A heavy rumble rolls in Ibaraki’s chest. How very like his beloved friend. The why and how were secondary to simply making them pay. He was not, could not be surprised by such a thing…rather, however, he is pleased, as this vicious hatred reminds him of how his friend used to be. Ibaraki telling him he wants, needs him back at his side as his second in command is a thrill all its own, as well.
Despite his pleasure and, frankly, elation, Ibaraki remains serious. “It is to be war, then? Very well. As always, my friend, I am your second in command, your devoted best friend. I will gladly fight at your side once more.”
Besides, Shuten would need Ibaraki’s cunning and level head if he wanted to get anywhere with his quest.
He licked his fangs, a grin slowly creeping over his features. “Finally, yes. We have a direction. Good.”
❝ Yessss. ❞ Shuten hisses, his eyes fiercely fixated on the formidable Oni. ❝ We are going to war. ❞ The only one he cares to plot and scheme with, the only other creature that truly matters aside from himself is standing before him, sharing the very air he breathes and he’d have it no other way! He may insult Ibaraki, he may even treat him like trash, but that doesn’t change the way he feels about his kin. Ibaraki is his equal, his better half. He may not acknowledge it but they belong together and he’ll be damned if they’re separated again!
His thoughts raged on like a storm whipping in from the coastline, building in momentum at dangerous speeds until he realised he’d been staring at Ibaraki for a period of uninterrupted silence.
❝ Ibaraki! ❞ Why he’d been staring intently for so long? Shuten can’t say for sure, an amalgamation many things he supposes. But the fact he deeply missed his white haired companion, nay, yearned for him in his absence was definitely.. not one of the reasons why-- nope! Never. Yes it was.