Post by Munemasa Iroka on May 19, 2023 18:29:39 GMT -5
Iroka nodded enthusiastically as Fuuko admonished her not to allow the denizens of the Nest of Maggots bother her. "Don't worry, Oni-chan," she replied, "I should be able to take care of them." And take care of them she could. Even though she did not appear physically imposing, Iroka could hold her own in a fight, or at the very least evade combat altogether. But even though she knew Fuuko knew this, the orange-haired Shinigami was also aware that Fuuko would always worry about her.
Kimyou was not expecting the blow that went straight into their stomach. The practically crumpled on Fuuko's hand, and would have fallen to the floor if Fuuko had not grabbed their arm. Evidently, Kimyou was as frail as they looked. Even as Fuuko held them up, the pink-haired Shinigami looked like they were on the verge of fainting, as they wheezed and gasped in an effort to catch their breath. And yet, Kimyou tried not to make as much sounds as possible, even as they tried to remain standing. It was obvious they didn't want Iroka to hear. Fuuko, however, would note that Kimyou's legs were wobbly.
As the blonde Shinigami released Kimyou, they fell to the ground, but almost immediately fought to their feet again, an anguished expression on their face. "I--" they stammered, "I cannot. There is nothing I can do. I really wish I could, but it is impossible." The problem with Iroka's case was that the essence of the hollow was too deeply integrated into Iroka's entirety to be removed. There were some things that, once done, could never be undone, no matter how many resources one had with which to rectify the situation.
"Initially, the plan was to make Project IROKA as fodder, yes, but eventually, Iroka became more than that. I needed her to be able to survive as best as I could imagine. She was not intended as reusable fodder...." Kimyou had seemed to want to protest that notion, that Iroka had been made to be used and reused, healing seamlessly after each injury. But something crossed their mind, and they fell silent, letting Fuuko continue to talk. At this point, they really had neither right nor desire to defend themselves. Kimyou, after all, was convinced of how twisted they were.
As Fuuko finished her piece, Kimyou shook their head. "Chances are that if Iroka is figured to have a hollow, my crime will somehow be traced back to me, and I will definitely be executed, so you don't need to worry about the injustice of me remaining alive if she had to be executed," they answered quietly. "I don't care if you believed me or not, but I intend to kill myself if I discovered that Iroka had been killed, even if it wasn't due to what I did to her. And chances are that I might get sent to Hell for my many transgressions if I die, so..." there was a pause. "Shinigami don't live forever, after all."
Kimyou tuned their head to see Iroka somewhere out of earshot, explaining something to the creepy-looking woman, Obakebara, whom Kimyou had sent scurrying when the Yonbantai Shinigami had first arrived. The carrot-top was kneeling and pointing at the dirt, while Obakebara watched with rapt attention. "If I had the chance to do anything to save her, I would. I would give my worthless life in her place. But there is nothing I can do about the hollow. Extracting it would be like extracting all the water out of her body. It is fully a part of her. It needs her to exist; she needs it to exist. If I had been out of here, I would have attempted to run research on a cure, but even I suspect it is irreversible.
It is a responsibility I wish I didn't have to shirk. But it means I must depend on you. Not to kill Iroka if she... turns, but to just continue being the wonderful sister you've been to her. Because hollows are like darkness. They are born from pain and suffering, and these things make them what they are. If Iroka had things to look forward to, friendships to enjoy, hope, these things might help her resist the corrupting power of the hollow. And in the event that it should attempt to take over her mind, Iroka may be better able to resist its influence. I know I dare not ask anything of you, Satoshi-dono. But I beg you, continue to be friends with my daughter."
Kimyou dropped to their knees and bowed with their head to the ground.
Satoshi Fuuko
Kimyou was not expecting the blow that went straight into their stomach. The practically crumpled on Fuuko's hand, and would have fallen to the floor if Fuuko had not grabbed their arm. Evidently, Kimyou was as frail as they looked. Even as Fuuko held them up, the pink-haired Shinigami looked like they were on the verge of fainting, as they wheezed and gasped in an effort to catch their breath. And yet, Kimyou tried not to make as much sounds as possible, even as they tried to remain standing. It was obvious they didn't want Iroka to hear. Fuuko, however, would note that Kimyou's legs were wobbly.
As the blonde Shinigami released Kimyou, they fell to the ground, but almost immediately fought to their feet again, an anguished expression on their face. "I--" they stammered, "I cannot. There is nothing I can do. I really wish I could, but it is impossible." The problem with Iroka's case was that the essence of the hollow was too deeply integrated into Iroka's entirety to be removed. There were some things that, once done, could never be undone, no matter how many resources one had with which to rectify the situation.
"Initially, the plan was to make Project IROKA as fodder, yes, but eventually, Iroka became more than that. I needed her to be able to survive as best as I could imagine. She was not intended as reusable fodder...." Kimyou had seemed to want to protest that notion, that Iroka had been made to be used and reused, healing seamlessly after each injury. But something crossed their mind, and they fell silent, letting Fuuko continue to talk. At this point, they really had neither right nor desire to defend themselves. Kimyou, after all, was convinced of how twisted they were.
As Fuuko finished her piece, Kimyou shook their head. "Chances are that if Iroka is figured to have a hollow, my crime will somehow be traced back to me, and I will definitely be executed, so you don't need to worry about the injustice of me remaining alive if she had to be executed," they answered quietly. "I don't care if you believed me or not, but I intend to kill myself if I discovered that Iroka had been killed, even if it wasn't due to what I did to her. And chances are that I might get sent to Hell for my many transgressions if I die, so..." there was a pause. "Shinigami don't live forever, after all."
Kimyou tuned their head to see Iroka somewhere out of earshot, explaining something to the creepy-looking woman, Obakebara, whom Kimyou had sent scurrying when the Yonbantai Shinigami had first arrived. The carrot-top was kneeling and pointing at the dirt, while Obakebara watched with rapt attention. "If I had the chance to do anything to save her, I would. I would give my worthless life in her place. But there is nothing I can do about the hollow. Extracting it would be like extracting all the water out of her body. It is fully a part of her. It needs her to exist; she needs it to exist. If I had been out of here, I would have attempted to run research on a cure, but even I suspect it is irreversible.
It is a responsibility I wish I didn't have to shirk. But it means I must depend on you. Not to kill Iroka if she... turns, but to just continue being the wonderful sister you've been to her. Because hollows are like darkness. They are born from pain and suffering, and these things make them what they are. If Iroka had things to look forward to, friendships to enjoy, hope, these things might help her resist the corrupting power of the hollow. And in the event that it should attempt to take over her mind, Iroka may be better able to resist its influence. I know I dare not ask anything of you, Satoshi-dono. But I beg you, continue to be friends with my daughter."
Kimyou dropped to their knees and bowed with their head to the ground.
Satoshi Fuuko
