[IC] Foxes in SPAAAAAAAACE (Xaltwind and CitrusArms)

[CitrusArms]

The look of gentle bewilderment did not escape her, and she supposed it must have seemed ridiculous, to anyone who would place her on a pedestal, to see her dressed this way, doing something so domestic as cooking or cleaning. Yet, "am I not allowed to enjoy cooking, Miyuki?" She gave the other a playful huff as she passed.

And then Miyuki revealed something about herself.

The noise she made had been completely unexpected. And rather adorable, at that. Yumeiko was barely able to follow the yokai's movement to the table, where she sat and waited to be allowed to eat.

Where had all that bravado gone, then? Yumeiko was careful to smile kindly, though part of her wanted to smirk. She could appreciate the restraint shown, despite Miyuki's obvious appetite.

Now was not the time, however.

Miyuki should understand. "You know what comes first."

Yumeiko put her hands together, bowed her head over the food, and offered thanks before the meal. Then, she gave Miyuki a smile and nod before beginning to eat, herself.

[Xaltwind]

Watching Yumeko give thanks for the food before them, the black haired fox did the same... Closing her eyes and clapping her palms together infront of her.

"... Rubba-dub-dub, thanks for the grub, we give thanks."

... That... Was not even remotely a prayer, in any religion or corner of the cosmos.. But it was likely not going to get any better. With the formalities out nof the way, and tradition adhere d to and upheld, it was now time for the important bits that actually mattered.

Stuffing your face.

And stuff thine face did Miyuki do. Barely had Yumeko allowed the eating to commence, before Miyuki's hands deftly snatched her chopsticks and got to work, devouring the little hill of sticky rice in her bowl as if it was the last morsels of food that a starving beast had been bble to find after a week or more of complete and utter lack of anything edible. The om-nom-nom's were strong, and the grains of glorious goodness were gobbled down the gullet in gratuitous gusto.

Alas, for 'twas not only the poor, innocent rice that was ravenously devoured. Soon, the poor, defenseless shrimps would feel the merciless munchings of the insatiable fiend! With a might crunch, the first fell! An ecstatic 'MmmMmmmMMMmmhmmmmn~' sounded out through the room as the dark haired fox took the first bite of the crispy, deep-fried sea food. Then another... And another... And yet another...

Munch. Crucnh. Munch. Crucnh. Slurp. Sauce. Slurp. Crunch. Munch. Gobble. Gobble. Slurp.

This pattern would repeat et infinitum if Yumeko allwoed it. Or, at least so long as there was tempura and rice within reach and eye-shot of the hungry, hungry Miyuki.

Though, for all her ... Gourmet-tendencies... Yumeko would notice a few thing about her guest's behavior. Apart form the cute noises of contented bliss and happiness, that is.

For one, Miyuki did not speak while eating. She never said a word or tried to bring up a conversation. Focused entirely on eating. Second, while she was what some would call a 'vaccum', she actually possessed surprisingly dignified manners - chewing with her mouth closed, using her utensils properly and - most impressive of all - never dropping or spilling any of the meal, or additives. There were no sauce-stains on the table or floor near her, no grains of rice stuck to her clothes or face, no crumbs or pices of shredded shrimp anywhere except inside her mouth.

So... Maybe she had manenrs and etiquette after all...? Just... Really hyper-focused on meal-times...?

[CitrusArms]

What was that prayer? It was Yumeiko's turn to offer up a bewildered look, but Miyuki was too busy eating to notice. The priestess took a moment to watch the other fox eat, astonished both by the ferocity, the speed with which she consumed the meal in front of her, but also the speed at which she showed table manners.

And not a grain of rice was wasted.

She'd been so engrossed in watching Miyuki eat that she'd barely taken a bite of her own meal. Yumeiko glanced quickly between their settings and started gobbling down some of her own food before Miyuki might think to begin reaching beyond her place setting. If the way she ate was any indication, Miyuki was not someone to fight with over food. Best to eat her fill before it became a problem.

Where Miyuki went through her rice first, Yumeiko ate a balance as she went. She did not strain to meet Miyuki's pace, but she ate, perhaps, a little faster than she might have otherwise. She did not grab a balance of rice and shrimp, but instead ate a morsel of rice, then a shrimp, then a another morsel or two, creating a balance in the end before she would commit her mouthful and continue. She braced to fend off Miyuki's chopsticks, if the other should decide to try her meal defenses.

Then again, Miyuki sounded so delighted with the food, Yumeiko felt compelled.

While she chewed a mouthful, the priestess found a smaller bowl at the table and put together a helping of her own rice, and shrimp she'd yet to eat, which she passed across to Miyuki as the other ran out of food.

[Xaltwind]

With the battle over and the forces of the food devastated, Miyuki was perfectly content to just sit and watch as Yumeko ate her own meal, at her own pace.

... But then the golden fox prepared a small bowl of bits and pieces from her own eaten meal... And slid it over to Miyuki's side fo the table.

There was a momentary pause. A tilt of the head. And then a realization that sparked in the black haired fox's eyes.

Snartf.

... And it was gone. Just like that. The reinforcements not made it in time, and now they had been wiped out as well, due to the overwhelming force of the enemy they had faced. Alas, rest wlel ye brave souls, you did what you could for your fallen comrades.

Now that the second wave of eating was done with, and Miyuki had nothing left to stick in her gob - unless she intended to also guzzle down the soy sauce and other bottles straight outta the flasks - the dark fox's tail began to slowly flit and sweep behind her.

"So... What do I owe the pleasure of your visit today?" She asked, having placed her chopsticks down over her empty bowl infront of her. "... Surely you didn't come all the way to check up on little old me just to have me do some domestic chores, hm~?"

There was a slight sardonic tinge to her voice, but ehr face seemed friendly and sincere enough. Apparently having gotten something in her tummy had made the dark haired one less moody or grumpy or something... She seemed a bit brighter if nothing else.

[CitrusArms]

Ooh, good. Miyuki was not so possessed by hunger that she might reach to take Yumeiko's helping. The blonde relaxed a bit as she finished her meal, her ears slightly less attentive. She ate rather calmly, especially compared to Miyuki. She wasn't one to make many noises, usually, but something about the meal was quite satisfying to her.

Yumeiko paused her chopsticks in her mouth as she heard the question.

What had she come for, today? The priestess gave a thoughtful hum as she grabbed another shrimp. "Well, uh," she considered her answer as she took another bite.

She thought about it hard, for a moment. "I came to check on you, if you'd been hurt in the impacts." She had been concerned for the other's safety, but that wasn't all. She'd wanted someone to eat with, but that wasn't the root of it.

"But, if I'm honest, I guess," she stared at her rice, an ounce of hesitation, "I wanted to stop being a Goddess, for a moment." She nodded softly, satisfied with her answer before she continued eating. It didn't take her much longer to finish her portion, and as she set her chopsticks down, she stilled again.

"Maybe I haven't exactly acted accordingly. It's hard to put it down, after so long." She rose, then, and gathered their bowls and chopsticks to take them to be washed. It was just a matter of putting them up in the proper place.

Before she stepped away from the table, Yumeiko laid a hand gently on Miyuki's shoulder. "Thank you for enjoying my cooking so heartily." She gave the yokai a tender smile and a gentle squeeze before padding off to the galley with the dishes.

[Xaltwind]

So, the visit had been nothing more than for the sake of a cahnge of pace? A brief escape from the obligations, duties, expectations and burdens that were - largely - self-inflccted and the consequences of her own actions and choices? Granted, it was also thanks to those actions and choices taht Miyuki now sat here with a full tum-tum of delicious shrimp and rice, and allowed to sleep a far better bed than she had ever had before. Thus, the dark fox made no snarky remark or comment about the Goddess bit of selfish escapism. If anything, she deserved it.

It looked as if the blonde was about to leave though, and Miyuki couldn't just let her walk away without any sort of response. So, the black haired woman leaned sideways on the table, using her arm as a supprt to cradle her head in her hand, and gave the other woman a playful smile.

"Well, whenever you get tired being the holy matron, you know where to find me... Yu-me-ko~"

The noirette punctuated her words with a quick, barely noticeable wink. Her tails swept and wagged behind her.

.. That said... Thjis was an issue now... If Yumeko was leaving, there wasn't really any real raeson to keep staying up... So, maybe she should go and have a nice, long continuation of that nap from earlier...

[CitrusArms]

Miyuki's sentiment earned a soft smile from Yumeiko as she set the dirty dishes away. As she lifted her hand to will the machine into motion, however, her body faltered. Her footing shifted slightly, catching a pitch in her weight before her hand braced herself against the counter. A breath was all she allowed herself before she pushed herself to remain upright and working - what would happen if she passed out, or something similar? She had to maintain her presence of mind.

"Yes, I do," said fondly, it had come out with less oomph than she had wanted, betraying her fatigue. Instead of willing the machine into motion, she used the holographic interface, the same as anyone else. It took less effort, that way. She leaned against the counter a moment, breathing and focusing her mind on staying in her body.

When she felt gathered enough, she righted herself. She didn't seem physically off, but Miyuki could surely tell she was struggling.

She shook her head slowly, blinking herself back into focus. This hadn't happened before. Of course, the ship had never been so strained - depleted shields, field recovery operations, processing battlefield debris and casualties, coordinating with the rest of the fleet. All that, on top of now teaching Miyuki basic housekeeping and trying to relax after a battle. She had never been so strained, or had so much power and extended body to distribute it through available to her directly.

"I think I," she stepped away from the counter, her body and mind suddenly demanding rest, "need to, lay down."

[Xaltwind]

The dark fox looked on as Yumeko fiddled and gathered he dishes and played the role of a good little housewife. it was rather adorable. However, what was not so adorable was when the golden haired one started to wobble and then almost fell over. To some, it might've just looked like a minor misstep or brief, momentary dizzy-spell, but ... That wasn't the case. And Miyuki was quite aware of this.

She lurched up from her previously relaxed, half-slouched position at the table. Rising immediately to her (bare) feet. Yumeko's words of needing rest was all it took to spur the hermitous one into action. Again, in a blur of speed that seemed unnatural, just like when she had sat down to eat - Miyuki was gone from the table and reappeared next to the faltering, faint owner of the shrine.

With a motion that didn't leave room for protest or resistance, Yumeko was ssuddenly hosited off the ground in a sweeping manner, and now found herself snuggly pressed up against Miyuki's (very soft) torso, in a stereotypical princess-carry. However, while this would've been an ample opportunity for some mischief or witty words, Miyuki strangely kept her mouth shut. Her face was... Noticeably unamused.

"Let's get you to bed then."

Her words and tone were serious. Far more serious than anything the divine spirit fox had heard from her during their earlier exhange, or anytime even before that. Miyuki did not wait for permission or agreement, nor did she halt at flailing or commotion of any sort, instead marching the blonde fox out of the little living/dining area, and back into Miyuki's bedroom, opening the partition door with a flick of her bare foot.

Soon thereafter, Yumeko would find herself dumped onto the matress. Note the keyword being dumped, not gently or carefully set down. Fortunately, the bed was very soft, so it wasn't like she'd been in any dange rof getting hurt or anything. It would just be very... Sudden... To gof rom carried to now being on her back on the bed.

"Rest." Miyuki said, again, her tone of voice not particularly amused, and her face having a strange sort of sterness to it. "I'll be here if you need anything." She finalized, stepping back outside the sliding door and shutting it very gently.

thus, leaving Yumeko alone. In Miyuki's bed. With Miyuki's sheets. And Miyuki's pillows. And Miyuki's scent. In the room she'd just cleaned that no longer looked like a tornado had blown through it.

Lucky~!

[CitrusArms]

A cute little squeak would welcome the arms sweeping her off of her feet and against a generous bosom. "Wh-, hey, I can.. walk..." her protests died as she rested her body into the voluptuous frame that cradled her. As she looked up, she saw the change in Miyuki's demeanor. A combination of embarrassments colored her cheeks, not least of which was the one that had her leaning her head into the tender, soft warmth.

"Arigato..."

She focused on the warmth and comfort, the sensations that rooted her to her body. She clung to her lazily, taking in her scent and feeling as much of the warmth she could offer as she could, before-

Yumeiko let out a small yelp as the sensations were torn away from her, only to be replaced by a soft, cloudy pad full of the scents she'd just been absorbing. She turned sluggishly over in the bed to watch Miyuki disappear behind the partitions. She groaned softly, instead making do with the scents and soft fluffiness of the bedding of her more-than-a-guest. Maybe more-than-a-guest. She was too disoriented to know more certainly.

If Miyuki weren't here...

---

The ship felt her absence, though things still ran. Her token aesthetic was replaced by a more generic design - the little anime icons of her face no longer appeared next to menu options, replaced instead with a plain dot, or something more locally significant. Interactions became more generic, less familiar and individual. Crew that knew what they were doing took charge.

After a few hours, Yumeiko stirred. The ship was keeping a watchful orbit over Earth in her absence, floating gently after completing post-combat operations. Her eyes opened slowly to see the ceiling that was certainly not her own quarters. The branches of the Core Tree were visible where she usually slept.

The scent still enveloped her. The priestess took a great heave of the comfort into her lungs as she turned into the nearest pillowy goodness surrounding her, gathering it into her face, heedless of where it might have come from.

[Xaltwind]

"... How did it come to this...?"

A while before the sleeping beauty reawakened.

Miyuki looked around at the room where she had just dined. It was... Not as messy as she remembered, but it was still hardly clean. It was odd though... She recalled that there should've been more things and stuff and bits lying around, yet... There seemed to be patches and spots that were somehow... Pristine? Vacant? It was very peculiar...

She hadn't noticed earlier, because the fox had been way too distracted by yummy yum-yum's in her tum-tum's. And she hadn't noticed later, because a certain try-ard had pushed herself way beyond her limits and needed some immediate T.L.C. but now that the little princess was sound asleep, and Miyuki had been left to her own devices, this mysterious mystery had become much more apparent. Someone... Or something... Must've definitely invaded this place at some point and stolen(?) some of the debris.... But why? Maybe there was a desperate need for recyclables onboard the vessel? Like she'd know.

That was neither here nor there though. Because, regardless if a few select things were gone, there was still a lot of it that wasn't.

And now there was only one set of hands to deal with it. And those hands were Miyuki's...

"Eugh...." The most disgruntled face you could imagine spread across her face as she began to slowly dip and bob and weave to gather all the garb-- debris together.

Later...

"Phew... That was way too much work..."

She'd done ti! ... in a sense. She'd managed to gather all the loitering and unwanted thingymabobs and stored them safely away in one of those bin-things that Yumeko kept making. It was stuffed to the brim, mind you. But at least the room was... Not a mess, anymore... Still probably could do with a good sweeping, and mopping...

But with the tedious chore done, it was time for some nice, well-deserved R&R and... Oh... Right... Somebody was currently occupying her place of sleep... Nuts.

Gently opening the partition door, Miyuki peered inside. The little princess was still asleep. ... Well.. That was good, in a sense... But... She'd relaly like a lie-down too... Miyuki silently tippy-toed inside, and shut the door behind her... Over to the side of the bed... looking at the sleeping face of the other face... Cute. So peaceful. But... Hmm... Maybe if she just... Took a little spot at the veeeeeeeeeeeery edge of the bed, it wouldn't disturb the napping godde--

...

...

"Hey... Those're mine." Miyuki's voice announced, matter-of-factly, as a certain someone suddenly buried her face into the permanent pillows strapped to Miyuki's bod'.

[CitrusArms]

"Mmm... mnn?" Yumeiko nuzzled her face more into the soft comfort, at first, as her eyes fluttered open. They closed again as her hand wandered away, over the alluring form she rested agai-

Her eyes shot open and she pushed herself partially upright, attention rapidly appraising the situation. It didn't take her long to realize what she'd been doing - what she'd been grabbing - and her face flushed a deep red. She turned away with a soft yelp, one hand flying up to cover her face while the other held herself upright, "Miyuki, I'm so sorry! I-I, ah..."

She took a moment or two, calming herself and her racing heart before she turned partially over her shoulder, "you were, comfortable." The hand lowered from her mouth to her chest, she pushed herself up to a sitting position at the side of the bed as she calmed herself. "Please, excuse, ah, my reach." With a guilty fondness, she recalled the warm, soft comfort, but shook herself of the memory. It was ill-gotten.

Her tails flopped lazily across the bed, despite herself. Yumeiko turned after a moment, recalling something she'd noticed earlier - yes, indeed. Miyuki's hair and fur were still unkempt.

She turned away again, still blushing brightly despite being the offender. "Uh-mm, thank you for indulging me. I've been," she thought back on how she'd conducted herself since entering the room. Demanding it be cleaned, pushing Miyuki to do so, all in the name of a clean shrine. Eating with her, but only to feel more normal. Checking in on her welfare, but ultimately, truly, seeking company, "maybe a little selfish."

She took a deeper, steadying breath, before she picked herself up to turn at the hips, committing her body enough she could fully face Miyuki, "would you indulge me again? You," Her eyes trailed over the other fox, a smile softening her after hesitation, "need a little grooming; I'd like to comb you."

[Xaltwind]

The reaction of the newly awakened blonde fox was rather amusing, and Miyuki couldn't help but ge ta slight, wry smile on her lips as she watched the scene unfold. It was like a moment out of one of those old shows that you could watch on the... Moving-pictures box... That also made sound... What were they called again? Oh well, it didn't matter. A machine was a machine, no matter what their parents called it.

"No harm done." Miyuki replied, when Yumeko - overly apologetically - stammered and apologized for her uncouth act of overly intimate closeness. That tooo was quite adorable.

Then, the golden fox managed to gather herself, turned around to face the dark haired fox properly, and made a rather sudden, and bold, ... Uhm... Was it... Was it an observation, claim or unavoidable intent? It was a bit hard to judge, given taht smile, but also the conents of what had beben said...

Groom?

"... Uh..." Miyuki had... hard to read expression on her face. "... Oh...." She then suddenly seemed to realize what the other meant once the comb was mentioned. "I... Suppose... if you relaly want, I wouldn't mind..." This time it was Miyuki's turn to get a slight tinge to her cheek. She... Wasn't used to someone - or anyone, for that matter - fussing over her. Back then... Before this ship... Before space.... Before Yumeo... Nobody really cared one way or another what she looked like...

.. Because they either did what she said, or they didn't do anything ever again...

The noirette slet out a slight, exapserated breath, turned around, allowing her tails to flop down onto the bed, so that Yumeko was now facing the woman's back - with easy access to both her long, dark locks, as well as the aforementioned many-tails.

"... Just... Be. quick about it..." Even if Yumeko couldn't see her face, she could hear that this was... Not somehting Miyuki was accustomed to her, and even her voice was pouting.

[CitrusArms]

Miyuki consented and Yumeiko turned herself more fully onto the bed. One leg dangled off, her toes just touching the floor, while the other lay in front of her, bent such that her foot almost dangled off the end of the bed, too. As the tails were laid down in front of her, she gathered them tenderly and lay them over her thigh - as many as she could - before forming a comb of hardlight and starting to brush them.

Hardlight was not a natural power of hers. It wasn't like her actual sacred powers, which she had used to change clothes earlier. It came from the ship - from her communion with it, with the Aevon that made it possible. It had its advantages, too. She could feel with it, she could mold and shape it.

What was sacred anymore, anyway?

Wasn't that... her decision, now?

"Yes, yes. I'll be quick." As Yumeiko worked through the tangled, unkempt fur, the comb she used shifted and changed. The teeth of the tool would grow coarser or finer according to how much resistance Miyuki's fur was putting up at any point in time. Despite saying she would do this swiftly, she took her time, making sure to comb the black fur thoroughly and get any possible sign of matting out.

She was still wearing the line cook getup? The priestess tossed the headband and apron aside gradually as she went through Miyuki's tails, each disappearing as soon as it was out of sight.

Yumeiko pulled herself further onto the bed as she finished with the tails, sitting closer to Miyuki's back. She carefully arranged the black fox's tails around herself as she moved on to combing her hair. "It's all very tangled, so it's taking a bit of time. I hope you don't mind too much."

[Xaltwind]

".. It... it's fine..."

It clearly wasn't fine. Miyuki sounded like she'd sucked in her stomach and was trying to hold her breath, for some reason. Maybe it was an involuntairy reaction to having someone, who wsn't she herself, touch and mess with her tails - something the dark haired fox wasn't used to. Or maybe, it was the sensation of Yumeko's soft fingers, coupled with the combs movements, that caused her to react as if someone had put ice cubes down the back of her kimono.

But, at the very least, seh didn't fidget, squirm or make a big fuss about it. So, Yumeko was free to continue... Though, for how much longer Miyuki woudl behave and sit still, letting the other fox pamper her, was a different question entirely.

"So..." She let out a wheezy, strained voice. "... What was all that... Rumbling... Earlier? It woke me up... For a brief moment..." Apparently, the ship - and entire fleet - being under attack by extra-terrestrial/dimensional(?) threats was only enough to, momentarily, stir Miyuki from her slumber...

[CitrusArms]

Yumeiko quietly marked Miyuki's tense tone of voice, noting to herself that she should not dawdle. She could sense the other's tension in her voice. If she rushed what she was doing, however, then it would just have to be done again.

Though her voice was tense, the lack of physical fussing let Yumeiko continue with care.

As she moved closer, to work on Miyuki's hair, Miyuki's question caused her combing to slow for just a moment. "You slept through all that?" Yumeiko sounded shocked. "Er, well... that's why I said I came to check on you. Our fleet engaged with a dreadful enemy, after climbing into orbit."

She continued her combing, but there was something different in her touch; the memory of the enemy disturbed her. "Do you remember the destruction, Miyuki? The end of the old world."

"It's the same enemy. The same remnants that were fought on the surface, just to defend our home and future - again. They're out here, too." It wasn't the future she'd hoped for. It meant there would be more fighting. She could keep herself and her shrine on Earth, but with the way the battle had gone, the fleet needed support. How many more would they have lost, without her?

[Xaltwind]

"I am pretty amazing..." Voice still strained, but not strained enough to be unable to brag about sleeping through an apparent enemy attack.

Yumeko's combing slowed, and her touch lessened, which gave a bit... if only a bit... of reprieve tot he dark haired fox. Then Yumeko asked a question. A question that, for all intents and purposes, was very telling. For one, it confirmed that Yumeko was old. Very old. Much too old. She had lived prior to, during and after the fall of what was the Old World. The name given in rememberance to what was, before it was alls tomped to bits and then sorely smushed under an alien boot... For... Whatever reason.

"... No. I don't remember." Her tone was... Flat. Not as sucked in either. "There was an... Incident... Before whatever happened, happened, and changed the world. I only ever saw the aftermath."

This... Was a crucial piece of information that had just dropped. It revealed tow very important things about Miyuki, or well, three, actually.

One, she too had been alive prior to the planet being assailed by the enemy.

Two, something had happned to her before the invasion that had, apparently, rendered her incapable of observing, or even being aware, of the destructive invasion.

Three, to her, the dakr fox would more than likely view things as if she'd gone to bed in the old world, and then awoken in the broken, ruined, rubbled and smoldering ruins of the new one. Completely unaware of what had caused this dramatic shift or change.

This also meant that, unlike Yumeko, Miyuki had no knowledge of the Scourge. She didn't know who or what they were, or what they were capable of... Other than what she could likely piece together judging from her own post-apocalyptic survival prior to being taken in as a guest at the shrine.

... Of course... This was based on the assumption that Miyuki's statement was turthful, and that she wasn't trying to feign, or lie, about her knowledge of the enemy.

[CitrusArms]

"I see." Yumeiko nodded softly to herself at Miyuki's explanation. She would choose to believe her.

The priestess would continue with purpose. While she did, she took inventory of the ship; the answers she sought were ready for her, to her surprise. There was a report from the fleet ready for her, discoveries and reconnaissance already cataloged for her appraisal. Things had moved along without her. It was a nice feeling.

They asked if she would be joining the fleet on expedition or staying in orbit. The reports had indicated more Scourge signatures among the stars.

Yumeiko took a slow breath, sorting her thoughts for a moment. She would go. She couldn't leave the fleet without the support that had seen so many of them through the battle. However, she couldn't drag Miyuki into a dangerous journey without informing her.

"Miyuki," she would wait a moment for the other to face her, though she would continue even if she didn't, "in light of the recent battle, and what I hear from the fleet, I feel I must tell you a few things before we leave with you aboard. I imagine you must be quite curious about what happened while you were," she considered Miyuki for a moment. Knowing what she did about her, "sealed? Just a guess; sorry. Uhm," the blonde cleared her throat, "it's going to be dangerous. It sounds like we'll be fighting more of them. If you stay here, you'll be brought into more battles."

"You should understand what danger we'll be facing - what it is we'll be fighting. Do you want me to tell you?"

Informing Miyuki of the horrors of the Scourge would only be fair, though she didn't need to get graphic. Telling her that flesh and machine alike are consumed should be enough. That it is a force with no reason but destruction, deceptively clever in its designs - brutal, inefficient, yet effective.

Yumeiko watched the other, hesitant, unsure. She would understand if Miyuki wanted to stay behind, which was all the more reason to ask her, "will you stay? Here?"

[Xaltwind]

For a period, that probably felt much longer than it actually was, Miyuki said nothing in response. She merely let Yumeko continue the combing and brushing, having - seemingly - listened to the words of the other fox.

Danger. Battles. Scourge. An enemy that was cunning and effective, but also who only had destruction on its mind. Not conquest. Not enslavement. Not assimilation. Just pure, unapologetic annihilation. A threat that couldn't be bargained or reasoned with, an opponent who wouldn't stop until everything it wanted gone was, well, gone. And, it was apparently quite good at doing just that.

More silence.

Was she mulling over the fats? Weighing her options? Comparing the pros and cons? It was hard to say, especially when seh didn't say anything. Perhaps Miyuki was just deep in thought? Another long, but not reall, period of time passed. Then, the dark haird one finally opened her mouth - she wasn't facing towards Yumeko though.

"Danger is everywhere, regardless of where you are. Sometiems you just don't know where it is, or what to look for." The dark fox replied. "So, I'll come along, until you want me gone." She continued.

Miyuki gave no further explanation on her reasons or why she'd come to this decision. Was it for Yumeko? Wss it for humanity? The Earth? Her home? A desire to face and murder some of these 'Scourge' things back for what they did to her home? There was probably a million reasons or potential causes that could be the 'why'. But was it really necessary to know that right now? As it stood, the dark fox had just said she'd come along, with Yumeko, into the great sea of stars, for as long as the golden fox was willing to keep her on for the ride.

[CitrusArms]

The silence Miyuki settled between them weighed heavily. The priestess waited through it, feeling it as every moment passed. When Yumeiko heard her answer, Miyuki had shrouded her reasoning. Had that time been spent calculating, to give away so little of herself in her answer? Was she seeking the relative safety of the ship, and the shrine within? Did she mean to cover for Yumeiko's blind spots, seeing dangers she missed? Was she staying with the ship out of convenience, selfishness, or selflessness?

As hard as Miyuki made it to see beneath her answer, her answer had been to remain aboard - to stay until she was no longer wanted.

Something about that part of her answer drew Yumeiko's attention. She shifted closer to the black fox, leaning gently against Miyuki's back while laying her hands on her shoulders, "do you think I will, eventually, no longer want you here?"

[Xaltwind]

The sudden sensation of someone very soft and warm leaning on her back caused Miyuki's tails to flair up, which in turn, caused them wrap and tangle themselves aroudn Yumeko's frame. Although the closeness of the priestess was not unpleasant, or unwelcome, it was sudden, unannounced and unexpected.

For what reason was this self-proclaimed Goddess so fond of her new guest? Was it because they were both beings of extreme longevity? Because they were both of a vulpine heritage? Because they were both 'mystic' lifeforms unlike humans? All fo the above? None of the above? Miyuki did not know. She had not known Yumeko long - at least not by any definition in how she, and likely the blonde fox, measured time. But despite this, this shrine-owning deity seemed awfully clingy. ... Not that she minded.

"Who knows~?" Miyuki answered, her tails now relaxing once more and freeing Yumeko from their defensive, sudden entanglement. "I wasn't blssed with the ability to see into the future. Were you?" As she said this, her head turned, looking bakc at Yumeko - a small, smug smile on her lips and half-closed eyes.

"Now, are you done with teh brushing?" She raised an eyebrow, still looking ever-so-smug.