destinystrings | 01 - Pint Sized Terror Unleashed!

Entry tags:

01 - Pint Sized Terror Unleashed!

Who: Yamato Hotsuin and YOU!
Where: Taurus Ward at night
Summary: Yamato is more than a little disorientated
Warnings: A fire breathing dog. THE FIRE BREATHING DOG. Also Taurus ward I guess.

Yamato's brain felt like it was in the middle of a grand overload.

The bright neon lights, the bustle of people in all sorts of outlandish clothing moving from building to building in groups, the loud laughter and catcalls - it was so alien to Yamato, who had spent his years isolated in a quiet, out of the way mansion, that he found himself frozen in place, his head stiffly moving from side to side as he drank in the gaudy sight.

At least he had his faithful demon companion by his side. Cerberus was looming over him, more than twice his height, the beast's shoulders hunched in a tense way. Its body language clearly stated that it was prepared to lash out at anything that exhibited the slightest bit of threat, a low, muted growl rumbling in the back of its throat.

Yamato took an abrupt, cautious step forward, and Cerberus shadowed the movement. As... bewildering and confusing this was, he couldn't stand still all night. He...had to get to the bottom of this. A calm, detached observation of his surroundings, even if the lack of memory about his arrival here was disconcerting.

So. A child by his lonesome, dressed in a traditional yukata, with a Cerberus trailing after him... in the red light district during the busiest hour. Approach?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

There was a bit of a pause.

"I don't understand," Yamato said, his tone bland, "We are to protect a city that we have no prior connection to, and therefore no duty towards, simply because some supernatural entity conscripts us into being its guards?"

It was laughable really, and Yamato felt his lips twitch into a smile in response. It wasn't a very nice one, and in fact, carried a slight, mocking edge to it.

"Unless there is something more, of course. Is there a prize or reward given to those who obey?"

She'd met Yamato (the older) and Miyako, and realized that they did not share her ideals when it came to saving people. But for even this small child to be saying such things...

"The people here are struggling. With the demon population as it is, and this city being the only one that remains... There's only so much they can give. However, as long as you are here you will be provided with a room, as well as enough money to pay for supplies for about a month."

Which... just reminds her of yet another concern, really.

"Hotsuin... It might be best if we found your sister and stayed with her as long as you're here."

This didn't really seem satisfactory to Yamato - kidnapped and placed into a city with the mission to protect it, and gently bribed with offers of food and lodgings, even though they were the ones to kidnap the person in the first place? It left a bad taste in Yamato's mouth.

But he dropped the subject, giving Aoi a blank look, his eyes sliding half closed. "My sister...? I'm self-sufficient enough." And, considering at that moment Yamato thought Miyako was a child like him... would just give him extra baggage to carry around, as she hadn't yet summoned her first demon yet.

...But he's just a child.

"Still, it would probably be best for you to stay with someone older... Especially in a dangerous place like this."

Older?

"My sister is younger," Yamato said slowly, his blank expression crinkling in confusion.

...Huh?

"But Hotsuin-- That is, Miyako - is about the same age as I am." It's clear from her expression that she is just as confused. Were they speaking about different people? Just how large was their family...?

"That's impossible," Yamato said, his frown deepening at the mention of his sister's name. Miyako was the youngest twin, and should be his age. Just what was going on?

"Miyako is seven, like me."

'Like me'? But that would imply...

It's then when something clicks. Even though it's such a strange idea, this being Hinoto-Ri, it just might be possible...

"This may be rude, but... Is your name Yamato?"

She had originally chalked it up to familial resemblance, but looking at him like this, he really does look exactly like a younger version of the twins.

Yamato twitched, his lips pressing together in an uncomfortable line at hearing his name. He wasn't sure what to make of this situation - his mind was buzzing miles a minute, trying to piece together a coherent idea from the shred of information he had gleaned so far.

A world where people are dragged from their own realities, if that's so, then the only near logical conclusion he could make was...

"...yes, I am Yamato Hotsuin."

Was Miyako taken from a reality further into the future? That was the only thing that made sense.

Well this is strange. She can't help but lean a little closer, taking in his features, noting the differences - the baby fat that hasn't yet been shed, the lack of lines from sleep deprivation. But it does well and truly appear to be him after all.

"...I'm sorry. Even though we have met before..." In a manner of speaking, "It didn't even occur to me that you might be the same person."

There is a very slight pause before she continues. "It may be difficult to believe, but there was a time when you came here before. However, you were the same age as your sister and I."

"..."

For a long moment, Yamato didn't say anything. He just stared at Aoi blankly, his expression betraying nothing - not shock, not confusion, not anything. It was sort of creepy. But, after a few minutes, the child turned away and stared at the wall instead, heaving a sigh.

"...so my sister is older than I am here?"

Yamato latched onto that first. He... didn't know how to process the situation properly yet, so he decided to focus on the trivial details first. Get those out of the way, and then... yeah.

They can be in similar boats, even if Aoi is slightly more used to it after having lived here for a good number of months. It's frankly a bit relieving to focus on the details instead of trying to explain the why or how.

"That's right. I think she may be about ten years older than you."

At least, she's pretty sure Miyako is around her age, and if Yamato is only seven right now...

"Ten years-"

Yamato turned back to Aoi, and his blank expression had finally broken into what could only be called childish horror. Miyako was ten years older than him - well, that made sense, if she was supposedly the same age as this woman, but... it settled badly, now that he was actually processing it.

The Hotsuin were built on a hierarchy of ability and usefulness. Due to there being no more adult Hotsuin, Yamato was on top of the pyramid because of his promising ability and potential - but if Miyako was an adult here, then that meant that balance was upset, and Yamato would be shifted into a more submissive position, while Miyako adopted the leading one!

It wasn't really fair... it'd be one thing if his twin had bested him as a child, but for him to lose his place because Miyako was fortune enough to be here as an adult, than a child...! That was temporal cheating!

"...is she powerful?" Yamato asked, his tone beginning to creep into petulant.

It's a lot to take in, so she doesn't blame him in the slightest when he needs a moment to sort it all out. Really, she wouldn't be surprised if it took even longer for it to settle in. How else could you react upon finding out that your very own twin was no longer the same age as you?

What does surprise her in the end is his question. It's so unexpected, it takes her a bit to formulate an answer.

"She's... very capable of fighting, yes. We did have to battle demons together once." Although why that would be his first question, she cannot even fathom.

"Ugh." The amount of disgust Yamato managed to inject into that one noise was impressive. "I'd never live it down..."

He shook his head after that half-mutter, and reached up to rake his fingers through Cerberus's thick mane - more to soothe himself than the beast. He would just have to avoid his sister for as long as possible, until Yamato came to terms with this kind of unfair loss. He'd quickly regain his top position though - he was naturally stronger than Miyako as a child, and he'd be naturally stronger than her when he grew up. It was just a matter of... time...

"In any case, I'd like it if you won't tell her about me yet."

"Never live it down...?"

Had the twins always been so competitive...? She could understand being upset at no longer being the same age, but more than that, he seems to be unhappy that his sister might be... better than him.

"You're sure about this? You might have your own apartment, but I don't think it's such a good idea to live by yourself..." There's genuine concern in her voice. Leaving someone so young to fend for themselves just seems wrong.

Yamato's eyes narrowed slightly. "I have Cerberus for protection, and that is all I need. I'm self-sufficient enough to survive on my own."

Well, he would have to sort the issue out of supplies for food, but Yamato would cross that bridge when he reached it. He had spent the majority of his life alone anyway, only being shepherded to certain locations by his tutors once a blue moon.

"Even without a job? You could probably make it through one month, but to be honest, they don't give you enough money to last for much longer than that..." The fact that likely no one would hire him due to his age goes unsaid.

"Even traveling through this city could be dangerous if you aren't careful. You should really consider staying with someone old enough to take care of you."

There was an aggravated sigh. "I don't see how it is any of your business. You are a stranger."

Truthfully, Yamato was more than a little ignorant about how to live like a 'civilian'. Jobs? Bills? Groceries? Yamato was absolutely clueless about these. It didn't stop him from believing that he could survive well enough on his own - he wasn't a child, after all.

"I might be a stranger, but that doesn't mean I don't worry." This place is way too dangerous. What was Philemon thinking, bringing Yamato at such an age...?

"If it comes down to it... Please consider staying at my home for at least tonight." Leaving him all by himself in an apartment just doesn't sit right with her.

Yamato actually stared at her, flummoxed for a moment.

"...that was very bold," he said slowly, his tone more than a little wary. "I am not comfortable sleeping with a stranger, so I will have to refuse."

It's understandable that he wouldn't trust her. But still...

"My home is much larger than a single apartment, and we have food as well. For one day at least, you wouldn't need to worry about that. Please... It just isn't safe for you to be by yourself...!"

Was this woman for real?

Yamato wasn't sure how to handle this. He had never been faced with such an earnest, persistent person before, and he shifted awkwardly, his fingers tightening in Cerberus's mane. Why was she so adamant in 'helping' him, if that was her true intent, anyway. Yamato didn't understand.

"You're making me uncomfortable," he said bluntly, deciding to be frank in this situation. "Stop it."

"Eh--"

...Well, as he had said before, she is a complete stranger to him. Though her lips purse, she does settle back a little, lowering her head.

"...I'm sorry. I just... I don't want to see you get hurt here where I could have helped."

Her words are sincere - it would be difficult to forgive herself if she let such a young child be harmed because she hadn't taken extra care to make sure he would be alright.

"...your concern is admirable," he thinks, anyway, Yamato was treading into unknown social territory here, "But unnecessary."

Yamato stroked Cerberus's mane for a moment, his expression smoothing out into something blank. "If I need assistance, I will ask for it. Does that make you feel better?"

(no subject)

eyewillprotect - 2013-08-10 11:13 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only