⁰¹ carrd. / ⁰² memes.

it's so jarring to see a grown man silhouetted outside his balcony. after tonight, he would never sleep with his curtains open again. he thought suzuki visiting was terrifying enough.

his scream is choked on by his own tongue. small blessings, for he recognizes the presence a few moments later. he's off the bed that very next instant, all tangled sleep laden limbs and blankets. it'd be a miracle if he hadn't woke half the house yet.

ritsu sincerely hoped he had a miracle.

he throws the balcony door aside. “you —— you can't be here?? ” never mind that somehow he already was. if ritsu was of sounder mind, that'd be the first thing he became aware of. “ niisan's aura will blow you up. ” the entire house was saturated in it. it was practically a forcefield.

the middle of the night wasn't exactly the most appropriate time to test the supernaturals(?) true abilities. he could certainly survive a normal exorcism, but if his brother thought he was being threatened...

as if only to piss him further off, it widens.

“tokito-san... when I heard you were being held here, i thought you must be on your deathbed.”

ritsu takes the seat beside cot, crossing an ankle over opposite knee. in truth, it was an unspoken kindness. yuichiro wouldn't be forced to lunge so far to strangle him now.

smile is short lived and replaced by the usual unmoved countenance. he rests his cheek in palm to stare blatantly at the swollen knots the other boy was sporting. “ isn't the first step in training to be aware of your surroundings? how did you hit a beehive?”

shaky hands finally still where they'd been clutching the slayers loose sleeve, frozen in place with the chill left behind by command.

there.... are just too many demons. most the likes of which senjuro had never seen. with his level of skill, he'd been left largely sheltered and kept out of sight and way of danger. it was a privilege to many, but only humiliation to himself.

it had been his own suggestion that had led them to this small fishing village now under attack. his brother had spoken of it so fondly, senjuro had only wanted a moment to imagine —— even if he hadn't known what would happen, his heart remained heavy all the same.

he shouldn't have bothered the other boy to come along, shouldn't have dared selfishly abandoned his duties at the estate for the day. what would kyojuro think of him now ? hiding shamefully while others screamed in fear and agony ? what would his brother do if he couldn't fight back ?

"... you can't do that, tokito-san," hushed, barely above a whisper — yet full of resolve. senjuro lets him go.

he takes a handful of steps back, near edging out of their hiding spot altogether. “you have to leave me. i — i can't do anything,” his voice cracks, yet his expression remains steeled. “ i may not even be able to save myself ... but, tokito-san, you could save yourself, and many others. ”

its a long weekend — even still, kageyama ritsu is not one to sleep in. bed clothes are swapped out for a fresh set of day ones, teeth are brushed, hair .... was not a sucess, but, his bed was made and his room tidied. his homework had been done the evening before, after school.

he can feel his brothers aura resting peacefully in the room beside his, and his mother a little further down the hall too. his father must have stepped out, absent that it is next to hers.

— hm?

he's already smiling when he descends the stairs, catching sight of yukako removing her shoes at the door.

“good morning, neesan,” even before he has the pamphlet in hand, her glee is infectious and he smiles. “what is—.ᐣ” he outright gasps, absent grip growing taunt. its unlike ritsu to react so vividly.

“no way — where is this .ᐣ” a train ride away — but not too far. he flips through it, features slack in surprise. cats, certainly, but bunnies .ᐣ there are a multitude of types that litter the advert, and he feels the warm buzzing in his chest threaten to overflow.

a soft giggle escapes, though he's quick to silence it as a faint warmth visibly rises to his cheeks. that little bit of praise makes him embarrassingly happy — it was difficult to find himself being anything but in yukako's presence. she made it nearly impossible to doubt her words, the way she carried and expressed herself in a way that brooked no argument. she always assuaged a great many of his overwhelming thoughts with her presence ...

“ i usually only cook for myself, so i don't have anyone else to taste it. ” he could only hope his father ate when he stumbled out of the household, and his brother was away often. “ i can make some more for you to take back with you — i-if you'd like ! ”

those large, almost owl-like eyes blink at her as if he hadn't even noticed her there —— and then senjuro squeaks, shoulders rising up to his ears as if to make himself smaller. his clothing is soaked, making a mess of the floor. a limp piece of hair flops over into his vision and startles him into action.

“ — y-yamagishi-san, i'm sorry i wasn't here to greet you! ” he bows, but then just as quickly straightens to rush past her, gathering up the heavy folds of his hakama as he went. “ i'll make you some tea! i hope you weren't waiting long -- a-are you looking for aniue ? ”