#threads;;kikyo

[fedua1era]

@fallesto

Kikyo regarded him in silence for a long moment as the wind moved first, stirring the white sleeves of her robes and carrying with it the sharp scent of blood, ash, and scorched scales from the dragon carcass behind him. Around them, the battlefield had finally gone still. Broken bodies of monsters littered the hillside in grotesque heaps, blackened blood soaking into the grass. Yet the swordsman standing before her looked almost offended by the quiet, as though peace itself inconvenienced him. Her dark eyes lowered briefly to the ruined arrow between his teeth.

The judgment formed without emotion, merely observation. He carried himself like a warrior blessed by heaven and cursed with the temperament of an unruly boy. His strength was undeniable as she had witnessed it clearly enough. No ordinary human could stand atop a dragon’s skull and batter it to death barehanded while wielding chopsticks like weapons from a tavern joke. Even the aura around him felt strange to her senses, overwhelming and turbulent, like standing too close to a river during flood season. However, power had never impressed Kikyo.

The ravenette stepped closer anyway. The grass bent softly beneath her feet while fragments of pale soul-light flickered faintly around her form, appearing and vanishing like distant fireflies. Her expression remained calm despite the insult thrown at her so casually. “The dragon intended to flee,” she answered evenly. “Had it escaped, more villages would have burned.” Her gaze lifted to meet his single eye directly now, unflinching beneath the weight of his irritation. Most men reacted strangely when looking upon her for too long. Some softened, some feared her, and others became entranced by the unnatural stillness she carried like moonlight over a grave. “You are skilled,” she admitted quietly. “But your pride clouds your judgment.”

Another gust swept across the hill, pulling strands of raven-black hair across her cheek. Kikyo reached up and brushed them aside with elegant calm before extending her hand toward him once more. “Now return my arrows.” For a moment, her eyes drifted past him toward the dead dragon. The creature’s spirit had already begun dissipating into the air, but remnants of malice still lingered like smoke. This land felt unfamiliar to her, yet the suffering within it was painfully recognizable. Humans dying, monsters feeding, and heroes fighting endlessly while believing strength alone could save anyone.

The priestess’s attention returned to Reid as there was something deeply abnormal about him. She had seen powerful beings before. No, it was the ease with which he stood amidst carnage, laughing and shouting like a man at a festival rather than one surrounded by death. It unsettled her more than she cared to admit. He resembled neither noble warrior nor bloodthirsty beast. He existed somewhere between the two, unconcerned with appearing righteous. Kikyo found herself unable to determine whether that honesty made him dangerous or trustworthy. “You speak as though slaying monsters is a game,” she said at last, her voice softer now, almost distant. “Do the dead mean so little to you?”

[fedua1era]

Mermaid/Trainer Starter for @fallesto

The Seiran Marine Aquarium was one of the most popular places, as it had mermaids, as they were rare creatures in captivity. Not many were known about the various species of merfolk, but they were still consciously learning. Various aquariums across the country had merfolk working with trainers for performances and shows, while some had ended up in tragedies, such as the trainers being drowned by the mermaid. It was a decent-paying job, high risk, and a very competitive selection.

Most staff hurried with purpose, shuffling data tablets, wrangling feeding carts, and conducting quiet radio exchanges. However, a small group of canidties were moving through the chaos towards the mermaid tank. A group of five potential trainers was selected for the final stage of the hiring process, meeting the mermaid themselves. It was two men and three women dressed in white shirts and red pants or skirts to show that they were contractors, not actual employees. They had signed waivers any injuries or deaths would not be the company's fault.

The staff wanted the mermaid to have the final pick on who the trainer would be out of the five candidates. Kikyo was standing with her hair in a low ponytail with a calm expression, as she had not been expecting to make it to the final stages of the hiring process. She had no previous experience or marine knowledge, but it appeared they might have liked her appearance and personality.

Standing in the habitat tank, it was massive, as they could not even see the bottom of the tank, where the artificial marine landscape was made. It was thirty feet of curated ocean darkness, lit sporadically by clusters of bioengineered corals that pulsed with their own internal luminescence. Blues, purples, and soft greens shimmered against the glass, creating the illusion of drifting constellations suspended in midnight water.

A senior trainer waited near the edge of the tank, his voice gruff over the radio, telling them to send the merman towards the top to meet the candidates. All five took a seat on the concrete, waiting while a couple were whispering among themselves with excitement. Kikyo noticed that one male had a serious look on his face. Sighing deeply, she rested her chin on her palm, waiting to see what the mermaid looked like as they had yet to be released to the public.

[fedua1era]

Continued from here // @fallesto

Cold still clung to Kikyo’s bones, but the frantic burning in her lungs had faded. The water pressed against her skin, thick and heavy around her clothes, her hair drifting weightlessly around her shoulders. Yet air moved through her chest as naturally as if she stood on land. Her eyes lifted slowly to the creature holding her as six golden eyes stared back at her through the dim blue light of the tank, unblinking. Up close, he was far more monstrous than he ever appeared from the outside of the glass. The jagged scars along his throat shifted when he spoke, the deep resonance of his voice vibrating through the water around them. The question settled over her like ice as the human did not answer immediately. Her gaze flickered briefly toward the surface above them, where distorted shapes moved beyond the glass. The trainers with the new one were most likely still standing there, smug and certain she would be torn apart within seconds.

The thought barely stirred anything in her now, but instead her attention returned to the mermaid in front of her. His claws rested against her waist, not digging in, but not gentle either. The kind of grip that reminded her exactly how easily he could rip her open if he wished. Kikyo lowered her gaze slightly, her dark hair drifting across her cheek as bubbles slipped quietly from her lips. For a moment, she simply listened to him speak, the contempt in his voice, the ancient bitterness that bled through every word. When he finally loosened his hold and drifted back a few inches, Kikyo remained suspended in the water between them, testing the strange miracle of breath filling her lungs again. Brown eyes shifted briefly past Kokushibo to where the pale mermaid drifted nearby, watching with open fascination. His lazy circling reminded her of a shark deciding whether a meal was worth the effort, then Kokushibo spoke again, which caused Kikyo’s gaze to return to him.

“Because he asked me to.” Her voice moved strangely through the water, softer than usual but steady. She shifted slightly, keeping a careful distance now that his grip had released her, though she made no move to flee toward the surface. Running from predators only triggered instinct. She knew that much. “He was scared to be killed by you two. Naturally, the strong devour the weak; however, survival is instinctive within everyone,” she continued quietly as her gaze didn’t waver from his many eyes. Kikyo tilted her head slightly, dark eyes studying the creature in front of her with the same calm curiosity he had been using on her. Her hair drifted slowly around her shoulders as the water shifted with Douma’s circling movements nearby. The human knew that she stood no chance of surviving if they decided to kill her, but her eyes narrowed, refusing to beg for her life or cry.

[fedua1era]

@fallesto ~ continued from here~

The oil-darkened bristles continued their slow, deliberate path along the length of Kaigaku’s tail, each stroke measured and precise. To anyone watching, it would have looked like she hadn’t heard him at all. However, her eyes had shifted slightly, narrowing just enough to betray that she had. She was already aware of what he was going through as the staff upstairs saw it as a spectacle. The enormous tanks, the crowds, the money pouring in from visitors who believed they were witnessing something rare and beautiful. Kikyo saw the patterns in the water. She saw how the currents inside the tank changed depending on who moved first. She saw the way Kaigaku sometimes lingered near the shallow maintenance hatch longer than necessary.

Predators had hierarchies, and Kaigaku, for all his sharp teeth and venomous temper, was not at the top of this one. The brush slid over the jagged scar where his tail split, and she adjusted her pressure automatically so it wouldn’t snag against the imperfect scale growth. “I know,” she said quietly. Her voice carried through the small hatch opening and into the water, where his gills drew oxygen from the circulating current. Kikyo dipped the brush again, letting the mineral oil drip slowly between the bristles before returning to her work. “I’m not stupid.” Behind Kaigaku’s shoulder, the water shifted again. She could feel the subtle displacement of hundreds of gallons of water the same way someone might feel the movement of air when a large animal walked behind them.

Douma had moved closer, and she didn’t look at him yet. That was another lesson she had learned early: that some predators were encouraged by attention. Instead, she reached further along Kaigaku’s tail, polishing the last few indigo plates until the blue aquarium lights shimmered cleanly across them. Her forearm was already slick with oil and saltwater from his earlier flick, but she ignored it. “Sharks, sea lions, dolphins, stingrays,” she repeated calmly. “Those are the options.”

Her gaze finally lifted, not toward Kaigaku, but past him. The pale shape drifting upside-down above the hatch had lowered closer to the glass. Douma’s silvery hair spread through the water like frost blooming across a frozen lake. His colorful tail swayed lazily somewhere behind him, enormous fins shifting with deceptive gentleness. Kikyo met those rainbow-bright eyes for exactly one second before returning her attention to Kaigaku’s scales.

“Before you start thinking of escape,” she added evenly, “You should think about the fact that the only reason you’re still alive in this tank is that the other two haven’t decided they’re bored yet. You need to plan it, plus you won't get far without water; they will drag you back under and eat you then.” The brush slowed as she reached the final ridge of his tail, then she leaned back slightly from the hatch. Across the massive tank, the deeper water moved. The enormous mermaid had not been circling like Douma or darting like Kaigaku. He had been so still that for long stretches of time, he looked like a carved statue resting in the deepest part of the tank.

The dark indigo plates of his tail caught faint traces of the blue lighting as his massive body drifted forward through the water. The movement was silent, effortless. Six golden eyes were open now, and all of them were watching. Kikyo felt the temperature in the area drop another few degrees as the leviathan approached, though she knew it was just the tank’s cooling system reacting to the deeper water layers being disturbed. Still, she kept her voice steady. “If you’re telling the truth,” she said, wiping the brush against a cloth, “then moving you to another tank would solve exactly nothing.” Her gaze slid briefly back to Kaigaku. “Because if those two want you dead,” she said quietly, “glass walls won’t stop them.” Behind him, Douma’s muffled laughter rippled through the water like distant chimes, and deeper in the tank, Kokushibo continued drifting closer.

Kikyo reached for the feeding log tablet resting beside the tray and powered the screen on. “So,” she said, voice returning to its practical tone. “Sharks, sea lions, dolphins, or stingrays.” She looked up at the three predators now gathered around the hatch. Her eyes lingered briefly on Douma, then finally settled on Kokushibo. “Assuming,” she added evenly, “any of you feel like eating today before the new trainers come in the morning.”

[fedua1era]

Continued from here @fallesto

Kikyo had broken up with her boyfriend after they had discussed some issues they had recently been having in their long-term relationship. She was heartbroken and felt alone since Kaede had moved into her own dorm for uni, which left the house feeling very empty. The ravenette had been working long hours and crying herself to sleep until she decided to look into adopting a dog that could provide companionship. She had considered adopting before with her ex, but he was against the idea of having any pets. Kneeling against the kennel, she gave a small smile as the dog started wagging his tail excitedly, as she was looking for an adult dog.

The woman knew that with her work schedule, a puppy or young dog would be too much on her own, but an adult dog would be perfect. Chuckling softly, her brown eyes glanced up at the volunteer, asking if she could go out back in the yard to play with Doma for a bit, for a longer interaction. The person nodded their head before grabbing a leash to clip to their collar, leading them towards the area where they could play. However, the human female hesitated for a moment as her eyes glanced over at the other dog, which was trying to blend into the wall, trembling very badly, which made her heart ache. Still, for some reason, it appeared that this dog was trying to insist on getting her attention with his friendly personality. 

Stepping outside, the person unhooked the leash as she watched the dog carefully, observing his energy, wanting to make sure she could provide the perfect environment for him, as there would be days she worked long hours. Grabbing a tennis ball, she whistled softly to get the golden retriever’s attention as she smiled, even though she had bags under her eyes, she tried to conceal them with makeup. “Come on, Doma, let’s get the ball.”

Throwing the ball, she watched and chuckled softly, observing his reaction. She was providing plenty of pets for him as she gave him soft praises while rubbing his ears. Her chocolate eyes were full of a hidden sadness and were almost lifeless, as if she were lost at this moment. It was as if she needed some guidance or salvation. Glancing up at the volunteer, she nodded her head that she was interested in adopting him. In less than twenty minutes, she signed some paperwork and finished the adoption fee before glancing down at the dog. “Well, I guess you're coming home with me.”

The drive home felt short as it was getting late in the evening enough time for dinner. Grabbing some food that would have some meat for the pet to eat, she opened the door to the house so he could get used to his new surroundings. It was dark and dim, with not a lot of decoration or furniture, as most of the items were taken by Kaede. There were a few pictures on the way with awards from decades ago when she did archery, winning at national levels before the accident that killed her parents. Kikyo was only eighteen, just old enough to be the legal guardian of her sister, who was only ten years old. For the past decade, she dedicated herself to caring for her sister and making the best she could provide. The female did not have a lot of friends or go out a lot due to, only went home and to work. Now that her sister had left, she hoped to fill the void in her heart with Doma. Walking towards the kitchen, she hummed while she was preparing the dinner she bought to give him some food and water. “Come here, boy!”

[fedua1era]

Stinky boarchild gets a bath @whirling-fangs

The young miko was traveling with her sister in the mountains when they stumbled across a younger, filthy human child. He was around the age of ten or eleven, covered in layers of grime and various other stuff, she did not even know. Kaede was easily a few years younger than him and screamed when she saw the stranger, while she had been gathering berries for them to snack on. Kikyo spent hours tracking and chasing after the boy before she finally got him tied up. Dragging him to the stream as the sun was still in the sky, even though it was low, she started to use the soap they had on hand to scrub him.

Like a feral creature, he was struggling, but the teenager was forcing her younger sister to help. The smell of the child made her gag as Kaede was crying, complaining about the scent. Kikyo was scrubbing his skin raw to get everything off, which turned the water brown from all the muck he had on his body. The female was covered in bruises and bite marks from Inosuke fighting back throughout the hours before she captured him to give him a bath.

"Kaede, get some special berries and the other bar of soap." Maybe if she fed him the special berries, which had medicine mixed in to help people relax, it would work. Kikyo grunted with pain as she felt something slam into her face, causing her nose to bleed a little bit. The teenager hissed before readjusting her grip in the male's body, trying to hold him in place to finish scrubbing his arms. "Hold still, we are just trying to help."

[fedua1era]

@thornpr1nc3ss

Kikyo moved a little closer through the crowd, weaving between tables with the same controlled grace she used all night. Her eyes kept returning to the lone figure near the edge of the room, as if checking that he was still there each time she looked. The contrast between him and the rowdy group of American tourists around him felt sharper the nearer she got. Something about his stillness made him easier to notice than anyone else in the club, even without him trying. Eventually, she made a quiet decision and stepped out of her usual path toward him.

She stopped a few feet away and offered a polite, practiced smile before speaking softly over the music, “You look a little far from your friends. Is everything alright?” Around them, the club continued its noisy rhythm, but their small pocket of conversation felt strangely separate from it. For a moment, Kikyo found herself wondering not just why he was alone, but why he seemed so comfortable staying that way.

[fedua1era]

@ofamess ~ continued from here~

Kikyo remained standing in the doorway for a moment, the clipboard tucked neatly against her side while the patient documents rested beneath one arm. Her brown eyes immediately found the familiar orange cover resting in Kakashi's hands, and despite herself, she let out a slow, weary sigh. It wasn't irritation that crossed her features so much as quiet disbelief. She had hidden that book less than ten minutes ago, placing it somewhere no ordinary patient would have thought to search, yet somehow the copy had found its way back into his possession. The realization only confirmed what she had begun to suspect throughout the afternoon that Kakashi's observational skills were just as troublesome in a hospital room as they were reputed to be on the battlefield.

Closing the distance between them at an unhurried pace, the ravenette stopped beside his bed and regarded him with the same calm professionalism she had maintained since he had been admitted. The pediatric ward hummed softly beyond the open doorway, filled with the distant laughter of recovering children, the quiet chatter of worried parents, and the steady footsteps of nurses making their rounds. It was a comforting atmosphere, one she had worked hard to preserve during her years serving in the hospital. Her gaze shifted briefly toward the hallway before returning to the male, her expression softening ever so slightly. "It's not because I believe the book is harming you," she said evenly. "Frankly, what an adult chooses to read during recovery is none of my concern."

She folded her hands loosely over the clipboard, tilting her head just enough to emphasize her next point. "My concern is where you're reading it." Her eyes flickered toward the half-open door once more before settling on the novel clasped protectively against his lap. "This wing is filled with children who wander the halls when they're feeling well enough to explore. They're curious, easily impressed, and far too willing to imitate the shinobi they admire." A faint, almost amused smile tugged at the corner of her lips despite the seriousness of her words. "All it takes is one child asking what their favorite jōnin is reading before I have an entirely different problem to solve."

Extending one hand toward him, palm upward, Kikyo silently requested the novel once again. There was no impatience in the gesture, only quiet expectation born from someone accustomed to repeating herself without raising her voice. "I've already confiscated this book twice today," she continued, unable to suppress the hint of dry humor creeping into her tone. "I'd rather not make it three times, but you're making a compelling argument for keeping a permanent inventory of your hiding places." The corners of her eyes softened just enough to reveal she wasn't truly scolding him. "Besides, I suspect recovering from your injuries would be considerably easier if you devoted half as much effort to resting as you do to retrieving contraband."