Humour me, he said. Humour me…
Aoki felt cold sweat drip down the back of his neck. He was beginning to regret his hasty decision to invite the daimyō, as his confidence in his own power was definitely false bravado at this point in the face of someone who apparently would not hesitate to strike him down even in his own base. Surrounded. The old tanuki demon felt his body sag, though anger still reigned apparent, and he felt that it was justified in his next accusation. He attempted to master his emotions, steeling himself and pushing down the encroaching arrogance he knew would not be welcome at the moment.
"It has come to my attention that you received some companionship lately…"
"Hmm."
"And while my men attempted to…deal with a threat, you took it upon yourself to intervene."
Shio looked over the rim of his cup in thought. Gears and cogs spun and clanked, both noisily and rapidly as his brain tried to keep up. One of the sharpest minds in all of Japan, and he was completely and utterly confused. Companionship? Where exactly does he think this comes from? That the great Shio would travel with anyone weaker than him was a joke. [This] was a joke.
"Excuse me? Company? What,' he lifted his empty cup up for a refill, eyes fixed intently on Aoki and his dark hues. "ever do you mean?" Hardly a breath was spared during this exchange, and the more powerful lord certainly felt that this wasn't something to brush aside and scoff at later. It was a possibility that one would try to impersonate him, but he failed to understand just exactly why they would try to. Most knew he never travelled with more than his guards. The dark-haired male furrowed his brows in annoyance and frustration.
"The man and woman you deemed fit to serve you!" Aoki was silently seething, cursing his trust in those two fools, Touga and Yamagashi. He was already thinking of all the ways to torture them when Shio spoke again. This time he could hear a flicker of clarity in his voice. He felt his shoulders relax and release their tension. Right, he though, now some answers!
"I am…unaware of such a thing." Or not. Aoki deflated, the sweat from before drying out and leaving an itch that he couldn't quite reach.
"Don't play ignorant! I am not a fool! It is obvious when they are the only foreigners within our—I mean [your] borders."
Screeeeeech.
Shio watched in slightly fear as Shio's nails elongated and shredded the outer decorations upon his priceless lacquerware. [Noooo…] he withered, feeling depression set in. [Not another one…] he sighed. [Next time they can have the shit stuff.]
"Foreigners. Male. Female." Gold suddenly shone bright, green darkening into almost complete blackness. It surprised the dark figure into leaning backwards. He had yet to come across a demon that demonstrated such power through eyes alone. "Why do you believe this?" The fox shot Aoki with his stare, further putting the other man off. It hammered him in place and the darkhaired male felt colour drain from his already white face. His original sense of superiority was smashed to pieces in the wake of so much power literally oozing from Shio's form. [No wonder he didn't care for guards…"
"Speak. Now."
"You were spotted with them! You and that kami forsaken arsehole The Walking Shadow!" Shio's head spun with the implications. He tried to recollect the exact moment he met them, a shadow forming across his face and for a moment Aoki was sure he'd be sucked into the fathomless depths of it. His green eye emitted a pulse, and he froze as he flicked through the pages of his memories.
[No, no. Not them…ahh. Little. Lost. Laaaaaambs…] He exhaled a delirious chuckle, catching Aoki off-guard
"It was my exact form, you say. Anything else?" Aoki racked his brain for a moment, before…
"Ah! My men halfheartedly told me," much much later…" there was something wrong with your eye." Aoki leaned a little forward, one hand on his knee while the other was tracing a line down one of his eyes. "All we know is that whoever it was, we assumed it was you, could produce fox fire as blue as you. You are the only Kitsune, are you not?"
"Hahaha…hahaHAHAHA." Distorted, crazy laughter rattled within the room and Aoki startled, back ramrod straight and hands now settled flat on his crossed legs.
"You sly, little weasel." Shio felt murderous, memories repeating in his head like a broken record. He [knew] there was something strange about that fox masked figure. His spite ran towards the two mortals with him, and he broke out into one of the cruellest smiles he had ever given. His plans for them now had suddenly changed, hunger settling deep down inside of him and darkness creeping out bit by tiny bit. It was not far from his original plan yet knowing what he does now…Shio felt excitement bubble up and brew. He stood up swiftly, downing the last of his alcohol and carelessly chucking the cup he had been holding to the floor. When leaving, Aoki had to rub his eyes because it looked almost like he had just phased through it…
"W-wait! What the fuck is going on?!" The fox demon halted, turning his gaze threateningly at the tanuki demon and narrowed his eyes as if to ask him if he was stupid. Said man felt his heart stop, blood turning to ice and all extremities freezing over. For the narrowed eye smile he received was anything but nice.
"That…man." He spat the last word. "Is my supposedly deceased twin brother."
Badump!
"Now I will spare your pathetic little life in exchange for this information."
Badump, badump!
"And if you do not vacate my lands in the next thirty days…It will be forfeit instead."
Badump, badump, badump!
Aoki could only watch helplessly as Shio swiftly left the room. His head swam, energy fading much like the foreboding presence now disappearing from the compound. He collapsed onto his back, arm bracing over his eyes and sighed such a sigh, Hatsu popped his head through a side door inquisitively. His eyes were wide and surprised.
"What…in Kami's name just happened."
[Tanuki - racoon.]