“Ah…” Huxian glanced away. “Lets just say I’ve been gifted some…. ‘heaven sent’ dreams,” he hedged. “Either way, I’ll exploit it as much as I can to keep her stable until I’m actually in the same country as her again.”
She still seemed a little bemused, but there was also an understanding in her eyes - she had obviously caught just whom he was referring to by ‘heaven sent’. Face set, determined, Violet inclined her head.
“Then that is what we will do.”
-----------------------
“So...any progression on the mission?”
A few days had passed since he had last spoken to Madam Povell. His own mission had been taking a lot of his attention. Bringing the new agents up to date, making sure supplies got to the shelters, healing the wounded and keeping the ranks of undead from getting too unmanageable. For now, they could keep them contained, but if they multiplied thanks to whoever was controlling them then they might break loose and endanger others. In the meantime, Huxian had also been directing a team of agents into tracking down the power signatures from the Jiangshi, which could lead them to the actual mastermind.
For the moment, they were on top of things, giving Huxian enough time to check on his second major concern.
Violet’s eyebrow kicked up ever so slightly. “That would be depending on which mission you would be inquiring about,” she asked. “Would you be talking about your...intimate friend? Her current mission? Or would you be inquiring as to your own mission? I would ask that you be a little more specific, my dear.”
Huxian shot her a vaguely exasperated look. He was too tired to deal with the usual banter he would normally be happy to indulge in. However, with undead beating on his barrier, even with a peach pill to help, he had easily dipped into grotty irritation.
“The mission your team is on,” he retorted snidely. “Ie, the one I’m not actively involved in, thus would not have an idea as to what was going on with it.”
“Temper…” Violet sniffed. “However, if you must know, those children act as if they were water and oil. Even so, they are still managing to work well enough together, at least for relative rookies. Should they both be able to overcome their own egos, they could be a force to be reckoned with. In terms of the mission itself...it’s straight forwards….or rather, it should be so…”
Huxian’s eyes narrowed a little. “Should?” he pressed.
“Nothing that you need be concerned with,” Violet assured quickly. “Though with how fast the spirit is working, there is only three members of the family left, so they are pressed for time. They must finish soon, for the safety of the family, and themselves.”
Rubbing his chin, Huxian hummed under his breath, brows furrowed. “A code 32.C7B…” he murmured. “Not ideal…”
“To be precise, 38.C12B,” Violet corrected, seriously. “This one is a little more aggressive. There have also been smaller anomalies that we need to account for. I’m told you’ve been informed of the animal carcasses? We have been looking into the matter, but beyond the Onryou situation, there’s no evidence of the mystic. I have had independent researchers and agents stationed there, just in case, however.”
“Are you absolutely certain there’s no evidence of mystic activity?” Huxian asked, pulling his laptop closer and pulling up the files that he had of the area that he knew Rodessa and her new partner were stationed. “I’ve been looking into the area myself, and there’s nothing there that fits the bill of something mundane causing the deaths. No kinds of chemical plants near the area, no radiation leaks - the village is under a barrier so that no one without some kind of mystic potential can even come close to it, so it couldn’t be the result of any kind of toxic waste dumps. It’s not enclosed enough to be the cause of any gas and its not situated near any volcanic vents either. There is literally no mundane explanation for the deaths.”
Rubbing his chin, Hixian glanced over the descriptions of the animal carcasses, both in the pandora report and from what he had recalled from Rodessa’s own descriptions. “All these descriptions liken the bodies to mummies,” he murmured. “Not in the public idea of them as the wrapped kinds crom media, but rather bodies that had been somehow preserved in some way. The main reason for the preservation here is because they are essentially dried. All fluids the body contained, all of it drained away, likely in a struggle against something considering what positions they were found in.” his eyes flicked up to Violet on the communicator. “Have you looked into anything that might drain blood or fluids from their victims? Some kind of weakened Jorogumo not yet strong enough to go after human targets? Or what about a Jubokko? There were wars all over Japan years back, either amongst mundane or mystic. Is it possible for one to have birthed around there?”
“That would be an impossibility.”
Another screen popped up onto the communicator, revealing who had answered the question. One of Violet’s most trusted, Alister, was calling from what looked like the office back in Pandora. Seeing he had both of their attention, the man tapped a thick, leather bound book on the cover. “As you have claimed, that village has a special barrier that prevents outsiders from being able to enter the area, making it a hidden village that one might liken to that of modern Shinobi. According to our records, the barrier has been in place even before the warring states period.” Alister hummed briefly. “Granted there was a brief period while the organization was being rebuilt from the ashes that it was left to its own devices so that new agents could be trained. However, even then the barrier remained intact.”
Alister steepled his fingers, resting his chin upon them as he observed the two of them. “If it were a weak Jorogumo, it would not have been able to enter the area. And if it were a Jubokko that somehow managed to form due to some abnormality, because of the severity of the situation, there would have been records, particularly as we would have swiftly dealt with the situation before it could become a problem. As it is…” he sat back, parting his hands. “There is nothing. Not even the barest hint of a record. That in mind, we can rule it out.”
“I’m no expert on Japanese yokai,” Huxian admitted. “But with the string of murders the Onryou caused, could that have attracted anything that might have a similar lust for blood or body fluids? Or could it even be a mystic creature from another country that decided to pay a visit?”
Alister closed his eyes in thought, “While plausible, it is unlikely that is is the relative of my lady and myself,” the man admitted. “There are not enough humans in the area, and those that are there have mystic blood within their veins to varying degrees. Even those with weaker amounts give their blood a….shall we say….Acquired taste to it, akin to rotting meat. As said, plausible, but highly unlikely.”
“Then maybe it is that 1% chance,” Huxian snapped, “or something else with a taste for body fluids, because those animals are not dropping dead minus all liquids randomly!”
Taking a deep breath, Huxian sat back, rubbing his temples. “Sorry….sorry. I know, I should watch my temper, trust you all and focus on my own undead issue. It’s just….maybe its instinct, but even thinking about that gets my hackles up….”
“...We’ll keep looking,” Alister promised, tone professional as always, but Huxian’s sharp ears could pick up the more gentle undertone of a man who understood Huxian’s stress. He continued, “It is entirely possible that it could appear once the Onryu is gone, Or it may never become a problem. Still, we’ll do our best-”
“Unfortunately, with Phoenix rearing its ugly head as well as the issue with Miss Hunter’s seal, a few mummified animals its not particularly high on our priorities, especially considering our resources,” Violet interrupted. “Should things get ugly, we’ll send in the girls. Until then, I will assign the young demon huntress and some of the more seasoned mages and priests to apply charms, but I would rather not exhaust resources until they are truly needed,” her voice softened a little. “That’s all I can promise for now, Yin...It’ll have to be enough.”
“I know…” Huxian murmured. “I understand. As long as it doesn’t cause complications that could get them killed by showing up in the middle of their battle, or when they’re not ready…” He sighed, rubbing his hands over his face, before finally nodded. “I’ll trust you. It’s all I can do right now.” He bit his lip. “Even with the complications, you think they can handle this, right?”
He was the one who had been suggesting the crash course approach because of their limited time. Even so, he wanted to be sure that he hadn’t essentially helped to joint sign a death sentence.
“It is what their first case is for,” Violet pointed out, even though the expression on her face was decidedly knowing in a way that made his skin crawl. “Have faith in your lady friend and her new partner. Rumour has it that they are both quite skilled.”
If a look could be akin to anything, Huxian’s would have been as flat as paper. “Are you ever going to drop that?” he snarked.
“Why would I do such a thing?” the humour in her voice was practically palpable. “Pardon the bluntness, but why not seduce her and cease mooning? It has been….six years since you found her, has it not? Since then, she has had a string of lovers in order to catch your attention and within the dreamscape you have been having questionable advances to each other, yet you still have not made a move? Forgive me for saying so, my fox friend, but at this point I am on her side in this matter.”
“Agreed” came the chuckle from the other line. “Truly, you should be careful, friend. One of these days you might lose her to another man. He’s still out there, you know.”
Huxian bared his teeth. “Butt out!” he snapped, arms crossed in a way that seemed more like he was hugging himself for comfort than posing a defensive front, anger melting into a troubled expression. “...You know it’s not that simple…” He looked away. “What is with everyone….you two….goddesses….those stupid visions...Why is everyone so interested in this? Why does no one get why its not as simple as just going ‘Oh, hey, forget the fact that I’m the direct cause of one lover dying, that I’m lying to you about what we once were after you convinced me to try despite my guilt only for misery to come and then your memories got wiped and that I might keep comparing you to things in the past despite the fact you can’t remember any of it because I’m a complete selfish asshole who will either bring more misery to you by being a walking curse, or something else will happen because every goodam life you’ve ever lived you’re destined to be with each other and be doomed to hell because each time we end up causing each other’s demise.” Huxian put his head in his hands, voice cracking. “What do you all want from me here?”
His rant cut off at the feel of a smaller form climbing into his lap and he froze as the floral scent wafted to his nose, accompanied by a very familiar chuckle. “Wow… Well, you have one thing right - you’re an ass. A stubborn ass. An ass who is the one I love with all my heart. The one I would gladly lay down my life for over and over again-”
“I don’t want you to do that for me!” Huxian yell. “I don’t want anyone to die for me!”
“I would do it, though,” the aspect of his lover interjected. “As do you, for me. As I said before…”
The voice became overlaid with that of another familiar voice, this time that of the child he once took care of. Somehow feeling like a balm over fraying nerves.
“Kitty...you know I notice...you’re blaming yourself for a hurricane. Things happen sometimes, and, no matter what we do, sometimes it just ends bad. But not all of the time. Remembering is fine, normal, but dwelling on it until it consumes us? No. No, it’s not right…Sometimes, even when it feels wrong, you gotta take action when the time is right”
Huxian snorted, slightly watery. “If it feels wrong, how do you know the time is right?”
A teasing smile curled on the boy’s face, though his voice remained overlayed with that of the child’s. “Dummy, you’ll never know! But if you wait too long, you’ll miss your chance. Silly Kitty, don’t you know that?”
“It’s still not that simple,” Huxian sighed. He understood, logically, but just because people kept pushing didn’t push facts aside, no matter how much the overlaid voice insisted he wasn’t at fault (Because he was, he always was-)
A hand pressed against his cheek, cutting off the spiralling thoughts before they could hit that dark despair in his gut.
“You should stop being so hard on yourself,” the boy insisted gently. “Hm….if it makes you feel better, I’ll be home soon. Though, if you can’t wait that long, know we’ll never really be apart - that’s a promise! And...you know...I might get lonely too. I need my teddy tail and snuggles and kisses - I’m gonna miss that the most! If it gets too hard for you, too, you gonna visit me, too, right? I’m not too far away.” Ne leaned against Huxian’s thigh, nuzzling against it. “All you need to do is call, and I’ll come running. I’ll kiss and hug you and fluff you all you want until those lonely, scared thoughts go away. That’s my job! As your Ro!”
His heart clenched, even as the urge to yell faded. “Rozyus…”
“Ahem…”
Almost jumping out of his skin, Huxian’s head whipped up to see that both Violet and Alister were both waiting.
“As...adorable as you both are, Master Rozyus,” Violet started once their attention was back on the communicator. “May we carry on with the meeting? Hopefully, you may shed a little light on the situation?”
The boy hummed, his voice becoming his own once again, even though he didn’t bother moving from Huxian’s lap. “Honestly, I was only here to getta booty. You know, ride that good dick til you can’t walk the next day kind of lovin’.”
Rozyus shot Huxian a heated look while the man himself was a mix of awe at how bluntly he said it, and even the tiniest bit flustered, because that came practically out of nowhere after that gentle speech from before.
“Oh, and to see if my husband was alright, of course and what not,” he added almost as an afterthought, blinking innocently in a way that might have worked if it hadn’t been the follow up to a borderline crude comment prior. He sighed. “But no...as usual, I’m drawn into doing work…” He commented dryly. “Well, out with it. What do you want?”
Neither Pandora executive seemed impressed, though Huxian was sure he could see a slight shake to Alister’s shoulders that told him if he wasn’t so well trained the man would have been laughing. Violet, however, was as unamused as she looked, hands on her hips.
“The girl’s seal might be breaking faster than we thought,” she retorted. “Her eyes looked almost as if they might be a touch mystic in nature, but in the end, the mundane shell held out. Even so, it has been happening with greater frequency, for longer periods of time.”
“Yeeeeeeeees?” Rozyus drawled, tilting his head almost boredly. “And….the problem?”
“It is happening too soon!” Violet’s voice would have hissed if she had been a lesser woman. Even so, there was a touch of frustration to it.
“Of course it is,” Rozyus waved off. “That woman is the one breaking the seal. It’s been long enough, no?”
[END]
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