Moonlit Chat - Mesuda Village Arc

Sometime after everyone had eaten and Opal returned home Selene, Witz, Ash and Honō went to sleep with Selene and Witz sharing the upstairs bedroom while Honō and Ash did rock, paper, scissors to decide who got the bed in the medicine corner and who would get the couch. To which Honō lost meaning he would have to sleep on the couch.

As Honō tried to sleep he twist and turned until in the end when he just laid there, staring at the ceiling. The ceiling was made of wood. It’s grain pattern extravagant and swirling yet had a calming effect in the moonlit room.

After an hour of staring, he finally decided to sneak out the back door onto the cabin's patio to get some fresh air. As Honō leaned on the patio fence he began to stare at the illuminated ocean under the radiant full moon.

The smell of the ocean was salty but along with the sight made Honō feel more at peace as he stared. A few minutes after Honō came out to the patio someone came through the back door to where he was standing. As the person came through the door, Honō saw light blue hair. It was Selene.

“Oh, how come you’re awake” asked Honō as he looked over at Selene curious about why she would be up at this time of night.

“Heard someone leaving so I thought I’d check it out” answered Selene in earnest as she walked over and began to stare at the ocean with Honō.

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you or make you worry” replied Honō apologetically as he turned back to the ocean.

“Oh no don’t worry I was already awake” said Selene in a low chuckle as she raised her hand to her mouth to hide it.

“I see” smiled Honō as he looked at Selene, illuminated by the moonlight, smiling. Honō blushed slightly as he saw her moonlit smile.

“You, ok?” Asked Selene ignorant of Honō’s blush due to the night hiding it.

Honō quickly looked back at the ocean before answering, “ya I’m ok, why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well, it’s the middle of the night yet here you are watching the ocean” replied Selene as she began to face Honō.

“Oh, I see You want to know why I’m awake” spoke Honō in a near monotone voice as he stared into the ocean and began to notice the rows of white lilies in between the patio and the ocean.

“Yes, I suppose, I would like to know why you’re awake” joked Selene in a fake stern voice.

“I … I just couldn’t sleep that’s all” answered Honō now looking down at the white lilies.

Selene sighed as she spoke “Honō with my aether I can see fluctuations in the soul for example when someone’s lying and that’s the second time you’ve lied now”

“Oh, I see” said Honō as a petal began to fall from one of the white lilies.

“So could you please tell the truth now, why are you awake and why did you decide to stay in Mesuda village?” Asked Selene demanding the truth to the two lies Honō had made during his stay.

“Well, there’s no point lying now I have chronic insomnia stemming from some childhood trauma. When I do get to sleep, I just end up have flashbacks to it causing me to wake up an hour later. My constant need for coffee doesn’t help either, my coffee addiction probably stemmed from this now that I think of it” answered Honō this time in earnest.

“I see and what about your reason for staying” questioned Selene feeling somewhat sympathetic to him.

“There’s this man dressed in black going round stealing the corpses of the beasts killed during the beast attacks and I have reason to believe he’ll come here soon to collect the corpses” answered Honō once more in earnest.

“I see so why didn’t you tell the others then?” Asked Selene in one final question.

“If I’m being honest, I don’t know, I guess since it’s only really a hunch” answered Honō finally looking up from the ground.

“I see, thanks for telling me” spoke Selene in a gentle tone.

“You should head back to bad and get some sleep” suggested Honō as he began to face Selene.

“So, should you” returned Selene raising an eyebrow at the suggestion.

“As I said I can’t sleep” replied Honō looking back at the ocean and the radiant moon above it.

“I could help with that” suggested Selene as she stepped closer.

Honō blushed before replying “uhh what do you mean by help?”

“Well, I could put you to sleep same way I did Opal earlier” spoke Selene in a calm, gentle voice.

“Ohh I uh, ok I guess that could work” answered Honō somewhat flustered.

Selene confused by why Honō’s soul was fluctuating, finally realised what she had made it sound like. As she realised, she went bright red with embarrassment before she spoke “I uhhh I’m sorry I just realised how that all sounded I’m so, so sorry. You know what you were right I should go back to sleep. Bye!”

As she turned to go back inside, Honō grabbed her wrist.

“Could I still take you up on the offer?” Asked Honō laughing as he softly held her wrist.

Selene somehow even redder looked away as she said “yes”

After she said yes Honō let go of her wrist and followed her back inside the cabin to the couch where Honō was forced to sleep. As Honō laid on the couch Selene placed her hand on his chest and sent out two waves of light blue light into his chest putting him to sleep instantly.

As Honō fell to sleep Selene took her hand from his chest and placed a blanket over him with a small smile on her face as she whispered

“Good night, Honō”

Before going back to the bedroom, her and Witz was sharing.