fullthottle | WEEK 5: IF YOU'VE GOT IT HAUNT IT

[ so, here's the thing. this is the fifth week nikkari has held this row, and hizamaru is the fifth ghost he's summoned. up until this point, he's gotten pretty used to the routine: welcome them back to the living world, explain the dead's limitations, play a combo of twenty questions and charades, then see them back off.

he isn't used to hearing them respond verbally. ]

Did you just—?

[His own voice brings a little bit of a grin to his face. He reaches up to cup his neck gently with both hands as if he's surprise, and then he lowers them again.]

I'm glad to see you've repaired, Nikkari-san. I'm sorry--I don't know... I'm not sure if your attempt was wasted on me.

[ i have no idea how i ended up typing row instead of role?? but anyway, once he's gotten over the initial shock of actually being able to have a conversation with hiza instead of a one-sided monologue, he's genuinely beaming at the other sword. ]

No, it's—sorry, you took me by surprise. Over the past few weeks, I've grown so used to the language barrier when speaking with the deceased... or lack thereof, I suppose.

[ and of course, he laughs, though more at himself than anything hiza has said or done. like, he certainly isn't happy that hiza is dead in the first place, but... seeing him at all and getting to speak with him again is more than he'd expected. ]

But no, you are exactly who I wanted to see, Hizamaru-san. For one, I am relieved to see you as yourself once again... but for another, I have messages for you from several people. [ ... his smile falls a bit. ] Higekiri-san wanted to be here when I summoned you, but Young-san said these meetings are reserved only for us. I hope these words coming from my mouth rather than his is something you don't mind.

[ at the very least this meeting ic happens on tuesday so before any of That Break-in Shit happens to hige, so, ]

Izuminokami-san told us when we arrived.

[He was already afraid he was going to be summoned, and he wouldn't have a single damn clue how to charade what was needed to Nikkari, but... Nikkari has been given the meat of most of it, thankfully.

His face softens bittersweetly.]

How like my elder brother to demand to be present. He really is like a lion this week, isn't he? [He shakes his head.] I don't mind. Please tell me what you need to say.

[closes eyes at break-in higekiri]

[ when he sees that expression shift, he's almost jealous of how close hizamaru and higekiri are, how heartfelt and genuine their love for each other is. technically, he has a brother in juzumaru, but their relationship is nowhere near as deep as that of the genji treasures.

... perhaps that's something he'll just need to work on when all this is over and they get to return home (if that's what ends up happening, he reminds himself; he needs to rein in his optimism before it backfires). in any case, he nods. ]

He had two messages, the first of which concerns our mission here, of which you may already be aware: we have a total of fifty days aboard this ship, and we need to ensure at least thirteen remain by the end. We will do everything in our power to make sure all of you return to our side, as well.

The second... is one more heartfelt. I shall relay it to you verbatim, so that none of Higekiri-san's sentiment is lost.

[ here he closes his eyes as he holds a hand over his heart, reciting the words as closely he can to higekiri's original intent. ]

"Tell my brother that I love him so dearly I worry my blade may crack from the pressure, and I will be at his side again shortly."

[The first half of the message earns Nikkari a nod of affirmation. Graveyard team is doing great making stupid swords not stupid, thankfully.

The second half, however... His face immediately breaks.] Elder brother... [He looks, at first, as if he isn't sure what silly human emotion to latch onto. His lip trembles before he takes a deep breath and reins himself back in.]

No... No, Nikkari-san, please! Please don't allow him to think that. He's very resilient. He told me... It's like our mission. We have been separated into teams so we will work more efficiently. Please tell him I need his help there with all of you; he must not give up. I'm okay.

He is my treasure. I don't want to see him tarnish.

He should hold on a little longer. You, and Tonbokiri-san, and elder brother... you still have a good formation, and they may need your help.

[ when hiza's emotions start to run high, there's a split second where nikkari almost cracks himself. but he holds it together, because he of course knows better than most that the dead don't want the ones they've left behind to only grieve.

so it's with a smile and a nod that he acknowledges hizamaru's words. ]

Of course. Haha... if only there was some way to properly convey the look on your face to him now, Hizamaru-san. But, ah, don't worry—I won't embarrass you in front of your own brother.

Is there anything else you wish to share with anyone on this side, or am I all right to start asking you questions now? I understand if you aren't able to answer, by the way, and I thank you regardless for your help... not as a comrade, but as a friend.

[Embarrassed, he ducks his head down some as if that will hide the expressions he's trying not to make. It takes a moment before he looks back up again, this time more professional.]

Please tell Junpei-san... I hope he has found someone to spend time with after the meetings. And that... he is doing a good job.

[A nod.]

I am ready for your questions, Nikkari-san.

[ his eyes seem to light up at the mention of junpei... ]

Ha ha ha... and what exactly do you mean by that, Hizamaru-san...? For some reason I feel as though he wouldn't tell me the full extent of whatever you're talking about...

[ but then he blinks, the teasing note from his tone fading as he remembers they're on a time limit here... even though he's aware of approximately how much time they have, it still wouldn't do either of them any good to spend too long getting sidetracked. ]

—Ah, that wasn't one of the questions I originally meant to ask you, by the way. Izuminokami-san was able to give us information regarding the items needed to perform the final ritual due to things he'd learned on your side... would you be able to shed some light on how exactly we're supposed to perform it?

[NIKKARI, IT WAS WHOLESOME. DON'T BE DIRTY.]

We... I'm sorry, Nikkari-san. [He frowns apologetically and hangs his head, though different than the way he had before.] We haven't found out anything about the ritual yet. Next week... Please ask for one of us again, and perhaps we will know more.

Please take care of the items. You will need all seven of them for it.

[ are you really asking nikkari, of all people, not to be dirty ]

Mm, I'm aware. All we are missing are the demon heart and blood... the rest, we have kept safe. Have faith in that much, at least.

[ he pauses, counting something out on his fingers. ]

... We have eleven days left from today. Hopefully I survive this week in order to successfully complete this mission... please keep supporting us, Hizamaru-san, and good luck on that side, as well.

I will. You all will be alright. I know you will. Even elder brother.

[A pause.]

What I read... on the board, it said, "a still beating heart," so perhaps... it is the last you will need to retrieve on that day. [Actually.] Perhaps I should go over it in case. [He had been his brother's memory... Now it is time to shine:]

The royal family's jewels, the shoes of a sea long gone, the blade of a siren scorned, the tears of a saint, the bum javelin of an heiress, the blood of a goddess, and the still beating heart of one of those wretched creatures.

That is what it said.

Eh? Board?

[ that relatively small detail aside, though... he nods. ]

But yes, I see... that indeed lines up with the with the drawings Izuminokami-san showed me, and their real world counterparts. I possess the phallus and shoes, Junpei the anal plug and knife, and Katy-san the pendant.

"Bum javelin," though... was that the exact wording...?

Mm.

[listen,,, #justgraveyardthings]

Ah. Yes, that was the wording. It looked like what Shiraishi-san had. There was a blue gem on one side.

Mm, it was the same in Izuminokami's images as well as when Junpei showed it to me.

Is this information that you all have access to as soon as you reach the island? Hm... that would certainly explain why each subsequent summoning has granted us more knowledge.

Yes. I believe it was information found through hard work.

Nikkari-san... please be careful. All of you. It feels as if we are still missing information. So do not act rashly alone. Formations can break if you do not communicate. Even back home... that was true.

. . . Of course. Thank you, Hizamaru-san. We'll see each other again soon.

[ he says it with conviction, rather than only a fleeting hope. before hiza disappears, nikkari raises a closed fist again to bump against his in spirit (haha) and leaves him with a smile. ]

Mm. I shall see you again, Nikkari-san.

[Raising his hand, he fists it so they can spirit fist bump as bros do. He returns Nikkari's smile before reluctantly returning from whence he came.]

WEEK 5: IF YOU'VE GOT IT HAUNT IT

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