Wakey Wakey (Shiori)

"Goddammit Ghost!" I snarl and hold up the ruined haori. It was nicely clawed up, the little beast having turned it into a bed for himself. THe tom cat opens one eye then yawns and goes back to sleep, my right eye twitching. If it weren't for the fact I loved the dumb creature, he would be dead and roasting over a fire. I huff and toss the ruined article of clothing into his little bed I made him. I sigh and run my hand through my hair, the tresses now short, reaching just past my shoulders. I step out of my modest little hut and let the morning sunlight warm me.

It would seem like I ran away, but I had honestly come back to the past to learn to control myself again. Penny had nearly tipped my final scale of sanity. Yume had been the one to show me I was changing. But when you have two demonic weapons only one holy one, its a bit difficult not to slowly slip into a paraniod insanity. I look down into the valley below, able to see the main village off in the distance. I had chosen not to live with people. I want to better myself.

I feel the carress of invisible fingers over my breasts and smile a bit. 'Good morning Kyrojin,' I greet the spirit of my naginata warm, embracing his aura comfortably. He, like Jigoku and Reirei, has become apart of who I am. I accept this darkness and embrace it instead of trying to run and hide from it. The carress goes lower and I give him a nice mental whack on his hand. He smirks and I roll my eyes, moving toward the firepit to get it lit so I can make myself some breakfast before I head out to hunt.

"Shiori-chan!"

I freeze in place, eyes widening. Quickly I look around, wondering where the voice had come from. A swirl of shadows and Kyrojin appears in my hands. I hold the naginata in front of me defensively."Who's there!" I demand.

-347

What in the hell? Where was the voice coming from? It felt like it was echoing from all sides. Was it in my head? Had I finally cracked? Nah, Can't be. I wouldn't be questioning myself if I was insane. I find myself searching the hut for the source of the sudden voice, but it just seems to echo from everywhere. Odd. But then the voice becomes more solidified and I turn to see a male appear on my bed. I feel Kyrojin hum with excitement. He just wants to kill the guy, but I'm not a murderer. Well... Outright. Technically my demon slaying could be considered murder.

I take in his attire and know he is from the present realm. I shift my stance and level the naginata's blade toward him. "Ohayo nothing. Who the hell are you? And how in the hell do you know who I am?" I ask him with a bit of a cool stare. Guy just popped out of no where, knows my name and somehow I know he can't be human. He will gain no trust from me.

-532

He holds his hands up as if to ask for mercy on him. I keep my stance, refusing to let up so easily. I don't trust people all to easily. It comes from years of living under the thumb of my grandmother. I sigh softly and slowly lower Kyrojin, only to stiffen as he suddenly says something I was not expecting. While people do know my name, they don't usually connect me to my family so quickly. My grip tightens on the slender ebony body of the naginata. I force myself to remain calm. no good will come of me jumping at the guy just because he has found out who I am somehow.

I listen to him as he speaks and when he finishes I finally allow Kyrojin to fade away and I stand there, crossing my arms under my breasts, dressed in a simple yukata that I put on when I awoke this morning. I observe him for a moment quietly, my brow arching up as curiousity fills my gaze.

"I don't have any coffee here. Ran out about a week ago. So.. Go on with your questions and maybe I'll make you some tea and a bit of breakfast if you don't piss me off too badly," I reply after a moment of collecting my thoughts.

-751

I roll my eyes as he murmurs. Why am I being so nice? I should have just threw him out of my home. But he seems harmless enough, in a way. I move over to the firepit and stir the banked coals. Gently I urge the fire to take hold on slivers of wood and I quickly get a decent cooking fire going. I pick up my tea pot I bought when I first came to the past. It was adorable and I knew I would need it, not only for tea, but I brewed coffee in it when I did have it.

"Do you know anything about the murder of Asei Jyn?"

The question washes over me and takes me a moment to process. The tea pot tumbles from my hands the moment it fully registers and the crash echoes in the small space, stirring even Little Ghost from his morning nap. I turn toward Izuya, the color draining from my face. No. Jyn... Jyn couldn't be dead. I look at him, eyes wide in disbelief.

"Wh-wh-what?" my voice is trembling and I feel my legs go out from under me. I find myself sitting on the hard packed dirt floor of my hut. "Jyn... Jyn is dead?"

-960

Jyn. No. He couldn't be gone. My breath quickens and I can feel myself heading towards a break down. While Jyn and I had broken up, he meant alot to me. He was the first guy to get me to fall in love. And we had both gone our separate ways so we would not ruin our friendship. But... But.. How can he just be.. Gone. Its not possible. I feel tears pricking the corners of my eyes. I look at Izuya as he sighs, remembering I am not alone. His inquiry makes me pause and the moment he mentions leaving I practically leapover to him and grasp for his hand.

"Don't go," I plead, I feel it. I'm on the verge of hysteria. Because even though Jyn and I were not dating in the end I always believed I would be able to go see him when I needed. "I need to know what happened," I beg softly. "I don't know much about Div12. But I will tell what I can. Just.. Tell me what happened to Jyn... Please?" I plead with him. This isn't like me. But for such devestating news I don't know how to act. I've never had someone I cared for so deeply suddenly be dead.

-1171

I can feel the spirits of my blades coming to my aide, even Kyrojin doesn't like how the harmony of my soul has nearly been shattered. I draw on their strength and grasp hold of the strong woman I know I am. I take slow breaths and release his hand, peering at him with nearly emotionless orbs. I can feel my mind locking things away so I don't feel the pain so sharply. I sit beside him, not trusting myself to get up from the floor.

I'm glad he does not make me fight for the information I wish to know. My brow furrows as he begins. A demon in a female human form? How odd. I still as he mentions this female killed Jyn, tensing further as power creeps along my skin and the scene around us changes. My eyes flick around. THe lower commons, I know it all too well. But my eyes fall on the rivers of blood flowing around me. My eyes follow them and then I see him. I inhale sharply. "Jyn.." I whisper, wanting to reach out for him, but my eyes flick to the figure getting to its feet.

"I-I-Izumi..." I stutter out in disbelief. "No... Can't be.." Even if I didn't like her all that much. There is no way she would have killed him. THe scene shatters and I finally feel the silent tears sliding down my cheeks. I look at Izuya. His next words sink in and I look down at my lap.

"I don't... I don't understand..." I hear myself say. But I do. I do understand. My hands fist in my lap. "Did that demon take Jyn's face next then?" I ask, forcing my voice to remain steady this time.

-1463

THe thought of some puppet in Jyn's place turns my stomach. Could this be my fault? Because I wasn't there to watch his back. Guilt joins the mix of the meotions trying to break back through my walls. I look at Izuya as he speaks, my face blank, tears sliding down my pale face. He's talking about following leads and such but I don't say anything. THe image of Jyn's dead body is floating in my mind and I don't know how to handle it.

I say nothing as he asks me not to do anything without hearing from him. I don't even acknowwledge that I'm listening. He vanishes and I'm alone. I crawl into my bed, feeling empty. A soft mew and Ghost is snuggling into my arms to offer his comfort. "Jyn.." I whisper and my voice cracks as a keening wail erupts from my lips. I push Ghost away and curl up on the bed, hugging my body as I rock myself. "Jyn.." I sob out his name. Dead. Why... Why was he taken from me completely? I don't know how long I cry for, but I let sleep claim my fractured mind and embrace the sweet nothingness.

-1664