#and of course to shizuku for always taking her own pain of her past and turning it into lessons for the future

[it-came-autumnally]

read Shizuku4…. why is Saito actually so cute

[yourlocalyorozuya]

The Tale of the Morose Manbeast Ch

Pairing: Abeno Haruitsuki/Ashiya Hanae

Rating: k+ (Slow burn fic)

AU: Beauty and the Beast

[[the chapter where things finally get rolling. tho it will still take a while to get to the actual romance. whoops]]

[[if you’re still here, an old reader, honestly your patience is commendable]]

[[i guess ill still keep writing, as long as even one person reads my stories]]

[[so this one is for you reader! please enjoy!]]

Ch 01 || Ch 02 || Ch 03 || Ch 04 || Ch 05 || Ch 06 || A03 Link

The Tale of the Morose Manbeast Chapter 07

In the heart of the forest.

Some time had passed before Ashiya had noticed it. The way that the sun moved through the sky.

Or rather, exactly how fast the sun was moving. His pace slowed to a halt as he watched, his horror growing more and more as he realized he could see it.  "A-Abeno-san?"

"What is it now?"

"The...the sun! It's moving super fast!" Is Ashiya's answer, gesturing wildly at the object in question. The beast merely stares at him mutely for a couple of second before heaving a great sigh. He's heaved a few of those in the last half hour.

At least...Ashiya thinks it was half an hour.

"The sun moves from the east to the west during the day. Did they not teach you that in your school?"

"Eh?! No, I know that of course."

"...Do you really?"

"Of course I do! And no, I didn't mean that! Look at the sky!"

The beast looks up at the sky. Stays silent for a bit.

"...I see." "Isn't it really weird!?"

"It is. But not for these kinds of places."

"These kinds of places?" "We're inside a liminal space right now. Despite how similar the elements look to the outside world, there are bound to be things that appear strange."

"...I feel like I heard something earth-shattering just mentioned casually in passing." "You don't know about liminal spaces?" "Not a thing." "...."

The beast stops in his tracks and Ashiya quickly follows suit before he bumps into him. And something warm and fluffy brushes against his foot. The white...fuzzball?

"Liminal spaces are dimensions of space where time passes differently." "..." "..." "....." "........"

"...I'm...going to need more of an explanation than that."

"They're dimensions made with magical power that house youkai." "A little bit more than...wait, youkai?" "Yes, youkai. Just like the one that has clambered on your shoulder right now."

"Wha-?!" Sure enough, there was the brush of fur against his cheek. "When did it-" He stutters, trying to push it off. And immediately wincing in pain when the youkai dug its claws in his shoulders, firmly staying on. "These kinds of spaces were created specifically to house supernatural creatures away from prying eyes. Away from humanity and environmental factors that they could pose a threat to and vice versa." 

Then why did...agh, why did we end up here?!" Ashiya huffs, still struggling with the youkai. "The mirrors in my mansion all connect to liminal spaces. Because the mirrors themselves are all one youkai." That explained the talking mirror at least. And the healing powers, Ashiya thinks, as he touches his back. And then promptly stiffens up as the furry youkai on his shoulder starts rubbing up against his face.

"That one seems to like you." The beast says dryly. "I don't want it to like me!!" "We should keep moving.” The beast continues, ignoring him, “The last thing we need is the space destabilizing before we leave."

“...Umm. Just as a theory, what would happen if we were still inside when it does?" “There'd be no body of yours to find." "I'd be murdered?!" "Erased from existence." "That's even worse!!"

"Then keep moving. You don't have time to lose, do you?"

"Huh?" "Your mother."

And that's when Ashiya could hear it. Clear and echoing through the unnatural forest, on a wind that didn't exist moments before. The sound of bells.

"...!"

Somehow, it sent shivers down his spine.

Beside him, the beast stiffens.

"Run." "What?" "We can't be seen. Quickly!"

Ashiya complies, following as the beast abruptly turns and runs towards the denser parts of the forest. 

Through the trees, the bushes, the paper grass rustles noisily under his footsteps. His heart hammering in his ears, the youkai on his shoulder clinging on for dear life.

But his body was still drained. His feet felt like lead.

At this rate-

  And there he goes. His feet finally gave out. The fatigue hits him fully now. 

Before his eyes close, he thinks he sees something.

A beautiful, golden glow.

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When he wakes up again, it's not to the paper of the grass scratching his fingertips. It's to a soft white mattress and an even softer pillow.

"..." This seems familiar. Why? Ashiya blinks and sits up. There's a strange lightness to his body.

A nostalgic scent in the air. The scent of...

"...Home?" Was he home? Was he finally...?

Ashiya unsteadily gets to his feet, groaning. White static through his head and all he can hear is noise. "My...cloak...?"

It's missing. Someone had taken it away.

Someone.

A step, then two. Somehow, he manages to drag himself towards the doorframe and then past it. "He...Hello? Is anyone there?"

His head still hurts, but he's able to register certain details. The clacking of stone against stone, the green of herbs laid on the table.

Voices. People. 

So many people. More than he's ever even seen indoors, a flash of color from every wall where herbs grow.

What were...they saying? "Koura-sama, he's up!" "My. So soon?"

Faces.

His fingers press a little more into the doorway. His body still felt too light. Like 

it wasn't his own.

"Where..." A quiet whisper, barely heard over the din. He manages to croak it out before the coughing fit overtakes him. A fit so bad that it makes his knees buckle and he covers his mouth. His eyes, widening when he feels liquid drip on his fingers.

"Ah! Is he rejecting the medicine again?!" "This is certainly a problem. Shizuku-chan, take over for me. I'll have to see him into bed."

"Okay!"

Ashiya barely hears their voices; all his attention was on the hand he'd drawn away from his face.

"B...blood..."

"Now, now. You'll have to go back. You're in no condition to be walking around like this."

"Huh...?"

A woman was approaching him.

"Who...?" Something cold creeping along his arm and Ashiya's heart stops. An all-too-familiar chill up his spine and freezing his blood, his breath.

Everything. From the corner of his eye, he peeks at person behind her. A younger girl. With a large, green tail growing from her body, protruding from her skirt.

He hadn't returned.

The crowd starts to mill around him, voices overlapping, shouts, cries. Their presences smothering his heart, the very air itself in his lungs.

He hadn't even left.

From all sides, the youkai start to swarm around. "...!" His teeth gritted, he clutches at his throat. It's...so hard to breathe!

So hard to... "H...he...lp me!"

And just like that, the feelings...disappear. Someone yanks him to the side, away from the youkai woman, away from the crowd.

"I'll take him. Back to his room.” Someone says. There’s a rise of panic before something odd registers in Ashiya’s brain.

That…voice.

Murmurs in the air while the crowd starts to thin.

“Would that be alright with you?” The youkai woman asks. “Yes. You’re quite busy, aren’t you?”

He knows that voice...!

He twists around, feels vice-like fingers grip his wrist and he’s close enough that he can manage a peek at the person speaking.

Cool, golden eyes staring back at him with familiar exasperated expression.

"Y...You?!"

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The Tale of the Morose Manbeast

Chapter 07: In the old tales, there is no such thing as coincidence.

End.

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