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A few weeks after Senkuu had become the new Village Chief, he sat with his closest friends (which included Suika!) and the village's most prominent figures, and explained something about the old world that didn’t make it into their tiny village.
They were animals.
Well, not really. To Suika's understanding, it was more like they had some animal traits. Which she thought was pretty weird, why would humans need animal traits? And they weren’t of any use in the wild, according to Senkuu, and they really had no purpose in the village, seeing as they were operating perfectly fine prior to this knowledge.
He explained it somewhat like this; Omegas were like the world's mother, it was their ancestors given the right to keep peace and to give. Betas, which the entirety of the village were, were basically humans without animal traits, they had weak noses and equally weak scents, but they still helped around where they could. Alphas were regarded as the leader, like a father to protect, were the strongest out of all of them.
Senkuu then explained that those on the International Space Station were made up of three betas, two omegas, and one alpha. He explained that it wasn’t balanced out enough, that the alpha and omega genes had been recessive, and beta was the dominant trait. Not that Suika understood what any of that meant. Senkuu himself looked perplexed by his own words, but otherwise didn’t say much else on the topic.
Then, he reluctantly went over the long haired men's teams second genders. Tsukasa was an alpha, and so was most of his team. Their spies' second genders were a bit unpredictable,Taiju was a beta, and Yuzuriha was an omega. Gen admitted he was a dominant alpha, and Senkuu flushed as he admitted he was a submissive omega.
Suika thought it fit him well. He was their savior, he saved Ruri, and he would save the village from Tsukasa and his team. It’s obvious Senkuu wants peace, even if he never gets it. And despite how much Senkuu pretends he isn't, the man was very nurturing. He was nurturing humanity, he was nurturing his father’s descendants.
Gen then expanded more on the topic. Second genders were considered sacred and sensitive information, in the old world, in old Japan specifically.
Suika was kicked out of the room for the next part, but Kohaku explained that alphas and omegas needed to take a week to themselves, a weak time for themselves. Kohaku explained that the week could be painful, that it hurts and the only way to help was if another person who was close with them came around. Suika thought it was dumb, anyone could make anyone feel better, so long as they try! Is what she told Kohaku. Kohaku laughed softly and shook her head, “I promise that's not it, Suika.” And when Suika asked what it was, Kohaku pursed her lips and sighed, “I’ll explain when you get a little older.” And Suika had to accept that because that's all Kohaku would let out.
Senkuu accepted his birthday gift from Ishigami Village, and life couldn't get any better than it was. Of course, everyone was still worried about the long haired man over the mountains, but they had trust in their leader, they had trust all would be well, so long as their leader was here.
That’s why when Senkuu suddenly disappears, she fears. Suika checked everywhere in the Village! She hurries to Chrome's hut. Maybe Senkuu was up there? Suika wanted to hear stories about the old world. And even though Senkuu was a terrible storyteller, it was better than Gen overdoing it—
“Suika-chan!” Gen called out from behind her, looking rather frazzled. Suika stopped in her tracks, because if calm and composed Gen looked crazy, something was definitely up. He stopped short, just in front of her. “Suika-chan, what are you doing here?” He smiled, and with her glasses Suika was able to see the clinkle by his eyes.
“I want to talk to Senkuu!” Suika grinned easily.
Gen’s smile faded a bit, before it came back up full force. “Ah, Suika-chan, I’m afraid you can’t do that,” he apologized, eyes looking down at her softly. Suika can’t help the pout that slipped on her face. Gen seemed to notice her sorrow, so he added on, “Do you remember when Senkuu-chan spoke to us about second genders?”
Suika straightened up and nodded rapidly. Of course she remembered Senkuu’s lesson. It’s been one of the top things on her mind ever since. She had so many questions, but she didn’t want to be annoying, or else they’d get rid of her.
Gen grinned, looking proudly down at her, “Well, Senkuu-chan is heading into one of those weeks.” Before Suika could process the weight of his words, he continued. “He’s in a lot of pain right now, and tomorrow it’ll be even worse.”
Suika was silent as she processed this. Senkuu was in pain, he would be in even worse pain tomorrow, and.. they just do nothing? They just wait for Senkuu’s week to end, just to get back to normal? “Why are we letting him suffer?”
Gen flinched at that, and his cheeks flushed red before he shook his head, “Suika-chan, we cannot help those who do not want our help.” Suika frowned and her eyes squinted underneath her mask. That’s not really fair. It’s not like someone drowning could call for help underwater, it’s not like someone stuck in the highest tree could call for help, no one could hear them, no one would help. “Go back to the village, alright?”
Suika hesitated. She wanted to be useful, and being useful meant helping those in pain. But, Gen clearly didn’t want him here, for whatever reason, so Suika reluctantly agreed, turning around and walking back to the village.
As soon as she was out of Gen’s sight, Suika grinned. She had a brand new mission. Help Senkuu all she can, and help ease his pain anyway she can! After all, just because you can’t hear someone suffering, doesn’t mean they aren’t suffering at all.
—
After Suika ate dinner with Kohaku and Ruri, rather than returning to her hut, with the kind grandparents who let her sleep there, she snuck out of the village.
It had been easier than it should’ve been.
When she went to the shared hut, the grandparents were already fast asleep and Suika didn’t have to lie about where she would be going. By the time she got to the bridge, it was pitch black, with the moon already high in the sky. Meaning Ginrou was already fast asleep! And with Kinrou too busy trying to wake his brother up, and trying to stay focused on what’s coming in, Suika was able to easily roll out.
Suika recently learned that Chrome and Gen normally sleep with Senkuu in the hut, but with Senkuu in pain, Chrome was staying temporarily in the village. And Gen was supposed to be there too, but as Suika neared the hut, she realized Gen was still standing by the ladder.
Suika was no Gen expert like Senkuu, but Gen was only human, and he needed sleep as much as anybody else. Suika could wait.
And wait she did.
Gen turned to the hut a few times, before he threw his hands up and walked towards the village. Finally, Suika had her opening. She rolled as fast as she possibly could, just in case Gen turned around, and climbed up the ladder like her life depended on it.
As soon as Suika was in the hut, a sweet, sweet smell engulfed the air around her. It smelled like the grass after a long day of rain, or the ground near the river where Suika and Senkuu first met.
Suika blinked slowly from behind her mask, her eyes slowly adjusting. Towards the back of the small hut, she could see the moonlight shining through the hatch that led up to Senkuu’s Observatory. Suika stifled a small laugh, Senkuu was in pain but he was still a science enthusiast.
Quietly, Suika climbed up the ladder. Unfortunately, before she could get her head above the hatch to see Senkuu, a quiet voice spoke, “Suika?” Senkuu's voice was hoarse, Suika strained to hear him. Suika froze at the sound of her name, she had been quiet! “Suika.. You shouldn’t be here.” Senkuu muttered, before taking a harsh breath out.
Suika stilled at the pained exhale, remembering her mission. “Suika is here to make Senkuu feel better!” She whispered as low as she could. Which must not have been a lot, considering Senkuu's sharp breath in. Slowly, Suika reached up to continue her climb.
That was until a harsh throaty growl erupted from above. Suika flinched harshly, almost falling down the ladder at the sound. It was so animalistic. The sound was so protective, Suika suddenly felt the urge to turn around and run crying back to the village, before Senkuu could— “Suika?” That same hoarse voice murmured, sounding much more alert.
Suika tried to breathe slowly, she couldn’t stop the way her entire body shook, something akin to fear and anxiety racing through her body. It was just Senkuu. It was just Senkuu. Suika knew it was just Senkuu, but her body remained stiff. She couldn’t help but panic, why couldn’t she move—
The floor creaks under the weight of someone moving. A shadow cast over her and as Suika tries to look up, Senkuu spoke again, “Did I startle you?” His voice was twinged with worry and guilt. “I’m sorry, pup.” The man said guilty.
Pup?
The word filters through Suika slowly. Pup, as in puppy? As in an animal? Senkuu didn’t explain any tittles, but pup meant puppy, like Chalk! Before she could ponder more on it, Senkuu gently put hands under her armpits and lifted off the ladder.
Senkuu raised her and then placed her on his lap. Gently, he began checking her over, just as Kohaku did when she came back from the forest to kind Suika alive and well. It was odd, considering how Senkuu was definitely not Kohaku.
Dully, Suika wondered if the angle he was sitting at was hurting his legs. Because he was in pain. Senkuu was in pain and Suika had done nothing but make him worry more!
Senkuu finally deemed her well and stopped checking her over. Though Suika couldn’t see his face in the darkness, she could tell Senkuu was staring at her. “Suika, what do you remember about the animalistic traits I spoke about?” He once again went back to whispering.
Suika shifted slightly in his lap, thinking back. She opened her mouth, ready to describe animalistic traits, but then she paused. “Nothing.” Senkuu had said there were animal traits, but he didn’t get into details before kicking Suika out the room.
Senkuu nodded with a quiet hum. “We omegas nurture. Our bodies were built for nurturing. We have pups and we protect these pups forever.” Senkuu explained. “That sweet smell you must’ve smelled was my pheromones, my scent.” Senkuu gestured around to the air, Suika nodded, remembering the wet grass and moist air after the rain. “We often rub out scents over our pups, our kids.” Suika understood this. “May I scent you, Suika?”
Suika blinked. Senkuu was stiff, waiting for permission. Suika blinked again as she mulled over the decision. She probably smelled like nothing right? And to let Senkuu scent her then she would smell like the wet earth? Smelling like Senkuu didn’t sound like a bad idea at all, she nodded.
Senkuu might’ve smiled but it was too dark to tell. Senkuu then picked up Suika, (where was this strength coming from?!) and crawled her over to his makeshift.. bed? It was a pile of blankets and pillows, and clothes. The pile was large but had a dip in the middle, probably for Senkuu. It resembled something of a birds nest, which would fit into the animal traits.
The nest smelled strongly of Senkuu, and a mix of something else Suika couldn’t put her finger on. Senkuu immediately relaxed in the nest. He laid down and brought Suika down with him. None of them moved for a moment, “Could I take off your watermelon?” Senkuu hummed from above her.
Suika dimly wondered what her melon had to do with scenting, but nodded nonetheless. Within seconds, the melon was off her head, and Senkuu swiped his wrist across her head. Her reaction was immediate, she couldn’t help but melt into the brief touch. Senkuu curled himself around her, sighing softly. After a few moments, Suika let herself completely relax and her eyes slowly drifted closed.
She really hoped this could help Senkuu, even though she didn’t understand him.
—
“She what?!”
Gen pursed his lips as he glanced back at the hut before he looked at a fuming Kohaku. “Now, now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves!” Kohaku bristled, clearly enraged by Gen's remark.
“How do you expect me to relax?” She spat and glared at Gen. “She’s up there, with him! We need to go get her!” Kohaku started forward to the hut, quickly Gen jumped in front of her.
“That would be a eally-ray bad idea!” Gen stressed as he pushed her back by her shoulders. She stayed stiff as she continued to scowl at him. “Unless you want to get killed, you shouldn’t go in there!”
That seemed to get Kohaku's attention. “What?” Gen couldn’t help but wince. Senkuu was weak, and Kohaku was the strongest in the village, it didn’t make sense to say she would get killed. But she would, and Gen really needed her to understand that. “How so?”
Gen cringed, remembering all the old movie plots where a mother killed anyone who interrupted their nesting. “Senkuu-chan isn’t in the right mind.” He explained steadily. “Especially Nesting. If he was in heat it would be fine, but a nesting,” he shivered, “mothers will do anything to protect their pup, and Senkuu can’t tell the difference between friend or foe.”
Kohaku’s brows furrowed and she finally took a step back. “So, she’s safe there?”
Gen couldn’t help the thankful smile that slipped onto his face. “Probably the safest she could be.”
With that information, Kohaku allowed herself one more glance at the hut, before turning back to the village to grab a second serving of food. She could trust Senkuu to protect Suika for now.
Gen almost collapsed on the ground with relief. If Kohaku found out that it was him who let the little pup into the hut.. he shivered, she’d definitely have his head.
—
Suika woke up to Snekuu purring, just as an animal would. It was oddly comforting, the purring sounded like the soft sound of trees in the wind. The small vibration was grounding, nothing Suika had felt before.
She froze. Here she was in Senkuu’s arms, the man peacefully sleeping. What was she supposed to do? Say cuddled up next to Senkuu? How long would this last? Was Senkuu still in pain?
Was she supposed to wake him..?
Somewhere along her internal panic, Senkuu woke up and sat up, keeping her tucked in his arms. He keeps his eyes trained on the trap door, leading to the bottom part of the hut. She didn't understand why he was so on edge-until someone brought over two plates of breakfast and two cups of water.
After the food was carefully placed in the ledge, the trap door shut with a quiet click. Senkuu huffed and laid his head over her head and let out a small purr. Suika let out a long sigh. Then she started to sit up. Senkuu didn’t stop her, but he didn’t seem to want to let her go either, as arms remained stiff around her body. Thankfully Senkuu was never heavy in the first place, so it was relatively easy to pry his arms off of her.
Suika grabbed the plate with the smaller serving, meant for her. Fish again. Just as all three of her meals yesterday, and as the days before.
She finishes quickly, and she places her plate down a little but harder than intended. Suika turned to look at the omega, only to find him sleeping peacefully inside his nest, and he hadn’t even eaten!
Suika sat silently in consideration. Was he to be sleeping this whole time..? How odd. But then again, it was easier to ignore the pain if he was asleep, wasn't it? But still, that left Suika all alone.. Should she sleep too? But—
“Suika?” Gen’s voice called quietly through the ground. Suika flinched and hurriedly looked back at the trap door. The door was still shut so then— “Suika this floor is not all that soundproof.” Oh. “Are you alright?”
Suika bites her lip, sinking heavily into the side of the nest. “I’m.. bored.”
There’s a few moments of silence before Gen lets out a dry chuckle. “I figured that much. Nesting is usually reserved for younger pups.”
Suika finds herself perplexed. She's ten, hardly counted as old. In the village sixteen was practically an adult, but ten was still childhood. And in Senkuu and Gen's time, they said childhood lasted until ten too! She was young, however a pup? Not so much.
After a few seconds of her silence Gen spoke up again. “It’s all a matter of instincts, Suika.” He sighed. “It makes sense you're bored. This is your first ever interaction with anything instinctual, it makes sense your body isn’t really reacting.”
Suika hummed, glancing back at Senkuu, his scent was as sweet as the grass by the river could get.
“Try sleeping, Suika. It’s not the most permanent, but he’ll probably be conscious enough tomorrow to keep you company,” Gen paused. “Right now, he needs your help Suika.”
Suika jumped at those words.
Help.
That was the whole reason she was there, after all. Senkuu was hurting and it was her job to help him. Determined, she gave Gen a hum of appreciation, before crawling back into Senkuu’s waiting arms.
The sleepy omega’s eyes opened, identifying Suika, before smiling warmly. Suika felt the vibration of a purr as the man pulled her closer into his arms.
He sleepily ran his wrist over the top of her head, probably creating a mess of hair for her to have to clean up before putting on her watermelon. She sighed off any of those thoughts and tried to relax.
They don’t wake up for lunch, but they do wake up for a late dinner. The dinner might’ve been cold but Suika had never felt warmer in her life.
—
Byakuya’s soft blueberry scent mixed with unpresented pup scent, mixed in their small shared nest. Senkuu was curled up in Byakuya’s arms, head resting on Byakuya's chest. “I think, Senkuu, before I go up in space,” Byakuya murmured softly into Senkuu’s hair, “I’ll come back for a nesting.”
Senkuu snorted from under his heavy arms. The pup shifted. “What? Why? You’re supposed to be training, old man.” He reminded Byakuya.
Byakuya rolled his eyes at his pup’s world. “Senkuu! I’m not old!” complained. “And besides, I can’t wanna nest with my son, as a final goodbye?!” Byakuya nudged his nose further into his pup’s hair, trying to prove a point.
Senkuu shivered from the warm breath in his hair. “Byakuya, you’re making me cringe. It’s not like I'll never see you again, anyway.” He sighed.
Byakuya pouted. “Well, Senkuu, you never know..” He teased softly, rolling onto his back, dragging Senkuu onto his stomach.
Senkuu shifted his head away and sat up, glaring sharply at the omegan man, now below him. “Don’t joke like that!” He warned.
Byakuya couldn’t stop the warm feeling bubbling in his stomach, a bright smile emerging on his face. “Aww! Senkuu, is this affection I’m hearing?!” He japped.
Senkuu crossed his arms over his chest, “Be quiet, old man!” He hissed lightly.
Byakuya laughed before freezing, and gave his pup an empty glare. “Senkuu! I’m not old! You wound me!” He whined, his scent staying sweet, despite his words.
“Yes, you are.”
Byakuya sighed dramatically and threw his head back. “Senkuu! Don’t be so cruel to your father when he’s so vulnerable!” Senkuu smirked as amusement danced around in his eyes. Byakuya nearly preened at making his pup happy.
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my father wanting me here.” Senkuu stated playfully, a grin on his face, enjoying the nonsense and bickering that came with being with his father.
Byakuya smiled sleepily, rolling onto his left side. Senkuu let out a little yelp at the change in opinion yet again. Silently Byakuya grabbed his pup and curled onto him, bringing his pups face near his neck, Byakuya sighed contently. “I’m really gonna miss y’know. When I’m up in space.”
Senkuu’s shoulders tensed up before the pup made himself relax. “Stop thinking about it. You have years before you would even be ready for space. After your trip, we’ll have all the time in the world.”
“All the time, Senkuu?” He echoed softly. “That's a big promise, ya’gonna stay by your father for the rest of your life, kid?” He chuckled at the mere idea. The pup barely stuck by his side now, he couldn’t imagine being able to convince the pup to spend another nesting with him anytime soon.
“Whatever.” The pup inhaled the sweet scent and relaxed. Byakuya has never been more grateful for his pheromones naturally producing a calming scent for his son, it was making this conversation so much easier.
“I believe you kid, I really do. But after a few years I don’t think you’ll want me in your cycles.” Pups usually want to feel independent, meaning they’ll spend several cycles alone before realizing it would be healthier to spend it with someone.
A long comfortable silence stretched out between them.
“Old man?”
“Yes, my little Senkuu?”
“Shut up and sleep.”
“That’s no way to speak to your father, young man!”
—
Senkuu’s nesting ends earlier than expected.
Suika woke up the next morning to a sickening overwhelming smell of grass, and when she complained to Gen about it he urged her to wait for Senkuu to wake up in the room down below. Just in case, Gen said.
Senkuu woke up and came down, he looked utterly exhausted. His face was completely slack, his hair was messy with some hair loosely falling onto his shoulders, while most of his hair stayed straight up in that Senkuu way.
Suika was a bit perplexed by this, after all Senkuu had spent the whole time sleeping. Senkuu explained it was because he let out too much of his scent, in a rush to claim.
Senkuu explained that his scent was about ten billion times stronger than both Suika and Senkuu could smell.
Then he rubbed his wrist against the top of Suika’s messy hair and she all but melted.