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[ Susato's nerves calm slightly with the support of Yujin. She'd always believed there was nothing they couldn't do together. Their combined efforts once saved her best friend's life, after all. Even though this is clearly something in a far different league, she has to believe they will do the same. Again and again and again if they have to.

She perks up even more when Kazuma's eyes open, but it's like he's not seeing. It takes her some time, but she recognizes the look. She looks over to the wolves, for a moment seeing the fox he once chased in the forest. In the next, she recognized them as Jack's wolves that she'd seen him conjure in Whoville.

Any relief she felt was then frozen like the touch she feels on Kazuma's skin. ]

Father, he's awake. [ Her heart sinks, voice trembling. ] . . . Give him space.

Edited 2022-02-15 03:50 (UTC)

[The feeling of the cold only serves to make Yujin even more resolved to move Kazuma inside. It's clear that he's suffering from severe undercooling and if this keeps up, it could lead to some very severe problems. Or so he assumes, in any case. The half-snake thing might save Kazuma from such a fate, but he doesn't want to gamble on such theories. ~~The cold never bothered Yujin anyway~~

Ultimately, they hadn't really managed to move Kazuma more than a few steps before the young man stirs and his eyes flicker open. They haven't reached the threshold into the house just yet, but this will have to do for now. Carefully, Yujin lowers him back down to the ground. He doesn't pull his hands back yet, though.]

... Kazuma?

[It hurts, everything hurts. Having to remain standing was a struggle as he stands on all fours. The wolves were still hovering around him, almost as if they were waiting for something. As if they knew.

It happened so quickly, for a beast covered in wounds. Claws stabbed into the nearest wolf, tail swinging, knocking into anyone or anything that didn't move out of the way fast enough. He care little of his surroundings, all he could think of was satiating his hunger. He gorges onto the wolf that didn't even try to free itself, hardly making a sound. The other wolves did not run either as one of their own is taken from them. They kept waiting.

It was just one wolf, but he could feel his energy replenish, his body warming up. Onto the next one, and then the third, going after each with increasing ferocity. Their home shakes as he slams into it, not really watching or able to control his movements in his weaken state. Just eat, and keep eating.

Why did this warmth feel so familiar tho...? Why does it hurt, even as he could feel his body recovering?

Something wet is falling from his face. He had started to cry. Soon enough, the wolves have all been consumed, a clawed hand grasping the side of their home, the other over his face. Why did it hurt so much?! He suddenly let out a deafening scream. He's on his knees, both hands now grasping his head.

He's done something terrible. He had failed.

He failed.]

[ She can't watch.

Truth be told, the only thing keeping her from throwing up is the desperate need to protect Yujin--and the fact that, with just precious moments to spare, she'd known what was about to happen, whatever that knowledge was worth. By the time Kazuma lunges forward, Yujin still had not pulled back, so Susato pushes him back and away, against the wall, narrowly avoiding one of Kazuma's claws and the distinct sound of breaking glass crashing into the ground.

Did he break a window? Maybe it was the decorative vase that Yujin had placed near their entrance?

She doesn't care. She doesn't even look, keeping her face pressed against Yujin's chest the entire time as she could feel her own tears start form, then fall without stopping as Kazuma cried out.

. . . She trembles. She feels like she can't move. She wants to say in this bubble forever, both to protect and be protected by Yujin, but with the sound of his scream still ringing in her ears, she lifts her head and turns around.

Blinking away tears isn't enough to clear away the blurriness in her vision, but she'll approach Kazuma anyway, hand outstretched like she's reaching for his shoulder. ]

[Susato may have recognized warning signals, but Yujin hadn't. It's a good thing that she pushes him aside, to safety, because that claw missed his leg by mere inches. He's still dazed when he hits the wall, confused and unsure what just happened- what is still happening. The shattering sound barely even registered. What he does realize is that Susato is pressing herself up against his chest. Instinctively, he wraps his arms around her, holding her close. He has to keep her safe.

Susato might be looking away, but Yujin is not. There isn't any blood, nor gore of any kind. The wolves were not real corporeal beings, after all. Even so, the sight is a horrifying one; a reminder that even with all of Yujin's experience with corpses and murderers, he can still be chilled to his very core. If he has nightmares tonight, he won't be surprised in the least.

Through the shock of it all, the carnage is over as seemingly-suddenly as it began. The wolves are gone, as if they'd never even been there, and now Kazuma is screaming. He feels Susato pull away- sees her turn to approach Kazuma again, but he's not having any of that. He takes hold of her arm, tugging her back towards him before her fingers can touch down on Kazuma's shoulder.]

Don't. Not yet. It's too... Too dangerous. [He hates that he has to voice it like that. He hates that he has to refer to Kazuma as "dangerous", but there's no sugarcoating it.]

[He lifts his head after hearing Yujin's voice. Between the tears, yellow eyes turn onto them. His teeth were bare, his first thought was more food. He turns, crawling towards them, blood dripping from his wounds. There was rage in his eyes. It's not over, he can still go back and fight. He just needed more, replenish his strength.

He wince, feeling a pang of pain from his head. Hesitance? This is wrong. Why was this wrong? He has to eat something.]

[ There's no resistance from Susato when Yujin grabs her arm. Whether it's because she's scared of him in this state, or whether she is just too drained of any energy to defy her father, it's unclear. She stops a short distance from Kazuma without taking a step forwards or backwards, taking in the paralyzing, vengeful stare he has in his eyes.

This is what almost happened. Not just in the forest, but from the very first day when he attacked Lord van Zieks, she had been desperate to see him, to be the one to pull him to his senses. A combination of Lord van Zieks himself, as well as 76, had taken that from her.

Now she has a chance, to be there for him. Either she would succeed, or die trying. Somehow she makes peace with this. ]

Kazuma-sama, can you hear me? You're hurt. [ Her voices is full of cracks, uneven. ] You must let us help you now.

[Noble as Susato's intentions are, Yujin can't ignore that look in Kazuma's eyes. It's the sort of look one might see in a vicious dog. Or, indeed, a snake which is about to strike, though he doubts any snake could be quite this expressive. So while Susato may not be moving forward, nor backward, Yujin takes that freedom from her. He pulls her back several more steps, to compensate for the fact that Kazuma is crawling towards them.

Until they can be certain he won't attack, they need to keep their distance. And the front door is right there.]

... Susato, go inside the house and fetch some of the dried flowers. There's a jar of it on my bedside cabinet.

[They can't both go inside; it could trigger Kazuma into a swift pursuit, or otherwise allow him to flee. He needs to be kept here, right outside the house, at least until they can attempt to calm him with the flowers. If it's only Susato who goes inside, then perhaps...]

[The voice reaches him, and at first it didn't seem to register through the hunger and pain he felt. He stares at Susato, so vulnerable and presented to him on a platter. The sweet scent she gave off was so alluring....and yet familiar. He knows this dream scent from before. They were out in the forest, talking together. About what, he can't remember, but it was peaceful time with her and 76.

She is not food. Off-limits.

He stops his advance, shaking his head, trying to make sense of it all. A hiss as Mikotoba pulls Susato back. This man though. What is he trying to do? He hasn't worked out whether to eat him or not, but he clearly disproves of him pulling Susato back.]

[ Susato still offers no resistance when she is pulled back, stumbling with none of her usual grace and poise. She doesn't take her eyes off Kazuma. In fact, whether she even registers what Yujin said at all is unclear for a short while. It feels like her heart stops when Kazuma does, something she wants to desperately believe is a sign of his resistance and spirit. She doesn't know why he reacted badly there, though . . .

Is he mad because she's actually getting through to him and she doesn't want her to back away, or is he just mad that Yujin is trying to take away his snack? ]

. . . I will not leave you. [ Her voice carries a surprising amount of conviction, for being spoken through tears. She gently twists her arm to free herself from Yujin's grasp. Who's she talking to, though? She's looking at Kazuma still, though she's responding to Yujin. Easily, she means both.

But the flowers are a brilliant idea, fitting for the one Sholmes called partner. ]

You should go. He shouldn't be able to fit through the door, even if he finds the energy.

[You children- honestly. Yujin allows Susato to free her arm, but that doesn't mean his guard lowers any less. His gaze remains on Kazuma for the most part, because that hiss was a very bad sign. Should there be a need, he'll pull Susato into an embrace and shield her with his own body. Don't think he won't!]

That is precisely why you should go. What sort of father would I be if I left you with him by yourself?

['The sort of father he was in the early years', he thinks bitterly. He can't make those sorts of mistakes again. He needs to put his daughter before everything else. He needs to do this for her.]

Please. It won't take more than half a minute to fetch the jar and once you have it, we may calm him down.

[Snakes don't normally growl, but this one sure does. He's glaring up at Yujin instead of Susato, tail swishing about, agitated. Maybe the one who should be worried about getting hurt here, is Yujin and not Susato.]

She sstaysss. [Through his snarls, he's going to make that very clear this time. As threatening as he's been coming off, he hasn't made any further advances towards them.]

...!

[ What kind of daughter would she be though if she left him instead? What kind of sister...? Despite her convictions, however, Susato is inclined to listen to her father. She could move more quickly than him, she thinks, as well as host of other reasons why it makes sense--though all that seems to go out the proverbial window as soon as Kazuma speaks.

Her stomach and heart are in knots. She no longer wishes to speak about Kazuma as if he weren't here. Noting how he's glaring at Yujin, Susato takes a step forward, putting forth her arm that she had just freed in a protective manner over him. ]

Of course I will. But you can't-- [ She can't even say it. She doesn't want to imagine Kazuma attacking the man took care of him like a father, no matter how close it was to happening already. The very man who would also end up having to stitch his wounds. Somehow. ] You just can't. The pain will only get worse.

[ In more ways than one. ]

. . . Let him go.

[ Sorry, dad... (and hurry). ]

. . . [He averts his gaze from Yujin, flopping back down. Even if he wanted to keep going, he couldn't. The wolves only just kept him afloat long enough to get proper help. Still, he looks to Susato once more. He couldn't figure it out, but she was like the last piece of hope within his view, keeping him together right now.]

[Well. The flopping back down is a good sign. The sentiments being uttered, however, rub Yujin all the wrong ways. Kazuma sounds almost possessive. Perhaps it's impossible for him not to come across that way in his current state, but it doesn't grant Yujin any peace of mind for leaving Susato with him, even if it's only for half a minute. Susato is far too kind and caring to see the potential dangers involved.

There simply isn't a choice in the matter, is there? They need those flowers.

He places a hand on Susato's shoulder, squeezing it. When he speaks, it's more of a whisper.]

Stay out of reach from him, please. I'll be right back.

[And with that said, he sidles his way towards the front door so that he can disappear into the house. Once he's in, however, he's sure to jog to the bedroom.]

[ A gesture as simple as a squeeze on the shoulder brings her more comfort than she cares to admit. Susato lifts a hand, possibly to meet Yujin's and return the favor, but she is just a little too slow to react and he is long gone by the time it reaches where his hand would have been.

Just her and Kazuma now. Yujin's request had been perfectly reasonable, though the moment she saw Kazuma plop back down, she feels racked with guilt. Some of it is hers, certainly, though she can feel it coming off him in waves as well, which only makes things worse.

A million questions race through her mind. The seconds that pass by feel like eons as she tries to convince herself to wait, wait for the flowers, they have to help. But she can't wait. ]

Do you know who I am? [ Her voice lacks confidence, full of uncertainty. If so, how is it that you recognize me but not him? she wonders. She manages to fight off all the other questions bubbling to the surface, leaving just one: ] What happened to you?

[Who...? He couldn't put a name to the face, eventhough it feels like he should know. All he can grasp at the moment is that she is not prey. As for what happened...what indeed.] I losst...

[He lost against another noctaere, that much is clear. Why was he fighting against it, though? It took something from him. Someone. He takes in some air upon realizing, claws digging into the dirt, wood? Whatever he had been left laying on.] Jack... [He grits his teeth, closing his eyes as he felt a mixture of rage and sorrow. Failure. To the save the man who was still fighting through it all to support him, he's sure that's what he felt back there.]

. . . [ Susato inhales sharply, hearing the name. Somehow it manages to feel like a surprise, though given that she had known what Kazuma was planning to do, it really shouldn’t have been. She just had no idea things could go so badly.

She regrets it now, not pressing him further, not following him; but she doesn’t think that’s the answer either. Kazuma lost, and all she knows is to be here for him, as she was always meant to be—even if the lack of answer means she can’t be sure he even recognizes her. ]

It’s alright. [ She swallows. ] The flowers—they’ll make you feel better. We can fix you up, and then we can find Jack together.

[In the meantime, Yujin made sure to snatch the jar up as fast as possible. He wishes they had even more of the flowers in the house- a reminder for later, perhaps. Until then, this will have to do. He dashes back to the front door, but halts his pace once he gets close enough. He doesn't want to startle or aggravate Kazuma. Thankfully, Susato actually heeded his words and stayed outside swiping range.

Overhearing Susato's last words, he can't help but frown. Jack? Is that 76's real name, or is there another person involved now? He steps back outside, jar in hand and gaze on Kazuma.]

All right, here we are... This ought to help.

[It's a little hard for him to say, though, whether being close to the jar will already have an effect or whether some of the flowers will need to be scattered on the ground near Kazuma. Or perhaps they can do something else entirely?]

[...Together. The word sits on his tongue for a bit.

He opens his eyes upon Yujin's arrival. They fix on the jar in his hand. They're dried, but he could faintly smell those are the flowers that make him sickly. The noctaere side of him at least. He grumbles, trying to reject the feeling of refusal to be near those flowers.]

More.

[ Susato turns to Yujin when he walks back outside, recognizing the jar from the times she's seen it, cleaning Yujin's room. She soon turns back to Kazuma, though, his voice calling her attention.

More? But how much more? The flowers don't grow easily, and the only place where there's more would be the greenhouse, and she has her doubts they could even get him that far. She frowns, then looks towards the jar once again. ]

Let's open it. We can scatter the petals around—maybe that will be enough.

That sounds like a good idea for now.

[Carefully, he twists the top off the jar, still watching Kazuma to gauge his reactions. Then he tilts it, spilling some of the flowers into the palm of his hand. Not for himself, though; he holds them out for Susato to take.]

Here, you take his left side, I'll go for the right.

[ Susato holds out her hand and accepts whatever petals her father gives her, watching them gently pour out into her hand like falling water. She'll then turn to take the left side as Yujin instructs, giving Kazuma a sympathetic look as she does so.

A part of him is not going to like this.

But after a moment's hesitation, she tosses down the first batch, watching as the petals glint in the air like little stars as they fall.

She doesn't know exactly how it's going to work. Is he just going to come to his senses as his noctaere side is repelled, or is he going to require more reminders? Is his noctaere side going to come violent again in reaction to the flowers?

... Reminders. The word seems to carry a heavy weight in her head, as she repeats the motion until all the flower petals are on the ground. ]

[Definitely not going to like this. The smell becomes more pungent now that the petals are being spread around him. He recoils, his hands on his head as he feels this throbbing pain.] Ugh...

[He hisses, curling and tossing in place. He felt sick to his stomach. Even if he wanted to lash out, his head had gone numb, almost a vegetable. But he also felt this sense of clarity, the rage subsiding that he could have a better sense of awareness. He lets out some air once it starts to settle in, overriding the disgust he felt. He lowers his hands, looking up to the both of them.]

Better... [Don't mind him laying there, cause he's still badly injured.]

[Having never actually seen the Glowing Dawn in action, Yujin is a bit taken aback by the duology of it all. It's clear from the body language that Kazuma is repulsed by the flowers. Their presence seems to unsettle him, perhaps even make him sick. But then, at the same time, Kazuma appears more like himself. Are the flowers repelling the Noctaere presence right out of him?]

... Do you need even more?

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CW: Eating live animals imagery

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