chonomai | 🦋 sticksandbones inbox

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cw: death, injuries

( she remembers a cold room with only so much light. a futile struggle, the agony of breathing through shredded lungs and broken bones. she remembers poison formula after formula clicking into place why isn't anything working and condescending tears in an embrace that makes her skin crawl.

she remembers kanao's scream, and one last message.

she remembers her final breath, and the righteous, vicious hatred on her tongue til the last moment-

shinobu wakes up in a forest, staring at a night sky through tree leaves, laying alone with a sword she's certain she dropped nearby.

it hurts. she thinks, unceremoniously. she wanted to drag doma to hell herself when he got there- did some wellmeaning riverman steal that opportunity from her? but then, she supposes the afterlife shouldn't hurt unless it was hell. ... hell has more trees than she had expected.

after a long moment, she tries to stand, only to cough up blood- )

E...ven now...?

( honestly...

... ah, are those footsteps? she can't tell. she thinks so. friend? foe? or something else entirely? shinobu tries again to at least get to her feet, lungs heaving with each breath as she holds her sword weakly, vision blurring slightly. she thinks its the exhaustion.

only the one approaching will see that it's tears. )

🦋 symbolic limits

( how strange, to be the one in need of care rather than the caretaker. the clinic is well-maintained. the woman with white hair has an uncanny ability to find any movement and checks in regularly despite her lack of hearing, and she is kind. as is her helpers. it reminds her of kanae, almost.

she's not sure how tanjiro rests so politely anymore. it's maddening, simply resting. but... it is necessary. she can barely sit up.

and at least shes not alone; as the door opens, shinobu plasters on a sweet smile as usual. )

My! Did you come to visit me? I'm afraid I won't be a very good host like this.

🦋 wildcard

( you know da drill. icons to come when i can afford a paid bc i'm not dealing with that shit. )

Edited 2025-12-03 02:25 (UTC)

[ Muichiro is still... in a hell of a state, really. The plant Akaza gave him is doing wonders for speeding things up, but internal wounds are stubborn things. Still, he promised he'd be good, so instead of going outside when he itched to move, he merely walked around the clinic and checked on those who were well enough to speak.

He is not expecting who he sees when he peeks in at the newest patient. ]

Kocho..?

[ Well. He was dead, he shouldn't be surprised she's here too, but he still... manages to get misty eyed as he moves properly into the room. ]

So you've ended up here as well...

Emergency! Emergency!

[Kyojuro is at the edge of the woods when Kaname bursts through, his gravely warble immediately drawing the slayer from his thoughts. The way he moves is instinctive, falling into a sprint behind the crow as he circles back around and dives through the trees. His hands fall to his side, ready to unleash his blade the moment a threat appears.

But nothing comes.

Instead, he finds her, bleeding from the mouth, tears in her eyes. Through Muichiro, he knows that she met her end, but does cannot fathom the details. Seeing this display, the one thing he does know is that whatever came of Upper Two, perhaps it was not enough.

But his wrath can wait. His hands move from the blade to settle on her shoulders, holding her steady.]

Shinobu - [Formality is dropped for the sake of desperation. He kneels down, eyes sweeping across her form as he tries to understand how best to treat her injuries in the moment.] I am here. You are safe.

[He hopes those words reach her. He knows, by now, how alarming it must be to see a ghost like him. Not that they aren't all ghosts at this point.]

... Ah?

( muichiro? he's been so much more emotive lately, and yet the sight of tears in his eyes stuns her for a moment. shinobu stares, before smiling gently (sincerely) again, holding her hands out for a hug. )

Gentle, please, but come here. It's okay.

[the scent of human blood hits him so hard in the face it may as well be a slap. his senses randomly get thrown off in this place, but akaza is fairly fucking certain that this wasn't here moments ago. it is the reason he stalks the perimeter of town, though, hunting in a way that's counter to his instincts for the last several hundred years. he dashes between the trees silently, aiming to crush whatever monster it is that's attacked someone, but -- there's nothing and no one but her.

if her vision holds, the first thing she'll see is the golden glow of kanji-etched eyes, but the silhouette they belong to remains a respectable distance from her. the blood that his gaze still perceives as bright, burning red even in the night air is as tempting as any, but he would never allow himself to consider indulging in it -- although he is suddenly very grateful that kyojuro all but forcefed him recently.

given the sword, the tattered uniform with its gold buttons, akaza doubts the newcomer will be amenable to his presence. nonetheless, he keeps away and raises his hands, palms out, an attempt at a placating gesture.]

I don't want a fight -- and you need a healer.

Oh... I woke up injured, so I thought this was Hell... but if you're here, it can't be. You're much too good for Hell...

( her voice is shaky, wavering in volume as she tries to smile. oh, how she missed him. even if they couldn't connect...

...

if he's there- it's okay to be weak, right? to fall apart for a while? she'd like to. oh, but, she still doesn't know where they are...

shinobu inhales slowly, almost laughing. )

Upper Two did quite a number on me, right...? Bastard.

... I've missed you. If this is the final thing I see, I don't mind it so much...

...

( kanji in the eyes is all she needs to know, but... focus. focus, shinobu, you have to-- with an inhale, her vision clears, and she glares darkly for a split second, killing intent screaming not unlike a hive of wasps.

upper two.

she knows what he's done. ...

she smiles oh so sweetly. )

My, my! So I do, but I'm not so sure I believe that. Are you not the demon who killed the Flame Hashira...? Or am I mistaken?

[Despite the subject, those words remain sweet enough to bring a faint, brief smile to Kyojuro's lips. It's dashed swiftly at how easily her tone wavers. Even here and alive, she's still in danger. And though he knows enough field medicine to keep someone alive, it will only be for brief periods.

For now, he tries to put her mind at ease, even as he tries to figure out a course of action.]

This is not hell. And I will not be the last thing you see. Things here are incredibly complicated, but we are alive. You and I both. And I intend to keep it that way.

[As he speaks, his fingers move. They glide down her arms, searching for any breaks or tension. If she's on her feet, she should have enough strength to hold herself up if he carries her on his back, right?

He twists around and motions for her to climb up.]

There is a clinic not far from here. The healers were able to do a great deal for me when I was recovering. They will put you right. And as they do, I can explain all you need to know.

[ He is careful- for both their sakes. As he moves closer she'll likely notice some marks on his arms that weren't there before. Similar to bruises, really. He takes a deep breath to calm himself once he's hugged her, not wanting to make her strain her injuries just to soothe him. ]

Last I heard you had died fighting Upper Two... I didn't think I'd ever see you again.

( her gaze follows his hands. so diligent! as he turns around, she slowly sheathes her blade and does as wordlessly requested, resting against him with a soft yet heavy sigh of relief. )

It's largely my torso and lungs that have been wounded. I've lost a lot of blood, which is why it's hard for me to stand...

( but if it isn't hell... and if he knows she had died (how did he know? ... other than the obvious wounds.) then- oh, her head hurts. but she can still receive and retain information.

there's a clinic, which means either a fortress or a community. whatever this second chance is, she must be ready- she must heal and get stronger, so this pathetic display cannot ever happen again. )

... Yes, I'll listen. Tell me everything you can.

[haha... gods, this slayer is tiny, but all of that fight packed into her would be more than enough to fuel a small army. and all the seething, masked with a polite little smile? yes, akaza finds himself taking a single step back. she's already injured badly -- even just incapacitating her would likely exacerbate things...

how funny and sad, to go from centuries of seeking out battle, only to be at a loss for how to avoid a confrontation, now.]

You're right, I am. He's here, if you'd allow me to take you to him. I'm sure his word will mean a hell of a lot more to you than mine.

I did.

( though, with the crows having followed them into the infinity castle... he surely didn't need the confirmation. ... she holds him close, one hand on his head and the other around his shoulders. )

Fate's seen fit to grant me more time, however precarious. I can only hope that my gambit paid off, and that you've all seen victory.

( yeah you walk away, bastard. walk more. ~~off a cliff.~~ shinobu's smile tightens as she tilts her head slightly. )

Ah, I assumed this was Hell, if the likes of you and I are here... I would appreciate it if you wouldn't lie to me, Mister Upper Three.

( she can't keep the posturing up, though- another wet, bloody cough wracks through her body, sending her stumbling- not now, not in front of a demon-!! )

Damn it-

[Shinobu has always been small and light, but never has she come across as fragile. Not until today, as he reaches his arms back around to secure her legs. It feels like he carries a child on his back, and that makes his chest ache. None of their rank should ever be brought this low.]

Then allow me to do the bulk of the work, my friend.

[He stands, careful to make sure that she's steady and stable, before marching off.]

You are in a place called Aldric's Grove. Contrary to what the both of us believed upon waking up, we are not dead, and this is not the afterlife. I know this, as my brother and young Shinazugawa are also here and perfectly fine. [And surely both of them are fine! ... Right?] Tokito has also arrived - [Weird that he's not included among the living...] - along with one other.

[Not this again...]

That said, we are not outside of danger. There is an entity within the Forest that seeks to torment us. I have seen his trickery first hand several times now. Thankfully, its malevolence seems to have come to a pause, with the colder months. [He is diligent in his report as he marches, reciting it just as he might have to the Master. Only now does he hesitate:] We... were called here for a reason. And in time, I will gladly explain it. But perhaps the basics will suffice until you are in better shape!

Upper Two died, your Tsuguko and Hashibira finished him off, I think.

[ Hard to hear the exact updates when he was getting diced up, but he heard that Upper Two was gone from Upper One himself. He lets his eyes close, just taking comfort in that she was here, and even if this place was horrible that she'd get more time. ]

I... don't know if Muzan's dead or not. I died helping to take down Upper One.

Hah -- so did I, you know! [there is so damn much to explain, so much that sounds outrageous even though he's experienced it... and no way in hell she'll believe a word he says, is there?

as much as her ferocity sends him reeling, her inability to stay upright makes him want to reach out. his body closes half the distance between them before he can even stop himself, but he does. maybe he's just within striking distance, if she reaches, and certainly if she uses a breathing technique, but...]

I may be a killer, but I'm not a liar. Your Mist Hashira is here, too, and so is a tiny Kyojuro and a delinquent with a gun.

What can I do right now to demonstrate my goodwill? [there's nothing, he knows. words alone will never convince a hashira, and a demon's "goodwill" is, in itself, a laughable concept.] Your allies will be very cross with both of us if you bleed out in the forest, you know.

...

( this is strange, isn't it? what does a demon like him even care? and yet... what choice does she really have? this place is too unfamiliar and she doesn't know where en is-

... )

Give me one of your eyes. Preferably your better one, if you can tell which it is~. A strong demon like you should be able to function like that, right? And if you betray me, I'll take your other eye myself.

( she is, frankly, fast enough that he wouldn't be able to stop her. )

( she cuts herself off from asking something insensitive- neither of them need it, and it would be cruel. her own cynicism can take a backseat, just this once, and let herself have some form of hope, even if its just... that they can be okay here. even if it's quickly dashed by the forest's machinations. )

... Tokito is like us then, is he? ... He was so young...

( it's not fair. its not fair! why did the demons have to... he should have gotten to put his sword down and live a jovial life with his paper airplanes. her grip on his haori tightens with rage as she inhales sharply. )

What sort if entity? It must be powerful if you haven't managed to stop it yet. What does it do?

( doma is dead? at kanao and inosuke's hands? she stares before a startled, relieved, laugh tumbles from her mouth, almost disbelieving and yet- )

I knew she could do it. My Kanao... and Inosuke. I wish I could have done it myself, but if I could pave the way...

No, I can be satisfied with this.

( and then he says that. and her joy dies instantly. she pulls him closer, holds him just a bit more tightly- )

... I'm sorry. You deserved a longer life than this. But I know your efforts would not go to waste.

[Oblivious to the war within Shinobu's own mind, Kyojuro continues onward. His pace picks up, well aware of her flagging voice. Some dark part of his mind worries that he might fail her if he isn't fast enough. Perhaps this, too, is a trick of the Forest. A reminder that he, too, can fail.]

I am afraid so.

[He will not mince words. He will not try to sugar coat it. Muichiro fell in battle, just as they both had.]

I am led to understand that it is a god, of sorts. One that is vengeful, and has it out for us in particular. It is why we are here.

[And perhaps why they had been cast into such terrible lives to begin with. But again, that is something he will hesitate on.]

There is something you should know, Shinobu. I would not normally trouble you in this state, but... [Perhaps it's easier, not being able to look her in the eye.] Upper Three is here as well.

It's okay. I might not have made it, but I made an opening for the others. The others should only have Muzan himself left to worry about. I think they can win.

[ With the upper three out of the way with several Hashira still standing, they would at least be able to hold until daybreak. Or, it gives him comfort to believe that. ]

If I could save the others... that's all I wanted.

[an eye. of course. that's only fair -- akaza himself had tried to convince the trader as much.

fine. neither one is better or worse, in his opinion, but gods, will it feel cathartic to finally be able to offer someone the left, just like kyojuro's. akaza hears out the hashira's demands, and wastes no time in complying; he plunges a couple of fingers between the socket and the eye, crushes the connective tissue, and pops it out without an ounce of pain showing on his face. akaza hopes that the lack of display isn't a dealbreaker for her, even if there is a steady flow of blood from the socket before he manipulates the flesh of his blood vessels enough to close them off for now.

well, she asked for this, so he finally steps close enough to offer it out to her. if she chooses to attack him now, he's done all he could have, really.]

... You realize it'll just regenerate in a few minutes, right?

Then you'll either have to keep removing it, or get me to where you want to take me fast enough.

( it's that simple, isn't it, upper three? of course it is. shinobu accepts the offering with no change of expression, loudly sheathing her sword as she does so. )

Shall we, then~?

I understand.

( there's a soft, sincere smile, even if she wishes he didn't have to think things like that at his age. )

It's why I did things the way I did against Upper Two, after all. I just wish I could see it off properly.

[the corner of his mouth twitches up into a smile for the first time since he's laid eyes on her. oh, she's a spitfire, alright.]

I don't suppose you'd allow me to carry you? You can barely stand. [it isn't an insult, but something tells him a slayer will take it as such...]

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ii

i.

Re: ii

the bloody one :)

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cw: eye trauma

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cw: eye trauma, self mutilation

Re: cw: eye trauma, self mutilation

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