“Most problems can be solved with a simple punch to the face. And if they can’t? Aim for the ribs instead.” @barbaricdragon
instead of a healthy dose of wariness, kagome only felt flabbergasted. then she remembered who she was talking to. bankotsu, leader of the shichinintai and notorious for deeds she didn’t even want to think about; she’d been privy to plenty. if not for the rare otherworldly shift of events that led to them even remotely having a conversation; they likely wouldn’t even be here.
“ ... is brute force all you know? “ it’s indignant; face twisting in both bewilderment and confusion and genuine curiosity. “ because i don’t know if you’ve seen me? but my fists aren’t exactly the best at close hand to hand. my friend is way better at that than i am! and..wait, wait a minute!” a finger points fearlessly in his face; eyes flashing the sun’s rays in blue-greys. her tone is scolding, borderline frustrated.
“ you can’t solve all your problems with violence, bankotsu ! i get you love fighting more than anything, trust me, that’s very clear! but! i don’t enjoy it! besides with fists like these i know i’d break them first before i broke anyone’s face. so is that just a joke or are you actually serious! and...and why should i want to?! who would i punch anyway?! a baby bunny?! because that’s the size of my fists here...! “
a huff, temper flaring outward before her shoulders sagged in contemplation; eyes briefly closing where sooty lashes ghosted sun-kissed cheeks. a lovely face drawn in confliction; dulcet, sweet tone not judging, but almost concerned. she owed him nothing, he had hurt her, his men had hurt her, left scars in her mind from memories still plaguing her in nightmares.
yet here he stood.
and here she stood, trying to understand.
a purity in that concern that brooked no pity or condescension.
it was nothing but honest intent in those piercing, yet ever gentle eyes.
“ ... it really is all you know, isn’t it? you’re actually serious. i can see that in your face. in how you talk, walk, gesture at me...i’m not even...looking down at you. i guess back then i didn’t consider this was the only life you may have known. don’t think i trust you though one bit. “ while a hand lingered on her bow; having enough decency to know how to deflect; she still wasn’t at any good reaches this close to him.
if he really wanted to initiate with her, she’d have to go long range immediately. her aim had gotten far better last he’d seen her, rapidly improving, although the strange tightness like something unfathomable swelling inside her like hot fire...her powers, still were just that. something so overwhelming it felt like the wind was constantly whipping her back off her feet. was...that her doing?
so why even then did it feel like it was all she could to reign in what already secretly terrified her? the sheer enormity of what hadn’t been sealed away, the seal she was very plainly unaware of as is, was still more than enough of a match for what lay ahead.
silence, and while no pity lingered in her eyes, she couldn’t help but muse aloud with no trace of naivete and a faint tinge of weariness. “ all of you seem to know fighting first and living second. every single one of you i’ve ever met. whether you hate it, love it, enjoy it...everyone’s just fighting. it really is all people know, isn’t it? my friends, allies...i don’t know when it upset me so much. fighting being everything everyone knows in this time. even the children.“
and somewhere along the way that broke my heart.
“ don’t you ever just want to rest? surely you get exhausted by all this... “ her brows beneath large doe eyes furrow up at him; squaring her stance into something an inkling less tense; but no less a hand twitching at her shoulder-blade to reach for an arrow to notch if he really wanted to mess with her. “ ... i thought you were gone. i would have thought i’d heard something considering...well, all that happened. “ a shadow enters her eyes.
“ i guess there’s still things about people i still really need to understand here. enemies, friends, allies, it surprises me how much i still want to understand against everything.” instead of judging him outright; instead kagome was trying to understand him, not be judge, jury nor executioner.
it seemed since their last instance, kagome was just that.
still her, trying to understand even people who lived ways of life and choices she’d never walked nor chosen before..