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

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(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.

(Sorcerers...... there's a surprise. You really can't judge people in this city.

He tenses when Yuuji adjusts his hold on him. There's still resistance! He tries to lean back but there's really only so much he can do when he's held like this. It's an awkward position to be in!! At least it's warm. If he tells himself it's just to feel better again, he can bite the bullet. Still... it's embarrassing.

Ignoring the few people they do see, he makes a point to avoid eye contact with everyone and look away. He might be hiding his face? It's fine.

Another surprise from Yuuji though. Sorcery? Cursed spirits? He knew Yuuji was weird but... He ends up mumbling,)

... 'm not human, y'know.

Hmm? Really?

[ he's not surprised; it is Hell, and they've met so many people from different worlds, timelines, and cultures. it had its pros and cons. however— this might explain why he'd been feeling a type of energy from that boy, or maybe his sword; yuuji is not sure.

he guides them towards the residence area in shuten, and since he didn't know which building hizen is staying in, he slowed down. it's clear he's expecting the other boy to guide him now, and yet he asks. ]

What are you?

[ bold and kinda rude— but hizen is used to him by now. maybe? ]

(Flatly,)

A killer's sword.

(And he begins to shift some, pushing himself off of Yuuji and trying to get back onto his feet.)

Put me down. (He grumbles,) Not letting anyone see me get carried around my own neighborhood.

..... huh. [ before he could ask him any further questions, yuuji was being pushed away? in which he didn't budge at first, half tempted to deny him that request, but hizen is moving a lot better than before. perhaps he could walk for the rest of their journey without any issues.

it felt weird now that he's no longer holding the other, though. it was kinda, sorta — a nice feeling.

he placed him down gently, arms dropping to each side in a quiet form of whining. ]

Um, can you explain to me what you mean by a 'killer's sword'? You're an actual one? A human sword?

(As soon as he's set down, he feels the chill coming but notes that it isn't as unbearable as it was before. Uncomfortable? Yes, but it's tolerable. The hard part is really just finding his footing again once he's down.

Did you know if you shake too much, it's essentially the same as working out for a long time? He's exhausted and his body feels like lead.)

Act like you belong here.

(Don't look like such a good person or something. Likewise, Hizen will act like he's fine! Even if he's a little stiff. )

Tsukumogami. Sword spirit. Whatever you wanna call it. (He isn't fussed about the details and he doesn't really think they're worth sharing.) This body's a drag.

[ perhaps he should tell hizen about his fun part-time job in shuten, and how he familiarized himself with their territory, or should he tell him about his adventures of being bullied every night because 'why the fuck is an enma working in our turf?!' — hmm, maybe not. he'll leave that revelation to another day.

he ends up following the other, staying close enough to catch him if anything happens. ]

Spirit? Ah, that's why I was drawn to you. [ oh? it wasn't hizen's charming personality? the nerve. ] I kept thinking ... there is something about that guy! Though, you're not an evil spirit.

[he's not neglecting the way he introduced himself, but it didn't mean hizen is responsible for his owner's actions. it's as simple as that. ]

So, is he here? The one who used you to kill others?

(A spring breeze blows and he shivers briefly. He's getting better but he's still sensitive to even the slightest breeze. Ugh. He shakes it off and keeps walking, leading him towards the right apartment building but down a narrow alleyway to go in through the side instead of the front,)

I'm not like that.

(He isn't evil. He wouldn't call himself good either.)

... Not exactly.

(Yes, there is a version of Izo here but... it isn't the same as the one Hizen knows.)

You're not really answering any of my questions ...

[ yuuji muttered under his breath, giving the other a flat stare but following his lead regardless. often he would back off, but this seemed like a subject worth persuading.

still bitter about it, but— he reached to grab into hizen's sleeve as they walked; somewhat wondering if that's enough of 'physical contact' to offer some warmth. even when he's not technically touching him. ]

Are you, at least, happy he's here?

Tch--

(He hisses when he feels Yuuji grab his sleeve but-- Ugh, it isn't much but it does feel warmer again. A little nicer. So he just clenches his fist and keeps walking faster until they get to the actual building, slide in through a broken entrance, and start climbing up the stairs to his apartment... because the elevator is always broken.

There are things he's willing to answer easily but this is difficult because... Well, his feelings about Izo are complicated. Further complicated by the fact he really doesn't understand his own feelings most of the time. He clenches his fist,)

Why do you wanna know? It's none of your business.

[ he's not bothered about the stairs, thankfully he had enough stamina not to be out of breath by the end of it. yuuji didn't seem to be interested in where they are going for the time being, more keen on why is it hard for hizen to answer a simple question? why is it so upsetting?

yuuji pursed his lips together, keeping quiet until they reach the corridor leading to the other boy's apartment; slowing down their pace while still holding into hizen's sleeve. ]

Because you introduced yourself by using the word 'killer' and not a 'swordsman'. It makes it sound like you aren't fond of whoever it might be. That's why I asked if you're happy he's here?

[ there's a pause, contemplating. ]

You can say 'I don't know'? We don't always have an answer to how we feel about someone ...

(He stops in front of his door and shakes his hand free suddenly, turning on his heel to glare at Yuuji,)

Then I don't fucking know, alright?!

(He's starting to shake again but it's different from that bone-chilling cold he's been suffering from. He's getting worked up and as usual, he has no idea how to process these stupid human emotions in this stupid human body. What was given to him was a body a̷n̴d̸ ̴e̷i̶g̷h̷t̸ ̶̮̅͘s̸̡̖͍̾͑͝u̴̠͂̃̍̕f̵͎̬̈̒͛̕f̶͉͑͐̅͘e̴̮͐͗r̵̰̥̉̏̔̾i̸͇͝ṉ̵̱͒̿̂͜g̵͓̲͌̏̂́ś̸͕́̾. The s̸̙̏ṳ̸̬̖̩̅͐f̵̗͕͜͝f̴̦̹̣͒ę̸̻̒̌̊͋r̴̦͈̉̾i̴̘̯͐̿n̸̳̻̭̬͐͋̉͑g̶̳̮̜̅ ̵̹͘o̴̫̱͈̱͐͋f̴̛̙̫̙̌̄ human existence. He wonders why he w̶̪̚a̶̤̪͑s̸͔̱͋ ̸̳̯̌c̵͇̟̊ŗ̴̞̐e̵̛̟̒a̴̮͕͛t̷͈͕̓e̵̥͙̎d̶̟̺̅͑.)

All I know is he's here and-- just drop it.

[ his hand stayed still for a bit before he, slowly, lowered it down to his side. this could be the first time yuuji found himself lost for words around the other; only to end up staring with his own expression easing into concern.

after a moment of silence, he nods his head, gaze shifting to the ground as he curls his fingers against the nape of his neck; back hunched. ]

Okay. I'm sorry ...

[ there are times when you can push, and times when you need to take a step back. he didn't wish to stress hizen more than he already did. ]

Are you feeling any better, at least? Was I ... helpful?

(Wow, why does he look like that. It makes him wonder if he went too far. He's done it before. He knows he isn't a nice person. He doesn't think he even wanted Yuuji to apologize. He just wanted him to let it go.)

...

(He folds his arms in front of him and giving them a squeeze as he tries to still himself. The shaking stops but he's still wound up and tense.)

... Yeah. (Not really. Not exactly. He feels like trash now.) Yeah, you were.

Ya don't gotta help me anymore.

[ he knew something is off. yuuji isn't the brightest lad in the room, and while he adopted toxic traits in coping with his own anxieties, he is still very perceptive of others. whatever it may be, he knew he fucked up by pressing hizen towards something he is uncomfortable with.

this is not how people open up. it shouldn't bring out this kinda reaction. he pushed too hard ... ]

I'm glad I helped.

[ it's something to leave on a positive note— in which yuuji offered the other a weary smile, taking a step back. ]

Take care of yourself.

... Yeah.

(He will. God, this is awkward now. He really just wants to go inside and sleep in his futon now but he'll at least... watch Yuuji off before curling up and kicking himself once (1 time) for blowing it with someone again.)

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