[ It certainly has been another eventful month at the Mikotoba household. Glowing dawn petals litter the floor everywhere you walk, and while Kazuma did insist that he would fix the entrance he ruined when he was less snake, Susato has taken it upon herself to put a pink Japanese-style curtain over the damage. If nothing else, it would at least remind her of home.
One morning, Yujin will wake up to find that Susato is not there. Instead, on his nightstand, he will find a necklace; a small bottle attached to a chain, resting neatly on top of a note that looks like it's been ripped out of one of Susato's many notebooks:
I made this same charm to protect Jack, after he was hurt, and then another to protect Kazuma-sama. Now I have made one for you. I never would have thought in a million years that it would amount to anything, but Kazuma-sama's bottle was empty when he returned, and he insists that he felt my presence that night. I have to believe it accomplished something, even if I do not understand what. Wear it. Then tell me if it ever runs empty. But do me a favor, and do not let it run empty.
She doesn't bother signing it.
The charm itself is filled with an array of colors, made up by tiny origami paper cranes filling the whole bottle.
When Yujin wears the necklace, he will find that the pain from any wounds he may receive will be numbed, be they from knives, thorns, or other sharp objects. Any bleeding will slow, and the natural healing of those wounds will be greatly accelerated. Bullets and other foreign objects will be ejected during the healing process, and in the first place, they will find his skin more difficult to penetrate, meeting a deep resistance, as in muk or a very thick rubber.
The catch: every time the effect is used, the cranes are slowly burned off, and when they disappear, so does the charm's protection.
He doesn't have to wear it as a necklace; anywhere on his person will do, but she will certainly look for it when she sees him next. ]
[Susato indeed didn't need to sign it. He can tell from the handwriting when he first glances at the note and he confirms it through the sentiments held within those words. For a long time, he just stares at the bottle, holding it up to the light and admiring it. How much work went into those tiny cranes? He doesn't deserve anything quite this elaborate, he feels, but he knows Susato won't ever let him decline it. He can only humbly accept and try to find a way to repay her.
When next she sees him, he is indeed wearing it. Not as a necklace, though. Much like a pocket watch, it's attached to his vest by the chain, the bottle itself slipped into his left pocket.]
[ Well now they're down two people, so even though Yujin (and Kazuma) probably tried to talk her out of it, sheeeee is definitely going to work, even if she has to sneak out early to do so....... SORRY. ]
Tadaima.
[ Oh, look. She's slipped back into Japanese. With the new curtain and all, perhaps she's feeling a bit nostalgic lately.
By the time she gets home, she has actually has forgotten about the charm, but seeing the chain hang out of Yujin's pocket is a quick reminder. ]
Oh! Good, you've put it on. [ The pocket watch look definitely suits him better than a necklace! ]
[Trying to talk Susato out of anything has never worked well in the past, but Yujin can always make sure she takes it easy once she's home. Prepare to be pampered, daughter! There's already snacks being set out on the table in the living area.]
Naturally. How could I ever ignore such a thoughtful gift? [He strides over to her and unless she dodges for whatever reason, she will be pulled into an embrace.]
[ Absolutely not! No dodges. She rather welcomes the sudden embrace, melting into it due to how tired she is, though it is rather unexpected. She doesn't really think she deserves it, not when she can't even figure out what the charm did. ]
It was... nothing. I simply do not believe in taking chances anymore.
[ She pauses uneasily. Don't worry, she'll notice the lovely snacks he's set out, eventually. ]
[Oh please. Yujin believes she deserves all the hugs, and then some. Especially after how much effort she put into healing Kazuma's injuries. She proved far more helpful than he did, and he's a doctor for crying out loud.]
Indeed, but we do not know much worse things could have been. He came home to us, and that is what's most important.
[ That was all thanks to 76 though... apparently. She doesn't understand it, but at least they managed to convince Kazuma to stay. Not that he had much of a choice in the matter as he was, but she still feels better having him under their roof as he recovers. ]
Thank goodness for that... At least in that form he can fit inside our guest room again.
[ She means the actual (big) snake, and not the naga form she never told him about........by the way... ]
[He chuckles as he releases her from the embrace again, taking a step back.]
It didn't take as much effort as one might think!
[There's some finger sandwiches, banana slices with cinnamon drizzle and caramelized strawberries. Small snacks to get one through the evening, really.]
[ They're perfect. As tempting as the sandwiches are, Susato goes for the sweets first, picking up a caramelized strawberry and biting into it before she can change her mind or get too indecisive.
She will at least swallow before speaking again, though. ]
I am surrounded by food all day, yet nothing I truly want to eat. Most days, at least. This is wonderful, thank you.
[Oh good, now he can pride himself on a job well done, at least for one night. He goes for one of the sandwiches himself, though he doesn't eat it immediately.]
It was no trouble at all. You deserve a little something to yourself after all your hard work.
. . . [ Even as she is eating, she finds her gaze wandering towards the aforementioned guest room, where she finally convinced Kazuma to stay while he recovered (rather than the living room). ]
Has he been able to rest? [ She still looks worried. ]
[No, perhaps that's not quite right. He would hope so. Either way, it's always difficult to tell with Kazuma. For now, he'll just give the man his space and hope that helps.]
Mmmh. [ Her mouth is full as she mumbles something in acknowledgement. She doesn't seem entirely satisfied with the answer, but she knows it's not Yujin's fault, so she just takes a few more bites in quite acceptance.
She's been bad at giving him space. She almost feels bad about it, but she looks over the plate of what remains anyway, as if she wants to bring some to him.
[In the meantime, Yujin will take a seat. It's been a long few days for him- for everyone. Best to take it slow for the rest of the evening, even if a great portion of him is still restless. He needs to set a good example for Susato. Hopefully, she'll follow his lead.]
[ Hearing Yujin sit down, Susato turns around, catching his eye for a second before she has to convince herself to do the same. The idea of taking a quiet evening to themselves is alluring, maybe even necessary, but she still finds herself shaking uncomfortably if she stays still for too long, or if she thinks too hard about that night. ]
I, I'm sorry.
[ Don't know where that came from, suddenly. It's probably been on her mind for a while, every time she thinks about Yujin's reaction when he joined them at their entrance. ]
[Yujin's body is aching a bit from exhaustion. Even as he sits back, he feels some goosebumps prickling his arms and dull pressure on his eyes. At the very least, he should sleep through the night this time, he's certain. But Susato's apology snaps him out of all that and returns him to more present matter. He sends a confused look her way.]
I... Well...The night I came back from the forest, when I brought home the first Glowing Dawns, I had already seen Kazuma-sama in that form. [ She swallows, taking a pause for breath. ] I thought I was helping him, by not saying anything. Even by Christmas, he had regained most of his human features, but when he wrote that Jack may have turned, I should have known.
[ And she should have said something, she thinks. Maybe. How would that conversation even have gone, she wonders? As it is, she struggles to imagine it. ]
[Yujin is a bit surprised to hear those sentiments, though perhaps not for the reasons Susato would assume. He shakes his head, not quite meeting her gaze.]
When Mr. Seventy Six contacted me to inform me of the flowers, he alluded to Kazuma's Noctaere side. That the flowers calmed him down. I did not know what sort of state Kazuma was in at the time, but I assumed it to be similar to when he attacked Lord van Zieks. The presence of a tail during our Christmas celebrations took me by surprise, but then... As you said, he had regained most human features. I didn't see a reason to worry either.
[ It's okay, she thinks. You can call him Jack. But then, perhaps it is not so good if they are too comfortable, using his name, so Susato just stays quiet on the matter. Her own gaze falls to the floor, seeing how Yujin struggle to make eye contact. ]
I wondered why it was taking so long. Why he still had that tail, the way his eyes would sometimes flash yellow... I couldn't wait until he was free from such a torturous transformation. Now I am wondering if it is part of him we must accept.
[ The noctaere? ...Or Hyde? It feels like a lifetime ago now since she'd had that information dropped on her. While she was no stranger to difficult conversations, and reaching into the dark to get the truth, she still has no idea how to even begin to broach the subject, and thus, has been forced to sit on it until she can figure it out. This, and she's already broached what is perhaps the worst, most difficult part. ]
[The only reason Yujin knows the man's name might be Jack is because someone else voiced it in front of him. 76 never once introduced himself as Jack to him, and so, Yujin will continue to refer to him as 76. That's just proper etiquette.
As for Kazuma, he doesn't realize that Susato is factoring Hyde into the situation. He assumes nightmare energy is the singular problem she's considering.]
... It is entirely possible that the condition may be chronic, but... It is also entirely possible that it's simply a very slow recovery. The absence of the moon in the sky and the resulting increase of nightmares is certainly not helping his condition.
[ Susato may not have directly told him, but in the mess that was everything, perhaps she just assumed he now knows. At the very least, she gets the feeling that Jack wouldn't mind if Yujin knows, though he's never given her that approval aloud.
. . . Either way, it is definitely proper etiquette, and there's no faulting him for that. ]
No, you're right. Perhaps the best we can do now is to continue using the flowers, to help keep him in his right mind.
[Beyond the lingering symptoms and the missing moon? As he's still holding onto the sandwich, his fingers end up digging into the bread a bit. He comes to regret that, but there's nothing to be done about it now.]
. . . Something a friend told me. She knew him from his time in the Realm of Stories, and I wondered about how they met.
[ Seeing his fingers dig into the bread, Susato thinks she should probably at least pretend to eat more. She'll go for some of the banana this time, making sure to lick the caramel off her fingers when she finishes off the piece. ]
Apparently at the time, she also knew him by another name. Hyde.
[Aaand there go his fingers, digging into the bread a second time. Oops. If Susato had to find out about Hyde from a friend, does that mean Kazuma hadn't told her?]
Ah. Yes, I suppose Hyde may factor into his condition to some degree as well. [Kazuma had told him that Hyde is 'still a part of him', but he doesn't quite believe that. What he does believe is that memories of Hyde's less scrupulous actions increase the intensity of Kazuma's nightmares.]
Is that... not something that Kazuma shared with you on his own accord?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
within the week (?) of kazuma showing up near death at their doorstep
One morning, Yujin will wake up to find that Susato is not there. Instead, on his nightstand, he will find a necklace; a small bottle attached to a chain, resting neatly on top of a note that looks like it's been ripped out of one of Susato's many notebooks:
I made this same charm to protect Jack, after he was hurt, and then another to protect Kazuma-sama. Now I have made one for you.
I never would have thought in a million years that it would amount to anything, but Kazuma-sama's bottle was empty when he returned, and he insists that he felt my presence that night. I have to believe it accomplished something, even if I do not understand what.
Wear it. Then tell me if it ever runs empty.
But do me a favor, and do not let it run empty.
She doesn't bother signing it.
The charm itself is filled with an array of colors, made up by tiny origami paper cranes filling the whole bottle.
When Yujin wears the necklace, he will find that the pain from any wounds he may receive will be numbed, be they from knives, thorns, or other sharp objects. Any bleeding will slow, and the natural healing of those wounds will be greatly accelerated. Bullets and other foreign objects will be ejected during the healing process, and in the first place, they will find his skin more difficult to penetrate, meeting a deep resistance, as in muk or a very thick rubber.
The catch: every time the effect is used, the cranes are slowly burned off, and when they disappear, so does the charm's protection.
He doesn't have to wear it as a necklace; anywhere on his person will do, but she will certainly look for it when she sees him next. ]
no subject
When next she sees him, he is indeed wearing it. Not as a necklace, though. Much like a pocket watch, it's attached to his vest by the chain, the bottle itself slipped into his left pocket.]
no subject
Tadaima.
[ Oh, look. She's slipped back into Japanese. With the new curtain and all, perhaps she's feeling a bit nostalgic lately.
By the time she gets home, she has actually has forgotten about the charm, but seeing the chain hang out of Yujin's pocket is a quick reminder. ]
Oh! Good, you've put it on. [ The pocket watch look definitely suits him better than a necklace! ]
no subject
Naturally. How could I ever ignore such a thoughtful gift? [He strides over to her and unless she dodges for whatever reason, she will be pulled into an embrace.]
no subject
It was... nothing. I simply do not believe in taking chances anymore.
[ She pauses uneasily. Don't worry, she'll notice the lovely snacks he's set out, eventually. ]
Kazuma-sama was still hurt. [ To put it mildly. ]
no subject
Indeed, but we do not know much worse things could have been. He came home to us, and that is what's most important.
1/2
Thank goodness for that... At least in that form he can fit inside our guest room again.
[ She means the actual (big) snake, and not the naga form she never told him about........by the way... ]
no subject
Ooh! You were busy while I was gone, I see.
no subject
It didn't take as much effort as one might think!
[There's some finger sandwiches, banana slices with cinnamon drizzle and caramelized strawberries. Small snacks to get one through the evening, really.]
no subject
She will at least swallow before speaking again, though. ]
I am surrounded by food all day, yet nothing I truly want to eat. Most days, at least. This is wonderful, thank you.
no subject
It was no trouble at all. You deserve a little something to yourself after all your hard work.
no subject
Has he been able to rest? [ She still looks worried. ]
no subject
[No, perhaps that's not quite right. He would hope so. Either way, it's always difficult to tell with Kazuma. For now, he'll just give the man his space and hope that helps.]
no subject
She's been bad at giving him space. She almost feels bad about it, but she looks over the plate of what remains anyway, as if she wants to bring some to him.
Sadly, snakes don't eat this stuff. ]
no subject
no subject
I, I'm sorry.
[ Don't know where that came from, suddenly. It's probably been on her mind for a while, every time she thinks about Yujin's reaction when he joined them at their entrance. ]
no subject
Hmm? Whatever for?
no subject
[ And she should have said something, she thinks. Maybe. How would that conversation even have gone, she wonders? As it is, she struggles to imagine it. ]
no subject
When Mr. Seventy Six contacted me to inform me of the flowers, he alluded to Kazuma's Noctaere side. That the flowers calmed him down. I did not know what sort of state Kazuma was in at the time, but I assumed it to be similar to when he attacked Lord van Zieks. The presence of a tail during our Christmas celebrations took me by surprise, but then... As you said, he had regained most human features. I didn't see a reason to worry either.
no subject
I wondered why it was taking so long. Why he still had that tail, the way his eyes would sometimes flash yellow... I couldn't wait until he was free from such a torturous transformation. Now I am wondering if it is part of him we must accept.
[ The noctaere? ...Or Hyde? It feels like a lifetime ago now since she'd had that information dropped on her. While she was no stranger to difficult conversations, and reaching into the dark to get the truth, she still has no idea how to even begin to broach the subject, and thus, has been forced to sit on it until she can figure it out. This, and she's already broached what is perhaps the worst, most difficult part. ]
no subject
As for Kazuma, he doesn't realize that Susato is factoring Hyde into the situation. He assumes nightmare energy is the singular problem she's considering.]
... It is entirely possible that the condition may be chronic, but... It is also entirely possible that it's simply a very slow recovery. The absence of the moon in the sky and the resulting increase of nightmares is certainly not helping his condition.
no subject
. . . Either way, it is definitely proper etiquette, and there's no faulting him for that. ]
No, you're right. Perhaps the best we can do now is to continue using the flowers, to help keep him in his right mind.
Still, there is something else that troubles me.
no subject
[Beyond the lingering symptoms and the missing moon? As he's still holding onto the sandwich, his fingers end up digging into the bread a bit. He comes to regret that, but there's nothing to be done about it now.]
no subject
[ Seeing his fingers dig into the bread, Susato thinks she should probably at least pretend to eat more. She'll go for some of the banana this time, making sure to lick the caramel off her fingers when she finishes off the piece. ]
Apparently at the time, she also knew him by another name. Hyde.
no subject
Ah. Yes, I suppose Hyde may factor into his condition to some degree as well. [Kazuma had told him that Hyde is 'still a part of him', but he doesn't quite believe that. What he does believe is that memories of Hyde's less scrupulous actions increase the intensity of Kazuma's nightmares.]
Is that... not something that Kazuma shared with you on his own accord?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
1/2
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)