005. those countryside roads to somewhere

[takasugi]

( weeks spent gathering non-perishables and their personal items into boxes couldn't have prepared them for what was about to happen.

it occurs in a flash, like a plant's tendril reaching out to seed a new life in something.

the sea vanishes, their epic on the high seas punctuated by a change in pressure. like when a whale breeches or dives with something inside it's mouth, it's an almost unimaginably long pause. their watery landscape transforms into an empty void, pieces of a plane that simply don't exist in the mind, and if one were to stay here, it could easily drive them mad. humans were never made to shift between realities and witness such emptiness, after all, and before takasugi can even think to figure out how shouin's soul might be contributing to this, everything tilts. the world about them flips to a new chapter filled with light, darkness, and stars, and if one blinks, it all becomes clear that everything is floating, floating without a sky to touch the pitch-black remnants of the rippling universe below, and—

a blink of the eyes next reveals that everything they've known has come to change.

the arahabaki mk. ii on the water is gone, and only rolling hills remain.

in the distance, a couple women tend to a small, cultivated field off a well-worn path, meticulously monitoring the water that'll birth life into their crop. the town is green and vulnerable under the piercing blue of the bright spring sky, with a quieter vibe compared to the larger towns that boast all the hustle and bustle of city life. a few open tea houses welcome visitors, inviting them to pause on their journey as they seek bigger opportunities in this new era of industrialization, but most importantly, as the members of 3kon might notice: some of the citizens here are sporting animal ears of various types, and no one acts like each other is worser than wear for it. )

Comments

[hanikamu]

Kyahaha!

[As Takasugi gleefully clears the way, hair dancing in the air as if his spirit was burning with life, Rinne grabs Niki by the hand and runs, following closely behind. He never would have had adventures like these if they never left that city!

If he never left Karteria... he would have never seen Takasugi and Niki look so healthy.

The sea of angry mobs parts for the trio as they make their way to the stage.]

There's only one way an idol can go, Niki. But it looks like we were just the opening act! That lady up there? I bet she's the real star of the show.

[He waves his empty bottle in the air.]

Show's pretty mid, though!

[The woman doesn't deign him with an answer. Instead, out onto the stage, she takes one step. The audience, utterly captivated by her magic, rises back to their feet like clockwork and wordlessly falls into order.]

[takasugi]

There's only one thing for it, then.

( onto the stage, takasugi lands with a thump. instead of his blade, the great swing of the shamisen attends him in his grip.

pointed straight towards the mysterious woman, by the way, where she's unable to hide the ears flattened back and styled into her done-up sokugami hairstyle any longer. they're a deeper red, almost brown as they unfurl. and while her eyes cautiously follow his every moment, takasugi simply taps a claw against the length of the wood. )

Regardless of what your true intentions were with my cute subordinate and whoever else is running this whole event, let's stick to what we agreed on earlier and continue, albeit with a few new conditions. The conditions being, of course, that you’ll ease up on these farmers, and we’ll get a few hours without being followed after we leave, especially after we’ve put on a good show for you. Oh. And forget about tonight’s arrangements; I think I've seen quite enough to put me off from wanting to lay my head down for even a second. Do they have a ratings system in this era yet? Because I'd totally be giving you one star right now. Anyway. Free the crowd and let's get this place jumping, and don't try anything strange. These men deserve the chance to hear the raw power of an idol with a clear mind.

( another tap on the long span of the shamisen, the knife shine in his eyes bright. )

Subdue the enemy without fighting is one of the first tenants of a popular strategist, by the way. I'm not sure where your colleagues went, but it seems they left you in over your head.

[hanabee]

[Here Niki was, worried that he might cause more trouble for the others than not, and then Rinne takes his hand anyway, like it was the easiest thing in the world to do. Like he doesn't have so many other things to worry about right now... At times like these, Niki's sure it isn't the imprint that makes him feel the way he does.

See? This is exactly what he means. Rinne's the kind of person who, with one small gesture, makes you feel like you're glad that you're still alive.

He wonders if Takasugi feels that way, too, when he lands on the stage like that, full of an impossible amount of energy, when he speaks to the crowd like he's the one that controls it.]

Whoa, Prez is getting really into this, huh~.

[Niki's never seen him do so much damage before, but he's already well-aware that he could do so much more. He's sure Takasugi could kill everyone here if he wanted to. There was no reason it had to come down to singing. But since it seems like it is...]

I don't think this is "being thrown to the wolves." I'm pretty sure this is offering ourselves up on a silver platter.

[He doesn't know if this is a good idea. Frankly, it seems like kind of a bad one! But it seems like there might be something special about them, and if that's the case... Well, that isn't always a bad thing, is it? Sometimes, being different is a thing you can use to your advantage.

So he tugs on Rinne's hand, gently, just a little.]

I guess we should go up there and join him.

[That's probably what Rinne would want to do, he thinks. And, at this point, they're all in this together, so Niki's more than okay with that despite everything.]