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 Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2021 9:29 pm
 stormling
Seeking the cause of a strange disturbance with her phone, Sakura powers up into Houshi to confront a strange youma.
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Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2021 9:30 pm
a stranger, a friend
[596 words]
Houshi was not sure how long she floated for.
It wasn't as if time was readily apparent as she sank into the lake, and eventually bobbed back tot he surface, though she did known that she was, somehow, improbably, still alive.
Also, this time, there was no tug on her ankle to indicate a hungry beast that longed to drag her under.
How strange. How lucky. If it had grasped her now, surely it would have killed her, and gained whatever meal or entertainment it sought. But perhaps it didn't want dying prey--which, Houshi was fairly certain that it was likely she would die. The wound the Captain had inflicted was grave, and she could not make herself fight to get ashore. No matter how much she rationalized and reasoned with herself, she could not turn over the will to swim back, and perhaps face that monster of a woman again.
No, Houshi did not want to die, but she also did not want to suffer.
Eventually the current made the decision for her, and she found herself deposited on the edge of the reservoir. How messy it would be for her to bleed out here, in the sand, and how terrible.
What an absurd ending.
There was a rustling nearby, and she lifted her head, and gasped softly. There, standing in front of her, was the strange youma--the one she'd met following the strange text messages, not long before. The one she had surely dusted.
"How sad," the youma said, trotting over and bowing its head to look at her. "A depressing end for you, dear."
"Do not..." Houshi gasped, "call me 'dear.'"
"My apologies," the youma said, in a tone that indicated that she did not at all feel apologetic. "You know, you were quite rude to me last time we met, as well."
"Hardly," Houshi gasped, and she pushed herself up. "You are a youma. I am a Page. It is my job to make sure that the city is safe from the likes of you."
"Well, you certainly won't be keeping anyone safe as you are," the youma said, idly. She nudged her nose at Houshi's bleeding belly. "Especially not with that wound."
"And why do you care," Houshi snapped. "I am your enemy. You ought to let me die."
"Ah, but that wouldn't be interesting. Come, climb on my back, I'll carry you to one of those human hospitals. I'll be swifter than your own legs." The youma insisted. Houshi frowned, darkly.
"What's the catch," she demanded.
"No catch," the youma replied. "Except that you learn my name, and commit it to memory." She made a thoughtful noise. "And that you promise not to dust me, the next time we meet. That's quite inconvenient."
This was a chance not to die. Houshi trailed her eyes over the beast before her--she was certainly swift, and it was a chance to avoid a fate that would be humiliating and miserable.
"What is your name," she said, by way of acquiescence to the youma's conditions.
"Kiyokinu," the youma replied, and she seemed cheered by it. Houshi hauled herself onto the beast's back.
"Well. Thank you, Kiyokinu. Please, take me back to the city. I don't want to die here, in the muck."
"As you shouldn't," the youma said, and she leapt forward. Before Houshi knew it, they were standing before Destiny City Memorial Hospital, and she was glad that it was so late, so there was no one to see her slide off the back of a kirin and walk to the front door.
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 2:21 pm
kirin whispers
[1070 words]
Houshi touched down, after her visit to her Wonder, in the park where she'd left. It was with a slightly dreamy sigh that she dropped to sit on a nearby park bench, and she almost didn't notice the nearby aura of a youma--but the twinge made her perk up, and she turned, narrowing her eyes.
Kiyokinu stepped out of the shadows, and Houshi relaxed immediately. Perhaps foolishly, she knew, but she was dealing with a youma that had so far proved to mostly be quite reaosnable. Perhaps that wouldn't last, but she hoped that it would.
"Hello, Houshi," Kiyokunu said, and she moved over, and then laid in the ground by Houshi's bench. Like some sort of fairyale princess, Houshi was almost compelled to move and sit next to her on the ground, so she slid off the bench, and Kiyokinu put her head in Houshi's lap. "You seem lighter today. Have you recovered from your unfortunate encounter?
"I have," Houshi said, and she reached out to stroke the kirin's mane. It was soft, like silk, and ran through her fingers like water. "The doctors were quite impressed with my recovery, even accounting for..." She grimaced. "Some foolish actions I may have taken."
"Foolish actions?" Kiyokinu sounded disapproving, which felt absurd, from a youma. Houshi wrinkled her nose.
"There was a monster that threatened the entire city. I wished to help fight it, so I snuck out of my hospital room," she admitted. Kiyokinu made a scandalized noise, and Houshi put up her hands in surrender. "It was foolish, but another Knight helped me, and so I've recovered fully. I have nothing to fear on that front." She returned to stroking the youma's hair, and Kiyokinu pressed her nose against Houshi's thigh.
"I should hope not. I'm fond of you, little Page, in a way I'm rarely fond of those on your side." She whuffed, in a thoroughly horselike manner. "I don't think I could do this if you were a Senshi." Houshi made a small, thoughtful "hmm" noise, and nodded.
"Is that so? Do your kind have a particular aversion to Senshi?" She asked, curiously. It might be good to know for the future, after all.
"We do, in fact," Kiyokinu acknowledged. "I'm not sure why--I think I'm too young a youma to remember the origins of such a deep-seated grudge. Or perhaps it's Metallia's hatred that we feel, an echo of her fury at those who have ever opposed her." She made a whuff that sounded like the verbal equivalent of a shrug. "But either way, I've always felt more inclined ot atrtack Senshi. Even our own. You, on the other hand..." She tapped her horn against Houshi's chest. "You would make a fine officer, if you chose."
"I..." Houshi frowned. She had never considered the possibility, and she felt...less inclined to it, if she were honest. "I've sene so many officers who are doing so much harm, though, Kiyo," she said, stroking the youma's hair for a bit of soothing. "They're mad. I saw one...eat a starseed, destroy a soul. And I just....I just visited my Wonder, and it's beautiful."
"Oh?" Kiyokinu said. "Well, you don't have to decide today, but if you were to come over, I would be proud to be your bonded youma, if you so wanted." Houshi had to admit, that did sound nice. Having a partner if she went over tot he other side....
But it would also mean giving up her life as Sakura. That sounded like a sacrifice that she simply was not ready to make.
"I'll...give it some thought," she said, and then she sighed, softly. There was simply too much to lose, she thought, but....it was an almost tempting offer.
Except that she thought of Thorite, and how sad and exhausted he was....and she wondered. If that would be her, too, if she chose to go over, then she wanted nothing to do with the entire prospect. It sounded dangerous, and miserable.
"Well, for now, why don't you tell me about your Wonder?" Kiyokinu prompted, nudging at her again and drawing her out of her thoughts.
"Ah!" Houshi perked up. Yes, that was a much better topic of conversation. "It's so lovely, I wish I could take you--but you might not fit inside, hm." She let out a sad sigh. "It's a hot spring hotel, like the ones we have back home in Japan. I've bene to them there, but this one...it's special, I can tell." She sighed, fondly. "I saw a vision, of I think my past self? And she was so lovely, Kiyo--and she was, it sounded like, just the next i a long line of Knights woh protected this place. It was...it was full of love, and joy, and light. And I wish I could stay there forever."
"It sounds wonderful," Kiyokinu said, and Houshi made a contented noise.
"It truly is," she replied, and she couldn't help but gaze up at the stars, towards Jupiter. Towards her Wonder. "It needs some love and care, though. The water in the spring was dirty, and everytihng was covered in so much dust...I'd have to give it a thorough top to bottom cleaning before I took anyone there at all. But for now, it's....somewhere for me. Somewhere safe and special. And I can't wait to go back."
"I hope you're able to soon," Kiyokinu said. Houshi pause,d and thought for a moment.
"I feel...I don't know? I've never asked anyone how this works? But I feel like I won't be able to for a little while. But that's okay, I know it'll be waiting for me when I'm ready." Kiyokinu nodded, and she nuzzled at Houshi once more.
"As will I, dear girl. So many things can wait for you." Houshi nodded, as Kiyokinu spoke. "Think over my offer," the youma said, and then she stood up, bumping her nose one last time at Houshi's hair and giving a whuff. "I think you truly would make a fine member of the Negaverse. But don't rush into it, it's quiote the large decision." She turned away. "For now, I have to return home. I've bene out far too long looking for you, little one."
"Be safe," Houshi said, as she stood. She reached out and stroked a hand down Kiyokinu's face. "Until we meet again."
"Until then, little Page," Kiyokinu said, and then she disappeared into the darkness.
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