The expression in Capello's eyes shocked her. Kimiko hadn't seen him this serious before - he was always joking, always teasing. She immediately regretted her little outburst. It seemed immature and ungrateful, especially after he apologized for being late to the rescue. I didn't mean it. I was just worried, she thought, but the words refused to leave her mouth as she looked away from him, watching the heavy raindrops splash to the ground.
She glanced at the kitsune in worry, noting the girl's lidded eyes, almost on the verge of fainting. The rain wasn't helping at all and she would probably suffer from a fever later. And that would be my fault, she thought dejectedly, her nails digging into the palm of her hand as she clenched her fists. "What else can you do but sit and look pretty? You are just a doll to be admired...you're useless for anything else..." Her sister's words never seemed to ring truer as she listened to Capello, staring at the blood being washed off by the rain.
"Gin heard it," she added as he commented on how unusual the attack was. "I didn't hear it, but it was probably a distressed call of some sort, as she ran off looking alarmed." Perhaps it had been trying to lure them out. Either way, a situation such as this was rare and needed to be looked at closely when they got back. Taking a deep breath, Kimiko reverted back to her normal form, black strands of hair sticking to her face, making her resemble more like the terrifying Ame-Onna of legends than her real yokai form. She had kept her umbrella with her, though it was now of a plain black color instead of its usual elaborate design.
"Before the lovely humans start wading in, Hime-chan."
That finally made her look up at him, surprise evident in her eyes. She didn't think she'd ever feel herself relieved to hear his nickname for her before. It meant things were okay...for now. "Th-Thank you..." Kimiko said in a small voice as she looked away, busying herself with opening the umbrella and positioning it over them. She kept to his side, making sure to shield Gin and him from the pouring rain as they made their way to the complex.
Thanks to the fox's illusion, there were no interruptions and they reached home in a short time. "I'll call Marie. You should take her to the lounge, it's the closest," she told Capello, before briskly walking towards the one place she was sure the bakeneko would be.
"Marie!" Kimiko called as soon as burst into the kitchen, not noticing anyone else. "We were attacked. Gin and Capello are injured."