metafictions | jigokucho

[ Now that they're out of slipper range, she moves to walk in front of him. Poor Kamui, always the back up dancer. ]

We did. [ Hmm. Long story, but she'll go for it. ] I found out the clay they're made with is from the Wastelands. We should check it out some day.

[ From her tone, she clearly means soon. ]

Emily mentioned to me that the rabbit woman who sells drugs... She's getting her supplies from outside, probably the Wasteland, too. So, she went back and asked her... and, honestly? Kind of sounded like a threat. She said, "Leave this alone." Kamui, something's going to happen again. I just know it.

The Wastelands? [Not this again. He picks up the pace to catch up to Aerith's side-- just because he's the backup dancer doesn't mean he can't keep up with her footwork.]

Last month, there were Wasteland smugglers getting mixed up with Shuten black market operations. It sounds like a lot of yokai just can't leave well enough alone.

[Kamui shakes his head, sighing: the sound of a blown gasket or a kid's toy broken irreparably or a hard drive fried beyond saving. Much as he hates it, it can't be helped right now.]

I think you're right. But what's the chance the faction leaders will be willing to send a team out there? Much less any of us?

Of course not. [ She's got her knuckles to her hips already, shoulders squared as if ready for a fight, and a twinkle in her eyes. It's the gaze of a woman who has already made up her mind. Staring straight ahead, she doesn't even need to look at him to convey her serious she is about this. ]

Whatever is out there isn't going to play by the rules, just like them. So! Why should we? Waiting for a moment hasn't worked before. No way we're waiting for some kind of signal. We just have to go, right after them!

But where, Aerith? And how?

[Much as he's in agreement-- something needs to be done, before they're faced with another catastrophe like the Parade-- there's precious little to start from. And what are they facing, anyway? A curse? The war in the underground spread all the way to the outskirts of hell? ~~no kamui just the curse~~]

We don't even know how to get outside, much less what to do there, or where to begin investigating, or even how dangerous it is. [He frowns at the back of the woman's head.] We should act. But we can't act blindly.

[ He's got her, there, she admits. She stops, silent. Listening, and agreeing. Still... ]

You agree, though. So... let me know if you hear anything more, okay? What was the deal with those smugglers you mentioned?

[ At least he's got her thinking a bit more rationally? ]

I will. We won't get anywhere if we aren't sharing information, after all.

[And while he hadn't found out much about the isonade-- other than the fact that, yes, they do go down really fast if you kick them in the shark nads? It's still something.]

The isonade. They... never gave up their buyers or their suppliers. Not even under threats from Toraguma. [And they were summarily dealt with, is the unspoken conclusion.] I had no idea about the rabbit woman, though. How many other youkai are getting mixed up in this?

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