jigokulogs | ( open ) 003

Entry tags:

( open ) 003

Who ⬤ Hizen Tadahiro & you
What ⬤ Catchall for May & June
When ⬤ May
Where ⬤ See prompts
Content Warnings ⬤ N/A for now

SUBSTORY 1: MOON MEDICINE

(It was just mochi. How dangerous could mochi be? There's a reason why mochi is up high on Hizens' list of favorite foods and it's because mochi has never done him wrong.

… Yeah, this definitely isn't his brightest moment and in his defense, he never pretended to be particularly smart.

It's a warm, sunny spring day but Hizen is bundled up in his hoodie and a scarf. No matter what does, he can't fight off this chill and even being out in the sun isn't helping. Desperate, he tries to buy a hot drink from a vending machine if only so he can have something to warm his hands with and

it just takes his money without giving him anything. He tries one more time and gets the exact same result! He can be found sticking his arm up the slot, shaking the machine, or punching it. Sensitive to being watched, he turns his head to see you. Yes, you and snaps, teeth chattering,)

What?! (He's defensive,) Stop looking!

(And please don't perceive the fact that he's literally shaking while he yells at you.)

SUBSTORY 2: VEND ME A DREAM

(They had to retrieve a photograph of a certain host and then bring a hitobashira some takoyaki from a particular vendor that required waiting in an obscenely long line that never seemed to move. After getting the takoyaki, they had to go to a cafe and find a kitsune who was actually a very offended tanuki who asked them if they tried the vending machine alley on the other side of the city. When they get to the alley, they find a strange vending machine in the place that should have had the vending machine they were looking for. It looks like it's been replaced with one that just gives ominous mystery items instead.

His body is small and can only hold so much frustration before he explodes. He lets out a yell when he sees the vending machine,)

Aaaaaaaah! (He kicks at it which makes it beep and flicker,) Where the hell is it?!

(An entire floor full of vending machines and the right one isn't even here.

Maybe you were already with Hizen on his quest. Or maybe you were also led to the hall of vending machines. Or you just heard about this weird place and want to try your luck for unrelated reasons.)

SUBSTORY 4: HANIWHAT?

(He isn't the most sensitive person, even back home when he knows what to look out for. It's easy for most things to slip past him if he isn't paying attention, especially in Jigoku-cho where there are so many things happening, a strange occurrence here and there can be overlooked. But these dolls are strange. He isn't an expert on them but he recognizes them for what they are. They're old; far beyond in his time or knowledge. At first, he hadn't thought much of them but the more he noticed them, the more uncomfortable he became.

These things just feel bad to him. They make him uncomfortable and put him on edge and when he hears that the Enma are calling for them, he's relieved. Good riddance. He has no idea what they're up to but it isn't going to be his problem.

But everyone is so nosy. Everyone wants to push their luck and see what they are. They touch them, they move them around, they treat them roughly, and it just makes him feel anxious. When he sees you checking one out, he snaps,)

Oi. Leave it alone.

(He's clearly irritated,)

You're gonna get in trouble if you keep messing with it.

GENERAL: SHUTEN TERRITORY

(Hizen can be found checking out some of the weapons stores in Shuten territory. He isn't looking for a new weapon— he's perfectly content with his own sword, thank you very much. But when your true form is your sword, weapon maintenance is important. He's shopping for oil, cloth, and other things to take care of himself and he's also asking around to see if anyone can recommend a good smith but no one really wants to give out their source. Instead, they keep trying to sell him a new sword,)

I told ya already, I'm not interested.

(Yeah, but they really don't want to give out their suppliers. It's bad for business, you know?)

I don't give a shit about that. I'm just looking for a guy that can fix things.

(Well, if your sword is broken then might they recommend this one here? It's quite popular with the new recruits—)

I'm not broke!

(Kind of a weird thing to yell but yeah.)

OPEN TOP LEVELS

I'll be adding more top-levels and linking them here so they don't end up lost in the other comments,

⟡ Post-Intro Mingle: (It's raining, it's pouring)

WILDCARD

❀ If you have another idea for a prompt or would like to plot anything out, let me know
❀ Plotting comment here
❀ contact; eski | discord: eski#9874 | PM

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

(He's so cold he's angry and look... at this point, a part of his sleeve is stuck on something in the machine's slot and he can't get out. This is truly embarrassing but instead of feeling warm from his embarrassment, he's still cold.

Ah, it's that kid though. He recognizes him from the funeral but he can't help but snap again,)

I d-don't need help!

(Ah, his teeth are chattering to the point he really can't help but stammer and that's stupid. God damn human bodies are annoying sometimes. You get a little cold and you end up having to sound like an idiot too? Terrible.)

-- Just trying t-to get what I paid for.

[ a blink- ] Are you ... shivering?

[ he didn't wait for an answer, instead he moved closer and peeked over the other's arm. it didn't take him long to realize this boy is— stuck. he muttered 'hold on' under his breath, and what seemed like a dumb idea at the start, which involved yuuji shoving his arm along with the other, somehow ended up with him freeing hizen from this tiny prison.

alas, he may have ripped off some fabric around the sleeve in the process. a small price to pay as hizen can always buy a new hoodie. considering how close they are, their shoulders touch briefly, and yeah— that boy is actually shivering.

but ... it's so warm out here? how is it possible to even feel this way? with a confused frown, yuuji dismissed the vending machine dilemma for a moment. ]

Are you sick or something? You're having a weird case of the chills here.

No.

(And he tries to will himself to stop. He holds his breath and tries to think warm thoughts. Kotatsu, hot tea, warm sake, a good hotpot...

And now he's just tense. He freezes, body locking into place as he tries to restrain himself. He hates this. It's embarrassing. It's so embarrassing, he wants to fight. Yuuji reaches in to grab his arm though and what he feels catches him off guard. For the first time in hours, he feels warm Yuuji is close to him and for a brief, rational side of him thinks, "Well, of course, humans are warm."

Still, he dislikes being close to others and once he's free, he immediately pulls himself away and feels the chill settle in again.)

I'm fffine. (In a poor attempt to keep his teeth from cahttering, he just ends up hissing his words,) 'S just cold outside or something.

(It is, in fact, not cold.)

You're lying.

[ -his tone is oddly casual despite calling the other's bullshit. with a tilt of his head, yuuji stood there with his hands on his hips, unsure if he should just— drag that guy to a nearby clinic against his will or not. hizen is one of those stubborn people who would put up a fight, even if it's not in their best interest to retaliate, and they might not have the luxury of wasting time with endless negotiation. the temperature drop is not something they should downgrade; it can be fatal.

but, how can he help him? hizen's guard is up, heavily loaded with cannons and a massive 'do not touch me' sign on top. hmm. ]

A terrible liar, too.

[ a friendly tease. he then starts unbuttoning his jacket, tugging and shrugging it off his shoulders. it's not a heavy fabric, more fitted for a light breeze in a spring's morning— but he offers it to the other anyway. ]

You should head back to your apartment if you're not feeling well. Is it close?

(Hey, I just met you (recently) and this is crazy but don't call me out for who I am maybe?)

(This is, in fact, exactly the kind of person he is, though. Yuuji would have to drag him kicking and screaming to a clinic because he knows he isn't sick. He knows what's wrong with him. It's that danged mochi and he's too embarrassed to admit it out loud.)

Shut up.

(Ah, but--)

W-what're ya doing--

(Except he knows exactly what he's doing and bro, if he's going to be embarrassed, the least his body can do is actually feel warm from it.

He doesn't get this kid. He's so nice that it's weird (it's not).)

... 'S out by the other Shuten places.

(And they're out in Sutoku territory more or less. He looks down at the jacket suspiciously. It's like he expects there to be a catch? He's still shaking, though, to the point he just feels tense.)

[ this guy is so nervous around him it's almost concerning! it left yuuji unsure whether he should find it amusing or be offended. maybe he's experiencing a blend of both emotions, but it didn't discourage him at all. ]

Relax, will you?! I'm your friend!

[ apparently yuuji decided they are friends without any further consultation from the other party; it's a done deal. a few easy steps brought him closer, and before the other would retaliate or try to make a quick escape, he -gently- secures the jacket around hizen's quivering shoulders; allowing the warmth of it to drape down to his arms and chest.

he then raised his hands up in a token of peace; eyes playful. ]

There! That wasn't so bad, right?

(Hizen has not had a friend in like, 400 years so you can't fool him, Yuuji!! His eyes narrow and it looks like he could snap something back at him if his jaw wasn't so locked in place because of his cold right now.

There it is again, though. That sudden feeling of warmth he hasn't been able to get all day. He can feel it around his shoulders and in front of him, warming him up and getting his muscles to finally relax now that they don't have to shake so intensely.

And as soon as Yuuji moves away, it's gone. )

...

(It had happened earlier too when Yuuji helped him get unstuck, hadn't he?)

... How're you doing that?

Doing what?

[ yuuji is lost here. while he understood hizen is going through something, either he's sick or influenced by a weird drug (which is not an uncommon predicament in this place) — he's still clueless. it didn't mean the sorcerer isn't eager to help, because he is. ah, he thought the jacket would be enough to soothe the other's struggles, but the shivers are back again. for fuck's sake!

apologetic, yuuji glanced down at the shirt he had on; bright in yellow but certainly too fragile to offer any warmth. ]

... Do you want my shirt? I'd take it off for you.

(It's not his fault he trusted a rabbit to know how to make mochi right. Except it is his fault. He really should have known better.)

Keep it!

(He doesn't want his shirt. He doesn't want to see Yuuji shirtless either?!)

You made it warm then it stopped! You did it twice!

[ again, hizen gets this 'i don't know what you're talking about' stare, but ah— yuuji is trying to figure it out now. he frowns, idly rubbing the back of his head, really working hard to turn the rusty wheels in the back of his mind-

and— hesitantly: ]

Well, you did stop shivering when I was putting the jacket on you. Could it be ... my touch?

[ and then, because working for the enma he gets to deal with a lot of uncomfortable cases; mostly the wild drunks and those who are influenced by drugs. ]

Did you eat anything weird?

(

The face he makes when he says "Could it be... my touch?" He thinks he might rather die.

It only gets worse though. His face starts to turn a shade of pink! Did he eat something weird? Why does he have to say it like that? Yuuji why. When you put it like that you make it sound like he's no better than Mutsunokami "eats questionable berries" Yoshiyuki and Hizen hates being compared to him.)

No?! (He's lying.) D'ya think I'm s-s-stupid or something?!

[ when it finally settles, yuuji couldn't bite back the scoff. while it did come off as condescending, it wasn't his intention at all. it's relief, actually! hizen is not sick— being drugged is not okay either, but at least it's nothing more than a cheap trick to encourage some unfortunate soul to get cozy with others. nothing too sexual; just unnecessary acts of affection. hey, it could've been worse!

and yet—

it's still funny. ]

Okay, you're not sick. You won't die. You just need a cuddle buddy!

[ a pause. ]

Can I have my jacket back?

(TAKES HIS JACKET AND THROWS IT AT HIM

because how dare you utter the words "you just need a cuddle buddy" to Hizen "Actual Hedgehog" Tadahiro and find it funny.

Anyway, his aim is actually pretty off considering how stiff he is from constant shaking but at least it's a slow throw. Easy to catch.

And no, he will not say anything but he will look annoyed.)

[ a throw that's easy to catch and easy to dismiss the hostility behind it— instead, yuuji catches it with a grin, and he's quick to put it back on him. listen, it's his favorite one, and if it didn't help their case at all, why not take it back?

and then, without any given warning, he grabs hizen by the wrist and pulls hard enough to close the gap between them. the nightmare didn't end there, yuuji ends up curling his arms around the other, trapping him in a cozy bear-hug— not too tight, not too loose. just perfect.

why waste time trying to win him over when he could just force that boy into a quick recovery? really, they both have places to be. ]

Don't even bother reaching for that sword.

[ snatching it from him should be a breeze, considering how stiff hizen is. ]

(He yowls when he's grabbed, stumbling forward, tripping over his locked legs and begins to flail out of reflex. He grabs Yuuji's arm with one hand, fingers curling around his sleeve and trying to pull himself free.

Ah but

there's a flood of relief as warmth begins to spread and he realizes how tense he'd been. He feels like he's melting into a puddle after a workout. He begins to relax but it's more out of exhaustion than his own free will.

Yuuji warns him not to reach for his sword and he just hisses,)

T-touch me and I'll kill you.

(Yuuji is already grabbing him but he doesn't mean this form. He means his true one, the sword at his side. His master is the only one that gets to touch that.)

[ an odd choice of words, considering they are touching one another, but he picks up on the extra defensive tone when the sword is mentioned. yuuji ends up peering at it again and over hizen's head; where a few hair strands brush over his chin. his arms are comfortably secured above his waistline, bodies pressed, subtly reassuring hizen he's allowed to relax into the embrace— he won't let him fall to the ground. ]

I won't touch 'it' so long as you don't reach for it.

[ they had to set up some rules here to avoid any further conflicts. considering how the shivering is subduing, he can tell it's working. yuuji's tone is far lighter now, dropping his guard a bit. ]

I'm sorry. I know if I told you what I'm about to do, you wouldn't be okay with it. I couldn't leave you behind like this either.

(It sure is a sword. A real katana with a nice lacquer sheath. It's the nicest thing Hizen owns by far but unless Yuuji has the ability to sense spirits, it probably just looks like an ordinary sword.

This is awkward, though, and Hizen hates every second of it, even if it does make him feel better. For the first time in what feels like forever, he feels warm. Human bodies are a real pain in the ass. They come with burdens and responsibilities that he never had to worry about when he was just a sword. But Hizen has to admit that there are nice things about having a body. It's nice to feel warm, he thinks. It beats being cold and unfeeling. Even as a sword, though, there was one feeling he'd always enjoyed and it had been... the feeling of being held, especially by his master. A sword that isn't allowed to be touched is one without purpose. When held by a skilled master, a sword has purpose and strength.)

...

(The way he relaxes is involuntary; a response to letting his muscles relax from hours of shivering. He's still on guard. He can stand on his own!

... Okay maybe he doesn't hate this completely but he sure as heck doesn't like it which is practically the same thing as far as he's concerned.)

The hell are you talking about? Why d'ya care?

(He got the feeling Yuuji was a weirdo but he's relaly proving it isn't he?)

[ his powers took a major hit when it comes to his sensitivity to sensing spirits, so it did take him a lot longer than usual to figure out why he always found himself eyeing that sword. common sense begs that he's being— cautious of it. hizen did seem a bit agitated around him, and that's never a good sign when someone is on guard like that. however, now? being this close to that boy, to that sword—

-whatever it is about this weapon, it is really familiar.

he gets interrupted by the other, halting his line of thoughts. ]

Do I really need to explain why I care? It's too obvious.

[ in honor of keeping the tradition of offering no warnings at all, the sorcerer ends up lifting that boy's weight off the ground; with one hand curled behind his stiff knees and one supporting his back. there isn't a hint of struggle here; hizen is light as a feather. without entertaining any protests, yuuji starts walking ahead. ]

You're a Shuten, right? So, I'm heading to your territory!

No, it ain't--

(Obvious. It isn't obvious at all to him. As far as he's concerned, Yuuji is being weird as hell and nothing makes sense. He doesn't get to finish any of his thoughts though. He ends up picked up and he lets out a loud yelp. He definitely kicks and flails the entire time but he is, in fact, rather light and small. He's easy to pick up and bully around, really.

In the end, he has one incredibly disgruntled Hizen in his arms, glaring daggers right up at him. If looks could kill, he'd kill Yuuji three times. If he wasn't still warming up, he'd definitely put up a bigger fight.)

...

(He's annoyed. He doesn't want to say a dang word to him right now.

But,)

You're not carrying me on our turf.

(WHAT IF SOMEONE SEES THEM. HE'LL DIE.)

[ hizen did try to retaliate ... but was it enough to set him free? sadly, no. yuuji didn't even flinch, unwilling to let him go just yet. at times he might tip his head to avoid getting punched in the face, only to allow the other to land a kick or two in the process— however, it all settles down eventually, and he's left dealing with those nasty glares instead.

he can tell he is being punished by the silent treatment; it still didn't stop yuuji from teasing. ]

Wouldn't it be easier if you just accept that we're friends?

[ really! was it worth all this struggle? when hizen finally broke his silence, yuuji shrugged. ]

You wanna go to mine, then? Or, you can just hide your face when we get there? I don't think anyone cares ...

We're not friends.

(He doesn't have friends! Not a single friend in all of hell or all the world. He's friendless now! Insisting they're friends makes it feel like he's making a joke of him, too! And he won't stand for that. He'll get his revenge later once he's recovered.)

Everyone's gonna know! And they're gonna fucking care!

(he's self conscious, yuuji.)

We kinda are. We exchanged numbers, and that sealed the deal.

[ even when yuuji had to, literally, corner the other into giving him his contact details, maybe chased him down a block or two— hizen did comply in the end. he smiled at him, slowing down a bit but not stopping yet; they are still relatively hidden from any prying eyes, only one street away from reaching shuten's territory.

if hizen is really uncomfortable with it— it was unfair to force that idea down his throat. it might be a shuten thing? reputation matters. ]

We'll sneak around in the shadows like criminals. Would that make you feel better?

(Friendly people are truly the worst.

He's quiet. It's clear he's uncomfortable but in Yuuji's defense, Hizen is easily worked up and awkward all around. If it wasn't for the sheer cold he feels whenever he apparently isn't touching someone, he'd break free.

Finally, he makes a sound something like a short laugh. He scoffs,)

... You can do that?

(He really gets the feeling Yuuji isn't exactly the sneaky and subtle type.)

Of course I can! It's what sorcerers do! We work in total secrecy!

[ now that hizen dropped his guard a bit, yuuji decided they should focus on their mission again- which is warming him up. that's when he felt more encouraged to lift the boy up a bit, so hizen could rest more of his weight into him; somewhat curling up against him too.

for someone who's an enma, yuuji seemed to know his way around shuten's turf; he ends up turning into a narrow alleyway behind a long line of restaurants/bars. while it's not completely private, they might walk past an employee or two in their break enjoying a cigarette, but they didn't even bother to look up from their phones. ]

Do you believe in cursed spirits? Well, before showing up at this place.

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