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

[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.]

[hanikamu]

On it!

[Rinne agrees. Whenever the three of them are together, Rinne feels like he can do anything. That's why he pulls Niki into his arms, carries him like a bride, and jumps onto the stage, surprisingly light on his feet. His Natural Soul hasn't taken back her blessings just yet.]

Doncha think you're forgetting something, Prez? [He sets Niki down just as quickly.] You gotta make a good offer if you wanna negotiate!

[The woman's amber eyes widen at the sight of all three foxes. Her fear shakes her to her very core. "No, that smell... This can't be! If what they say is true, then...! Natsuki! Mitsuki! Satsuki!"

Three tails unravel and burn like pink fire behind her. From them, the three fox women are made flesh once again, battle-ready.]

... Damn, where'd she learn how to do that?

[She sighs. "From cultivating my energy, of course. Don't you men know nothing? I planned on tenderizing you with those brutes before I ate you all. Yes, indeed! With this much energy in one room, I can grow another tail. With the three of you, maybe more! But..."

She brings her palm back up to her mouth and licks it again. Rinne winces.

"There's been a change of plans." With an austere glare, she points a manicured claw at Rinne. "Give me the red fox, and I'll spare your little kabuki act. Watching your show with someone by my side will make it all the more pleasant."

Her pink tongue licks a sharp fang behind her rouged lips.]

reverse uno

[takasugi]

( takasugi follows the path of that claw, and... smiles.

because surely she's joking, right?

the demand for that specific exchange pulls at the corner of his white irises unseen, turning the edges of them black. an anger that's been silent since they arrived stirs at the pit of his core, and takasugi might snap his beloved shamisen in half if he's not careful, where buying another one is so out of their budget at the moment. his hands might slip onto the trigger, a barrage of bullets slicing right through this entire crowd and more if he lets the supernatural malice mesh with his need to take claws straight into her throat. it's dangerous, this. he ought to take a hand to his mouth and muzzle it before giving in, before a growl rises up in his and nuzzles in his throat.

instead, he swallows. he raises a hand like an eager participant in class, voice light as he waves it eagerly. )

I can offer you something even better, actually.

( the wooden instrument hefts off his shoulder, clattering to the floor.

takasugi walks over confidently, showing nothing but sincerity on his face.

that's how it goes, right, sensei? to earn someone's trust, one has to give off an aura of truthfulness. nevermind the chinese scholars and their distinctions on strategy he toiled away on in his childhood, then. as all that long hair sways out behind him, takasugi cups her chin with no hesitation whatsoever, no concern for her familiars as his hollow pinks bore into her fiery gaze. he tilts his pale wrist upwards , tempting. )

I'll be your partner while they execute their performance. As a former Heroic Spirit, there should be a cache of tasty magical energy stored in my body somewhere for you to drink from in the meantime. It's a pretty good deal, don't you think? You won't get another chance like this in a lifetime.