[ steadfast in the face of an oni, smiling softly while uttering her true name — the name of the oni king, the name this world was built around. what bravery. or stupidity, perhaps.

a pillar of humanity, where no humans resided. ]

That's right. You know my name now. I suppose it was in fairness that you gave me yours.

[ how they fought for the privilege the first time they met. it's almost ironic how easily that precious information slipped out now.

after she croons those last words, her smile widens, sarcasm sharpening its edges. ]

... Fufu. You're a bad liar, you know. ... No. Or maybe I'm just getting used to them?

[ fairness, starting from scratch — noble ideas. too noble coming from a poison-rotten woman like her; that smile on her pretty painted lips says it all.

shuten traces the shape of that mouth with her eyes, distracted, built up energy focusing on the only other soul in the world right now. the shop is indeed eerily quiet, only the hum of the light bulb above them to accompany the pattering of rain on the roof. ]

But if you're really going that far ...

[ she doesn't stop — shuten reaches, suddenly. the horns of her armor clatter against the wood of the crate.

she pins one palm against the girl's shoulder, bracing but nearly shoving with the swiftness with which it descends.

then, her other hand touches down, the length of her thin fingers brushing feather-light at the girl's soft lips, dancing like she were attempting to coax tender secrets from them. her shoulders push in — she leans into her. ]

... Then why not let me give you something as a 'thank you'?