and the moon were her only real friends.
She smiled slightly and hugged herself.
"These people are…nice"
She nuzzled a little into her own shoulder.
Abruptly the shoji-door opened and in the door stood Yui. A big smile appeared on her face as she saw Tomia awake, she knelt down to get a bit lower and not be intimidating, she remained in the door still smiling.
"Hey there"
She said in a soft tone.
Tomia's eyes fluttered, a bit afraid of Yui she was hesitant to speak, but something about her felt safe, unlike the scientist she didn't enter the room, she also spoke softly and said hello to her. Not to mention the room and her smile was much more welcoming than the sterile white and the scientists of the facility so Tomia spoke up.
"H-Hello…"
Her voice was sheepish as she looked towards Yui.
Yui smiled and pointed towards the tray of food.
"I heard the dishes clanking, I assumed you were awake. Did you enjoy the food? How's the gown?"
Tomia gulped a little and smiled…this must be the Yui that wrote the note to her.
"Very good…and the gown is nice and soft. Thank you…"
Yui gave an even bigger smile as she scooted closer, grabbing the tray.
"I am happy to hear that, when you feel ready come to the living room, it's on the left down the hallway from here. Before you feel ready, rest up, and if you need anything just call for me. Oh! And what is your name?"
A small tear slid down Tomia's cheek from her eye as somebody had asked for her name. A soft smile appeared on her face.
"Tomia…"
Yui smiled back and stood up with the tray in her hands.
"That's a nice name, as you know I am Yui, the boy whose arms you fell into is Kaito and our dad is Hiroshi, but you can also call him Mr.Kawakami. But I'll get going now, like I said…when you're ready come say hello to Kaito and my dad, Tomia"
Yui bowed her head and took a step back and then closed the door behind her.
Tomia sat there, tears of happiness slowly spilling from her eyes…she felt safe and happy.
Tomia spent some time in the room, hesitating on if she is allowed to leave the room, Yui said she can but what if they'd still yell at her.
After even more contemplating she walked over to the door and slid it open, looking through the hallway, she heard some chatter coming from the living room as she walked closer she could hear Yui talking.
"She's like a doll! Kaito and the way she held onto you was so cute! Your first attention from a girl!"
Yui laughed a little, but another voice broke through.
"What is that supposed to even mean?! The poor girl was exhausted, lost and was probably just happy to see someone for the first time in a long time!"
Kaito said with a flustered voice.
As Tomia stepped through the doorway, Hiroshi who was sitting in an armchair gave her a slight nod.
"Did you sleep well young miss?"
Both Kaito and Yui who were sitting along each other turned their heads back to look at Tomia.
Tomia was a little flustered and scared, blushed and nodded.
Hiroshi gave a nod back and took a deep breath.
"You gave us quite a fright there. Please take a seat, and tell us where you are from. And where are your parents?"
Tomia sat down at an armchair not far from the couch where Kaito and Yui were seated, the cushions under her felt so nice. She smiled and looked up, thinking for a second.
"I…I'm from nowhere, I ran away from a lab about a week ago, the same people who I ran away from killed my mother when I was little"
The three grit their teeth at the mention of that, hitting a bit too close to home.
Hiroshi spoke up and frowned.
"I see…the DHC really are terrible, well…considering you have no home, we'll have to see what we can do"
Yui spoke out loudly.
"What can we do?! Not like there is an adoption center for demons!"
Kaito looked at Tomia who was staring holes into him. Her gentle smile and a blush on her face made his heart ache.
"Can she not stay here with us? We have a spare room afterall, and we're doing well with money, we can't just send her back out into the Wild, the DHC might be after her!"
Hiroshi looked at Kaito and shook his head.
"That is exactly why we can't keep her here, you know what co–"
Kaito abruptly stood up, making everyone look at him.
"I don't care what could happen! We can't send a girl to be hunted down like some animal, mom would not want that!"
Yui looked up to Kaito then to their dad.
"Dad…please, he's right. What would mom do?"
Hiroshi would close his eyes and take a deep breath.
"Something foolish like that…fine, I'll think about it. But you two take care of her okay?"
He said and stood up from his armchair. Looked to Tomia and bowed, then to his children.
"I'm gonna go to bed"
He said and left.
In the meantime Tomia felt weird, something in her body stirred…but in a good way, it was a nice feeling. She kept staring at Kaito, nobody ever stood up for her like this before…not to mention, he saw her for what she is, not as a monster.
"Kaito…"
She whispered to herself as she smiled.
Yui took notice and looked at Tomia, then to Kaito. A small smug face appeared on her face as she understood what this meant. She then stood up and patted Kaito on the back.
"Tuck her into bed for me will you? Imma go to bed too"
Yui said, and as Kaito opened his mouth to reply she was already gone in the hallway.
Kaito, a bit confused, sat motionless.
Tomia on the other hand got up and moved closer to Kaito, before she stood over him and clasped his cheeks and looked down onto his face, and with a bright smile she said.
"Hello! Nice to meet you, I'm Tomia!"
Kaito, even more confused now looked up at Tomia and mumbled through the squeeze.
"Yes, hello Tomia…I'm Kaito. Can you please let go?"
Tomia did so and continued smiling at him.
Kaito in the meantime wondered what to do, thought that maybe Tomia took it seriously and wanted to be tucked in…with a slight blush he stood up and gestured to her to follow him.
Tomia did so, her gentle steps making silent sounds against the wooden sliding floor. She stared at Kaito's back and kept smiling.
Kaito opened the door for her and gestured for her to walk inside.
She did so and sat down on the futon and looked down at it, then laid down.
As Kaito got closer to try and tuck her in, she looked up at him and smiled brightly.
"Are you going to sleep with me?!"
She said with an excited voice, clearly happy that such a thing was happening.
Kaito, taken aback by the question, froze up a little and quickly shook his head.
"N-No! I was just gonna tuck you in!"
Tomia tilted her head to the side and nodded.
"Hm…okay! That works too"
She smiled and nuzzled into a pillow, laying on her chest.
Kaito, still flustered, looked down at her.
"I can't believe I'm doing this to a stranger"
He said and covered her in the blanket.
"I'm in the room across from yours, I might be awake for a little bit longer than others so if you need anything just knock. In the meantime get some more sleep, you didn't rest as long as you should from your exhaustion."
Kaito was talking to an already sleeping Tomia, the moment the blanket was placed over her, the tiredness, warmth and sense of security overwhelmed her and put her to sleep.
Kaito couldn't help but smile a little as he saw that, he stood up and walked out of the room silently, closing the door behind him as he did.