Rigel decided he’d try to search for food when his stomach grumbled, but all he really was doing was wandering aimlessly. Crunch, crunch, crunch… The ground sounded beneath his feet, but as he listened closely, he heard another set of feet. He picked up his pace, but the second set mirrored his with precision. If Rigel hadn’t been listening, he wouldn’t have even known there was another person.
(Oof I'm finally back)
Kohaku ate the half of bread and drank most of her water, which had a tint of mint in it. It stung her teeth, but she didn't mind all that much.
I really hope Daichi will let Rigel come back…. He'd have at least more than his metal for protection..
(Yay! How’d it go?)
Rigel started to run, panic taking hold. But it wasn’t a few moments later before arms wrapped around him and tackled him to the ground, accidentally landing on top of his metal and pinning it beneath himself. He let out a noise of fear, but a hand quickly came over his mouth. Hot breath purred into his ear, “Why hello, Rigel.”
Kohaku's ears twitched irritably. She got a harsh feeling in her chest that something was wrong. ….I really hope Rigel's okay… She fingered with the last half of bread she intended on saving for him, wondering where he went.
(Oof i needa get to bed)
Rigel let out a whimper as Peter grazed his fingernails over Rigel’s face. He hauled Rigel to his feet, and Rigel didn’t dare attack with his metal in fear of how Peter would punish him. Because when Peter held him like that… Rigel was defenseless. Peter let out a chuckle and purred, “I’ve been looking for you, my little songbird,” Rigel started to cry, “I can’t wait to make you scream again.”
(Yyyeeech I can literally hear Peter's voice and it's so weeeeeiiiiirrrrrdddd.)
Kohaku's small dagger waggled a little, tingling against the table. …? She grabbed it and felt it trembling in her hand. What on earth??
Everyone else was off doing their own thing, and Daichi and Naoki were still discussing the dismissal of Rigel from the house. So no one was there to witness the strange activity of the dagger.
But Kohaku returned to her room with the bread chunk in one hand and the dagger in the other, still waving around a bit crazily. What is going on??? She reopened the window to be greeted with a gale of fresh air, blowing her back What the heck!?
The next thing Rigel knew, he was hauled of Peter’s shoulder. Tears dripped like waterfalls off his face, but he didn’t dare make a sound in fear of Peter. He just shook as he was carried further and further away from Kohaku and safety, and closer and closer to the room.
(Oof what am I supposed to do about that???)
(Maybe Kohaku senses something wrong and goes to find Rigel… or we could letit happen for a little bit and I can add another character to interact with?)
(Okay. Sounds legit.)
Kohaku glared out and sighed, her ears still flicking. Rigel… He was all that she could think about. She was a bit into deep thought when there was a soft knock on the door. "Kohaku?"
She glanced back to see Mamoru there. "We managed to talk to Daichi, and we were able to get him to agree that he wasn't allowed to send Rigel out of the house, and that he's allowed to come back."
Kohaku was happy to hear that, but there was one thing… "But he's out there all by himself… I– I talked to him when we crossed paths again, but he left and I–"
"Then let's go and find him."
Peter brought Rigel to the raging river and body surfed across and finally set him down -more like dropped him. Peter looked down at him greedily, making Rigel duck his head under his arms. Peter laughed at that, but didn’t make a move to stop Rigel. Instead, he heard Peter make a phone call.
(BODY SURFING!!! AAAAAA!)
Kohaku and Mamoru headed out, making sure to tell Naoki and the others so they wouldn't worry too much.
They went down and around to the woody patch where Kohaku saw Rigel last– under the tree, soaked and somber. "He was here when I last saw him…." She said, circling a finger around the area.
"Well, he couldn't have gotten far, I don't think…" Mamoru smelled the air, but only got a faint, very faint tinge of cigarette smoke. "Follow me."
Peter finished the phone call, then crouched beside Rigel and grabbed his hands. Rigel whimpered, tears still staining his face. “Why are you afraid, my little songbird?” He wiped Rigel’s face with the pad of his thumb, only making Rigel shake even more. “I’ve called in my personal chopper, just for us. I’ll take you home.” Rigel let out a sob, and Peter -faster than Rigel could even process- slapped him. Rigel stayed quiet after that.
They wandered around the village, but they had absolutely no luck. "I told Rigel to stay in the village… But…. Where could he have gone?" She put her hands together, which still held the lightly shaking dagger and the rest of her bread.
"I'm not sure…" Mamoru tried smelling the air again, but got no sign. "Maybe it'd be better if we went more outward…"
"But in this kind of weather, how could he go that far???" Her ears flattened out of sadness. Rigel, where are you?…
“You know Rigel… I’ve been very lonely without you,” Peter purred, and Rigel shook even more. Peter grabbed Rigel’s shirt collar, and pulled him closer to start kissing up his neck. Rigel shuddered, and almost cried out but he bit his tongue in fear of Peter punishing him again. I want to go home, I want to be with Kohaku and Mamoru and everyone else…
(Aaaaaaaaaa!)
Kohaku didn't want to give up, but what else was she going to do? Get lost trying to find him? "I have no idea where he went…" She felt like she was going to cry, helplessly on the ground right beneath her feet.
"Well, if we think hard enou–" Mamoru stopped at the sight of Kohaku's dancing dagger. "Where on earth did you get that?"
"Naoki gave it to me," She said quickly, thinking of a lie far beforehand.
"Do you know why it's moving like that?"
She thought about it, but she truly had no idea.
Mamoru took it out of her hand and allowed himself to hold it. "I know exactly where Rigel is…"
Rigel had been smothered by Peter by the time the sound of a distant helicopter carried in with the wind. Peter withdrew, Rigel curling in on himself when he had the chance. He had tears running down his face, and everything was shaking. He felt hollow and numb, but fear burst inside him as the chopper came closer. Don’t make me go back…
(Ooh how was dat movie you watched last night?)
Keeping Rigel's metal-bending power (still somewhat) secret, Mamoru wandered a bit further and further outside the village. The dagger moved more and more as they got away from the mountain.
Kohaku had her hands together, praying for Rigel's safety wherever he was. I just hope he stays alright….
Strangely and oddly enough, the loud roar of an aerial machine coming from high in the sky. They both stopped and glanced up in awe.
What would a helicopter be doing all the way out here?? Mamoru told Kohaku to get down in the shrubs to help conceal their location.
(It was mediocre, it was a little bit… er… excessive and scattered in some parts.)
The chopper went to hover over Peter and Rigel’s location, and Peter grabbed Rigel and hefted him over his shoulder again, moving to give space for the chopper to land. Rigel quivered, wanting to be anywhere else right now- anywhere.
The helicopter was landing not too far away, and it frightened Kohaku. "What are they doing??" She whispered frantically.
"Just keep close and follow me…" Mamoru ducked around the bushes and had Kohaku follow him closely.
As they approached, the dagger moved more and more to the point where he couldn't keep it still.
They got really close, but remained unnoticed. Kohaku watched, and gasped. That man….!
The helicopter blades slowed and a door opened to reveal a man in a tux with dark glasses. He bowed at the waist for Peter, offering a hand to help them in. Peter took Rigel over his shoulder and made it into the helicopter, but as Peter forced Rigel into a seat, the metal groaned around them. Peter slapped Rigel, rage written on his face. That alone was enough to silence Rigel’s powers.
Mamoru growled, the dagger waving crazily. Rigel's up there…. But….???
Kohaku wanted to scream, shout, do anything to get them away from Rigel, but she tried to contain her tears as he disappeared inside the helicopter. Rigel…
She took the dagger back in her hand carefully and lit it on fire with her hot breath. Please tell me you'll catch this, Rigel!!! And with aim but without looking, she chucked it at the helicopter door.
Just as the door was closing, something thumped in the chopper. Peter’s eyes flashed for it, and rage sparked within them, “Rigel.” He snarled, then pinned him against the seat and hit his neck. Rigel choked, and even though he knew how he’d be punished, he levitated that burning metal and faster than Peter could see, changed it into a band that wrapped around Peter’s neck. It was enough to prolong the moments before the helicopter took off and brought Rigel back. Peter screeched in anger, eyes filled with something more terrible than rage. Something worse than what Rigel had experienced before.
"Good work, Kohaku," Mamoru said lowly. "But maybe we should get the others?"
Kohaku shook her head. "I want to stay here to make sure Rigel doesn't get taken away." That man…. What does he want from him?? Kohaku wanted to melt the blades, but she remembered loosely what he told her when they were running from him the first time, Don't let him see that you have powers… However, there was such thing as unseeable magic…. "I guess I can go get the others." Kohaku got up and as she moved back to Naoki's house, she glanced back. Don't let them take off, Mamoru….
“I suppose we don’t have to go home right away, if that is what you truly wish, my pet.” Peter said, voice rough and angry, “Take it off, and I might hold myself back a little bit for you.” Rigel didn’t, he was too petrified to use his powers again to take off the heated metal band around Peter’s neck. “Fine then, I guess I get to hear you scream earlier than planned.” Peter pinned Rigel’s hands over his head, laying him against the seats. Rigel shuddered, trying to struggle but Peter held firm. And slowly, Peter maneuvered and put his knee above his groin, then slammed pressure down. Rigel let out a noise of pain, seeing stars. Peter only purred “That’s just the beginning, my little songbird.”