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| The Path of Shadow; PRP; Solo; Complete | |
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| Topic Started: Nov 30 2016, 09:10 PM (97 Views) | |
| Daji | Nov 30 2016, 09:10 PM Post #1 |
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The warmth of the evening sky was beginning to fade--and between the mild days and cool evenings, it meant that the cycle of the Earth was returning to as it was when he first regained consciousness with Hayami. In all honesty, Daji hated the cold, but ever since he started training with Master Roshi and Hayami, he started to feel like the lick of the night's chill was more muted than the last time he remembered feeling the bite of frost upon his flesh. It was because of this gradual fade from the wonders of summer into autumn that he made it a point to actually wear clothing while he was out and about on his evening strolls--that is, when Hayami let him go out and explore at night. Most of the time, either she insisted he get a proper night's rest, or he was so fatigued between classes and Roshi's training that all he could think about was laying his head down on a pillow beside his favored friend and comfort. But not tonight--Hayami and her mother were off on important business, she had said; the two of them had teleported away as they usually did when crossing any particularly lengthy distance. Hayami had told him to be on his best behavior and not break anything while she was away--so he figured he couldn't break anything if he went for an adventure in the woods at night. The sounds of the fading summer nights were rather potent at this time--with the last lights of the receding sun in the distance, the opposite side of the sky giving way to the blanket of stars and darkness, the woods were alive with the last-minute movements and actions of its denizens. Squirrels were hurriedly finding food and sequestering it away in their tiny houses of wood and leaves, birds were huddling close together for the night, and the first of the nocturnal predators were making their rounds. Even the Cicadas were singing their expansive chorus with rigor and fervor for a long while before they, too, were at their stamina's leash. Still, even as the Cicada song began to fade, their song was overtaken by the tiniest violins of crickets and the baritones of the frogs, giving the woodland area just as much of a musical tone as the mightiest orchestras. Between the hoots of the owls and the howls of the wolves, baying and barking in the far distance, it was almost as if the planet was more alive during the chill of night rather than the warmth of day, when all other creatures made their daily chores. Daji let his curiosities and impulses guide him, his athletic form leaping from tree to tree as he flipped and spun between tree branches, landing on them quickly and playfully as he pursued the next sound and spectacle that drew his attention and wanton desire for excitement. He couldn't really find slipperies in the dark like this, but that didn't mean he couldn't find food for tomorrow or something spectacular he had not seen yet--after all, the planet hid some truly wondrous places, and his eyes shone and his chest pounded for the chance to see them in their natural glory. Unbidden and unrestricted, he continued to let his senses guide him rather than his mind, knowing just where home was after playing this game of find-the-noise so many times--he had simply memorized where to go based off of the stars. The right array of them always pointed him in the way back home, and he always found his way back to it without a problem or care. He vaulted over a tree entirely as he spun in the air, his long and dark hair dancing around him, already feeling the heightened strength of his legs and muscles, a tribute to his training with Master Roshi, who had seen to it that the boy's body be tested in any way possible--and there were certainly a lot of ways Daji had never imagined he would get such a tiring workout! He could personally attest to some of the strangest things Master Roshi would think of to train him, and in the end, Daji was quite thankful for every single one of them; he felt lighter, faster, and stronger, all at the same time. Hayami had even remarked about his muscles becoming more defined as time went on--it was clear she enjoyed seeing him without a shirt, at least, and he was more than happy to oblige her. She was, after all, the love of his life. And it was because of her that he was even alive--between saving him from the chilling ice and taking him into her home and life, she was the first person he always aimed to please, since she had done so much for him--though when that started to become this emotion called 'love', he wasn't sure, but when Hayami had described what he had felt for her, when Chishan and Agatha described what he was going through and feeling for Hayami, he knew it to be true--he loved her, and he would marry her. Perhaps that was what her trip with Hikari was all about, since Hikari had been somewhat concerned at first at the prospect of them being married. He wasn't sure why Hayami's mother would be against or worried about such a prospect, but she always had her reasons--reasons that Daji had learned all too well not to question for fear of a rather vengeful tongue-lashing. Diamond-like eyes amplified what little light was present in the sky, the recession of the sun and the newborn moon allowing his animalistic sight to keep a clear view on his surroundings and the things beyond his immediate reach. Even so, the sounds of the forest threatened to overwhelm his senses, drowning out even the sound of his own movements, his nostrils filled with the scent of so many trees, plants, and creatures that infested the environment with their presences--and yet, there was one energy source that he quickly detected, his senses of smell, sight, hearing, and now, psychic and power on full alert as he detected the estranged presence he had not been expecting. At first, Daji thought it was just a large creature moving through the woods--but the power and speed with which the presence was moving was hardly something Daji could ignore. He knew that some creatures grew to be quite powerful on this planet, but even then, none of them moved with speed and grace to rival his own--and that was exactly the kind of oddity that attracted his curiosities, causing him to shift his stance upon brittle branch and maintain his balance to keep from falling. His twin tails fanned out behind him to maintain that balance, that razor’s edge of falling forward or falling backward, and his eyes focused on the area, his ears perking up and pointing in the direction of the strange guest he had not considered; he watched and waited, looking for signs of that power again, the flash of movement that would give him the target to pursue. Another flash of movement caught his attention, followed by the sound of someone human grunting under strain. It was hard to hear at first, very hard to see, but the movement was unmistakable, the sound was clear enough to pierce through the din of nature, and the faintest strands of a foreign presence entered his nose--and the power, goodness, it was higher than the average for places like this. Of all other things, that spirit energy was sticking out like a sore thumb, and now that Daji had the scent, he wasn’t going to let this opportunity pass him by. Like a thunderbolt, Daji leaped from his tree to one far adjacent, landing amongst the branches and leaves without so much as a caution to his limbs, grabbing on to rough bark and prickly shrubs without even feeling their sting upon his hands and feet. He flipped twice upon his next leap, landing upon another tree closer to the target as the presence sped from one tree to another, faster than any other creature in the forest, but not as fast as the fox could--in a place like this, it was more familiar to him than anything else, if he was being honest. Again and again, Daji leaped the distance between three trees as his target sped the distance between only two, rapidly bringing the curious fox to close with his intended target--the chase in of itself was rather thrilling, the excitement adding speed to his limbs and strength to his muscles as he tried harder to reduce the gap between them, at least until he could directly observe that which sparked his interest. Further ahead, another sound caught the boy’s attention, his arms and legs halting his body upon the trunk of a large tree, his ears perking up as he listening to the voice--filled with pain and groaning, Daji thought he could have made out a different noise as well, and the faster the two individuals had moved, the more the forest seemed to become aware of them, as if giving them room to pursue one another without interference from the rest of the woodland denizens. He thought he could hear something snapping or breaking, and from his far closer proximity, he thought he could smell blood as well, but once again, he did not have eye contact with what he was chasing. The young fox leaped up towards the top of the tree he occupied, peering down from its highest branches down upon the ground below, peering over the smaller shrubs and branches that had concealed his sight. Between a few branches, he could make out the sight of a dark-clothed individual, the person’s form against the trunk of a nearby tree and gasping in pain while standing upon one foot. The other appeared to be damaged, the foot bent in a most unnatural angle, lending belief to suspicion that the person Daji had been chasing had, indeed, injured themselves. Immediately, the boy felt a pang of regret for the person’s condition, jumping from his tree to land softly upon the ground near the dark-clothed man. The man was clothed from head to toe in dark clothing, aiding the man in blending in with the shadows formed by the moon and starlight above their heads. In his hand was a bladed weapon, a sword--or at least, what Daji assumed was a sword--and Daji was hesitant to approach further, his eyes glowing in the dim light as they enhanced his vision of the scene. Daji slowly stood up to his full height, looking down at the man’s leg before the inevitable inquiries were spoken. “Stay back unless you want a chest-full of steel,” the man said between pained breaths, causing Daji to recoil just a little from the threat. He meant the man no harm, but Daji was never one to be comfortable with open hostility--most of the time, he would have just fled, but a part of him insisted that this man needed help, in whatever way the boy could assist with. Thus, Daji bowed his head respectfully to the man, his chest dipping with the motion before straightening again, his animalistic eyes holding a sense of concern and worry. “M--My name is Daji--you’re hurt, aren’t you? Do you need help?” Daji asked, making sure to introduce himself as Hayami had taught him to do when meeting someone new--after all, it was important to be polite and respectful, even if the man seemed to be on some sort of errand or purpose. What that was, Daji couldn’t tell--but the speed that the man had been travelling at before must mean that whatever he was doing was important. The dark-clothed man shook his head, uttering something under his breath before wincing, looking down upon his leg before looking back towards his visitor. “And what makes you think I’ll trust a Kitsune’s help? Just scurry off before I hurt you,” the man warned again, raising his weapon a little higher, but Daji continued to hesitate rather than flee. The boy shook his head. “I--I heard you grunt in pain and saw you get injured--I couldn’t leave without knowing you were alright, but, if you don’t need my help--” Daji started to say, his speech suddenly cut off as he heard another sound in the woods, his ears perking up but his face filled with concern. Howls echoed across the woods, but not the kind associated with dogs or other natural critters; these sounds had an inhuman sound to them, a snarl of something large and malevolent, bays of monsters that made Daji’s body shiver just hearing them. He couldn’t smell them yet, but if their spirit energy was anything to go by, they were powerful--and hostile. The man paused for a moment, hearing the sound as well before looking back towards Daji. “Judging by your reaction--I guess you’re not with them. They’re demons, and they’ll kill us both unless you get going,” the man said, sheathing his sword and hobbling on one leg as he tried to continue his journey, but Daji stepped forward. “I--I can’t leave you here to fight those thing--let me carry you to your home. I’m strong enough to carry you, don’t worry, I just need to know where I’m going,” Daji insisted, stepping a bit closer to the man, thankful that the sword had not been drawn again. The warrior sighed, a gesture that caused his fabric mask to flutter for a moment as he looked back towards the fox. “I’ll admit, I won’t get far like this--as embarrassing as it is to admit, I could use the help. I’ll guide you to my village, but I’ve got my eye on you, Kitsune,” the man said, raising an arm so Daji could put his shoulder underneath, acting as another set of legs for the dark-clothed man. “My name is Hagane--I am of the Panther Clan. I’d say more, but if those howls are any indication, we don’t have time to go into detail--let’s go!” He said, and the pair of them moved as one, Daji managing to move quickly while supporting Hagane’s weight while the other adjusted his own movements to the Fox’s, managing to move in tune with one another in order to cross distance with greater speed--at least until Daji decided running was too slow, opting to carry the man through the use of his leaping and flight, dashing from treetop to treetop while the strange man directed both of their efforts in a particular direction, deeper and deeper into the woods, a section of woods that Daji had never, ever been to. Normally, he would not have wandered or strayed so far from Hayami’s ship or Hikari’s apartment, and yet if the man he was carrying was to be believed, it was a hidden village amongst the leaves, a winding path of grass and trees that, honestly, Daji would have never thought to follow, Hagane’s directions seemingly random and border-line insane at times. “It wouldn’t be a hidden village if it was easy to find,” Daji’s guest had said, the boy somehow imagining a bemused smirk on the dark-clothed man’s face. All of that said, Daji made sure to follow the man’s directions to the best of his ability, despite how disorienting it was at times. It was getting to the point where even the fox had become totally lost as to where they were going, but then again, his mind was focused on keeping them both moving, fleeing from the inhuman bays and howls some distance behind them. Sometimes their calls would sound closer, other times, they sounded so far away, as if Hagane’s directions were equal parts purposeful and misleading--as if he was trying to keep Daji from memorizing them as well as keep their enemies from following them efficiently. Either way, Daji was now committed to helping this person--and for some reason, he was getting the feeling that this might have not been the best of ideas. But he couldn’t let someone in need pass him by--Hayami would have done exactly the same for this person, or so Daji believed. He kept his legs going, dashing or leaping from tree to tree, place to place, as quickly as his legs could carry him, and as the minutes dragged on, he started to feel the burn in his calfs and thighs. “They’re being quite stubborn,” Hagane said under his breath, but due to his proximity, it was more than loud enough for Daji to hear him speak, the boy preferring not to stop their progress just to inquire as to whom he was talking about--after all, with their pursuers still behind them, and not particularly far either if Daji’s senses were still working right, it was hard to miss the man’s meaning. He felt his lungs begin to burn from his breathing and his body start to ache from the adventure--he would have thought himself fully prepared for something like this, but carrying someone’s weight along with the duration of their trip was something he had never subjected his body to before, though Master Roshi seemed to understand that Daji would have a great many trials ahead of him--as goofy as the Turtle Hermit was, the old man was capable of great insight and wisdom, so it was possible he had foreseen something like this. Daji certainly couldn’t have. Hayami had told him what demons typically were, though it was something of a misnomer of a term to use--sometimes, certain spirits could be called demons, even though demon was certainly a negative word to call them by. That being said, the spirit energies he felt pursuing were anything but benevolent, their auras surrounded by a powerful darkness that were horrifying just to sense, forcing the boy to retract his senses in order to better focus on their escape. Hagane urged Daji to keep going, as if he had detected Daji’s pace slowing down due to taking in the situation, so the young fox refocused his mind on the task at hand, just as Master Roshi had instructed him to do--sometimes, paying too much attention to one’s surroundings clouded the mind and the body, so Daji sought that equalibrium of thought and body, pushing himself faster and faster onward as Hagane directed him. Soon enough, Daji’s eyes caught the light of small lamps in the distance between the trees and rushed for them, Hagane holding on tightly to the boy’s body as they made their way towards what appeared to be their safety, and sure enough, Daji paused just in front of the picket fence that separated the village from the rest of the forest. In the darkness of the night, lamps with strange, colored coverings dotted the buildings, giving an almost rainbow-like glow to the various buildings across the village. Each house had its own planting field of sorts, some growing various fruits and vegetables, while the rest were dominated by large swaths of grains. In the middle of the village was an expansive lake, the center of which rested an impressive-looking building with wide entrances and large rooms. Daji felt the weight of Hagane slip away as the dark-clothed man regained what footing he could, a small sense of relief on his features (what little Daji could see, anyway) and stance. Just then, a trio of individuals emerged from the shadows, as if berthed by the darkness, all holding bladed weapons towards the Fox, putting the boy on edge for a moment until Hagane held up his hands towards them. They exchanged in greetings, and they all lowered their blades for a moment before pointing towards Daji. “An outsider, Hagane? Did you really require his help?” One asked, not quite sheathing their blade as he looked the Fox up and down suspiciously. Daji hesitated under their collective suspicions, not altogether sure how he should respond, but Hagane was quick to address their concerns. “He may be Kitsune,” Hagane said, nodding to them, “but he has shown me a kindness--but we cannot linger here. Our enemies may be approaching soon,” he urged, his sense of caution rekindled anew as another series of howls and bays filled the air, closing in on the village. The guardians ushered the both of them through the fence’s gate, and more dark-clothed individuals emerged from the shadows, as if preparing for an attack. Daji found himself being led along, his confusion and bewilderment overtaking him as he tried to take in all the sights and sounds of the village stirring to life, farmers taking up tools to defend themselves while dark-clothed guardians unsheathed weapons and prepared for combat. Shouting was kept to a minimum, some communicating through sign language and code, and it was all rather overwhelming to the senses. “Master,” Hagane said, bowing his head along with the others that were supporting his weight. Daji’s gaze was drawn towards the conversation as it began, his ears perking up as he heard the familiar term. He wondered who a warrior such as Hagane would call such a thing, but his questions were swiftly answered as an older man emerged from one of the houses, dressed in flowing robes of dark material, a black sash across his waist. A symbol of a pouncing feline was upon his chest, and Daji immediately assumed it was the symbol of the clan that Hagane had mentioned--the Panther Clan. The Elderly man nodded his head towards his men and gave them an expectant look. “Five of them, Master--you were right to assume. Theirs are of demonic blood, all of them ferocious and cunning. I tried to lose their noses with the help of this Kitsune,” Hagane said, nodding his head towards Daji, who swiftly bowed his own head and shoulders as respectfully as he could. If this man was anything like Master Roshi, it was important to show respect--especially since everyone around him, even Hagane, still did not fully trust him. Were his ears and tails so telling of possible deception? Hayami and himself had always been accepting of people regardless of how they looked, but it seemed other people were slow to trust--perhaps that was just as well, considering how difficult it was to reach this place. “But they managed to follow you anyway,” the Master said, his voice devoid of chastisement or anger, but rather, assessing the situation swiftly with a node. His eyes were deep blue, and even Daji had trouble picking out that color with the low lights of the village--a strange storm was gathering above their heads, as if to herald the coming of their pursuers. Daji sniffed quietly at the air, recognizing the wet and sweet smell of rain soon to come. He hated water being drenched on him, but he was a little too overwhelmed to try and ask to take shelter here--especially if their enemies were drawing close. Hagane nodded apologetically. “Yes, Master, we--” The Master shook his head. “You did well to come this far, regardless--their ilk do not conform to normal predators in terms of smell or sense, they likely would have found their way here regardless. I know not why they come, but we will thwart them all the same,” the Master said before leveling his gaze towards Daji, who stood as rigid as stone in that moment. “You are the one we should thank for bringing one of our Jonin back to us? You have my thanks--but it is probably for the best that you flee this village and never return,” the Master said, a hint of sterness to his voice as Daji felt his mouth go dry just by being addressed. Daji bowed his head again but he remained where he stood. “Sir--I feel responsible for letting those… things near your village. Please, give me the chance to help defend it!” Daji spoke, without thinking, feeling himself grunt under his breath at the surprise at his own actions. Indeed, every fiber of his being told him to flee this place before the danger could close, and yet there was something in his mind that was keeping him rooted in place. What--what is this sensation… he thought to himself, unable to really grasp what was going on around him, and even more so what was going on in his own chest. Why did he feel so compelled to stay and help these people--and yet, it felt almost like a duty to help these people in their moment of plight. The Elder’s brows furrowed together, looking down towards the young fox with a critical eye and a stern glance. He opened his mouth to speak, but he silenced himself as a shout came from the front of the village, where the most guards were stationed. Five sets of eyes glared from the trees, closing quickly, their forms obscured in the shadows and darkness, and yet… even as Daji looked towards the closing carnage, he thought he could see their animalistic snouts and gaits, jaws like dogs gnashing and howling as their claws glittered in the starlight. Even as the Elder and those who were well enough to fight leaped towards the fence, the motions more like gliding kites than anything Daji had ever seen, Daji felt his own feet push him towards the fencing. Hagane spoke up from behind the boy. “Wait!” He cried, but Daji gave him no mind--he couldn’t really hear him anyway. Such was his fear and focus on those things, Daji felt the drive to both fight and flight, to flee and battle at the same time. He felt torn, separated almost, as he pressed onward towards the fencing. He half expected himself to leap over the fence and run while he had the chance, yet his feet pivoted and rushed his body towards the first of the wolfen beasts, eyes like candles and fury like flashfire. Daji slammed his nearest foot upwards, landing it squarely in the demon’s breast, thrusting the creature back across the fence and into the woods once again, the boy’s knee and ankle slicing with pain from the exhertion. He pushed the pain from his mind as he looked over his shoulder towards the others that were fighting, their blades clashing with impossibly-sharp claws, breath with the stench of foul meat. Some of the demons were dotted with slivers of metal, starry objects protruding from their bodies but unattended as if they were nothing more than itches. Dagger were thrown towards the beasts, and most found their marks, burying deep into the damned flesh of the invaders, yet nothing seemed to quell their rage before they reached the lines, their inhuman strength clashing with the blades and strikes of the defending warriors. Daji flew from where he was immediately to the next one, focusing his inner ki into his fist, the glowing aura around his arm granting weight to his attack as he lashed out at the next creature, shoving it aside for a vital moment while a dark-clothed warrior buried his blade deep into the monster’s chest, and yet the demon seemed to feel no pain, lashing out at Daji and knocking the boy into the fence with a crash. Splinters of wood flailed to all sides around Daji as he landed, the boy groaning under the pain of the blow and the numbing lightning from the landing, but he rolled onto his feet and rejoined the battle, just as the first creature rejoined as well. The two clashed before they could fully rejoin the flurry of melee happening between the collected demons and the dark-clothed warriors defending the village. Daji continued to flow ki into his fists, lashing out into the demonic beast’s body amidst the flurry of razor claws and gnashing fangs, the boy’s speed and limits tested in every moment--from his speed to avoiding the blows of his opponent, to his strength in trying to inflict harm upon this foul predator. He felt every hair stand on end, that on his head and tail, the terror trying to grip his heart and mind with the second passing in their duel. If blades did not seem to work--then it was up to Daji to find a new way to combat these creatures. He filled his leg with energy, spinning in place in order to connect with the demon’s chest, detonating the ki and sending the demon flying into a nearby patch of produce. The fox was quick to flow to his next plan, cupping his hands together and gathering a sphere of brilliiant, azure light. “Kameha!” He started to yell, the light causing shadows to dance across the village, giving the combatants around him an odd aura from the wash of light suddenly invading on the domain of the darkness and starlight. “Me---!” he continued, the orb growing in intensity as he widened his stance, preparing to fire the brilliant beam of blue light at the first sign of movement. Just then, the demon he had been faced against leaped from the garden, covered in vines and leaves, mouth agape as if preparing to dig his fangs deep into Daji’s flesh. And then, the boy yelled out once more. “HA!” the shout came, echoing across the woods and buildings as the pillar of energy emerged from the Turtle-Student’s hands, the beam enveloping the deadly monster with the full fury of a legendary technique unleashed upon his hated enemy, the burning sea of light slicing through fur, flesh, and bone, and when the pillar continued its crusade into the night’s sky, granting a temporary beacon of sunlight upon the chaos of the battlefield, the fox’s prey was no more. Daji had only been able to execute Roshi’s ultimate technique a few times before, and just like the other times, he felt fatigue grasp at his muscles and chest, forcing him to one knee as his lungs labored to catch his breath at such a sudden expenditure of his spirit energy. His eyes, amplifying the light, looked across the battlefield at what still lay before him. By then, another beast had been fallen, a virtual porcupine of needles, knives, and even a spear skewering the creature from almost head to toe, the blood of the monster leaking onto the ground where it lay, but the cost it had exacted was three-fold, a trio of warriors on the ground near it, two of which were moving and struggling to their feet while the third lay still as stone, catching Daji’s breath in his chest as he looked upon his unmoving body. He had seen death before--he had killed quite a few creatures for food and survival--but the manner of the warrior’s death had been brutal and anything but civilized, his head torn from his shoulders, likely discarded somewhere else. The battle raged beyond the macabre scene, Daji managing to catch his breath again as he slowly got to his feet, fatigue slowly ebbing from his limbs and muscles once he reached his height. Already, his body was combating the effects of so much drain on his personal energy, and while he wished he could remain still, he was committed to helping this village, trotting towards the battlefield just as another warrior was thrown from where he stood into a nearby tree, four more plunging blades into their foe’s back and arms. Daji joined their melee, ducking underneath a wild swing by one of the defenders before slamming his fist into the midsection of the raging mongrel, managing to force it off balance while five more knives stitched across the creatures chest. Daji thought he had felt one of those blades pass dangerously past his hair, but he was too focused to give it any further creedence--he had to focus on slaying this beast and saving the village from slaughter! The fox gathered another orb of energy into his hands, much quicker this time, but not as powerful or brilliant, throwing the ball of ki towards the creature’s exposed head, the blast exploding aginst the demon’s skull and cracking it like an egg, spilling gore and viscera in all directions around it. It remained standing for a moment, as if its body was not aware of the loss of such a vital organ, until it fell backwards onto its haunches before laying flat upon the ground. The warriors breathlessly uttered their thanks before more shouting could be heard, as a fourth demon was felled by the defenders, leaving only a single invader in their midst, drawing Daji’s attention. Three of the dark-clothed defenders were thrashed aside by mighty swipes, the feral creature pushed further into its murderous rampage, no doubt from a mixture of sheer pain and adrenaline, forcing the defenders back even as the Fox ran forward, every warning in his mind telling him to flee or back away, but his body and heart kept pushing him forward, sliding underneath one of the creature’s blows and kicking out towards its knees, taking its legs out from underneath it as it tumbled to the ground. In the same motion, Daji flipped where he was, his forward momentum allowing him to reach his feet and hop over the follow-up strike from his nemesis. Another pair of lights dazzled across the boy’s arms, lashing out at the off-balance demon again and again, his desperation pushing him to strike harder, beat it down before it could kill anyone else--and by the time he finally finished, his ki energy drained to nothing more than candle lights, did he notice that his enemy had finally expired. His chest heaved as he felt the adrenaline thin and the fatigue take over, draining him of consciousness as he backed away from the last of the offending invaders, falling upon the ground as darkness took his mind and eyes, passing out from the sheer exertion. Daji awoke to the smell of something soft in the air, nothing pungent or sharp, but almost like tea that Hayami usually made in the mornings. His body felt sore as he shifted in bed, feeling his body rebel against any sort of movement, causing him to groan a bit as he curled tighter against the odd-feeling mattress beneath him and the blanket on top of him, the pillow smelling of grain and rice. The smell was rather foreign to his scent at first, wondering how something like that had seeped itself into the fabric of the pillow, causing his eyes to flutter open and his mouth to open wide in a silent yawn. It was then, and only then, that the memories of the previous night shattered his temporary peace, causing him to jolt in the bed, the wooden stands for the mattress creaking against the wooden floor and wall it was set again. He sat up in his bed as quick as a lightning bolt, his body sharply protesting the sudden activity, causing the boy’s ears to flatten against his head as he winced from the pain. His chest, belly, arms, and legs screamed and seared from the motions, as if he had worked harder yesterday than ever before--he had thought it all a dream at first, but the vividness of the event, combined with the foreign and unknown surroundings, lent credence to the validity of those events. He held his head in both hands, feeling a start ache there that seemed to throb from the top of his head down to the base of his neck, making him squeeze his eyes shut for blessed relief. The scent of tea drew closer, preceded by footsteps, but before those could reach the boy, he heard another voice from a bed near his, a man’s head rising up from his own pillow with a wry smile. “Wasn’t sure if you’d wake up, kid--Tsukiyomi said you had pushed your body further than it should have. Glad to see you’re still among the living,” he said, and though his features were unknown to the fox, the eyes and voice were familiar, as if the boy should have recognized them, unlike his head felt another thunderbolt across its surface, flashing another memory through the young student’s retinas. “H--Hagane?” Daji asked, unsure if the man beside him was indeed the one he had helped last night. Daji had not seen the man’s features other than his eyes and voice, but the man was quick to nod in response, though he, too, winced in pain, likely from his own injuries and broken leg. Daji’s diamond-like eyes look down across Hagane’s bed, seeing the outline of a brace underneath the blanket, precisely where Hagane had broken his leg, which was more than enough proof for the fox that what had happened was real--horrifyingly real. Daji held his head again in his hands as he groaned again. “I’ve never felt this sore before…” Hagane chuckled under his breath as he tried to sit up as well, only to hiss under his breath from the attempt. It was apparent that he had also suffered several injuries from the attack, and the thought that Hagane had joined the battle already wounded would have left Daji speechless had he been less preoccupied with his own body’s condition. That scent from before seemed stronger now as an older woman approached the both of them, her robes of flowery design in tune with the brilliant colors of early fall. She offered to them both a cup of warm tea and some equally soothing rice to help them keep up their strength, though she was quick to weave a scold in between her words of encouragement--she was insisting that the both of them remain in bed for at least another day while their injuries healed, though Hagane likely would need longer. It was not a serious break, or so she said, but aggravating it could make it more severe. The fox accepted the food and drink desperately, trying hard to resist the temptation to swallow both in hearty gulps until the woman had turned to walk away, the boy trying to eat far too fast than was healthy, causing him to cough every now and again--much to the humor of Hagane, who was a lot more reserved in the matter. It wasn’t until then that Daji noticed the other wounded and injured within the hall they resided, realizing they were in some kind of hospital ward, as rustic as it was. Had so many been wounded in combat? Another flash of memory passed by his eyes as they blinked, bringing back to vision of the dead that had given their lives to combating the demonic threat last night. I’m--I’m lucky to be alive… he realized, unable to focus on anything but the events of that terrible evening and the horrible sounds that those creatures had made. It sent chills down his spine that were swiftly beaten back by the warmth of the food and drink he had been given, as if the wholesomeness of this place were working against the nightmares that would have plagued him after such an ordeal. Indeed, it was odd how calming this place felt to him--it was as if the shock of all that had transpired was being kept at bay until he could confront them properly, much to his gratitude. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever come to grips with the events that midnight had brought. The rest of the village seemed to be healing much as the fox was--people were repairing fences, burying their dead, disposing of the demonic carcasses (though what that entailed, Daji had neither the slightest knowledge or imagination to think on it)--but there was this metaphorical cloud hanging in the air as the people went about their business, most acting as if nothing untowards had happened last night, but there was the distinct absence of the village Elder along with many of the guards that the young fox had seen last night. Hagane explained that it was due to their meeting--the Elder was going over the events of last night and what it could mean for the future. For now, they were safe, so long as the sun burned brightly above them, but they were to expect another attack soon--perhaps not tonight, perhaps not in a week, but the more time they had to prepare for another attack, the better equipped and steeled they would be against more of them. Demons took time to manifest in the material realm, apparently, but their numbers were not known--save for Hagane. “I know of their situation, yes--that was my initial task, was to seek them out and report back on what I saw. There are a group of individuals--cultists, I would say,” the Ninja went on, nursing his wounds while explaining the situation to their guest. While Daji felt that as an outsider, he probably wouldn’t be so privvy to this kind of information, Hagane waved it away--apparently, Daji’s moment of kindness for the man had gone a long, long way. “They had only managed to summon those demons we slew last night as a way of tracking down where our village was--now that they know, they will be summoning greater foes to challenge our village, and such power will take time to summon under their control,” The Ninja explained, Daji trying to take in everything that had been explained to him thus far. "How..." Daji said at first, contemplating these events before putting on as brave of a face as he could. With Hayami and Hikari away for now, he was left to his own devices--if he could help these people, that would be the right thing to do... WC: 7049 |
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