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“Kohaku?”
“Hmh?”
“Do you have any plans after this? You know, since it is your birthday,” Ruri kept her eyes glued to the floor in front of her.
“Is it?” Kohaku replied with almost disinterest. “I didn’t notice,” She continued to brush her sister’s hair.
With a shallow breath, Ruri tried not to dwell on that answer. “Yes, well… I hear Sagan and Ganen were going spearfishing. I’m sure they’d appreciate your help,”
“As long as they can still see the seabed, they’ll be fine,” Kohaku replied, her brush strokes just as rhythmic.
“True… What about joining in on Kinro and Ginro’s training? I heard Jasper and Turquoise talking about something later today, and since you’re now 16-,”
“Can’t, I have to make it up the mountains for the healing water before the sun goes down,” Kohaku’s answer was as swift as all the other times.
Normally that would be the end of the conversation, but as Ruri picked up her head from the ground she caught a glimpse of the sun just pecking through her tent. It had already started to come down from its peak in the sky. With that meant the rays reached just enough inside to warm her face. Though she doubted that grace was extended to her sister behind her.
“I’m sure it can wait a day,” Ruri said.
Finally Kohaku’s brushing stopped half way through a stroke. “I-,” Her voice wobbled for a second. “I can’t Ruri. You need that water,”
Ruri shifted her knees to be perpendicular with Kohaku’s “I want you to live your life too,” She reached for the younger one’s hand. Kohaku’s eyes followed Ruri’s arm up to her face. “Out there,” Ruri glanced out to the sky. “Climb the highest tree you can or make those flower crowns in the fields like we used to,”
Kohaku opened her mouth like she was going to say something before glancing back down at her fist being held by her sister’s hand. If it wasn’t attached to Ruri’s arm Kohaku would have no idea it was even her sister’s. It was the same color as a seashell and the skin was starting to sink in.
“Flower dust only makes your sickness worse,” Kohaku pulled her hand back before pushing herself up. “I’ll be fine, Ruri. I can do all that stuff later,” Kohaku flashed her a smile before disappearing beyond the stairs of the tent.
I swear she gets her stubborness from dad.
“ Jasper, Turquoise,” Ruri called.
“Yes, Priestess?” Her two guards looked up at her.
“Could you send for Suika? I need her help with something,” Of course, she was also Kokuyo’s daughter.
.
.
.
“Ruri!” Kohaku shouted from the arena’s bridge, as she ran across.
Stupid fallen branch.
She hadn’t had any time to change directions as she slid down the hill and ended up with a spilled pot of water and a banged up knee. Going back up the trail to get more healing water took more time than she had hoped. Now the sun was fully set and she was beyond late.
“Ruri!” Kohaku huffed as she reached the last step.
Kohaku didn’t know what she expected to find. She knew what she was hoping for and what she was praying she wasn’t too late for, but this was neither. This was basket upon basket of different flowers filling up the Priestess’s hut.
“Kohaku!” The little girl beamed behind her watermelon rind.
“There you are,” Rurui smiled.
Kohaku put down the pot of water to look around the space. ‘What’s going on?”
“We’re getting ready to make flower crowns!” Suika jumped up to her feet.
“But Ruri- you’re illness-,” Kohaku protested as Suika dragged her inside the tent.
“Is only affected by the flower’s dust,” Ruri quickly corrected. “Me and Suika found out if you pick out the middle part of the flowers, it’s not as bad,”
“But- how?” Kohaku stammered. “This whole time?”
“I mean, it’d be hard to pick a whole field but I think this is a good compromise,” Ruri replied. Suika led Kohaku to a basket full of blue and pink flowers. Sure enough, all the middle parts had been taken out. “At least for now?”
Kohaku took a seat next to her sister and watched her pick flowers in her basket freely. She hadn’t seen her do that in so long.
Kohaku felt her throat start to get tight and her vision started to blur the floorboards below her. All she could say was- “ya,”- since she couldn’t trust her own voice. And even then, the sound came out broken.
But despite that (or maybe it was an effect) it was the happiest Kohaku had been in a long time.
Hours later they must've had more flower crowns than there were people in the village. At some point in the night it had become more than just making what they needed, but making what they wanted.
By the end Suika stacked three different crowns around her head and declared that ‘Suika was priestess of the flowers’, and with all those flowers around her as she slept, it looked like she might be.
“Sorry it was such a small celebration,” Ruri whispered. “It was hard to think of something so last minute,”
Kohaku felt a few chuckles bloom from her chest. “What are you talking about? This has been my best birthday in years,”
“I’m glad,” Ruri leaned on her sister’s shoulder. “And I promise next year’s will be even better. Just you wait,”
.
“Just you wait,”
.
“Suika, where are you taking me?” Kohaku tried to ask again.
“It’s a surprise so- ooh watch your step,” Suika tried to guide her.
“And this blindfold is part of surprise?” Kohaku had her arms slightly reached out so she wouldn’t run into anything.
“Well Senkuu thought it’d make the surprise better,” Suika answered, just as cheerfully.
Little did she know Kohaku made a mental note to get Senkuu back for this. “Okay but isn’t this a little much?”
“It’s just a littleeee further,” Suika’s pace picked up, almost catching Kohaku off guard. “And now!”
Kohaku pulled at the knot behind her to see the Kingdom of Science standing in a field of flowers in front of her.
“Suprise!” They sang together.