The unstoppable force of the bounding hound did not give the warrior time for much, only able to instinctually brace themselves for fluffy impact. Although Kayn's hand is too late to defend their face from the initial slobbery assault, they are able to push the hounds head away before she ruthlessly attacks once more
Ugh. Hopefully none of that got in their hair.
"Nakuri," A smile spreads across otherwise disgusted features, "I hope that is not the only greeting I am getting, after all this time." Eyes ignited with determination focus on Takahiro's rider, all too ready to meet this brash of action.
"Don't make me meet you up there."
Nakuri giggled, covering their mouth with their hand- it was coy, and their main idea was to simply irritate Kayn as much as they possibly could... Because that's what friends were for, right?
"Well, I could just leave again," a halfhearted threat as they shifted, swinging so their legs were on the same side of Takahiro, and jumping off the hound, bouncing briefly after they hit the ground, and taking a few steps over to Kayn...
And they hesitated, looking over Kayn for a brief second... what would be too far, and what was expected? They felt... worried, afraid, anxious, even?
...Ah, screw it.
They immediately half-jumped at Kayn, minding to be careful where they touched, and hugged tight, and sighed... it was... nice. They missed this- they missed everyone, they missed being home.
"I missed you... I hope... you've been doing okay..."
𝗔 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝗘𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗣𝗘𝗗 𝗛𝗜𝗠. purely contemplating how come traveling around is more appealing to the ex-acolyte than protecting their homeland. oh, well. doubtful he will ever understand. not like Kayn could just abandon all the responsibilities & leave. even understanding Nakuri’s point was out of reach for him. ❝ i suppose if you’re happier, then do what you’re doing. just so you know, you’re always welcomed here. ❞
𝗔𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗘𝗬𝗘𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗗 𝗡𝗔𝗞𝗨𝗥𝗜, observing every step & move in curiosity. he was joking about the gift but looks like Nakuri does know him good enough to bring one anyway. of course they do. why did he assume otherwise? ❝ ah… ah? ❞ Kayn tilted his head upon examining the box. it looked ominous. ❝ uh, alright? anyway, let’s get you inside. you will not believe what the kids did yesterday! these little rascals. can’t even take a day off without them repainting squirrels into skunks to avoid the lectures. can you believe that? ❞
They pause- it’s quite a genuine thing, Kayn isn’t the most genuine man, not cruel or a liar, but he wasn’t... serious, not all the time at least. Softly, Nakuri chuckles, “I won’t lie, I don’t understand my own head... But it’s nice knowing you’ll still welcome me back.”
Home, a word they are tempted to say, but they don’t think they could call the Shadow Order home. Not after everything. Not after what happened... It held a place dear to their heart, but there was a certain kind of agony associated with that sentimentality.
Regardless, they perked up as he mentioned kids, kids! Just a few years ago, they would have groaned, distancing themself from any mention of children, but now they were excited, and perhaps a little worried... They could have gotten scratched up and bit, shadows forbid any of those wounds get infected, “We were worse,” they said, not exactly wanting to behave like a fussy mother right in front of him, “But it’s nice to know the new generation of acolytes still have some fight in them... As long as they don’t get themselves stuck in walls all the time...”
Nakuri looked up at the sky, lying against Takahiro. A clear night- they figured that such a lovely night was a rare treat, a rare time to think about themself, the world, and all the workings within and out of.
Takahiro was happily resting, Nakuri was happy, and so Takahiro was as well. She wanted little more than Nakuri’s happiness.
“I don’t get it myself,” They admitted, a confession, an excuse that they wish to give to all those they’ve left behind, knowing they’d never get the opportunity. “I have this… urge,” they grimaced at their own wording, “Like… when you’re thirsty, you have an urge to drink water,” it didn’t feel fitting, but it was close enough, “And… I just have that urge, but it’s to… go somewhere. I don’t really ever know where I’m going, I just go in a direction, and keep going as I feel like I have to.”
How selfish they sound- how… careless. They dread it, but it was so overwhelming, they didn’t know what else to say.
“And… when I follow that urge, it feels so… good. I feel… happy, with myself,” their hands moved to their stomach, resting over it, “Like nothing happened. My body doesn’t hurt as much, and it feels like… since I started travelling, I’ve been getting better. My skin isn’t so tight, the scars seem faint, and…!”
Their arms, dramatically, flopped to their sides, “I don’t know. I feel happy when I travel, when I follow that urge. I don’t feel sick…”
Nakuri turned their head to look at Takahiro- her eyes bright, watching Nakuri attentively… perhaps she was smart enough to know this was important to them, and wanted to listen.
What a good girl.
“You know, I always felt sick,” they said, softly, “I wasn’t supposed to, you know… live. I was born too early, too weak, too sick… and I felt like- i felt like I never really got better. I just… Was walking the flat path, no hills, no creeks, nothing. It just went on, and everything felt so numb, I almost wanted to feel worse, just so I could remember what feeling good felt like…”
Nakuri weakly lifted their arm, gently grabbing Takahiro’s snout, the hound huffing through her nostrils in response, wiggling her head the slightest bit, but not enough that Nakuri couldn’t keep holding.
“And when I travel, it’s like I’m going up, up, up… It’s- it’s exhausting, but it’s also exhilarating… especially when I reach the top of the mountain, I’m in a place I should fear, but…”
Their arm, slowly, had relaxed and went down to the ground once again,
“I feel so good. I feel so… happy… I dare say healthy- I feel like…!” They reached up to the stars, “I feel like I can do anything, I feel like I never was sick!”
And then… they moved their hands down, resting it on their stomach.
“But… It’s lonely, and then I remember what it’s like to be sick. And then it doesn’t feel as good- I wake up, only with Takahiro…”
She looked at her.
“And, don’t get me wrong, Hirohiro… I love you, you’re my little baby… But I feel lonely. I feel sick. And only moving again to wherever that urge brings me… I can feel a little better, but… I remember everyone I’m leaving behind, carelessly…”
They close their eyes, and shift to lie on their side, all but snuggled up to Takahiro,
“And I realize I’m alone again. But…” They sigh, and push their face into Takahiro’s fur, their next words muffled, and for good reason, with how choked up they are…
“Hm…” They think pensively about this for a moment, looking Kayn over, “Maybe I changed too much then… Oh, you must miss shy old Kuri so much, that new Kuri should leave forever once again…”
Dramatic sigh.
“What a predicament you’ve put me in…”
❝ quite the opposite. i missed Kuri in general. the Order ain’t the same without them, you know? ❞ leans closer, flexing the height difference with a smirk plastered onto his handsome & annoying visage. ❝ now, let’s talk souvenirs! didya bring me something nice? something that isn’t covered in your dog’s saliva? because if you diiiiidnnn’t then i’m not sure i can let you back in. you gotta bribe the guard, yanno. ❞
“Well, I’ve not been the same without the Order as well... But I wonder if that’s such a bad thing.” Nakuri tapped over their lips, thinking about it pensively...
“Oh, of course I got you a present! One moment...” They walked to Takahiro, pushing the hound gently, and she dropped to her knees. A long moment spent opening one of the pouches, pulling out a black box, and promptly shoving it right into Kayn’s hands.
“Don’t,” they said, quickly, “Don’t open it unless you’re completely alone. It’s a custom-made, brand new device straight from Piltover... Don’t worry, there’s full, concise instructions inside so you don’t hurt yourself.”
“... Well, you’d probably like that, but that’s besides the point. Am I allowed in now, Sir?”
"And here I am," Nakuri said, looking up at Yun with a small, but adoring, smile, "Back to the one who taught me to give myself a second chance..."
They examine Yun for a second... Still very much the same person they remember.
"How have things been, Master Leng?"
"Ah? Nakuri! It's been quite a while. Have you had a fun journey?"
"I've been well. I am officially dating my mate. He is very sweet and if he makes more puns I am going to put a ring on him myself." Leng Yun chuckled. "As it stands, things are going swimmingly and I find myself to be quite happy. Come, sit, have some tea. Tell me how you are doing."
“Been awhile,” they huff softly, “It’s been more than awhile... But it has been fun, and enlightening, for better or for worse.”
They just smiled and nodded as he explained, “I’m glad-- about time, too! I thought you’d wait for him to be on his deathbed before saying... well, anything... I really am happy for you.”
For as long as they’ve known Leng Yun... he never had malicious intent. Maybe not the most incredibly heart-shatteringly noble, but he was a good soul, one Nakuri could trust, so they just did what he asked, “I’ve been doing well... Lots of travelling, chasing... Well, honestly, I don’t know what, but I had a long time of just following whatever urged me on. Ionia still feels odd to me, but...
“... It’s nice to see everyone, and to be back home.”
So I don’t much care for how awkward and mish-mashed the Ruination is but...
I do like the idea of Ruined Nakuri, if just in passing. Nakuri’s whole thing is that they loved and lost, loved and lost, loved and lost. They loved their home and lost it, loved the order and lost it, loved their friends and lost them.
But they keep loving.
Ruined Nakuri is the opposite of that: Nakuri gave up on loving. They decided to rot and fester in anger and hatred and misery. They have so much hate, hate, hate, from everything. For Noxus for taking their home, for the Order for taking their magic from them, for the friends they once loved but forgotten them.
They hate, and they have reason to hate. They want to hate and destroy what destroyed them.
[And if Takahiro becomes ruined... feral Warhound basically. No longer the sweet dopey dog, she just wants murder.]
"Out of all the places I've gone... Piltover is probably the strangest.
"Outside of the... 'machinery', which is its own topic altogether, everyone who saw me and Takahiro immediately pestered us... And, yeah, Takahiro loves being pet so I didn't mind, but I didn't really enjoy how they felt so comfortable prodding at me."
They shudder.
"Let's not go back to Piltover anytime soon, Hirohiro."
"Hm..." They think pensively about this for a moment, looking Kayn over, "Maybe I changed too much then... Oh, you must miss shy old Kuri so much, that new Kuri should leave forever once again..."
A brush in hand that, admittedly, looked more like a barbed weapon than a brush, was used on Takahiro's fur, forcing out the muck and filth that got caught in the hounds fur, despite the force needed to flick it through her fur just once, Takahiro didn't mind as she lapped up water from her dish.
"It's nice, isn't it?" Nakuri asked the Warhound, who looked back at them, "I bet you prefer Noxus... That's your home..." Their hand stilled, and Takahiro let out a soft wharp! And reached back, gently biting Nakuri's hand that could shred normal flesh, only to tug gently, and on cue, Nakuri began brushing once again, taking the brush out of her fur to pull out the filthy fur,
"Would you be happy," Nakuri asked, softly, "To stay forever?"
Takahiro stared at them... Only a few blinks in response.
"... We're not really made for a home, are we?" They ask, tilting their head to the side. "We just go where the world whisks us..."
They sighed, hand stilling for only a second before they returned to work.
"For now, Hirohiro... Let's make sure to stay in Ionia. I never knew Warhounds had such bad sea sickness!"
Takahiro loudly whined, and shoved her snout in the water, huffing outwards underwater, and Nakuri could only giggle ...
"Silly dog," they said, with no small amount of love in their voice, "Come on, let's get you some food ... I'll even get you some of those biscuits you like for being such a good girl."
Takahiro shot her head from the water, excitedly yapping at the promise...
