A Weekend of Almost

Weekends at the shrine are usually quiet.

The kind of quiet where I can sweep the stones, tend the hydrangeas, reset a few fading talismans, and maybe share tea with Maria if she happens to drop by.

Maria calls the shrine her “secondary office”, though it is hardly “secondary.” Over the past year she has slowly, stealthily turned an unused side building into her personal workspace. A room full of Bureau files, emergency charms, teacups that somehow multiply, and one desk piled so high it could collapse into another dimension.

She claims it is for official purposes. I suspect it is because she likes the peace here. And perhaps, my company.

She comes and goes like a fox in human form. No one notices until she speaks. This weekend, however, Maria wasn’t the one shaking the shrine’s tranquility.

It was Mutsuki. Or rather, Mutsuki trying, and failing, to talk to me.

*****

Saturday morning, I was sweeping the veranda when I sensed him.

His aura is unmistakable and unique. It’s gentle, moonlit, slightly trembling at the edges like a lantern in wind. He appeared at the base of the steps wearing weekend clothes and that hesitant smile he tries to hide. This time, he didn’t look like a fashion model. He wore comfortable clothing.

‘Good morning, Youchan.’

He took two steps toward me, as though gathering courage for something. Maybe a question. Maybe an invitation. Maybe simply wanting to be near me.

I smiled, pleased to see him. As I opened my mouth to greet him—

‘MUTSUKI!’

Maria’s voice cracked the heavens. He jolted like a deer hearing a gunshot. I was just as surprised as him with Maria’s unannounced appearance, but his reaction was more exaggerated. He was the vampire here but it looked like it was his blood that was drained.

She marched out of the “office” building with a clipboard, a talisman, and a shopping list long enough to wrap the entire shrine.

‘I ran out of the Bureau-regulated ink yesterday. Go now.’

‘But I am not here for—’

‘Ink. Now.’

A scroll of what I assume was her shopping list for him floated towards his forehead, hitting him with a comical “bonk”. He shot me a timid, apologetic little smile over his shoulder as he jogged back down the steps.

That was the first interruption… And it did not stop.

Maria and I spent the morning reorganizing her office. Well, she reorganized. I prevented shelves from collapsing.

Every so often, distant chaos echoed through the forest.

A splash. A roar. A thud. A squeal. Something breaking. Someone running. Someone (likely Mutsuki) yelling, ‘PLEASE STOP—’

I paused mid-sweep, wondering if we should help him.

Maria didn’t even look up from her checklist. ‘He’ll be fine.’

Moments later, he sprinted across the courtyard carrying a drenched, apologizing Kishin, both of them drenched in water. A floating tape followed behind.

Maria sipped tea. ‘See?’

Later came Akashi limping after another accidental transformation. Then another student. Then another. I honestly lost track.

Each time he passed the entrance of the hall, he looked toward me. He looked tired, hopeful, apologetic. He always walked towards me. But, he was also always dragged away before he could step closer.

Errands from Maria. Calls from Maria. Lists from Maria. Or a student appearing out of nowhere needing help.

By evening, he had that floating, half-zombie look of someone running on fumes and politeness.

Still, every time he saw me, he smiled. A little smaller each time, but always sincere. My heart ached.

*****

Sunday morning, he tried again.

He came with a tiny bag of mochi clearly for sharing. This time, Maria needed me. When I manage to escape and go back to him, Honey had just arrived.

Honey launched himself at Mutsuki sensei like a soft missile. He staggered into a pillar. Honey dragged him away for “urgent bear therapy.”

Later, I saw him trudging past the veranda again holding groceries in both arms. Then being tugged by another student. All while trying to avoid Maria, who stepped out of her office and shouted, ‘MUTSUUUUKI, WE RAN OUT OF PAPER!’ He nearly cried.

Maria, beside me, scribbled something in her checklist. She looked very pleased with herself.

‘Maria-sama,’ I said slowly, ‘are you possibly… orchestrating this?’

‘He needs field experience,’ she said, sipping tea.

‘He’s exhausted… Do you want him to run off again?’

‘It’s for his growth,’ she whispered. ‘It’s for his own good.’

‘Plus, I don’t think he will leave again. Ever.’ She said as she looked at me pointedly.

‘He has not rested since… I don’t know.’

‘Character enrichment.’

I gave her a very deadpan stare. She smiled innocently.

A cunning fox in human skin. A fox with Bureau status and clearance! She absolutely orchestrated it. She was more unforgiving than actual yokais.

When Mutsuki passed by again, carrying three shopping bags, the world’s heaviest sigh escaped him. His glamour flickered. His hairdo had half fallen out.

I set down my broom to welcome him halfway.

‘Maria… he’s going to collapse.’

‘Yes,’ she nodded. ‘Excellent.’

‘Maria-sama!’

‘If he collapses, you’ll finally get a moment together. Trust me.’

I blushed at that statement. Sometimes I forget Maria is frighteningly smart.

Sunday night, at last, the shrine quieted. Scheduled visitors gone. Unscheduled student arrivals done. Certain Bureau worker clocked out of her makeshift office. Lanterns lit. The sky dark and soft and full of stars.

I had just finished preparing a simple meal. Rice, miso, simmered vegetables. Using all the random ingredients he’d been sent to buy over two days. I set the tray on a small table outside, letting the lantern glow warm the dishes. Then, I waited.

Right on cue, slow footsteps dragged up the steps. He appeared at the top of the stairs, breathless and at the brink of giving up. In his hand, the final errand from Maria. A soda from a certain vending machine, near where Kitsune Gon lived.

‘Youchan…’ he breathed.

His eyes softened when he saw me. ‘Are you free now?’

‘I am,’ I said gently. ‘Are you?’

Despite the tiredness, the smiled wholeheartedly and nodded. His whole body relaxed. 

Finally. Finally, he had reached me.

I gestured to the meal. ‘I cooked something for—’

He swayed. I stepped forward in caution.

‘Mutsuki?’

His eyes slowly closed. He smiled a soft, hopeless smile…and fell asleep standing upright. I rushed to his side to help him. He tipped sideways. Straight toward me.

‘Oh—!’

I caught him just before he hit the ground. He was warm and heavy. And so, so tired. His head lolled onto my shoulder. Peaceful in a way he never allows himself. I held him still for a moment. Then sighed softly.

‘Honestly… two days of errands, eight students, and you collapse before tasting a single bite. You silly, silly man.’

He murmured something in his sleep. Something like “sorry… wanted… dinner…”, and I felt my heart melt. I brushed a stray strand of hair from his cheek.

‘It’s alright. Eat in the morning.’

Gently, carefully, I guided him across the courtyard to the guest room connected to Maria’s office. The one Maria built “for emergencies,” though she clearly meant “for Mutsuki one day.”

He fit there perfectly.

I laid him on the futon, covered him with a soft blanket, and placed a tiny charm at his bedside to help him rest. He breathed deeply. Relaxing completely. 

I turned down the lantern, letting only a soft glow remain.

‘Next time…’ I whispered, ‘Just ask for my company. I think I’d say yes.’

When I stepped out, the night wind carried the faint sound of his contented sleepy sigh.

For the first time all weekend he finally rested… beside me.

And I didn’t mind being the one to watch over him at all.