#kihaku

[officialtimespirits]

3. Unspecified Spirit

Unispecified/Unknown Spirit Kihaku is the spirit you become after you die. Kihaku name translates to spirit or soul. As Kihaku you don’t have abilities and you are vulnerable for danger. That’s why you see them following Life and Death spirits very carefully. Kihaku spirits should steer away from the lost and damned souls. 

With the guidance of the Life and Death spirit, Kihaku learns about the Timeless Realm and all of the spirits there. They end up in one of the time spirit job eventually, depends where they feel most pull to and their overall character. Some people stay as Kihaku because they feel like they are in peace as such and since they can’t cause any trouble, no one minds them. 

Kihaku spirits can come as many different looks and colors. They are the closest representation of their former self than any of the other spirits. Some objects and clothing might come through as well. Their looks are build from who they were by heart. 

[dr-originalsin]

Live slowly | Kihaku | Epilogue

And the game is over. They are out. They are…free?

Most of what the armed people say becomes faint background noise to Kihaku. After all, there are other more important sounds to focus on: the waves hitting the shore, the seagulls, the marine breeze blowing, his heart drumming. They are free, at last. This is the sound of freedom.

To an extent, apparently. He knows he is ''part'' of Baphomet now. But that's for future Kihaku to worry about. That's how he's always operated, after all. This Kihaku is at the beach at last, taking a deep breath of fresh air. Taking it slowly.

The body is dropped in front of them, and it does startle him. It's nice to know that death still means something to him. His red eyes go from the corpse to the masked group. That's all they get, a stare, a silent promise. It is similar to what Vergo gets, except they also get an extra wide smile.

''Yah, ya owe me answers if ya got some from me.''

All of this was an experiment to get Vergo answers, wasn't it? Interesting, ultimately. Stimulating for both. They got their training, he got a new objective to burn.

Haruko is given a nod goodbye. He isn't sure what she meant by that. He did try to go for her 'option 3', and...strong? Well, he's got sweet biceps, that's no lie.

A long grunt probably interrupts everyone's thoughts as Kihaku stretches his arms too loudly.

''We did it.''

...Yay.

''Y'know, life's short.''

They probably know now more than ever.

''Don't feel like focusin' on this. But if ya need to let off some steam, I'll be there for ya, friends.''

He will always be there for the other three if they want to open up their hearts.

''Oujisama, if ya ever bring boats with ya to hunt these fuckers down, sign me up.''

Right now, though, he doesn't feel like thinking about that. A glance is given at Stella too. Man, she and Yvon have had it rough. But they made it, and it makes him very, very happy. How nice.

''Ya wanna get some ice cream later, erryone? Let's meet up somewhere.''

Later, because right now, there is a huge urge calling to him. The ocean has always been a part of him, as he and his family constantly visited his dad's side in Okinawa. The drummer stares out at it. He just needs some time to...walk.

To live slowly.

''Fuyuchan?'' Kihaku extends a hand towards Mafuyu. He knows that emptiness, and he now knows offering a hand to it can do so much. So he is returning that favor. With care, with love. ''Wanna come with?''

It's over. Let's just have a long slow walk at the beach. Life is short.

[dr-originalsin]

Ouija | Kihaku | Trial 6.8 | RE: Mafuyu, Results, Yvon

“We're gettin' another chance, Fuyuchan. N' we'll go through it together, like I told ya.”

Even if everyone else is against them. Even if Kihaku himself is against them regarding this decision.

Even then, his smile widens at them. Whatever happens, he will stay.

Mafuyu’s last conclusion, the voting results and Yvon speaking up make him stop to think for a moment. Oh man, Kihaku would love to be a part of whatever Yvon would send to sabotage Baphomet. Did he mention a navy? They'd send boats? Awesome...

“Cruelty, to be handed to the police. Yah, prolly, so—,”

He raises his hands, showing his palms to everyone. All nine fingers.

“I agree with oujisama. I wanna see what they feel ‘bout this. So I ain’t changin’ my vote. Let’s go for a tie again, yah? Let ‘em decide what happens to ‘em, let 'em decide what is cruel.”

There is not much conviction in his decision, but he does stay alert to see if anyone touches their pad to change their vote. Not that he would know what to do of that happens. Still, Kihaku makes it clear again that he wants to tie. After all, neither Vergo nor Kaede nor Ryosuke seemed to like that idea. That was the most satisfying part.

[dr-originalsin]

Aight sure I'm convinced | Kihaku | Trial 6.7 | RE: Vergo, Haruko, Yvon, Stella

Kihaku listens. He feels that revolt, he feels that anger and desperation from everyone else. It’s true, going for no option is the best choice to defeat those bastards. Vergo’s aversion makes this clear to him.

“Hm. I wouldn’t wanna join Baphomet, either. My plan was to just not do anythin’. Wouldn’t that get me fired?”

Not how it works.

His sight bounces from the patisserie chef, to the heir, to the gazer.

“Tanaka-san, oujisama, Ethereal-san, all three of ya ain’t votin’, yah?”

Then, he glances at Mafuyu, before facing the front again.

“If ya do that, I’ll vote option 2. We can have a tie.”

Sorry, Fuyuchan. He wants a Takumi Tamagotchi.

Still, would a tie work? It's only an assumption, a guess. Like playing roulette, it's a little exciting.

“Aah, just help me out when the pigs go after me, yah? Ma’s gonna be pissed if I get caught again.”

[dr-originalsin]

Tsuchinoko | Kihaku | Trial 6.6 | RE: Vergo, Haruko, Mafuyu, everyone tbh

Wait. Oh. Of course, the ghosts want them to choose option 2. That is what they're trying to tell them. Even an idiot like Kihaku eventually gets it.

Not only does he get it, he feels it. His right hand retracts for a moment, an unconscious reaction to the sensation just felt. Then his eyes return to the screen, to his classmate on her knees, more specifically. That could really be just an image, a simulation of how everyone would act. But who is he to judge what's ''real'' and what isn't? After a moment, Kihaku looks to his right again and offers his palm towards the podium. At Yoshiko.

''Still watchin' over us, Ura-san? Heheh.''

A nice sentiment if she had not been outed as a stalker. Although neither Kihaku nor Yoshiko would condemn this. That was her way to show love!

Gazing back at the IMAGEs, the drummer studies everyone's body language. That is Takumi's reserved but attentive attitude, Kaguya's definitely kihihihi-ing and mocking Akira right now, Shou's snaps and confident posture, a resolute Kio leading as he did as a star, the ever elegant Jun always trying to look her finest, the desperate and emotional Mars, silly silly long Iori...

That's them. It has to be.

Kihaku is a spiritual person, but he doesn't get to decide what's real and what isn't.

Back to Haruko.

''Tanaka-san, I dunno if I wanna go to jail, y'know?''

''S'option two so bad?''

A glance at Mafuyu.

''We could get back at Vendetto-san and Baphomet ourselves. N' keep erryone in a uh, a USB? A tamagotchi? I'd take Takumin n' Shikabane-san n' Ura-san 'round in my pocket, heheh.''

Completely normal thing to say.

''Fuyuchan, Tanaka-san, I feel ya. Ya wanna get back at 'em, yah? Ya want Vendetto-san to die, want Baphomet to blow up.''

''We could do that ourselves, tho.''

He isn't even going to try to hide it.

''Ya prolly thinkin' it'd be impossible. S'just a drummer, an accountant, a chef, an occultist... Oujisama has the influence, at least. I think we got enough spite to make it work.''

And it's never felt this good.

''Dunno what to choose yet, but... What I got is that I don't want my stuff out, I don't wanna kill the ghosts, n' I wanna be the one to burn down everyone related to this game.''

Shrug. So far, that is closest to Option 2. Sorry, everyone. He never chose wisely, but with the heart.

[dr-originalsin]

Peace and Love | Kihaku | Trial 6.5 | RE: Vergo, Haruko, Stella | ATTN: Vergo

What a project. Honestly, what an interesting project. Kihaku is not as heartless as to say he would go through with it when it involved people dying, of course. He draws the line at murder. Still, what Vergo described was awfully fascinating to him.

It also made him want to burn the whole place down.

This day has been a thrilling rollercoaster of events.

The screen shows the IMAGE feed, and a little gasp can't help but escape him. There they were, the people he thought he would only meet when his own time came.

''Oh, ey. They see us? Ah, look, they're sayin' hi. Ura-san, Shiotani-san.''

Kihaku raises two peace signs right back at Iori and Yoshiko, shaking them up and down along with his hips. The hand to his right then starts pawing at Yoshiko's podium as he looks up at the screen. In doing so, he paws at Ryosuke's shoulder, forgetting he was there.

''Woah, I think I can feel Ura-san. She's here.''

In a way, this means ghosts _are_ real, right?

...

He stops and straightens up.

''...I dunno. Alla this is...a program, yah? S'that really 'em...What 'bout their souls?''

Rude.

''Taiko, Tanaka-san.''

He corrects Haruko. Wow, there's a first time for everything.

''Huh, what was Option 3? Missed it...''

When Stella speaks up, he grins very widely at her.

''I think I like yer plan, Ethereal-san. I'll join ya. Heheh.''

Let's get these people's asses ourselves, Stella. With FIRE. But anyway, there was a decision to be made. Ah, usually he would rely on Vergo to make the difficult choices. Or on his own wild heart. He's at a loss here, though. Mafuyu gets a glance, a silent question: What would you do? And then Kihaku is looking at Vergo again.

''What would we have to do at Baphomet, anyways?''

[dr-originalsin]

DROSGPT | Kihaku | Trial 6.X | RE: Vergo, Haruko | ATTN: Kaede

Tension grows, voices raise, cans fly. Things are escalating and firing up, while Kihaku keeps his calm and observes. Most would call this a cacophany, he would call it a concert. At his own pace, he begins to understand. Or, well, as Kaede put it, only within the boundary of what he is familiar with. Maybe one needs to think outside the box.

Even if you killed me, I wouldn’t truly die.

You’re taking copies of our minds and making some sort of virtual AI out of them, continuations of us that you are ‘rehabilitating’ so that our talents can live on and be of use of society.

He rubs at the back of his neck.

“So thas it? The chips are absorbin’ our skills n’ stuff? N’ they’re gonna put alla that in robots that are gonna look like us n’ they’re gonna have our talents but follow rules n’ not commit crimes?”

…Maybe that is too outside the box. ‘Lest?

His body angles to the side; that side of his brain feels heavy.

“Thas really cool, Fujimoto-san. S'that why ya needed that VR headset we found at yer office? Were ya talkin’ to our 'pure’ AI avatars there? Heheh, how was I like? No fire stuff but still good at Love Leave, yah? Heh. Still handsome? Did we get along?”

[dr-originalsin]

Fun | Kihaku | Trial 6.3 | RE: Vergo, Kaede, Ryosuke, Haruko

The fog dissipates, and his breath is stuck in his throat. Baphomet....Vendetto-san. It was them. The reserved, smart, and passionate Vergo Vendetto. All this time, he had relied on the Game Master to play their own game with him. But...

''Fun.''

It was a fair game.

''S'fun, isn't it? Part of it. I could always tell Vendetto-san was havin' the time of their life figurin' out cases. Thas why, yah? Why they said they never checked the cameras to see what really happened. They could've, but didn't, cuz figurin' these things out is fun. Isn't it, Vendetto-san?''

Kihaku should feel betrayed, but no, he is captivated.

''Y'know, t'was kinda fun. When ya put two n' two together, t'was always impressive.''

''Tho...Sometimes I could see...sadness, Vendetto-san. Now that I know this, wonder if that was regret, guilt. Or, was that also fake? Part of yer show?''

None of his questions contain any hint of vitriol or sassiness behind them. He is genuinely intrigued by this strong drive. When Ryosuke passes behind him, his eyes follow. The engineer was now next to him, announcing his loathe at everyone. What a strong hate that must be, it makes him chuckle after a long uncomfortable stare thrown at his hater.

''Killin' us for it. All of ya are reaaaal passionate to go this far. Heheh. Wish I could see the passion shinin' in yer eyes, friends. Why do ya hide behind shades?''

A glance is thrown at Kaede.

''Behind characters.'' Griiiin.

But as much as he is interested in these three, there is a side to choose. Not that he thinks he should, but these people still tried to control hearts. And that is unacceptable to the Taiko Drummer. Besides, he promised to protect Mafuyu. And besides that too, Haruko's plead resonates with him. He looks at her, smile widening.

''Won't lose, Tanaka-san. Won't let ya die. I'll use all of my brain power for ya. Heheh.''

Kihaku pokes at his temples.

''Uh, what else do we need to figure out, then?''