nagano | inbox — hello yes this is cat speaking

[ Hiding as much as she does is a futile effort, she knows, but it gives her something else to focus on as they ride. The pain, the bloodshed; seeing others fight for those who had been captured, to set them all free... They don't tell you how brutal being a hero can be in stories. Hibiki isn't squeamish, but she knows dwelling on anything that happens would make her sick to her stomach.

She has to hold it in. She has to hold everything in.

Feeling him place his chin on her shoulder, his cheek warm near her neck, Hibiki adjusts slightly to rest her head carefully against his. Is it to comfort him or herself? Who knows (and who cares) at this point?

Slowing the horse down to a stop, the small blonde carefully discounts before offering Kaito a helping hand. If she were in a better place mentally, she might insist that he doesn't have to worry about it. She could offer her place (again).

Hibiki doesn't protest when he offers his own, don't act surprised at all. She's also tired and in pain, and arguing would only deplete the stores so close to running on empty. ]

Can you do that right now?

[ They're both basically spent, she doesn't want him collapsing from exhaustion. ]

[ Kaito would rather fall flat on the ground than actually take the effort to lower himself off the kelpie, but he grabs Hibiki's hand regardless. Smooth and steady is his descent, but the way he leans back against the summon makes it clear that he's running on fumes.

Still... ]

I don't know, but I will.

[ Yanking his gloves off and tossing them aside, Kaito reaches for the blonde's hands and grabs without leaving any room for protest. The harsh feedback that follows serves to steady him, rattling him out of his fading state.

Golds lock to blues, and they begin to sink.

When the portal drops them off, they land in a grassy meadow. A gentle breeze rolls along while the sun beams down from a cloudless sky. There is an ample amount of shade, however—thanks to a gargantuan cedar tree that appears to be the anchoring point for the teleport.

In the near distance, a ramshackle building stands, with fragments of brick and stone jutting out from either side to suggest that it was ripped out of an alleyway and simply dumped into the greenfields.

When Kaito feels solid ground beneath his feet, he instinctively dips backwards, still holding onto his soulmate—and thus pulling her down on top of him. The landing's a bit rough for him, but she'll have an empath-shaped cushion to soften her fall.

Kaito closes his eyes and sighs. ]

Can't say it's nearly as aesthetically appealing as your ryokan, but this is my 'home.'

[ She knew that he was in bad shape, but she doesn't quite grasp the full extent until she sees him lean into her summon. Hibiki knows better than to protest right now, and as she reaches out to steady him, Kaito snatches her hands up as they begin to slowly sink into the earth.

As they resurface, Hibiki squints a bit, her eyes needing a moment to adjust to the light. But she forces herself to keep her eyes open, to take in the sight of this domain in full. A simple meadow, existing under a cloudless blue sky. A building in the distance. And speckled shade overhead that feels incredibly familiar despite never having been here before.

A giant tree.

Her senses dulled with everything else, Hibiki feels the tug a little too late. She could try to disengage, to keep from falling, but... she just lets it happen. Landing on top of him, she can't hide the sudden mental keysmash that happens behind the scenes. Her head resting against his chest, her own frozen mid-breath, when she feels him sigh, Hibiki exhales as well.

He's warm. Maybe it's the bond that they share, or the fact that she can't remember the last time she's been this close to anyone, but instead of flustering and trying to take command of the situation, she readjusts. Laying her head against his chest, feeling a lifetime of tension begin to slowly unwind, Hibiki looks out toward the horizon. ]

It's beautiful.

[ There's hesitation in how he doesn't immediately wrap her in an embrace, but when she relaxes against him Kaito hooks his arms around her waist and pulls the blonde into a ginger, gentle hug.

He should be tending to their wounds, but right now he's so tired that all he wants is a moment's reprieve. Just a few precious seconds to slow things down—something he hasn't been able to afford since 'dying.' ]

If you'd believe it, when I was alive my clan had a little pocket dimension. The inside was shaped by the current clan leader, so when I took over, well.

Admittedly, it had already looked like this for a few years, but this is the design I went with. Even if it's just a simulacrum, this is where I can enjoy just a hint of tranquil peace.

[ She's just as warm, and so he buries his face into the crook of her neck while talking. This kind of intimate embrace would be saved for partners, wouldn't it? That's not what they are ~~yet lmfao~~, but their bond is something much more special than close friends or companions.

It's hard to put into words, save for one: soulmates.

Kaito slowly closes his eyes. Presses his ear against her, to listen for her heartbeat. ]

This cedar tree is supposed to be special to the Nagano clan. Something about symbolizing the central kami whose blessings were granted to our ancestors.

...I don't know why it's this obnoxiously huge.

[ She doesn't move when he wraps his arms around her waist, but instead lets out a long, heavy sigh through her nose. Tired both physically and emotionally, being held like this temporarily eases the turbulence churning in her head. Shifting to hook her arm under his, she just barely holds on to him, bloodstained fingertips tracing tiny masterpieces near his shoulder blades.

It's the first time since move back to Tokyo that she's had a moment to breathe. Resting against him, feeling Kaito's chest rise and fall against her as his words are practically murmured into her skin, she can't remember a time when she's felt more at peace.

Her free hand finds the back of his head and rests there, as she resists the urge to caress it. Just barely. ]

So that place is just for you, then. Wish I could see it. [ His own slice of paradise. Hibiki smiles gently.

One day, they would go back home, hopefully to those places where they truly felt like themselves; but the fact that those homes were on completely different Earths doesn't occur to her right now. All that's on her mind is how warm he feels and the way he rests his head in the crook of her neck. Tipping her chin upward, Hibiki rests her head against him.

If it were anybody else...

(She wouldn't want it to be.)

Giggling silently, she opens her eyes. ]

I think it's a prerequisite for sacred trees.

[ Jokes the woman with a giant cherry blossom tree behind her own door, but she's at least self-aware enough to draw the similarities. ]

We have something like that, at the family shrine. I don't know the full story, but I believe it was planted as a gift when part of the Fujiwara clan left Tohoku for Chubu. A wisteria tree was planted on the shrine grounds, in honor of their joining with another clan. It's been there for generations, and blooms every summer.

I'm not sure if there's a kami connected to that tree, I honestly wouldn't have been able to tell while I was alive, but I wouldn't be surprised. It has to be a couple hundred years old, at least. But it's the symbol of my family.

One day, I'll show it to you.

[ His smile bleeds into the words.

Y̷o̶u̷ ̸c̴a̸n̴'̵t̷.̵ ̶Y̷o̸u̷ ̴t̸w̷o̵ ̵a̴r̶e̸ ̷f̵r̷o̵m̷ ̴d̵i̸f̵f̶e̴r̴e̴n̸t̸ ̶w̴o̶r̵l̸d̶s̶.̶ ̵D̶o̵n̶'̶t̶ ̶f̵o̷r̵g̴e̶t̷ ̸t̸h̵a̷t̸.̷

'It doesn't matter. Even if I can't...'

A beat.

'No, I will be the one who shows her the Domain.'

The short exchange goes unheard across the link, but it seems to have a significant effect on the empath. Mustering a bit of strength (and murmuring a 'scoot' under his breath), he manages to drag himself back so he's sitting up against the tree with a golden retriever in his lap.

~~Okay, back to snuggling.~~ ]

Huh. I wonder if that makes ours a sacred tree, too. All grandfather told me about it is that it's been a part of our Domain since the space was first created. But there are no books on it in our library. —Ah, yeah. That's what's missing. This space had a library with all the knowledge the Nagano clan had gathered over the centuries, but it looks like the knockoff decided to substitute it with the ramen place I worked at.

[ He points towards the out-of-place looking building in the near distance. ]

When we get out of here, you're gonna have to take me to Shizuoka so I can see the tree and shrine. Our family doesn't have anything fancy like that to our name. I guess it's because we've always kept to ourselves, hidden from those living outside the supernatural world.

[ M̵a̴k̵i̷n̵g̷ ̷e̷m̸p̶t̷y̸ ̴p̸r̵o̶m̶i̶s̵e̶s̴ ̶n̴o̴w̴?̵ ̴W̷e̵ ̷a̴l̴l̵ ̴k̴n̶o̶w̸ ̸t̶h̸a̶t̸ ̸i̷s̴n̶'̵t̸ ̷p̶o̴s̴s̵i̴b̵l̴e̸.̴

She doesn't care; they'll find a way. When everything is said and done and they go back to their worlds, they will find a way to see each other again.

O̵p̸t̵i̸m̵i̵s̸m̶ ̸w̷i̶l̴l̶ ̴o̴n̶l̸y̴ ̵g̵e̶t̶ ̵y̴o̷u̶ ̸s̵o̸ ̷f̵a̷r̶,̷ ̴y̴o̵u̷ ̴k̸n̷o̸w̸.̴

The only evidence of the conversation going on in her head is a vague ping of indignation, directed internally at her shadow. As Kaito shifts, she shifts with him, continuing to block the pain she feels. Moving hurts, but not as much as she thinks it should. Thankfully, she has something else to focus on, and as she leans back against him, Hibiki closes her eyes peacefully. ]

It's possible. If it holds some significance to your family, then it's possible. A kami protecting the space maybe? Or protecting your clan in general.

[ Her eyes open when she feels his arm move, eyes following the line he draws from where they sit to the small, brick building in the distance. It's disappointing that the library isn't there, but-- ]

And you'll have to take me to that restaurant, and to meet your grandfather. He sounds like an interesting guy, I'd love to pick his brain when it comes to technique.

[ Leaning forward and reaching for his outstretched hand, Hibiki cups hers around it before slowly attempting to draw it back toward her. A quiet smile spreads across her lips. Take him to the shrine, huh? What would grandfather say--not that it matters in this moment. The blonde takes a deep breath before exhaling. ]

Consider it done. I think you'd like it. It's near the base of Mount Fuji, the last stop for some trails heading upward. We get a decent number of travelers who make it a stop on their hike, to pray for safe travels. The wisteria tree is pretty easy to find, and I'll have to show you my tree too. [ A beat, before she smiles meekly. ]

It's not actually mine, but you know what I mean. And we'll go out to Ginkoya so you can see what it's really like. I'll make sure everybody gives you the five-star treatment.

[ It's all wishful thinking, she knows, but he's become an important person to her in such a short amount of time that she feels obligated to give him the grand tour. And even if she isn't sure how, Hibiki is determined to find a way. Her main objective will stay the same when she finally makes her way back home... but maybe she'll make this a reward, for cracking the mystery.

Turning her head slightly, Hibiki tries to look back at him. ]

Maybe that's it. If your clan has such strong ties, that could be a potential lead. You never know.

...There isn't even a shred of doubt in your mind either, huh? That we'll be able to meet again.

[ In a way, he's acquiescing to his Shadow's doubts by voicing the thought. There's a not-so-small part of him that agrees, that this is wishful thinking without merit. But he believes it can be done, and maybe right now he just wants to hear her agree.

Either way, he takes his free hand and sets it over her chest. The slow breeze rolling across the field suddenly kicks up a notch, and a floral scent begins to fill the air. A rose gold aura surrounds Kaito's body, thrumming with life and warmth. ]

Before you ask, I don't really know where this came from. I only really discovered it the other day, after we became soulmates. But there's this magic that feels like it was suddenly just... written into my soul, without me doing anything. It definitely doesn't belong to my Shadow. Either way, it's a healing spell, so sit tight.

[ Kaito rests his head on her shoulder again, curling the fingers of his held hand around Hibiki's. The aura around him pulses, and another, sharper wind kicks up around them. Motes of light begin to twinkle into existence, transforming into cherry blossoms that hover in mid-air.

As they dance, the warmth exuded from his aura begins to pool into her, concentrated over her bruises and wounds. Its effects take hold rather quickly, offering immediate relief from the pain. Petals slowly drift down directly onto the blonde's damaged skin, sealing cuts and even cleaning away any dirt from the site. ]

It's weird, [ he murmurs, watching the spell's handiwork with wonder. ] This doesn't look like your aesthetic either, save for the blossoms. I wonder what could have caused all this...

Of course not. Between the two of us, I know we'll figure it out. We're way too stubborn not to.

[ Where he's acquiescing to his Shadow's doubts, Hibiki is throwing down the gauntlet. Because yes, it feels impossible, but she's confident that their reuniting once they leave the Netherworld is a non-zero chance. If that much is true, then she will find a way. Tell her no and she will fight even harder to make something a reality.

Feeling the breeze begin to pick up, a glimmer of warm rose gold radiating from his hand, the blonde's eyes widen in surprise. He explains and she listens, but as petals wink into existence from the particles of light swirling around them, her attention is split between the spectacle and... something else. It's hazy, and she doesn't see it as much as she feels it, distant and familiar and warm.

Watching the spell unfold, she feels it working its magic, each petal depositing that same warmth as it mends what's been beaten or battered. Her eyes briefly draw to the side, to try to look at him. ]

...Cherry blossoms are my aesthetic? [ That's the first time she's heard that. ]

[ Kaito turns his gaze to the side in tandem with her glance, and the result is a soft bump of his temple against hers. Something about it feels so innocent that he wants to laugh. Instead, he smiles. ]

I've started associating them with you since you showed me your sacred tree. And this is after the fact that we are now both familiar with a woman literally named Sakura.

[ Fingers drift to carefully wrap around her left forearm, but he takes care not to tug away the sleeve covering her skin. He can only imagine how terrible the branding looks, and he can empathize with wanting to keep it hidden.

Still, that doesn't stop him from starting to lift her arm towards his face, and if allowed, he'll plant a soft kiss on the fabric. ]

I'm the one who should have apologized back there. If I had been faster, I could have made it before...

[ He trails off, pressing another kiss before closing his eyes and simply holding on to her. The warmth of his healing spell has started to wane, but those ephemeral petals continue to drift onto her wounds. ]

[ Her sacred tree, he says. It isn't in the literal sense, there's no kami associated with it to her knowledge (her family would know, right?), but it still feels different to her. Maybe Hibiki can interpret it like that, something sacred and special to her specifically, rather than in general.

That thought thankfully isn't given any room to grow, and as Kaito takes her arm, the blonde stills. Winces, not out of pain thanks to his healing, but... shame maybe? Or the unsettling knowledge that's been branded in every sense of the word, that she's somehow disfigured. Those thoughts circle in her head for the brief instant before he places a gentle kiss on her arm.

On her end is complete radio silence, but not because she's blocked the link between them. Frozen in that moment, her mind goes blank. If it weren't for him foolishly apologizing to her, she might have stayed that way. ]

...Kaito, you don't...

[ It usually takes a lot for her to get emotional, but hearing him blame himself for this before placing another kiss on her branded arm sets Hibiki over the edge. She takes a ragged breath, gripping the arm he has wrapped around her with her free hand as she bows her head. She's tired--so, so tired. Even before she died and showed up here, she's been holding so much in, and his guilt-ridden apology is what finally pushes her past her breaking point.

A single sob escapes her, filled with so much emotion. Anguish and anger directed at no single target, but at everything all at once. The fact that he feels like he has to apologize for any of what happened... ]

...This isn't your fault...

[ Please, don't say anything else, Kaito. She doesn't want to cry, not in front of him like this. ]

[ Empaths are prone to taking on the emotions of those around them as if they're their own. It's so much easier for Kaito to absorb those feelings and be overwhelmed by them.

And here? Now? Hibiki's aura, so full of back-breaking thoughts and emotions... Just a faint echo of it could bowl him over and cause him to lose his composure. When she shakes from that sob, he wants to break down and join her.

But he won't. It's his turn to be the pillar, and so when she murmurs that faint rejection, he shakes his head and pulls her in even tighter, dipping in to nuzzle the crook of her neck. ]

Maybe not, but I can still apologize. I'm very good at apologizing.

...You can let it out, y'know. [ Squeeze. He's this close to planting a kiss on her cheek. Or neck. Either would be absolutely disastrous. ] I'm your soulmate. I'm your anchor. That's what we agreed on, right, partner?

When things become unbearable, we keep each other grounded. Who else can you be vulnerable with, if not me? You'd do the same if the tables were turned. I'd trust you to do the same.

[ After forcing herself to be strong for so long, it's difficult to remember what it's like to be vulnerable. So maybe it's a good thing that she's forged a bond with an empath, especially one that won't let her hide those difficult emotions behind a bubbly smile and other unhealthy coping mechanisms.

He doesn't need to say a word, pulling her closer to him and nuzzling into the curve of her neck serving as an effective one-two punch against a lifetime of learned behaviors. Her anchor, her soulmate; her partner. The one person in this twisted Hellscape she has who can keep her grounded.

Her grip tightens on his arm as she finally lets herself feel the weight of what she had just been through. Of what she's been through since arriving... and the events leading up to her arrival here. Hibiki clamps her mouth shut, lips pressed tightly together as slowly lets herself cry. It's like a deluge--once the spasms start, Hibiki can't control them, shaking against him as she still desperately tries to rein it in.

Don't think any less of her for this moment of weakness, please. It just feels like he's the only thing that hasn't been taken from her at this point, and having him see her as anything other than perfectly put together makes her afraid of losing that precious bond they share as well. ]

There you go... Just like that.

[ Soothing words and soft assurances float off his lips as one hand lifts to caress her cheek. They're so similar, he's come to learn. Experts in putting on a strong facade, more reliable than most, and always ready to carry the next person's burden at the drop of a hat.

It makes sense, then, that the weight on her shoulders is just as heavy as the one on his. All the more reason they need each other.

'What a fool I was to think I could shoulder it all alone.'

W̶h̴a̴t̷ ̶a̷ ̴f̸o̵o̸l̴ ̶y̴o̷u̸ ̴a̸r̷e̶ ̷t̶o̸ ̶t̴h̵i̷n̶k̴ ̵s̶h̸e̶'̴l̷l̵ ̵b̷e̴ ̴a̸b̴l̷e̴ ̵t̴o̶ ̴s̸u̸p̷p̴o̶r̸t̴ ̶y̷o̶u̵ ̴w̴h̶e̴n̸ ̴s̴h̸e̶'̵s̸ ̷s̴u̷c̸h̸ ̵a̴ ̸b̵r̴o̶k̵e̷n̴ ̸m̴e̵s̴s̷.̷

'Then I, the fool, will carry it all—and when I can't take it anymore, she'll be there to catch me and take over.'

.̷.̸.̵W̶e̶'̵l̸l̷ ̴s̵e̴e̴ ̸w̵h̵o̷ ̶c̴a̵t̸c̷h̶e̷s̸ ̷y̸o̶u̶.̸

The exchange goes unheard once more, a private exchange between Kaito and his Shadow. This time, however, he has no doubts to mull over. No matter what demons torment the blonde, he will be there to fight them away.

Someone has to. It's the least she deserves.

And so, with that spark of determination steadily growing in his chest, Kaito shifts his chin to rest on her shoulder and parts his lips. A few seconds pass as the last dregs of doubt cling to his throat, but eventually...

He starts to sing. Alone, unaccompanied by the music he's long since committed to memory, he sings.

Don't think any less of him if he stumbles over the words. ]

Edited 2022-12-05 14:01 (UTC)

[ This isn't like her at all. Never the one to be a sobbing mess, to need someone to hold her and whisper quiet assurances as her body is wracked with pain and anguish. If she cries (when was the last time...), she does so alone. She's the strong one, she can take any burden with a smile and a few reassuring words. Someone needs to full of light in this dark place.

But when was the last time she was comforted like this? When was the last time someone held her like this?

Her shadow surprisingly quiet as she trembles against him, Hibiki takes a few stabilizing breaths as he starts to sing. His voice surprisingly soft, quiet and a bit uncertain, it helps pull her back into herself. Flickering in the distant like candlelight, the storm of emotion that wracks her body begins to abate as she focuses on the sound. Whether it's their shared bond or the way he's naturally drawn her in without her realizing that's causing the warmth she feels in her chest is hard to say... but it's nice. Nice in a way that feels comforting and a bit dangerous. ]

...You have a nice voice.

[ Her voice still feels strained, but she feels like she needs to say at least that much. Tilting her head to rest delicately against his hand, she continues to take a deep breath. She isn't putting a cap on this as a defensive maneuver, not completely, but because something about this feels overwhelmingly warm. ]

[ He's not really sure what compelled him to sing in the first place. The song isn't one he's really listened to since...

Ah.

Since Ritz, huh?

He's just gonna stuff those implications away for the time being. When he's through—or rather, when she speaks up—Kaito flashes a soft smile and curls his fingers in to stroke her hair. ]

I don't know about that.

[ Tilting his head to rest against hers, Kaito breathes out a long sigh. Part of him is glad she stopped him early, as he wasn't sure if that swell of emotions might have burst the longer she allowed him to sing.

Okay, it probably wouldn't have. Even he can see that it was having a good effect, dense motherfucker that he is.

Kaito's free hand finds her own once again, squeezing before lifting so that he can nuzzle his cheek to the back of it. As he lets go... ]

By the way, you dropped something on the way out.

[ Why does this feel so natural? Coming down from that burst of emotions, feeling him rest his head against hers as he threads his fingers in her hair, normally Hibiki would cut this off before this point.

But she's exhausted in every sense of the word, and he's so incredibly warm. Like ocean waves gently crashing on the shore, something about his presence relaxes her. Should she be worried? Or should she just give in to that feeling and let it wash over her...

Her hand hanging there near his cheek as he lets go, Hibiki blinks a few times. She doesn't turn her head to look this time, not wanting to bump hers into his again. ]

Hmm? Dropped something?

[ Sorry, she isn't following. ]

[ Feels like she's going through the same wringer that he was just a few seconds ago, huh?

Kaito's happy to not call her out on it. Even moreso when she asks for clarification. Smiling, he pokes scarred fingers against her palm. ]

It starts with an "r-" and ends with an "-ing."

[ Of all the things he could list, that doesn't even make the cut. Hibiki just assumed that her ring was long-gone, taken as a prize after stripping her of everything else. She takes a long, deep breath, shoulders rising as she stares out toward the horizon.

He didn't. Part of her wants to shake him for doing something so dangerous, for going after something that means nothing to him. It doesn't even work here, it's just metal and stone--but that doesn't make it any less precious.

Blinking rapidly, trying to banish the stinging feeling in her eyes, her voice comes out thin even after swallowing down the bubble in her throat. ]

Why would you... just for that... [ Keep it in, Hibiki. ] You could've gotten hurt.

[ It means nothing to him, so why would he deliberately go after it? ]

—So?

[ In stark contrast to the sudden flare of emotions from her end, Kaito just turns his gaze to her and shoots a look as if she's asked him the most obvious question known to mankind. ]

"Just for that," you say, as if I haven't risked my ass for objects of lesser value.

That ring is the last treasure you have from your mother. It's probably more valuable than I am, and that's not a self-dig. So when I saw that it had been yanked off your finger, I knew exactly where I was going once we split up.

And if you're thinking something stupid like the fact that it technically has no sentimental value to me, it's time for a reminder that beyond being my Soulmate or partner, you're my friend.

I take care of my friends, Hibiki.

[ What does it say about her that she doesn't expect him or anyone else to go to such lengths for her? Hibiki would do the same, but could never bring herself to ask for that act to be reciprocated. So going that far without a second thought, the moment he saw that her ring had been taken from her...

It's a little overwhelming.

Leaning forward, breaking the tenuous embrace that they share, the small blonde shifts. Moving her legs to the side, she turns herself toward Kaito before wrapping her arms around him. Her forehead rests on his chest as she viciously fights to stay composed. Keep it together; don't let all those feelings about what happened, what she's lost and now regained bubble up to the surface. ]

I know, but...

[ She would have done the same if the roles were reversed. She would have torn through that place if it meant returning something so precious to him, her own safety be damned. And that goes beyond being his soulmate or partner...

Or maybe even beyond being his friend. But that isn't anything she feels equipped to think about now. Or ever. ]

I don't know what I would've done if something happened to you. Doesn't matter how "valuable" it is, it isn't worth you getting hurt. Or worse.

[ Trying to keep those feelings bottled is a futile effort in general. Especially so against Kaito. His arms latch onto her back, reaching up so that scarred fingers can weave into her hair and massage her scalp.

He's going to destroy that shitty misconception of hers someday.

If anyone deserves his hardest efforts, it's Hibiki.

Lips press to the top of her head, ignoring the numbing sting that's been tingling his face ever since he made the ~~ill-advised~~ decision to start planting kisses on her. ]

...You're so stubborn, [ he murmurs, smiling into her hair. ] Just like me.

I'm not going to get myself killed. Not after spouting all that sentiment. But I'm also not going to let you lose something you care so much about. And you're just gonna have to deal with this middle ground.

And... all I ask is that you don't dare die on me. Don't sacrifice yourself. That's it. That's all. [ His hold tightens, and he whispers the same words that he had so desperately choked out when they had reunited after her vanishing act. ]

I can't afford to lose you.

[ It's because their Soulmates--in the practical, weirdly logical sense--that he's able to pierce through so many dense layers of doubt, guilt and self-loathing as easily as he does. He cheats of course, because Hibiki knows she can't hide much from an empath, but it's times like this that make her realize that there isn't much fight in her. Each time he presses his lips against her is disarming, like he's silently telling her not to fight for once.

Maybe it's okay to let some feelings stay above the surface, instead of pushing them deep into the earth.

A brief flutter of indignation telegraphed through their shared link as he calls her stubborn (like he's ruffled her feathers? how ironic), Hibiki shifts to rest the side of her head to his chest. Her cheeks still damp, the stinging in her eyes present but dying down, his words are punctuated by the sound of breathing and the subtle rise and fall with each breath. She can feel his words like this as he murmurs them softly into her hair.

D̶o̵n̷'̴t̶ ̸g̴e̷t̵ ̸u̷s̵e̶d̸ ̴t̴o̷ ̴t̷h̵i̷s̸,̴ ̶i̸t̴ ̴c̸o̸u̷l̷d̷ ̷a̷l̸l̸ ̶b̵e̴ ̴o̷v̵e̶r̸ ̷i̴n̵ ̵a̸n̴ ̶i̸n̸s̸t̶a̴n̴t̵ ̵i̷f̶ ̵y̴o̶u̸ ̴a̴r̸e̵n̵'̷t̴ ̸c̷a̸r̶e̵f̸u̶l̵.̶

Hibiki doesn't want to hear it... so she won't. Not right now. Curling into him as he embraces her tighter, whispering the same thing he had after reuniting in the Shadowlands, Hibiki closes her eyes. This horrible cheater. He knows the right thing to say in order to pierce through her defenses. ]

...Only if you promise you won't either. I need you here with me, Kaito. [ Hibiki hesitates, closing her eyes as she takes a breath. ]

I can't lose someone else I care about.

[ The truth hurts, girlfriend-to-be.

This is what happens when a Genre Savvy empath is the person you chose to be your partner and Soulmate. You have no one to blame but yourself!!!

Kaito nods into her hair, and the world around them suddenly shifts. Well, truthfully, he's just pulling her down so they can lay on their sides on the grass. All cuddled up. No blankets required.

A bit of jostling puts them face to face, and he smiles. ]

I don't make promises. Too easy to break.

...But I'll make an exception for you.

[ Blinking a few times as he repositions the both of them, Hibiki curls her legs up a little as Kaito turns to face her. For a split second, she's convinced that his refusal is the end of it, but he "begrudgingly" agrees to her request. Really, Kaito? That's how he's going to be?

With a smirk, she reaches her hand out toward his, hooking their pinkies together. Gives them a shake-- ]

The contract has been sealed. Again.

[ And she intends to keep her hand there loosely holding his, but a thought occurs to her, causing her to pull back. ]

Right, sorry. I probably shouldn't do that as much as I do. That can't feel good.

[ Hurts him more like. Honestly, she meant to apologize for being as touchy-feely as she was the night that they became soulmates, but there was so much more to focus on at that point. ]

inbox — hello yes this is cat speaking

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no-kill Nagano huh...

No*-kill Nagano! :)

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