[Closed] Fiery Rulers come face to face...

[darkestbefore]

Who: Yona and Mikoto
When: Backdated to August 10
Where: Yona's Temple
What: A sleeping Mikoto wakes to find himself somewhere otherthan where he fell asleep.


[ Several days had passed since Shizuo had shown up with a sleeping Mikoto and Izumo tossed over his shoulder, reporting that their temple wasn't safe and he couldn't wake them up. Worried about the pair, she tucked them into one of the spare rooms all the same and contacted one of the gods specializing in healing just to make sure they were really alright. When she was advised to leave them be until they woke up naturally, she abided by that, although she stayed close in the following days, just in case something else befell her unexpected guests.

This morning finds her out in front of her temple, perched on one of the steps and a tourist guide to Japan spread open in her lap. She munches thoughtfully on an apple as she browses through the contents, learning what she can from its pages and the pictures within. ]

Comments

1/2

[lionhearrt]

[ Early that morning Suoh finally awoke, not slowly like the mountain rising from a deep slumber but sharp and fast like a volcano ready to blow. The room filled with red, his aura bursting through the doors as it spilled out while mind and body fell out of step. His power awoke first, but his mind wasn't all that far behind, the red aura's cool touch a testament to the fact. Nothing burned. And when consciousness finally caught up, Mikoto pulled his power back, pushing himself up to an upright position with a shaky hand. He blinked around the room filled with his aura, unsure what was going on as he fully caged the power back inside himself as he felt the presence of his shinki nearby. ]

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[lionhearrt]

[ Once he checked up on him, it didn't take him long to leave the enclosed space and head outside into the well-kept courtyard where he found the goddess seated among the scenery. A picturesque moment by all accounts.

Still in his black sleeping robe, Mikoto stepped out onto the cold stone with bare feet as a deep voice still heavy with lassitude cut through the peaceful scene. ]

Who brought Izumo.

[darkestbefore]

[ She glances up at the sound of his voice, jostled out of her thoughts by the sudden appearance of Izumo's god. Scrambling to her feet to greet him, she casts him a warm smile. ]

Ah, you're awake! Thank goodness, we were beginning to worry. My shinki, Shizuo, brought you - both you and Izumo. When Izumo didn't show up at the bar, he went to investigate and found your temple being attacked by ayakashi, with the pair of you deeply asleep inside. He thought you might be safer here until you woke up again, I hope you don't mind.

[lionhearrt]

......

[ Shizuo. So it'd been him. His stature relaxes by a fraction at the explanation. Waking up in an unfamiliar place with his shinki nearby didn't exactly fill him with trust but somehow he believes her. ]

You protected him.

[ He looks at her. ]

That's all that matters.

[darkestbefore]

[ She looks a little surprised by this statement, but his gratitude over it has her opinion of him softening a bit. She hadn't been sure what to think of him, after their previous meetings and what she knew of him through Izumo, but his concern for his own shinki was definitely a point to his credit. ]

Of course I did. Even if I didn't count Izumo a friend, I would have kept him - both of you - safe. It wasn't any trouble. You were asleep the whole time. I'm just relieved neither of you were hurt before we found you. Are you... feeling better? No one was certain what had happened to cause you both to slip into such a deep slumber.

[lionhearrt]

[ At her words, a flicker of disdain surfaces before it's chased away with an even look. ]

How long were we sleeping?

[darkestbefore]

Several days now. And I'm not certain how long you were asleep before Shizuo went to check on you - long enough that Izumo's absence was noted, at least. Today is... [ She pauses, squinting a moment as she tries to remember how this world's calendar worked. ] The tenth day of the month of August.

[lionhearrt]

[ ...... Half a month. He'd lost half a month. What were the Heaven's up to now. His lips deepen into a displeased look as he curbs his initial instincts to demand an explanation. ]

Hmn.

[ Sooner or later, it'd come out. Instead, he focuses on what's in front of him, in this case, who. ]

Next time, leave me there.

[darkestbefore]

[ That has her stopping short before she frowns at him, shaking her head. ]

Unless you think that would have had you waking up sooner, then no, I will do no such thing.

[lionhearrt]

[ A look. ]

I'm not asking.

[ He's telling. ]

[darkestbefore]

[ She lifts her chin and gives him an even look, because she's not one to be easily intimidated. Especially not when it's something she feels strongly about ]

And I am still refusing, whether you ask it or not. If not for your own sake, then for Izumo's.

[lionhearrt]

[ A step in her direction. ]

I'll burn him alive, you and your shinki.

[ If he hadn't subconsciously reigned in his powers when he first awoke, then her temple would have burned along with Izumo and everyone near him. This was why his temple - specifically, his room - was made for him. To keep him contained. ]

[darkestbefore]

[ For a moment, alarm flickers through her gaze before her expression turns thoughtful instead and she regards him with an intent look. Taking what she knows from Izumo and thinking over what she's observed for herself. And also what she knows of her own abilities in this place. ]

You can't control it.

[ It's a question, and not. ]

1/2

[lionhearrt]

[ A moment's pause as he stares back at the summer goddess. ]

2/2

[lionhearrt]

[ Before its swept away behind indifferent eyes. If she understands then there's no point in explaining it. ]

Next time, leave me there.

Tell that to your shinki.

[darkestbefore]

[ She gives a soft exhale, still looking troubled as she thinks that over. ]

I will tell him.

[ Shizuo would probably actually be relieved, because he was always deeply concerned about potential damage to her temple anyway, even when considering his own strength. ]

...But if that is the case, don't be surprised to find that if this happens again, we've come to you instead.

[lionhearrt]

[ His mouth pulls up into a dark grin. ]

Try it.

[ And he'll burn you. ]

[darkestbefore]

I'm not asking, either.

[ She counters him with his own words before taking a deep breath and holding out her hand, palm up. Her gaze narrows, intense focus called on for the span of a moment, a face summoned in her memory, and a moment later...

Fire springs to life in her palm, snapping and crackling, its flames dancing wildly with a hungry frenzy before guttering out as abruptly as she'd summoned it. ]

You are not the only one with abilities that have the potential to spill out of control. But that does not mean I will turn a blind eye to when you could be vulnerable. You are not an enemy, but you are someone very important to a friend. [ She meets his gaze, again using his own words. ] That's all that matters, right?

[lionhearrt]

[ One moment, he's standing in place and the next he's teleported a foot in front of her, a flicker of red dancing behind gold eyes. ]

Don't give me your parlor tricks.

[darkestbefore]

[ She just gives him an exasperated look, letting her hand drop back to her side once more. ]

I'm not trying to give you any tricks at all. I'm merely giving you honesty. But don't be so arrogant to think you are the only person caught in this mess who fears their power will spill out to harm those around them.

[lionhearrt]

[ She controls fire similar to his clansmen. The display does little to move him. As far as he's concerned she's another one of those kind-hearted souls blind to what's impossible to change. Still, she stood up to him, a fact few could claim. ]

Hmph.

[ A hint of amusement as he turns, dismissing the conversation. ]

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona's not in the habit of backing down on things that are important to her.

She watches him turn away, but there is something else on her mind, so she calls out to him before he can leave. ]

May I ask you a question about Izumo, before you go?

[lionhearrt]

[ He stops. She and her shinki seemed to care a whole about Izumo. It's the only reason he doesn't keep walking. The only reason he stays in place, but he remains silent - Say what you want. ]

[darkestbefore]

[ When he stops, she gives another moment of consideration on how to phrase her question. ]

He's told me some... about you. But. Did he... did you know him? Before?

[lionhearrt]

[ Before. His lips pull up in amusement. ]

Hmph. That's a delicate way of putting it.

[ Izumo had been there before anyone else. His oldest friend, and the only one that never saw him with tinted glasses. ]

I knew him.

[darkestbefore]

[ That answers what she wanted to know and she dips her head once in understanding. ]

I thought you might have. I would say sorry, but that seems to fall short here, doesn't it? But at the same time... I'm happy there's someone who remembers him. Who is here to watch over him.

[ As painful a task as that might sometimes be. ]

[lionhearrt]

[ He snorts, amused by that comment]

You got it backwards.

He never needed me. Still, doesn't.

[darkestbefore]

Are you sure about that? [ She glances up, searching his face. ] Maybe you need each other.

[lionhearrt]

[ He chuckles. ]

You really don't know anything do you.

[darkestbefore]

[ Her lips quirk faintly at that before she shakes her head. ]

Maybe not. It's true there is a lot I don't understand. Especially in this place, where everything is strange and unfamiliar. But I know I need my friends - even if several of them no longer remember me, or what we had together. [ As heartbreaking a knowledge as that was to harbor, every time they looked at her without recognition. Her expression turns wry. ] Sometimes this place feels like a very cruel joke.

[lionhearrt]

[ A faint smile that hardly reaches his eyes as he puts his hands in his pockets and turns around to head out. ]

That's because it is.

[darkestbefore]

[ She takes a step after him, reaching out, fingers resting lightly on his arm, because she'd seen that expression. She knew it all too well. She doesn't let him walk away yet. ]

And you're okay with that?

[lionhearrt]

[ He stops long enough to look at her, his eyes momentarily telling. ]

I've got no choice.

[darkestbefore]

[ She meets his gaze, lifting her chin a little, because she recognizes that look in his eyes, too. ]

And do you often let something like that stop you?

[ He doesn't strike her as the sort that accepts choices others define for him. In that, he reminds her of Hak. ]

[lionhearrt]

They are the chains I chose to keep. But they have another choice here. I'm not taking that away from them.

[darkestbefore]

Chains?

[ She gives a slow blink. And then realizes what he means by that. She thinks? Any way she tries to interpret that is unpleasant, and it shows in the sudden flare of passion in her eyes, flickering like flames. ]

Is that what they are to you?