Koi giggled at Ao's response, her warm laughter light and soothing. She leaned forward, shifting the baby slightly in her arms to give Ao a better view of his new sister.
The moment his eyes fell on her, his breath hitched. His heart leapt in his chest. She was… adorable.
Her round, chubby cheeks looked like little balls of dough, soft and squishy. Natural eye markings curved at the corners of her closed eyes, a delicate contrast against her smooth skin. Ao didn't know why she had them—maybe a birthmark, maybe something else—but it only added to her uniqueness. Her tiny, round nose twitched slightly, and her small lips suckled absentmindedly as she fed. Wisps of black hair curled at the top of her forehead, framing her peaceful face. Then there were her ears—tiny, velvety coyote ears, twitching every so often in response to her surroundings. Wrapped snugly in cloth, she looked so small. So fragile. So… real.
Ao felt his stomach twist. He leaned in instinctively, drawn closer by something he couldn't quite name. His fingers twitched at his sides, unsure. He wanted to touch her. To see if she was as soft as she looked. But as his hand rose, it trembled.
What if I hurt her? His breath hitched. She's so tiny… If I touch her too hard, I could— His fingers curled slightly. Are my hands still cold? I just came from outside… What if I make her sick? His chest tightened. What if I lose control of my spiritual energy? What if— His vision blurred at the edges. His breathing quickened, shallow and uneven.
His mind was unraveling, spiraling deeper into his fears. And then it hit him—
This is why Shiro never touched me at first, isn't it?
He could see it now, the hesitation in Shiro's eyes when he was younger. That same fear that gripped him now. The fear of breaking something so delicate, so precious. One wrong move, one slip of control, and he could ruin her life before it even began. He had to back away. He had to leave. He wasn't meant for this. He wasn't meant to be a big brother—
A soft warmth enveloped his hand.
His breath caught as Koi's gentle fingers curled around his, guiding him forward. Her touch was firm but reassuring, leading his trembling hand to the baby's head. Ao froze, his heart pounding against his ribs.
The moment his fingers brushed against her hair, he nearly flinched. But then…
Soft.
Her hair was fine, silky strands slipping between his fingers like water. Beneath it, her skin was warm, comforting. The heat of life. She didn't cry. She didn't flinch away. In fact, she nestled slightly against Koi, completely unfazed by his touch.
Ao's shoulders relaxed, the tension seeping from his body as his heartbeat slowed. He barely noticed the way his breathing evened out—barely noticed that, in his moment of panic, he had instinctively drawn in spiritual energy, triggering Respira and Spirit Cycle. His mind was calm enough now to perceive what it was doing. The energy in the air around them moved toward her, being funneled through her body like a steady current. It was happening faster with hers since Ao was using the spiritual energy coming off of him to guide the ones in the environment towards the baby.
it wasn't invasive. It wasn't harmful. It was… nurturing. His energy instinctively worked to help her body filter out the negative buildup of spiritual energy she had accumulated while feeding from Koi. And soon, it would be expelled naturally.
Ao blinked.
W-what…?
A gentle voice pulled him from his trance
"It's okay, Ao…" Koi's voice was soft, reassuring. "She's your sister. She's family. You don't have to be afraid of her."
Ao's throat tightened. He wasn't sure what to focus on—the warmth of his sister's head beneath his palm, or the sheer weight of Koi's words. His eyes burned slightly, though he didn't know why.
Koi's smile deepened as she watched him. "You know… you're a lot like your father."
Ao looked up, startled. "What?"
Koi giggled, shifting the baby slightly in her arms. "When I had you, he reacted the same way. He wouldn't touch you for weeks." She sighed, eyes full of memory. "I started to worry that you'd think he didn't love you… But when you were a few months old, he finally came around. He finally let me show him that it was okay to hold you. That he wouldn't hurt you. And in turn…" She reached out, tucking a stray lock of hair behind Ao's ear. "I learned how to help you through what you're feeling now."
Ao swallowed thickly, his fingers tightening slightly against his sister's head.
"You're her big brother," Koi murmured. "She's going to rely on you more than you know. You don't have to be perfect. You just have to be here."
She leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to Ao's forehead. The warmth of it seeped through him, settling deep in his chest. He didn't realize until that moment that tears were pricking the corners of his eyes, blurring his vision slightly. He wasn't sure if it was from relief, from the intensity of his emotions, or simply from the fact that his mother had read him so effortlessly. Maybe it was all of it.
Koi smiled, reaching up to cup his cheek. With a gentle thumb, she wiped away the forming tears before they could fall.
"Would you like to know her name?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ao swallowed hard, his throat tight with unspoken emotions. He nodded.
And for the first time since he had even been born, he felt like he belonged.
Koi's voice was gentle, almost reverent. "Murasaki," she murmured. "Murasaki Hinote. That is your sister's name." Her gaze lingered on the child in her arms, warmth and love filling her eyes.
Ao turned the name over in his mind. Murasaki. It was beautiful. It fit her as though it had been crafted just for her—like it was meant to be.
"Murasaki..." he whispered, his fingers still gliding absently through her delicate strands of hair.
i promise... Ao thought as he watched the slight twitch in her tiny eyelids, the gentle muscle spasms in her face as she rested. I will protect you. I will become the brother worthy of being looked up to by you… someone deserving of your love, of Dad's respect, of Mom's joy and guidance. No matter how many times I must break and rebuild myself, nothing— his eyes hardened —nothing will ever bring harm to you. No matter who it may be.
Koi leaned forward, brushing her nose against Ao's in an affectionate nuzzle. "I would cook for you, love, but my body is still recovering. You can ask your father for a meal—he's in the backyard, tending to the garden."
Ao froze slightly at her words, the realization settling in like a slow-moving chill. She was still in bed—still weak. She had given birth, yes, but Murasaki looked to be a few months old now. By now, she should have recovered… His brows furrowed. "What happened?" he asked, his voice careful, yet laced with concern.
Koi's smile remained, but there was something different about it—something softer, yet not entirely reaching her eyes. "My body was growing weaker during the birth… I don't know why, but it felt like I was fading. It made bringing Murasaki into the world much harder than it should have been." She spoke with no regret, only quiet acceptance as she gazed at her child.
Ao's stomach twisted. Weakening? But why?... That doesn't make sense.
His fingers unconsciously curled, pulling away from the baby's head. He glanced at his own palm—small, yet slightly larger than before. The dirt marks and roughness of training were evident upon his skin. His mind reeled, flipping back to when he had accidentally used Respira on Murasaki. He hadn't meant to, but it had given him insight into her spirit veins. Perhaps… perhaps I can do the same for Mom…
Determined, he reached out, placing a steady palm on Koi's shoulder. Closing his eyes, he drew in a deep breath, allowing the natural flow of spiritual energy around him to guide his actions. He latched onto the untouched, raw energy in the environment, using it as a catalyst. Gently, he funneled the purified energy toward her, letting it pass into her nose and mouth undetected. But just before it could enter her body, he withdrew his own energy from it, ensuring his essence wouldn't mix with hers.
As she inhaled, Ao's perception shifted. His mind painted a full-body image of her internal state—her spirit veins illuminated like an intricate nervous system. His breath hitched. Toward her heart, lower stomach, and chest, dark patches festered—a lot of negative spiritual energy. More than even he had ever accumulated.
What the hell…? The dark masses pulsed ominously, like massive, bloated ticks, feeding off her essence. He had never seen ones this big. This… this is why she hasn't recovered…
Without hesitation, Ao engaged Spirit Cycle. Bit by bit, he nudged her body into filtering the corrupted energy, guiding it out naturally, just like breathing. But there was so much. The sheer buildup made the process painstakingly slow. This will take time…
The moment he released his hold, his knees buckled. A deep sigh left his lips as exhaustion took its toll. His vision blurred slightly, his body nearly collapsing—
But before he could hit the ground, Koi's arms caught him.
"Are you okay?!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with worry.
Ao exhaled shakily, pressing a hand to his temple as a dull ache throbbed in his skull. "Yeah… I'm just… a bit exhausted," he murmured, rubbing his head. It wasn't fatigue, not exactly. His body wasn't worn down, but his mind—his mind was drained. The sheer concentration it had taken to control his Respira and Spirit Cycle, to ensure not a single trace of his own spiritual energy seeped into his mother's body—it was a mental strain unlike anything he had experienced before. He had never attempted this on another person, and the weight of it left him feeling unsteady.
Koi's brows knitted together, concern softening her gaze as she cradled Murasaki closer to her chest. "You should rest…" she said gently, the worry evident in her voice. Her fingers twitched slightly, as if resisting the urge to reach for him.
Ao forced a small smile, brushing off her concern. "I'll be fine." His voice was steady, but his eyes flickered with something unreadable. Then, tilting his head slightly, he asked, "How long have you been feeling this weak?"
Koi hesitated. Her lips parted slightly before pressing together again, her grip on the baby tightening just a little. She glanced down, avoiding Ao's gaze, before speaking softly. "I've always been weak at least for the past few years now… My heart—if I used spiritual energy, it would beat too fast. Faster than it should. It…" Her voice wavered before she steadied herself, exhaling slowly. "It caused chest pain. Sometimes, I'd struggle to breathe. And… in rare moments, my whole left side would go numb." Her voice dropped lower, as if she didn't want to burden him with the truth. "The midwife helped me before it got worse."
Ao's jaw clenched. His fingers curled into fists at his sides as he processed her words, his thoughts racing. Her heart… chest pain… the left side going numb… His stomach twisted into knots. This isn't something new. This isn't something that just happened. It's been building for years.
His hands trembled slightly at his sides, but he swallowed down the burning frustration creeping up his throat. If this condition was long-term… if it was something serious… if it was hereditary—
He inhaled sharply, trying to steady his thoughts. His gaze flickered to Murasaki, still resting peacefully in Koi's arms, oblivious to what was going on. She could have it too… The thought sent a cold shiver down his spine.
Forcing himself to refocus, Ao straightened. His expression hardened. I need to look into this, he thought. "I have to figure out what's causing this—what this even is. His mind was already racing ahead, piecing together his next steps. If there were books, he'd find them. If there were people who knew, he'd ask them. Kuro might have insight. If not, he'd check the old records. And if those failed, he'd go to Kori—she had treated his mother before. One way or another, he would get answers.
Koi's expression softened once she noticed Ao gaze hardeninng. "Oh, honey, you don't need to worry about me—"
"I am worried," Ao interrupted, his tone sharp, but not unkind. He stepped closer, his eyes dark with determination. "I'm sending Kuro in here to keep an eye on you."
"Ao, really, that's not—"
"I'm doing it." His voice left no room for argument. His gaze locked onto hers, unwavering. "Just focus on resting. I'll take care of the rest."
For a long moment, they simply looked at each other. Then, Koi sighed, her expression giving way to something tired but understanding. "Alright… just don't push yourself too hard."
Ao didn't respond. He simply turned on his heel and left the room, his mind already moving a hundred steps ahead.
I won't let this take you away from us, Mom. Nothing will take you away from us.