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 Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 8:42 am
Lumine tilted her head, confused. She stared into the eyes of her rival, so-to-speak - Maemi's sister, Rubuke. Lumine looked to the side of the house; no, she was certain this was where Michiko lived. As Lumine returned her attention to the doorway, she was suddenly bombarded by two figures pushing past Rubuke: It was Michiko and Ochiba.
"AH! G-Guys!" She laughed, hugging Michiko with one arm and Ochiba with the other. "Hey, c'mon Ochiba, don't cry! I'm fine, see? .......W...well," Lumine's hug lessened slightly. She raised her hand to pat Ochiba's head, and rested her own head on Michiko's shoulder, smiling sadly as she did. "I'm... not really fine."
Slowly, she let go of both Michiko and Ochiba, and took a couple steps back. "I... I'm really happy to see you both! Um... Sorry, but I guess I lost my hat again..." she laughed sheepishly, brushing a few darkened bangs from her eyes. "So... I guess Hanari... um, told you guys what happened, huh?" Lumine rested a hand on her chest, pressing against the scar unseen. "I..... can't stay for long. A few days, a few weeks... I don't know how long, but... not long at all. I was only given a short time... because I wanted to see you both again. The Judge lady was real nice! She let me come back to see you, even if...."
Lumine looked up from her chest, smiling through the tears gathering at her eyes. "M-Michiko... Ochiba... it's gone. I'm not a Celestial anymore. I'm just a human now! ...Weird, huh?"
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Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 7:00 pm
The two youkai stared a bit dumbfounded, confused and emotionally shaky, and so it fell to the crow tengu to speak. "Excuse them, the two have been a bit fragile..... The shinigami -Hanari, was it? - Was indeed here a day ago or so. I've been here for three days, so I saw it all. Hanari showed up, told Michiko and Ochiba she had sliced you up, the Rouki went on and half killed her - Or as close as Shinigami can get to death- and then she evaporated as fast as she arrive... or Ran into the forest, can't remember well. It happened pretty fast." Rubuke finished with a shrug.
Finally Ochiba reacted, since Michiko seemed emberrased as Rubuke spoke. "You aren't a celestial anymore?! A human--?" The rabbi seemd confused,"What do you mean you have just a bit of time----?!"
"The Judge... must have taken the Celestial Blessing," Michiko mummbled, her tail low, almost between her heels,"Without it, she is human. It was the price of coming back, wasn't it?"
Michiko seemed close to tears,"I am sorry I hurt your friend, I was just so Angry at her! S-she is the second I've hurt, I already hurt Rubuke, I d-don't want to hurt anyone el-se-!" The tengu sniffled, Ochiba awkwardly looking to the side as well.
"We thought... we would never see you again....
"I hate to ruin this; but shouldn't you two just bring her inside and hug and stop crying? I mean... If I had Maemi for a short time back , ... I wouldn't lose time with this." Rubuke moved back into the house turning around. The movement let the three behind her a full view of her wings. One was tigthly bound, while the other, still a bit bandaged, was pressed shyly against her back; that was perhaps what Michiko had caused.
Ochiba rubbed her eyes under her glasses and took both Michiko's and Lumine's wrists. "Rubuke is right! L-let's go inside! That way you can tell us your story Lumine--" The rabbit's hand was unsteady and shaky, but she tried to ease the two taller youkai into Michiko's home.
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 5:13 pm
The smile vanished completely when Rubuke mentioned that Hanari had been injured by Michiko's hand. The resulting emotions were conflicting; on one hand, Lumine was upset that someone had hurt the Shinigami, but on the other hand, she couldn't help but feel that it was at least a little deserving. After all, Hanari would be fine.
When Michiko and Ochiba finally spoke, Lumine nodded her head to affirm their suspicions, only mumbling a "Yeah..." in response. But, this was the weakest she had ever seen the daughter of Seijin. Seeing the wolf so close to tears and genuinely remorseful over her actions melted the lingering satisfaction of revenge Lumine felt for Hanari's injury.
"Michiko, I... I don't blame you. To be honest, I can't say that I wouldn't have done the same thing, had it been me in your position. I forgive you."
Rubuke's next comment interrupted her thoughts. That's right; Rubuke didn't know who Hanari was, or used to be. Lumine couldn't help but shudder at the idea of what the pigeon might have done, or tried doing, to Michiko had she known the true nature of the Shinigami's existence. She wanted to tell Rubuke, and tell her everything, but for now... that piece of information seemed best kept close to her heart. And when Maemi's sister turned, she could see the injury the younger sibling had already received by the wolf. No, too much hurt had already happened at this home; there wasn't need for any more.
Instead, Lumine allowed Ochiba to pull herself and Michiko into the latter's home. Once inside, Lumine went over to sit at her usual place at the dining room table... it seemed even just standing was a bit harder. The ex-Celestial looked up to Michiko and to Ochiba from where she sat. She was fidgeting slightly, nervous.
"You were right... the Judge-lady took my Celestialhood from me. But that... wasn't all. The blessing was what kept my body young and what did she say... 'vigorous' over the years. In other words... all the years my body spent in Gensokyo, locked away from the natural flow of time, will come back all at once. I... I'm going to die, and this time... there's no coming back. That's why I don't have... much time."
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:26 pm
Michiko gave a small whimper as Lumine said she was fogiven, muttering another,"I am really sorry." The coversation was quickly stopped by Rubuke who turned to head inside, closely followed by Ochiba and, with a bit of lingering, Michiko.
Once inside, Rubuke occupied a stool away from the table, silently perching there with her arms crossed watching the two old youkai and their now human companion. The muted wolf moved to cook up something for Lumine, opting not to speak for a bit and get herself together. Besides, there was nothing she thought she could say that was apt. The two seemed emberrased or left out at the situation and decided silent company was best for a short bit.
Ochiba sat across from Lumine, listening to the ex-celestial's short words about what the situation was, looking tired from behind her glasses; showing her perhaps more time weathered complexion, under the same pressure as the swordswoman Lumine knew once did after Maemi's passing. "You will leave... again..." The bespectacled vermin said down at the table infron of her."I suppose... there is no fixing this situation. ... Why would you come back Lumine, if it is going to be twice as painful for both you and us...?" The rabbit cringed at her words," Let me reword that... It will perhaps be harder for you than being just murdered by that shinigami... and for us to see you fade away after getting you back for a little while--"
"It won't be different than from being sick..." Michiko commented, her tail low as well as her ears, as she stirred what smelld like some meat with potatoes,"Like... with my father. We knew he would 'fade away,' Ochiba, while it does hurt to see your loved one, once so vibrant and filled with life, degraded to a bed they are never leaving.... It fills you with some sort of twisted joy to see them looking at you one more day."
"Yeah. That's what we said about Samuro," Rubuke grumbled looking down at the floor,"We are selfish though. We are happy he is alive, even when he can never do what he loves ever again."
"You two aren't helping!" Ochiba swung off her chair, stomping her foot onto the floor as she usually did when in a fit,"I am happy to see Lumine! I am saying that It'd be selfish if we didn't see how her coming back would be twice as hard on her, damn it! I am not saying I don't want her here or anything, because I do! YOU TWO JUST DON'TGET IT." The rabbit took her glasses off and threw them at the floor, before angrily hopping out of the house muttering gibberish.
" . . .
Well , things escalated quickly."
Michiko sighed, ignoring the partially deframed glasses as she continued to cook," Ochiba has trouble dealing with her emotions at times, or so I have noticed. Seems that she is still nothing but an 'intellectual' vermin."
"Whatever. She's just blowing off steam right?...That smells delicious..."
"Something like that..." Michiko responded deattachely. She seemed to have back tracked a bit into her more antisocial tendencies.
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 8:13 am
"I-I know... that's it's going to be hard," Lumine said, staring between her feet and at the ground. "But, the thought of leaving you guys to wonder what happened to me... I didn't know if Hanari would say anything. And what about me? I didn't get to say goodbye, or anything... I wanted to see you one last t--AH! Ochiba--!!"
Lumine cringed when the older youkai lept up, sending her glasses into the floor and storming off. She stared after the rabbit, then turned her head to Michiko and Rubuke. Why weren't they doing anything? Michiko hadn't even...
"G..Guys!" Lumine stood from her chair and, using the table to lean against, bent down to retrieve Ochiba's glasses. "C'mon! I... Don't act so weird! Nothing's gonna change just cause I'm--...g..gone...I mean, you're just gonna quit, just like that?" She looked over Ochiba's spectacles, turning them around in her hands. "...Michiko... your momma kept living after Maemi passed away, even if the years finally caught up with her. And Rubuke, Maemi gave her life to keep the people she held dearest, like you and me, safe! And yet, you both still carried on, even if it hurt... Aren't I worth the same conviction? You can't stop living, even if I will... That would make my coming back here mean nothing. I wanted to be happy with my family... one last time... Wouldn't you want the same thing?"
With a sudden burst of energy, perhaps from her emotional distress, Lumine slammed her fist onto the table top. "A-And if neither of you are going to go after her, then I will!! OCHIBAA!" With the rabbit's glasses still in her hand, Lumine walked towards the front door, forcing her strides to be as efficient and steady as she could...
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 8:24 pm
Michiko and Rubuke avoided Lumine's eyes, the wolf peering into her cooking while the crow crossed her arms, sullenly looking away. It wasn't till Lumine left that the two breathed again. "What do I care... Its not like there is a reason for me to feel bad for your guys. I just want to go home."
"Sure... that's the only reason." Michiko mummbled at the crow.
"... But she is right. You know that, right?" Rubuke looked at Michiko, opening a deadly silence.
".... .... ... Yes. I know." The wolf tengu responded after some thought.
----
Ochiba was outside, sitted on one of the stones thar dotted around the small fresh spring by Michiko's home. The bunny had her feet crossed indian style as she balanced on the stone perfectly, a soft lullaby carried bu the wind .
Ochiba was singing softly to herself, but in the still ess of the forest it was not difficult to hear her song. Other than the occasional sniffing, it'd seem as if the earth rabbot was truly at peace with the nature that surrounded her.
Lost in the melody and in her own worries, she wouldn't feel Lumine creep up on her.
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Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 6:46 pm
Slightly annoyed, but more worried for Ochiba, Lumine wandered out of Michiko's home. It didn't take long for her to spot the rabbit, as she hadn't gone very far. She was relieved, for more than one reason: It meant Ochiba hadn't run off and gotten hurt, and it also meant Lumine didn't need to venture very far on unsteady legs.
The ex-Celestial let herself approach Ochiba slowly, taking in the sound of her song. She stood for a short time behind Ochiba, unsure of what to say. Really, the old rabbit had come to serve as another mentor, just like Seijin had. This parting wouldn't be easy for either of them, and this time, Lumine was on the other end of the exchange.
After the few minutes had passed, Lumine closed the distance between herself and Ochiba. At her back, she wrapped her arms around Ochiba's small shoulders, pulling the small youkai into a hug.
"Hey... Don't be sad, okay? ...I don't... wanna spend my last few days crying, even if it's with my family... I want us to be happy... One more time."
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Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 11:39 pm
Ochiba didn't so much as jump, simply sinking into Lumine's hug. The rabbit's hand rested on one of the ex-celestial's arms that wrapped around her small frame. "Oh, Lumine,... It's just... this will be the second family I lose. I doubt Michiko will put up with me, and that other crow will leave as soon as she can fly. I will be alone again, for maybe centuries, like I was before my master found,more so after he left, and almost maddening so when my family threw me out like a pet who was no longer fitting for the house."
"I want you to be happy, Lumine, even more than usual if this is your last time with us, I really do, but, I am angry. Angry at the Shinigami. Angry at the court. Angry at Michiko. Angry at myself," Ochiba had both her hands on Lumine's arms,"This is the second time the judges see fit to take someone I love, what I've gotten, and leave me empty handed again."
The old youkai sighed, letting her hands fall again,"I want to keep you happy, Lumine, but I really can't help but be mad."
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Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 7:59 am
"If you're scared of being alone, why don't you come with me...?" Lumine said with a sinister tone to her voice, clutching her arms around Ochiba tighter and tighter, as if trying to squeeze the life from her...
"...Just kidding~" She giggled and released the rabbit, returning to hug her instead, and rested her chin on top Ochiba's head. "So soft! ...Hey, Michiko won't kick you out, just like that! Think of all we've done together; that's gotta count for something, even for her! And besides... If I'm not here, then it's up to you to keep her in line, right?"
Lumine continued to nuzzle into the top of Ochiba's head, sighing contently with the softness of her hair and ears against her skin. "I think Michiko can do great things, but only if she has someone smart looking out for her. Like I told her before, things you learn in a book only go so far - that's why you two are the perfect team! You know about the way things work from experiencing them. As for Rubuke..." She stared ahead of them, into the forest and the sunlight piercing through the tree canopy. "She's pretty stubborn, but she seems kinda different now, too. I'm not sure what happened, but maybe some sense got beaten into her?"
Despite the harshness of her comment, Lumine couldn't help but feel sorry for Maemi's sister. The wounds her wings had suffered must have hurt... a lot.
"...I understand... being angry with Hanari... and the courts, and everything. Honestly, I'm still a bit angry myself, but... I don't want to leave this beautiful world with anger and regret in my heart." She hugged Ochiba tightly again, though this time it was loving. "And I don't want anyone else to, either. That's... the other reason I came back. I wanted to tell Hanari that I forgive her... if it didn't come from my lips, I don't think she would ever believe it."
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Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 3:42 pm
"G-go with y-ou---?" Ochiba blinked,feeling smaller in Lumine's tight hug. Her Rabbit ears twitched but folded under the blue headed girl's chin,"Ah, you almost scared me..." The Earth Rabbit relaxed equally listening to Lumine talk about Michiko," I hope so, I really have grown to like her, but she was... so down when she heard about ... that accident."
"She beat Hanari senseless. I had to stop her because she was so angry," Ochiba looked sideways at Lumine,"I had already seen how capable she was in battle. You should have seen how she fought Rubuke! It was so amazing, and she was using her mother's shield and sheathed sword.... It was... impressive. But so different. When she faced Rubuke, she was in control, she didn't mean to break Rubuke's wings, that was because she had no idea how strong she was.... But when she fought Hanari...she was so bitter," the rabbit looked up at Lumine, trying to look past her own ears,"She has been bitter since that fight, Lumine."
"Rubuke has changed since that fight, why though, I don't know, maybe you should speak to her to,'' the rabbit said in a small voice,"Maybe she can tell you about Maemi?"
"And I am sure Hanari will feel happy to hear about you."
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Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 9:29 am
"She... she actually used Master Kazuko's stuff?" Lumine said, taken aback. "I...didn't think she would ever use something of her momma's, aside from her sword... I'd say I wish I could have seen that, but I don't think I would have wanted to see Maemi's sis get beat up... even if I don't like her that much."
Lumine picked Ochiba up and turned, then sat back down where the old rabbit had been, and set her in her lap, still hugging her idly. "...And I'm really glad I didn't see her attack Hanari. As much as I love Michiko, I... I probably would have hurt her for that. Or at least tried to... She's probably a way better fighter than me, huh?" She laughed at herself, petting the top of Ochiba's head. "Anyway, if what you say is true, then it looks like it's a good thing I came back! It sounds like I need to fix things for everyone! There's no way my spirit would ever rest if Michiko stayed bitter, or if Rubuke was restless the rest of her life! I'll try to talk to them, okay? That way, when I do leave, I can leave knowing my family is happy..."
She stared hard at Michiko's house, half-wishing she had the implements to make a sketch of it. Maybe her spirit would remember the place?
"...I don't know where Hanari is, though. Not even her boss knows! She went to look for her, but who knows how long it'll be before she finds her? ... ...I hope it's before... Y...You know..."
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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2013 9:32 pm
"It was something worth Seeing, Lumine, it really, really was," Ochiba commented,"Rubuke bursted in wanting to challenge you, the day you left for your trip, but since you weren't here, Michiko took your spot, saying that if Rubuke beat her, she could keep the belongings of her mother. Michiko beat her easy. And true, though... I don't remember much of the fight... I was a bit... Uuuh...." The rabbit trailed off, looking to the side and letting Lumine hug her.
"Usa-?" Ochiba let herself be picked up, rested on Lumine's lap and petted, simply sitting there like a stuffed toy, half enjoying the nice pets she earned , all the while listening to Lumine voice her concerns. "I think only you can help them, because Michiko won't listen to reason, and that crow tengu's heart is tightly shut. ... Yes, Hanari we haven't seen since that conflict. Frankly, I would have smacked Michiko if I was able to; she treated the already pained shinigami like the lowest of gutter trash."
Ochiba huddled back agains Lumine," I bet she will find her quickly, and bring her to you. For now, we best make the best of the situation, and try to fix everything the shinigami broke into a million pieces. What do you say, Lumine?" The rabbit stared distantly into the pond infront of them.
Her mind bubbled with memories of her long gone master who had held her like Lumine had, and treated her just as well. Last time her life changed, it did for the worst. She had been disposed of, and thrown out, and left to fend for her own. A little rabbit against the world, leaving all her world behind her, all those ungrateful frowns and broken frames. Frames. "Ah--- Master's.... master's glasses---" The rabbit brought her fingertips to her cheek, where the large circular frames would usually rest. The vermin whimpered with a face of horror and worry,"I hope I didn't break Master's glasses-!"
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Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 9:56 pm
"You were...?" Lumine was curious what Ochiba was hiding, but decided to let it rest. As emotionally tense as everyone was, prying too much might not be a good idea. "Anyway, we'll take care of it, no sweat! So don't worry about anything, okay? I'll talk to Michiko and Rubuke, and set them straight! After all, I'm too stubborn to give up, and I gotta find something to do while Tebiki looks for Hanari!"
Hearing how Michiko had treated the Shinigami didn't sit well with Lumine, but at this point, there was really nothing she could do but hope that Hanari hadn't been too scarred by Michiko's treatment. She didn't blame Michiko, nor think any less of her. There wasn't any time left for her to hold hatred in her heart. "...It's okay. Maybe a bit of a whuppin' might have set Hanari straight. Not that I wish her harm, but..." It was hard for her to explain, thus leading Lumine to trail off herself. On one hand, there was nothing more in the world that she wanted than for Hanari to be okay, but perhaps a little punishment for her actions would make her think twice about taking such drastic action in the furture.
"Ah?" Lumine looked down to her huggable companion as she began to struggle, and mention her glasses. The ex-Celestial tilted her head and peeked around the rabbit's shoulder at her distressed face, taking time to add two and two. "...Oh! That's right, I have them!" With Ochiba still in her lap, Lumine reached into the side pocket of her shorts, withdrawing the spectacles she had taken from the kitchen floor. She brought one earpiece to her mouth, biting down lightly and prying the frames open, then presented the glasses to Ochiba. "Here! I don't think they're broken or anything... at least, I didn't notice anything wrong. I guess you got lucky!"
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Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 3:52 pm
"My glasses!" Ochiba brigthened up immediately, taking them and slipping them on once more,"What a relief. These glasses my Master gave to me when I started losing my sight after that accident in his firework storage when I think all those snaps of light messed with my eyes. He was so grateful that I went in there and saved his only daughter, that when he saw I was losing my sight, he wen and had them personally crafted- Sadly, he guessed on the dimensions, and ended up getting me glasses that were too large for me!" The rabbit giggled pushing the glasses higher onto her nose,"That is why I don't want to ever lose them."
"I trust you will, Lumine, Michiko thinks high of you, and Rubuke... well, she is actually very kind at heart. Even if she won't speak it, her act isn't good against me," the rabbit tapped the frames of her glasses. "I bet they will both be relaxed once they get a nice lecture from you. You have a way of changing people, Lumine, and its always for the best." Ochiba turned around and hugged the ex-celestial around the neck, hanging there for a moment.
"I love you, kid, I am happy I got to meet you, and as long as I live, be it a long time or a short one, I'll always carry you in my heart, okay?" Ochiba almost sniffled," You are the second person to have changed my life for the better."
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Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:43 pm
"Ah? H-Hey, Bunny-Sensei..." Lumine paused for a moment as she was hugged, then laughed and proceeded to hug Ochiba back, picking the small youkai up with her as she stood. "I love you too! That's why I came back, ya'know? I wanted to let everyone know..." She stood there, holding Ochiba tight and rocking her slightly back and forth. "So don't cry, okay? If you keep me in your heart, then I won't ever truly die." For a moment, her thoughts returned to Bhavagra, and to the immortality she could have possessed for eternity. "...I'd rather die with love in my heart than to live without."
Lumine set Ochiba down and, with a broad smile, pressed her balled-up fists onto her hips. "So c'mon, let's go give Michiko and that pigeon what for! After all, it's up to me to set them straight before I leave, right? And hey, maybe the food will be ready now!" She ruffled Ochiba's hair and strode back to Michiko's house, again forcing her steps to look as normal as possible. Did humans normally feel so weak all the time..?
As she neared the house, she could smell whatever Michiko had been cooking, or was cooking still. It smelled delicious, and made her stomach growl. She felt hungrier than usual, or maybe, she was now truly feeling the effects of hunger. "...I hope we can eat soon. I'm starving..!" Lumine paused as she reached the door. The realization came to her that she should probably apologize to them both, too, having yelled and stormed from the room moments before, not to mention that she hadn't taken the time to understand their feelings on the matter, either...
Fearing the moments to come, Lumine let out a small sigh and pressed open the door.
"...Michiko? Rubuke..?"
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