♚ ;; you are the universe ♡

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    UTSU-TSU HARDLY FELT Felix’s fingers threading with her own. She hardly felt anything at all, in fact; her head felt like it was a cloud and the rest of her body felt nonexistent. But her eyes were open. She could see what Felix was doing, and if she’d had the piece of mind, she would’ve wondered what they were trying to do.

    The gatchaman’s eyes slipped closed just after the crystals lit up the room.

    Just as the blackness was going to swallow her entirely, she felt something sticky ooze down onto her head, and her eyes blinked open. She could feel her body again. It felt weak, it felt frail, but it was regaining its strength, slowly but surely.

    Quite suddenly, she panicked. She hastily pulled her hands away from Felix’s. And then she signed, Do not touch my hands. I do not want to hurt you.

♕  FELIX WAS NOT surprised when Utsu-tsu tore her hands away from theirs--in fact, they had expected it. After all, they had seen what she had done to the cat, and had since assumed that the gachamon’s power funneled from her fingers.

          Not much can hurt me, signed Felix. As a demon, I’m almost impenetrable. 

[ssstarshine-blog]

    UTSU-TSU’S FIRST THOUGHT was to say, “I don’t want to burden you.” But she had some self-control, and thought better of it. She said nothing, instead.

    When Felix offered their hand to her, Utsu-tsu stared at it and then scooted away. She signed, I can’t. I am too weak. As if to prove that statement, she began to feel lightheaded again.

    “I’m…dizzy…” she said aloud, and she started to sway in time to the throbbing of her head.

    Black spots began to appear in her vision and they slowly began to swallow her consciousness whole.

♕ CONCERN BUBBLED IN Felix’s gut like a potion in a cauldron. Dancing will help, they signed. I promise. But Utsu-tsu was on the verge of passing out; she was not listening. And so, after swooping down, Felix threaded their fingers with the gatchaman’s and swayed in time with her. 

          Quite suddenly, crystals illuminated the cave walls.           They pulsed with power, oozing a blue substance           that was cool and sticky to the touch. Once a chunk           of it had finished cascading down the wall, the azure            stuff covered Utsu-tsu’s head.

          Like a tonic, it began to heal her.

[ssstarshine-blog]

    UTSU-TSU WAS CONFUSED by Felix’s question. And she was confused by the fact that the demon had spoken, too.

    Her tongue and lips felt too heavy for speech, so Utsu-tsu went on signing. I do not want you to worry about me. She paused. And, I think you have it wrong. I am not a demon. I am a human. At least, mostly. She looked down at the pocket in her dress that she knew contained her NOTE. Gently, she lifted a hand and tapped her chin with a finger in thought.

    After a moment, she continued, You seem like a nice demon to me. I am not scared.

♕ FELIX FROWNED, UNSETTLED by Utsu-tsu’s insistence. “I don’t... understan’,” they said slowly. “Worryin’... is impor’ant. It shows you curr abou’ stuff. Righ’?” 

          A beam of light shone into the cave; the sun was           coming up. Felix scuttled away from it, sealed           their lips shut, and sighed without letting out a           breath. Then, after pushing themselves to their           feet, they offered a hand to Utsu-tsu.

          To be frank, I don’t care what you are, signed           the demon. I just want to dance.

[ssstarshine-blog]

    UTSU-TSU COULD HEAR quiet shuffling noises in the darkness, and although it would’ve frightened a normal person, it did not scare her, although her ears lifted slightly in anticipation.

    Once her eyes adjusted, she could make out a person sitting before her. She watched their hands, and could make out the words they were signing to her.

    They didn’t seem to want to hurt her. She was glad for that.

    Her sadness for Altair overshadowed her relief.

    “I’m gloomy…” she murmured, barely audible, and then she signed, Hi, Felix. She paused, noticing how heavy her arms felt and deciding what else she wanted to say, before she continued, My name is Utsu-tsu. Do not worry about me.

    Utsu-tsu paused again, before adding, Thank you for rescuing me.

♕  FELIX STRAINED THEIR ears, but they did not strain them enough; Utsu-tsu’s words went unheard to Felix. However, her actions--or lack thereof--spoke volumes. 

           I worry about everything, signed the demon. I worry            about myself, my toothpaste, and my sneakers! So...            don’t worry about me worrying about you. Felix drew            a smile on their tape with their fingers. Then, they            continued, I want to help you, because you and I are            one and the same. You have power--you are a demon,            correct? Well... that’s true for me, too.

           After ripping the tape off their mouth, Felix opened their            lips and spoke. “I.... have a monstah insi’e me... I am...            a monstah... but in the.... dark... it cuhn’t do anythin’!”

[ssstarshine-blog]

    EVERYTHING HURT. THE pain and weakness of her body was unbearable, but that was overshadowed by the pain in Utsu-tsu’s heart.

              She had let Altair die.

    When she opened her eyes, she was met with unfamiliar scenery. It was dark; too dark. She couldn’t see a thing. For a moment, she wondered if she’d used up all of her life force and died.

    But that made no sense. You were supposed to feel weightless in death, right? And she did not feel weightless. She felt heavy. Much too heavy. And the throbbing pain in her head reminded her furthermore that she was very much alive. Her green eyes sparkled with uncertainty.

              “Where…am I…?”

♕  THE DARKNESS WAS soothing; it set their broiling stomach at ease, and refreshed their bones. Felix was grateful for it; they were finally able to relax because of its presence. However, they were not here for themselves; they were here for Utsu-tsu.

          Quite suddenly, Felix’s eyes snapped open. They           pierced through the dark, almost glowing.

          The gatchamon had awoken.

          Slowly, as if approaching a frightened animal, Felix           crawled toward her. Then, they raised their hands           and signed, Hello. Please don’t be afraid--it is safe           here. They bit their lip until it bled. My name is Felix.           I won’t let you die too.

[ssstarshine-blog]

    “N-NO…” UTSU-TSU MUMBLED, and she leaned down over Altair. His condition was worsening, quickly, and Utsu-tsu was starting to become light-headed. “Altair…come on, hang in…” She cut off.

    Altair’s breathing had slowed dangerously. “No, no, no, no… I have to save you… I have to…” She closed her eyes and funneled more of her life energy into the cat. It was not enough; Utsu-tsu been using too much life energy lately and her power was too weak.

    The cat’s breathing stopped. “No…” she whispered, swaying from side to side. “No, wake up…” She shook the cat gently. He did not stir.

         “No…”

    After swaying one final time, Utsu-tsu fell forward over the body of Altair and blacked out.

♕  THERE WAS NO doubt about it--this girl was a demon. If she wasn’t, then Felix was crazy, because they could practically see the energy funneling out of her palm. However, the effort was futile; the cat was far too gone.

          { Why? }

          Felix sniffed and rubbed their puffy eyes. When Utsu-tsu           fell forward, the demon started and shot forward. Their           arms wrapped around Utsu-tsu’s shoulders. A car           whizzed by them, honking furiously. Felix glared at it           before dragging themselves and their fellow supernatural           out of the street.

          { This world is cruel, but I am not.              I will take you someplace safe. }

[bluetsuutsuu-blog]

ssstarshine.

     “HANG IN THERE…hang in there…” Utsu-tsu murmured, with her left hand on the stomach of the black cat before her. “Come on, hang in there…” She closed her eyes, and concentrated. She could feel a headache coming on already, and it had only been a minute. Her life force was running out fast, and she knew it. The girl lifted her hand from the cat’s body, and slowly examined it. It was still breathing, and seemed to be feeling a little better.

          “Altair…sorry…”

[ssstarshine-blog]

♕  THE CAR SPED away, the cat laid in the street, and the girl rushed toward it.

          { Everything is terrible. }

          Felix’s hands shook while they approached the scene.           Tears spilled down their face, and they knelt beside           Altair. They didn’t know what Utsu-tsu was doing, but           if they had to take a guess...

          { You’re a demon, too? }

[ssstarshine-blog]

    Jay found herself tensing up and jumping at Felix’s touch, no matter how light it was. And as their hand rested upon her waist, she went on high alert.

         What on earth… Dancing?

    She had no choice but to move along with Felix. “U-U-Uhm…w-what are you…d-doing?”

♕  JAY’S VOICE WAS fuzzy and dull, even with the hearing aid. Her face, however, was warm and clear. Unbeknownst to them, Felix’s skin sapped some of its warmth, and their nose stopped bleeding.

          { Everything is fine.             Everything will be all right. }

          The two children danced through the street. Felix’s           practiced feet led the way, and their hands spun Jay           around. Once their dance was done, Felix stepped           back, bowed, and then walked away. It was their was           of asserting their thanks, in a language anyone could           understand.

[ssstarshine-blog]

    Jay’s smile turned to a frown all too quickly. “O-Oh, u-um…” She watched Felix’s signing and tried to figure out what it meant, but, of course… “I-I’m sorry. I-I don’t know sign language…” She tilted her head slightly to the side and gave Felix a little smile.

    “I-I can assume that meant…t-thank you, though. A-A-Am I right?”

♕  FELIX NODDED, SMILING vibrantly beneath the tape. Then, with a touch as light as a feather, they placed one hand on Jay’s shoulder, and another upon her waist.

           They began to waltz.

[stellarumn]

ssstarshine.

     “W-Woah, h-h-hey, are you alright?” Jay held a shaky hand down to the fallen person before her. “H-H-Here, let me h-help you…”

[ssstarshine-blog]

♕  SOMETHING WAS STIRRING in Felix’s gut; it snapped its unearthly maw at its chains, growling. It wanted to be set free so that it could eat. But Felix refused. They tightened the tape binding their lips and walked on.

          { Nothing is wrong.             Everything is fine. }

          Quite suddenly, a dizzy spell overcame the vessel.           They stumbled, tripped, and fell. Blood dripped down           their nose from where it had hit the concrete.

          { Nothing is fine.             Everything is wrong. }

          A hand was placed in front of Felix’s face. Felix looked           up at it, shocked. Then, after a moment or two more           of staring, they grabbed the pinky and hoisted           themselves up. Thank you, they signed. Needed help.           Glad you were here.

[circlejourneyart]

star birth

aka yet another excuse for me to paint an indulgent spacey background. 

(forgot the ears, oops)

https://www.patreon.com/posts/2971579