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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Jan 17, 2021 19:56:23 GMT
Karyuudo would have felt the glare shot at him even through the helmet at his remark, the sulk evident in Kitsune’s posture. “Should have thought about it longer,” he growled, more akin to what came from the silver mask. Of course, what had last come from those metal lips had been a laugh, and it only heightened Kitsune’s unease about making a firm decision. But he stood by that decision nonetheless, ready to fight Arashi and the guards.
Until the command.
Kitsune twitched at the commanding tone, immediately arguing. “What- you- I don’t take orders from you!” was all he managed before the Karyuudo’s sprint forward took him out of ear shot, evidently ignoring the fox’s words. The horse’s sudden appearance managed to silence the fox, but at this distance he was not knocked back and so recovered much more quickly. Not that he had much of a choice but to keep moving forward.
“Stupid cat,” was all the two guards would have heard before a sword sliced through their necks, as no figure stayed long enough to be identified as the source. The other guards behind Arashi had hesitated, confused by their comrades falling, but quickly distracted by the arrows launched at them.
In this chaos, even with the light of the street lamps, it was much harder to track the Kitsune as he attacked. When he had been defending Kasumi, he had let the guards attack one another, in a bad enough mood to prolong their suffering. Now he was quick, efficient and deadly, staying only long enough to deliver a blow before he was gone again.
Shots fired showed that reinforcements had come, guards eagerly racing up to take on the Karyuudo. They skidded to a halt when the Kitsune suddenly appeared before them, felling the first few before they even realized he was there. All they saw was a barrier between them and their master Arashi, attacking with swords and guns. With the focus now solely on him, Kitsune stayed his teleporting, deflecting blades and throwing other guards in the path of the bullets that tried to hit him. Here his skill was all in his training, sure footwork and strong, swift blows making short work of the guards as they approached.
The flow of guards, however, didn’t seem to stop. Was this because they had expected Karyuudo to attack the Emperor? Kitsune still had no idea that the whole scene had been a ploy, and he would not have been so hesitant to get out of there. He knew the Karyuudo was skilled, and trusted that he could handle the bear. But no single warrior could take on so many in number. This was evidenced by a dagger thrown at his back, noticed only because it didn’t actually hit him. Instead, he felt the brush of a shoulder against his, looking over to see a masked figure throw the dagger back after having caught it.
“Who the fuck are you?!” Kitsune half snapped even as he kept fighting, noticing several other hooded and masked figures suddenly appearing in the midst of the soldiers, taking them down with as much ease as the Kitsune. There was too much going on to be able to question the silent warriors further, gritting his teeth even as he was forced to accept the help.
The flashes of lightning kept illuminating the scene, Kitsune trying to look over his shoulder to see what was happening. But there was always another sword, another bullet, another soldier trying to take him down. Knowing now Arashi’s ability with lightning, Kitsune found himself growing concerned about how well the Karyuudo could fare against him. Finally, a dark warrior had taken out the nearest guard to him, giving Kitsune the chance to look over. The figures were predominantly still, even as the lightning still flashed, a stark contrast to the flow of energy that had been taking over the entire street. But as he looked longer, one image took center stage, blanking his mind to the battle around him.
Kasumi’s face, dripping blood, with a dagger at her throat.
Arashi’s look of victory was smug, even if tainted by his fury at the woman’s defiance. A mere woman! But his look didn’t last long, as a sword came down sharply against his wrist, forcing him to drop both dagger and Karyuudo as he started to pull back. A foot hit him squarely in the chest, forcing the man to take a step back, barely missing the sword as second time as it swung towards his throat. The guards around them were momentarily stunned by the attack, literally appearing out of nowhere. But the ones too close to the Karyuudo were dispatched quickly, and only in the momentary breath taken was it clear what had happened.
Kitsune half stood over the Karyuudo, with an intensity that radiated through the costume. But he didn’t stay there, and with a growl pushed forward. Arashi ducked the first few blows, a guard tossing him a sword that clashed against the Kitsune’s. There was anger in the fox’s blows, quickly matched as the bear pushed in, knowing his own strength was superior. With a roar, he struck, seeing the sword raised to attack.
Instead of hitting the Kitsune, his sword hit air. Kitsune’s sword sliced across his back, making him cry out even as his arched in pain with a howl. He swung out behind him, but again the Kitsune simply disappeared, his own blow slicing across Arashi’s arm. The disorientating attack made him stumble back, Kitsune’s focus temporarily changing to the guards who were still intent on taking the Karyuudo down. He was suddenly between them, kicking and swinging with expert blows, but from this distance Arashi couldn’t help but watch with wide eyes as the Kitsune would start an attack in one place, only to finish an attack in another.
“Yokai,” he breathed, his anger just as strong but his strategy changing. How could he possibly fight hand to hand with an opponent that could disappear like smoke? No wonder Kitsune had been such an exceptional warrior… how many times had Arashi wondered how he had avoided attention, coming into the heart of the palace as if he owned the place? Now… now it made sense.
With a roar, Arashi tossed the sword aside, and in spite of his wrist throbbing from the deep wound as he flexed his hands, they lit up with electricity before striking out. Kitsune disappeared before the first blow could hit him, the blast taking down two of the guards instead. Even with his power, Arashi found himself having to still defend rather than merely attack as the Kitsune returned his attention to him, still hitting his arms twice more before the bear realized the Karyuudo was moving. The mask had been grabbed, an obvious attempt to use the distraction to run. No… not after all of this, could the Karyuudo get away! He - no, she had to be made an example of! Arashi concentrated his lightning at her, bright enough to light up the street…
But it never reached the Karyuudo.
All it had taken was following Arashi’s gaze to see that Kasumi was trying to pull away for Kitsune to intercept, his map already planned out. Fury had overtaken him, but he had to get her out of there. First he’d go to her side, then to the rooftops, then…
He never got that far. The lightning was as fast as he, so instead of missing it by the hair’s breadth that he had been so far, he took the full brunt of the blast. Kitsune cried out in pain as it surrounded him, falling to his knees as the energy dissipated. Arashi initially crowed, ready to attack again, when suddenly lances of electricity danced about the back of the Kitsune’s neck. He had already been trying to stand when the device on his neck began to short out, the blue light so different from the blinding white of Arashi’s fury. But instead of reaching towards the inhibitor, his hands clutched at his side, his breath growing ragged even as the pain overwhelmed him. Not just the jolt of the electricity, but the Noroi rose like a dragon, its fire consuming him, his gasps for air mixed with pain, too much to even cry out as he crumpled to the ground, shaking and jerking.
Arashi took the change of fortune in stride, starting to smirk. So, the “yokai” was using a device to dart about. For getting in the way, the bear would make sure he would suffer. Now, to finish off the Karyuudo…
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Post by Kelathi on Jan 18, 2021 22:27:00 GMT
…Who, ironically, was the one to finish off him.
At first, only a small, strangled sound left Arashi’s mouth, his body jerking forwards with the force of the strike, his whole frame swaying slightly as it worked to register the pain. Slowly, his eyes wide with surprise, he looked down… to see the bloodied sword that had cleaved his back, sticking out from his chest. His own blood, dark and sinister, glinted like a warning in the half-light. With a grunt, Kasumi pulled the sword back out roughly, and Arashi fell havily to his knees, clutching his chest, the blood running between his fingers like water tipping from a pail. He uttered a low groan, as if he had no idea what kind of noise to make, and then crumpled to the floor. He made no further sound.
Kasumi swayed, her limbs still tingling after the shocks of lightning, and the loss of blood from the arrow imbedded in her shoulder finally catching up with her. But this was no time to faint, she had to get Ryo to safety. She had seen what had happened, although she wasn’t certain what it meant. She’d of course seen the device on Ryo’s neck before, back at his home, before he’d hurriedly hid it from view. Even so, the way Ryo had clutched his side suggested that he was injured there, too. Tucking the Shi mask into the belt at her waist, she grabbed Ryo, throwing his arm over her shoulder and hoisting him up into a standing position. “Come on, help me out here…” She murmured through gritted teeth. Ryo obliged, but not in the way she had expected.
Teleporting was jarring at the best of times, but it was especially so when she was wounded, and did not know it was coming. “Tā mā de!” She cursed aloud in response to their new surroundings. It took her a moment to regather her bearings, and she continued again, intending to take Ryo to the place she normally went to get herself patched up. But as she started to walk, again, they teleported, this time in the opposite direction. Kasumi paused. “What are you doing? We’re wasting time…” She just about growled before they teleported, once again, and she finally realised what Ryo was trying to do. “…fine.” Kasumi changed direction.
The Seven were still going strong, keeping the guards occupied whilst the injured Karyuudo dragged the fallen Kitsune away.
***
It was raining by the time they reached the familiar house, and it was by this time that Ryo’s legs finally gave way completely. Kasumi tottered for a moment, struggling to keep him aloft, but had no choice but to let him drop, as gently as she could manage. Breathing raggedly, she grasped his arms, and began to drag his unresponsive form towards the door, shouting out as she did so. “Naoki!” A clash of lightning managed to drown out her call, and for a mad moment she had thought Arashi was back, risen from the dead. Then the light was gone and they could just hear the rain once more.
She managed to haul Ryo to the screen door, and she pulled it open, smearing blood over it as she did so. Swaying, she leaned against the frame, and called again, desperately. “Naoki!” Tendrils of hair had fallen from her topknot, heavy with rain they stuck to her pale skin like dashes of ink. She could still taste blood as it ran over her lips, and her armour felt especially heavy, with the water-logged fabric underneath. Heat seemed to radiate from her shoulder, and as she raised her hand to it instinctively, the rainwater felt warm and thick.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Jan 19, 2021 3:24:37 GMT
The only sound Kitsune made as Kasumi grabbed him was gasps of pain, breath catching at the intensity. It was a far cry from the man who'd passed out from bleeding, not even realizing he was hurt until it was too late. Even the yokai hadn't escaped the fight entirely unscathed, evidenced in the cuts and nicks of his jacket and uniform with their lines of red beads running down leather and skin, but the only deeply damaging strike had been Arashi's lightning. His side seemed untouched, but he was barely able to stand as he curled around it, his entire body shaking as Kasumi lifted him. It was as if her presence was enough to cling to, his arm tightening about her shoulders as finally he found his footing, a deep grunt of fighting through the pain as he lifted his head, still unsteady.
That was when they teleported the first time, with an effort that somehow seemed to push him to his limit. Every pause in between was accompanied by another pained gasp, but even standing still seemed to inflict a wave, barely able to keep his head lifted, or his feet under him, a breath away from crumpling to the ground yet again.
Home. That was all Ryo could think of, in the small spaces that the Noroi wasn't overtaking. Home was safe... had to get home. He was barely aware of Kasumi anymore, only knowing that he was standing, would take a few difficult steps, and then they'd be that much closer to home. But the further they went, the less it seemed the teleporting was a skill; when Ryo would stagger, their path was altered, inconsistent in its distance and destination, literally bumping him into a wall at one point and almost dropping him there. It was only after a series of quick bursts, barely a pace apart in rapid succession, were they finally next to the Akiyama home.
That was as far as he could go, sinking down rather than teleporting on, his breath weak but only able to whimper, the pain unrelenting. As soon as he was on the ground he began to curl again, making him that much more difficult to drag along, with only lack of breath keeping him quiet. The street had been deserted in the storm, and undoubtedly from the news of the attack upon the Emperor. The house itself was quiet and dim as a grave when Kasumi dragged Ryo in, water and mud and blood smearing across the wooden floor. Hesitantly, from the staircase, Naoki peered around the corner, a katana in his hands, ready for fighting off an invader...
He didn't register it was Kasumi standing there, eyes widening with horror as Kitsune let out another soft cry, the katana dropped as the teenager jumped the railing to get to him as fast as possible. "Ryo?! RYO!" he began, his voice already cracking as he tried to grab his brother. His hand immediately flew to the back of Ryo's neck, all too easily pulling the device off, a leg falling to the ground dramatically as he did so. "What... how did this...?" he asked, his voice barely audible. Finally, he looked at the other figure, eyes widening again in recognition and surprise - and now fear. The armor, the blood...
"Kasumi? What, how did-" he began, but was interrupted by another pained whimper, forcing him to act rather than deflect. "Hold him," he ordered, suddenly cold, and strangely enough ran to the room with his computers. One pried floorboard later, and he slid into place next to Kasumi, setting the white device down to gently pull Ryo's helmet off. The green eyes were narrowed and unseeing as they were revealed, tears of pain having long slid down his cheek, but Naoki ignored this in favor of the device. Pulling the hair off the back of Ryo's neck, Naoki quickly attached the device with practiced ease, in the same place the other had been. A jolt ran through Ryo as it beeped, as if renewing the pain, but again Naoki seemed ready for this, holding his shoulder as Ryo's muffled cries and jerking slowly turned into weary pants, only for his eyes to finally close, sagging forward and only held up by the two as the pain left him little more than a rag doll in their arms. Naoki, almost stoic throughout this ordeal, finally pressed his face into his brother's shoulder, breath held until he was ready to face Kasumi, one tear streaking down his face as he looked at her. In spite of needing her help, even in the face of her own injuries, his arm came up to pull his brother close, and away from her, his face unexpectedly one of pain and fury.
"What. Happened?"
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Post by Kelathi on Jan 19, 2021 7:48:13 GMT
Kasumi dropped to her knees heavily, obeying without question, Naoki’s order to hold Ryo. Kasumi had no idea what Naoki was doing, but he was doing it urgently, so she trusted his judgement in knowing what needed to be done. Ryo’s fitful state grew worse as a new device was connected in place of the old, and her arms grew tighter around his thrashing form, panic passing over her face, her wide-eyed gaze looking to Naoki’s for reassurance, finding none. Eventually, though, Ryo seemed to calm, falling still, his breathing evening out. As Naoki pulled him close, and away from her, she let him do so, unsurprised by his attitude to her. She had delivered his brother, bloodied and near-unconscious, she was sure she would treat whomever had done so exactly the same, had their positions been reversed.
“Arashi. He had… some kind of power. Like electricity. It hit Ryo and the thing on his neck…” she trailed off, her eyes scanning over the discarded device, the once silver metal now black from it’s contact with Arashi’s fury. Her eyes focussed on Naoki’s once more, her hand coming up subconsciously to apply pressure to her shoulder wound. “Naoki, is he going to be okay? What is that?” she pressed, demanding answers as much as he had.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Jan 19, 2021 17:20:06 GMT
Naoki was visibly scared as Kasumi explained, looking down at the inhibitor on the floor beside them. “Electric…?” he murmured, mind racing a mile a minute. Not only over how yes, electricity of a high enough voltage could do the damage, he’d never thought he’d have to accommodate for that, but also it hadn’t escaped him that Kasumi was dressed in armor, that she had clearly been in a battle… and that there was only one reason why Ryo would have been fighting Arashi in the first place.
But her question seemed to break his anger, looking back up at her in time to show the tears begin to fall, fear and pain that was used to being repressed coming out in full. This was why he began to talk, choking between sobs, explaining so much. Why Ryo had been able to ignore pain, from the blow against the Karyuudo’s wrist to the injuries he had now. Why he’d been so uncertain about making a decision. Why anyone would be willing to put honor aside to work with the Emperor.
“Ryo has Noroi.”
Naoki gently put Ryo on the ground, a hand moving to the burn mark on his side, invisible under the uniform. Ryo hardly stirred. “He… he got it a year ago. When I finally got him to hospital, they put him on this… inhibitor, but it turns people into vegetables. I-I hacked the system, downloaded the design, and I… I managed to m-modify it, make it just block pain, not everything. I talked a doctor into letting Ryo come home with me, s-so I could swap the devices out without anyone knowing… But, Ryo’s my guardian… legally, if h-he isn’t able to take care of me, he’s… he’s worried I’d end up losing Grandfather’s house, a-and be lost in foster care… like he was. He’s been so… scared, of my being at risk, and he’s been trying to find a c-cure, but there’s been so many dead ends… But I thought…” Naoki’s voice trailed off a little, having to catch his breath, fighting through his own insecurities about his idea. “I thought… maybe… Karyuudo would have… have the cure.”
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Post by Kelathi on Jan 19, 2021 19:45:42 GMT
As Naoki explained, her eyes were initially fixed on Ryo, watching the gentle rise and fall of his chest. As he continued to explain what he had done, her eyes rose again to his, and they were full of not only surprise but, perhaps even admiration. She had not realised he was so technically skilled, if the Emperor had known, she was sure he would think Naoki an asset. She found herself incredibly glad that they were on the same side. He was a gifted individual, with clearly a strong sense of honour when it came to family. These were things that both Kasumi and Karyuudo valued.
When he finished, Kasumi leaned forward, planting a strong hand onto his shoulder, looking him dead in the eye, as if she might lend some of her strength through her gaze alone. He was an exceptional person, but he was young, and unsurprisingly shaken. “You are a credit to your brother.” Her voice was firm, steady. Then, after a few moments, she moved away, and hooked her hands under Ryo’s armpits. “Help me lift him to somewhere more comfortable.” She beseeched. In her head, Naoki’s words echoed ceaselessly, as she ran over them again and again. Noroi. A cure. Naoki had hoped that Karyuudo might have it. She had not the strength to tell him that she had though Noroi only legend, and if she hadn’t seen the way Ryo had reacted to the inhibitor shorting, she still might not have believed it to be the infamous illness that was so rarely documented. She could sense that Karyuudo was familiar with the illness, but like she, he did not know of a cure. She knew someone who might, but for now, they needed to see to Ryo’s other wounds.
After laying Ryo down on his bed, Kasumi spoke again, a hand leaning on the wall as she steadied herself, and tried to stop the room from spinning. “Will you bring me bandages, a pail of water, and…” She was suddenly interrupted by the sound of a voice calling out.
Her hand shot straight to her sword, and she raised her other to Naoki, who looked about ready to scarper, no doubt to retrieve his katana and face the imposter alone. “Wait here, watch over him.” She ordered firmly, before leaving the room, looking steadier than she actually felt.
Drawing the sword slowly, Kasumi crossed the house, the sound of her lone footsteps and the rain pattering on the roof incredibly loud in her ears… A figure stood in the doorway, their face unfamiliar in the dark. “Who are you?” She growled, pointing her sword towards him. Then he stepped forwards.
“Jiro?”
Relief flooded through her, and she let the sword drop back to her side. He rushed over to her then. “Wǒ de huā, what have you done?” He scolded, his voice thick with worry as he looked her over. She sheathed her sword, and they embraced, Kasumi, grateful for the momentary support. “I don’t understand, how did you know to come here?” “I followed you from the festival, I figured you might need some help. I almost lost you at one point, but I was able to follow the trail of blood before it washed away.” He did not mention the teleporting, but it was clear that he must have seen it. Instead, he shrugged the satchel off his shoulder. “I brought supplies. I thought you might attack tonight, thank Shàngdì that I had prepared.” There was almost a scold in there, and Kasumi smiled weakly in response. “I am grateful for your help, but there’s someone that needs it more than myself.” Jiro’s brow furrowed. “Naoki, it’s a friend.” She called into the other room, motioning for Jiro to follow.
*little flower
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Jan 20, 2021 1:06:46 GMT
Naoki jumped a little at Kasumi’s touch, looking up at her with wide eyes. He was surprised by her words, but they seemed to help; he sniffled, trying to catch his breath again. Even though Ryo was no longer in pain at the moment, he still needed help. This time it was Naoki who obeyed without question, standing to grab Ryo’s legs as Kasumi grabbed his shoulders. “We’ve got a bed just past the living room,” he offered, nodding towards the space currently dominated by the computer monitors. A temporary set up, it seemed, but the medical papers and blueprints strewn across it now made far more sense.
Despite the awkward lift, Ryo didn’t make a sound as he was moved, showing just how far the inhibitor blocked off the world to him. Even with Ryo on the bed, Naoki’s eyes were still glossy. Noroi blocked Ryo off to the world through pain… was being blocked off to everything really that much better? How many times did Ryo insist he’d wait out the pain for Naoki to make adjustments to the modified inhibitor, rather than sink into oblivion again? Ryo didn’t remember it, of course, but that was in large part what scared him so much about it.
Once Ryo was settled, Naoki looked up at Kasumi, seeing how she seemed to struggle to stand steady, about to take over helping the pair of them, when the voice rang out. He tensed, and was about to do just as Kasumi had thought when she motioned for him to stay. The ‘but’ was written clearly on his face, not happy that someone who was so badly wounded was keeping him back, but he let her only because she already had her sword in hand.
Naoki’s patience ran out as he heard voices conversing, unsure if it was because things were safe, or if Kasumi was buying time because of her injuries. He slipped out towards the front again, considering the places where weapons had been hidden in the dojo for situations such as this. Before he had to pull one out, however, Kasumi called for him again. The suspicion rolled off of him in waves as he came around the corner, even as Kasumi and the stranger came towards him. Unexpectedly, he stepped between the man and Kasumi as she passed, making the older man pause. “I’m here to help,” he confirmed, gently, recognizing the concern written all over Naoki, and that it wasn’t entirely about his being a stranger. Being a friend and ally to the Karyuudo meant he could understand the caution in protecting one’s identity, and Ryo was still in his Kitsune uniform. Jiro’s words were enough to sway Naoki, who unhappily moved aside for the man to follow Kasumi back to see Ryo.
Making sure the front door was closed to other intruders, Naoki quickly followed them in, moving to the other side of the bed. With every hesitant look and pause of breath, Naoki made it more and more clear how unused to dealing with outsiders the two brothers were in such situations. But as Jiro began to pull out his supplies, the way the teenager adapted to assisting him showed it was likely more Ryo’s influence that kept them solitary.
Jiro worked quickly, although he seemed confused still by Kasumi’s insistence that Ryo needed help before her. He paused, however, at seeing the white device on Ryo’s neck, but Naoki didn’t volunteer any information about it, letting the issue and Ryo’s unusual silence in being tended slide. Before long, Ryo’s injuries had been cleaned up and bandaged, only recognizably alive by the slow rise and fall of his chest. In the midst of collecting supplies such as the bandages and water that Kasumi had originally requested, Naoki had also made her sit in a chair so she could watch, but not collapse on them. As Jiro shifted his attention back to Kasumi, Naoki gathered up the parts of Ryo’s uniform that they had pulled off, including the trademark scarf, before looking at Kasumi, eyes drifting down again to the silver mask tucked into her belt. “We have a place for… these,” he started, indicating the bundle in his hands. “Yours will be safer there.” The suspicion had mostly slipped from Naoki by that point, looking tired, worried, but with an edge of gratitude that he wasn’t alone this time. Having others helping, even just to talk to, was a welcome relief.
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Post by Kelathi on Jan 20, 2021 1:24:52 GMT
Naoki’s protective movement of coming between herself and Jiro was surprising, especially considering how it had so recently become revealed just how little he really knew about her. A small smile touching Kasumi’s lips. She had been right about him- he had a good heart, and he was brave. Whether it was Naoki’s desperation for help, or Jiro’s soothing words, he let them pass, and they were able to see to Ryo properly. Kasumi had initially started to take over, before Jiro had taken the bandages right out of her hands. So, she had hovered nearby, her breathing becoming steadily more labored even as she tried to hide it, until Naoki finally convinced her to sit down, out of the way. Even so, she sat perched on the edge of the seat, itching to help, to see Ryo well and taken care off. She would hear no word of her wounds being seen to until she was certain all of his were- in her mind, she ruminated over the thought that he could be bleeding out from some unseen wound.
Finally, Jiro washed away the blood from his hands, and Kasumi looked towards Naoki for confirmation that Ryo would be okay. “Will he… wake soon?” She asked hesitantly, unsure exactly how the device worked, despite Naoki’s earlier quick explanation.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Jan 20, 2021 2:09:28 GMT
Naoki hesitated at Kasumi’s question, a flicker of pain at the answer flashing across his face. “N-no…” he began, uneasily, glancing at Jiro before swallowing the discomfort. “The inhibitor… it blocks almost any signal to keep them from feeling pain. He might come to a little… but he barely recognizes me when he does. It’s like he’s drugged.”
Jiro had paused at the mention of the inhibitor, glancing at Naoki before looking down at Ryo’s side. Of course the burn mark had been checked to see if it needed care, but now it earned a more careful study. “Inhibitor? You mean… Noroi?” he asked, Naoki swallowing hard again in response. Jiro seemed to think on this, nodding a little. “So… the legend speaks true, then, about the burning mark,” he murmured, and was clearly startled when Naoki spoke again.
“He said… when he first got it, it wasn’t bad, I mean he was able to ignore it for a day or two, after it appeared… but he said it was like he was on fire.”
Jiro’s expression softened into one of sympathy as Naoki struggled with the memory, the look of helplessness overcoming him again. “But, how could he have been up and about?” Jiro asked, Naoki pausing at the distraction. “I… modified an inhibitor so it blocked pain signals only.”
The older man’s eyebrows shot up at that; “Truly?” was all he said, but the truth hung heavily in the air. What Naoki had done was technically illegal, even if it was impressive. “I’ll… I’ll go hide these,” Naoki spoke, trying to change topics for a number of reasons as he grabbed the Karyuudo mask, walking quickly back towards the front to grab the helmet as he went. Jiro looked over Ryo once more before again returning his attention to Kasumi.
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Post by Kelathi on Jan 21, 2021 23:56:23 GMT
Jiro and Kasumi exchanged glances for a moment, then she returned her gaze to Ryo. After a few moments of silence and clearly in deep thought, the old man finally spoke. “What an extraordinary young man.” It was said with a smile and a sense of wonder, referring to Naoki. Kasumi agreed, nodding her head. “They both are.”
“And you trust them with your mask? And with your… identity?” “I trust them with my life.”
Jiro moved, and for a moment she thought he was going to follow Naoki. Instead, her view of the bed was suddenly blocked as he crouched in front of her, forcing her to look in his eyes. He grasped her hands in his, gazing at her imploringly. “You need to patch up.” He spoke soothingly, like one trying to talk someone away from the edge of a cliff. This time, however, Kasumi did not argue. Ryo was safe, well, as safe as he could be. He was stable for now, Naoki had assured her, so whilst she was reluctant to leave the man’s side, she knew she would be no help to anyone if she dropped down dead.
Moving to the living room, Jiro set what he would need down on the table. As always, Kasumi would do most of the work, but she would need help removing the arrow, which was her most pressing injury. She shrugged off her kimono, slowly, painfully. Her chest was bound, protecting her modesty, as well as ensuring that her form, although lithe, looked like a man when clothed rather than a woman. The blood had run down her side, staining the bandage, and Jiro tutted. It was a sound Kasumi knew well, he did it when he was worried, but was trying to make light of the situation. "My, my." He breathed, examining the wound.
As for modesty, there was no need to worry about such things with the man. He was much like a father, not quite in the way that Yuudai had filled that role, but he had great respect for her, her family, and Karyuudo. Her identity had first been revealed to him many years ago, when he’d found her dying in the street, and she’d had no choice but to accept his help. Since then, he’d always been the first place she’d head to when in desperate need. He’d risked much to help her, and they held a great respect and trust for each other. This was clear as they set to work, only the occasional word passing between the two as the rest of the arrow was removed. Once it was out and the wound cleaned, Kasumi took the bandages from Jiro.
“You should go now, I can do the rest.”
Jiro looked at her dubiously. “Kasumi…”
“Jiro, I’ll be fine, I swear.” She assured him. “You must leave, the streets will soon fill with guards, if you leave later they are sure to spot you and question you.”
Jiro still looked unsure.
“I can do the rest myself.” Kasumi assured, her voice firm, and the man knew that look on her face. It meant that no matter what he said, she would hear no more on the matter, and her mind was set. With a sigh, he pushed the satchel he had brought closer to her. “Everything you should need is in there, as well as some medicinal tea. Make sure you drink it.” He wagged his finger at her, and she smiled, placing a hand on his arm just before he turned away.
“Thank you, and be safe.”
Jiro paused, his hand resting on hers for a moment, and then he left. Alone now, Kasumi began to bandage her shoulder, her movements slow but sure. With no audience, she did not try so hard to hide the fact that she was in pain, wincing with every movement, her slow movement a testament to her discomfort.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Jan 22, 2021 3:56:54 GMT
Naoki hadn’t taken long to stow away the Kitsune and Karyuudo gear, although he had paused as he examined the blood on them. That would have to be cleaned off as well… mended, repaired. But there were more pressing matters to start with.
As Jiro had begun to help Kasumi in the living room, illuminated by the screens of his computers, Naoki grabbed water and towels to start working on the screen door. Kasumi’s and Ryo’s blood were smeared across the panels, and he diligently began to scrub. By the time Jiro was passing him to leave there was only a wet mark on the door, which would easily be disguised by the downpour outside.
Surprised that the older man was leaving already, Naoki quickly thanked him for his help, slipped inside and peeked around the corner at Kasumi for a few moments, watching her trying to bandage her own shoulder. “Let me help,” he had argued, that he owed her for bringing Ryo home, but in the end he was convinced to start water for the tea Jiro had left. Once Kasumi had her cup steeping, Naoki sat at his computer for a few minutes, long enough for the 3D printer to kick into life to create the pieces needed for the new inhibitor. Then, as he waited impatiently for it to finish, he brought a change of Ryo’s old clothes for Kasumi to use rather than sit in a bloodied kimono, then worked on cleaning up the floor, not even wincing at the blood mixing with the mud. Having something to do was better than sitting on his hands.
---
It took all night for the printer to finish with every intricate piece, Naoki falling asleep at one point at his desk as he waited. Come morning, he fixed a pot of coffee, ate some cold leftovers, then sat down to work on the inhibitor. Despite having made it work before, it was an arduous process getting one to work from scratch. And while Naoki ended up relying heavily on Kasumi’s help with watching over Ryo, he still insisted she rest and let him cook, managing to win the argument that Ryo needed someone to watch over him.
This was only partly true; it was almost like a vigil, with how little he responded to their comings and goings. The most they got into Ryo was some water, trickled into his mouth to avoid drowning him as swallowing was merely reflex. The most that his eyes opened had been late into that first day, almost by chance. Even though he was able to place a name to the faces above him, his voice was hollow, disconnected, unable to stay with them more than a minute before drifting back into the emptiness of the inhibitor. Naoki had run out of the room then, hitting the doorframe with his fist hard as he passed. He never explained how long Ryo was home before he got the inhibitor to work, or even how many times Ryo had said his name in that impassive voice. Instead, Naoki put his pain and energy once more into working on the inhibitor.
Finally, well into the second day of their hiding from the world outside, Naoki got the inhibitor to work. He had called out triumphantly to Kasumi to come help as he rushed back to Ryo’s side, not needing to explain the help he'd need. Within moments of the old inhibitor being taken off, Ryo was right back to where he had been before, breath cut short by the pain, beginning to thrash uncontrollably. Naoki had the new inhibitor on within moments of removing the old, with a practiced hand that suggested how often the inhibitor had needed repairs. Just as before, the device caused a jolt as it began to work, Ryo slowly descending once more into the strange coma of the inhibitor. With Kasumi’s questioning look as Ryo once more went limp in their arms, rather than immediately being restored, Naoki had sighed, shaking his head a little.
“Here comes the worst part,” he said softly, voice tight. “It… takes a while. This thing… it scrambles you,” he said bitterly as he picked up the old inhibitor, clearly despising it and wishing he didn’t have to carefully handle it as the backup it was. After they laid Ryo back on the bed, Naoki went to once more hide the old inhibitor, then headed into the kitchen to make Kasumi more of her tea. It was something to do, at least, which was easier than the first time. Not knowing if it would work… and being forced to wait to find out.
At least, this time, he wasn't alone.
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It had continued to rain since the night of the harvest festival, keeping the streets fairly clear and clean, washing away the traces of blood that had led Jiro to the Akiyama door. The room was one of the many that lined the old family garden, with ajisai blooms in delicate pinks and purples framing the window and scenting the misty air that came through. These were primarily sheltered from the rain by the edge of the roof, as evidenced by the muddy grass that laid beyond, the edges of the pool spilling up onto the banks and giving the fish just a little more territory.
Ryo had remained the same the entire night, calm in his sleep, something that would normally suggest peace but hinted at far worse. Naoki had left Kasumi with him to fix some food, the only time he didn’t have some excuse to check in on his brother himself. The only sounds in the house were that of Naoki chopping vegetables in the kitchen, and the ever constant rain.
Until a soft murmur escaped Ryo’s lips.
It was just the sound at first, but slowly he showed signs of stirring. A creased brow, his head shifting a little to the side… with a grunt of effort, like coming out of a deep sleep, Ryo’s eyes opened. Things were obviously fuzzy to him as he came to, given the lack of focus and slow blinking, but the expressions rushing across his face showed he was back to normal. At least… as normal as one could be on an inhibitor.
As the room came into focus, Ryo blearily looked about, clearly confused. This wasn’t the last place he remembered… but he couldn’t exactly remember what that last place had been, either. “Uh…” was all he managed to enunciate at first, trying to link the different pieces together, from the room, to the blank space in his memory, to that funny feeling in his body like he had forgotten something…
(*ajisai = hydrangea)
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Post by Kelathi on Jan 23, 2021 2:01:36 GMT
She hadn’t slept, too on edge to even contemplate closing her eyes. The gentle drum of the rain on the shingles became just white-noise, readily ignored in favour of listening for Ryo’s often uneven breathing. Occasionally she would stretch her legs, pacing about the room. Occasionally, she would leave it to check up on Naoki, making him go to sleep when he looked as if he were about to collapse, reasoning that he would work better if he felt rested. It was good advice, if only she’d follow it herself. But even if she were to give in, to let her eyes rest, she was certain she could not sleep. The thoughts of Ryo, Noroi, Naoki, the Emperor- all wheeled in her mind like vultures, she hardly knew which to focus on. Either way, whatever she tried to ponder, her thoughts were immediately drawn back to Ryo, to worrying about him, to watching him like a hawk in case he showed any sign of improvement.
She had been staring out into the rain when Ryo began to stir. The sound was enough for her body to be immediately on full alert, sitting sharply upright in her chair, gaze drawn from the placid scene outside the window to the figure in the bed. After a few breathless moments, he’d groaned again, and she was sure then that she hadn’t simply been hearing things. She was by his side immediately, eyes wide with hope. “Ryo! Can you hear me?” Without thinking, her hand reached for his cheek, cupping it, as if her touch might draw him further out from sleep and help him to re-enter the real world.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Jan 23, 2021 3:57:29 GMT
For a moment, as her hand cupped his face, his eyes closed, but rather than simply fade out again he leaned into the touch a little, as if drawn to the comfort it offered. Again, his eyes opened, needing long moments to focus before really seeing the face over him.
“… Kasumi?”
The way his face had blanked brought memories back of the hollow tone when he had identified her before, but his voice this time said quite the opposite. His gaze moved past her a little to focus on the ceiling, and as he realized that she was standing over him, there was confusion… then embarrassment.
His cheeks turned steadily red as he began looking around, recognizing the room and the bed he was on, and absolutely clueless how Kasumi had come to occupy the same space. Her over him, him… on the bed… and how was she wearing his old t-shirt?
“K-Kasumi, what, h-how, why are,” he began, his voice betraying his panic as he quickly sat up, as usual without a single flinch of pain, glancing at himself to verify that yes, he was shirtless in front of her again before starting to pull the cover over himself.
Then pulled it down again, looking over the bandages, dumbfounded. His gaze lifted up again, not quite to Kasumi, as he said the last thing that might be expected at finding himself bandaged up, especially given the legitimate concern in his tone, spoken half under his breath.
“Naoki’s gonna kill me.”
As the realization dawned on him that he was missing something that quite possibly was going to make the teenager not talk to him for a week, he looked back at Kasumi, noticing how tired she looked, along with the telltale signs of bruising from a fight that were visible on her face and neck. In spite of his own injuries, the bruises and cuts he clearly couldn’t feel, his expression shifted to one of concern for her, but still confused as to why she was there, hesitant to reach out. “What… what happened?”
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Post by Kelathi on Jan 24, 2021 2:35:07 GMT
Ryo’s response was amusing, eclipsing Kasumi’s worry for him for a few moments, his visible confusion and embarrassment, comical. As he tried to cover his bare chest, she couldn’t help but comment on it. “Oh, don’t bother, it’s nothing I haven’t seen before.” She teased, enjoying the pink flush on Ryo’s cheeks. She was so relieved to see him awake, she fell into teasing him rather easily, her mood buoying. When he asked what had happened, however, her smile faded, her countenance becoming more serious. She didn’t respond immediately, looking away towards the window, watching the rain bounce off the pane for a few moments, trying to work out where to start. How much did he remember? She wasn’t sure, so she started with what had happened to him.
“Arashi had… some kind of power. Lightning. He struck you, and it destroyed the…” She paused, what had Naoki called the thing? “…The inhibitor.” She finished, revealing much just by one sentence. So, she knew about the inhibitor, she must know about the Noroi too. As Ryo mulled these things over, Kasumi avoided his gaze. There was much to say, it was difficult to know how to phrase things.
“You’ve been out for days.” She uttered, her voice subdued, haunted, as she thought back to the night-time vigils of the last few nights. Watching his chest slowly rise and fall, her heart flipping every time his breath caught in his sleep, wondering morbidly what on Earth she could do if he stopped breathing- aware that the blunt answer was absolutely nothing.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Jan 24, 2021 3:18:44 GMT
Ryo watched her with concern, but as she began to speak his eyes drifted down, the words sparking memories. “Arashi…?” he murmured, flashes sparking into his mind. The lightning… the fight. Fighting the guards, aided by the strange warriors… at the side of Karyuudo. Then… Kasumi? For a moment, he realized that he had no idea how she could have come to be there, even though the answer now in hindsight was becoming clear.
Unsurprisingly, however, he froze at that one word. His expression was question enough: how did she know about the inhibitor? She answered quickly enough, again making Ryo pause, stiffening as the facts fell into place. “Days?” he repeated, recognizing the sound of that remark. If the inhibitor had gone… then this sense of forgetting something, of being out for days… did it… was he…?
It was a good thing that it was a durable glass in Naoki’s hands, as he had come in to let Kasumi know food was ready. But the instant his eyes landed on his brother, sitting up, able to look at him and actually see him… the glass was dropped, the teenager racing into his side with a desperate, silent hug. It was nearly enough to knock Ryo into Kasumi, but as he returned the gesture his eyes closed in a different kind of pain.
He’d been on it again. The old inhibitor. The only time Naoki had responded like this was when he’d been dead to the world for over two months. Ryo had promised Naoki that would be the last time. The guilt was obvious on his face at putting his brother through ‘it’ again, but as he glanced at Kasumi, the question arose again. How was she there? How could she have been there?
With hindsight, he could remember more of the scene than just her bloodied face next to Arashi’s dagger. She’d been in Karyuudo’s clothes… the mask had been cast aside. The uncertainty was clear in his eyes. Not only because his identity had been revealed, but she’d been there with Naoki. And if she was Karyuudo… that put Naoki at risk of the Emperor’s wrath.
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