for all the youkai out there

[ferrociously]

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@pricelesstears

[ferrociously]

It's always a bit of an itchy feeling, staying in this human shape for too long. But it's a point of pride, too, because of how good he knows he is at it. He can blend in with any group, convince them he's one of them, that he comes from the same sort of background. And he loves that moment when they start to consider him a friend. He loves it more when they shower him with praise. He craves that feeling of being accepted.

But it feels good to drop the disguise for a while, too. Even in the military most people don't know his true identity, but none of those people have access to this section of the base. He shakes himself off a bit, and lets his tail and ears pop free, and then stretches it out, arms above his head.

"I always feel like I might forget my true form if I stay as a human for too long," he says, arms dropping down as he turns towards Jouno. "Do you ever feel like that?"

[pricelesstears]

Jouno sits perched atop a table, nine tails splayed out behind him. He listens with disinterest as Tachihara changes his form, one ear twitching at the noise of him stretching.

“It’s because you stay with them too long,” Jouno answers, tone clearly distasteful. Unlike the younger kitsune, he isn’t fond of humans or being among them. His dealings with the military’s supernatural sect are rare — today he’s really only there to see Tachihara. “You should come back to the forest before you forget us.”

Humans, Jouno figures, are really only good for two things — eating and fucking (which usually results in eating them afterwards). He doesn’t understand Tachihara’s desire to fit in with them, to want to be like them.

[ferrociously]

"I wouldn't forget you." Tachihara dismisses that easily. Sure, he doesn't think too much about the forest while he's with humans, but then he's always had a tendency to get caught up in the moment, and the situation he's in. And the forest had always been lonely for him in the past.

He tilts his head as he walks closer. "But I understand why you don't like them."

It's better to placate Jouno on that, he thinks. Jouno can be terrifying at times - he learned that the hard way - and he does want to get along with him. They just don't agree at all on that one point. But that argument is too old to be any interesting.

[pricelesstears]

Jouno’s nose wrinkles involuntarily as Tachihara approaches. “You even smell human,” he complains, hopping off the table. His tails puff up behind him before settling.

It’s true that there is no real point in arguing about it. Jouno has said his piece time and time again (and most likely would repeat himself before Tachihara left again today). They simply couldn’t agree. It was, perhaps, the one disappointing factor when it came to Tachihara.

But the younger kitsune was good at what he did, so at least Jouno didn’t have to worry about him being caught, even if his choice to infiltrate a rival group of the military’s had been an odd one.

“Come here.” Jouno closes the distance between them, nuzzling against Tachihara in the process, more to rub his scent glands on him than anything. Anything to get rid of that putrid smell.

[ferrociously]

"I had a bath before coming here," Tachihara objects. But that had been before he left the city, so the human smell most likely stayed on him. Tachihara is too used to it by now, and Jouno's nose is a lot more sensitive than his.

And Jouno does smell good. Tachihara relaxes when he realizes what Jouno is doing, tilts his head to makes it easier for him, small shivers building up at the intimacy. He'll smell like Jouno for a while now. Any other kitsune would be able to tell exactly who Tachihara belongs to, just from that. The fact that he's always seeking out new groups to make friends with doesn't change the fact that this is the man who found him when he was at his lowest and most desperate, dragged him away by the scruff, and gave him somewhere to really belong. Not that Tachihara had gone willingly, at first.

Be bends forwards, exposing his neck more. "You never get any human smell on you."

[pricelesstears]

“Not enough of one, it seems.” Though truthfully, Jouno’s nose was just that sensitive. Since he’d lost his sight hundreds of years ago, his other senses had more than made up for it other time. As convenient as it normally was, there were times — like now — when it caused problems more than anything.

Jouno takes advantage of the exposed neck to nuzzle against it until he’s content with how Tachihara smells. Like him. Like his. After he’s satisfied, he tilts his head and sinks his fangs into Tachihara’s neck, biting harshly enough that it will surely leave a mark.

“That’s for leaving again,” he notes, pulling away and smiling down at Tachihara. “Do you know how much of a pain it is to take care of everything when you’re out here playing with the food?”

[ferrociously]

Tachihara yelps, caught by surprise. He really should have expected it, but he'd been lowering his guard, enjoying the nuzzling... He wonders if it bleeds enough that the blood will stain his fur.

"You're the one who set me up with this kind of job," he says. And they're not food, he doesn't add, because thinking of them as friends never ends well, if the human military wants to bring them in or have them killed. It's the part he likes the least about this whole arrangement.

And then, just to placate Jouno a little: "But if anyone can handle taking care of anything, it's you, Jouno-san."

[ticket218]

[ Shikigami are dime-a-dozen things among magically-inclined humanity. Even ones dressed up in human shapes, draped in fine clothes and hair, are at their core slips of paper with little on their minds other than whatever tasks their summoner requires of them. Easily summoned, easily disposed of if needed.

At least, that's what they're supposed to be.

Even fish can drown, and even accomplished onmyoji can muck up a ritual badly enough to grant a little too much power to a paper doll. They're likely to resent their summoner, scholars warn, to overpower and brutally kill them, for their true nature beneath obedience is incredible violence.

But it's a rare thing, these botched summons. Rare enough that a string of gruesome murders of aforementioned magically-inclined humanity is more likely to be pinned on some other vicious creature better equipped with teeth and claws. A finely dressed gentleman making a stop at a sweets shop would surely have nothing to do with such things, regardless of the faint scent of paper soaked into his very skin. ]

[ferrociously]

[Tachihara isn't here looking for Jouno. There are rumours of energy spikes in the area, a few unexplained magical events, nothing especially noteworthy, and definitely not enough to call in the big guns. Tachihara just used it as an excuse for a daytrip, and a chance to meet new people. He's pretty good at finding out information that way.

But he also can't resist a sweet shop. He follows Sigma inside only a few moments after him, looking around at all the options.]

I've never even seen half these things. It's local specialties, right?

[Hey, you stranger, you are now a part of this conversation, and yes he will talk to you as if you're a friend.]

[ticket218]

[ Well hello to you too, stranger? It's a perfectly normal thing to ask about if you're from out of town, though, so there's no need to be frightened or rude. ]

That's right. The artisans are even offering special sweets to celebrate spring for the next few days, so you may very well never see these things again.

[ And yes, he did bring his own bag for that very reason. ]

[ferrociously]

Really? I didn't think my timing would be that good.

[And he didn't bring a bag, but he can always buy one. He does note Sigma's, though - and something the way he phrased himself - and he's got a hunch.]

So you're not from here, either?

[ticket218]

[ Shaking his head, ] Just another visitor. Would that I could live here--it's quite nice this time of year, isn't it?

[ferrociously]

It's really nice. A bit quiet. Why can't you live here?

[As he talks, he's idly checking out the various sweets on display. He wants to try one of each, really. He should have brought more money, but maybe there's someone around whose wallet he can steal.]

@shidareume

[pricelesstears]

At times, it felt like Jouno spent more time in Tetchou’s cave than he did his own dwelling. Tonight seems that it won’t be an exception as Jouno bounds towards the other’s home in fox form. It isn’t until he’s at the entrance that he shifts back into his true form — humanesque save for the fox ears and tails.

There’s a careful step forward and he calls out, “Tetchou-san! Are you home? Ugh, no, of course you are. I can smell you from here.” He doesn’t wait for an invite before stepping inside, geta quietly clacking on stone.

“I’ve had quite the day so do be a dear and try not to be too much of a nuisance.”

[shidareume]

Tetchou is, perhaps, a bit unconventional for an oni. He prefers to keep to himself, doing his own things rather than stomping around causing havoc. 'His own things' includes intensive training, which is what he'd been doing before Jouno came bounding in. Maybe he's a bit sweaty, but it's nothing a dip in the nearby river won't fix, though Jouno will claim otherwise.

Jouno always invites himself in, and Tetchou has never really complained.

"How can I be a nuisance in my own home?" He straightens himself from the one-handed pushup he'd been doing, though remains seated on the floor.

[pricelesstears]

“Just like that,” Jouno replies simply, following Tetchou’s voice until he finds where the other is seated. He raises a foot and presses it on Tetchou’s chest, pushing him backwards with the wood of his sandal.

“At least take a dip in the river.” Tetchou is right that Jouno will continue to complain regardless, but it’s better than nothing. “I’ll go with you. I could use a bath as well.”

[shidareume]

Ah, this is another form of training. Tetchou keeps his back straight, against the pressure of Jouno's foot.

"You want to bathe in the river?" Not that Tetchou minds. "It's cold."

Which Jouno will no doubt complain about, but he finds the cold invigorating. A nice way to finish off hard work.

[pricelesstears]

“I can handle the cold.”

Again, Tetchou is right. Jouno will absolutely complain once they’re in the water.

“Come on then.” He releases pressure of his foot and stands straight, waiting for Tetchou to get up and join him on his way to the river. It fortunately isn’t far and Jouno is familiar enough with the area that he leads the way to it with ease.

Once there, he carefully takes off his sandals and sets them at the river bank. Raising the fabric of his kimono, he steps forward, dipping a careful toe into the water.

Cold feels like an understatement to someone as sensitive as Jouno. He immediately withdraws his toe and his head snaps in Tetchou’s direction. “You bathe in this?!”

[shidareume]

Tetchou stands, easily following after Jouno. He doesn't worry about the other being able to find his way; he's more capable than most even without his sight. Not to mention... he's here an awful lot for how much he complains about it.

Stepping up to the bank of the river, slightly behind and off to the side of where Jouno disrobes, Tetchou watches and waits for the inevitable complaint.

And there it is, as predicted. There's a slight hint of amusement on his face.

"Of course. It's invigorating after training." There's even a waterfall not far off. "You don't have to go in."

But Tetchou is already stripping down, unconcerned about the temperature of the water. Oh, he knows it will be freezing, but this is how he does things.

[ticket218]

[ Some time after a pleasant encounter with a history student, the Temari Inn gets a phone call. The receptionist was more than a little hesitant to believe any claims of 'oh yeah I totally know the manager', but eventually agrees to pass on the phone and what do you know! They do know the manager and did organize a special discount! Many apologies later there's a scenic room booked for two.

The manager himself even shows up to greet the guests when they arrive, all dolled up in much more traditional attire than when Tachihara first met him, personally showing the new friend and his mysterious guest to their room while rattling off all the amenities. Complimentary breakfast and dinner, public bath hours, how to reserve a slot for private baths, sightseeing spots nearby, so on and so forth. Prim, proper, professional, but still friendly enough not to make the whole process seem too impersonal. ]

If you need anything at all, please don't hesitate to call for me. The staff have all been informed so we don't have a repeat of your reservation.

[pricelesstears]

[ When Tachihara had informed Jouno that he'd made a new friend, Jouno hadn't cared much. Tachihara's human friends were rarely of any actual interest to Jouno. It wasn't until a free stay at the Temari Inn was mentioned that he'd paid the younger kitsune more attention. The renowned Temari Inn was a destination, a human establishment that even Jouno saw value in -- he'd been there once before, though it had been almost a century since.

It was certainly worth vacationing at, and Jouno did figure he should spend some time in the human world trying to piece together the recent murders before they got too out of hand.

The only problem with visiting human-owned places was having to wear his human disguise. Still, though he prefers his true form, he doesn't seem out of place as a human. He has one hand on Tachihara's arm for guidance -- not that he needs it, but his heightened senses would give away that there was something off about him -- and he's following carefully behind the manager. ]

We'll have to try the private baths at some point.

[ Polite, casual conversation, though Jouno's true interest is on something else entirely: this man before them is not human either. ]

[ferrociously]

[Tachihara holds himself back while Sigma explains the facilities to them. He knows the man takes pride in being professional, so he won’t interrupt, but he’s never liked formalities much. He’d much rather just talk as though they’re lifelong friends.

But he knows Jouno will appreciate the formalities, too. ]

Do you have a lot of guests at the moment?

[More people visiting, more people to talk to. He’d like to try the public bath, too. He can do that when Jouno gets sick of dealing with people and decides to rest in their room.]

It really is even more impressive than I thought it’d be.

[ticket218]

[ There's a twinkle in his eye at the compliment. He likes being professional because it helps his place seem even more impressive than it already is, thank you very much for noticing. ]

There are a few stragglers left from hanami season, but late spring to summer tends to be a slower time of year. Most everyone you may run into are likely here on business trips.

Luckily, that will make it much easier for you to reserve a bath at a good time.

[pricelesstears]

Excellent. I'm not overly fond of crowds.

[ There's a smile on his face even as he says it, carefully listening to the other amenities while he tries to piece together just what is off about this manager. The smell of paper is the strongest clue, and while it hardly pins him to the recent murders, it is suspicious. After all, why here...? ]

[ferrociously]

I'll bet this place is fun during hanami season. I should come back next spring.

[Crowds do not deter him at all, unlike Jouno. And right now he has no idea that Jouno is suspicious of anything, so he's just going to keep making friendly conversation.]

Do you have sakura flavored treats here then, too?