#***THAT IS HIS __BABY__***

[reiiishii]

Tsukuyomi had just sent a customer off before finally looking to her, a small smile on his face- oh what could Suzume need now? Such a curious chi-

was Tamamo-no-mae always this evil?

It made his smile vanish and his eyes open, why would she... Ah, nevermind...he knew why...

[ ...what did she do...? ]

Tsukuyomi sighed and got to his feet before going to close the door to Midnight Novelty, a small sigh escaping his lips...might as well.

"Tell me... do you know why a scorpion betrays a frog even after the frog helps it across a river?" The shadows behind him elongated across the walls, shifting and changing with his words- following a kitsune frame, a woman's frame, and the bodies of many men, of many Yōkai. "Because it is in it's nature."

The shadows shifted, the woman ripping her tail off, another shadow puppet, a male fox, appearing as the shadows stood before an orb, shifting and speaking to one another in silence...

Susanoo's birth.

"...Her cruelty was always present, she cared about no one among her circle... Myself included, but I was merely a jester, someone to entertain them all." He turned on his heels to look at her, the shadows shifting as the story went along, a young kit's reality, the male fox turning away from the striking and the yelling- ignoring it all... and leaving the kit to cry without anyone to comfort her...

he knew. And he did nothing.

he was as complicit as Tamamo-no-mae in the abuse Suzume endured...

"...I left her, yes... and I wish I took you with me..." He finally turned fully to look at Suzume, the shadows vanishing to leave only theirs as he held his hands out to gently hold onto her face.

[ I am sorry... ]

"...do forgive me for doing something far too late..."

holding a few of the books from the store that'd been meant to be put away, her ears twitch as she hesitantly approached. "... kuyomi-san?" brows furrowing for only a brief moment, "i.. wanted to ask. um.." [ breathe, suzume. it's alright. ] [ tsukuyomi's been a good soul. he can be trusted. ] ".. you said you knew my mother before, right...?" the young kitsune started after she cleared her throat, "was... she any different, the last you spoke to her? was... was she nicer before she made me..?" voice trailing off, the soft vulpine ears on her head lowering- almost regretting her questions. "... please, tell me the truth. was mo- n... no - tamamo-no-mae... always this evil...?"

starter for @reiiishii (tsukuyomi!)