#015. ❝my soul lives in the heart of autumn's immortal dream.❞ — ic

[acernusarbor]

@artificeheart small plotted starter (Spider-verse)

❝People always tell you how it's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all when you're grieving. As if it helps, as if it offers any semblance of comfort. They don't understand the anger or the GUILT that takes root when someone you love dies becuase of you. Because of who you are. You, though? YOU DO, don't you? I can see it in your eyes. In the way you're looking at me.❞ 

To Kazuha, at this moment, it seemed like there was an unspoken connection between the two- a level of understanding that was becoming increasingly rare to come across these days; his new identity was resulting in him becoming increasingly isolated, given that everyone around him that mattered had wound up dead. 

❝How do you do it? How do you live with yourself? How am I supposed to be this HERO when I have so much blood on my hands?❞ Tear-filled eyes rise to meet the outlanders directly, a silent plea within them.  

❝What am I supposed to do?❞

[acernusarbor]

Prompted Ask // Accepting // @roleplay-abiogenesis2 There was a voice calling him. It sounded distant at first, but gradually got closer. His ears were still ringing by the time Cyno's eyes began to squint open, blinking, then closing again. There was bright light somewhere. And he felt the stinging sensation of warm air against cold, soaked skin. Uncomfortable, but welcome. It meant he wasn't in the water anymore. Though he could still taste the saltwater in his throat and smell it in his nose. Everything hurt and he felt like he was about to feel sick. He remembered the boat capsizing, then nothing. His first words came out only after rolling to the side with a coughing fit, expelling the last remnants of seawater that had nearly choked his lungs. ❝Where...? Where am I...?❞

HE ALWAYS LOVED THE OCEAN AFTER A STORM- the scent of petrichor filling his nostrils as it emanated from the swiftly drying grass opposite the sand beds of Ritou. Waves lapped against his ankles as he walked along the water's edge, enjoying the gentle heat of the morning sun against his face.

Soft orange hues bleed from the remnants of the storm clouds, the pleasant chorus of birds singing carried along the wind. Kazuha pauses, turning toward the ocean as he ponders the day ahead. That's when he spots something in the corner of his eye, washed up on the shallow beach. Grabbing a stick, he begins to walk over- the small mass becoming more apparent as he approaches. ( Was that a body? )

His heart sinks when he moves close enough to clarify it is, in fact, a body. Hesitantly he calls out, gaining no response. In a momentary lapse of judgement, Kazuha pokes them with a stick. ( Possibly a few more times than necessary. )

❝Hey? Can you hear me?❞ Regaining some sense, he loses the stick, checking for a pulse. It takes him a minute to find one, sighing in relief when he does. With a careful shake, he tries calling out to them again.

A hand pats the other's back as he coughs up seawater from his lungs. ❝There, there. You're okay. Get it all out.❞ Shifting to help the other up, he holds him steady, supporting his weight with relative ease.

❝You are In Inazuma- which is a long way from home, I'm guessing?❞ Kazuha starts taking small steps, watching him with care. ❝Can you tell me where you were going? Do you remember what happened?❞

( Perhaps he was getting ahead of himself, asking questions before the poor washed-up soul had time to understand what was happening. Alas, he had a curious mind, and there was a chance the answers could prove helpful in the future. )

❝Let's have someone check you over. Make sure you are doing okay. Oh, pardon my manners. My name is Kaedehara Kazuha. You do remember your own, right?❞

[acernusarbor]

First meeting asks // Accepting // @maquiscursed ❛ You look like you could use a hand with that. ❜ (from Yoimiya)

HE HADN'T REALISED HOW MUCH TIME HAD PASSED; when a softly spoken voice stirred him from his contemplative trance, the sky had matured into a multitude of deep violets and blues, peppered with a fading tinge of apricot. He hums as he concludes his pensive thinking regarding the vast collection of leaves he has accumulated in his hands.

Kazuha had meticulously inspected each leaf, trying to find the perfect one for playing a tune to accompany the evening sounds of nature. Regrettably, none had managed to live up to his expectations, so now he was left with an array of useless leaves that he needed to discard.

As he releases the leaves, his vermillion eyes glance up to be greeted by a familiar face - he's finally pulled back into the land of the living enough to register what was said to him.

❝Oh, Miss Naganohara. Apologies, it appears I must have let myself drift into a world of my own. I'm having trouble looking for a particular leaf. It can't be too large or ridged as it would tear too easily. On a similar note, it also can't be too small because otherwise, it would require far too much effort to get a pleasant sound.❞ He continues rambling about the qualities of the leaves he's looking for ( more to himself ) until he stops suddenly, cutting himself off.

❝Anyway, I would hate to bore you over the intricacies of leaves and their musical properties. I appreciate your offer. Would you perhaps join me for a stroll? I don't believe I will find what I'm looking for here.❞

Rising to his feet, he dusts himself off. ❝How have you and your father been? Doing well, I hope?❞

[acernusarbor]

𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇 𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐔𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 — ?

Men, raise the drawbridge

When you're angry, all your defences go up. the unfortunate person or thing that managed to piss you off is suddenly talking to a wall. On the inside, you're screaming and crying and cussing them out, but somehow you can't express it. you're blank. emotionless. to anyone's knowledge, you could be zoning out of a lecture. because of this, it's hard to express how you're feeling when the person asks for your thoughts. you've choked your feelings down, and they won't come back up.

Tagged by: @artificeheart

Tagging: Anyone who has yet to do it.

[acernusarbor]

THE COMPANY OF AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE WAS WELCOME, particularly after being away from his homeland for so long. He listened attentively to everything she had to say, chuckling at her comparison of a dying Anemo slime. A heartfelt smile settled on his face as the crisp evening wind blew against his skin. ( He hadn't realised how much he missed the simplicities of being home. )

❝Once we acquire better-quality leaves, I could teach you how to play sounds that aren't of the dying capacity- If you'd like.❞

They continue to converse as their stroll takes them through a billowy pink and white canopy of Sakura trees. Kazuha stopped briefly to pluck a sprig of the cherry blossoms from the ground, twirling it in his hands as he spoke.

❝It is a great relief to hear you have both been doing well.❞ He inspected the petals that had since fallen into his hands, contemplating her words as he did.

❝Is it already that time of year? It seems I have been away longer than I thought for the summer festival to be approaching us. How have you been getting on with your designs? I do love your fireworks.❞

It was never a pleasant feeling to get reminded of the events that transpired during the Sakoku Decree. The memories of such times are a source of inner turmoil for Kazuha, one he had attempted to leave in the winds as he followed his desire to travel.

❝I have been well. The Shogunate has indeed cleared the charges against my name. I have been much more at ease since, and it has been nice returning home no longer a fugitive.❞ He returns the blossoms to the ground, turning to face his friend directly.

❝You did so much for everyone during the resistance, and I feel compelled to thank you again for your efforts. It is an honour to call you a friend, and I shall be delighted to attend the festival this year to see your work. Celebrating a new beginning is just what everyone needs, don't you think?❞

( His words are sincere- perhaps the festival will be precisely the thing to lift everyone's spirits after everything they've been through recently. )

A sunny smile answers the ronin's apology - as if to say don't mention it! didn't mean to disturb ya! - under the pleasant summer sunset, full of warm and delicate pastel hues Yoimiya loves to draw inspiration from. In that regard, perhaps she and Kazuha have the same idea; the outside world truly a marvelous source of inspiration, for those with an expressive soul seeking an outlet.

Curious honey-coloured eyes contemplate the discarded leaves (music, huh? with these?), a little nod offered with each and every one of Kazuha's list of requirements to find the Chosen One. Gee, who would have thought being a musical of nature would be so complicated?? "I see, I see. It's like finding the right balance of powder and ore for a firework - if the composition is even slightly off, the result won't be up to par with the intended colours!" Yes, exactly the same thing. See! Even poets and fireworks makers can communicate, when they put their mind to it.

Anyway. More important than considerations of fireworks, is the chance at a little chat with an old acquaintance she has not seen in a very long time (and for good reason); thus, Kazuha's proposal for a little walk comes as a very welcome offer. "I'd love that! Maybe you can tell me more about leaf playing! I remember trying to do that when I was a kid - only sound I got out of them was that of a dying Anemo slime..."

"Oh, yeah, pops and I are doing great! You know the Summer Festival is right around the corner, right? Well, not quite, but it'll be here soon enough, so I'm hunting for ideas for this year's designs!" With a beaming smile, Yoimiya waves the sketchbook she holds in her hand, as she and the ronin begin their walk under the canopy of sakura trees.

"Business has been picking up again with the end of the Sakoku Decree, so we've been busy as bees... but it's good. It's nice to see things being set in motion, y'know what I mean?" She muses. "How about you? The Shogunate has cleared you of all the unfair charges brought against you, right?" She asks, voice softening into compassion. "You should come to the Summer Festival this year... Fireworks are a great way of celebrating new beginning, y'know?"

[acernusarbor]

TAG DUMP — CHARACTER RELATED

headcanons // 010. ❝once upon an autumn day.❞ — headcanons

character study // 011. ❝in the shade of a fallen peach leaf.❞ — character study

aesthetics // 012. ❝the moon taught me there is beauty in darkness.❞ — aesthetic

visage // 013. ❝the leaves lulled themselves to sleep.❞ — visage

musings // 014. ❝i am a thousand winds that blow.❞ — musing

ic tag // 015. ❝my soul lives in the heart of autumn's immortal dream.❞ — ic

V1 (canon) // 016. ❝the leaves are changing; i feel poetry in the air.❞ — V1 ( canon )

V2 (modern) // 017. ❝the wind has ceased... the world is silent.❞ — V2 (modern)

V3 (spider-verse) // 018. ❝where the red leaves lifeless lie.❞ — V3 (spider-verse)

Kazuyuki // ♥ / ❝& i want you to know you couldn't have loved me better.❞ — Kuniyuki ( artificeheart )