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original: hibiki fujiwara

[semi-open]

WHO: Hibiki and assorted
WHERE: Various places around Stygia and the Shadowlands
WHEN: The first half of November
WHAT: General catch-all post
WARNINGS: Drunkenness and depression, and some really, really bad movies. Will add more warnings as needed

Open starters coming soon! If you would like to plan a thing, feel free to message me over Discord (Pearl#7619), Plurk (

impearls) or by PMing this journal!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Please don't vanish on me.

[ Someone's been busy while his business partner's been AWOL. For the first few days, Kaito didn't expect any response from Hibiki—she seemed far more rattled over the Oakwoods incident than he was, and the weight of carrying those murderous thoughts was one he'd familiarized himself with many years ago.

If only that same burden could stay buried.

Blood drips at irregular intervals from the cuts on his bare hands. He walks with a steady gait, but the drag of his feet against dead soil make it clear that he's not in peak condition.

...Well, the tears in his attire and lack of gloves probably make it more obvious, but y'know.

Water occasionally spawns around him, dabbing itself against the smaller cuts that haven't been dressed. Bandages wrought from dead Basilicus skin are wrapped tight around his upper arms and torso, stained a deep, dark crimson. Every now and again the liquid he conjures will burst, and each occurrence is punctuated by his Shadow's vibrant, warbled laughter.

W̷e̸ ̵r̵e̷a̸l̴l̴y̸ ̷l̴e̸t̷ ̴t̷h̷e̶m̴ ̴h̵a̸v̶e̶ ̶i̷t̷,̴ ̵p̷a̶r̴t̵n̶e̸r̶!̴ ̴I̷t̴'̷s̸ ̴a̷ ̵s̴h̷a̶m̸e̴ ̴y̷o̶u̵ ̵d̵i̷d̴n̵'̴t̸ ̷g̷o̷ ̴a̷l̵l̸ ̶t̷h̴e̵ ̵w̵a̸y̷,̵ ̷b̷u̴t̸ ̵t̵h̵a̷t̷'̷s̴ ̶o̴k̷a̵y̵.̸ ̸W̴e̶'̴v̴e̶ ̸g̵o̷t̴ ̷p̶l̷e̵n̴t̴y̷ ̵o̵f̶ ̴t̴i̶m̸e̵ ̵t̸o̵ ̴w̷o̷r̸k̸ ̸o̷n̶ ̸t̶h̶a̸t̸ ̵k̶i̸l̶l̵e̸r̵ ̸i̶n̷s̷t̷i̷n̸c̷t̸.̷

He doesn't dare respond, instead continuing to trudge his way back to his Shroud. His Shadow's quite right, after all. What can he refute? The lack of responses from Hibiki have plagued him with worry, even from the beginning. How many texts has he sent her way, trying to check in? How many little care packages of food have piled up at her Door?

His worry and frustration only served as springboards for his Shadow to gloat and get under his skin. It's all come to a head, now. After encountering a group of Basilicuses (Basilici???) surrounding a wounded Restless, joyfully awaiting his slow death, he couldn't hold it in anymore.

Like a broken dam, Kaito's anger and wrath crashed through, and while he pulled back at the last moment to keep from separating those monsters' heads from their necks, not a single one will be returning to their lairs with all their limbs intact. His Shadow sang his praises the entire time. How shameful.

After patching up the other Restless, all Kaito wants is to sleep under the tree in his false Domain. To return to his underworld abode and let time slip away.

He passes Hibiki's Door, glancing down at the dust-riddled bags he's left nearby. Some have been stolen. Unsurprising. Just as he's about to press his hand to the surface, something stirs in the air around him. An aura he hasn't felt in nearly a week. Perhaps longer.

Hers.

As if his wounds had magically healed over and his fatigued had been whisked away, Kaito takes off in a brisk walk, then a jog, then a dash. Every ounce of his spiritual awareness focuses on that trace of the blonde's emotions. It's the Oakwoods all over again, complete with beating the shit out of a monster beforehand.

But this time, he's not just worried for her.

The closer he draws, the more apparent it becomes that something else accompanies her aura. It's weak yet tangible—a soothing sensation that isn't drawing from the wellspring of her emotions. Something separate. A song, he realizes as he catches sight of the back of her head.

He was ready to call out, to yell her name, to yell at her for being gone for so long. But as Kaito slows to a stop, those desires die in his throat. All he can do is stand there, half-relieved, half-entranced by the siren's song.

Oh, and his wounds have reopened, but this isn't about them. ]

[ Standing in the endless wilds of the Shadowlands, her voice grows from a quiet, threadbare whisper, carried on a wind she hasn't realized she's created. Warmth permeates through her song, slowly drowning out the noise in her head. Focus on the sound of your own voice, Hibiki, and pour everything into it. Trace each word, each phrase in the air in front of you like an incantation woven with every note and let it wrap around you, like a blanket on a cold, winter night.

You'll be all right. In spite of everything, you're still you.

The gentle breeze abating with her last note, it disappears into nothingness as Hibiki exhales deeply. Eyes fluttering open, the world that had fallen away as she sang begins to seep back in, bringing with it that heightened spatial awareness. Pressing her lips together briefly, Hibiki paints a (practiced) apologetic smile on her lips as she begins to turn. ]

I would keep moving if I were you, there's nothing here worth stopping for--

[ She says before stopping in her tracks herself, suddenly face-to-face with the only person who could hold her there. Barely held together physically, wounds wrapped with leathery bandages and stained deep crimson from over-exertion and clothing torn and tattered; the one person she saw as stronger than anyone else she's known looks like one gentle touch might shatter him into a million pieces. ]

Kaito...

[ Stormy blues staring into golds as tears spill over, Hibiki takes a few steps toward him.

A̴r̶e̴ ̷y̷o̸u̵ ̸c̶r̸a̸z̷y̸?̵!̵ ̷L̶o̸o̷k̵ ̸a̵t̷ ̶h̶i̷m̴!̴ ̵D̴o̴n̷'̷t̴ ̶g̴e̷t̷ ̷a̸n̴y̷ ̶c̸l̶o̸s̸e̸r̵ ̴o̷r̵ ̵h̶e̷'̴l̶l̴ ̶k̴i̸l̷l̴ ̷y̶o̸u̴!̷ ̴T̸h̴a̵t̶ ̵m̷a̷n̴'̴s̸ ̵a̵ ̷w̵i̴l̶d̶ ̸a̶n̵i̵m̶a̴l̴,̸ ̷t̵h̸e̵ ̸m̷o̶m̴e̶n̸t̷ ̴y̴o̶u̷ ̸g̴e̸t̶ ̸c̵l̴o̵s̸e̷,̸ ̶h̴e̴'̷s̷ ̵g̵o̸i̶n̵g̴ ̵t̶o̷ ̶s̷n̴a̶p̸ ̵y̶o̷u̷r̸ ̷n̶e̴c̵k̷!̷

...

A̷r̴e̶n̴'̶t̵ ̸y̷o̵u̷ ̵l̴i̵s̴t̸e̸n̴i̷n̸g̸?̷!̶ ̶H̵e̵'̵s̸ ̴d̵a̴n̷g̵e̷r̵o̶u̶s̶!̷ ̶W̸e̵ ̸b̶o̴t̶h̴ ̵k̷n̷o̴w̴ ̴y̴o̶u̷ ̵c̸a̵n̶'̷t̴ ̵s̵t̷a̷n̴d̶ ̵u̵p̶ ̵a̴g̷a̵i̸n̸s̴t̴ ̸h̵i̴m̴!̷ ̴H̷e̸ ̶W̴I̵L̶L̶ ̴k̷i̶l̸l̶ ̸y̶o̴u̸!̷

I don't care.

Slowly closing the distance between them, the small blonde reaches a hand out to him before stopping herself. Pulling it back, she takes one more step forward before slowly, delicately putting her arms around him. Pressing her lips tightly together to try to keep them from trembling, she doesn't say a word. No questions, no scolding--just a ragged little sigh. ]

[ It's inevitable that she'll notice him. Even if he hadn't been so loud in his approach, she surely would have turned around at least once. So when that blonde head begins to turn, Kaito wonders if he should bolt. Fly away. Use the last ounce of his strength to force an instant teleport that he knows he doesn't have the skill to perform.

Y̸o̸u̸ ̸l̶o̴o̶k̵ ̷s̷o̷ ̷l̴a̶u̴g̴h̶a̷b̵l̷y̷ ̴w̸e̸a̶k̷.̷

I know. I—

His thoughts come to a screeching halt when their eyes meet. Suddenly, he can't be brought to care about his Shadow's berating. About his own berating. None of it matters. He doesn't matter, not in this moment.

He fixates himself on her teary gaze, and his composure cracks. There's no decorum, no restraint. Through the biting pain of his wounds, Kaito's arms snap around her shoulders and pull in as tightly as he can muster. His clothes smell terrible—blood mixed with rotting flesh and acid. But she holds him like he'll shatter if she makes a wrong move, and he holds her like she'll disappear again if he ever lets go.

Amidst those wavy fields of gold, he sees flashes of her memories. A bright smile. A child's desire to style her hair like her mother's.

Yours looks just like Rapunzel's.

The glimpses aren't nearly as vivid as he's used to experiencing, but they still hit him hard as he embraces her. A choked sob shakes him as he carefully strokes her hair. Good job making even more of a mess. ]

Hi there, [ he whispers, voice raspy, ragged. ] I was worried you'd gone and done something stupid...

[ Squeeze. ]

I was so worried.

[ Hibiki isn't sure what she expects when she carefully embraces him, but when he pulls her in, clinging to her like he's afraid she'll suddenly disappear into the aether, she doesn't hold back. All at once, she tightens her embrace, her head rested against his.

It doesn't matter that he smells like death, that (once again) her golden hair is stained with each gentle stroke of his hand. None of that matters right now. She just has to stay composed, she can't let herself get upset--

But when Kaito shakes, clearly trying not to cry himself as he chokes out a few words, she loses it. When he squeezes her, she can't help but do the same, shaking as she tries so desperately to not start sobbing herself. This isn't like her; she isn't the type to show or tell people how she's feeling, let alone crying openly like this. What does she say? What can she say? ]

I'm sorry... I'm so sorry.

[ If she had enough sense in this moment, she would lead them away from here. Even where they stand now is dangerous, and the smell of blood is likely to draw any number of monsters to them like moths to a flame. Taking another shallow, ragged breath, she squeezes him tightly before slowly, reluctantly, releasing him. Her hand runs down his arm before finding his hand, threading her fingers between his. ]

...But we can't stay here, not like this.

[ Taking a breath, she looks up at him with a fragile smile, her face and hair stained where they came in contact with damp fabric or skin. Tilting her head girlishly, her eyes still wet, she attempts to lead him. ]

You'll come with me... right?

[ For a long time, Kaito doesn't respond. He simply holds onto his (business, purely business) partner, rubbing his cheek against the top of her head, gripping tighter (yet with a paranoid, almost fearful gentleness), unmoving.

When she apologizes, he wonders if his heart wants to soar or break. How could he attach himself to any one person so readily when he knows he can only marginally trust any of them? Where's his Shadow's cajoling or griping? The only sounds reverberating alongside his thoughts are the echoes of her song and the voices from her memory.

Reality eventually yanks him back to join it when she pulls away and slips her hand into his. It's covered in calluses, marred by scars of varying depths, and caked in dried blood. Ugly by any sense. Yet she clasps onto it all the same.

He squeezes in turn, meeting her smile with a neutral look that just barely hides his yearning. A nod follows, then his feet trail alongside hers. He has his answer. ]

Let's go.

[ Like she cares how callused and torn his hand is, she would reach for it again and again if it means she has that assurance that he isn't going anywhere. That he's still here in whatever sort of Hellscape this is with her. Still, it's funny, all this time she saw herself as needing him to look out for her; that the disparity between the two of them was so great that it was insurmountable.

Maybe she's just too trusting, but seeing him follow without question, it becomes abundantly clear that he might rely on her as much as she does on him.

If he remembers the path she takes (of course he does), he will notice that Hibiki is leading back to her Door. Her shadow's litany of paranoid rambling and pleading is met with silence from her. If he means to do her harm, then he would find a way to do that eventually, but she refuses to leave his side like this. Kaito would do the same for her--has done the same for her--and he isn't the only one who needs the reassurance that the other won't just disappear.

Reaching the Door, Hibiki reaches for the knob with her left hand before briefly pausing to look at one of the care packages that hadn't been taken with a very confused look on her face. (They have postal service out here?) Whatever, she'll investigate later. Taking a deep breath, Hibiki pushes the door open, a small foyer to an older-style Japanese building welcoming them.

D̶o̸n̶'̶t̶!̶

With a determined nod, Hibiki takes a step inside--pulling him along with her. ]

[ With their hands joined, Kaito becomes all the more aware of her emotions—and of every pulse that represents her Shadow's protests. Every time it protests, every time it shrieks its disapproval.

I̷t̷'̵s̵ ̶k̴i̶n̵d̵ ̸o̵f̸ ̵a̶n̶n̸o̶y̷i̷n̷g̴,̵ ̴d̵o̷n̸'̶t̶ ̵y̸o̵u̷ ̸t̵h̴i̶n̸k̶?̵ ̴Y̸o̶u̵ ̶r̴e̷a̸l̸l̷y̴ ̷w̸a̶n̴t̴ ̵t̶o̴ ̸a̸l̵i̴g̶n̴ ̵y̸o̷u̸r̶s̵e̸l̵f̴ ̴w̸i̸t̵h̷ ̴t̵h̸a̴t̶?̶

'Without a doubt.'

Another squeeze. Once they're at her Door, Kaito follows her befuddled gaze to the paper bags that he's been leaving there all week—and the faintest hint of a smile perks on his features. He'll tell her later. ]

...Huh. A ryokan? [ Mumble, mutter. Despite his exhaustion continuing the slow him down, the rush of emotions from their direct contact keeps him alert enough to take stock of his surroundings. It looks cozy. ]

I guess that means you've got a working kitchen, too. That's convenient.

[ Without thinking too much about it (a feat for this overthinker), he squeezes her hand once more—as if he's sure she's about to let go. ]

[ Hibiki nods as her grip on his hand begins to loosen, a thoughtful look on her face. She should let go so they can both take off their shoes--but no, she isn't quite ready for that. She wants to keep a hold on him for now. ]

Ginkoya. I worked here for a couple years before I moved back to Tokyo. [ She shifts her balance, using the toe of one shoe to slip off the other, then doing the same with her other foot. ] It isn't the whole ryokan, but the kitchen and a few of the rooms are here. There's probably enough here to get you cleaned up.

[ When he squeezes her hand, she smiles reluctantly at him. ]

Sorry, I can let go if you need me to. It's probably kinda hard to take your shoes off with one hand, huh? ...You're coming in with me, right?

[ Said in a tone that clearly states that no matter whether he does or not, she will be following him. ]

[ It's the opposite, actually. He'd really like to hang on for a while longer. Kaito just murmurs a 'yeah' under his breath before proceeding to mimic her balancing act. Laces are yanked away before he pulls out of his boots, which he carefully sets to the side. They're looking the least weathered of his attire by far. ]

Where else would I go, at this point? Out and away? After I've finally found out that you're okay?

[ A beat. ] It must mean a lot to you in some way or form. The inside of a Restless' Shroud is supposed to reflect a place that had a heavy impact on their life.

...While a bath would be nice, I have to take care of the rest of my wounds first. I've got enough ointment, but I ran out of bandages. [ Kaito gestures vaguely to one of the Badaliscus skin strips. ] It's gross, but I've discovered that there's a working alternative out here in the Shadowlands.

[ Oh, he's just going to keep holding on to her, then. Blinking a few times as he pulls his boots off with one hand, some of the stressed that worked itself into her shoulders starts to melt away. There are plenty of places he could go--but Hibiki is more than a bit relieved to hear that he's staying put. ]

I basically lived there. I'd say it was a second home, but I think I spent more time there than at my apartment. Not just when I was working.

[ Leading him past the foyer and through the front part of the building, her quiet smile turns more into a grimace when he mentions the alternative bandages that he's used. Gross. Useful, but so, so gross. Turning into a back hallway, she leads him into the kitchen. It isn't huge, but still more than enough to service the dozen or so rooms through of its real-world equivalent. ]

There's a first aid kit in here, I just hope there's enough to patch you up. [ A beat, as she debates. ] You're welcome to take a bath afterwards, if you want. Can't really offer to make you anything to eat, though. Whoever's supposed to keep the kitchen stocked out here sucks at it.

[ She's talking about herself. ]

[ Kaito's eyes flit all over the interior of her home space. He's taking in Hibiki's words too, sure, but it's his eyes that file away every minute detail to memory.

Especially that nice-looking wok hanging alongside the other pots and pans... ]

I worked in a noodle restaurant. Real run-down hole in the wall kind of place. It felt like a third home to me, so I understand the sentiment.

[ Golds lock onto the first aid kit, and when it seems like he's finally about to let go of her hand, Kaito simply lifts the opposite and conjures a stream of silver energy to whip out and grab the kit. ]

It'll do. I'm pretty good at making things work with limited supplies, and I have just a little healing power with my water magic. [ Only now does he loosen his grip and pull away (and even then there's hesitance). ]

Which way to the nearest bath? And, uh... is there a change of clothes I can possibly use? If not, that's fine—I can just teleport to my Shroud after cleaning up.

[ So he says (and honestly, he probably could), but are you really going to let him wander off after all that? Is he going to allow himself to wander off? ]

[ It's the sort of space that's rarely seen in the 20xxs, a product of an era long since past lovingly maintained by its proprietor. It seems much smaller than the normal ryokan, judging from the size of the lobby and the kitchen, the latter appearing to be the only fully modernized part of the facility.

Watching as Kaito plucked the kit from a nearby med cabinet, it takes her a few seconds to realize, oh, right, he's going to want to clean up. He's going to need a change of clothes. Taking her hand back withsome reluctance, Hibiki jumps at the chance to busy herself. ]

If you don't mind wearing a yukata, I can grab you one.

[ And in the first glimmer that she might be returning to normal, she smiles pleasantly at him. ]

I'll help get you patched up. I should probably be able to cobble something together to eat after you're done with your bath.

[ Said sweetly, but incredibly firmly. ]

[ In other words, it's the sort of space Kaito's family would love to stay at. Hah.

Even with their hands separated, he's still able to vividly feel the smile draw onto Hibiki's features before ever seeing it. There's a touch of silence for a few moments. Kaito's eyes lid shut, and he seems to be contemplating something.

Eventually, he also cracks a tiny smile while holding the med kit close to his chest. ]

I'll remember this for the next time you try and pretend you're okay while pushing me away.

[ Oh. Ouch. Rude?

His smile grows. ]

It's going to be ugly, though. This is your only warning.

[ Hibiki can't help but stare at him as he makes such a bold declaration, blinking owlishly as her brain slowly tries to spin it some other way. Is he saying he would stay here with her if that happens, or..?

There isn't really another way to interpret this is there? Hibiki sighs in defeat. ]

Guess I'll have to make sure this place is better stocked then.

[ Not confirming nor denying that she won't retreat again, but if he's going to be pounding down her door next time it happens, it's better to be prepared. This isn't an actual ryokan, but her former boss would give her an earful if she wasn't equipped to take guests.

Gesturing with a nod of her head, she leads him further down the hall toward a sliding door. Opening that leads out to a wooden deck overlooking an open courtyard, a cherry blossom tree in full bloom sitting as a focal point in the center. Contrary to popular belief, Hibiki isn't taking him out here because of the view. She doesn't want those basilici bandages stinking up the place. ]

Go ahead and sit down, let's get you re-bandaged.

[ Kaito scoffs. ]

You're lucky that one of us has been hoarding foodstuffs since the very beginning.

[ She doesn't have to confirm or deny. He's here to stay. Shuffling along, Kaito's eyes widen a touch at the sight of the courtyard. Hints of similarity between the layout and that of his false Domain in his Shroud are painfully apparent—look at that tree. If he knows anything about big trees in these Shrouds, it's that they probably hold greater significance than almost anything else inside.

Minus one's Tethers.

Kaito shoots Hibiki a glance and almost challenges her one more time, but he eventually acquiesces—and steps forward to strip. If there's any hesitation in his movements, the reason becomes obvious with each layer of mangled cloth that he peels off. The sheer volume of scratches and gashes cover him from the chest down, with the worst of them concentrated over his abs.

And ~~while you hardly need a reminder because of our PSL lmfao~~ he's a little jacked. A lot jacked, actually. How's this twunk been getting away with hiding his physique this whole time?

Past his open wounds, his body is riddled with scars of varying severity. There are almost too many to count. With his back still turned and just his underwear keeping him decent, the empath finally lowers himself down. A faint hiss escapes as he lands with a plop.

Spheres of water begin to pop into existence around his body, and he cocks his head back to turn an azure gaze up to the blonde. ]

I'll clean, you disinfect and dress?

[ For someone who is supposedly reasonably perceptive, she can be really fucking stupid. It doesn't occur to her that she would need to see his wounds in order to dress them until his starts undressing. The blonde whirls around, turning her back to him as he starts peeling off clothing. Oh Hibiki, you absolute fool, how did you expect this would go?

If he makes a big deal out of it, she'll tell him she's just trying to be polite. It isn't a complete lie.

She seems to realize how stupid she must look, so after a moment, Hibiki turns to look at him before taking a deep breath. The sheer amount of gashes covering him keep her from focusing on the fact that ~~she's friends with yet another twunk~~ he's way more muscular than she expected him to be. Seeing the punishment he's had to endure helps her focus, as she takes a seat next to him.

This is what happens if she disappears, if she tries to isolate herself. Burn this image, his pain into your mind, Hibiki. She cannot--will not--let that happen again. Meeting his gaze, she gives him a nod. ]

Yeah, sounds good.

[ It's okay. He'll tease her about that later. For now, he'd like the bleeding to stop on some of his deeper wounds.

At her nod, he gets to work. Fingers fiddle with some peroxide, and soon enough the liquid in the bottle takes on a faint teal outline as it floats out of the container and into his Scrubbing Bubbles.

This is a tedious but so-very-familiar process. Coming home alone in the dead of night, licking his wounds, then patching up and being out of bed the next morning for work. The only difference is also a very notable difference—now it's another pair of hands applying salve and wrappings to his injuries.

He doesn't dislike it, even if every brush of skin against skin sends surges of her emotions directly into his psyche. ]

So why do you know first aid? Was that a thing from the early martial arts days? Or did you learn it out of necessity later down the line?

[ To her credit, she tries to avoid directly touching skin as much as possible, to keep from undoing the work of cleaning and disinfecting the wound. There was the thought that he avoided physical contact, the gloves being a big clue. But considering how reluctant he was to let go of her hand, she may have just interpreted it wrong. Maybe he's just self-conscious about them? It isn't really her place to ask.

Giving her a task to focus on does a lot for her mood, however, with most of the turbulence he felt from her before tamped down. His question pulls a nostalgic smile from her as she works. ]

Mostly the martial arts. I was that kid who wanted to learn everything as fast as possible, and especially starting out that meant a lot of bumps and bruises. But I always wanted to take care of as much of it myself as I could; I figured if I'm the one getting hurt, I have to deal with the consequences. Which is stupid, but good luck telling teenage Hibiki that. ...Or anything, for that matter.

[ She's way over-simplifying and leaving out some details, but he doesn't need to know about what a terror she was before she fully figured out the whole temper thing. Or what she got up to immediately after moving back to Tokyo. ]

I'm guessing it's the same for you? Was it more for training, or out of necessity?

[ It's okay. She also doesn't need to know that he used to be the most fight-happy tsundere in Shibuya. ]

Teenage Kaito was equally stubborn, so I'm pretty sure I can relate.

[ Oddly, despite the last hour being perhaps the most stressful moment of his un-life, now that he's sitting here having his wounds treated Kaito wonders if he could feel any more at peace.

Well, maybe not at peace, but it's a lot more tranquil than anything else he's known since awakening in the Netherworld. ]

Also the former. My grandfather taught me everything I know about martial arts while I was a kid. He beat my ass. I also got into a lot of fights. I may not look the part, but I used to be Shibuya's most irritable delinquent for years.

[ What was that about her not needing to know about his fightsexual tendencies...? ]

It's ironic that I grew up into someone who actively tried to stop conflicts. And now that I'm here... I can only really go off what I think is right.

So teenage you and teenage me would've either hated each other or been thick as thieves. Got it. Good to know.

[ Please never tell her, Kaito, even if she can see the results all over his body. Still, he's surprisingly relaxed considering everything, even as she blots and bandages him up. Probably has a high pain tolerance. ]

But no wonder you weren't too busted up about me going hard on you with training. I guess I really can take off the kid gloves, that'll be fun. [ Hey so about that whole fightsexual thing ] I'd be doing your grandfather a big disservice if I went easy on his star pupil, after all.

[ Oh admit it, Hibiki, you just want to see if you can kick this guy's ass. ]

This place does weird stuff to all of us, and that's before talking about the whole shadow and soulmate thing. I know that doesn't make it feel better, but... at least you know you're not alone in feeling that way.

Got a feeling it could be both in that exact order...

[ Indeed, he's rather resilient. Quivers and hisses make it clear that he does feel the discomfort that comes from wound treatment, but he's otherwise been still as a statue. It must be something he's quite used to, given all those scars.

...Actually, on closer examination, his back looks dark as all hell. Branching patterns scatter all over the surface of his skin from his right shoulder down past the band of his boxers. Lightning scars, if she's familiar with them. ]

When it comes to my aura and spellcraft, I'm still in my prime—minus the occasional hiccup. My skill with weapons is also well-practiced. It's my hand-to-hand and footwork that seem to be the slowest to "wake up," if that make sense. So don't go easy on me, or I'll put extra vinegar in your ramen.

[ A smile follows his very thickly-unveiled threat. It quickly wanes. ]

...Mm. [ There's a longer pause before he glances sidelong towards her. They're just about finished with the patch jobs. ]

Was it your Shadow that almost pushed you to kill the fae when we were in the Oakwoods?

[ No apology, no preface. Glowing blues settle on hers with firm intent. ]

Yeah, probably.

[ Maybe it's a good thing then that they seem to be from different Earths, Shibuya wouldn't know what hit it if the two of them had the opportunity to pair up. But it could have been fun having someone like him around while she was growing up, maybe it wouldn't have been as lonely at times.

It's possible she could have also done something about the network of scars on his back, since the only thing that she could think of that might be capable of that would be something supernatural. She's curious, but now's not the time to ask. ]

Oh, don't worry, I won't~!

[ Also oh shit he's making her ramen?! Well, all the more reason for this kitchen to stay reasonably well-stocked, even if she doesn't like cooking just for herself. She can probably just keep the non-perishables stocked and stick everything else in the freezer. He'll never know.

As she starts to disinfect one of the few remaining cuts, Hibiki pauses, blinking a few times at the pointed question and the intense stare. Holding her in his gaze, a voice that had been a dull mumble until starts to scream in her head.

D̶e̸n̵y̴ ̸i̸t̶.̶ ̸L̶i̵e̷.̴ ̷H̸e̶ ̴w̵o̵n̶'̸t̵ ̸w̸a̷n̴n̵a̶ ̷r̴i̷s̴k̵ ̴b̷e̴i̷n̴g̴ ̸a̵r̸o̴u̵n̶d̴ ̸s̶o̸m̸e̴o̸n̵e̵ ̸w̷h̵o̸ ̶i̶s̶n̶'̵t̶ ̵t̸o̸t̵a̷l̶l̸y̵ ̷i̷n̵ ̸c̸o̷n̵t̶r̸o̴l̸.̸ ̷A̶t̶ ̸l̸e̶a̸s̵t̷ ̴i̴f̶ ̸y̶o̴u̶ ̸t̸e̸l̸l̵ ̴h̸i̷m̷ ̴t̶h̵a̶t̷ ̴y̵o̴u̸'̸r̵e̵ ̸a̷ ̶m̵o̴n̵s̶t̷e̵r̶-- ]

Yes...

[ He already knows.

Kaito's gaze never relents—not as she pauses, and certainly not as what he presumes to be her Shadow begins to make a fuss. In fact...

Y̵o̶u̶ ̵a̶l̸r̵e̸a̵d̴y̸ ̴k̶n̸o̶w̶ ̷t̴h̵e̴ ̵a̸n̵s̴w̸e̵r̴.̷ ̵H̷e̴r̴ ̵S̷h̵a̸d̸o̵w̸ ̴i̴s̶ ̵m̷e̷r̸e̵l̶y̷ ̴a̷n̸ ̴e̵x̸t̷e̷n̶s̴i̸o̵n̴ ̵o̵f̶ ̸h̸e̷r̵ ̵i̸n̷n̶e̴r̴ ̷d̴e̴s̶i̶r̵e̵s̷.̶

R̵e̷g̷a̴r̷d̵l̵e̸s̵s̸ ̵o̴f̴ ̸w̴h̸o̷ ̴s̷c̴r̷e̴a̶m̴e̸d̴ ̴'̷k̴i̵l̶l̷,̶'̶ ̵t̸h̷e̵y̴ ̶b̷o̶t̵h̶ ̸t̶h̴o̷u̷g̶h̵t̶ ̷i̸t̷.̷ ̴S̷h̵e̵'̴s̸ ̸o̸n̴l̸y̶ ̷g̶o̷i̷n̷g̷ ̵t̸o̶ ̵d̸i̴s̵a̵p̶p̶o̶i̸n̵t̶ ̵y̴o̴u̷.̴ ̵M̷i̶g̵h̵t̸ ̸e̷v̸e̷n̸ ̶s̷t̷a̶b̶ ̵y̶o̴u̴ ̴i̷n̷ ̵t̶h̵e̷ ̴b̸a̴c̴k̶,̵ ̴a̶s̸ ̷a̷ ̵t̷r̶e̷a̷t̴!̸

Even as his own Shadow begins to berate him for what he has yet to speak, Kaito maintains eye contact. The pause that follows her admission feels like it lasts an hour, but eventually he speaks up and looks down. ]

Thanks for telling me the truth.

...Dealing with that temptation must have been horrible. I think I'd know, and not because of whatever I've experienced with life and death situations before coming here.

[ Kaito slowly lifts his head to look at her again. The water around him dissipates, and his eyes return to their natural golden hue. Static begins to fill his head in the form of his Shadow hissing and yelling its curses for what he's about to admit. ]

I almost slaughtered a group of Basilicus...es... Basilici? [ This gag's never going to get old. ] It doesn't matter that they're monsters—they're still sentient. Sapient. It's against my policy to kill those of sound enough mind. And yet... I almost did, and it felt good.

I could blame my Shadow—it was the one who pushed me to make the decision—but in the end, I still made the conscious choice to harm them beyond what was necessary. It only fanned the flames that I was already harboring.

...What I'm getting at besides the fact that I can empathize with your struggle is that I'd like to propose we give this Soulmate thing a shot. If we've both seen firsthand the destructive potential our Shadows can have on our psyche, and if the Soulmate process will specifically silence their voices, then it's enough justification for me to go through with it.

You, uh. You obviously don't have to. But I'm asking you first, because you're the one person here who I trust above anyone else to take the responsibility on with.

[ The silence between the two of them speaks louder than the shadow screaming and berating her for her admission. Her eyes dart away as she mentally prepares herself for the worst (whatever that could be at this point)--only for him to try to reassure her. Hibiki's gaze snaps back to him as he looks up once more, golden eyes laser focused on her.

Her eyes widen as he admits his own sins openly and without hesitation. That he grappled with the same unseen demons; that he almost let them win. All this time, she had seen Kaito as someone who had it together, someone who would never struggle with that voice in his head.

The fact that the two of them are so similar is terrifying--yet reassuring at the same time. For the first time, Hibiki feels like there might be someone who understands her struggles even beyond what their shadows have forced them to grapple with.

D̸o̶ ̶y̶o̸u̴ ̴r̴e̵a̷l̴l̸y̸ ̸w̵a̸n̵t̵ ̴t̷o̶ ̴t̸i̴e̸ ̵y̷o̸u̴r̵s̸e̶l̸f̵ ̶t̶o̶ ̵a̵ ̷k̸i̴l̶l̴e̴r̴?̶ ̷W̸h̶a̴t̸ ̸w̶i̷l̷l̷ ̴y̷o̴u̸ ̷d̷o̵ ̶w̶h̴e̶n̷ ̷h̵e̶ ̶t̴u̷r̴n̴s̴ ̵o̶n̴ ̴y̴o̸u̷?̶ ̴I̶t̶'̵s̴ ̶k̶i̶l̴l̷ ̵o̸r̵ ̶b̴e̷ ̷k̵i̸l̶l̶e̷d̴,̵ ̵a̶n̵d̵ ̴I̴'̸m̵ ̵t̵h̷e̶ ̶o̷n̵l̵y̴ ̶o̸n̴e̷ ̸w̷h̵o̶ ̷c̴a̵n̶ ̶p̶r̷o̷t̷e̷c̷t̵ ̵y̸o̶u̵ ̵w̷h̴e̷n̷ ̷h̷e̵ ̸i̷n̷e̴v̷i̵t̶a̶b̶l̴y̷ ̸b̸e̵t̷r̸a̴y̷s̵ ̷y̸o̶u̸r̷ ̶t̵r̷u̶s̶t̵.̶

He isn't a killer. He doesn't want to be. He considers each life to be precious--even those monsters that most people would kill without a second thought.

D̶o̷ ̶y̸o̸u̸ ̸r̶e̸a̷l̶l̷y̴ ̶b̵e̷l̷i̴e̶v̸e̷ ̶t̴h̷a̵t̷?̸ ̷H̵e̷'̷s̸ ̴f̷u̵l̸l̶ ̶o̷f̷ ̶s̶h̶i̵t̸ ̴a̷n̸d̷ ̴b̶o̵t̷h̷ ̶o̸f̸ ̴u̴s̸ ̶k̴n̴o̶w̶ ̸i̸t̴.̴ T̵h̵e̵ ̸o̵n̸l̷y̷ ̶o̴n̵e̸s̶ ̶y̴o̶u̷ ̶c̷a̴n̵ ̶t̶r̶u̴s̴t̶ ̴a̵r̸e̶ ̴m̵e̸ ̵a̶n̵d̶ ̷y̷o̵u̸.̴

Well, her shadow is half right. Realizing what he's leading to halfway through his heartfelt confession, Hibiki will let him finish at the very least. She had already made her decision, but as he tells her that she's the only one he can trust with this, she feels her heart flutter briefly. It's easily one of the kindest things someone has said to her. ]

Kaito...

[ Placing her hand on top of his, she gives him a small, yet genuine and incandescent smile. ]

Let's do it. You're the only one who I can trust to have my back, so let's fight against this together, as partners. I won't let you fall into that darkness ever again, I promise.

[ This is why you have to be careful about who you idolize. They're only human, just like you.

Well, human with a big fucking asterisk(, just like you).

When he's finished speaking, Kaito immediately drags his gaze away. He expects her Shadow to react, but he also expects her to agree with it. His own Shadow is just popcorning away, figurative eyes a-rollin'.

So when she lays a hand on his and her smile quite literally fills his everything with warmth, he can't help but smile weakly in turn. ]

...What kind of dumb anime moment are we reenacting...

[ He won't cry. He'll hold those tears back. But his eyes are misty and a hiccup accompanies his laugh. ]

Yeah. Not just for our sakes, either. For those who need us.

[ F̴u̷c̵k̶i̸n̵g̶ ̷h̵e̵l̸l̴,̸ ̸w̴h̴o̷ ̴p̶u̸t̴ ̵T̷W̴O̷ ̵p̴r̵o̶t̵a̴g̶o̴n̷i̶s̴t̵s̴ ̴i̵n̴ ̵t̸h̷e̴ ̷s̶a̷m̵e̶ ̴g̷o̸d̶d̵a̵m̴n̴ ̵r̴o̴o̵m̷?̶?̵?̴ ]

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