The Day of Thunder

Norikage entered Toshie and Daisuke's house later that night, he had arranged to have a chat with Kumori before bed. He wondered if she was already back. Taking off his mask and sliding it into his sleeve he looked around. Of course, there was food left out by the old folks. He'd eaten his fill though, he couldn't even look at it.

These people were kind to be sure, a bit foolish like Enrou seemed to think, but he was quickly losing his suspicion of them after all he had seen. Norikage didn't really believe in coincidence, however he was beginning to think the meaningful explanation behind all the weirdness of this village had less to do with some secret cult the denizens kept, and more to do with the conflict that was swiftly approaching.

And had already arrived, in some ways. Just a few more days. He sat down and scratched his shoulder. Just a few more days and the empire would be in real shit. Could the people here be relied on to do the job? He liked to think so, but only if they were pushed in the right direction.

Laying back he grumbled, not quite knowing how to do that.

Kumori would walk in several minutes later, shaking off the cold and the last bit of inebriation that lingered from the party.

She ditched her shoes and walked into the house towards their partition in the sleeping area.

Coming around the screen she saw him there and gave him a smile.

She put her sword down next to her sleeping mat and then plopped herself down comfortably.

“So… you made it. I didn’t hear anything about someone drowning in their soup at the party so I figured you were still alive after I saw you there.”

"After all that excitement? How could I be so rude to pass out in the presence of the princess giving her subjects a stirring, yet friendly talk?" He put his hands behind his head as he lay down. Damnit he was wiped, but sleep...sleep did not seem like a good idea. It wasn't even truly force of will that kept him awake, he just focused on the girl's face and didn't want to blink.

Oh shit, I am tired. My narration is getting sappy.

"Anyway", he said, looking away and trying not to make it obvious. "Did anything good happen in all of that?"

She smirked and rested her hands behind her, leaning back to relax.

“I don’t know yet… I hope so. But mostly… I just do what I feel is right.” She let out a breath through her nostrils as she often did.

“And from what I can tell… there’s some shady stuff goin’ on… but that’s probably on purpose by the baddies. Letting good people know we are on their side… and proving it through what we do. Will help us see the good ones from the bad ones pretty quick.”

"That's fairly wise", he allowed, now staring at the ceiling. "It's like when you took your mask off you stopped being a tough talking kid with a bad attitude or something." He looked back at her with a grin. "Maybe I'll learn a thing or two as well."

“I think masks cut of circulation to the brain or something.” She said gesturing to her head.

“You should try it.” She offered with a smile.

"Well, I'm not wearing it now", he muttered. "I want you to know when I'm making sour faces." He stuck out his tongue.

“Try it more. You gotta make up for all those years and years of mask-stunted intelligence.” She said with a smile and then a playful display of her own tongue.

After a good-natured chuckle she asked, “What did you end up tracking down today?”

"Well...", he sat up, leaning on one hand across from her. He looked down, scowling a little, but it recovered quickly. Despite that, his eyes were still a complete mess of tired. "I spoke with Enrou, he was being interrogated by some Lion. They're still on a witch hunt for what happened on the first night." He yawned slightly, but his eyes shut hard. A shake of the head later, he continued. "Found Ryoshun Yukara-san, she wasn't in the best space, but I think I helped a little. Then I went to speak with Shinsei and..."

He shook his head.

"That wasn't a great conversation. He helped me out, sure, but he's in a rough spot right now. Have you talked to him lately?"

She shook her head in the negative and waited for him to continue.

"He's pretty strained, seemed ragged and tired when I got him to level with me", Norikage said. "Like something was scaping his eyeballs, he said like they'd been torn out, rubbed in salt or something and then shoved back inside his head." He made a face, like he understood what that might be like. "Said it's making it hard to see, but I don't think he meant that in a purely physical way. So...I offered him some help. Ryoshun-san needs something to do, Shinsei seems like he could use a little more time to himself to work things out, so I suggested he let her assist him with the little things."

She nodded thoughtfully, “I think that was well done… We should probably all see what we can to do to… spread out the weight.”

She pursed her lips slightly as she began to think, “I’ve never really agreed with this… Thunder plan of his… he came and told my dad about it a year or so ago. As best as Shinsei understood it I guess…”

She tilted her head, “I still don’t know about it all… but my dad trusted him… and my dad is one of the few people I do trust pretty completely.”

She finished, “Still… seems like a lot for Shinsei to do all by himself. He’s probably worn himself a bit too thin…”

"Seem so", Norikage replied and leaned forward a little closer to her. "Though that doesn't mean he didn't come prepared for that. That guy, whatever other people may thing, is still a human. You understand that, but also understand that because he's a human, and has a better understanding of what that means than most, he isn't going to fall too easily into the trap that he can do this alone."

"Now...", he looked sideways a little, then back to her eyes. "Tell me everything about this Thunder plan of his that you know. I didn't bring it up with him, but I'm finally curious enough to ask."

“Not much more than what he said that first day here… Nine champions. One from each clan. Fighting against the Champion or Champions of Jigoku… Not necessarily a fight with swords and armor… but some sort of contest of wills and might.”

She paused, “Winner take all… For a thousand years.”

"Well, you said he spoke to the Emperor...I guess I was hoping you had more information." He brought a knee up and rested an arm on it, scratching his chin a he stared at the hearth. "What do you make it it, though? Honestly. People destined to fight for the soul of humanity? Fighting back a thousand years of darkness?"

He didn't seem too happy about it, convinced or not.

“Their conversation was a private one… The Emperor, my oldest sister, and Shinsei… They even covered up my peeping hole so I couldn’t see their lips.” She said with a smile.

“They tell me it’s unavoidable… Something that happens in an unavoidable cycle.” She shrugged.

“But then they say that different times have different battles… and I hear this random number and random village and random rules… And can’t help but think there might be a better way.”

She tilted her head, “I don’t see why… I’m any less qualified to fight for humanity than… somebody wearing a different animal mon on their back.”

"I think you're qualified", he said with a shrug, not looking at her. It wasn't a lie, he just wasn't in love with the idea of her doing it. "Maybe more qualified than most..." he smirked. "Definitely more qualified than me."

“I wouldn’t feel so bad if it was you on that line. You’re made of stronger stuff than you give yourself credit for.” She replied.

“Given the risk though… I’d prefer you not be one though…”

"I'd give a lot if there was a way to avoid whatever fate has in store...but...", he shook his head and turned tired eyes back toward her. "I won't. I thought about it a little, a chat with cat-girl actually helped clear it up some. I don't want to be a burden, and none of us are running away as much as I'd like it. There's just too much that's important, beautiful, worth protecting." He rubbed his eyes. "I don't have to tell you that, though."

“Never hurts to say it out loud.” She replied with an affirming nod.

“If this is really some… duel with our own dreams and thoughts… I don’t think it’s bad practice to speak things into existence that we want to see happen.” She said with a sincere look.

“I want to make sure those I care for are safe.”