chippedsoul | The Journal [Inbox]

. . . [Yep these are words he didn't want to hear, but not for the reasons the snakes think.] I'm glad all of you came home safely.

[He gives them both headpets.] And the both of you deserve a soak after handling the difficult task I had given you two. [They seem to like this, tongues flicking with enthusiasm. They're still chilly to the touch, even when they had been under the blankets.

He rather not disturb the two already in the bath, so he'll have to make a little detour to the kitchen and prepare a bowl of warm water for the two snakes. All the while, he can't get Susato off his mind. She nearly died. That can't be sitting well in her mind.]

[ It's a pleasant chat at first, and sorely needed. Lighthearted and joking. Despite promising space, it doesn't take long to close the distance between the two of them, and Susato herself doesn't seem to mind. There's no rush, so she settles in, allowing the water to warm her very soul. It's around then that she closes her eyes--

In hindsight, a mistake. ]

[ One moment, she's speaking. The next, she can feel her stomach drop in a splash. The sounds around her muffle, and there's nothing left but as an incessant ringing, drilling straight into her head. She can see bubbles rising up from her mouth. She's underwater, and at her chest, there's a source of glowing, colorful light that she can't identify.

...Light. Warmth...

She looks down to see what it is, and immediately a loud crackling like glass can be heard as tips of her toes turn into icicles. She tries to gasp, her voice is drowned out by the water, and it's at that moment she realizes how cold the water truly is.

Ice travels from her toes up both her legs, and she fights it, but she can't move. The more she struggles, the faster she freezes, and only a statue is left, eyes wide and helpless.

Footsteps...

Suddenly a man appears before her like they aren't underwater at all. A pipe protrudes from his mouth and smoke puffs out, travelling up like bubbles. Silver hair sticks out from his signature deerstalker, and her heart swells with hope when she realizes she knows who he is.

Sholmes.

Which means the older, larger man coming up behind him can only be--

"Wait!" Yujin Mikotoba exclaims, paying his daughter no attention at all. "My good man, these legs aren't what they used to be!"

"Come, Mikotoba," Sholmes replies. He doesn't seem to hear him, and he regards Susato even less. "The game is afoot!"

Sholmes breaks into a run, with his partner closely at his heels. Neither of them look back even once. Their frames only become smaller and smaller with distance, and Susato, still encased in ice, is forced to watch and never follow. Somehow she can still breathe, still feel the rise and fall of her chest. She feels a cocktail of fear, anger and despair all at once, and in a rage, her hands shake as they try desperately to make fists. The crackling of ice gets louder, but still seems to hold as tears form at her eyes. A dangerous warmth starts at her chest, spreading throughout her body.

And in reality, the temperature of the bath has risen dangerously quickly, sending Ryu into a violent, incessant hissing fit.

"Wake up! Wake up, Susato. Don't make me bite you!" ]

Now, now, there's enough space for the both of you. [And then some. The snakes banter over which side of the bowl they want while Kazuma is working on separating Susato's things from her clothes. Besides the dirt and torn parts, there are also some fabric that appeared to have been singed. Something hits the floor, making a clinking sound. A small empty bottle had slipped from her clothes.

Empty...

His eye widen. Could it be....? He glances in the direction of the bathroom, his feet starting to move.]

Susato? [Amidst the occasional sound of water, there was some frantic hissing from Ryusei the closer he got to the door. Wake up! He picks up a bit, his movement becoming more frantic. Damn privacy, his gut is telling him something's wrong.]

Susato?! [Soon as he opened the door, a wave of heat hits him. Ryusei desperately calling out to Susato in the bath, who appeared to be slightly submerged. Steam was rising from her body. He quickly rushes over to grab her without much thought. Her body was burning from the rising water heat.] Ack! [He nearly loses his grip from the sudden intense heat from her body. No, no, no. He hates that his hunch about Susato's condition was right.] Susato! Whatever is happening, it's not there!

[Damn if he burns his hands, he's going to try to lift her from the water.]

[ Susato's eyes are clamped firmly shut, and her head turns sharply like she's averting her eyes from something terrible. Her head keeps swaying like it's on a swivel, and there's some inaudible, distressed mumbling under her breath as tosses and turns, splashing about in the boiling water in resistance. ]

Papa...? Papa...

[ Black wispy smoke, thin and subtle, starts to rise alongside the steam. Though her voice is small, in her dream, she is screaming until her lungs and throat hurt. Screaming as she goes from pining after her fathers to staring up at the icy, glossy surface from below. Snow collects violently on top of this frozen layer as a blizzard rages above, causing it to appear a harder white.

Where is everyone?

Someone. Anyone.

Trahearne. Ori. Beatrix. Aerith. They're gone...

There's no one alive to hear her. ]

Edited (nitpicking because this tag was at 2am dw) 2022-09-12 17:32 (UTC)

[She was dreaming of her father? Well all things considered...Ryusei hangs near the edge of the tub, anxious. It's getting worse. He can see that just fine, and it looks like no amount of shouting will get her to wake from her nightmare. He is not her father. Her body still felt too warm even after he managed to get her out of the water. What can he do?

His eyes frantically looks around, at the gradual appearance of familiar dark wisps, down to Ryusei. Ugh, how does one force oneself into someone's dream again?] Susato...I'm right here. [He moves to sit on the floor, Susato still in his arms. He moves to holding onto one of her hands. Come on, let him in.]

[ All alone all alone all alone all alone all alone

Susato can hear his voice, but it's distant and unrecognizable. It's just enough that she perks up though, eyes moving wildly to find the source. Who is that...? Is it Beat, or Phantom? Did they finally find the necklace... Is it over?

She still can't move, but deeper cracks form in the ice around her from her sheer determination. Her body heat settles at her hands as she tries to make fists, fingers curling slowly and with effort. On the bathroom floor, those same fingers curl around Kazuma's hands with a grip so tight, she might never let go. The black wisps start to curl around his arm like...

Well, like snakes.

He wanted in? He got it.

The scene will warp around Kazuma as he is plunged underwater into the cold and lonely dreamscape. No matter what direction he looks, there seems to be nothing but darkness, save for one large iceberg with a mysterious glow at its heart and a familiar pink tint that seems to catch in the light. The closer he gets, the more intensely it seems to shake and rumble... ]

Edited 2022-09-13 00:44 (UTC)

[There was a strong tug as he gasp. It was only a moment he sees Ryusei perk up in shock from the tub and then he was facing darkness. Cold and wet darkness. For a moment, he recalled his battle with that Noctaere beast that was 76. His desire not to drown again was enough for him to break the surface. Claws. Of course.

The dream was filled with nightmare energy, and his dream self was naturally attracted to it. For better or worse. He has fully shifted yet, more reminiscence of his Hyde appearance back in the Realm of Stories. Not the issue right now though. Somewhere within all this darkness, he could see something like a beacon in the distance. He starts running or swimming(?) towards the light, ignoring how cold he was getting. The iceberg starts to come into view. She must be there, trapped inside it. Soon as he gets there, he's digging his claws into the iceberg to get something of a grip.]

[ Somehow, Susato has decided to fight, to live. It must be that voice. She still hasn't seen who it is, but she can sense that it is someone she desperately needs... No, perhaps it is who still needs her. Once her hands are free, the ice begins to melt away from her arms as well, and as Kazuma claws his way in from the outside, he will find the ice shrinking, becoming weaker and softer by the second.

Eventually... At last, her hand punches through it in one final burst.

There is a red glow like that hand is literally on fire, but it fades quickly as it meets one of his claws. She spent all that she had. There is no valiant battle cry, no fearsome roar. Instead, her arm goes limp and her body follows, collapsing right into him as she is freed. ]

[He's not sure what's keeping them afloat as the ice gives way. All that matters is that he has Susato, and to never let her go. She remains motionless in his arms though, worry and fear bubbling up to the surface.]

Susato... [He pulls her closer, hugging her. Is one able to hear someone's heartbeat in a dream?] I'm here. Right here for you. [He can't ignore the thoughts starting to creep through his mind, being without her. Alone. Helpless to do anything after all she's done for him. Desperation in his voice.] Please open your eyes...!

[ Susato twitches with an air of annoyance like someone being woken up from a restful sleep. She frowns. Her heartbeat is slow, but otherwise steady as she moans in protest against him. Open your eyes... does she have to?

Around them, the scene starts to distort again. White static creeps in like a fog, so bright that when her eyes flutter open, it's hard to keep them that way. She attempts to right herself, gripping for the softness of whatever clothes he is wearing as her remaining arm shields her face. She catches sight of that claw, but that can't be. The fear welling up within her is paralyzing, her voice choked as she tries to meet his eyes. ]

Kazuma...!

[ Not again. Not again, never again.

The white light that would have freed them retreats into the darkness, and in Kazuma's arms, Susato will gradually feel heavier and heavier, with the sensation that she is being pulled down. The nightmare strengthens its grip on her, refusing to let go, and they sink further towards the bottom, always just a little further away.

Never ending. ]

[He felt that fear in her voice, his stomach twist. Here where one's feeling lay bare, he sees how Susato truly sees his nightmarish appearance. It's not unexpected, just heartbreaking to see. It's takes everything in him to not suddenly retreat. Thankfully this dark world keeps his mind distracted as they're suddenly plunged into further darkness. Susato weighing heavily in his arms.]

Don't let the darkness bury you! [The darkness was starting to seep into him. A vessel susceptible to nightmares is enticing.] I won't leave you. I need you.

[ Likewise, it takes everything within her as well not to let him go, to push him away. To free him. It's not fair for her to weigh him down, yet her grip on him only tightens as she buries her face into his chest. His words resonate, finally reaching the deepest part of her soul as it finds the tiniest of threads and starts to unravel it. ]

I need you...

[ She repeats his own words. ]

I need you... Please. I can't find my way out without you. You're my light.

[ Right now, he is her everything. ]

[Her light...it should be the other way around. She's proven to be just as capable if not more on her own. But he is not here to have a back and forth. She needs him. Perhaps words are not enough to help her. Perhaps they need to connect in another way.]

Look at me! [Before she catches sight of his hideous form once more, he'll catch her in a kiss.]

[ Susato's eyes close automatically. Maybe she's crying; maybe she's just numb. It's hard to tell, but she can feel the nightmare energy leave her like dead weight being shed. His taste, his warmth... It's familiar. It's not at all hideous. And most importantly, it guides her home once more.

When her eyes flutter open, she's met by Kazuma's face, mere inches from her own, and the blinding light from the bathroom ceiling shining behind him. ]

. . .

[Ryusei hisses from the edge of the tub when they return, susprised. A dark aura had surrounded Kazuma, his features that of his noctaere self. He hasn't fully shifted, mind still his own. As time passes, his appearance will eventually start to slowly revert back to normal. That aside, the important thing right now is they got out of that dark pit. When their kiss ends, he stares down at Susato, and then proceeds to embrace her. A long relieved sigh leaves him.]

Thank goodness. [A frantic whisper. He's holding her so tightly, as if she would disappear if he let her go.]

[ For a moment, Susato doesn't even understand what happened. She feels warm, and she knows she is safe, and yet hearing the frantic heartbreak in his voice terrifies her. She catches sight of his yellow eyes, and his long hair tickles her skin as she's pulled into the embrace. She can feel the scales of his snake tail wrap gently around her bare legs, and when he spoke, she thought she saw fangs.

In the end, all she can do wrap her arms around him return, maintaining a shaky grip. His shoulders are broad. He is taller, bigger than before.

This is all her fault. Her voice is so small. ]

I'm sorry... I, I'm sorry. [ She might have mumbled it a few more times, but it's not enough. ]

[What was she apologizing for? Oh. No hiding the fact it was her nightmare energy that caused this. He gently runs his claws through her hair.]

Shhh....It's okay. [Just don't leave me again. He couldn't shake these strong feelings of loneliness, even with Susato in his arms. A byproduct of her nightmare energy perhaps.] We're here...together.

[Ryusei, who had remain on the tub, decides to cautiously slither down and approach them both. Are you....are you both going to be okay?]

[ Susato doesn't say anything, but she seems to tremble as she tries to bury herself further into Kazuma, make herself as small as she feels. Her breathing is shaky against his chest, but she wills herself not to cry. Because they are here, together.

She only pulls back when she hears Ryusei, who is now tilting her head at them curiously. ]

Oh, Ryu. [ Had she forgotten about her after she'd been forced to watch the whole thing? Maybe. Only for a second. ] Did you want a hug, too?

[ Susato seems to open one arm to make room for the snake. Guess that's a yes.

Has she even realized she's still naked yet...? ]

[It's certainly quite a sight. A small naked lady with a snake, on top of a snake demon. Thankfully, there's a towel conveniently nearby that Kazuma can grab and wrap around Susato.]

Do you want to take a moment...and, maybe talk? [Is that what he's suppose to say in this situation?]

[ The weight of the towel falls comfortably onto her shoulders as it wraps around her. Susato blinks, the realization hitting then, causing her cheeks to flush her favorite shade of pink. Although this is not the first time, she can't help but self-consciously pull the towel tighter around her, treating it like a fuzzy blanket cover as she awkwardly crawls off him.

Ryu has also squirmed her way out of her arm by that point, having apparently decided that she did not need to be there for this human talk--though she assures them that she would not be far. ]

Y, Yes, but I, um... should probably be dressed... for that.

...Oh, yes! Your clothes. [Hadn't he been getting them before all this? He gets up, but has to hunch over or else he'll poke holes into the ceiling. The other issue is...actually getting out of the bathroom. One look at the door...he really doesn't want to have to make repairs for yet another door. He feels bad making Susato go out, but...]

I've put your clothes out, in the kitchen. [Why the kitchen? Cause he had set aside a warm bowl of water for Ziggy and Ruby to have a soak.]

[ The kitchen is a bit of an odd choice. That earns him a tilt of her head, but all things considered, she doesn't question it too much. She can see the way he hunches over his large form, the way he looks at the bathroom door before she walks through.

She has to bite her lip to keep from apologizing again as pauses to look back at him. ]

Can't you transform again? [ Into a serpent... She doesn't want him to destroy another door again either. ]

Not enough power. [Shocking though it may seem, but even now, the dark aura had already become barely visible around him. He settles back down on the floor, tail wagging somberly.]

Don't worry. It shouldn't take long before I'm able to leave. Apologies for not bringing your clothes though.

[ At the mention of her clothes, she is pulling her towel up and closed again, fidgeting. She tucks some loose hair behind her ears, then shakes her head, because that wasn't the point she was making. ]

It's okay. [ She sounds defeated, but clearly isn't ready to give up. ] Maybe a smaller snake form would require less power...?

[ Yet she feels the idea stupid immediately after it leaves her mouth. What if a smaller form requires more power? ]

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