Of Yokai and Hopeless Romantics

Chapter 11

" You're really cold, are you ok?" Shige asked concern in his voice.

" Yes, it is just from being scared," Benihime said.

" Scared are you joking, you're so brave," Shige said admiration in his voice. " I was a coward, my father is right I need to grow up and become a man."

" You showed plenty of courage, my actions were from panic. When I am stressed I react in anger," Benihime said mixing truths and lies. She decided to keep Shige talking as he was still trembling and she did not want him to get back to his feet. " Is your father very demanding?"

" My father just feels I'm wasting my life following a foolish dream, he thinks I need to understand how the real world works," Shige said.

" A lot of parents feel that way about their children, it is no reason to be so down on yourself. Even my parents question my judgment," Benihime said.

" My father does more than question, he is completely convinced that painting will lead to ruin, that I need to go into the family textile business in order to secure a good life for myself," Shige said.

" Perhaps his insistence comes from a lack of familiarity with the life of a painter?" Benihime said, feeling that this new topic was keeping Shige's mind of the terror he had been through.

" Actually it's the opposite. My father was an animator before having to return to the family business. He was a good animator too, he taught me how to draw and can still draw. He gave his all to becoming an animator, going to college, and even landing a job at an anime studio. The only problem was that the pay was so low, that after three years of hard work he had to return to my grandparents business and beg for a job. To this day my grandparents hold his attempt to leave the family business against him. My Uncle, even though he is younger than my father, will inherit the business. My father doesn't want me to go through the same struggles he did, but I know my art is special, I know I can make it as a painter, I just have to prove it to him," Shige said letting out a sigh.

Everything seemed to fall in place for Benihime. She now understood the source of the crazed passion that was at the heart of Shige. " Your father must love you very much and it must be difficult for you, but if you continue to put so much pressure on yourself, you will fail."

" I'm not the one putting pressure on myself, I would love to just be able to paint and to not have to constantly worry about whether or not there is a future in it for me," Shige said a little annoyed. " I don't think you could understand."

" I understand perfectly, my parents also have very high standards for me that I have spent my whole life trying to live up to," Benihime said.

" And you do live up to them, but the only way for me to live up to my father's wishes is to give up painting," Shigue said seeming to get even more frustrated.

" And my parents have asked me to return to my home because I failed to live up to their standards," Benihime said getting a little annoyed herself.

" Return home, why? You're one of the top students in our year, that doesn't sound fair," Shige said.

" They do not approve of how I've handled my relationship with Keiji-san," Benihime said. She felt weird having this conversation with Shige in the middle of the woods, but he had opened himself up to her, so she felt she should be open about her own problems.

" That's even less fair, it's not your fault that he cheat... that he was a scumbag," Shige said. Benihime appreciated him being careful in a broaching a touchy subject for her.

" It is how I reacted to Keiji-san's cheating that they do not approve of," Benihime said. " I lashed out in anger, got into a fight with Mari-san, Shoji-san, and Noriko-san. Kurosawa-sama had to intervene in the end."

" You fought Kojima-san?" Shige said surprised.

" I would not call it a fight Noriko-san was mostly trying not to hurt me, like I have said I have a temper," Benihime didn't like admitting she had a temper, but it was the truth.

" Still I don't see why your parents would want you to go home. Your only human, you got your heart broken and lashed out, no one was hurt and Kurosawa-sama took no actions. I think they are being harsh," Shige said.

" They have given me the option of returning home at the end of the semester, they have let the decision to me," Benihime said.

" Then say no," Shige said raising to his feet. " Why even think about it, unless you want to leave?"

" I am adopted, my parents are very important people of noble lineage, if they are asking me to think of returning, I owe it to them to consider it," Benihime said, explaining things in a way a human could understand.

" I don't think being adopted means you owe your parents your life," Shige said as he helped Benihime to her feet.

" And I do not believe your quest to prove to your father that your dreams have merit, should require you to push yourself to the point of self-harm," Benihime said.

" Inna-chan tells me that all the time," Shige said.

" Perhaps I'm nagging you too much, it is not that simple to disobey one's parents, to rebel, to do as one wishes, and go against their expectations," Benihime said.

" Yea, that's true, especially when your parents are good parents just looking out for what's best for you," Shige said. The two had a moment of silence and then Shige bashfully said, " I do think that I would miss you if you left, I've only known you a little while, but your so kind-hearted, I'd hate to think of you having to leave."

Benihime blushed, that damn cat, how much did she know? Was it actually possible that she knew that much about Shige? Was it possible that she actually knew that much about Benihime? Benihime was developing a soft spot for Shige, the conversation they just had, made her feel that they were shouldering similar burdens. Benihime wanted to help Shige shoulder his burden and hoped that he would help her with hers. " Thank you Shige-san, I also feel we have developed a bond."

There was another moment of silence, then Benihime said, " we should start to head back to the campsite."

" What about Mari-chan?" Shige asked.

As if on cue the twin-tailed girl appeared out of the woods, " I'm not interrupting anything am I?"

" Mari-chan, are you alright?" Shige asked running up to her and looking her over.

" Of course, it's just the woods," Mari said acting as if Shige had lost his mind.

" But there was a bear," Shige said.

" I didn't see any bear," Mari said a smile on her face.

" I think it is best we head back to camp before Mari-chan can get lost again or the bear returns," Benihime said, giving Mari a stern look, her voice cold.

" I agree I'm hungry, can't wait to eat some of your cooking Benihime-san," Mari said winking at her paying no mind to the dirty look she had gotten.

With that, the group headed back to the campsite. When they got back Shige related the story about the bear, causing Inna to panic, but Yayaka was able to calm her. That night Noriko and Benihime had a long conversation with Mari. Normally Benihime would see it as pointless, but Mari did listen to Noriko so the conversation might not have been in vain. Still Mari's actions had been effective and unfortunately, in the end, that was all that mattered to her.