Subaru//Some

[secondhandeye]

It had been a long day.

The new Diet building was haunted. Subaru, as well as many other spiritual leaders they had consulted, all said it would be as such. But the government insisted on rebuilding on the same ground.

Now they expected Subaru to clean up the mess.

He could hear the Sakura murmuring things in the back of his mind, that nagging itch that connected them growing to a din he couldn't ignore any longer, but tonight he could. He might need some help to ignore it, but he could.

He stopped at a corner store, leaving with a bottle of vodka and an instant dinner. The old woman saw him often during her graveyard shift, and was always happy to. The nana always teased him about what he got up to at night, but if she knew, she probably wouldn't feel quite as comfortable teasing. It made Subaru very happy she'd never know. She reminded him of his grandmother.

He didn't want to head to the Sakura borrow. Being in that surreal place always made it harder to ignore the Sakura, even if it was a safer place. And being in this bare, white apartment, whose walls he was so use to, was much more comforting. He set the food on the counter to let it cool, and fished his cigarettes and light from his coat pockets, before tossing it on to the couch.

The night air was warm, the noise even reaching this high up. A train line had run near his apartment before, the land had been unredemable, and it cut a jagged dark scar into the many lights of Tokyo. It was one of many. Plucking a cigarette from the pack, he tossed the pack to the table as he leaned over the balcony. His eyes traces the blinking traffic lights along the edge of gash, a dozen new creative traffic arrangement as the city strained to function and grow.

Comments

[gruesome]

Lying on the floor in a dark, sparse apartment, the Toy patted nervously at the belt he wore. Weapons were an unaccustomed weight to him, but this client had wanted extra assurance. The target was to be killed, no matter what. He could feel System riding in the back of his mind, ready to step in. But he could also feel her amusement - she'd want to see him try first.

When he heard movement below, he rose silently, padding on four feet out to the balcony. The light below was harsh and disconcerting as he leaned out over the railing, but he fixed his eyes on the silhouette of the human there. That was the right balcony, it had to be the right target.

Gripping the railing with his feet, he went over it in a sinuous curve, dropping down directly at the figure below.

[secondhandeye]

This was new.

Subaru stepped back quickly, long limbs almost tangling as he tried to get his body back in the apartment. He's have more power there, with the various spells cast over that domicile.

But he miss calculated the size of the person coming at him. Fairly, as he realized that, despite giving off no sort of abnormal energy, this wasn't a normal human. Or anything he quiet had ever seen.

Realizing backward and forwards weren't an option, Subaru dashed for the railing, leaping up and to the next balcony over.

Hopefully his neighbors were busy and not enjoying the view.

[gruesome]

He caught his scent in an open mouth and his heart leapt. He had the right target. That was the scent he'd been given in the dark little room where he'd been prepared for this. Twisting, he lunged to follow, three hands reaching to grab an ankle mid-air. He couldn't let him get away now.

[secondhandeye]

Subaru hissed s the thing caught his ankle, and twisted himself in air. His hands came together in a series of rapid movements, as he twisted his weight to swing out and away from the creature.

Bright circles and lines appeared in the air before him, before a burst of energy rushed from the center of it, moving straight for the creature still occupying most of his balcony. He needed to throw up a seal, before either of them did any real damage.

But he hadn't done that in a long time. And he wasn't sure he could think of anything to protect.

Well, if he succeeded in breaking the monster grip, he had a long way down to consider it, he thought, as his body swung out into the open air of the night.

[gruesome]

The Toy jerked back from the lights, startled, and it reflected brightly off eight wide eyes, two curves of small, sharp teeth. He'd been told the target had abilities, but they hadn't described lights out of nowhere. He nearly let go, one hand flashing up to protect his eyes, but System snapped out a warning not to release him.

With a panicked growl, he kept his grip, yanking on the man's ankle.

[secondhandeye]

It was strong, and pain flared up Subaru's leg, and then back, as he was yanked up over the railing, and back on to the balcony.

Above him, he heard the sound of his upstairs neighbor's sliding glass door opening. It was a young couple, expecting a baby...maybe having one, right now. As the lights flickered off those rows of teeth, he found all the inspiration he needed. Not for something he could have, but for lost chances and other live.

His hands came together, and the familiar surge of energy gathered there in a six point star. It grew, a pale gray mist passing over and through them as it stretched out. In it's wake the air was strange, still and sterile. Sound echoed strangely, and although the city lights fades rapidly around them, a soft, diffuse glow filled the empty space Subaru had created.

[gruesome]

The Toy *felt* it, something abruptly muffled in his head, and he let go of the human as he staggered, catching himself against the glass door. "Wh-what-" he stammered, voice hoarse. He lifted his hands to his ears, but the muffling wasn't there.

[secondhandeye]

The sudden shift in the creature was obvious. Drawing himself up to his full height, he rested against the balcony, ready to leap free...

But not just yet. Something had happened. And now that he could take a moment to really look at his assailant...he was curious, as well. It wasn't human, but was talking, intelligent. Distressed. But it also wasn't something from the spirit world. Subaru knew well that other lands had other magics, but he didn't detect much of anything like that on this.

"What do you mean, what?"

[gruesome]

Cautiously, nervously, the Toy stood up straight as well, the crest of fur atop his head brushing the balcony above. A moment ago, he'd felt System's urging running through his blood, her glee at seeing him commit violence against his will. Now, suddenly, she was completely silent.

"What did you do?" he stammered, looking around them anxiously.

[secondhandeye]

"I created a seal between us and reality." He gestured to the shimmering opaque walls, just far away enough the human eye started to wonder if it's vision was blocked, or just obscured by the atmosphere, by the limits of the human eyes. He was surprised, himself, at how large it had grown.

"Anything you do it here won't effect the real world."

He left off the 'Unless you kill me' clause.

[gruesome]

To grue eyes, the distant walls were distressingly bright, and he squinted, one pair of eyes disappearing entirely into his fur.

"... I'm sent to kill you," he blurted out, hands wringing together. "I don't want to, but I have to."

[secondhandeye]

"Are you going to try right now?"

He kept his voice soft, and forced a casual, harmless looking pose. Looking harmless was something he was very good at. Polite submission was well bred into him.

[gruesome]

He should. He knew he should. He'd pay so badly for this delay when he could hear System again, but without her...

He shook his head, running a hand through his scruffy crest. "I don't want to," he said again, this time a little helplessly. "And I h-have to do whatever they say but I can't hear her now... whatever you did, I can't hear her..."

[secondhandeye]

Subaru considered the situation, before nodding softly.

"I believe...whatever she is, she can't speak to you hear."

It was, he realized, a situation he was finding similarly pleasant. In here the Sakura's needy whispers were silent.

"...if magic is something that can block whomever is controlling you, I may be able to help. Would you like some tea?"

[gruesome]

The Toy's shoulders slumped, and he glanced into the apartment, lowering his head. "... I would like to stay like this a while longer, if we can?" he asked, meaning the shield. Whatever it was. "I p-promise... I can promise not to try anything until I must."

[secondhandeye]

Subaru nodded softly, and lead the creature into his living room.

"I apologize if my furniture is not comfortable for you form, but please feel free to sit however is comfortable for you most." He said, before stepping into the kitchen. Under the seal he had no water or power, but there was water in the fridge, and the charm to heat it was nothing but a flick of his hand.

He brought the warm the living room, and knelled before the table on a dark pillow.

"Why are you trying to kill me?" He reached for his cigarettes, before raising an eye to the other "Is this alright?"

Attempts on your life were stressful.

[gruesome]

At a loss, the Toy hesitantly folded his legs beneath him, sitting across the table from his target-turned-host. "... I can't ask you not to," he said circumspectly, already bracing himself for the expected pain of a small flame.

[secondhandeye]

Subaru set the cigarettes to the side. He'd just tip in some of that vodka next time he went for tea.

"Do you know why you're trying to kill me?"