Pairing: Satoru Gojo x gn!reader
Word count: 1.6k
Tags/warnings: no y/n; manga spoilers (post Shibuya timeline); canon-compliant; angst; death; emotional breakdown; hurt/no comfort; loss; grief
Summary: For the first time in a long time, Satoru Gojo, the epitome of strength, breaks.
Happy start of JJKS2 writing week.
November 2018
8 minutes until Satoru Gojo’s unsealing
"Don’t worry, I’ll make it on time. I’m right behind the corner."
"We can wait," Yuji’s voice carries through the car, the static of the Bluetooth speaker occasionally cracking.
It feels like years have passed since you last saw him. Sealed away in the prison realm, Gojo’s state remains a mystery. There’s no telling how being locked in a place where time and space don’t exist can affect even the strongest minds.
That’s what worries you. What if he’ll break? What if he goes crazy on all of you? What if he explodes; wipes you all out with his technique? An endless sea of ‘what if’ swirls inside your mind as you take another turn, the mountains on your left with an ocean view on your right.
"Don’t," you reassure the youngster, "don’t wait any longer."
"You should be here, though," Megumi jumps into the conversation, "You’re closest to that idiot. He’ll want to see you."
His words draw a smile on your lips. It’s finally happening. The sleepless nights are coming to an end with the arrival of your lover.
"Then I’ll just opt for a dramatic entrance while you keep him busy," you respond before tightening your hands on the wheel. A familiar feeling washes over you; sudden knowledge of a new presence. Heart picking up, your eyes search the road for the source while the car’s speed slowly drops.
32 seconds; that’s how long it takes you to locate the source. A curse spirit manifestation stands in the middle of the road, blocking you. Its small hunched build stands a mere meter above the ground; four arms decorated by translucent fins hanging by its body, the prehnite skin glistening in the last rays of today’s sun, giving off a wet, moist appearance.
"Boys," you announce, stopping Yuji’s and Megumi’s bickering while still keeping up the cheerful, light voice in an attempt to not raise suspicions about your current predicament, "don’t wait any longer. Unseal Satoru and stop worrying ‘bout me. It’ll be fine."
Bringing the car to a slow halt, Yuji’s tone shifts into a more attentive one as your name seeps through the speaker before you hang up after one more reassurance.
As you step out of the vehicle, the curse's malevolence engulfs the air, almost tangible in its intensity. It clings to the atmosphere like a poisonous fog, penetrating your senses with a pungent sulfuric odor that threatens to overwhelm you.
Your hand slips inside your jacket to retrieve a carefully preserved seal, reserved for such precarious situations; just like this one.
"I’m sorry," with every footfall, the curse seems to shrink in size, yet its malicious nature grows stronger, the smell of sulfur almost suffocating, "but I’m in a hurry right now and you," pointing the parchment paper towards the spirit, "are in my way."
Swift and precise, your movements carry an aura of practiced precision. With little effort, you firmly press the seal upon the spirit's head, causing it to stumble momentarily before dissipating into thin air, vanquished by the power contained within the sigil.
Yet, the energy lingers.
Stronger than before. Stronger than a second ago. Its absent defense, non-existent attempt to fight or flee…it all makes sense now —
A powerful grip; a strong hand adorned with talons as keen as the finest blades dig into your shoulder as an inhuman force pushes you to the side.
As you're thrust aside, your vision catches a subtle glimmer of chrysolite, a hue that seeps into your perception; its scales are sturdy, each edge honed to a dangerous sharpness. Driven by instinct and the will to protect yourself, you reach out, your hand making contact with the curse spirit’s scaly hide.
The jagged edges of its scales cut into the delicate flesh of your fingers, leaving trails of crimson in their wake.
— it was a decoy.
Your body collides with the unforgiving side of the mountain, back meeting the rough and unyielding surface. A symphony of pain resonates within your bones, their structural integrity compromised as multiple cracks reverberate through your form.
Gasping for breath, your body instinctively seeks solace, but find none amidst the terrain. The curse doesn’t wait either. Swiftly moving forward, it lunges at you. Unforgiving. With a clear intent to strike. To kill.
During Satoru Gojo’s unsealing
There is no pain. The moment the curse’s hand breaches the barrier of your chest, you expect it. Expect some kind of visceral reaction. But there’s none — a gentle pinch, akin to a fleeting touch when the sharp claws first pierce through the protective layers of your breastplate. A slight discomfort upon the feeling of having a foreign object that’s found its place within the confines of your ribs. The barrier of your rib cage offers minimal resistance, yielding to the relentless advance that seeks to reach the very core of your being. The heart.
It all feels confusing.
"Kenjaku sends his regards," it whispers, the words slurred by the razor-sharp fangs that protrude from its mouth.
October 31, 2018 — 8:09 PM
"What’s the worst that can happen?"
Satoru saunters around the corner of the table, his presence punctuated by the audible slurping of juice from a small cartoon container. All while your palms rest on top of the said furniture, fingernails tapping at the surface.
The news has spread fast through the jujutsu community, faster than wildfire. Whispers of an unknown curtain cast around Shibuya an hour ago, trapping all non-sorcerers, innocent civilians, inside its insidious grasp with only one demand: Bring Satoru Gojo.
"Don’t say it like that, Satoru," you turn to face the man whose casual and dismissive demeanor only adds fuel to the worries setting inside your bones.
"They’re a bunch of curses," his hand finds its place on your hip bone while placing the empty container away, "Some special grades, yeah, but they’re weak compared to me. I’ll deal with them, save some people in the meantime, and bam," he snaps his fingers loudly, "We can go home. Get that sunset date you’ve been babbling about. Life is good," he finishes with a kiss on the crown of your head.
Life is good.
You watch the sun dip below the horizon behind the curse spirit’s back, indulging the sinister being in a halo glow.
Yeah. In the end, life was good.
2 hours and 48 minutes after Satoru Gojo’s unsealing
For a moment, he stands still. Unable to look down; frozen in time. The weight of it all seems to bear down upon his shoulders – now that Sukuna’s taken over Megumi’s body, Nanami’s and Yaga’s death, Suguru’s body being used as a vessel, the slow crumbling fall of the Jujutsu world – and now you; being gone.
Satoru Gojo, the strongest sorcerer of the current time. Yet even his immense power proves futile as the people he loves keep dying on him…because of him.
A burden that threatens to crush him beneath its insurmountable gravity.
The air around him hangs heavy with sorrow, as if the very essence of grief has manifested itself in the atmosphere. A storm of emotions swirls within him; a combination of disbelief, anguish and a gnawing ache that gnashes at the core of his being.
He clenches his fists, fingers trembling with a mixture of sorrow and determination. In that agonizing moment, he finds the strength to finally lower his gaze, to confront the devastating truth that lies at his feet.
Everyone holds their breaths, the weight of his misery echoing in the silence as his eyes meet the lifeless visage of the one he holds dearest.
Of you.
Hand reaching out, his fingers graze the once-soft flesh of your hand; now cold and stiff. It serves as a confirmation of reality. There’s no getting you back, no way Shoko can nurture you back to health with her technique.
You’re gone.
And in that harrowing instant, the façade crumbles. The walls he built to contain his pain come crashing down, and Satoru Gojo, the epitome of strength, breaks.
Crumbling down on his knees, the vulnerability that spills forth from his broken form is raw and unrestrained. Only a handful of those closest to him stand behind to witness the symphony of torment that pierces the silence. Tears stream down his face, each drop carrying the weight of a thousand unspoken words, moments you two could’ve spent together.
One hand covering his mouth to silence the guttural sounds, the other reaches out to you, tenderly cradling your lifeless head upon his lap. He clings to the fragile hope that if he could provide just enough warmth and love, you might return to him.
Yuji looks around the room, at the people who silently observe their friend fall apart. Taking a step towards the hunched man, a soft grasp stops him mid step; Kiyotaka shakes his head, pushing his glasses back in place as Shoko looks down. For the first time, she’s unable to figure out her classmate, her childhood friend, the man whose side she’s always stayed by.
"Gojo," Yuji doesn’t allow Kiyotaka to stop him. Believing in what’s right, he stands behind his teacher’s back.
Hand laying on the tense muscle of his shoulder, he doesn’t attempt to comfort Satoru with any words — no words in this universe would bring you back anyway. Instead, his hand just rests there. Unmoving. Gentle.
"Who did it," his words cause Shoko to look back up as Satoru, stone-faced and stoic, speaks in a firm, devoid voice. Imagines of unspeakable horror flashes in his mind as he stands up, towering over the wide-eyed Yuji.
"Tell me now," his eyes search Kiyotaka’s, voice filled with undeniable authority, "I’ll kill them, kill them all."
˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ welcome to the artificial skyway! ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚
hi! it feels SO good to be back! we were once very active as fanfic writers and sadly as life passed by, other things needed our attention first. but man have we missed writing!!! now we are starting over, as our og blog is inaccessible (rip), we are excited to be back in our fav little bubble on this app :’)
﹥ˏˋ check out our masterlist | listen to our spotify playlist ˊˎ﹤
♡.───────────────────────────────────────.♡
˗ˏˋ the admins: ˊˎ˗ ↴↴
moni
26, she/they
gemini sun, aries moon, pisces rising
top kpop groups are: exo, got7, ateez, sistar, exid, vixx, svt, XG, & moree
top non kpop artists: megan thee stallion, jessie reyez, princess nokia, emerald osagie, laufey, sarah vaughn, & moree
i love reading, writing, dancing, singing, and crafts
you can find my personal tumblr heree @baekinmylife
roni
29, she/her
gemini sun, aquarius moon, libra rising
some things i like are sailor moon, reading, tea (the drink and the chisme kind), making playlists, my dogs
my top fav kpop groups are: got7, ateez, seventeen, XG, twice, newjeans, stray kids + more
my top fav non kpop artists: paramore, chappell roan, depeche mode, kali uchis, sabrina claudio, poppy, deftones, ptv, the cure, laufey, gregory alan isakov and more
you can find me at @wrappedinpetals as well <3
♡.───────────────────────────────────────.♡
(p.s. you can find all of our original posts on @artificialskyway-archives, you would just have to scroll through a lot :’( sorry!)
to my mother, who i never met (whose voice i somehow hear in my head)
alternate title: in which the author—who has not been keeping tabs on the latest happenings in the main story—sobs uncontrollably about meleanor and malleus.
He does not know what Meleanor Draconia looked, sounded, and acted like, at least not truly. The portraits in the palace halls were cold, lifeless things, their colors having faded with time. His memories of her—which seemed all too distant and unreachable because he has never known her, never seen her, and never, never, never——are but the faintest impressions, ghosts that he cannot chase that vanish like mist when he reaches for them. Her presence in him lingers nonetheless, however, as though she had etched herself into his very soul before he was even born.
There is a voice, at once light and lilting and cold and unflinching, that resides at the very edge of his memories. It sounds garbled, as if he could not process what it—no, his mother—is saying. He becomes dimly aware that a melody is being sung, but its words he does not know; all that matters is his mother's voice, singing to him now as she did then.
(Translation: Finally finished writing my Mal character study OML 😭 Fuck my performance tasks—Malleus Draconia shall reign supreme 💥)
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
welcome to my rgg blog! I’m harmoni, or moni for short. I’m black, nineteen y/o, and I’m deeply in love with writing ♡︎!
MAIN BLOG: @monirei
( get to know more!) —college student. bi. nigerian-american. loves listening to mariah the scientist, arctic monkeys, and men I trust. aot, yakuza rgg and tekken enjoyer. utterly in love with reiner braun and kiryu kazuma <3
Threw this short list together for reasons :^) (warnings for period-typical racism and bigotry apply to many of these)
Will add more sources if I come across any:
Amateur Circus Life (Ernest Balch, 1916): this one is more of a fun book for kids who want to learn some amateur acrobatics, but it is based on the practice of professional acrobats and has a good overview of basic exercises for beginners
Bandwagon Magazine of the Circus Historical Society has quite a few articles available online.
Circus Life and Circus Celebrities (Thomas Frost, 1881): this one is more of a historical overview of various circus companies.
Circus Memoirs (George Middleton, 1913): a fun autobiography containing many small details of everyday circus life.
Theatrical and Circus Life (John J. Jennings, 1886): only chapters 38 onward are about circuses specifically.
DAY 5 ⇢ Breeding
Pairing: Satoru Gojo x fem!reader
Word count: 1.2k
Tags/warnings: no y/n; smut; breeding kink; manhandling; mating press
Summary: You want a baby. Satoru is determined to give it to you.
[Part of NSFW Gojo Week 2023]. Divider by @benkeibear [source].
"My last, third wish," you put up three fingers, "want a baby."
He looks at you in silence, not quite comprehending the request you've just made. Casual over the breakfast bowl in your hands, hair still all messy and tangled from sleep.
"I was thinking you'd say more of a food play when you said you got the idea when grabbing lunch with Shoko…or another threesome. Both would be acceptable."
But this...this was unexpected. You've surprised him for once, made him speechless.
"Is baby not acceptable," you query, setting your breakfast bowl on the kitchen island.
Satoru shakes his head quickly and puts his breakfast on the table. "No–god no," he moves to stand beside you, one of your hands in both of his. Yes, it might've been sudden, but Satoru can't deny his heart skipped a beat when your words reached his ears – body shaking with anticipation and excitement, mind already running ideas of how you could make a baby.
"It's acceptable. Of course–completely acceptable. Very sudden but that's it."
"So…do you want a baby with me?" you suddenly feel timid. Even though this conversation has been long overdue.
The question seems to linger in the air. You remain still, staring into his face. Waiting.
"I do–yeah," he exhales oppressively, squeezing your hands between his own in a reassuring manner as if he knows exactly what you're thinking without ever having to say a word.
And so you get to work.
You should've seen it in highsight–
Satoru's determination – no matter the cause – has always been unwavering. Perpetual and steadfast, he's committed to his goals regardless of the situation or objective, whether in the jujutsu world or your love life. And if it involved you, Satoru Gojo has become anthropocentric.
–so when those words left your mouth a few days ago, you should've been more aware of the consequences.
It's also the reason there's a calendar on his nightstand, today's date circled in red – ovulation.
And why your cries resonate through the dimly lit bedroom. Sheets sticking to your back, slick with your sweat as Satoru pivots his hips into your quelching cunt. Puffy and swollen; already leaking his release, creating sounds that would make your face burn with shame if it weren't for the pure greed in his hungry eyes..
"Satoru–," his name flows out of your mouth, head fuzzy and unable to comprehend no more, "agh–feels so good."
Satoru's hand settles on the dip of your knee, pushing the leg into your chest more as his chest presses against your legs.
"Fuck," his hips roll into you with fervor devotion, "squeezing me so tight."
Once more you utter his name in a shattered tone. Satoru's response an unsteady thrust of his hips. It makes your back to arch in his grasp, toes curling as he relentlessly batters that sweet spot that sends waves of ecstasy crashing over your senses.
His thumb brushes against your slick, swollen lips, and his kiss is a wild, intoxicating mess. Sloppy. Messy. Unhurried with languid strokes of his tongue against yours. An oasis in the storm; a brief reprieve from the intensity that throbs between your legs. Satoru's hand drifts to your breast, cupping it like a precious gem, as he slows down.
The pressure moves from your breast, trailing along the curve of your waist until it presses against your throbbing clit. Small, filthy noises escape from the back of his throat as his lips meld with yours; a satisfied hum that spreads through your body with each thrust he gives you.
"Ahg–I'm gonna cum, Satoru–"
A guttural moan rolls over his tongue, past your lips. A rumble of approval that makes your stomach flutter with glee.
Your limbs pinned, unable to do anything against the relaxation that overcomes your body. And in this position, even if you could move, you wouldn't. You savor the leisurely gliding thrusts, the euphoria and warmth flooding your veins, the sensation of his body covering yours and the breathless sound of his moans against your lips.
"I love you so much," it's barely above a whisper, lips brushing against your skin as you feel his mouth curve into a smile against your neck. Satoru's name tears from your lips, fingers digging into the meat of his shoulder blades, legs straining painfully as he folds you in half.
It's your third time today and your second time in a row. A record for you. The sheer amount of energy you've expended almost unfathomable. A few minutes of rest to catch your breath is all it takes to has Satoru all hot and bothered again.
His name a constant thread beneath your breathless lips, heart racing so fervently that it threatens to burst from your chest before it's pulled back into your throat.
"Fuck–fuck–love you s'much," he babbles, feeling your pussy flutter around him. helpless to resist the temptation as your slick warmth pulls him in again and again–
The white stars in his eyes have always been mesmerizing but when he's close – about to blow – you've never seen anything more stunning.
–milking him dry when he reaches yet another climax.
(Fourth, you think. But given the passage of time, you wouldn't be surprised if it was even more.)
Satoru waits until you calm down, limp and pliant in his arms, before he lays a palm over your abdomen.
"I think we need more."
Satoru stretches his muscles as he rolls onto his back, his arm extending beneath the bed. Fumbling around in the dim light, searching until his fingers close around a thin, lightweight book. The image of a newborn on the cover already gives away the content, so it comes as no surprise when you read the title: BABY MAKING 101.
With an almost magical swiftness, Satoru produces a pen from somewhere and flips the publication open to its last page. You watch as he scribbles inside for a moment, his actions causing a curious intrigue to build within you until you can't help but ask, "What is that?"
He glances at you, his cheeks still sporting a faint pinkish hue. "A book. It has a list of all the best positions for breeding. Look, "and he turns the open page toward you, revealing a bulleted list of various positions—missionary, reverse cowgirl, wheelbarrow, waterfall, mating press—some of which you've never heard of before.
You raise an eyebrow and notice that some of the positions have a star drawn next to them. "Should I be asking why some of them have a star next to them?"
Satoru grins mischievously, and the tip of his pen clicks against the word "lotus" on the page. "For future reference," he says playfully. "My personal favorites."
You can't help but chuckle before he continues, "It even has tips and research on how to make babies."
Summary: A simple game; a friendly atmosphere; until one of the masked men asked, "would you rather kiss him or me?"; now spread wide for all three of them, nothing to hide as you submitted to the pleasure they were willing to give.
A/N: Shoutout to @ave661 for making this art. Divider by @firefly-graphics [source]
masterlist • faq • AO3 • ko-fi
Your body was an invitation, a tantalizing feast of pleasure, just waiting to be savored; skin like silk, invitingly soft, begging to be touched. Caressed. Worshipped. You were theirs to explore and enjoy; to be taken and owned, an object of their pleasure and desires.
Ghost's lips brushed your neck, bruised from Keegan’s possessive assault as he marked you everywhere he could reach, the imprints of his teeth slightly visible. An almost animalistic grunt left his clenched teeth as he took notice.
No one actually knew how you ended up in such a situation. At first, such an idea would go completely over your head, laughing it off; which you did in the beginning, just a silly fantasy, something out of reach for you. The enigma of the masks, the unyielding thoughts swirling inside your brain as you watched them in action, bodies working on autopilot. Movements swift and merciless.
Desperately trying to hold onto your sanity, brain slowly turning to mush as you ground into Keegan’s hips, feeling his hardness over your clothed core. A satisfied grunt left his kiss-bruised lips; hands caressing the exposed flesh of your thighs, fingers dancing deliberately over the hem of your underwear as he watched. Eyes fixated on your face, looking as your lips wrapped around the spongy head of König’s cock, sucking the tip in with hollowed cheeks. Hand wrapped around his girth, pumping the remaining length while the other hand worked on Simon, who was standing opposite König, head thrown back, eyes closed in a blissful pleasure as your fingers danced along his cock. Thumb swiping over the head occasionally, spreading more precum over his foreskin.
Keegan’s tongue was leaving wet patches on your neck, blowing a cold breeze on the heating skin as his hands led you through the motions, his fingers on the small of your back prompting you to grind on him harder.
"Dammit, kitten," his voice was rough around the edges, just like him, "can feel you soaking me."
No one questioned the situation no more; the last one to give in was König, uncertain of the idea the longest.
It all began innocently enough, with every one of you gathered to enjoy a celebratory drink after a successful raid. To liven up the night, someone suggested playing a game of "Would You Rather?". After a few rounds of drinks, the sensation of the alcohol coursing through your veins was palpable; it was Keegan who shifted the atmosphere, going from a simple question to "Would you rather kiss me or Ghost?".
The air became still, tense as you stared at him; the dark pupils spreading over the blue ocean of his eyes, darkening them. König shifted in his seat, gaze watching the amber-colored drink swirl in his glass. Both ghosts, however, stared at you in unison; Keegan curious, Simon daring.
A giggle of nervousness escaped your lips; deep breath in, you felt suffocated for a moment, eyes fixated on the man in front of you; König's eyes glancing towards you, his countenance bowed, creasing his brow in a myriad of wrinkles, his face unreadable.
"All."
Keegan grinned at you, mischief glinting in his eyes as he shot a look at Simon and then König. A silent agreement was made at that moment; something new was about to arise. That was when you found out that your dream, the fantasy, was nowhere near reality. Their kisses; the way they worshipped you; it was all so different, it made your head spiral.
Keegan kissed like a man starved; lips branding yours with passionate fervor, tongue swirling with skillful expertise, exploring the depths of your mouth with each teasing stroke. Hands grasping your throat, the guttural groans shooting straight to your core, heart racing. His presence intoxicating, tongue driving you into complete submission. Hands angling your face to his own desire, thumb caressing the front of your throat; the gentle touch absolute contrast to the rough bites bruising your lips. His touch was raw. Primal. Promising. Keegan shifted you into a pliant state, his touch commanding, handling you in any way he desired, assuring you that in his hands, all your worries would melt away.
Ghost, Simon was a guide; hands grasping your thighs, hips, caressing your curves as his lips moved along yours. Sucking your tongue, a promise of what was about to happen if you let him in; tongue dancing along your lower lip, bruised and abused after Keegan’s hungry assault. Simon soothed the pain, becoming a beacon of comfort and security. A watcher. Observer. He was in control, his moves calculated and sure, yet utterly passionate.
König; sweet and caring. A benign touch of aftercare after the ghosts had their turns. His size betrayed him; a gentle giant. His lips were soft and tasted like honey. Hands caressing your face, thumb swiping over your heated cheeks as his tongue tangled with yours in a passionate dance of devotion. Hesitant to give in at first, even with your eyes begging and Keegan’s encouraging words; "C’mon mate, nothing to be shy about, we’re all friends here, right?" and Simon’s affirmative nod as his hand stayed on your leg, thumb brushing the inside of your thigh.
The ghosts watched in inquisitiveness, wondering if the silent observer would become a willing participant in their little game. Looking into König’s eyes, a wave of sympathy swept over you. Features relaxing as you reached across the small table, hips digging into the edge, you had to almost bend over it to reach his face. Simon’s hand moved to the back of your thigh, his touch never leaving as your eyes scanned König’s face, noticing the pinkish tint on his cheeks, the alcohol rushing through his veins.
"It’s just us," you whispered, feeling his breath fan over your wet lips, "nothing to be ashamed of."
His touch was electrifying, hand bringing your face into his by the back of your neck, fingers digging into your scalp as König enveloped you in his presence. A moan escaped your occupied lips as Simon’s fingertips brushed over the apex of your thighs before dancing over your clothed center; hips bucking into his hand involuntarily.
"You want us, pet?" he asked, tone lazy. A shiver ran down your spine as you felt König’s hands on your face, lips smashed against yours.
A hum of appreciation rumbled deep inside your throat. A hot jolt of energy spread inside your tummy as a hand stroked the exposed skin of the small of your back. Lips brushed against your ear before someone swiped their tongue on the skin behind it; Keegan’s words echoed in your head like a soft lullaby, sending you into a state of pure bliss, "we need words, kitten."
Your heart fluttered, air leaving your lungs as you exhaled in contentment, breaking from König’s kiss. Gazing deeply into Keegan's eyes, you could feel the desire radiating from his soul; his eyes were like a spell, holding you in place and igniting a flame of longing in your core.
"I want you all, all at once, Keegan," you murmured. König’s hand tightened in your hair, the pull straining your scalp as a strong urge to move closer to Keegan overtook your body; drawn to him like a moth to a flame.
"Then get on that table," it felt like it was just the two of you for a moment; your surroundings faded away as König's hand caressed your hair and Simon's fingertips caressed the apex of your thighs.
Eyes never leaving Keegan’s, body on autopilot, you followed his order. The coolness of the wood against the heated skin of your back, shirt discarded in the process. Simon stood up, gripping your ankle firmly while all three of them looked at your exposed body, eyes traveling over the soft curves, searing you in your place. The chill air gradually grew hotter, completely engulfing your skin in its warmth.
Your body was an invitation, a tantalizing feast of pleasure, just waiting to be savored; skin like silk, invitingly soft, begging to be touched. Caressed. Worshipped. You were theirs to explore and enjoy; to be taken and owned, an object of their pleasure and desires.
Legs spread on each side of Simon, he took off your shoes and socks, fingertips circling around your ankles as you looked up at König, who was now standing to his full height. Extending one arm toward him, a soft "come here" left your lips in a murmur, a grin on your swollen lips. He stayed still for a moment, the image of you, spread wide on the table, engraving in his memory to be remembered in the future.
Eventually, he crouched down; hand on the table as his lips connected with yours once again, a satisfied whimper sounded from your lips.
Your senses reeling, the warmth of multiple hands on your skin sent jolts of electricity down your spine, quickly igniting a wildfire of desire within you. You heard Keegan talk, sweet words of admiration, but it was Simon's low and rasped tone that lingered in your ears after he had spoken; too indulged in the depths of satisfaction König’s lips had brought you, you didn't care enough to listen. Completely lost in the bliss, your mind on cloud nine, the intensity of the sensations coursing through you increasing with every touch, every caress, every whisper.
A hand sneaked on your hip, giving it a squeeze; an order your body understood. Arching your back off the table, someone’s fingertips traced the clasp of your bra before getting rid of it. One swift movement; practiced, skilled. A mouth on the soft tissue of your breast, another hand kneading the other one, wet lips enveloping your nipple, a tongue swiping over the pulsing bundle of nerves, thumb circling the other one.
Moaning into König’s mouth, his tongue swiped over yours, the rich taste of alcohol mingling with the sweet taste of your saliva. Breaths ragged. Another pair of hands undid your belt, sending a thrill down your spine. Simon’s voice felt distant, yet his breath fanned over your belly button as he spoke in a sultry tone, "lift your hips for me, pet."
You complied, of course. Nothing but respect for your lieutenant. One powerful tug and your legs were freed from the restraints of your pants. Kisses lingered on your calves, the men absolutely stunned by the beauty beneath them. Simon’s tongue swiped over your skin, teeth sinking into your legs; aggressive, primal, possessive. The after kisses gentle, soothing the pain away as you writhed underneath them.
It was Keegan who pulled away first, admiring the irritated flesh of your breasts before his palm laid flat against your soaked center, a guttural grunt accompanied by his lips on your ribs vibrating through your entire being. Hips grounding into his hand, he added pressure onto your aching nub.
The few words exchanged between the men were almost drowned out by your own heavy breathing as you shamelessly moved your hips, chasing the sensation of pressure that lingered between your legs. König's lips were still locked with yours, his hands nowhere to be found as you both embraced in a passionate kiss.
The air was saturated with the musky smell of arousal and sexuality, sending a shiver of delight through your body. As your mouths parted, you could see König's hand wrapped firmly around himself, feeling all the air punched out of your lungs.
Keegan’s touch was electric. You wanted more; a craving that only intensified as you continued to grind against his palm, pushing against his body as your eagerness grew with every second.
That was when you noticed; Simon disappeared. The ghost nowhere to be found, your eyes scanned the empty room before meeting with Keegan.
"Looking for lube," he explained, a sly smile on his face as he sneaked one hand behind your neck, fingers digging into your scalp, "we’re gonna need it."
"Okay," you swallowed, a knot tightening inside your throat as you realized; this was really happening. König’s grunts clouded your mind, Keegan’s eyes staring into your soul.
Bracing yourself on your hands, your lips chased Keegan’s, legs swung to close him in. Reaching your hand to your side, your fingertips traced König’s arm, feeling the hard muscle flexing as he palmed himself in a slow, almost punishing rate.
Keegan explored your body, lips an inch from yours but never touching. Teasing. As you moved forward, he pulled back, stopping all movement. A game of cat and mouse.
"Keegan," you mumbled, lips brushing his. From the side of your view, you saw König; standing tall, cock hard and glistening with precum. Swirling your tongue over Keegan’s lips, his eyes dark and smoldering with passion, the silvery blue of them completely overtaken by the deep, unbridled desire that was radiating from him. A playful sparkle shone in his eyes, though, teasing and inviting you to explore the depths of his craving. His lips were soft and inviting, urging you to continue to tantalize his senses with your passionate embrace.
A cunning grin formed on your face, biting your lips, you wrapped your ankles around his shoulders, his hands closing over your thighs. Reaching to your side, your hand enveloped König, stopping his movement as you licked your lips.
Feeling Keegan's stare, quickly looking up at König, you noticed the passionate craving in his eyes.
A kiss on his head, the sweetness of the precum coating your lips; salty, briny, brackish. A moan left you as your lips wrapped around the tip.
The moment didn’t last long; Keegan’s hands gripped your hips, tugging you forward until the edge of the table scraped your naked back as you slid off. Releasing König’s cock with a whimper, you landed on Keegan’s lap. He was already hard, a groan escaping his parted lips as you ground into him.
"Where the fuck is Simon," you mumbled, hand wrapping around König’s cock as Keegan’s lips searched yours, mingling the taste of you and König with his own. His kiss made your skin burn and your heart race as you felt a wave of desire wash over you; you wanted them all and you wanted them now.
As if being summoned, Simon’s dark and looming figure appeared by your side, handing Keegan a bottle of petroleum jelly.
Your eyes locked with his, heart fluttering as a smudge of darkness framed the mesmerizing, teal blue of his eyes. Simon’s gaze was intense yet reassuring, and you felt a deep, primal need course through you.
Fingers locking on his belt, you tugged; the signal not going unnoticed. Hips circling on top of Keegan, his hands caressed your thighs as you waited; waited for Simon to finally free himself, cock hardening as your fingers wrapped around his girth.
He couldn’t compare to König in length; but who could? Simon was more on the thicker side, your fingers too short to wrap fully around him.
Keegan's lips pressed hungrily against the front of your throat, a breathy moan escaping from your kiss-swollen lips as your hands worked on the men next to you.
Turning to König, you took him in your mouth while swiping your thumb over Simon’s tip, the droplet of precum not enough to lubricate; so you switched, the rich taste of König soon mixing with Simon’s as you sucked his tip in, tongue flat against his underside.
König’s broken English mixed with German as you pumped him, slow and tantalizing, prolonging the pleasure.
"Bloody hell, pet," Simon exhaled, hand on top of your head as he guided your face on his cock. Taking as much as you could, you felt the spongy head hit the back of your throat, closing in on him; feeling him shudder shot fire to your cunt, pulsating for attention as you felt the sense of power over the man, known for his scary, distant demeanor; now completely under the spell of your mouth, the most vulnerable he might ever be.
Mouth back to König, you took as much in as your mouth allowed; which wasn’t a lot but enough to satisfy. Grinding your hips into Keegan, his teeth sank into the skin on top of your breast as his hand laid flat on your tummy before creeping downwards in an entrancing manner.
Hand sneaking inside your underwear, a moan vibrated in your throat, stuffed full of König as Keegan’s finger collected your wetness, spreading it over your aching clit.
"Damn, kitten," he mumbled, sucking on your nipple in the process, "you’re already soaking and we haven’t even started yet."
A delightful feeling spread in your abdomen as Keegan’s fingers spread your lips, teasing your entrance.
Pulling back, you shot him a pleading look, "please."
"What?" he raised his eyebrows, that same sparkle in his eyes as before, "you want my fingers?"
You nodded. Mind hazy. Completely wiped off of any rational thinking as all you could feel were the hands on you, Simon’s grip in your hair slowly guiding you back to him.
Moans of pleasure mixed with grunts of delight, everything felt like a wildfire as Keegan’s fingers explored every inch of your innermost depths, his nails delicately scraping against your quivering walls, sending jolts of pleasure radiating through your body like a wave of molten honey.
Your heart raced as Keegan's touch became increasingly more passionate, the sensation of his fingertips teasing and tantalizing you to unimaginable heights of pleasure.
"Fuck yourself, kitten," Keegan’s voice was rough, teeth scraping along your shoulder as he stilled all the movement. Legs bracing on either side of him, you lift yourself up until only the fingertips remained inside; slowly descending back down.
Simon’s grunts turned into groans, a moan escaping his lips once in a while; the sound making you go absolutely feral.
"Fuck, guys," Keegan chuckles as he watched you fuck yourself with his fingers, "she’s dripping, might not even need that lube."
Heat spread in your face as you listened to Simon’s rugged sounds, his head pulsating inside your throat as his fingers tighten in your hair.
"I’m gonna cum," he thrust forward; a gentle, calculated move, "gonna fill that mouth of yours."
Clenching around Keegan’s fingers, curses left his mouth; thumb on your clit, hand on your thigh, an encouraging squeeze here and there.
And then, for the first time, you felt the electrifying sensation of witnessing Simon, the mysterious and alluring Ghost, unraveling in pleasure; his brows intensely furrowed, a delicate layer of sweat glistening on his temples, his lips parted in a blissful moan as he spilled deep inside your mouth, coating your tongue in his bitter release.
Pulling away, you swiped your tongue over his slit, collecting the remains of his cum on the tip of your tongue. Drowning in your own pleasure, swallowing what Simon gave you, you looked at Keegan; eyes wide, hungry as he met your thrusts, feeling your walls clenching around his fingers. Gasping, nearing your own climax, he added another finger, curling them inside to find that sweet spot; to get you to scream for him.
Tightening your grip around König, increasing the speed of your hand, a strangled moan escaped your open, bruised lips. The heat inside your tummy overwhelming as you felt the sensation of pleasure grow. Keegan’s thumb on your clit moved faster, lips circling your nipple as you moaned, the wetness between your legs a delicious sensation.
Hips bucking; Keegan’s fingers continued pumping through your climax, sending surging sensations of pleasure that seemed to last forever.
"Get her on the table," Simon ordered. Withdrawing his fingers from you, Keegan’s arms wrapped around your back; you could feel the wetness on his fingers coat your side as he lifted you up.
Legs tangling in the air, bathing in the blissful ecstasy, he laid you back on the table, discarding the last vestiges of clothing. Your body exposed, vulnerable to his touch, you felt a rush of arousal as he trailed his fingertips over your curves, exploring every inch of you with an intensity that left you breathless.
Looking at König, you whispered a desperate, breathy plea, "Please, König, I need you to fuck me."
You could swear that you saw his cock twitch at your words. His face flushed with desire; he nodded.
"She’ll need more prep for you, my man," Keegan said to König as you reached for the giant, seeing Simon in the corner of your eyes; standing near, arms crossed over his naked chest. He was watching the scene before him; observing. His eyes a calming haven to the storm happening. A guardian; you’d say.
"Condoms?" Keegan took you from your trance, hand palming his own cock as he waited for your answer; shaking your head, whispering a simple "implant", he nodded. Hands running down your hips, he turned you around, tugging you backward until your ass hang in the air.
Face forward, you latched your mouth back on König. Keegan's hand glided along the contours of your back, sliding over the flesh of your asscheeks.
Spreading you apart for him, the hot breath of his desire fanned over your dripping center as he flicked his tongue inside you, the sensation causing you to arch your back and cry out in pleasure, a hum vibrating in his throat.
"Tastes like goddamn heaven," he kissed your opening, standing up. Guiding the tip of his hard, velvety cock to your trembling entrance, tasting your sweet release, he eased into you, filling you with aching pleasure. Inch by inch, he split you apart and built you back together, stoking the flames of desire within you.
His hands moved with a delicate touch all over your body, making their way to your hips, grasping them tightly as he pushed himself further into you. You felt an overwhelming pleasure as your body was slowly filled with his raging desire. His hips pushed against yours as he went deeper, allowing your gummy walls to wrap around him as he moved.
The moment he was fully seated inside, he stilled; relishing in the feeling of being absolutely full, you took as much of König as you possibly could inside your mouth, tasting the sweet, salty skin. His body gently rocked against your face, each thrust sending a thrill of arousal to where Keegan was seated.
Keegan’s thrusts were deliberate and provoking, each one sending an explosive wave of pleasure that made your body quiver with delight; hands moved along your curves, igniting an inferno of passion that threatened to consume you.
König’s groans grew louder as you hollowed your cheeks, tongue laying flat over his slit for a moment.
The room was soon filled with the sound of your moans and your wetness as Keegan rolled his hips against your ass, filling you up with every inch of his cock. Every time he pulled away, your body yearned for him, your muscles contracting around him.
"Gonna fuck that ass of yours, kitten," Keegan groaned between the tantalizing thrusts, "s’that okay?"
Moaning around König’s cock, you already knew the drill. Letting him slip from your warm mouth, you allowed Keegan to do what he wanted with your body.
Pulling away completely, he swiped his fingers over your mixed juices before plunging back inside; spreading your own juices over the tight ring of muscles, he eased the tip of his finger in.
"Fuckin’ hell," a deep, filthy grunt escaped Keegan’s lips as he watched you eagerly suck it in.
Simon’s eyes burned holes into Keegan as he observed his preparations. All while watching your mouth getting stuffed, silently admiring König for his stamina, being able to hold on for that long, knowing well how good your mouth feels, what that sharp tongue of yours can do.
Keegan worked on you, relaxing the muscles enough to allow him to get his whole finger in, coated in your juices, having to mix it with the jelly Simon brought earlier to make it as comfortable as he could for you; two fingers, scissoring you open for his cock to sank in. Soon.
Simon walked over to the table you were displayed on, rough hand running along the curve of your spine as you felt Keegan’s tip probe your ass.
"Ready?" he asked. König stepped back for a moment, letting you take a deep breath as Simon’s hand sneaked in your hair, tucking a few stray, sweat-drenched strands behind your ear as you let yourself be drowned in his eyes.
König’s reassuring words filled your ears, Simon’s stare holding you hostage as you gasped, feeling a sting of pain shoot up your body, chest pushing into the table as your legs involuntary flexed, feet pushing upwards to stand on tiptoes as if your body was trying to run away.
"Careful there, man," Simon said, your eyes squeezed shut, lip sucked in.
"S’alright," you reassured the men around you. Keegan paused for a slight moment, hand sneaking around you to rest on your clit, fingers toying with the pulsating numb of nerves as he sunk the tip in, feeling the delightful squeeze of your insides.
A moan escaped your lips, legs falling open wider as Keegan split you open. His grunts reverberated through you, powerful, rasping growls that sent a wave of desire spiraling through your body until you were burning up with need. His groans seemed to penetrate your core, setting it alight until you were trembling with pleasure.
The moment you felt his hips brush against your asscheeks, you knew; he was fully inside. The feeling foreign yet so intensely erotic. Feeling every inch of him where no one else had ever been.
Your mind went absolutely numb with pleasure. You could barely process the conversation between Keegan and the other men, the words fading away as you bathed in the slow, sensuous motions that he was making. His movements were expertly precise, coaxing out every ounce of pleasure from your body as he moved.
Stopping for a moment, Simon's fingertips roamed over your face before you were lifted up, Keegan still seated fully inside you. Sitting down, you felt him sink in deeper than before.
Resting your head on his shoulder, Keegan’s lips brushed over your ear, his legs spreading yours wide apart. Glistening cunt on display, you watched as König moved in front of you, squeezing his cock in his hand, eyes watching your juices drip onto Keegan’s hips.
König guided his throbbing, engorged cock to your entrance, hands resting possessively on your quivering thighs, squeezing them tight and pushing them apart as he sank himself deep into your welcoming walls. His spongy, swollen tip caressed the top of your cervix, eliciting a trembling moan of pleasure from your lips. Both men stayed still inside you, savoring the moment.
The intense heat of their bodies pressed against yours as the sensation of being so full intensified. One hand sneaking into König’s hair, you pulled the man closer, lips crashing against his, a plea to move escaping your mouth between the kisses.
Keegan's hands were firm on your hips as he began to thrust, slowly lifting you up with each motion before delicately letting you sink back onto his lap. Soon enough, both men found a satisfying rhythm, setting your body on fire, skin tingling with pleasure.
König's body took possession of you, his desire and heat radiating off of him and engulfing you. Eyes opened, you sought the last man available; Simon was standing in your arm’s reach, hand wrapped around his already hard, aching cock, his gaze piercing and unyielding as he looked at you.
You were entranced by the sight of him, feeling his need and hunger for you, unable to resist his allure. Arm reaching for him, he took a step forward, then another, until he was standing next to you, cock alert and right in front of your face.
Licking your lips, you wrapped your hand around the base before your mouth closed around the tip. Sliding your tongue around him, tasting him, you savored the sensation of his velvety smoothness, your eagerness to please him palpable.
Keegan's hand slowly, teasingly caressed your aching nub, coaxing forth an immense wave of pleasure that washed through your entire body. His words of encouragement, laced with König's melodic German, and Simon's shameless gasps of delight added to the intensity of the moment, and you found yourself consumed by the heat of their bodies, the tight embrace of being sandwiched between them. Every movement, every touch, added to the ever-growing pleasure that was coursing through your veins. You felt like you could burst with the intensity of the sensations, and you never wanted it to end.
"Ich kom-gonna cum inside," König grunted, hips buckling into yours.
Everything felt so unbelievably, mind-meltingly good. You moaned around Simon’s cock as the molten pleasure in your belly grew stronger, your body trembling and tingling with the intensity of it all.
Keegan stilled the moment you opened your mouth, Simon sliding out of you as the filthiest moan left your lips, head thrown back; the feeling of König’s load coating your insides awakening your nerves, setting them on fire as he fucked you through the orgasm.
"Shit," Keegan chuckled, "did you just-"
"I think so," Simon agreed, eyes following the glistening bead of sweat trailing down your temple as your whole body quivered, legs trembling; your pliant form completely devoured by the searing pleasure.
A whimper left your lips as König pulled out, leaving you painfully empty. One last kiss, a thank you, before he retreated to the side, leaving you sitting on Keegan’s lap, his cock still deep inside your ass.
You heard Simon talk, another incoherent order being given out. Watching as he laid down, Keegan guided your hips up. Legs unable to cooperate, the man was forced to basically carry you onto Simon’s lap.
Simon’s cock slipped inside you with ease, König’s and Keegan’s remains mixing with his as all three men felt the sensation of your gummy walls tonight, the tight squeeze you were willing to give, the snug feeling of your heat.
Kneeling behind you, Keegan stared in awe at your body, spread out before him, cunt already taken over by Simon; his thrusts deliberate. Measured. Deep. The tip of his cock kissing your walls with each thrust. The delicious sight of him pleasuring you almost brought Keegan to the brink of ecstasy just by watching.
Using another spoonful of jelly, he coated his cock in it before easing back inside. Keegan felt a thrill of pleasure at the sensation of your tight walls gripping him and the sensation of being so intimately connected to you. His pleasure only increased as Simon's hands guided your movements, the speed willfully increasing.
The rhythm of their combined thrusts grew stronger and faster as Simon felt your walls quiver around him, your moans of pleasure echoing through the heated room. His breathing quickened as Keegan rode the wave of pleasure that was building inside him, the pungent smell of sex so ever-present. He felt a wave of bliss wash over him as he moved closer to climax, Simon's groans of pleasure matching your own.
"Fuck, kitten," Keegan struggled to speak, mind spiraling with pleasure as his lips pressed against the skin between your shoulder blades, "gonna fill you up so good."
With one final thrust, he shuddered, hands squeezing your hips as he tugged you back into his hips, seating himself as deep as he could possibly go. A strangled moan left your lips, eyes locked with Simon’s as the man beneath you stilled, letting Keegan ride his high, use your body to the fullest before he got to his own climax.
Sitting back, Keegan couldn’t help but stare; the sight explicit. Filthy. Watching as his own cum leaked out of your ass and dripped onto Simon’s own cock before the ghost slammed himself fully back in. Simon’s hand sneaked at the back of your neck, bringing your face to his in a teeth-clashing kiss.
Rutting up inside your used and abused body, you let him absolutely ravage you; your body becoming nothing more than a ragdoll, overtaken by a wave of sweet and erotic bliss. His thrusts passionate as he claimed your body with every stroke as if it were his own.
His name left your lips like a prayer, arms too weak to hold yourself up as he drove you to another climax. His lips were hot against your skin, sending a wave of sparks through your veins as you moved closer to the sweet release. You felt the wave rise higher with no indication of stopping, until ultimately, a wave of contentment and delight enveloped you, a feeling of euphoria washing over your entire being.
"That’s it, kitten," his lips brushed your neck, bruised from Keegan’s possessive assault as he marked you everywhere he could reach, the imprints of his teeth slightly visible. An almost animalistic grunt left Simon’s clenched teeth as he took notice.
His thrusts became heavier, hitting the deepest corners of your gummy walls as he felt himself nearing climax. His lips pressed against yours again; his hot breath on your skin, hands tangled in your hair as he moved faster.
He moaned in pleasure as he thrust harder, feeling your body shiver as you laid on him, chest pressed against his. He moved his hands down to the apex of your thighs, pushing himself deeper into you. Simon’s thrusts were relentless as if he wanted to merge himself completely with you. You felt your body heat up as his intensity increased, crying out in pleasure.
"Think you can take me?" he groaned. A moan left your lips as you nodded into the crook of his neck. You felt him tense up as his thrusts became more powerful, and he let out a deep moan as he released himself into you. His body shuddered with pleasure as his thrusts became increasingly wild as if he was trying to get as deep as possible.
You felt your body trembling, breathing becoming more ragged as his thrusts become sloppier. Shamelessly using the heat of your walls, the tight squeeze of your insides to ride his own high.
"Don’t forget the lady, Lt.," Keegan cheered from somewhere in the room, König’s chuckle following suit; too tired to look around to see where the men retrieved too. Simon’s fingertips danced on your tummy, sliding down before you rolled away from him, a whimper leaving your lips as his softening cock slipped out of your sensitive walls.
"S’okay," you mumbled, fingers grasping his hand to stop him, "I’m good."
"You sure?" he asked, eyes searching your face for confirmation to which you nodded. Closing your eyes, you relished in the feeling of his cum dripping out, already knowing that you were making a mess on the filthy floor of the room.
Simon sat up, hand on your ribs, eyes scanning your body for any signs of discomfort before he turned his head to the side.
"Keegan, bring me a warm towel," his voice was rough around the edges, "König, a glass of water."
His hand swept away the hair sticking to your face, fingertips dancing along your hairline, "you did good, pet."
A contented smile spread on your face at his words, feeling the heat rushing to your cheeks; supporting your back, he help you sit up next to him as both of you waited for the guys to bring what was needed.
"Could do it again, sometimes," you said, head resting on his shoulder as his arm enveloped your upper back, supporting your weight.
Pairing: Hajime Kashimo x fem!sorcerer!reader
Word count: 5.8k
Tags/warnings: no y/n; unhinged reader; manga spoilers (Culling Games + Perfect Preparation arcs); fight description; canon-typical violence; there will be eventual smut in the later parts fyi
Summary: There's murder in the air – with the Culling Games underway, a simple task of finding an angel turns to a fight for life when you meet a certain, static and 400 years old sorcerer with cyan hair and wicked intentions.
Artwork by poro (poro06625649) on Twittter [source]; divider by @skylightlantern [source]
For a better understanding of the reader's CE and CT, visit this Tumblr post.
masterlist • navigation • faq • AO3 • ko-fi
There's murder in the air – an unsettling undertone that pollutes the atmosphere. Gentle breeze carrying the metallic fragrance of blood within its currents.
The dockside keeps quiet. Sky clear, devoid of seagull calls. Walking by colossal steel shipping containers, stacked high, the scent persists. Clings to the air like a persistent specter. Each step accompanied by the gentle lap of waves against the pilings, their rhythmic cadence a stark contrast to the horrors you've seen.A soothing lullaby in the midst of chaos.
The maze-like layout of the quayside comes to an end when your muscles strain, lifting off the ground and landing atop the steel structure.
A giant panda comes into view. Its relaxed posture, perched on hindlimbs, contrasts with its impassive countenance as it gazes your way.
"Panda," you address what some might believe to be an actual animal; innocent, cute and completely harmless. Except for this Cursed Corpse – your subordinate – is none of those things.
He fixes you with your very name; a disturbing familiarity in his eyes, then the words escape his lips.
"The smell of blood's so thick," he voices as you draw near, words cutting through the tension. "There must be about three people dismembered here–"
You hold up two fingers, the other hand nestled in your pocket.
"Two actually," you intervene, voice a measured interruption, "walked past a man with a hole the size of a soccer ball in his chest."
The memory resurfaces – the sight of the man, head drooping, neck bent at an unnatural angle. Eerie web-like burns sprawled across his bare flesh. The smell of singed skin and ozone hangs in the air, a pungent reminder. Yet, it's not just that which jolts your senses. It's the residual static of someone's cursed energy, an unsettling presence that lingers.
"But that's not what troubles me," continuing, you stand next to Panda, arms now crossed as both of you watch the lifeless skies, "something bad's here. I tried following the remnants of the cursed energy of the perpetrator but it was very faint."
"Could be an expert who can turn their cursed energy on and off at will…" Panda thinks out loud.
You let the idea sit for a second. Could it be the case? Could someone in this colony be capable of doing it? Known, registered sorcerers are absent here. The majority are newly awakened, scarcely equipped to comprehend a sophisticated notion like this. And why would they feel the need to hide their cursed energy?
No.
Dismissing your doubts, you shake your head and stride toward the edge of the shipping container.
"Don't think so. Nevertheless, we're here to find that angel girl and negotiate with her." Stepping onto the container's edge, unfazed by the high drop; balancing skillfully, you extend one leg over the edge, about to step into empty space. In a seamless motion, you touch down on the solid concrete ground below.
Panda follows suit, rolling off the shipping container with agility, landing right beside you. Then he stands, an odd combination of human-like stance and panda appearance, more akin to a person in a panda costume than an actual animal.
"Our safest bet is to leave the docks. Fast. Just play pretend, avoid any unnecessary conflicts and make it out of this colony in one piec–"
The sentence's left hanging as a sudden shift in the atmosphere catches your attention. Panda falls on all fours, frozen still.
"Ah," a deeper, resonant voice rumbles from your right, the words echoing as the familiar sensation washes over you. A sudden buzz inside your mind, an abrupt surge of awareness regarding another sorcerer's presence. Heart mirroring the rapid flutter of a startled bird's wings.
Their cursed energy, concealed and latent, manages to evoke an almost primal response within you. A sense of fight or flight.
You pivot to face the uninvited presence before you.
A cascade of hair, vivid as a robin's egg and kissed by the hues of a clear summer sky, is gathered into twin buns atop his head while tendrils of untamed locks dance freely in the breeze, resembling a stormy sea. Longer bangs frame the contours of his face, softening his visage.
He stops when his eyes – the same uncanny shade as his hair – bore into yours. Carrying what you'd guess is a Nyoi staff slung over his shoulder, he stands at a slight angle. Excludes casual confidence, a sense of poised readiness.
"Another one," he breaks the silence. You stand your ground in response to his observation.
"Not interested in a fight," you remark, hands risen in a defensive gesture. Yet you don't dare take your eyes off the sorcerer. Ready and composed.
Panda, ostensibly cautious, inches closer to you, fur bristling in sync with his unease towards the newcomer's presence. The air tightens, charged with the unspoken potential for violence.
"Kogane," he calls out to the shikigami, summoning it like a wisp from the aether; the small creature materializes, its hue the shade of a serene lake, light and amicable as it floats near his head, "is the panda a player too?"
The shikigami screeches its answer, its words setting everything in motion.
"Indeed!! A player! Yep!!"
"That's a function," your pondering voice meets a forced silence. The state of perturbed ambiance vanishing as your thoughts are cut off.
A flesh of white. Empty space occupies the spot where the sorcerer was standing less than a second ago.
You sense his presence before your eyes even settle on his countenance; his eyes, framed with short zig-zag lines reminiscent of lightning bolts underneath them, a furious cauldron of murderous excitement as they lock onto yours. They widen with a manic intensity. An undertone of madness lurking deep within their depths.
A predator's gaze fixated on its prey.
In a heart-stopping moment, time stands still. The world around you fades into a blur as a primal instinct takes over. Your body reacts; a precision born of pure reflex – muscles coiled like springs, you counter his attack with a swift and calculated movement.
His volatile energy crackles in the air. Your hands snap up. Fingers attempting to curl around his bandaged forearm. Channeling your cursed energy to your clavicles, the place where his palm lays flat against you –
But your reactions prove inadequate. You're too slow. A shocking speed and heavy push; a surge of force is sent through your body, catching you off-guard. The ground beneath you becomes a temporary adversary. Your balance disrupted as you're sent flying backward.
Back colliding with the hard, metal steel of a shipping container – you watch in horror as the sorcerer mercilessly attacks Panda. Using his staff as a weapon. With unnatural speed and agility, Panda struggles against him; his valiant resistance a testament to his determination, his form a blur of motion as he evades the sorcerer's attacks and manages a few good blows of his own.
Your body feels light. A tingling sensation surging through your veins. Electric current's rushing beneath your skin, setting your pulse racing and your focus to a razor's edge. The metallic taste of blood floods your mouth. Mingles with the adrenaline in your body. Every nerve firing in response to the raw energy pulsing through your body.
It hits you then–
"Heh, electricity," you mumble, the word slipping from your lips as you raise your palms, clenching your fists. Feeling the tingling in the tips of your fingers. The slight buzzing in your ears.
–his cursed energy has a special trait. One certainly hard to defend against.
Barely seconds have passed since your body was forced to rest against the ground. It still feels too long with Panda barely matching the man's speed and force.
Gritting your teeth, the urgency of the situation anchors you, overriding any pain or disorientation as you fight to regain your footing. A sense of pride fills you when you watch Panda use his technique, striking the sorcerer with enough force that'll easily knock him out cold. One of Panda's winning moves.
Except it doesn't.
"Nice one," the man's voice rings out. A taut smirk playing at the corner of his lips. Your teeth clench, disbelief intertwining with unease as you watch. With a predominated precision, the sorcerer maneuvers his staff, entwining it with Panda's arm in a smooth motion that catches you off guard.
Exerting a forceful pull, he forces a grimace from Panda. Right arm caught in the vice-like grip, a sickening crack underscores the moment. Followed by the nauseating sensation of Panda's arm being torn from his body. Violently. And mercilessly.
Panda stumbles. Pain and agony escaping in a cry. The sorcerer doesn't waste a second. Hurls the arm back at Panda, using the momentum to charge forward. Palm aiming flat against his chest, he sends Panda flying backward – the same way he did to you. Causing your junior to experience a similar sensation to yours.
The cyan-haired man straightens, seemingly relaxing, already content with winning the fight.
"But I'm not impressed," he taunts, words an ominous echo of the violence just unleashed, "It's too ordinary."
Feeling the concrete beneath your feet, you take deliberate steps forward. With an inkling of Panda's potential strategy, you expel the pooled blood from your mouth, spitting it onto the ground.
"...Sukuna, you know where he is?" The man's words flow, attention diverted, ignorant of your presence.
A fortunate circumstance.
"No clue," Panda responds. His reply burdened with weariness and defeat; yet his gaze remained fixed on you, a silent exchange of understanding passing between you as you position yourself, tension radiating from his weary form.
The sorcerer scoffs; a contemptuous tilt of his head, a gesture laden with superiority. "Sounds like you know something, then," he snarls, his grip on the staff constricting as his fist clenches, "Spit it out. I'll be merciful."
With the sorcerer's back turned you raise your arm. Your gaze remains fixed upon the convergence point of the two delicate lines, their path crossing at the very heart of the expanse that's the upper part of his broad back.
"I won't be," you declare; voice carrying a firm tone. A deft flick of your wrist – the current of cursed energy takes the desired shape before it's hurled toward your target. Slashing the air in front of you, aimed right at him.
His gaze veers to the side. And in a fraction of a heartbeat, he moves; executing a skillful sidestep. Body positioned to face you from the side, both hands now gripping his staff, aiming it at you; a glint of fervor ignites his eyes as they widen, locked onto the shipping container stationed behind Panda. The unforgiving force of your attack rends the shipping container apart, leaving two gaping slashes that could bisect a man.
You don't give him time to react properly.
The moment blood begins to stain his white robe crimson red from the nick on his shoulder, you lunge forward. Like a bull being waved a red flag. Feet imbued with your cursed energy, reinforced to ensure protection.
As you close the distance at a breakneck pace, you sense the distinct composition of his cursed energy. With your fingers curled around the staff, your eyes meet his, a faint grin playing at the corners of your mouth as you tug on his weapon with your full body weight. Lifting your legs off the ground, you use the staff as a fulcrum. His body feels resilient, akin to forged steel, against the soles of your shoes.
With the potency of your cursed technique coursing through your strike, the man is propelled backward, his body hurtling through the air. The Nyoi staff clings to the concrete. Left untouched upon the impact.
Flying through a shipping container, he quickly finds his footing. Stance shifting in response to your aerial maneuver. Legs splayed to establish a firm foundation, you focus your intent on targeting his jaw. Fists charged with cursed energy, you hit once; knowing how troublesome the push-and-pull effect of your technique feels once your flesh makes contact–
"Not bad," he manages to spit out, the corner of his lip stained red. A smile tugs at the corner of his lip as you sprint toward him.
The surroundings blur into a muddled backdrop, irrelevant in your unwavering concentration. The sorcerer becomes the sole axis, a focal point in a world that seems to slow to a crawl, even though only a fraction of a second has passed.
The tip of your foot touches his; a mere whisper of contact between two opposing forces.
"Not bad at all."
–he counterattacks. Hand darts forward. Grabs your wrist. With an economy of motion, he employs your own momentum against you. His grip becomes a pivot, briefly throwing you off-balance, diverting your forward surge into an unexpected spiral.
Fluidity. That's how you'd characterize his movements. A seamless transition from being a passive target to an active agent.
His chest brushes against your back as his right hand remains locked around your right wrist. Single-handedly swinging your body like a marionette, you exploit the vulnerability of your position. Using his grip as leverage to move backward, simultaneously grabbing hold of his bandaged left forearm and pulling. Crashing your body into his, redirecting the movement into a collision.
With a potent surge of intention, you force the prepared rejection and attraction effect within your clenched fist, propelling it like a bolt toward the rear of your skull. Teeth gritted, you throw your head back.
Crack.
He stifles a groan, a step taken back but footing resolute. A red trail paints his nose as you swivel to confront him. Pausing briefly to charge your energy again, you grant him a moment to speak. His expression freezes as he locks eyes with you
"You," he speaks up, his voice textured with the tang of iron as his tongue grazes his lips, "Have we met before?"
With your hand still tingling, the ripples of sensation spread up your arm, an electric current tracing a pattern beneath your skin. Your head sways subtly, dispelling the notion of a previous encounter. "Unlikely. You'd be history."
A chuckle dances from his lips, a response to your retort. "What's your name then?"
You share it deliberately, each syllable a measured beat in your dance around one another. He nods, his head tilting with self-assured grace. It's then that he takes his stance – feet planted firmly, palms outstretched, a grin playing on his lips.
"The name's Hajime Kashimo."
The words hang, a telltale echo–
Hajime Kashimo.
–recognition snaps into place when you repeat his name in your mind.
The Hajime Kashimo, the sorcerer whose score reaches a hundred points; a mark that sets him apart from any other Culling game player (except for the intricate Hiromi Higuruma). Hakari's elusive target.
And here, right before you, stands the man himself.
"Hey," you call out, a new determination blossoming, your stance embracing the challenge; retreat is no longer a consideration, "if I beat you, can I get your points?"
The corners of Kashimo's lips twitch, smile fading like a wisp of smoke carried away by the wind. Expression blank, with only his brows furrowed as he responds, "Sure, but you tell me everything y'know about Sukuna," his voice lowered to a dangerous undertone, a velvet threat veiled in words, "that is–if you're still alive."
He charges then. Doesn't spare a single consideration. The air crackles with tension as his presence engulfs you. His hands make contact – not with fists or strikes – but with the calculated pressure of his open palms. You feel the weight of his touch on your skin. Pressure on your left, then on your right ribcage.
"Don't disappoint me now," breath tickles your ear, voice a tantalizing, dangerous melody. His fingers anchor firmly onto your right shoulder, an assertive grip that both commands and unsettles, while his other hand exerts a calculated force on your left shoulder guard, propelling you into a spin.
Your training surges forth, a symphony of muscle memory and instinct harmonizing within you. With the resilience born of countless battles, you swiftly adapt your stance, shifting your weight to face him.
An annoyed huff leaves your now-bruised lips. You channel your own cursed energy, a torrent of power surging through your veins.
Detain an attack when it comes,–
Knees bending, body swaying to evade the incoming fist; your left hand grips his left wrist, fingers tightening with determination, followed by your right driving into its intended mark.
–and send it away when it retreats.
Your palm meets the solid plane of his chest with a resonant thud; pushes and then pulls him back to you before sending him away again; successfully pushing back against Kashimo's pressure. It's a momentary reprieve. One that sends the sorcerer tumbling back, makes him roll on the ground, lending on one knee.
"Here I thought we were just getting started," you quip with a hint of playfulness amidst the dance of combat. Moving swiftly towards the target. As Kashimo's force ebbs, you seize the opportunity, your muscles coiling like springs.
"You're getting me–" he barely makes it back to his feet before you're at him again. With enough cursed energy imbued into your foot, utilizing the momentum of your motion, leg rising up in a calculated kick – only for Kashimo to shift; a fraction of movement that proves decisive. His arm weaves beneath the arc of your thigh, a sinuous and serpentine maneuver that seeks to entwine and subdue. As his grasp tightens, his fingers snake around your throat, lifting you from the ground, suspending you momentarily.
"–quite excited," he concludes, his voice tinged with an eerie excitement.
Once the hand is freed from contact,–
A heartbeat's pause feels like an eternity. With your legs rendered weightless and no stable ground beneath you. Despite the vulnerable position, your mind remains steadfast, honing in on Kashimo's Achilles heel. His hands are preoccupied, his grasp unwavering but his neck and face exposed.
–carry out a strike with it.
Seizing the opportunity, you make the most of the opening. Your palms press against the sharp contours of his cheeks, each hand finding its place on one side of his face. In one swift and deliberate motion, you channel the wellspring of cursed energy that resides within you into your technique. The currents of your energy converge between your palms, weaving a tapestry of arcane force that manifests as a palpable vacuum, centered precisely where his head rests.
It's an intentional manipulation. One – if done right, that is – could even lead to a cataclysmic implosion. A violent severing of life from the body. But you don't want to kill him; not yet at least. You need the points. And so, you temper your approach, exerting only the necessary amount of energy to induce a sensation of compression.
As the feeling envelops him, Kashimo's expression shifts, a flicker of realization that dances within his eyes. He instinctively withdraws. Bandaged forearms push at your body, sending you hurtling backward; a testament to his strength and strategic finesse.
"You cheeky little thing," a bead of blood traces a path from the corner of his eye. At the same time, another droplet emerges from his nose.
This time it's him who doesn't let you regain enough control as he charges at you. His approach swift and unrelenting. The tables are constantly turning – now being his time to dictate the tempo.
Another dance of offense and defense plays out as the two of you clash once again. Each move a deliberate response to the other's actions.
Chase the movement of the opponent–
As the flurry of his strikes slices through the air, you find yourself navigating the ebb and flow with a synchronicity that borders on the sublime. With a hawk-like focus, you track the trajectory of his hand, your senses attuned to his every motion.
While his hits continue to swing through both empty space and meeting your body, a fleeting opportunity presents itself. With the precision of a seasoned sorcerer, you follow the path of his hand with your own, fingers closing around his forearm as it narrowly misses your cheekbone, the other digging into the open slash wound on his shoulder.
–to continue the attack.
It earns you a hiss. A "Tsk," coming from his damaged lips.
One fluid motion; one that belies your strength. You capitalize on the momentum of his own swing, utilizing your grip to exert control. Your foot surges forward with unbridled force, the sole of your shoe connecting with the vulnerable juncture of his knee.
Kashimo's reflexes kick in as he instinctively leaps back the moment your foot makes contact with his leg. His visage bears the marks of battle, a canvas adorned with streaks of red, the vestiges of blood from the prior exchange. A mirror to his appearance, your own face likely reflects a similar narrative. Marked by the intensity of the confrontation. By his pure, physical prowess. One that, even if you use all your cursed energy, you're certain you couldn't match.
The shadows of weariness begin to cast their subtle touch on you. A weight that tempers your movements and shadows the clarity of your thoughts. Each calculated step, each strategic strike, seems to bear an additional burden now.
Still, resolute, your unwavering determination fixated on Kashimo, persevering in the face of creeping exhaustion.
Then you take off.
With a surge of action, you propel yourself into motion. Pivoting on your heel, you sprint toward the towering container crane a mere few meters behind. Kashimo's quick thinking registers in the corner of your vision—a flash of white on your right, drawing nearer.
"Running so soon?"
His taunting words reach you.
"Just limbering up," you reply. Muscles tensing, you feel his energy almost brushing against your own. So, with a leap, you vault into the air. Fingers curling around your ankle.
Time seems to slow as Kashimo's grip tightens around your ankle, his fingers like a vice attempting to anchor you to the ground. The world spins around you, the crane's towering structure becoming a blur as your body is abruptly yanked back, denied the freedom of flight.
Instinct kicks in, your mind racing to find a solution. With a swift twist of your body, you channel the energy within, your cursed power surging to your fingertips. A burst of force courses through your arm, the concentrated energy propelling your free leg forward in a powerful kick. Your heel connects with Kashimo's face, the impact forcing his grip to release.
In the split second of regained freedom, your body soars toward the container crane.
Muscles strained, you manage to grab hold of a protruding metal edge, fingers gripping with an iron determination. The harsh clang of metal meeting metal reverberates through the air as your body comes to a halt, swinging slightly from the momentum before you propel yourself higher onto the structure.
A smirk tugs at the corners of your lips. The distance between you and Kashimo now a tangible reminder of your evasion. His frustrated gaze meets yours, the tension between you electric and palpable.
"Nice try," you retort, voice laced with a mixture of weariness and defiance. There's an undeniable satisfaction in defying his grasp, in proving your prowess even amid exhaustion. Without wasting a moment longer, you hoist yourself up more, using the crane's structure to propel your body upward. Your form melds with the steel as you ascend, a maneuver to gain the vantage point.
Gotta limit his movement to the minimum.
Kashimo's expression shifts, a glint of admiration piercing through his irritation. "Impressive," he concedes, the words carrying an unexpected note of respect, "but you can't run from me."
He follows your lead. The two of you ascending the crane in a synchronized rhythm
"I told you, Kashimo–," you declare, your voice echoing between the steel beams as you reach the crane's zenith, standing face to face on the narrowest edge.
Now standing face to face on the crane's uppermost beam, the narrow back reach providing only small support. Your breath heaves, each inhalation a reminder of the intense exertion. Across from you, Kashimo's gaze remains fixed upon you, his expression deceptively relaxed.
"–that I'm only stretching."
His eyes, however, tell a different story – a depth of focus that cuts through your form. Anchoring onto you with an unwavering intensity.
A mournful melody weaves through the metal lattice, the wind's haunting whistle creating an eerie harmony with the tension in the air. The gusts playfully tousle both your hair in the process. You steady yourself into a stance, your body a testament to both resilience and purpose.
"Plus I want those points," you remark, a hint of determination coloring your words.
It's then that you charge — cursed energy flowing through your body like currents of compressed emptiness. A void. Unyielding. Relentless. And pneumatic.
With a flick of your wrist, you send it slicing through the air. A blade of nothing. A thin line etches across his chest, traversing from ribcage to his already wounded shoulder — a mark of your earlier endeavor. Nowhere to dodge now that he's standing between two metal beams.
Or so you thought.
Kashimo charges. The white of his robe tainted with scarlet. The cut isn't deep.
He must've reinforced his cursed energy.
"Tsk," you utter. A flicker of irritation crosses your features. Agitated. With waning stamina, the dwindling reservoir of cursed energy depleted by your previous usage; this could've been your last-ditch effort.
The final move.
And it failed.
It makes him smile. A sinister twist of lips that morphs into a grin. Moving fast, his expression resembles one of a predator closing in on its prey. The ruby stain on his robe seems to accentuate his aura of danger, a stark contrast to the pristine white it once was.
As your body contorts and arches backward, you skillfully evade the incoming fist aimed at your face. Your unwavering gaze remains locked onto his intense stare. With your palm pressed flat against the ground of the crane, you swiftly raise your leg, delivering a targeted strike to the meat of his thigh.
But before your maneuver can fully unfold, his hand seizes your ankle, pulling you towards him and locking your leg in place as he maneuvers over your body. Kashimo's grin widens, a predatory glint in his eyes that triggers a ripple of unease down your spine.
As his fist whizzes past your face, you seize the opportune moment to mount a counterattack. His fingers, still harshly locked around your right ankle, you push and pull against his grasp. Leg successfully moving to close over his thigh, the other hooking around his hip.
Legs now firmly encircling his waist, you use every ounce of your strength to push. Destabilize the sorcerer. Break his foundation. Disrupt his equilibrium.
The outcome? Both of you soaring through the air and down the crane. Kashimo's form aligns perfectly with the approaching solidity of the dockside concrete.
A rapid free fall, gravity's pull unrelenting.
If you're not getting the points, he's not getting his answers either.
His eyes momentarily flit to the ground below. Unspoken recognition of the shared peril that binds you both. The realization dawns in his eyes, widening them momentarily, before his gaze settles onto your face once more – unimpressed. Jaded.
"Oops," you jest under your breath, fingers finding purchase on the fabric of his torn clothes. An unhinged smile on your lips, eyebrows lifting in a mix of audacity and exhilaration. The wind sweeps through, rustling your hair with a cool caress that contrasts starkly with the warm stickiness of blood on your skin.
"It's accumulated enough."
That's the only forewarning you get. In an instant, the atmosphere shifts; an electrifying tension that dances along your skin. You sense the already familiar tingling as the static charges from the man beneath you. Kashimo's cursed energy now gaining intensity.
His open hand thrusts towards your face, a surge of energy gathering at his fingertips. Only to get countered by your own palm. Flat against each other. Forcing a focal point of energy converges and resistance to form. As the push effect comes into play just in time with waves of electricity.
The crackling intensity escalates, its tendrils reaching out with an insatiable hunger. Only to be pushed back by your own manipulation acting as a steadfast wall. It's a symphony of sensations — the tingling of your skin, the hum of power in the air, the gradual crescendo of pressure between your palms. The vortex throbs and pulses, a living embodiment of the forces you both wield.
The thing is – The conductivity of the vacuum…depending on how you look at it, it behaves in two different ways:
Firstly, when you examine the motion of charged particles with a constant velocity within a vacuum, you encounter an interesting phenomenon. Unlike in other mediums, there is no opposing force acting against these particles. Consequently, maintaining a steady current across any surface within a vacuum demands no additional effort.
However, a contrasting phenomenon manifests when we consider the existence of free charges within conductors. When an electric field, denoted as E, is imposed upon a conductor, it triggers a flow of electric current. This internal charge movement gives rise to a current density described by the equation: J = σE, where σ symbolizes the conductivity of the material. Notably, within a vacuum, σ assumes a value of 0; hence, electric fields lack the capacity to spontaneously induce current flow.
In this context, the vacuum departs from the role of a conductor. Even materials known as insulators, which typically restrict the flow of current, possess conductivity values that are low but not completely absent.
As a result, the resistance exhibited by a vacuum effectively amounts to infinity—particularly when you define resistance through the lens of how charge carriers in a substance respond. Viewed from this perspective, you could liken the vacuum to an insulator, given the absence of charge carriers that are essential for the propagation of electric current.
So in the end, your innate ability functions like an antistatic force.
It should be enough to counter his attack. Neutralizing his endeavor and ricocheting it back to him. Only if his other hand, clenched into a fist, suddenly hasn't entered your line of sight, aiming for your jaw.
The controlled push-only effect falters. Then crumbles. The void's pull reclaims all that Kashimo had imparted, drawing it back with an insatiable greed.
"Damn you." It now comes down to the last aspect of your technique.
Implosion.
The energies within your vacuum field converge, collapsing inwards with a blinding intensity. A jarring impact against the back of your head – or it might be the ending of your fall. Everything's just confusing. Everything blurs into a disorienting haze of continuous events.
The unforgiving touch of concrete grates against your scraped back. Each breath, now shallow and ragged, causes pain.
Above, the sky stretches wide and boundless. Until the sight is blocked by a mop of cerulean blue hair. Two buns somehow still in place. Same-colored eyes staring at your form. Arms folded and a countenance marred by bloodstains and scrapes. Each leg positioned on either side of your hips before one presses against the flat of your clavicles.
"You're quite durable," Kashimo retorts, pushing his weight down on you, "that should've killed you right there."
"Heh," you manage a wry chuckle, your voice strained but defiant, "guess I'm full of surprises."
He raises an eyebrow, a flicker of almost-amusement dancing in his eyes. The world around you seems to blur at the edges, the strain of the plummet combined with the failed attempt of your innate technique taking a heavy toll on your senses.
"It's been a while since I've encountered someone who can keep me on my toes this long. Now tell me," your name rolls off his tongue in a taunting lilt, "where's Sukuna?"
The distant sounds of the dockside begin to fade, replaced by an eerie emptiness. Despite your unwavering determination, a tide of dizziness threatens to engulf you, and you struggle to maintain your focus on Kashimo's face.
"On vaca–"
The weight on your chest vanishes abruptly. Kashimo's foot makes fleeting contact with your cheek before returning to its original place.
"Don't play with me. Spit it out."
"Oi," a voice calls to your right. A voice you know; Hakari's, "It's not very chivalrous to strike a lady like that."
From here, everything dissolves into darkness.
The world sways, a disorienting dance of shadows and sensations. Light pressure settles on your stomach with sounds echoing faintly in the distance. A gentle, steady rhythm envelops you as if you're being cradled in a cocoon of safety. Your limbs feel weightless, as though the ground beneath you has transformed into a soft cloud that carries your burdens away.
Your mind struggles to tether itself to the present, grappling with the fragments of consciousness that slip through your grasp. Colors blur, merging into a hazy kaleidoscope of fleeting images. The arms that encircle you exude warmth thought. One that lulls you back to sleep.
Yet you manage to summon the strength to part your heavy eyelids. Through the haze, you see a blur of black and white on top of you. Head resting upon something firm and solid – a breastplate, you realize. The rhythmic cadence that envelops you is accompanied by the subtle rise and fall of breath, a heartbeat that resonates beneath your cheek.
"Panda," you murmur, voice a tentative whisper as you attempt to comprehend whether or not you're dreaming, considering the creature on you is now a size of an actual teddy bear.
The toy-sized Panda remains seated on you but looks your way, emitting a surprised yelp at the sound of your voice, before swiftly turning his gaze forward again, "Hakari, she's awake!"
Your vision – still blurred – manages to trace a figure walking at the edge of your peripheral sight – left arm missing, shirt gone (he's shirtless, you discern), and crowned with purple hair. Hakari. But if Hakari's walking in front of you. Then…
Lifting your eyes, you suddenly lock onto a fleeting sight of vibrant cyan hair. The once-pristine white attire now soaked and marred with splotches of vivid red, creating an unsettling contrast. Your heart skips a beat as the realization dawns upon you.
It's Kashimo who bears the weight of your limp form.
"She's gonna pass out soon again," his voice carries vibrations that travel from his chest to your cheek with his gaze fixed upon you.
And he's right as your body, weary and battered, succumbs once more to the embrace of slumber.
