Kohaku refused to open her eyes, sniffling and whining. "I-I'm sorry, Rigel," She hugged him tight, arms around his neck and legs around his waist. "I don't want you to leave…." O-Osore…. She shuttered as she was forced to listen to the crisp, pattering of the rain on the window.
Meanwhile…
Alex and Yasu traveled down to the cellar to seclude themselves from being found out. "Alright. We know that weird guy has some kind of weird steelbending powers…." Yasu said a bit quietly. "And… I know how the cycle of strengths and weaknesses work…"
"What the hell is that?" Alex sat himself on a half broken box.
"The powers contradict each other, like they do in nature, you moron," She growled. "Water is strong against fire, fire is strong against earth, earth is strong against wind, and wind is strong against water."
"I can see all except wind and water…" He muttered under his breath. "So are you telling me…?"
"All we need is a nice, cool glass of iced tea… Or more rather a whole bucket of it…" Yasu sneered.
“Kohaku, I’m not leaving until you’re okay. Look at me, I promise you I will keep you safe.” Rigel tilted her chin up with his hand, supporting her with his other arm. “You’ll be okay, I promise.”
She began to cry. "I– I can't thank you enough, Rigel…." She burrowed her snout into his shoulder. "I just want to stay away from O-Osore…" Kohaku trembled in pure fear, afraid he was going to kill her one way or another.
Alex and Yasu sniggered together, but continued to keep it down. "All we need is something with the pressure of a fire hose…" She put a hand to her chin. "…We could make our own."
"Or… We can just kill them disregarding the whole cycle thingie…" Alex shrugged.
"But that's not as fun," Yasu put her arms behind her head. "Maybe we should approach this a different way… After all, humans are always and will always be superior…."
"What?" He smiled. "So…. You're saying–"
"Exactly."
“Osore isn’t real, Kohaku. But I am. Trust me, not him. Don’t succumb to that fear, Kohaku.” Rigel brushed his head, holding her close, “It’s okay.”
She merely opened her eyes. "I– I know he's not r-real… B-but I fall for it every time…" Kohaku rested her chin on his shoulder and curled around him, making sure her grip wasn't loose at the least. Soon enough, she was drifting into a nice slumber. With Rigel there for comfort, she had nothing really to worry about….
Alex and Yasu went over to the water heater in the basement. "Y-You really are the devil incarnate, Yasu…"
"Well, I didn't change my name for no reason…" She snickered, and simply turned the heater off. "Next time that fox takes her shower…." She smiled. It'll all just be rain to her."
(Wait, how old is this manor?)
Rigel gently set her down on the bed, covering her with a blanket before settling himself on the floor. He rested his head on the edge of the bed and closed his eyes, even though he wasn’t tired. And his powers was poised to defend Kohaku.
(I have no idea… X) maybe a bit more modern? Modern enough to have working plumbing? Let's just say "recently abandoned.")
Kohaku was still asleep, but every now and then, she twitched. "R– Ri– R-Rigel…" She mumbled. Her ears and tail flicked irritably as she wrapped her arms tightly around another pillow on the bed.
Alex and Yasu finished their business down in the basement, heading up quietly into the kitchen. "How well do you think this is gonna work??"
"Depends." She muttered, shuffling around cupboards. Dammit…. "Well, there goes that…" She said quietly. I can't make a good fire without oil….
Rigel reached a hand up and intertwined his with Kohaku’s. (Sorry for the one liner but there’s not really much going on on my end so……)
(True…. Want me to kinda time skip?)
(Either that or post all of what Alex and Yasu do in one big text blob so you aren’t waiting for me to respond in between every paragraph)
(True.)
Alex and Yasu wandered along in the kitchen some more, stopping by a wood-fueled cooking stove. She went up on a shelf, and found exactly what she was looking for. "This place seems to get better and better…"
Alex took it from her hand, and went off to the study down the hall a ways, and to the fireplace. He poured it all over the wood that was already there, shaking his head. "Too bad, so sad…" He laughed with a smile.
They met up at the entrance of the manor, and they nodded. "All set, right?"
"Well…" Yasu thought about it, but she decided she was getting too complex. "Sure. We just have to hope we hit them all in the right spots…" And with that, they left the manor, just to camp out not too far away.
Rigel stayed vigilant at Kohaku’s side. (sorry, I still don’t really know what to do with him >_< )
(Lol it's fine…. I'll be done with Alex and Yasu for a bit, tho.)
Kohaku felt Rigel's hand, and she smiled. "Stay…." She said softly, tugging at his hand to motion him onto the bed. "S-Stay…."
(Now we can timeskipppy?)
Rigel rubbed at his eyes as the morning sun began to filter in the room. He had stayed awake all night at Kohaku’s side, making sure there was no danger of one of the others coming and finding them.
Kohaku breathed in a deep breath, opening her eyes and stretching her arms up. "….Rigel?" She rubbed her eyes a little. "…You're still h-here?…."
“I’m still here,” Rigel mumbled, although he had not moved from the ground despite Kohaku’s words last night. He hadn’t wanted to be even tempted to fall alseep when Kohaku had been so scared.
She sat up, her fur and her hair ruffled a little. She stretched her arms in the air cutely and lifted her snout a bit. "I– I think… I think it might be best…" Kohaku hated to admit it, but she had to– "I think you should go before Daichi finds us…" She frowned.
“Okay, but I’ll see you soon,” Rigel responded softly, giving her hand a squeeze before letting go. “Watch the rose, remember.” He opened the window and slid out, using the metal to brace himself before his feet hit the ground.
(N-N-No kiss? Not even a peck?? Nah, jus kiddin…)
Kohaku waved goodbye to him before shamefully closing the window. It wasn't a second later when someone opened up her door. Luckily, it was Youichi and not Daichi. "Goooooood morning Kohaku," He yawned a bit rudely. "Daichi's making some breakfast downstairs in the dining hall… You can come down when you're ready."
She nodded but didn't say anything. Hopefully he'll be alright…
Rigel snuck back into the woods nearby the manor, planting himself under a tree and closing his eyes. He was exhausted from staying up all night, but was glad he was there for Kohaku.
Kohaku followed Youichi back down to the kitchen. "So… What ever happened to that Rigel guy, anyway…?"
She perked up a little at the sound of his name. "Umm… I don't know…." She lied a little. "He came back to Naoki's house, but left when Daichi came…. And I haven't seen him since."
They arrived, where everyone else was seated, except….
"Where's Akira?" Kohaku asked, taking a seat at the table.
"Still sleeping is my best guess… The old guy seemed pretty exhausted on the way over here…"
(How you doing?)
Rigel slipped into a deep sleep, his exhaustion taking over. His instincts kicked in just before sleep grasped him though- the little bit of metal that he had turned into sharp defensive spikes around him.
(Oof why you ask? I'm doing okay, though :3)
Kohaku and the rest of them were eating contently, yet the girl was eating a bit slower. I bet I should save some for him…. She finished some and asked for more.
"I need to go and check on the old man," Youichi stood up. "He's been asleep for too long…."
He got up from the table and traveled up the stairs to the hallway. When he was rounding the corner, a strange smell caught his nose. What the….? Smells like a human was here…
