What a night!? Not in a very good sense.

All night long Sumiko has been rolling in the bed, violently claiming the duvet for herself, sometimes whimpering, some others saying incomprehensible things, even sobbing a few others. It is finally morning and Senshuken cannot help but being a tiny bit worried about the tiny and apparently worried Spider. Still in bed, she has woken up and gently caresses the other girl's hair.

/OOC: Ofc, THE Bayushi Senshuken doesn't live in this particular district, despite the numerous misfortunes that has lead her to living a life close to poverty, driving a rented bike, having an appartment of merely 46.4515 square meters, wearing the very same sneakers for two days in the row and feeling absolutely humiliated by her own mother for days now. Still there wasn't a more appropriate subforum to host this thread.

Sumiko really did have a terrible night. Events from the trip to the desolation, combined with a very deep imagination and far too much knowledge gleaned from reading the Spirit Realms books Yakumo had bought her, caused many recurring nightmares about ghosts, giant spiders, gaki and other vile creatures. She'd moved about a lot, she kept feeling both too hot and too cold at different points, she had even cried at one point in her sleep.

With the morning arriving she still felt terrible. Initially she had flinched at the contact, but as it continued she sleepily pressed herself back into the safe arms of the woman near her, mumbling a sleepy "thank you" without really being fully awake.

"Don't worry, sweetie. Just sleep." She whispers and the Bayushi keeps holding her and caressing her gently. She will wake up eventually, but now is not the time.

There as a small nod at the whispered words. After a few moments Sumiko took the hand that was stroking her hair and held it to her chest with both of her hands. Enjoying the warmth and more importantly the safety of having Senshuken there. Her breathing sounded calmer as well, and she stayed like that for a short while, eyes closed. Not sleeping - she was a little too awake at this point - but just dozing slightly.

A little while later she brought Senshukens hand up to her lips, kissing it but not letting her go.

"This is what I need in my life" Sumiko smiled, looking over her shoulder at Senshuken, a look in her eyes showing she is still not fully awake "loving arms of a caring beautiful woman to lay in. I can stay here forever?"

The Bayushi moves slightly so that she can really enclose the petit woman in her arms and kisses her forehead gently. Forever is a word with a great meaning that she can't really use. She wouldn't mind presenting a Susumu to her family or the WoD in general, that's not a problem. But she hardly knows Sumiko. Still she said the words. Susumu Sumiko isn't a project she has undertaken, but a girl she met and with whom she is having a great time. There is no room for lies in all this.

"Shhh.We are too young to know what we need in our lives." Another kiss on the top of her head this time. "Let's enjoy the present. I care about you deeply and I will be here holding you for as much as you want."

"Mmkay..." Sumiko had turned slightly so she could rest more against the Scorpion girl, closing her eyes again and now wrapping her arms around Senshuken. It was helping her be more awake, Yume-do can be vivid but she knew where she was now - the plushie Drakes confirmed it.

"...I said something weird didn't I?" she asked quietly, sighing "my apology. I don't think I was fully awake."

"Don't worry, honey. You had a strange night, but it's okay." The Scorpion reassures her, still holding her tightly. "You're probably stressed. Nothing that a day off or a few hours off cannot fix."

"I can try to make breakfast for us." She whispers and gives her another kiss. "Or give you a massage to relax. Or both even."

"I guess seeing something in real life is different to the books huh" Sumiko said mostly to herself, a small chuckle escaping after before she turns her head up and places a gentle kiss on Senshukens lips.

"You're going to make breakfast and give me a massage? I feel spoilt" she smiled a little more "you don't have to though. Just being here is wonderful at the moment, even if breakfast does sound good."

"I don't know how to cook, but I can try. For you." She kisses her back and smiles broadly.

"What did you see that got you so worried? Did you go to the slums? Without me?"

"Maybe in a few minutes, I'm comfortable and the bed will be a much colder and lonelier place after you leave it" Sumiko said with a smile, although it shrunk a little as the questioning.

"Not the slums, no. I can't go into a lot of detail and what I do say you have to swear not to repeat."

The Bayushi doesn't speak for more than a few moments. "I can't really do that and I don't want to lie to you either. If it's a secret that can potentially be exploited by my clan, I don't want to know it because I will definitely have to reveal it." She tries to smile, but it is awkward and almost forced at this point. "I really hope that you understand that, sweetie."

Sumiko chuckled.

"I was working with one of your kin Senshu-chan, if your clan wanted to use that against me they would be presenting one of their premier researchers in a very bad light."

"Oh, ok. Then I can hear it, I suppose, and not reveal it." The young woman agrees and seems rather relieved. She smiles a true smile this time and lays a kiss on Sumiko's lips while still holding her.

Sumiko returned the kiss before speaking again.

"Well, on behalf of your kin I and a small team retrieved some samples from the lab at the epicentre of the disaster in the Desolation. An interesting and somewhat terrifying trip, especially seeing just how touched by Gaki-Do that area is."

"Wow!" She raises an eyebrow. "That must have been quite the excursion! Why didn't I get an invitation?!"

"How was it? Who drove? Will you go again? If yes, can I drive this time? How was the road? Are there still signs? What kind of vehicle did you have? Was it fast?" She takes a breath. "Caaaaan I drive next time? Pretty please?" She looks at the Spider with wide eyes full of excitement and anticipation.

"I don't think there is another trip planned anytime on. A Utaku woman who was involve drove, the roads are...pretty much non-existent. It was some manner of offroader vehicle and the majority of the time was spent avoiding being attacked by Gaki."

Sumiko shook her head.

"I didn't mention it before because it was a secret at the time, and Soshi-sama had requested it. I can't recommend going there though, it's extremely dangerous."

Silence.

Silence.

Silence.

"I'm trained in doing the most adorable and tearful puppy eyes. Will the tek work?" She asks. Her face is serious but she's probably kidding. Emphasis on probably.

Sumiko tried not to laugh.

"It might work. If there's another planned trip, I'll ensure you're invited. I have to admit while I want to study the area around the lab as well as the lab more, I would need to prepare myself more for facing both the spiritual and the paranormal. Gaki-Do is not a realm to take lightly after all."

Senshuken nods eagerly and she looks a lot like an overexcited child. "Yes, yes. I understand the dangers." She doesn't, but she doesn't know this fact either.

"What got you scared?" She asks in the end.

Sumiko tilted her head.

"You understand the dangers of Gaki-Do spirits, hai?"