#mushkumo

Kutal and Sago had gone for supplies, but Yakumo returned to the inn early, beaming over the box she had procured from a shop. Curious, the boy nodded, following suit and placing his feet on matching circles below Yakumo’s. “Are you sure there aren’t any other instructions?” He asked, leaning down to flick the dial as well. 

"There weren’t any in the box." Right hand, red. She peeked up at him from her bent over position, free hand tucked behind her back. "It was an old game, but I’m pretty sure this is how they played it." Her approach was quiet, waiting, as he spun his own placement. Left hand, blue. 

Mushra placed it down, shaking his head at her. “Yakumo…” He drawled out her name. “That’s almost what you said when we started looking for Shinzo! Next you’re going to tell me there really aren’t any rules to this thing.”

However, Yakumo was paying him hardly any mind. Instead, her gaze fixated on the spinner. Right foot, green. Lifting herself some, she crossed the divide, stepping further to the center of the mat, closer to him. “I’m sure there are. I just don’t know all of them. Mushra, it’s your turn.” 

The pout had begun to form across her lips, only proving to be amplified by the directions he was given by fate: Right foot, blue. “Rules are stupid anyway. What’s the point of this game?” He tilted his head back to look at her. “Do you know that?” The small mocking tone colored his words. 

Ignoring it, Yakumo pressed her back against his, causing Mushra to pause and stare, the contact unfamiliar, but nice to him as hair tickled his back and her face was close to his own. “Whoever is left still standing is the winner. Will you spin it for me?” She chirped, not noticing his increase of hue across his face. 

Doing his best to hide his fluster, he nodding, lips spreading into a wide grin. “Yakumo, you have no chance against me! I’ve got some of the best flexibility and balance around!” He boasted, leaning over to spin for her. “Left hand, red.” He announced for her, before realizing he was facing the red circles. 

Yakumo took a moment to analyze, giving a quick apology before reaching around, moving by his leg, trembling a little to hold it before gaining her balance. “I guess it can get pretty hard! Your turn…Let’s see…” She reached to it, unaware of his gaze on her, and flicked the dial. “Right hand, green.” 

Mushra was quick to move, but slow to realize the position it put him in with Yakumo. His body hovered just above her own, face close to her once more, but now he had no choice but to stay within the two inches from her. He tried to shrug it off, fingers touching the green circle. “Your turn.” 

Step by step, they began to curl around each other, the idea of them so close both familiar, all of the times he had held her in his arms during battles to gave her taken to safety were numerous and normal, but the way she almost wisped around him, close, but not terribly close, kept making him wish there was a reason, her own optics alight with giggles from the ability to keep her balance, and the small cheers she would give (“You’ve got this, Mushra!” “Oh! I can reach it…!”). Mushra began to notice more than anything that he wanted to see that enjoyment closer, the small ideas of having that laugh actually played against his ear almost distracting him from his own placement and entertainment in their game. 

"Left foot, green!" Yakumo cheered, seeing the closest one to be just over Mushra, stretching out over his legs, almost touching down on it….before her hand slipped off her red circle, causing her to fall on top of him, her sudden drop bringing him down and loosing his footing as well, both of them hitting with a small thud. 

Laughs left both of them, Mushra pausing to cough as Yakumo’s lips began words,  head lifting some and fingers brushing her hair from her face, “Oh no! I think that means I…” Her eyes caught his own, an inch from her Enterran friend’s. Her words trailed off, the realization her body against his, face close to his, Mushra’s own laughs subsiding at the realization. “…lost.” She murmured, meeting his pale eyes. Her mind couldn’t help but wonder for a moment, when his chest had grown large enough to suspend her, fingers against his armor. His own gaze seemed to grow lost to her, hand reaching up around her sides, pulling her into a hug, words slow from him.

"Yeah, I…win." Just once, his mind quietly urged him on, shoulders starting to lift from the mat below them. 

The door opened, Sago and Kutal returning, seeing the both of them at a distance from one another, putting up the twister mat from opposite ends. The Water Enterran canted his head, grinning. “Is that a game? I bet I can beat Mushra!” He challenged instantly. 

The boy perked up. “You’re on! Yakumo, you take the spinner thing!” He was already on his feet, unfolding it for them again, handing Yakumo the spinner, offering a smile. “Okay?” 

She paused, taking it from him before nodding. “Sure, Mushra!”

"Come on, Kutal! Let’s beat Mushra…How do you play again?" 

"Figure it out!" 

The room was full of laughs again, Yakumo’s fingers pressed against the dial quietly, before lifting her right hand to her lips.