unyielding

Dissonance || Nyb & Shizuku

“Really lucky, huh? Hey, that’s interesting. That kinda luck’s gotta be a boon on the store, huh? Maybe like some kind of protection.” After all, it would take another strike of such luck, combined with Nyb’s own bargaining skills, to convince his superiors to let the shop go. He had a great case in mind for it, but of course, whether it would be enough to to make them lose interest entirely in the shop was another matter. So even if it might have just been wishful thinking, the thought that some divine entity had blessed the store as such, Nyb had a strong desire for something like that.

Contemplating on this, he slipped the ring out of the box it came in and slid it over one of his fingers. “It kinda matches my eyes, huh…?” Staring at the glistening gemstone as it sat on his hand, his pulse quickened and he once again felt a tug on his heartstrings. Imperfect or not, it was perfect in his eyes. He had always been kind of a sucker for sparkly, pretty things like this, but he thought this went even beyond that. Whatever the case, he was pleased that it was his now.

“Eh, ahh… A bag for the box would be fine.” But he was already wearing the ring and had no designs for taking it off any time soon.

“It’s good to be in with the young crowd though, isn’t it? When they get older, maybe they’ll even remember this place.” If it was still standing, that was. And Nyb sincerely hoped it would be. “You’re right, though, it looks kinda misleading. But I dunno… It kinda gives it a comfy feeling, at least to me. It’s like… This place isn’t as intimidating as the big retailers, you know? You walk into one of those and not only are you looking to get swindled half the time, but you feel everyone’s eyes on you the entire time. It’s not like that so much here. You’re even able to embrace the idea of the flawed gems and use it to your business advantage. I mean, your prices… Because of that, they have to be the best on the market, right?”

“Protection, huh...That’d be nice, wouldn’t it,” Shizuku laughed softly. Maybe it was right, in a way. The Emerald Clan specialized in shields, after all. Of course, she doubted that there was some force protecting the shop, but it was nice to think about. Well, it wasn’t like it was totally unprotected, given she lived on the second floor and could easily make it down quickly to deal with any intruders stupid enough to try. 

Still, she smiled seeing how much he liked the ring. “It does,” she agreed. “That must be why you’re so drawn to it, like you were meant to have it.” Some things happened for a reason, after all. It was just funny how things worked out like that sometimes. She wasn’t superstitious by any means but at the very least, she could believe when things worked out like that.

“Alright then,” she smiled, grabbing a bag and tucking the box inside. He seemed genuinely happy with the purchase, and she couldn’t help but feel happy for him. She was glad the ring was going to such a loving home.

“That is true, and it is nice to see them come in and buy gifts for their friends or significant others.” If there had been a place like this when she and Kaori were still in school, she was sure her friend would have dragged her there and she would have lamented out most of the things there didn’t suit someone like her. That opinion had mostly changed though. At the very least, she did find something that suited her every now and then.

merchants’ guide for dummies || otto & shizuku

Otto looked perplexed by her cryptic words about a certain food. “Beware of crepes? I’ll, er, keep that in mind..” Just as he noted before, Shizume had undergone unique changes. She must not have had really good experiences with crepes. Did they just not taste good here? Regardless, he filed away that information for later.

Otto scratched his cheek, his face reddening just a little. It wasn’t that he was embarrassed but he was at a complete loss. This woman was far too accommodating, and asked for very little to nothing in return. For a merchant like him, it was pretty unthinkable. In fact, most normal people weren’t so charitable. Did it have something to do with their King’s influence? 

“Well, if you’re really sure.. The offer still stands. If you need me for anything just let me know.” That’s really all he could say as she’d rejected his goodwill thus far. “In the meantime I’d like to unpack. I don’t have very much but I’d like to get Furufu taken care of. Once that’s done I’d like to take a proper look at the inventory and any previous sales documents you have saved up. And then I’d like to go over things with you if that’s alright. The sooner this is taken care of the sooner we can all start earning a profit.” From his understanding, no one had really been paid yet for their services. 

“Well, really it was more of the seller than the crepes themselves...” Shizuku grimaced slightly, talking more to herself than him at that point until she noticed the confused look on his face. “Ah, there was just an incident not long ago...a Strain was selling crepes but because of her power, they had all sorts of random effects. Mine was hearing the thoughts of literally anyone around me...so you can probably imagine how bad it was for me to be around large crowds with no way of being able to turn it off or tune them out..” Definitely not something she wanted to relive, even if it had technically solved her problem in the end.

She smiled easily and nodded. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind and let you know if something comes up,” she nodded. She didn’t want to ask too much of him, especially when he was likely going to have his work cut out for him sorting out the shop business. But honestly, she was sort of happy to have a roommate. Living alone had felt...odd. She was so used to having a full house that she hadn’t even considered the sudden move to being alone would be so strange.

“Alright, that sounds like a good plan. I’ll see what I can do about getting something built for Furufu in the meantime, so your commute won’t be so...” she trailed off, gesturing vaguely and hoping he’d catch the meaning of what she was trying to say. Well, before she contacted someone about that, she’d get the papers she’d need in order for their talk. He was right though, the sooner the better. She didn’t want to keep relying on her parents to fund things. 

kendo buddies || sabito & shizuku

Sabito stood in the dojo, his arms folded over his chest as he oversaw the practice currently taking place. Even with his back to the person who just entered, he registered the sound of the footsteps, noting how light they were. To less experienced ears they would have been nearly silent. This person either had skill or was being purposely light on their feet. He briefly wondered if they had any training, but he surmised that the visitor wasn’t a threat and kept his focus trained solely on the matches before him. 

“Honda! Your movements are too slow and unsure! Stop hesitating!” He barked, his voice muffled. The match was over quickly between one pairing, and he sighed as if having seen the outcome long ago. With that out of the way, he could now attend to the visitor and so he turned and approached her. The reason for his muffled voice was because of the scarred fox mask that covered his face. He tugged it upwards so that the woman before him could see his face. After all, it was probably bad manners to wear a mask when speaking to someone, and he felt comfortable wearing it during practice and training.

In fact, every person in the room had been adorned with a fox mask, all bearing different patterns and designs. All were unique, though Sabito’s stood out the most given that red tassels were affixed to his. Though it wasn’t the only thing that stood out. Everyone currently in practice wore blue haori’s with a cloud-like pattern, while only Sabito alone wore something of a green and yellow geometric design. It was probably what distinguished Sabito from the rest and allowed the woman to zero in on him. Though, standing off to the side whilst supervising everything probably also had something to do with it. 

“Extra’s? And you are..?”

It was interesting that everyone in the room sported kitsune masks. Each one was unique though, no two bearing the same pattern or design, as if they had been personally crafted for each one. She wasn’t sure what the reason for it was, perhaps it was simply the uniform of the members. But of course, the captain himself stood out. He was perhaps harsh in his methods, but she didn’t sense any malice or real venom in his words. He was simply trying to draw out their best, to push them beyond their limits to a new level. Perhaps it was because her own father had similar teaching methods, she didn’t think too much of it. 

But finally he turned his attention to her. “Ah, I’m Yaegashi Shizuku, of the Yaegashi Dojo in the city. We’re also a kendo dojo..” She kicked herself mentally not a moment after the words left her lips. Of course she was from a kendo dojo if she was offering extra supplies. “I’m a student here at the university, so I thought I’d see if perhaps you could use the extras here, or maybe know of a place that might need them.” 

After all, she didn’t want them to go to waste. There was no room to store them at the Yaegashi dojo, and they didn’t need them, so it was far better to at least try and see if someone else could use them...especially since her father had deemed it such a hassle to send them back. Well, for all she knew, he was covering for his own blunder in making the order. 

Still, the difference in styles drew her interest. She wondered, briefly, if perhaps she might have gained a greater interest in sword play if she’d learned in a place like this. Perhaps she could have even found herself joining the club. As it was now though...she certainly didn’t feel like she had any right to stand in this dojo as a club member. Not when her feelings regarding kendo were so lukewarm. These students were giving it their best, full of passion and spirit....

Short on Change | Maruki and Shizuku

Maybe Shizuku’s words had some merit to them. If so, Maruki hoped that some of that good fortune would continue coming his way. It seemed long overdue, after all, but he never banked on something like that anyway. If he waited too long for some divine miracle, he figured he’d be waiting forever. Fate seemed to mock him more than anything, but now wasn’t the time to dwell on that.

“I’m glad your family’s dojo is here. That particular patient seemed very happy whenever she would tell me about her time there. Going to the dojo was one of her favorite things to do, saying it cleared her mind.”

“Ah, sorry. I didn’t mean to ramble like that…”

Maruki smiled at Shizuku. “No, I insist. It was your money to begin with, after all. You didn’t have an obligation to help me, so you did. This is the very least I could do.” While he was thinking about it, it was getting kind of dark, wasn’t it? The city wasn’t exactly a place Maruki would want to be alone in once the sun went down if he could help it.

“I hear there’s been a spike in crime lately after dark. Would you like me to walk you home? There’s safety in numbers, after all.”

Her expression softened, though there was a sad sort of edge to it. She couldn’t help but feel a little guilty. There were other people who were more serious about it than she had been. It wasn’t like she particularly liked kendo, not that she hated it either. Her feelings were rather lukewarm, despite her skill. She’d only started it because she didn’t want to disappoint her family when they were so excited with her talent for it. Because of that, her dream to be a normal girl had been shelved and put aside. Of course, she reconciled those feelings long ago, before graduation, but every now and then that small pang of guilt shot through her.

“No, please don’t apologize,” she smiled, pushing those feelings back down. “I’m happy to hear it was such a help to her, and I’m sure my family would be happy to know that as well. It’s true that it’s good for clearing one’s mind and working through whatever might be stressing a person out.” It truthfully had at least helped her in that regard. Whenever she had a sword in her hand, or even a shinai, it felt like her worries were far away, like she didn’t need to worry about them in that moment.

Dissonance || Nyb & Shizuku

“Imperfect gems…” At this revelation, Nyb’s heart fluttered and he had to stop himself from breaking out into a wide grin. The knowledge that the gemstones used were imperfect had a lot more impact on him that the shop owner could possibly know. Because now, that horrible sinking feeling he’d been mired in since entering the store began to lift.

There was a good chance Nyb could use such knowledge as a bargaining chip against his superiors, to dissuade them from the nefarious plot to rob it of its riches. What riches? Already, he could envision how his part of the conversation would play out. It’s all cheap, you definitely wouldn’t be getting the needed funds from there. Instead, they would be better off turning their noses elsewhere to acquire the needed money. Not that Nyb especially wanted them getting it either way, but just the thought of ransacking such a cozy, small shop like this really didn’t sit right with him.

But did anything he was involved in sit right with him?

Agh, not like it mattered, if he could do a good deed just here and there, even if nobody knew it but him, it was the only thing that could keep him sane.

All that aside, the matter of the ring being only 5,000 yen also thrilled Nyb for another reason. He wasn’t provided much funding from his superiors, but he was certain he could at least scrounge up that much for the ring. Doing so might set him back a little in other ways, but…

“Okay, I’ll take the ring.” Buying it was something he really wanted to do. It almost felt like he and the ring had some kind of connection, even though in truth he knew such things were silly.

So he scrounged up 5,000 yen worth of coins from his wallet and set them on the counter.

“I think it looks really cool. Maybe it’s just because I’m not a gem expert, but I wouldn’t have known that it’s not perfect. Do you guys get a lot of business?”

“That’s right. Thanks to that we can keep our prices more affordable,” Shizuku smiled. “Admittedly, we were really lucky to cross paths with our supplier, and it was extremely generous of her to even offer this much.” Honestly, she wasn’t sure what had possessed the blonde teen to even offer, but as the saying went, you didn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. It had, at least, been one of the few bright spots during the whole crepe incident. 

Her smile brightened when he decided to make the purchase. She stepped over to the register to ring up the purchase, before drawing the keyring from her belt to unlock the case and withdraw the ring. She placed it on the counter and rummaged around behind the counter for a moment before finding a box to put it in, then locked the case once more. She double-checked the amount before completing the purchase, then slid the box over the counter to him.

“I’ll be sure to let our craftsman know,” she chuckled, though she was pretty sure he’d just scowl and brush it off. It was almost funny how easily she could imagine that. “To be honest, it’s also thanks to his skill that makes whatever flaws the gemstones have look intentional, like they’re part of the design. I really admire his work and talent.” She was glad, at least, that neither Otto or Naofumi was around to hear her sing the Emerald King’s praises like that.

On the subject of business, she paused, tilting her head to the side. “Well, we’re sort of out of the way, and it doesn’t exactly look like a shop, even with the sign outside but we’re getting enough to get by, at least,” she answered. “We’re still a bit new and figuring things out but so far, so good. Most of the traffic tends to be students, but thanks to that, we’ve gotten pretty popular with young girls. That’s not to say we don’t get people searching for gifts for their significant others though.”

She really couldn’t complain though. It was at least interesting and something new. She had to say she was enjoying herself. She hadn’t thought something like this would really be fun, and true, slow days could be boring, but it wasn’t bad.

Short on Change | Maruki and Shizuku

Maruki had to admit he was relieved that he wasn’t inconveniencing her. Or at least, not any more than he already had. He laughed a little at the idea of this interaction being more of a karmic event, especially since something like karma didn’t seem to have a few good idea of what to do with Maruki specifically. “I can’t say for sure if this was a more divine event, but I can very confidently say this was definitely fortuitous.”

“You’ve been raised well, Shizuku-san.” The mention of the dojo did ring a bell for him, but not because he had actually ever been. “Oh, I think I’ve heard of that dojo. One of my patients may have been a pupil there. Ah! Before I forget…” He held the change he had received out to return them to her. He didn’t need any more money for this excursion, and it was her money to begin with. “This was the change from the purchase. Seriously, thank you.”

“Life has a funny way of doing that,” Shizuku nodded. “It seems like I’ve had my fair share of moments like that lately.” She considered her initial meeting with Naofumi something like that, and her decision to join his clan had already saved her life. And there was the fact that she’d subconsciously deemed that place the only safe space for her during that crepe fiasco. It really was funny how things worked out like that, always unexpected.

Her expression softened, a small smile on her lips. “I’m sure my parents would be happy to hear it.” She certainly liked to hope she was making them proud. Even if she had initially worried about disappointing them..but that was normal, wasn’t it? “Oh, really?” she asked, eyes widening slightly. What a small world. “I suppose it’s not that unusual. The Yaegashi Dojo and Urokodaki-san’s dojo are pretty well known here in the city.”

@rustmask​

It felt like the first time in a while she’d had to run an errand that wasn’t directly related to the shop. Things were running much more smoothly now, but the call from her father had still surprised her. They had ordered new supplies for the new recruits but much more than they needed had mistakenly been included as well. She’d been tasked with finding a new home for the extras, as they wouldn’t serve any use collecting dust in the dojo. 

She did know one place she could check first, at least. If they weren’t needed at that dojo, then at the very least it could be used at the Kendo Club at the university. Right about now, practice would probably be in full swing, but she didn’t mind waiting. As far as she knew, the rest of her day was free.

Carefully, she slipped her shoes off and replaced them with the appropriate slippers and padded into the dojo, watching the practice. It filled her with a strange sort of nostalgia. Though she’d only picked it up so she wouldn’t disappoint her parents, she supposed there was a part of her that did love the sport. Well, those skills had also saved her life by now, so she supposed she ought to be grateful for that.

merchants’ guide for dummies || otto & shizuku

Otto stared at Shizuku blankly. “No, he didn’t mention any of that. Our meeting was entirely business.” But hearing about the details of whatever happened between them was interesting. As far as he knew strange things had been occurring in Shizume City ever since the discovery and activation of more slates. “I hope so. That’s good enough for me honestly.” As long as he could set up a way for them to earn some income it didn’t matter how much or how little the Emerald King deigned to share with him.

Otto’s shoulder’s slumped forward a bit as her eyes lit up at the mention of camping, a sigh escaping his lips. “Camping for hobby or fun is fine.. Saying camping was just dressing it up a bit. Living that way isn’t all that fun for me though..” He didn’t want to outright say that he had been homeless but that was essentially what it had been. 

He wasn’t really all that surprised to find her not being judgmental in the least given how fussy she was being about a perfectly fine house. As much as he protested she would still nitpick something so he decided to drop it. He was sure he’d made his stance on the matter obvious. “I’m not sure I’m sticking out for the right reasons though.. But memorable, yeah.” It would certainly be easy for others to know exactly who they meant when they referred to a cart touting merchant.

“Eh.. I don’t really want to impose anymore than I already have though..” Even though it sounded wonderful to be able to keep Furufu nearby. 

“Well..” Thinking about it, her King wasn’t exactly the type to open up about...well, much of anything. The only reason he had then was because of the circumstances, and the fact he wouldn’t be able to hide anything from her if he even so much as thought about it. “At the very least, beware of crepes.” She’d meant it as a joke, really, but...she hadn’t so much as looked at one since the incident. 

She smiled sympathetically as he continued. “That’s understandable. I’m sure it’s especially tough in a city like this.” Especially when one considered there...really weren’t any places to camp comfortably. “You won’t have to worry about that now though. This room is yours for as long as you need it.” At most, she might ask him to help clean or restock groceries, but beyond that, he was free to do as he wished.

“I can’t say I know much about business,” though that much was probably obvious, “but it is important to have something recognizable, right? The more memorable and unique you are, the chances of a client remembering you are higher. At least, that’s what I’ve read. I think you’re doing just fine, Otto-san.”

Short on Change | Maruki and Shizuku

Maruki felt a tap on his shoulder and he turned to face a young dark-haired woman offering him the change she had, and the change that he was missing. “Oh! Thank you so much!” He bowed his head politely at her before finishing the transaction that he had started. He said another apology to the cashier before stepping out of the way to let the kind lady proceed with her purchase.

Of course, the cashier had given him a few coins back, meaning the young lady had given him a bit too much. He had to return those, of course, so he stood to the side and waited for her to finish before walking back up to her.

“I hope I’m not holding you up from anything, but I wanted to thank you again for helping me back there. I had given some of my money to someone who needed it for a bus ticket home, since they had lost their bus pass, and neglected to take that into account.” Maruki hoped he could repay this young lady’s kindness. 

“May I ask your name?” Shizume City was large, but perhaps their paths would meet again. The world had a funny way of handling things both good and bad.

Shizuku smiled and nodded in response to his thanks. She was glad it had been enough to cover his purchase after all. Once that was taken care of, then it was her turn to pay for her items. At least now, she’d be able to make that dinner she’d had her heart set on. It’d probably seem even more delicious with all the extra work she’d had to do. It’d be more worth it...or something like that.

She paused on her way out, realizing the man from before hadn’t left yet and was walking up to her. “Oh, no, it’s okay,” she responded, shaking her head. “I don’t have anything in particular.” Dinner was one thing, but she’d already waited this long. A few more minutes wouldn’t hurt. 

“You don’t have to thank me for that,” she added. “It’s how I was raised. If someone needs the help, step in and help them, simple as that.” Though it seemed that was something he could probably understand, as he mentioned just why he was short on cash. It definitely sounded like something she would have done if she were in that situation. “I’m sure I would have done the same. Our meeting here was probably some sort of karmic payoff for helping that person out.” 

Good deeds really did have a way of returning the favor in one way or another. But it wasn’t something she put too much stock in or pressure on. Putting too much faith in an idea like that, and then it became moreso doing good deeds just to get something in return, and that certainly wasn’t the kind of person she was.

merchants’ guide for dummies || otto & shizuku

Otto’s face fell a little at what he took as Shizuku’s attempt to cheer him up. “It sounds like a pretty lofty goal.. After all, he still addresses you in that manner?” Maybe to most that would have seemed like a thoughtless comment but Otto got the feeling she wouldn’t have taken offense to it. Regardless, he was simply saying it as he saw it. If the King Naofumi Iwatani gave out nicknames because no one had proved themselves to be worthy of being called by their given name, then his fellow clansman who boasted that she was the first didn’t instill him with much confidence in that regard. 

It was interesting to take note that Shizuku would be the type to worry that her dwelling wasn’t top notch, especially when Otto was only crashing here as a guest for the time being. “Believe me. I’ve camped outside many a night. There’s no way I’d think poorly of your residence! Besides, I’m the one imposing so I have no grounds for complaints to begin with.” What kind of person would even complain about something like that!? Shizuku definitely struck him as a fine and considerate person.

“Oh, Furufu is my most trusted companion.” He placed his hands on his hips and smiled proudly. “He’s my horse. He draws my carriage.” He was almost assured of the look he would garner from that statement alone. “I know, I know. Who uses a horse drawn carriage in this day and age?” He recited that question from memory, having been asked it so many times. 

“The truth is it’s pretty practical for me. I don’t know if Iwatani-san mentioned it, although… All things considered I’m definitely on the fence about that one.” Otto wore an expression of exasperation at the consideration of his and Shizuku’s exchange so far. “I’m actually a strain. So having Furufu as my companion has helped me out a lot. You see I can communicate with anything that is living and animals have much keener senses than humans do. Certainly better than a car.” Though he agreed that a car was definitely faster.

“Once I’m able to set up a shop of my own and make a steady income though I’m sure I’ll be able to afford a car and let Furufu rest. Of course, I also plan to repay your hospitality to me as well.” He exuded an aura of confidence at his own words which should assure Shizuku of his sincerity. “Oh, but if you don’t have a place for him don’t worry about it! I’m sure I can find some way to accommodate her on my own. She’s my responsibility after all.”

“Aha...well, it might be. Not that it excuses anything, but the last time he and I met up there was...an incident. I’m not sure if you heard anything about it but there was a strain selling crepes that had...interesting effects. I was bombarded with the thoughts of everyone around me, and he was essentially fading from existence..but it affected me a lot more slowly, so I think he had a lot of other things on his mind then..” Probably. At least, that’s what she was going to go with for now, until she was able to confront him about it. “But he did specifically ask if I had room for you here, so I think that means he recognizes your abilities already.”

She smiled faintly, tilting her head slightly at his words. “Well, if you do happen to think of any complaints, I’d be glad to do what I can to fix them. I’m sure there’s still a few changes that need to be made around here.” As far as she could tell though, there were no leaks anywhere in the house, even after the renovations had been made. She was still keeping an eye out for anything that didn’t work quite right though. “Camping though? That sounds fun. I remember I used to camp with my father in the mountains. It was more of a training camp for the dojo though, so we weren’t really sleeping in tents or anything.” Ah...come to think of it, maybe that was why she’d been fine with the warehouse.

“Oh..” Her eyes widened, surprised at his answer. So he had a horse and carriage? She listened to his explanation without judgement, nodding slightly. “Honestly, I think it’s very unique. It makes you more memorable to people. That’s important in your line of work, isn’t it?” Making a brand, so to speak? Well, she might have been wrong there. She was still learning. “But...no, he didn’t mention that at all...” She was definitely going to have some words with her King later.

unpolished emerald || tenka & shizuku

The day had started off fine. Breakfast with her parents and Amana and then packaging and shipping out some of the jewelry she had sold online for her King. There was only one piece left, a beautiful necklace that she hadn’t managed to sell just yet. It shouldn’t have caused any problems, but the issue wasn’t with selling it. It was that the chain had snapped, and so Tenka was unable to sell it as it was.

She didn’t even want to know what kind of terrifying face that King would make at her if he found out she had broken it. And so, here was was, crouched down with her head in her hands and the necklace on the ground beside her as she tried to fight back tears. What was even worse was that she was in public, and so other people could see her too…and Tenka had never been good with people.

Upon hearing a girl’s voice, Tenka raised her head slightly, the tears finally falling freely down her flushed cheeks with no more resistance. “I-it broke…Tenka broke it, s-so…he’ll be angry…” It was an incredibly vague description of what was going on, and was especially useless to a stranger, who could make just about any assumption based on what she had said. 

“E-eh?” Shizuku felt her stomach drop as the poor girl began to cry. She was clearly distressed, and that made her feel terrible. Just what had broken? Who was going to be mad?  She seemed so upset about it, she could only assume it was something terribly important. Still, she doubted the girl wanted to be seen in public like this. Her heart went out to the poor girl, remembering how she’d also had something of a breakdown in a semi-public place, though it had been for entirely different reasons.

“Here, come inside for a bit and we can talk. You said something broke? Maybe I can help,” she offered. Granted, she had no way of knowing just what the girl meant, but hopefully it was something she could help fix. She at least had superglue on hand somewhere...

“Do you want some tea? Or maybe some water?” There wasn’t anyone in the store right now, so she reasoned it was fine, and Otto wasn’t there to say it was bad for business either. The girl definitely needed some sort of help, and she wasn’t about to turn away someone who looked so sad. 

Hunger // Open

“Mnh..” Came the woman’s languid reply as she was shook. The one doing the shaking was being considerate enough to do it gently, but Three’s bare shoulder scraped into the concrete as tiny bits of debris embedded into her flesh each time her body was rocked into the asphalt. It was uncomfortable but she did not chastise the rocker for her rough treatment. 

One might have expected for Three to slowly and lazily open her eyes but they snapped open instead, a response that most ordinarily would have jarred someone. Her purple eyes were wide and her gaze sharp but it was for a fleeting moment. The woman blinked, her expression fatigued as she pulled herself slowly into a sitting position. While Three registered the other woman’s words she regarded her silently as she let out a long, drawn out yawn.

“My stomach is a desert..” She remarked, her tone as slow and sleepy as ever. Her gloved fingers gingerly slid over the bare flesh of her exposed shoulder which disturbed the debris embedded within her pale skin and they fell like water droplets, quickly and soundlessly to the ground. The woman slowly massaged the indentations as she looked at the woman before her, a smell emanating from her that wiggled her nose as she sniffed at the air. 

“Sustenance..” No sooner had those words left her lips did her stomach growl, no doubt a dead giveaway to what ailed the purple haired woman. “Did you rummage me from my restful slumber to provide me with such..?”

She watched as the woman slowly stirred, as if rising from a simple nap--though taking a nap in the middle of the street was...certainly questionable. Still, the way the woman’s eyes had snapped open made her wonder if she had even been unconscious at all. How peculiar...but she was starting to realize she ended up in strange situations like that anyway.

Her manner of speech was also rather drowsy, but the woman seemed perfectly alert, so Shizuku was confident she could at least rule out alcohol. Her words gave a good hint as to the problem though, and she found herself glad she’d gone on that grocery run when the woman’s stomach rumbled. Passing out from hunger.

“Well, I’ll admit it wasn’t my intention,” she smiled apologetically, “I just wanted to see if you were alright but I’d be happy to share.” She turned back to her grocery bags, relieved at least that the woman wasn’t wounded anywhere. Carefully, she drew the box of fried chicken out, before returning to bags for a water bottle. She’d been looking forward to it as dinner, but honestly this was more important. Helping someone out always ranked higher than her own desires. Besides, she could always go back later if she really wanted the fried chicken.

@shieldprison​

Carefully, Shizuku packed a few dishes into a bento, mostly leftovers from dinner. Now that she knew how her King lived, she wanted to at least make sure he was eating properly. Curry and cup noodles were fine, but he still needed some proper dishes in his diet too. Otto had also raised a good point, even if it had only been his own curiosity, but perhaps now that she’d earned Naofumi’s trust, it would work out. 

She hadn’t quite gotten used to knowing his name yet. He’d tried to tell her before, but his affliction must have obscured it. Even so! He ought to know her name by now! Since she had planned on visiting anyway, it was time to give him a piece of her mind! 

She placed the bento in a bag beside the envelope containing the shop money, and once she’d double checked to make sure she had everything, she left. After all, she could decide her days off when she wanted, right? She followed the now familiar route to the warehouse, feeling strange that the last time she’d been here had been such a mess. But she liked to think at least some progress had been made. 

Glancing around to be sure no one was watching, she easily slipped into the warehouse and shut the door behind her. Hm..should she give him a little surprise? “Naofumi-kun, are you here?” 

sanctuary || naofumi & shizuku

The familiar creaking of the large warehouse door as he pushed the heavy door forward had alerted his clansman to his presence and she greeted him, just as she had always done. He stood there and blinked, letting the door fall shut behind him. It was possible she hadn’t seen him, but just to be sure he kept his expressionless gaze planted on her as he thought about all kinds of things. Instead, the male was met with her curious gaze, her red eyes fixed on his emerald ones. 

“I’m guessing you can see me now.” He walked forward towards her and noted the ways her eyes followed him as he did so, confirming his suspicions. He heaved a shallow sigh of relief, as if expelling all the weight that had accumulated on his shoulders and burdening his heart, the build up of the last few days. He looked beyond her and at the food that she was preparing, his brow raised.

“What are you.. my mother?” Though there was a bit of an uncomfortable pang in his heart as he spoke this and his expression turned wistful. He hadn’t seen nor heard from his parents in such a long time. His forlorn gaze wandered downwards and he was thankful she could no longer read his thoughts anymore. What a relief. 

“You don’t have to stay here anymore.” Now that things were back to normal with him as well as her she needn’t have stayed. He knew this wasn’t the most luxurious of places to live in. There’s no way sleeping in that old, beat up recliner was comfortable either. Though on the subject of sleep, the past few days he’d been extremely busy. His mind had been so jumbled up, focused on the subject of his own erasure that he hadn’t slept well. Despite not having slept well, he still maintained the search and scoured the streets of Shizume endlessly for hours without pause or rest. 

The finality of the situation had caught up with him and his muscles relaxed, his eyelids drooping. Was it relief or fatigue? Maybe a combination of both. He was probably going to hit the ground hard but his body had already shut down on him and he fell forward, crashing right into his clansman. His breathing was steady, as was the rise and fall of his chest as he slept soundly for the first time in days. 

Her expression softened at his question and she nodded. “Yes, I can see you again, and I remember you, King-san.” It was honestly a relief for her. She hadn’t liked the idea that there were holes in her memory, where his existence had been erased. It hadn’t felt...right, if she had to put it into words. It just made her feel off, to know that her memories hadn’t been reliable then. Thank goodness she’d had the foresight to make that note..

“Mothe..” she repeated before her cheeks grew bright red. “N-No, it’s not like that! I-it’s just, you enjoyed last night’s dinner so much, I thought I’d cook something else..” she sputtered, embarrassed. Perhaps it was lucky for him that she’d looked away from him in her embarrassment, unable to see the change in his expression. Mercifully, there were no more thoughts bouncing around inside her head besides her own.

She blinked and looked back up at him as he continued, her brows furrowed. “I know that, but..I didn’t want to go back home without at least letting you know things were back to normal, or without saying goodbye.” It didn’t feel right to her, not after spending so much time here. It had really been a roller coaster, and now she knew what he’d been going through... Was she the only one who felt like they’d gotten closer? 

But any thoughts like that were wiped out as she saw him pitch forward. Her eyes widened and instinctively her arms flew out to catch him, bracing herself as he collided with her. Miraculously, she was able to keep herself from toppling over, though she looked mildly panicked for a few moments as she let out the breath she held as soon as she saw him fall. “Ki-King-san..?” she called, concerned, but the sound of his quiet breathing reached her and she let out a soft sigh. It must have weighed on him a lot more than he let on, if he was this exhausted now that it was over. 

Her expression softened and she managed to straighten up, carefully maneuvering him to the futon. She pulled the blanket over him, watching him for a moment to make sure he didn’t wake up before she returned to the food. She carefully made her bowl before covering the rest in the pot and turning the hot plate off. All he’d have to do was heat it up when he woke up, which she was sure his stomach would do soon enough that the food would be okay.

sanctuary || naofumi & shizuku

I see.. That was all Naofumi could respond with. When he spoke his name he could hear it.. Well, he guessed he couldn’t forget his own existence. In a way it made sense. Both that she couldn’t hear his name while he still could. Then again it wasn’t as though he’d ever really told her what his name was so it was fine. 

He turned his back on her and started for the door but then stopped abruptly, glancing over his shoulder at her as she spoke. He tried not to think about how he was feeling given that she’d be able to read his thoughts but all he responded with was a curt I’m fine. He wasn’t exactly despairing over it even though it had been slightly unsettling at first. Besides, it afforded him the freedom to wander at his leisure now. 

I’ll be back. Or rather he wouldn’t return until this was settled. With his resolve renewed he opened the large, creaky warehouse door and exited. It must have been jarring for his clansman to see the door open and shut without actually seeing him do it. He soon banished the thought as he wandered back into town. 

After several hours of wandering, Naofumi reluctantly dragged himself back to the plaza where he’d originally encountered the crepe seller. Much to his surprise was the copious amount of men and women loitering around the area, each one of them donning the familiar blue uniform of Scepter 4. Naofumi stopped dead in his tracks, mouth agape. Of course! It was Scepter 4′s job to investigate things like this! If only they had sooner brought it to their attention.. 

Well, Naofumi couldn’t exactly be sure if that’s what they were currently doing. Ignoring the fact that they were standing guard at the perimeter, Naofumi moved past them, knowing that they couldn’t see him anyways. He actually didn’t get very far. 

“Excuse me, sir. But this area is being cordoned off. We ask that you please leave the area.”

Naofumi blinked dumbly for a moment, his mouth agape. “Are you.. talking to me?” The Scepter 4 grunt matched Naofumi’s confusion with his own. 

“Yes? You in the green hoodie.”

Naofumi could only stand there in shock. Either Scepter 4 was somehow immune to the abilities of this crepe seller or.. Emerald eyes moved past the man in blue towards the back where an empty cart stood. That vibrant red banner.. he recognized it instantly. It was the same one that damned woman had used. Had they managed to capture her after all?

“Sir, please.”

Without a word, Naofumi drew his hood over his eyes. He hadn’t felt the need to do it lately given that people hadn’t been able to see him, but if they could now.. Right. I need to return. With that thought in mind, Naofumi obeyed the command of the man in blue and left the plaza and headed back to the warehouse. If others could interact with him then maybe she…

He’d said he was fine...but something about the way he’d said it made her think differently. It had to be unsettling, right? Even if he’d wanted to disappear... had she been imagining the small hint of relief that she could still communicate with him? Still, he didn’t seem to want to get into it, so she didn’t say anything more than that, murmuring a small “okay” as he left. The door suddenly opening and shutting was definitely jarring, as if the building were haunted, but she knew better. If he was a ghost, she wouldn’t have felt a solid torso against her hand. 

Her cheeks flushed at the memory and she hurriedly shook her head to rid herself of the thought. She let out a deep sigh, not for the first time wondering what she should do to pass the time until he returned. There was more exercise, of course, or a game on her phone--but she needed to conserve whatever battery was left in case she had to stay longer. 

As her gaze fell on the remaining ingredients of what she’d used last night to make dinner, she smiled to herself. Surely, there was something she could make with this. If he was feeling rattled by the situation, perhaps a home cooked meal would be soothing? Granted, it’d certainly take a bit of fine tuning to cook with the limited tools and ingredients available but she had plenty of time to figure it out. 

First thing’s first was making a broth, which was easy enough with all the instant ramen. There were plenty of things she could do to add a little more oomph to the cup noodles, especially with what was available to her. The noodles she’d chosen came with a spicy beef flavor, so that was what she used as the base, then she added some green onions. Finally, when she had everything to the desired taste, she added both noodles into the pot to let them cook and absorb the flavor of the broth.

He’d eaten last night’s dinner so enthusiastically, she hoped he’d like this too---wait. She remembered! Relief flooded through her and she smiled softly. “He must have found her,” she murmured. Unless things had simply worn off..? But no sooner than that, she heard the warehouse door open and whirled, all too relieved to see him once more.