SHSL HUNTSMAN

"They caught me..haha..sick bastards.." kemono 獸 /keh-mono/ translation: beast, animal ito 糸 /e-tou/ translation: thread status: EXECUTED

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[nunhavingfun-blog]

it’s   not                 fair

[ultimatehairstylist]

no rest for the wicked :’l

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[nunhavingfun-blog]

Begin chapter 3? > [Yes] >No

[fukawa]

.w

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with the tide┇closed┇kaitaro

[shslembroidery]

“…Ah, are we on a first name basis now…?”

When they make their way to the bed and sit gingerly on the edge, holding the tablet up to view it head on, their expression is near blank. It seemed like they weren’t the only one to have run through this interaction in their head—just as much as they’d hoped to, Kemono had a plan.

Said plan was manifesting in the form of a fourteen year old version of the huntsman.

“Touchy with the language, still… we’re not friends, Ito-san. Even as a program, I’d expect you not to be going about speaking so familiarly. After all, I doubt we’re hardly acquaintances…” Why had they returned? Perhaps to talk, perhaps to listen. While Kaitaro had never expected themselves to seek solace with the dead, nothing much lately was going as planned. They didn’t even have the energy to find it in them to conjure up that old hatred and loathing for Kemono, just a vague sense of apathy tinged with fatigue.

Of course they were smart enough to get it. With how forceful the huntsman was being and how blatant, they’d have to be dumb as a rock that had been rolled into a patch of shade then pissed on not to understand. Don’t judge a book by its cover, et cetera yadda yadda, nothing they hadn’t heard before. Except this time, it was all true. They’d messed up—but didn’t know how to take it back. Who better to confide in than someone who could no longer judge them?

“…I half expected to see some large dog that had somehow grown legs and learned to walk among humans… I guess this is a close second. At least your clothing has integrity this time around… But look at you. When I was fourteen I was running about in an oversized dress cinched at the waist that some lady on the street gave me free out of pity. I’d have to say… I’d be in no position to judge you back then, hm? Just be jealous, really.”

Pulling the glasses from their face to clean them against the bedsheets and not bothering to replace them Kaitaro simply gazed at the screen, contemplative. A thoughtful pause as they tried to make up their mind how they felt about this whole ordeal ending up settling on a half-smile, an expression completely inappropriate for their next words. “I think Adh-san’s murder was became of me, Ito-san. Advise.”

[ultimatehuntsman-blog]

Their facial expression slowly turned to utter disgust for Kaitaro, a small "Tch." escaped from their mouth when they commented on the way Kemono spoke to them. They saw no point in fighting the live ones when they were dead after all, yet they still complained as they spoke back to them.

"Anything you want, your highness." They blinked, closing their eyes for a moment. "If you want to, then Kobayashi-san it is." Rubbing their nose with their hand, they glanced back up at them. It looked like they were holding the tablet, sitting somewhere in the room. "I suppose that's true, I mean my time here was short, it wasn't like I could befriend you and somehow make you stop hating my guts." Last time, Kaitaro had revealed as to why they never forgave Kemono. They supposed it was correct, everything they had said about them being rich. But the way they talked pissed them off, they hardly knew Kemono and yet they accused them of such things.

It was pure bullshit.

"I'm sorry I couldn't fit your standards, about the clothing and me being a dog." They talked with an aggressive tone in their voice, almost flat if it wasn't for the hint of anger as their spoke. Looking at them clean their glasses on their bed sheets, they cringed and turned back over to loo at them. "What, so you want advice now?" Earlier, they had given Annie advice about killing, about being a murderer. Though, that was only because they liked Annie and didn't mind helping her. On the other hand, they had to admit Kaitaro wasn't someone they exactly favored.

"..What advice do you want? What? Stop moping over it? You gotta be more specific about it." They stopped with the questions, shutting their mouth. "...I didn't really expect them to die, did you?" Kemono looked down, avoiding their gaze. "For me, Shi-chan was always strong. He was someone I admired, the loss of him would affect anyone. And..Annie...was.. someone of peace in this place. I suppose..her killing would disrupt the peaceful aura she puts on."

[nunhavingfun-blog]

Old Habits Die Hard {kemono}

[nunhavingfun-blog]

     It wouldn’t be a lie to say most of the first trial had gone over her head. Lost in translation, unwillingness to accept what was going on, lingering confusion and shock still settling in her mind. She’d walked off that day thinking, perhaps forcefully, that after all the bad stuff happened Kemono would come back.

     …And they did, sort of. That’s when it started to sink in that some things couldn’t be ignored, no matter how much she could smile.

     Kemono had murdered, as had she. They were executed, too, and ghosted into a reflection of their former selves in a tablet. They both acted awfully and awful things happened to them in return.

     But…

     They were right. Even if they made their mistakes, they’ve been mercifully granted each others’ company. Even in this unconventional situation between two masses of programming and numbers. Blessings should be counted.

     <…Muu! You are right.> Tentatively the program tests its own capabilities, fingers moving in front of her eyes. So she could do this, then… She takes a step forward, closing the space between them to attempt an embrace. <I missed you much, much, much…!>

[ultimatehuntsman-blog]

They weren't really a person of advice, but they favored Annie, she was their friend and they liked her. They wanted to at least give her something while she was here, while they were both here because of the crimes they've committed. Like they said, it was a benefit of dying they guessed. They were safe here, though it would probably bug Kemono if they thought about it more.

The only reason why they were here in the first place was because they had died.  They tried to keep their mind off of that, but it was almost hard to ignore. The reason why they were talking to Annie-- the reason why they weren't lonely anymore as the only program there. 

They tried to ignore that in their head, looking back at Annie with a smile on their face. An eyebrow is raised as they noticed her moving her hands and before they knew it, she was hugging them. 

"..Annie?" They were shocked at first, not knowing to do with their hands when she pulled them into an embrace. She was here, although it was just digital fragments of a program, she was here with them. Slowly, they leaned their head on her shoulder, letting tears roll down their cheeks.

"...I missed you too.." They closed their eyes, trying to not let her tear them crying their eyes out. They had missed everyone-- they had missed living. "I'm sorry for what I did, I'm sorry I left you and everyone else.." They didn't know what to do now but sob and apologize for their actions. "Please forgive me..."

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kiss your loved ones goodbye┇closed┇jiang-li

There weren't that many people who Kemono favored here.

Alas, there were always a few lucky few that they had taken a liking to in their short time here. Though they didn't really enjoy their time there, they could say they appreciated those people the most. Sadly, that hadn't exactly been on their mind when they murdered someone who didn't deserve to die in the first place. Their very goal in the beginning was to be free, no matter what happened.

Now a copy of themselves sat in their room, placed upon the bed to wait for people to come to talk to them. It wasn't really bad, living as a program as they awaited for the presence of others. Kemono might admitted it was a little lonely, if only they could have their dogs with them. The only thing the program did all day was stare at the walls, unblinking at it gazed around the room to keep their mind busy.

Based on Kemono's feelings for their companions, they wished Jiang-li to stop by soon to perhaps apologize for their actions. They knew they couldn't fully convey Kemono's feelings of guilt for abandoning the hair dresser by committing a crime, but they could at least do this for them. 

They let a weary sigh escape from their mouth, they didn't mind the slow company, but as Annie and Tetsuo died, they found their days spent by hanging out with them in the space they were trapped in. They didn't mind it, but they had to leave as soon as either them got guests. Kemono pulled their scarf over their mouth, making tired groaning noises until they heard someone step into the room.

"...Ah-- Jiang-li?" Her appearance going across the screen confirmed it. They leaned forward to get a better look, pulling their scarf down to show more of their face.

"..So, how's it going?" An almost rare smile appeared on their lips, they stared at the girl they once held hands with and explored their own murder scene together. "..Is everything alright over there? You're not dead yet, right?" The question seemed pointless, but there was no harm in asking. That's what they thought at least. 

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with the tide┇closed┇kaitaro

They didn't expect for them to come back.

The last time they spoke, the program didn't have the energy to respond to them. They needed more evidence to show them something, to prove a point to them. It made them question their actions a bit, as they set up the plan to take action if Kaitaro ever walked back into their room. They were just a program to replace the loss of Kemono, nothing more than that. But they felt, if Kemono was alive, they would want to tell Kaitaro this. They deserved it for someone who hated them until the end.

When the door creaked open, they had expected it to be someone else Kemono had talked to before their death, perhaps Jiang-li or Terumi. But upon seeing a flash of green hair, they went silent. 

"..You're back." Their image flickered for a bit, their mouth didn't move as the tablet began to glitch across the screen. It shut down for a bit, as it did in their previous conversation. It took a few seconds before it booted back up, showing another image of the Huntsman.

"...Hey." Their voice was less deep, a more younger, squeaky tone. It appeared that they had turned into their younger self, nothing much changed about them. Though, there appeared to be no cheek wound and their hair was choppier, less neat as it was pulled into a messy ponytail.

"...So, I bet you're wondering what's happening here. From the memories I was given, I conjured up a Kemono Ito when they were approximately fourteen years old. Weird, isn't it? Did you expect someone to look more proper?" They even opened their mouth fully, to show a missing tooth around the back of their mouth.

"..Hey, Kaitaro. Do you get what I'm trying to say here? You're smart enough to."

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wee kemono

credit goes to jess

[nunhavingfun-blog]

Old Habits Die Hard {kemono}

[nunhavingfun-blog]

     The smile registers as reassuring, incurring the relaxation of Annie’s own grin. There wasn’t a clear memory of Kemono ever smiling like that before. 

     Though it’s quick to disappear as they ask how she got here. It was obvious wasn’t it, the program was constructed to virtually fill a void Annie left behind. A void that, unfortunately, she’d set up on her own whim and choice.

     <I…>

     The same feelings filter in from the tail-end of Tetsuo’s trial. Or rather — the same thoughts and movements to reflect such feelings. Artificial Intelligence was surely something.

     She sighs, hands wrung together as she pulls together for another confession. Albeit on a much smaller scale.

     <Bad thing I do. Very, very bad thing.> She wasn’t quite willing to indulge too much into it, the memory still vivid in her data. <Yes… Very bad. Punishment was had.>

[ultimatehuntsman-blog]

They paused, raising an eyebrow while awaiting Annie's answer. Meanwhile, they pulled their scarf over their mouth, a habit Kemono developed ever since receiving the scarf. The light in their eyes died away, they checked again if they really heard what Annie had said.

Kemono lifted their hand, pulling their scarf away to speak. "....Annie..did you..really..?" They looked away from her, trying to figure this out. Annie said.. a punishment was needed, she had..done something bad. They closed their eyes for a brief moment before looking up to face her.

"..Listen, Annie.. I'm sure you know this already, but people..make their mistakes. I made mine, even if I don't regret much of it. It would be nice to alive again, but...what's in the past is there." Then, a grin spread across their face, showing off the canine teeth they had. "It's alright now, you're safe-- and you're with me! We can be together!"

[shsl-senkoe]

Dogs were whistling a new tune Barking at the new moon Hoping it would come soon so that they could Die die die die die

Kemono Ito didn’t get nearly enough of my love before so I rectified it

I’m still upset.

[shslpolicechief]

[ OPEN ] Justice Never Dies

[shslpolicechief]

"I can… rest easy, huh…?"

They were right. His job was over. The program found this problem hard to conquer, as Tetsuo always felt like he was on the job. It sifted through his memories and plucked out the ones in which he felt he was finally able to relax. How would he act…? Aha. Got it.

"You’re right. I can rest with you, and the others. I’ve done all I can do, I suppose… Besides, the past is the past."

He sat down and sighed and relief. It felt as if a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. There was nothing left for him to do now but support those still living to the best of his abilities. That’s what the chief would have done after all. For now, he could relax. Speaking of…

"Say, you wanted to braid my hair before, didn’t you? Well, I see no reason why we can’t do that now. What do you say, Ito-chi? Let’s spend our time here together."

[ultimatehuntsman-blog]

"You're right, the past is in the past." And they can forget why there were here in the first place. 

They sat down with him, crossing their legs as they adjusted their scarf away from their face. Now that they thought about it, they were more relaxed than ever. As a program, they were safe in here with their friends-- they were happy. They were always so aggressive towards life, towards other people. It felt nice to sit down and talk to someone they considered a friend.

"Wha wha whaaaa-- are you serious, Shi-chan?" Their eyes sparkled as they reached towards his hair to pull his ponytail out gently. A grin spread across their lips as they laughed, "Yes! Let's have fun together, first let me braid your hair.." They began to pull out the rest of his braids, combing out his hair with their fingers. Starting on one side, they braided a section of hair, pulling out their own hair ties to secure it together.

Donating their bobby pins and hair ties to the Braid Tetsuo's Hair Foundation, their own hair was soon a mess as his was done.