ย ย ย ย kamanue had a long history of avoiding demons who could duplicate themselves for this exact reason. his opponent was just as flighty as he was, and in any other circumstance he would have backed off and gone for something more hotheaded and easily goaded into a trap. no such luck, though - he was doing this for oyakata-sama, he couldnโt just leave it be, especially not if heโd get an earful for it.
ย ย ย ย the other downside to this oneโs duplicates was that he couldnโt even eat them. sure, maybe he was just a glutton, but his own demon art is one that needed fuel, damn it! his regeneration had slowed down just enough to leave him stunned for a few heartbeats after the fight; something that nearly proved fatal when he felt the telltale, instinctive dread he knew too well prickle his skin.
the sun the sun the sun the sun the sun the sun
ย ย ย ย he went into flight mode instantly - retreat downwards, it was faster than hoping for luck to favor him; not fast enough, but if he pulled it off right he could at least survive, regenerate whatever burned off once night came again, but the mere idea of that would be torture and he could die here and now, alone, because he got careless and slow,
ย ย ย ย the only reason he even processed tengenโs presence is because the man put himself between kamanue and the sun, and the demon jerked his head upwards, eyes wide and on the verge of tears.
ย ย ย ย ย ย โ fucking hell, i thought youโd up and ditched me,ย โ he hisses, voice raw and desperate. one hand rises just to tug him to lean closer, before returning to getting himself at least out of immediate danger.ย โ careless, careless, that fucker slowed me down on purpose - i hate this fucking time of year, nights are so short,ย โ heโs rambling out of pure anxiety, tone high-pitched and visibly shaking,ย โ and i - i have too much to do to die here,ย โ
ย ย ย ย he turns his gaze back to tengen, then, tears finally spilling over his cheeks - embarrassing, but he makes no move to make himself even close to presentable. heโs a lost cause in that regard, and knows it; sitting in a hole, with a pillar between him and the sun.ย โ i thought i was gonna die. i thought i was gonna die! damn it, why canโt you just be one of those jackasses who wears a cape! at least thatโd be helpful right now!ย โ
ย ย ย ย ย tengen goes easily over kamanue, not flinching at the sudden reaching out, letting himself be repositioned over the hole in hopes of better aiding the panicking demon. he doesnโt respond at kamanueโs rambling, thereโd be no point. heโd heard enough earlier to understand now that these ramblings were all energy and anxietyย induced, and a response to them wasnโt necessary.ย
ย ย ย ย he just stays kneeling over the demon, feeling the warmth of the sun beginning to spread along his lower back, a comfort on his half, but one he could only imagine as pure dread for a demon. not that he ever really... imagined anything on behalf of a demon. this was a time of many firsts.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย the gaze is felt, and tengenโs eyes lower to meet his, expression flat. no, itโs softened. no pity or disgust that would have most likely been found earlier, but a neutral, gentle expression. heโs thinking, because they canโt stay here forever. even waiting for others to arrive seemed like too long a wait.ย
ย ย ย so heโd have to make do with what he had.
ย ย ย ย ย ย โyouโre not gonna die here. come on, undo your uniform some and tuck yourself into it. cover as much as you can, iโll get the rest.โ
ย ย ย ย heโd figured out a plan, and hopefully this plan would result in as little damage done to kamanue as possible. itโs not like it mattered, he could just regenerate. but thereโs still a part of him that would like to avoid as much damage as possible, perhaps itโs seeing these tears, perhaps itโs just the fact that he doesnโt want to disappoint oyakata-sama by letting this demon die--ย
ย ย ย ย ย either way, heโd get him back to the estate. tengen begins to unbutton the top of his uniform, stripping it off of his shoulders and chest. in any other circumstances, heโd show off, but of course thatโs not acceptable here, and any flex or pose was purely accidental.
ย ย ย ย the uniform is held in both hands as he waits for kamanue to be situated, smoothing out the fabric while keeping himself in his set position guarding the hole.
ย ย ย ย ย ย this would be... tricky, but it was all they had now, and it was worth a shot.