resident emotional mess

"Hold on." Comes your voice, and Jin pauses where he's lacing up his shoes by the makeshift genkan in front of your door. You didn't have an official one, of course, seeing as you lived in the Kagemori Estate and it wouldn't make sense to have one in every living space.

So you adapted.

"Yes, dear?" He says and spots you exiting the bedroom and down the hall with his tie in hand.

Ah… So that's what he forgot.

He stands as he finishes lacing his shoes, and you flip up the collar of his dress shirt. Your movements are practiced and smooth, and your fingertips trail down his front as you smooth out any wrinkles in his shirt and suit jacket. You take your time so he takes his time admiring you.

You are tired; that much is obvious. He can tell in how you hold your shoulders and the yawn you try to stifle. But you are positively radiant in the morning light. The sunlight illuminates your cheeks and makes your eyes practically glow as you look up and catch his gaze. "What are you looking at?" You tease, and he feels his lips twitch in an affectionate smile. An affection he reserved only for you. "What? Can't I admire my beautiful wife?" He says bluntly and chuckles when you duck your face in embarrassment.

There's a knock on the front door, and you both turn in time to hear Gabby making noise. "Jinny!~ Time to go!" She says rather loudly, and you huff out a laugh. Tugging his neatly tied tie down so you can kiss him, he savors the moment for apparently a second too long before Gabby opens the door and makes a disgusted sound, "Yuck! Get a room, you two!" However, her sneer is affectionate, and when you pull away, you are quick to tease. "You are the one who barged in, Gabs. But I'll relent. You can have Jin for the day." You say and usher Jin out the door.

You lean on the doorframe, waving rather tiredly as Asa and Gabby tug Jin along for whatever meeting or mission they had to go take care of.

He really didn't know or care. But he knew one thing.

The faster he got home, the faster he could see you again.

Things are rather boring until they aren't.

You do miscellaneous tasks throughout the day. Laundry, grocery shopping, meal prep, cleaning up the little living space that you shared with your dear husband.

Speaking of husband…

You check your phone for the umpteenth time and sigh.

Still nothing.

Maybe the mission was going long?

Or had something gone wrong?

A noise just on the edge of your hearing immediately puts you on edge. What was it? A mouse?

A hand covering your mouth and pressing a rag to your lips informed you very quickly that this was not a mouse. "Got 'er." Came a gruff voice just as everything went black.

When you come to, you find that you are no longer at home.

There's a pair of hands under your arms and a pair holding just under your knees as you are walked down an alleyway. The figures are masked, almost comically so. They wear ski masks that cover their faces so all you can see are their eyes.

This isn't good. But you hardly expected a walk in the park after marrying Jin.

Though that would've been nice.

So you learned to adapt.

In an explosive kick upwards, you managed to wrench your feet from your kidnapper's arms and drop to the ground. The other person holding your arms drops you with a shout of surprise.

Perfect.

At least… It is until you try to get up and run.

Your movements are janky and uncoordinated. The world spins before your eyes, and you all but collapse to the concrete, your head cracking against the wall. You saw stars, and everything temporarily went white.

Just what had they drugged you with?

As grubby hands grab and yank, you never do get an answer. But that doesn't matter; all that matters is one thing.

How are you going to get a message to Jin?

Jin notices something is wrong immediately after getting home.

He shuts the front door, "I'm home." He says into the empty house and pauses when you don't respond.

You always responded.

Always.

He hasn't even taken off his shoes when he reaches for his pistol to walk through the house. His frown deepens when he enters the little kitchen area. There's a pot on the stove, the stove is on, and the pot is boiling over onto the floor with water. He turns off the stove-top and uses hot pads to move the boiling pot off the burner. He can mop later.

All that matters now is finding you.

There's a noise at the front door, and he whips around, raising his gun only to come face to face with Gabby's squawk. "Watch where you're pointing that!" She shrieks and ducks as Asa peeks her head around the corner. "Jin? What's wrong?" She asks, and Jin glowers. "Where's my wife?" He demands, and the girls look at each other before looking back and shrugging. "I dunno. Is she not here?" Gabby replies, and Jin turns on a heel, making his way through the house with clinical precision. He clears every room, and you are nowhere to be found.

He can hear as Gabby summons Gabriel and Asa looks through the house with him.

"Maybe she's running a late-night errand?" Asa suggests, and Jin immediately shakes his head. "She wouldn't leave the stove on, plus she would've texted me." He says and scrolls through your messages to make sure he hasn't missed a text from you.

There's nothing.

What happened to you?

A deep sense of dread settles in the pit of your stomach as you are dragged back under control and further down the alleyway. You hadn't seen much, so you don't know where you are. You could be in another country for heaven's sake!

But… You weren't completely helpless.

So you listen.

The thugs holding you hostage drag you through the backstreets until they reach an empty building housing nothing but cobwebs and dark promises.

And as you listen, you come to find out a few things.

One: The people holding you hostage are trying to get back at Jin specifically.

Two: They have approximately five people helping on this little 'mission' of theirs.

And three: They are almost entirely incompetent.

They blab about their plans as they set you rather roughly in the corner and take seats at strategic points around your prone body. Your head pounds something awful, and you can feel blood crusting on the side of your temple where you had hit and split your head against the wall.

And for a while, nothing happens.

At least… Until someone speaks.

"Can I have a cigarette?" Comes the voice of a rickety old man. Everyone tenses, the midnight air cool and cloying on your tongue. You curl up into a tighter ball and keep your bound hands close to your body. You are gagged, a rag stuffed unceremoniously into your mouth. Your jaw aches terribly, but that doesn't matter as the man comes into view.

The doorway he stands in doesn't have a door; instead, it's the same rumbling, crumbling concrete as the rest of the building. He's hunched over with age, dressed in tattered clothes, and you can smell cigarette smoke coming off in waves from his hunched form. "What the hell? Who are you?!" One of the men demands. But he doesn't get an answer, just another question from the old man. "Can I have a cigarette?" He rasps again, and it's then that you get an inkling of an idea.

Could it be…?

When no one says anything, the man speaks again. The same monotone voice. No difference in inflection. And… If you looked close enough, you could see that his feet barely brush the floor.

It has to be…

One of the men gets up and approaches the old man, hand on his gun, and angry spew of curses and demands for him to get away.

That turns out to be his mistake.

Ai emerges from the floor with the force of a hurricane and gobbles him up whole.

The effect is immediate.

Screams erupt from the remaining four men, but they barely have any time to shout for help or for their God or whatever they were shouting for before they are eaten by a combination of The Scavenger and Gabriel. Asa hops in through the broken window to your right and swiftly breaks your bonds. You spit out the rag stuffed into your mouth and rub at your jaw as the last foe falls to Jin's gun.

He stands in the flickering light of the room, making sure no one moves, until his eyes fall on you.

You can tell he's worried by how he sets his jaw and holds his shoulders. His knuckles whiten on the grip of his handgun as he swiftly holsters it and kneels in front of you. His jaw tightens as he takes in your disgruntled appearance. Your bloodstained temple, the rope burns from the tight bonds, the bruise over your left eyebrow where someone had gotten a little too handsy when you tried to fight back.

"Let's go home." He says quietly, and Gabby claps him on the shoulder, "Right, let's get your wifey looked at." She says nonchalantly, but you can tell she's just as worried as he is.

But that's fine. Because you are safe now.

Because he's here with you.

He first realized it when you were still living in Higashi Village. You were around his age, so you, Yuru, and Danji all became fast friends. Everywhere you went, it was:

"Where's Yuru and Danji? You guys are attached at the hip!"

Or…

"Are you guys getting into trouble again?"

But no one noticed you refused to go outside at night or when it was too overcast to see anything.

No one but Yuru.

He watched and noticed with a keen eye how you flinched on nights with thunder. Or how you hesitated before going outside in the evenings, even if it was just down the path to your own home. But in all his time with you, he didn't know how to make it better.

He couldn't fix it.

He couldn't take away your fear.

He couldn't help you.

It came to a head deep into the night, many moons after you both had left Higashi Village, after everything else. You both had been paired to sleep in the bedroom Hana had set aside in your new home when you first moved in. It was bare, but you paid no mind to that.

He lay quietly on his bed, on his side, as he listened to the sound of your breathing next to him. You had your own bed, but they were pushed together, as you always had a habit of tossing an arm or leg over his hip whenever you slept over.

You liked being close to someone, especially when it was storming outside.

He doesn't miss the hitch in your breath as there's a particularly loud roll of thunder across the sky and the room is illuminated by a brief crack of lightning.

And in that lightning, Yuru can see how you shake even with your back to him.

He can practically see you in his mind's eye as the world settles into comforting darkness. Well… Comforting to him. But he can see how you have a hand clamped over your mouth, trying to quiet your already quiet cries as you try not to disturb him.

You were always kind, almost to a fault. You never put any care into yourself past basic needs. You never looked after yourself, leaving Yuru to do that. Not that he minded. No, no, no. He never minded when it came to you. You were someone incredibly special to him. The one who quelled his fears, the one who soothed his heart and anger, the one who understood him.

So he figured he'd try his best to help you in your time of need.

Slowly… Ever so slowly… He scooted closer under the blankets and reached out. He could see perfectly fine in the dark, so he could see how you stiffened when his fingers brushed your shoulder. But you didn't move any further, so he took it as his sign to keep going.

He sat up from where he was leaning against a post of the manor. He was outside, watching bees buzz about in the gardens as Asa sat at his side. At least… She did until Gabby all but hobbled past with an excited "She's here!"

Asa was on her feet and all but corralling Yuru onto his feet and down the hall toward the entrance. Yuru could barely get a word in!

Just who was here? Who was this… "She"?

He got his answer as the gates to Kagemori Manor opened. Left and Right stood on either side, watching on in interest, though not saying anything quite yet.

You stood before them, hands on your hips, leaning to one side, and watching on in a wary calm until the doors finished opening with a resounding 'bang'. You were older than him, perhaps Dera's age? And you dressed plainly, in a long black shirt and pants that had many pockets.

No new Daemons were in sight. Did you not have any?

Asa (finally) left Yuru's side as she started forward, and you caught her in a swinging hug, swinging her around once and setting her down with a grin. "How's everything? Jin told me about the attack on the manor last night." Your voice carried through the air easily, and for the life of him, Yuru couldn't tell anything about you. He always prided himself on his ability to tell anything he needed about people. Except for when it came to you, apparently.

Not what weapons you possessed, if any.

Nothing about your background.

Nothing about your habits.

Absolutely nothing!

It was as if you were a blank page!

But before he could say anything, you met his gaze, and he shivered.

There was one thing he could tell about you.

And that was that you were a hunter just like him.

"So…" You began as you sat with everyone for breakfast, and all eyes turned to you. "Who's the Blondie? I've never seen him or his Daemons before. So he's obviously someone new, right?" You chewed slowly on your rice and stared at Yuru, who ducked his head and stuffed his mouth full of rice.

Something about you made him nervous. As if he was facing down a great beast and not looking at someone dressed in all black.

"This is Yuru! He's my twin brother!" Asa chirped, and your eyebrows shot up into your hairline. "You actually found him?" You say in mild disbelief. As if you can't really believe it, but you weren't doubting her words. Asa nods happily, and you jab your chopsticks in his general direction. "And the Daemons?" You mumble, and it's then that his Daemons speak. "We are the Divine Guardians of Higashi Village. I am Left. This is my other half of the pair, Right." Left replied, and your eyebrows went even higher, if that was even possible.

And then you do something he would never expect.

You bow in their direction.

"My apologies, forgive my impudence and disrespect." You say honestly, and Right lets out a loud guffaw. "Oh, I like this one!" He booms, and you raise your head with a polite smile.

Dera pipes up next. "Do you happen to have any Daemons?" He asks conversationally, but Yuru knows he's trying to gain information. You lounge back like a wild animal making a decision on whether or not to pounce.

You are dangerous. That much is clear.

Gonzo says a name. Your name? And you look over. "You don't have to, my dear. I know you're rather secretive about your Daemons." At that, you shrug. "I'd hate to disappoint the deities of Higashi Village. Plus, they're itching to get some action." You say with a yawn and stand, eyeing Dera with the eyes of someone who knows exactly what he's doing.

So why do you humor him?

Yuru gets to see your Daemons after breakfast has finished.

You stand a little ways away from them, while everyone sits on the engawa, watching with rapt attention as you pull out two bottles of liquid from your pockets.

They're both spherical in shape, and the liquid inside the one in your left hand is inky black in color, though there is a texture to it, almost as if it glitters like sand. It writhes around inside like a centipede trying to get free from a bird's beak. The one in your right hand is almost identical in every way save for its movement. It's sluggish, oozing like a bloodied wound from a dying animal.

You use your teeth to unstopper the corks holding the liquid inside and turn them upside down to let them drip out into the dirt.

The effect is immediate. The scent of ink grows thick in the air until it's almost suffocating. Yuru coughs and wipes at his nose but freezes when the ink pools start to move and change until they form two beings.

They are humanoid in appearance. But that is where the similarities stop.

One is female, small, and hunched over with arthritic fingers and a heaping bag of items on her back. She has wispy hair that floats around her head like spirits and wide eyes that are milky white but not blind by any means. Her face is covered in pustules and lumps, as is the rest of her body. She's clothed in shades of browns and grays and other cloths of wool and cotton.

The other is male. He is just as hunched over, knuckles almost brushing the dirt floor with how bent over he is. Though he doesn't have a massive bag like the old hag, he does carry a tall staff and has various items hanging from his body from leather loops and bags. They look like potions… And Yuru isn't all that keen to find out what's inside of them.

You step between the pair and brush your hand across the woman's scalp almost lovingly. "This is Old Witch Sleep." You say and then place your hand on the man's shoulder, squeezing once as if in reassurance, "And this is Good Man Grace." The man bows his head, and the woman shifts her blistered feet, pots and cups jangling from her massive heap of things hanging off her back. "Together we make Inkpot Gods." The man's voice is as old as the mountains and just as heavy. He sounds as if he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders and has lived to see the beginning and will survive until the end of the world.

Left and Right sit up straight when they seemingly realize who they are looking at. "Tis good to see you both again, old friends!" Right crows, and Left nods once. "Right is correct. It has been several hundred years since we have seen them." She says, and Yuru shivers as the Old Witch Sleep looks right at him, seemingly through him. "You are Asa's older brother, are you not?" The crone asks, and her voice is similar to the Good Man Grace in that it's as old as the pine trees that surrounded Higashi Village. But instead of being as old as the mountains, hers is as old as the sky and just as light and overwhelming.

It washes over him like a suffocating wind of ink.

It's all he can do to nod once.

You notice. "Sorry, I know they're a little much for first-timers. It's what makes them so easy to use in battle." You apologize, and Dera chokes on his inhale. "You take them into battle?!" He says incredulously, and you shrug. "'Course I do. They're quite powerful. Even though they look old, they're quick-witted, and their abilities make up for their bodily limitations."

Yuru doesn't doubt that. And as you wave the two Daemons away, they melt back into black puddles and return to their bottles. You pick them up, hooking them onto clips on your trousers that Yuru hadn't noticed before. The overpowering scent of ink fades away, and he feels like he can breathe again.

And it's only after the fact that he realizes they both had turned into ink.

Yuru doesn't see you after leaving Kagemori Manor. At least not for a while.

He gets to know Tadera Ken, continues to know about the modern world, and still doesn't grow any closer to finding out what happened to his parents.

At least… Until one day when he is exploring the neighborhood with Ken while Hana and Dera deal with… everything else. He walks, hands stuffed in his jacket pockets as Left and Right wander slightly behind.

"Yuru, right?" Comes a voice, and Yuru turns, reaching unconsciously for a weapon that he didn't have and looking for the source of the voice.

You nod a polite greeting to Left and Right, before stepping aside and walking around them to come face to face with the two teenagers. "Uh…. Right… I don't think I caught your name…" He mumbles, and you huff out a rather nonchalant laugh, "Asa and Gabs didn't tell you?" You say, and when he shakes his head, you offer a hand and your name.

He stares stupidly at your hand before Ken leans over, "You're supposed to take her hand and shake it." He whispers and all but forces Yuru's hand into yours. You give it a firm shake and let go, putting it on your hip. "Never seen a handshake, huh kiddo?" You tease, and he feels his cheeks burn. "We normally bow in Higashi Village." He grumbles, and you nod as if accepting the information before moving on. You turn and bow again to Left and Right. "How are you guys faring?" You say, and Left hums, "We are well. How are your Daemons?" She says flatly, and you turn to grin at Yuru and Ken. "They're doing fine. I'm on a mission, technically. Would you like to see them in action?"

Yuru is about to decline when Ken whispers to him again. "Who is she?" "I'm a bounty hunter. I hunt people down for money." You say, and Yuru swallows.

Were you here to hunt him down? He wasn't sure he could take you in a fight unless Left and Right did most of the fighting…

You seemingly read his mind and wave a hand, "C'mon kiddo, I'm not here to hunt you down. Just a friendly offer is all. You could bring the information back to that Tadera guy. After all, he was the one who asked about the Inkpot Gods in the first place."

That led him to where he was now. Hiding in some bushes, in the dead of night, as you stake out your target. Apparently, the information led you to a warehouse, and as you ready yourself, you pull out those bottles again.

Ken fidgets beside him, "What are those for?" He asks and flinches as Left and Right sit down beside them with a heavy thump. "Quiet child; she is releasing her Daemons." Right says in a whisper, and the scent of ink brings him back to the conversation.

Looking up, he spots the Old Witch Sleep and Good Man Grace. You pocket the empty bottles and step forward as someone sounds the alarm about your presence.

Bandits rush out, and things go strange.

As they approach you, it's almost as if they… fall asleep? One by one, before they even reach you, they fall to the ground like flies. You hum a song to yourself as you pick your way over the slumbering bodies, occasionally peering at their faces before stopping at one. "Grace. C'mere. I found him." You say, and the Old Man Grace jangles with potions and items as he follows suit. He leans over one specific man and makes a noise. "Indeed it is. Shall I go ahead?" He asks, and you nod once. "Be my guest." You say, and then things go really weird.

The Old Man Grace pries the sleeping person's eyes open, and then he begins to shudder as they seemingly make eye contact. The man's eyes begin to glow, and there's an awful groaning sound that emerges from his lips as something gets sucked out.

Yuru feels his heart stutter in his chest as the man goes limp and the Old Man Grace hands you a glowing jar of… something.

Just what was it?