'What am I suppose to do?!'
Kunou nearly felt like ripping out her hair as she stalked through the deathly still halls. She passed a variety of art pieces from unique calligraphy that looked like it needed to be in a museum, to pristine pottery that was lightly decorate with fine care. Anyone else could spend hours just looking at the wide array of historical items that spoke of artistic mastery beyond the norm.
But after seeing such a sight everyday for over a decade now, the girl didn't even fully acknowledge the pieces of art. And that was without her mind being elsewhere.
Riko had been a mess since her accident, and the young Kitsune could only watch as one of her closes friends slowly close in on herself. Becoming nothing more than an empty shell of the person she use to be. She had slowed down and now rarely ever left her assigned room, even needing the Kitsune to regularly check in just to make sure she was eating and drinking. And not just wasting away.
She was bad before, but after being told she would be bared from using Ki until further notice the Nekomata had just shut down entirely. It was like that was the final straw and now only her body was present.
Kunou had tried to help through anyway she could from just being present to trying to talk to even pulling out a few board-games they use to enjoy playing. But nothing had worked. And now she was all out of ideas.
With her mother not here, there was only one other adult she could turn to for aid.
'Master Yamato.'
And with his courtyard coming up soon, she quickly fixed a few strands of loose hair and straightened her spine. Before quickly patting down her rumbled kimono and finally stepping fully into the small clearing with a single gnarled tree.
"Daidachi?"
She froze in place as the lumbering figure of her Oni friend sat in pristine meditation, his posture perfect and body still as he took in deep lung-fulls of air before expelling them out in tune with some unheard rhythm.
'What is he doing here?' The girl took a few steps away from him,' I thought it wasn't safe?'
The Yokai looked relaxed, more so she's ever seen him. Oni's were known to be a passionate bunch and their lack of self control was the primary reason why the legend's surrounding them always showcase them lounging around and causing massive amounts of damage in a fit of rage. But seeing Daidachi being the picture perfect image of stillness, made her momentarily believe his mind had been taken over.
Despite her calling out to him, the youth didn't even flinch as though he couldn't hear her in his current state. Not even a single ear twitch or quirk of the lips to indicate this was one giant prank.
"Ah Fox junior," A soft voice interrupted her thoughts," Please do not disturb Young Daidachi here. Come sit, you seem to have a lot on your mind. Ask your questions."
"Uh-yes, Master Yamato." Kunou bowed and took a few steps towards the heavily gnarled tree that had slowly become more imposing to her senses. She could see a young man with relatively bland features looking serenely at her, those unnatural blue orbs seeming to look through her. Taking a few steadying breathes, the girl sat before him.
Now that she was closer, she allowed her eyes to roam over his features. He sometimes looked too bland, too average sometimes. She knew something must be going on there, but didn't wish to pry into the Master's business. His teaching had already been more than beneficial for her so far, so any secrets he might have were none of her business. But that didn't mean she wasn't curious. It was the complete opposite.
Mastering Senjutsu doesn't automatically make you beautiful or ugly or anything. Ki was a life energy in its simplest form, it nurtured the features already there and kept them looking youthful. So she suspected he was either incredibly handsome or hideous beyond imagine. But given how weird her mother was sometimes, her dreamy looks couldn't be trusted.
So until otherwise proven, both options were viable.
"I don't mean to question or doubt you but… What is Daidachi doing here? I thought it wasn't safe for him?"
Kunou normally was someone that could appreciate a polite silence, but Iori had already proven on multiple occasions that he could go without speaking for hours on in without issue. And no matter how many etiquette classes she took, the young Kitsune was still a preteen at the end of the day.
"It's good to doubt, to ask questions," His words were heavy with experience," Only fools take everything at face value. And you already know what happens to them?"
"….They die?"
"Exactly." Iori nodded," Never become so trusting of someone to become blind. Always ask questions. No one who truly has your best interest in heart will refuse you this small thing."
"I understand," Kunou bowed to the man, etching his words in deep into her heart," Thank you for your sage advice."
"Don't mind the rambling of an old man like me," His eyes twinkled at those incredibly misleading words," But to answer your question, I saw fit to bring Daidachi here. Just in case his Divine Pressure unlocked suddenly too. Out of all the Divine Organs, the Stomach is considered to be the most insidious of them all. His pressure won't be as powerful as your's nor affect as large of an area as Riko's. It'll be subtle, slowly shutting down the digestive system of all those around him. Think of it like a poison. A very, very slow acting poison."
Just thinking of that happening to Daidachi's family was enough to cause her ears to droop, regret welling up deep in her being.
'Maybe I made a mistake?' She couldn't help but think, looking down at her small hands imagining them coated in the blood of the innocence,' This power….it's dangerous. Just one mistake and I could kill everyone…'
Just winding her pressure like a coil already took substantial effort, she couldn't imagine keeping that up even while sleeping. What if she got distracted one day and accidentally let it out? Or angry?
It wasn't just that, she had dragged her only 2 friends to suffer that same fate her. And now looked what happened, Riko had been exiled from her clan and Daidachi was in isolation just like her for an indeterminate amount of time.
"M-master Yamato?"
"Yes?"
"I-is it possible to stop?" Seeing his quirked brow, Kunou knew she needed to explain herself," Is there anyway to seal away our Divine Organs and go back to how everything was before? I-I just feel that since learning this lost art, things have been….worse. I'm not the most social of people, but I did enjoy taking walks through Kyoto. To speak to the very people I would be responsible for. I listened to their problems and tried my best to integrate myself with them. I love the people, and this has been the longest time I've spent away from them...So...is it possible?"
It was silent for a moment, her heart thumping rapidly as the horror at herself slowly welled. She had just asked Iori to undo all the time and effort he spent in developing them this far, spitting directly in the eye of his teachings. Sweat pooled down her temple as she realized her folly and was preparing to throw herself at the feet of the Master when he finally spoke.
"Kunou," Her ears drooped, that was his first time actually using her name. He usually always called her 'Fox junior' or something like that, but never her name. It only made her want to curl in on herself, that couldn't have been a good sign," Look at me."
The young girl hadn't realized it but she had closed her eyes tight and turn her head to the side, unwilling to see the furious look that must assuredly be on his face. She had always offended him once today, so she looked up to meet his gaze. Only to be shocked at what she saw.
That fury, disappointment or disgust wasn't anywhere in sight. Those blue orbs that always felt overbearing to look at, now held a compassion and understanding so deep that it felt like she was looking at her own reflection.
"I would be the greatest fool to punish you for speaking your mind, especially after I told you to do exactly that. I want you to keep that conviction deep inside of you, that willingness to go against the current. Life isn't about just rolling over and accepting everything that comes at you. Sometimes, there will always be conflict. Do not shy away from it. Look it dead in the eyes, like you're doing now." Iori broke their stand off first, allowing her to slump back," But no. As I said before: once you're on this path, there's no getting off of it. Sure you can stop at just one, but you'll still need to learn how to reel in your Divine Pressure no matter what. Besides, even if I could undo all this, would you?"
"No."
The answer was immediate, an illusory growl following those words. She eyed the golden fox that prowled at the corners of her vision, it's presence had become a constant these last few weeks. A comforting ally that had allowed her to sleep more soundly. Just imaging her companion just disappearing one day made her heart ache.
"Exactly." He nodded and turned his attention back out to the rising sun, it's orange hue alighting across his skin. A breeze picked up and set a few inky strands free to blow wildly. "But I feel that wasn't what you really wanted to know. Go ahead and ask."
"…." Kunou didn't know how she felt about being that easy to read, especially by someone she barely knows but he was right. There was a reason she came here today," Riko...She's...uh how can I put this nicely...depressed? Shell shocked? I can't even imagine what she might be going through, accidentally killing her clan members must be something traumatic for anyone to go through. She's grown less responsive and even forgets to eat most days, I have sit there and make sure she actually eats and drink. I'm trying my best...but I don't what to do. What can I do to help her?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing." He dipped his head slightly, gaze centuries away. In times like these, she truly believed he was actually like those fairytale immortals, who could blink once and have an entire era pass by. "This is Riko's battle and she must fight. Whether or not she can recover from this will be entirely up to her."
"But I can't just abandon her!"
The hair on Kunou's tail bristled at those callous words, a seething anger so sudden that it took every bit of her control not just stomp out of the courtyard like a toddler throwing a tantrum.
"You don't." His words stopped her in her tracks," Abandoning a friend in their greatest time of need, isn't the answer. You asked me what you can do? Nothing but doing what you've been doing so far. Support her, and just be there for her. Be there until Riko can stand on her own. Encourage her and become her pillar to lean on. That is all you can do, injuries to the soul aren't so simple."