“...It's too quiet..”
Come the words of Doma as His Eyes shoot open, looking bothered by the unnatural silence within the room. He sits up in a Realm of what seems like the Infinity Fortress's Compact Vacuum Chambers. Completely Dark and. Oddly enough…something else entirely as Doma looks around.
He Gets onto his feet with a seemingly impassive look as he stands to his full height, thinking. “last I recall. My body gave into decline after our most esteemed Patron, Skewered my body. How nice of him.” He says, beginning to grasp at his affected abdomen. His Face Scrunches into something that looks like thoughtfulness. “It was almost euphoric. Seeing dear Necrome again. Gone for centuries and returned with vigour. Though I highly doubt he had any knowledge on the leads I had to his Family. So his pragmatic declarations were sincere however..This sensation..”
He Clutches at the fabric of his Patterned Upper body clothing and almost seems to spit, looking a mix of exasperated and appalled. - “How I just wish I could get another load of that luscious aroma..dearest tamayo..my plan to have courted your Wonderful flesh Has fell short but….I can *feel* everything..it's still in my range of capture. And when I rummage my claws within-” A Sudden Pang of Pain Strikes His Chest and Doma's Hand Rushes up to clutch his muscled Chest “AGH! What on earth?” He Looks Down at his Hand to find nearly his entire arm and body are now drenched with blood.
Doma’s eyes were twitching from a hollow mask. He felt nothing. Registered nothing but that Sensation. One of ecstasy he felt, anticipating his latent virtues with His Midwife to be. Off to a seamless start but. - Doma's teeth flash in a joyous smile, through all the blood. - But an assured one. ; The Realm then began to Shift to Assume more windy conditions and Doma gave a knowing Inclination before Looking to his Bloodied Body again. He grimaces now.
“Whoever got me this dirty would have to atone. My maidens are well aware I don't enjoy the smell of blood. Just what-” then it strikes him. Doma stops talking as he tears open his shirt to Reveal a numerous number of Gashes and one especially housing the area to his heart. “..odd.”...His mind is hazy as he assesses what may have done him such damage but he finds nothing. Doma discards his ripped top and looks apprehensive almost. “That can't be. My combative welfare is what I’ve secured so long ago I can hardly recall the last time something could even pierce my flesh.”
He mulls for a moment, seeming to grow more tense as His thoughts spiral with errors and Boarded Recollection. Doma then raises an arm and Jams a Clawed finger into the side of his Head. He doesn't look subtle as he Actively Mends his brain matter for answers. “I can't accustom myself or my body to Being wounded. I'm not even regenerating and I can't recall a Damn thing of what even happened.” He says with a hysterical pitch to his tone. He tries a little more but eventually settles for the ambiguity of it.
He Looks around once more, saying as he Exhales. “No point stressing. Could be This accursed realm too. All I've experienced so far's been enlightening so if i’m in store for a grand surprise I ask that it's at least entertaining-”
Doma's knees suddenly buckle and he abruptly releases Spurts of blood from his mouth with wide eyes. “That sensation again…” Doma’s Body begins to tremble as he clenches his fists. His Very core attempting to fight the Creeping Agony that suddenly takes him back.
Back to his euphoria. His ecstasy.
Back to his admission of his cult.
Back to his maidens.
Back to His own personal midwife to be.
Back to the Pigsty his mother left him as She poisoned herself among her father and his Fatal wounds.
Back to the blood.
“What a mess…” Doma says as he tries keeping steady. Trying to gather himself and find a way to resurface.
The blood flashes within his mind. It irritates him. Enveloping his entire being and not only that but he's been wounded. Doma's Rainbow coloured eyes raise with his Head and he half-snarls, Whipping his arm out to dispatch the crimson liquid from his skin but Doma's Eyes spark as he realises it's flowing from multiple more wounds he hadn't registered. He stares at his retracted Hand now for a moment before stating matter of factly. “It's mine..”
He straightens his back and squares his shoulders, reaching to feel the gaping hole in his chest. “Necrome..you really made a spoil of things here haven't you?” He says with a grave tone. He seems irritated as His brows furrow for the slightest second but then, As his knees give way to his bleeding, Doma can't help but laugh.
“Aria always said I was endowed with Divine prominence. Even in the way I fought.” He chuckles for a few seconds before His breath hitches then “you were always so vibrant. Hopeful. Heh. Kinda reminded me of kotoha, although you weren't nearly as foolish.”
He takes a struggled breath as he clenches his fists once more. “maybe if I hadn't had better interest, I would've considered the Stabilization of our forces. Though I wouldn't subject myself to stressing over feeble losses. I was among the folk that didn't take a common casualty so personally but i can't say the same for you, can I..”
He raises his Head now to look at the looming figure standing before His fallen form, that is Necrome. His Pale skin and striking Eye withholding his rank, gleaming as the Demon stares down at home. Sporting the very blade that killed him. - “...Necrome?”
Doma’s head then falls as he succumbs to his wounds, a slight smile left plastered on his white mask. His Rainbow coloured orbs left half open and clear for Necrome to see. The Demon Gazing down at him with an unreadable expression, before he disappears with a Spike in the wind’s gusts.
Butterfly Valley, Nursing Grounds
Tobi Was Curled up on his side, A Kilometre Deep in unconsciousness and Resting soundly while he sucked on his thumb. It's been roughly a few hours since his most recent fight and he'd been Dropped in a secured Block In a Valley Between Oncoming Residency and The Green forest. What seems to have been an outdoor med-bay and resting zone built in-between. For what purpose, remains unsure for the moment.
Tobi stirs awake suddenly. his eyes fluttering open to find he's Laid on a Solid, yet oddly comfortable material in what seems like a crib of sorts. Not paying mind to his own thumb in his mouth, he rolls onto his back and looks up to see the night sky.
He glances at himself and find that his Body, mainly his Arms and torso, are covered in bandages, The smell of Sterile Chemicals finding his scent, which he grimaces at while he also winces realising the arm he hasn't been able to move is stuck in a cast. His brain is still addled by his fatigue and he merely tries taking comfort in the Mended layers before His Eyes flutter closed once more.
…
………..
………………….Rustle………
Tobi doesn't sense a figure approaching the grounds as he falls back asleep. Nor does he realise they take notice of his crib after some time in their own deeds and a tall figure then comes to loom over his unconscious form.
-
With no Warning whatsoever, Tobi Jolts awake as he’s Sent crashing through his crib and onto the ground as a Weight Plunges into his throat and Restricts his Intake of air. “CAUGH- what the f-!” - “I didn't see any Kakushi bring in Any new Candidates. Who are you?” The Voice of Okura Booms as she flashes her blade in quick motion over the Ronin. He replies, partly panicked, Mostly exasperated “who am I!? Who are *you*!?” - “I'm A Junior Rank Demon Slayer. You are trespassing. Now state your business.”
Tobi flinches at her last words, thinking over what to do next as she steps on his jugular with enough force to Make him pass out but he holds strong. “I don't know what the hell this chick is talking about. I woke up here with no knowledge of how the fuck I even got out of that field. I've gotta act fast though. She looks like she'll Use that Katana any second now-!”
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Okura Zeroes in on Tobi's movements as she feels His shoulders tense And She Swings her blade as he Juts out underneath her but she's surprised as he avoids her Blade and Sweeps her legs with a Swing of his arm, Perched on his knee. Okura's eyes widen as a result of this “That's Unreal. His Arm is In a cast and He’s Mustered enough strength to Fight back?”, Okura has actually been left airborne by Tobi's Sweep, She expects him to Follow Up and Take a Blow to the cranium but he shockingly dashes away from her in a stumble, clutching his arm and looking panicked.
“for fuck sake, Stop!” Okura's Back Hits the ground with a painful this and Tobi feels for his Top only to find his Attire’s Upper garments are draped over his waist. Likely for the Nursing done to his Body. He Grits his Teeth and braces as Okura’s eyes find him again. Tobi looks panicked then. “I'm not trying to have a scrap right now!” Okura doesn't say anything as she just stares at him, bewildered. Tobi Begins to notice this as she literally just stays on her back and he calms his fighting stance. “Uh. You doing okay there?” she doesn't hear him at first before he gestures at her in confirmation. Okura then stands up and Scrunches her brows. “I haven't ever Felt that kind of Force come from a Regular Individual. Just what are you and where did you come from? How did you wind up in The Butterfly Valley?” she says with a slight pitch to her tone. Not dangerous anymore but still Stern. Gruff.
“Look, girl, I ain't some Damn stray. I don't know how the hell I got here. I just woke up and found out I was in a cosy” he turns his head to look at his now damaged resting place “box I guess. And I was looking forward to actually sleeping for a night but then you came around and put your foot in my face. Real shitty move by the way.” Okura Raises a brow at him. “So you just woke up here? What amounted to you being let through The okuiya caverns with no questioning from our Kakushi?” - “I have no Damn Idea what you're on about with that ‘kakushi’ talk but I fought a woma- agh. A Demon I mean.” Okura's eyes spark at his words and her expression suddenly shifts, The Girl looking almost Conflicted as she stares at him with a look stunted between a decision to Attack him full force or To fall to her knees, crying.
“You've been doing that thing where you just stare for a bit and start giving me a lecture after word. You sure you're good?” he says with a hand raised in a half guard. “i’m perfectly fine. I just remember hearing about a Ronin having been beaten close to death. That same ronin having allegiance to one of our newest Mizunoto.” - “Hell does that all mean?” - “It means this was my mistake. you bear more importance in other criterias here. I shouldn't have been so aggressive.”
“Eh. You're just feisty I guess. I've had my fill of your type. Crazy Bitches for sure but worth the torment at least.” Okura gives him a look that says she didn't care for what he just said before she Exhales through her nose, sheathing her sword. “You'll have a trial with the hashira of the corporation in exactly a week. Try to get familiar in the meantime.” and with that she turns away from him. “Ah…alright then. Thanks for not Killing me I guess. Thought you were really about to fight me there.”
She stops at that. “I have one drive and one only. To kill demons. You are an ally.” she walks out of sight then. Tobi just waving after her, muttering “right” before taking a moment to catch his breath. “Shit, that was stressful.” He then looks over to where he last laid and finds that his crib had been partly destroyed. Tobi Sighs at this. “Just great. There goes my comfort for the night I guess.” He shakes his head and, after a moment he suddenly looks at the empty path she’d taken to leave the grounds. “I wonder what the hell she was even up to this late at night. Normal people would have been dead asleep right now but here she was wandering looking for a ronin to Step on. Ugh. Kinky bitch.”
He massages the bruise at his neck and sighs. Looking into the distance. “Get familiar huh?” he grows silent for a moment before he adopts a resigned look. “I just damn might.”
Some time later
Xenon opened his eyes to find himself in the Arms of his sister. Who held him close as she sat on her heels, appearing to have fallen asleep long ago as her head is slightly drooped and her hold on him very slight. “Nnh..I shouldn't have been out so long.” He rises from his position. Careful not to wake her as he Gets to his Feet and looks around. Figuring she took him to one of the resting chambers of the mansion. Xenon gives his sister a thoughtful look as he Watches her sleep for a moment before something catches his eye and causes him to Hum. He kneels down and Takes her hand in his. He realises It's a Banded Wound of sorts as he turns her arm.
Xenon: Don't remember you getting hurt before they took us in, sis..Damn It I really shouldn't have been out so long.
He gently grips nezuko's Arm in apologetic fashion to her as He stands, looking to leave her to her slumber but something grips his hand and he looks back to Find she’s woken up.
“Hey. You sleep okay?”
She shakes her head with a solemn yawn. “No. I was too worried about you to stay relaxed. I guess my body gave out nearing an hour.”
“Hm. You shouldn't be keeping up like that. You need more sleep than me actually. I can muster more energy.”
She lightly chuckles at an inside joke before he quirks his head at her. She Relents and says as she stands up now. “Sure. But you can't muster more length in your bones, I don't think”. Xenon Seems horrified at her words and sputters before she raises her hands, smiling “I'm kidding. I think Mister Uzui’s rubbed off on me. But to be fair, he's very big so it might just be us.”
“well dang. was I asleep so long you made that many friends? Never heard of a ‘Mister Uzui’.”
“Oh he’s Much like Mister Tomioka. A Hashira. They're the High-end Classes of swordsman here and there's a distinction to each one.”
“Hm. What kind of distinction? Is this all that happened during the trial?”
She nods quickly at his words and says, tone light “Mhm. There are 12 Hashira in total but they differ by way of a Particular breathing style they posses.”
“A Lot like Mister Tomioka then..Speaking of which, how did it go? Nothing..bad happened I hope.”
At that Nezuko seems to pause and look at her hand. The same one xenon looked at while she slept. “actually. There was a Bit of a struggle. One of the Hashira weren't convinced you were normal so they cut themselves and explained that They're blood was a special type for…” She can't seem to get the word out the first time but she manages to continue. “..for demons. It draws them in, I believe. And he reckoned it would have an effect on you but when he cut his arm and Let his blood drop onto your body..You Actually Lashed out.”
Xenon's eyes go wide at that and he has trouble recalling when he was last even conscious enough to call forth his power but Nezuko notices his expression and disarms his worries with a smile and hand on his shoulder. “don't worry, you didn't hurt anybody. He thought you were going to Try and bite him but when you threw a Kick, he was caught off guard and just barely avoided it. Just then I stepped in to stop you but I got caught in the brunt of An attack he threw.”
“Yikes..that doesn't sound good. Are you hurt anywhere else?” he said with Increasing concern for any injuries on her. Silently scolding himself for not being there for her to take it instead. Nezuko gives him a small smile though and shakes her head. “No. It turns out He could actually cancel his attack. He came off as the type to Hurt people without thought to me but he actually stopped it once he got read of me and just…”
Xenon was idly listening to her in the suspense and edged slightly closer. Dark red orbs meeting dark pink “Just what, sis?”
Her expression was scrunched in alight confusion as she spoke, Her tone raising to a slight whisper. “He just Growled and walked off.”
Xenon. Expecting something much worse, couldn't help the chuckle that broke through as he processed what she said. “Hm-hm. I guess it was all taken pretty well then?”
She seems to mull at this “Well….They were Mostly shocked at the fact that you could live in the sun. So there was a long Discussion about how miraculous it was and, Considering you fell back unconscious after The exchange, Master Ubuyashiki Said to Get you to a Private Quarter in the mansion to rest.”
“Hm. I remember Him Saying there was a lot in store for us before I was put in that crate. Did he talk to you maybe?”
“Mm..Yes actually. He let me know that our Kasugai crows would be a singular one because We've always fought together. So we're a ‘dualistic pair’, I think he said.”
“Hmm…I guess that means We're officially Good to fight alongside each other then.”
He says with a light pat to her head. At the familiar gesture, Nezuko Smiles at him and clasps his hand in her own two, Pressed down onto his, over her head. “As it should be.”
The siblings share a comical fit of laughter before they notice a Winged Figure Flapping its wings at the closed window's front. “I'll get it.” - “Yeah, right behind You.”
She opens the window swiftly to reveal the large landscape of the butterfly mansions complex and The Dark crow currently At their window. They back up as it flies in and Does a continuous Loop around the room and speaks.
“Mount Natagumo Is Under fierce Lunar clashes! Several Mizunoe have been slain and injured! Help! Help! Help! Help! -
The crow repeats the message with rising urgency and The Siblings look at one another. Their expressions slowly going from surprise to Sternness As Xenon's Eyes Flash a Pink and Nezuko Raises a Hand to grip her Nichirin before they nod at each other.
Xenon Gets ahead and, like they've rehearsed in training. Strikes his fist into the Ground and Awaits as Nezuko Swiftly Mounts Him Before He Darts off with Powerful Dashes and Jumps onto Hanging branches and Higher Altitude points with the two, Moving Quickly. Battle Ready for What's to come at The Mountain's wake.
*-*
Chaos…Pure. Unbridled Chaos.
Tobi was Terrified and He had his Fists up. Splattered with the Blood of His Allies as The Last 6 Mizunoe Desperately Charged Ahead to Clash with the Demon, Equipped with a Battleaxe and A Muscled body of what's always felt like punching steel to him. He watches in utter fatigue as he let A his hands drop. Not even bothering to watch as one Decisive Counter move Dismembers A third of them before the Rest attempt to Run away. Coming toward Him.
“Tobi! Our numbers are dwindling! We can't beat this thing!”
“and we have no Fucking Idea where the other one is!”
“AHH, HERE IT COMES!”
“RETREAT YOU IDIOTS DON'T STOP AND LOOK BACK!”
Tobi raises his Head with panting breaths and can't help but Think how stupid they all are for trying to reach him in his state. “You idiots..what kind of assholes do you have to be to put *me* in danger as well?” Tobi said with eyes completely Empty yet so troubled.
An eruption of Fearful cries comes from Them, 5 metres ahead as the Demon Leaps into the Air and Bares its axe down at them. They only cry with collective terror as the Demon descends and Blows them all into Jolting, Bloody pieces of flesh. Tobi just watches on in Dazed terror as the Demon then locks its animalistic gaze onto him. “...heh. I guess that's it for me then. thanks alot guys.”
The Demon flourishes with An Inaudible Laugh As it Twirls it's axe with Surprisingly Practised Skill and Prepares Hurl it at Tobi but A Demon Equally As Muscled as itself Descends from the sky and Giant Stomps Tobi's Demon killer to be.
“OBANUORRREE!!!!” The Landed demon Yells, Raising a Hammer over The Other demons body, who Roars An Equal Deal of an Ancient Cry And Raises it's guard to block.
The Two demons have formed a crater, and Sizeable shockwave powerful enough to Scatter Every Dead Human piece in the area but Tobi is left on his feet, Looking shocked at the turn of events.
“What the Fu-” - “Hey!”
At the call, Tobi Does a Swift Turn to Block something coming but As A Girl Flashes past him and Drags Him Away and down the mountain by the Collar, he's Starstruck as He's practically flying down the mountain and Is then Banged against the tree as the girl takes cover with him. Actually moving to grab his shirt and Shove him deeper into the tree.
“Damnit Doofus, Is this the kind of swordsman that you are!? Letting yourself get the apeshit kicked out of you and watching others die while we fight for our *lives*!?”
The Shockwaves resound as the Two Demon's Clash and Almost seem to Shake the very forest Surface with the weight of their blows but Tobi can't hear anything but her Fierce yells at him and looks up to see something that has his eyes widening to the size of saucers as she concludes with “Is this what my brother saved you for!? To be a *lousy Dingus*!?”
“I….I remember you.” He says to the face of A Girl He Essentially sacrificed his Body to save 4 years ago. Ume Shabana’s Piercing Deep Blue eyes were piercing into His Gold One's, Filled with a never-ending Fury.
To Be Continued