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[color=e43605]”Ahh….Good ramen always hits the spot!”[/color]

This was Taiki Himaru; a six-foot tall, blonde, and fairly well-built, self-described “Bad boy” who was decidedly proving how far away he was from that with the pleased grin plastered on his face. Nothing like fresh food to get someone in a good mood, especially him. His clothing made him look a [i]bit[/i] tougher, with his black jacket and ‘tough guy’ shades, but with his guard down among the company of his twin sister, it felt almost obvious that he didn’t have a harsh bone in his body. 

Having stepped their way out of the fine (and decidedly cheap) Ramen Shop, the young man stretched out a bit, shifting the weight of the bag strung over his shoulder. It held some necessities, of course, but it also contained something more…Concerning. As soon as his mind drifted to it, however, he shook it off. He glanced to his side, where his beloved sister was. [color=e43605]”So, what now? I know we just ate, but uh, I heard about a mochi stand not so far away…”[/color] Not willing to say any more, on the chance it gave her an opportunity to tease him on his (admittedly shared with his twin) sweet tooth, he simply looked casually to her, trying hard not to expose his eagerness at the answer. 

A knowing small smirk played on the corner of her lips, one she was desperately trying to hold back for her brother’s sake though her eyes glittered with mirth at her twin’s obvious eagerness with the suggestion to stop for dessert, one they both had a particular sweet tooth for. It showed a bit on how different they were. Where he suggested and asked, she would have just led them there without acknowledgment on where they were going. Taiki had worked to give off a certain vibe with his appearance but it ultimately failed when his true nature shined through which she thought was for the best. Seika was glad he didn’t turn out like her, guarded and struggling to show positive emotions in fear it would be used against her. 

She ran a hand through her waist length ebony hair before tapping her chin, pretending to seriously debate on the suggestion for a time instead of eagerly agreeing straight away as she wished to do. She took a brief moment before dramatically rolling her eyes and sighing loudly as if irritated, [color=f49ac2]”Ugh, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try.”[/color]. Seika chuckled a bit with a light nudge to her brother’s side to let him know that she didn’t mean anything by the fake irritation and gave a soft smile. It didn’t last long though as someone roughly slammed into her shoulder while her attention had been on Taiki, making her frown with a growl of annoyance. [color=f49ac2]”[b]HEY! WATCH WHERE[/b]…”[/color], Seika started, planning to give the person a piece of her mind when her words died, stuck in her throat as she got a good look at the offender. The middle aged business man appeared ragged, zoned out, eyes glazed, life practically sucked out of them and while she might have just chalked that up to a job he hated….it didn’t seem that way. He didn’t stop in his slow walk forward and barely even acknowledged that he had run into another person and almost did so again to the couple walking hand in hand behind them. 

A chill went up her spine, something feeling off, a dark sensation which caused her nose to scrunch as she had been trying to block out everything before then but now it caused her to focus on the others around them. There were actually quite a few people that were moving the same way and headed in the same direction. [color=f49ac2]”We might have to hold off on dessert.”[/color] 

[color=gold]”[b]NO![/b]”[/color], a voice within her backpack called out, making her quickly pull it forward off her back with a harsh shush as the cat spirit popped out. [color=gold]”Y-You should c-continue onto the mochi! Y-Yeah, n-no need to investigate. It’s j-just one weirdo pfft…who needs that when mochi awaits![/color], Shinchuu trying their best to be convincing when he really wasn’t. She gave the cat an unamused stare before glancing at Taiki with a ‘I guess there is trouble after all’ look since her scary cat always gave it away by being so ready to backpedal from a situation. 

When that suit-clad walking dead smacked into his sister, Taiki had half a mind to tell them off himself before his sister, of course, stepped up. Not like she really needed him to do that…Still, his anger gave way to concern as he watched the man painfully lurch off to the distance, clearly far out of his own head. Just like Seika, the young man could see something was off here, more than just a bad work shift. As per usual, he couldn’t stop that concern from reaching his eyes, if not his face, though it was broken when he heard a low, raspy voice creep from his pack. 

[color=3f0fb7]”...You can sense that, can’t you, boy? Something malicious is afoot…”[/color] Hearing this, just as quickly as his sister had swung around her pack to speak to a certain companion of hers, he did the same, hastily unzipping the pack, and, well…He’s ashamed to admit it, but he found his voice caught in his throat seeing the gleaming eyes hidden in the dark recesses of the indigo kimono; this was Kishin, his partner….For better or worse. 

In spite of his brief fear, he jumped back in, whispering in a harsh tone into the bag. [color=e43605]”H-Hey, watch it! We’re in public, ya know?!”[/color] His plea fell on deaf ears (...Did Kishin have ears?), however, as the ancient garb’s spirit spoke once more. [color=3f0fb7]”We don’t have time for that, boy! If there is something unnatural threatening peace, it is your duty as a fledgling Hunter to face it!”[/color] Taiki couldn’t help but flinch at the harsh tone that the Koya-damashii took. I mean, sure, he pretty much felt the same way, especially if actual people were in danger, but…Well, couldn’t it maybe wait until they got mochi? 

Ugh, his conscience wouldn’t let him live that down, no way. [color=e43605]”Sheesh…”[/color] He pulled his head from his back, quick to sling it over his back before they could get any looks (even if the street was relatively quiet tonight). His gaze turned over to his sister as she shared his glance, the two of them understanding in an instant. All he could do was sigh. [color=e43605]”Yeah, I guess you’re right…If the old fart can tell something’s off, then he’s prolly right. So, uh…We follow him?”[/color] 

While it was horribly muffled, as Taiki awaited Seika’s response, one could hear the indignant voice of Kishin. [color=3f0fb7]”Of all the….Old fart?! You rotten brat! Didn’t anyone teach you to respect your elders?![/color] He was trying his best to ignore the aggravated cries of his partner, opting to put on his shades and give a confident grin to his sister. 

Seika nodded with a serious expression, glancing at the man that continued to walk away from them. [color=f49ac2]”We follow him.”[/color], she agreed, quickly changing directions to follow. She waited a bit until there were less people in view, still not comfortable with the whole transformation thing and hoping to wait till the last minute. Taiki might also follow her lead if she transformed that second and Kishin…well, let’s just say that spirit was best left for moments before a fight and not in the stalking a potential problem phase. At least if they were wrong (unlikely with both spirits speaking up) then they would have made sure the man got home safe. 

With that, the pair wasted no time; luckily, subtlety wasn’t really required when you were trailing the equivalent of a walking corpse. Guy’s awareness was shot to hell, that was clear enough. It wasn’t long until the duo had made it to the edge of the forest, where they watched the man promptly collapse, with others seeming to litter the path forward. [color=e43605]”Whoa, you okay?!”[/color] Taiki darted forward, managing to catch the man before he made the hard collision, feeling for signs of life. Seemed he was breathing…Barely. Still, it was enough to give a sigh of relief from the young Hunter. [color=e43605]”Whew…Looks like they aren’t…Y’know. Not yet at least…”[/color] He trailed off, staring further into the darkened woods, and giving a brief glance to his onee-sama. Even beyond the path of barely conscious bodies, there was a faint miasma in the air, not dissimilar to what they’ve experienced before…But it was stronger, more focused…Hungrier. [color=f49ac2]”That’s a relief.”[/color], Seika sighed, feeling tense as she stood from one of the victims she had been checking on. 

It wasn’t the time to exchange words. Taiki took the lead, charging off further into the forest, closer and closer to that sense of malice the twins could feel; however, a ways through, he could hear a voice from his pack once more. [color=3f0fb7]”Hold, boy! While you’re more resilient than most folk, getting so close to a spirit of this caliber from the side of the mortal realm is a poor call. It’s time to enter Limbo…”[/color] Crap. He was afraid he was gonna say that. Stopping for just the moment, he hastily pulled his backpack off, rummaging around until he could free Kishin. He stared at the cloth carefully, as the spirit within responded once more. [color=3f0fb7]”...You know what happened last time, boy. I hope you have a better plan than donning me to start with?”[/color] He was right, of course; he wouldn’t be much good in the fight if he passed out from blood loss after a few minutes like the first time. Hm….

With a burst of inspiration, he took the kimono, tying it around his neck while not directly wearing it, smirking all the while. The Koya-damashii took a moment to take this in, then merely sighed. [color=3f0fb7]”I…Suppose this will do. Now, focus and clear your mind…And take the step forward.”[/color] Taking the advice to heart, Taiki took this moment to take a breath, gathering his energy and clearing his mind, closing his eyes briefly…Before taking that step forward, now an almost entirely different man. 

[color=e43605]”Sheesh, this never gets less weird, does it?”[/color]

[color=f49ac2]”It really doesn’t.”[/color], was the quick response Seika gave as she stepped up next to him, her pink tail swishing back and forth as she felt on edge. The air was so charged earlier that she hadn’t been able to do much more than follow Taiki’s lead and it had only gotten worse the further in. Chuu-chan had been practically crying in fear at getting involved and had happily shoved the item in her hands to be a part of her braveness as the spirit put it. 

Still, there wasn’t time to yap; the presence was close, and….Somehow it felt aggravated? Something must be happening, which meant the twins couldn’t afford to waste anymore time if they wanted to fix this. In a blind sprint, the two kept their forward charge up, eventually breaking into the opening…Just in time to almost eat a barrage of icicles. 

Taiki was quick on the uptake, standing in front of his big sister with Kishin pulled in front, acting like an impromptu shield. To any onlooker, it’d seem ridiculous; the thin fabric of that kimono couldn’t possibly stop those sharp spires of ice. And yet they crumbled all the same as they collided into the Koya-damashii, fracturing into fragments on the ground, only leaving a faint frost over the cloth. Normally he might react to being attacked or even just charge forward on the offensive, but….

His eyes fell onto the others around here, seemingly confronting the same spirit. His jaw fell soon after, too, before he turned to Kishin still clutched in his fist from the defensive play. [color=e43605]”T-THERE ARE OTHER HUNTERS?!”[/color] The shouting and shock he displayed certainly didn’t fit his new appearance, and his Tsukumogami could only sigh. [color=3f0fb7]”I don’t remember ever claiming you two were unique…”[/color]