BSD
Administrator
She leads, he follows. Like a dog attached to a leash, until his nose and eyes familiarize themselves with every inch, every section, every building. Even with her back turned to him, nothing is hidden. The expression in her eyes and face. The rhythm of her walk and pace of her steps. He reads her like a book and not only that, but her spiritual energy flows as well, even without it being exerted right this moment. Himari displays a sheer annoyance in the matter of Arashi becoming a Lieutenant. Was it because she is being forced to show him around, or something more entirely? Nonetheless, her attention is grabbed by the tasks handed to the both of them. More so, the directed construction of the Kido Cannon. She obviously knew more about it. Perhaps even studied it in her own time. While she let her thoughts rattle on that, Arashi seemed more pressed on the annoyance she has built towards him.
Alas, the arrival to his quarters, located upon the second floor. The path it took to get here was memorized, installed into his brain, locked. His expression steeled, unchanged as he approaches the door, laying a hand upon the handle.
“Well here you are, lieutenant. Your quarters. Don’t need me to hold your hand and walk you in do I?”
The annoyance in her tone grows, like a bad taste in one's mouth. Her smile did absolutely nothing to hide this, even if she tried her best to. The door slides open, gentle and swift. He steps in as he takes a few paces and then stops abruptly. That cold chill of being watched, it seeps in. That touch of a hand slowly wrapping around the neck, it seeps in as well. Then finally, the intensity of his spiritual pressure is felt by only Himari. A golden-yellow, envelopes his frame. A flame that is contained and well-honed. His eyes opened, where once his midnight blue of his eyes changed to match the color of his reiatsu. He turns his head to the left, to look back over his shoulders…
No longer did his smile remain. An intense glare swallows it whole in the moment between them. The air around them rattles, shaking, she would find pressure bearing down upon her body. Slowly, but surely. Himari will come to find that Arashi did not join here to deal with childish emotions. He did not have the space, time or will to handle such. Liking him is not of his priority, but respecting him is a must as a seat above her own… His eyes trained to her own, focused, a blade that looks to pierce through her very soul and heart. A serpent…
”This annoyance of yours, it's becoming palpable. You do not have to like me, or accept me. But you will respect me, as your superior. I will not look down on you, nor belittle you.”
The coming silence, unless broken by Himari. What will she say in such an intense moment? Does her will give against him? Does she allow her temper to flare up and lose control of her actions and/or words? Even deep below, Arashi hoped that she wouldn’t do anything stupid. He still has a gentle spirit, but how long will such a spirit last? If no response is given, then his face returns to its generic smile. His eyes closed, barely open to tell if he can actually see. The once strong flow of pressure is erased in an instant. The atmosphere became calm and relaxed as if nothing had happened.
”Thank you, Himari-san. Please close the door, I look forward to our journey together. I’ll come get you when I am ready to depart to the Kido-Corps.”
At that point, he wouldn’t wait for a response. His head turned back as his steps continued. At the point of her closing the door, there he was, sitting upon the desk, tossing the Lieutenant badge around in his hands.
”Tsk… You should have twisted that heathen neck! Tore her throat to shreds and gouged out those stupid eyes of hers."
Even now, his hollowfied counterpart is unexpected. Showing up when Arashi least expected it. He didn’t bother to respond to him either, leaving him to his opinions and choice of action. His Hollowfied version sets the badge down as Arashi leans Hoshizora upon the desk and picks up his neatly folded uniform and starts towards the changing room within his office.
”Hey! You hear me talking to you?! And why didn’t you obliterate that blubbering idiot of a Captain? You will always be soft, he was right about you having no conviction. Always hesitating and holding everything back.”
Sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never hurt you...
What a load of crap! Words even when presented with action to follow can hurt someone. Can change someone's view of the world. Can manipulate and crush another's motives and spirits. So did his counterpart crush his own? Is Arashi thrashed and torn by his words alone. No, his smile couldn’t afford to fade. His steel resolve could not afford to waver. Even his counterpart knew full well of his history before the Academy. However, it is different when it is someone who knows your every thought and deeper feelings… He knows exactly what buttons to press and how to press them.
”He can hear you. Now go back, he doesn’t need your meaningless dribble and constant harassment.”
The light in the darkness, now she stands before his counterpart who grunts and scoffs at the sight of her. A maiden wrapped in robes of light. Her hair flowing like water and her skin still spared from scars, abrasions, pimples, freckles or anything that could even remotely stain her pale skin. Her feet never touch the floor, but instead she hovers as the light of her robes creates a circle of light beneath her.
”Hoshizora… You are just as soft as he is…”
His final statement as his form begins to dissipate into black ash and specs of dirt. From bottom to up, he can only laugh and grin at the sight of Hoshizora, before completely disappearing. She can only wave at him, while she pulls against her bottom eye-lid with a finger and sticks her finger out in a childish manner. As her seriousness returns, she can only sigh heavily, looking over towards the changing room door that had long been closed. Without a peep and without a sound.
”Arashi…,” she mutters to herself...