only the innocent dream

       EXACTLY the person he wanted to see right now. A confused and now embarrassed sword with some human body problems and weird glares in his direction. Bonus point with his own master having to witness that.

Torn between annoyance and pity, Hijikata exhaled deeply before guiding a hand to his forehead. This would not have been so awkward were Kanesada not taller than him for fuck’s sake.

Hijikata grabbed Kanesada by the lapel and hauled him off the streets where unfortunate onlookers (or fortunate perverts) would not be able to admire his assets.

“ A life for a life makes a continuous circle of killing. At least this way, he’ll experience his punishment rather slowly while sitting in a cell. Well, if the wound doesn’t fester and kill him before a chance is given, of course. “ Placing the pistol back in its proper holster would she have considered stepping away only to be stopped to answer a question. 

The scent of blood was whetting his appetite.

“Someone needs to put a stop to it.” 

As he said that, someone in the amassing crowd cried out, “That was just a copycat killer! The real one’s still at large, isn’t he?!”

Curious, however, is that he can no longer say that the stranger is closer to escape than he is, even if it would have been by means of death – because he does not seem as tempted by death as he had been so much as a few moments ago. But then this is the lesser of the changes he finds himself witnessing now, what with his hair becoming ashen and his eyes– Oh, his eyes, he must look upon with a genuine sort of surprise, half-lidded eyes widening as much as they can. A trick of the light, perhaps, although there is little of the light to be able such a feat.

From the corner of his eye, he reckons he spies the flame of candle beside the other flare some: a lick of the wind, no doubt, but again, the similarity between it and its bearer does not go unnoticed. Be that as it may, it would quite appear that he will have company awhile yet.

If his words are meant as some invitation, their recipient fails to see to what, precisely; as such he finds himself more inclined towards a modest amusement than anything else. He smiles ever-so slightly, even, ❝ Truth be told that I was rather hoping you would want death, for that wish - failing all else - I could probably grant you. But to have you leave this place as you seem to envision… ❞ A gentle hum sounds from within his throat, and he admits his uselessness there with a shake of his head thereafter. 

"That's the great part about being a monster," he spits out venomously, seemingly at odds with his continued existence and the reasons behind it. "No matter how close you are to death, something inside of you keeps burning." Anger radiates off of him like unbridled bloodlust. Indeed, the way he wets his lips is reminiscent of a ravenous beast nearing a fresh kill.

His question now is a peculiar one, then, one which invites the passer-by to raise his brow gently in a genuine bemusement. He is aware that his company is not the most bearable, and surely much less so at a time like this: truly, however, he is not here to wish this poor soul any more harm than has visited him already. 

…Unless he should want him to, in which he would only be obliged to comply. Again, he is not so cruel as to deny a dying man’s wishes.

❝ What do I want? A peculiar time to concern yourself with the desires of another, surely…? ❞ Still does he speak with a certain nonchalance, though his flickering gaze has calmed some by now. No longer does he scrutinise the other. ❝ I mean you no ill — nor is it within my wishes to claim spoils from your person the very moment after you have crossed over. ❞ Between the pauses in his airy speech are still those laborious breaths, and it is now that he stops to listen a moment as his gaze drifts to the candle in its holder beside him — the wavering flame seems almost to mirror its bearer’s condition. 

As with the sudden transformation, his body begins to change: Though the scent of blood lingers, his labored breaths cease. Aches and pains still pin him to the floor but he finds the strength to laugh.

"What I want? I want to leave this place. I doubt you can give me that. Otherwise you would've given it to yourself by now." His lips curve with a dramatic flair. "You can do better than that." Like a demon, his words are all jeers and taunts, eager to incite or provoke.

{♚}  It seemed to have just been another casual murder on these parts, although to make a spectacle of it was something else. She had really only been watching from afar, behind the crowds and could only wonder what caused such a strong scent to float in the air, but it would be quickly disconcerned as she locked eyes with another, watching as he ran for someone who seemed to have been attempting to escape the scene. 

{♚}  It didn’t take a genius to understand what was going on really, and in a rather swift motion, Selvaria pulled out a pistol Zero had given her for protection’s sake before firing off a shot at the ankle of the culprit, causing him to topple over and fall as she walked over to him, waiting for the pursuer to arrive. 

He frowned at her callous attitude, but stopped himself from snapping. Instead, he answered her in kind, "I would kill him for his transgressions, but that's not how they do things around here. Someone's going to take him into custody and they'll figure it out from there." Or at least, that was how things worked to his understanding.

Eyeing the man on the ground, Hijikata sneered with contempt. What a vile person, shoving an innocent woman to her death.

He was… right. With a human body, Izumi could now fight alongside his master, he had several new ways to protect him. Hijikata was a single man with a sword, but now they were two men. Now he could give his life to protect him.

Bold what is true about how much my muse trusts yours:

“Troublesome?” - he should have known better than to tempt fate - “It’s not like you’re going to hound me if I catch cold.”

He would never allow Jellal to baby him anymore. This was bad enough as it was. “How long until the weather lets up around this place?”

It had been a long time since someone cared for his well-being in more than just passing. Though his captains worried about his health, none had dared to challenge his authority, leaving Hijikata to push himself past his limits. With no system in place, he could no longer expect people to stay in line and leave him be.

“That works for me.” Nagasone decided to drop the subject, allowing himself the luxury of taking in the general ambiance just a little more. “Who knows? Those who are familiar with this sort of technology seem to be adamant about its superiority and how it’s the norm around here. Do they know how to live without? I wonder. There’s a lot of convenience in being able to talk to someone without sending letters or traveling miles to see them.”