Bloodless Victory

“Yukimura! Yukimura, wake up!” I struggled to open my eyes as I heard Rentarou’s voice ringing in my ear.

“What’s… wrong, Rentarou?” I was still half-dazed and sleepy from waking up, but his next words woke me up.

“It’s Shin! He’s not waking up!” I jolted to my feet and watched Hinako hovering over Shin as Nurarihyon watched her. I immediately ran over, and she was sweating, pushing herself as she used her magic on Shin.

“One more time…” Hinako repeated as I dug my nails into my palm. I looked around, and other than Nurarihyon, no other yokai were around.

The fighting had stopped. We won, but at what cost… No! Yukimura, there’s still hope for him! There has to be! I won’t let him die like this!

Rentarou couldn’t use magic, and Hinako was already pushing her mana past her limit, but there was one more person I could turn to in this moment. I walked toward him and immediately bowed. “Nurarihyon… please heal Shin. I beg of you, save him.”

“I can’t,” Nurarihyon replied with a cold and stern tone. “Shin and I made a pact. I agreed not to do anything until it’s confirmed that he ended this war without shedding blood.”

“But he did! Look around you, the yokai and Onmyoji around us are knocked out. He did—”

“No! He didn’t save himself. He is a part of this war, too. Is he not? That is why I cannot act until it’s confirmed if Shin dies or not.”

No… “You have to do something, please! I’ll do anything you want! I’ll make a pact with you, even, please just save him! I can’t lose him along with Takeda…”

Tears began to stream out of my eyes as Nurarihyon spoke, “I’m sorry, Yukimura. I can’t do anything. If I could, I would’ve saved the boy by now… And I would’ve done it by transferring mana that’s compatible with his into his body.”

I began to wipe the tears off my face as I looked at Nurarihyon’s gourd-shaped head. “Thank you, Nurarihyon, for telling me the answer.”

“Jeez… You kids, have a long way to go.” He may have said that, but I could feel his eyes watching me as I sat on top of Shin.

“W-W-What are you doing, Yukimura?” I saw Hinako cover her eyes as I straddled Shin.

“I’m just giving him a wake-up call. But we should still get him to the hospital when I’m done.” I didn’t even wait for Hinako to respond. I only rested my hands on his cold chest as I channeled my mana into his body.

Please, please, please work. I need it to.

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The sounds of birds chirping echoed in my ears. Is it morning?

I tried to stretch my arms out, but I was stopped by some type of force. Then I felt a heavy weight adjust itself on my chest.

What happened? Why was I unconscious? Did I lose? Did I fail? Am I in the underworld? I don’t want to know what happens next… But I need to.

Slowly, I opened my eyes, unsure of what was to come, but I was glad I did. I was met with the sight of white walls and sunlight leaking through blue curtains. It obscured my vision a bit as I looked to my right to see what my arm was attached to. Even though I couldn’t see it, my curiosity was answered with a beep. It was a monitor. After I heard that noise, I lowered my eyes to look down at what was on my chest, and I saw an angelic sight.

It was Yukimura. Her icy-blue hair was sprawled out on the covers above my chest. I couldn’t see her eyes as they were closed, but I did hear her lightly snoring. She must’ve been exhausted if she chose to sleep there.

I thought that, but seeing her here made me feel relaxed. Relaxed enough to lie my head down, and I was met with the fluffy welcome of a pillow. As my head sank into it, I heard her speak. She was talking in her sleep, and in a very low whisper, Yukimura said, “I love you.”

When she said that, I didn’t panic like I normally would. I didn’t jump out of the bed I was in. I didn’t even kick my feet so as not to disturb her.

The only thing I did was slightly move her hair out of the way as I whispered back, “I love you too, Suki.”