Rigel rubbed at his eyes as the morning sun began to filter in the room. He had stayed awake all night at Kohaku’s side, making sure there was no danger of one of the others coming and finding them.
Kohaku breathed in a deep breath, opening her eyes and stretching her arms up. "….Rigel?" She rubbed her eyes a little. "…You're still h-here?…."
“I’m still here,” Rigel mumbled, although he had not moved from the ground despite Kohaku’s words last night. He hadn’t wanted to be even tempted to fall alseep when Kohaku had been so scared.
She sat up, her fur and her hair ruffled a little. She stretched her arms in the air cutely and lifted her snout a bit. "I– I think… I think it might be best…" Kohaku hated to admit it, but she had to– "I think you should go before Daichi finds us…" She frowned.
“Okay, but I’ll see you soon,” Rigel responded softly, giving her hand a squeeze before letting go. “Watch the rose, remember.” He opened the window and slid out, using the metal to brace himself before his feet hit the ground.
(N-N-No kiss? Not even a peck?? Nah, jus kiddin…)
Kohaku waved goodbye to him before shamefully closing the window. It wasn't a second later when someone opened up her door. Luckily, it was Youichi and not Daichi. "Goooooood morning Kohaku," He yawned a bit rudely. "Daichi's making some breakfast downstairs in the dining hall… You can come down when you're ready."
She nodded but didn't say anything. Hopefully he'll be alright…
Rigel snuck back into the woods nearby the manor, planting himself under a tree and closing his eyes. He was exhausted from staying up all night, but was glad he was there for Kohaku.
Kohaku followed Youichi back down to the kitchen. "So… What ever happened to that Rigel guy, anyway…?"
She perked up a little at the sound of his name. "Umm… I don't know…." She lied a little. "He came back to Naoki's house, but left when Daichi came…. And I haven't seen him since."
They arrived, where everyone else was seated, except….
"Where's Akira?" Kohaku asked, taking a seat at the table.
"Still sleeping is my best guess… The old guy seemed pretty exhausted on the way over here…"
(How you doing?)
Rigel slipped into a deep sleep, his exhaustion taking over. His instincts kicked in just before sleep grasped him though- the little bit of metal that he had turned into sharp defensive spikes around him.
(Oof why you ask? I'm doing okay, though :3)
Kohaku and the rest of them were eating contently, yet the girl was eating a bit slower. I bet I should save some for him…. She finished some and asked for more.
"I need to go and check on the old man," Youichi stood up. "He's been asleep for too long…."
He got up from the table and traveled up the stairs to the hallway. When he was rounding the corner, a strange smell caught his nose. What the….? Smells like a human was here…
(Just wanted to ask since winter break started and all lol. I slept until 11:00 and I feel soooo good)
Rigel turned a little in his sleep, thinking about Kohaku. He wanted to make sure she was safe. He dreamed of Kohaku being tied up in the dark room, in his place, with Peter hurting her. Rigel started to trash a little, needing to get to her but unable to.
(Lol… I know I'm kinda bad at drawing hair doos, but this is what I was thinking of when I say Kohaku's hair is long and braided. But it's brown not blonde, and all of it is long, not just the hair in the back.
https://pin.it/rh4yyccd7zrcal)
Youichi's nose wrinkled. "Maybe it was before we got here…. But it smells really fresh…." He followed it to Akira's room and he cracked open the door, not to disturb him. "Akira…." He said, but no answer.
"Akira…" He said a little louder, and entered the room. "Akira!!!!" He yelped when his eyes laid upon the bloodstained sheets.
(I don’t know what to do again oooooooooof)
Rigel turned even more in his sleep, hands grasped for something that wasn’t there. He needed to make sure she was safe.
(Maybe go back to see her if he's so worried??)
Youichi became extremely flustered. "Wh– What the hell!?" He barked, his hands pulling the sheet back. "H– H– How is this possible??? I…. I don't understand how they found us that quick…."
Kohaku was sitting at the table, her head in her hands. Rigel…. She glanced around a little. Why can't we be together without consequences….? She played at her hair, realizing just how long it has been since she cleaned herself properly. "I think I'm going to take a shower," She said, standing up from her seat.
Daichi just nodded. "Alright."
She went up to the bathroom, shut the door and undressed herself. She stepped in and turned on the water, only to be rained on by freezing water. Kohaku screamed, falling down in the tub.
The more she sat, the weaker she became…
(He’s asleep so……)
Rigel still tossed and turned in his sleep, images of Peter and Kohaku and that employee of his coming in and fading from his mind.
(Oke)
Kohaku had barely enough strength to crawl out of the bathtub half an hour later, and puddled lifelessly on the floor. She couldn't even think let alone think her mind and body were so numbed up. She shivered on the tiled floor, and barely got her undergarments on before she fell completely unconscious.
Youichi was shook, and he stumbled out of the room and back to the dining hall where Mamoru and Daichi were chatting about future plans. "Guys!" He barked with anticipation, "A-A-Akira was murdured overnight!!!"
"W-What!?" Daichi roared. "H-How is this– this possible!!?"
Without any time to waste, they rushed to Akira's room, where the panther was still laying in the bed, his blood dark and dry.
Rigel still tossed and turned and now I’m basically just saying this over and over again b/c I still don’t know what to dooooooooo.
Okey….//
Alex and Yasu were chillin out in their camp when they heard shuffling. Yasu slapped his mouth shut and shushed him. "…Hear that…?" She uttered. "Someone's around….. Wanna investigate?"
They set out, and they heard the shuffling get louder. When they came upon a tree, Yasu finally relaxed, and she let out a light chuckle. "Good people make bad choices…." She withdrew her bow and shot an arrow, hitting the trunk dangerously close to Rigel's head.
Rigel jerked awake at the sudden noise, his metal flinging out rapidly -and unskillfully- as his eyes opened. He was already in a disarray from his nightmare, but when he saw those people-
"Rise and grind," Yasu singsonged, approaching him with her bow drawn back.
Alex circled around to his other side, withdrawing two daggers. "I knew you wouldn't be too far from where they foolishly settled– and I hope you know that the panther's dead…. And the panda and the fox will be soon as well…."
(Kohaku's still unconscious in the bathroom…)
Daichi and the others help hoisted Akira's heavy old body from the bed and down the stairs outside into the garden out back where Rigel was the other night. "Sh– Should we bury him here?"
Daichi nodded. "This isn't a terrible spot… Although it'd be better to bury him at a Hi Temple…"
"But there isn't one nearby…." Youichi muttered. "But I did grab this…" He pulled a shovel out and dug a hole for the old man.
They lied him down in the hole and buried him, giving him blessings and prayers before returning into the house.
Rigel tensed, anger flairing but he kept it at bay. He dragged the metal back close to him and demanded, “What do you want?” Because there had to be a reason why they hadn’t killed him yet.
"Well, we want you dead…. But…" Yasu drew her bow back. "I suppose letting you live won't be that big of a deal…."
"Under one contition," Alex was careful with his daggers. "If you leave your little fox girl friend alone, then we'd be more than happy to keep you alive."
"But…." She sneered. "If I see you with any of those fucking animals, then I'll shoot all of you and your scrawny hearts!" Yasu barked. …Too bad she'll die either way…
“You just said that she’ll be dead soon anyways,” Rigel snarled, anger flaring in his heart. Anger that only fueled his powers, “And I think you forget that I’m am not your helpless prisoner.” He lifted his metal, sharp points directed towards the two of them as he pushed himself to his feet. “You also seem to forget the fact that I don’t really care what happens to my physical body anymore, so I’m not afraid to take risks.” At that, the metal went spearing for the two murderers.
Yasu managed to dodge the metal, but Alex was rather unfortunate. The steel jabbed right into his chest, and he was killed instantaneously.
The girl got nervous. Wh-Who does this guy think he is?!?! "Fine!!!" Yasu howled, trying not to cry over Alex– he was a pathetic helper anyways. "I just thought we'd give you a chance since she's the only one in this world who could ever love you past your differences." Did I just say that? She tried not to wretch. "But…. You know…. You're right too. In fact… If you want her… She's lying dead in the bathtub from so-called 'cold water poisoning.'" It was with that when she fled, leaving Alex and the guy behind. Screw all this complicated garbage…. I should just kill him instantaneously…. But I can make is life hell, too.
Rigel’s heart stopped dead. At first, he had been terrified that he killed someone like that. But then when he heard those words… She’s lying dead… Rigel stumbled back a step, leaning against the tree for support. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go- Rigel was supposed to have enough time to find her and save her. Tears dropped off his face at this point, anguish anchoring him in place and the only word coming out of his mouth, “No.”
Daichi and the others were sitting in the dining room, still thinking about what happened with Akira. "I knew it was going to happen…" He muttered.
"Huh? With what?" Mamoru glanced up.
"I knew we'd eventually end up living in fear again…. Damned himans… They always find a way….."
Youichi stood up. "Umm…. I'll be back…." He rushed away and upstairs. "There's no way it takes that long to take a shower…." He got to the door and knocked. "Kohaku!!" He called. "Kohaku, you still in there!?" When there was no response, he jiggled the doorknob. "Dammit!!" He barked.
Then Rigel’s legs were moving as he frantically ran back towards the house. A soon as he got in range he made the rose bloom, so much that the petals became disfigured. “Kohaku!” He screamed in agony, not able to run fast enough.
Youichi jumped when he heard Rigel's voice. "Yo!! Up here!! She's trapped in the bathroom!!" He kicked and slammed the door, but it was hardly any use. But out of sheer adrenaline, he blew the door open, and saw her half naked on the floor, soaked and unresponsive. "Kohaku!! Say something!!" Youichi howled.
Rigel used his metal to pull himself off the ground so he could go directly to the room. He used the metal to break through the window, and before he knew it he was in the room at Kohaku’s side and ripping off his shirt to cover her- to try to give her any bit of warmth that he could offer.
(Ooh oof I thought he was in the house….)
Youichi tried not to yip once he noticed it was only Rigel. "Holy cow! What on earth–?" Despite the randomness of his appearance, he got to Kohaku, lifting her off the ground. "She needs an outside source of heat…." He'd flip out if I told him his jacket would do no good…. It only works when it traps body heat… In which this case, she hardly has any to begin with… "Hopefully there's a kotatsu or a fireplace of some sort in this place…."
