Mitsuaki watched the siblings exchange glances between one another. Inside, he was deeply concerned.
"Excuse me?"
Ginjiro coughed into his fist, smacking Shion's back and causing him to spit out more of his food. "Fuck, ok, Shion, explain."
Shion coughed and gagged. He stole Mitsuaki's tea and chugged it down, attempting to breathe. "M-Me?! Why?"
"I really don't give a fuck who explains as long as I understand."
The younger triplet face planted onto the table, grumbling.
"Toiya isn't here, you're the next best thing," Ginjiro said.
Raising his head so his face could be seen, Shion clearly had an expression desiring pity and sympathy. "But I don't want to, and I can only recount things that are happening right now."
"Even better, don't worry, I'll do my part."
Shion sighed, resting his chin now on his palm as his elbow stabilized onto the table. "Alright. Put your pants on, here we go. The 'illness' thats spreading around right now is due to our master, Osamu. Every hundred or so years, Master enters a slumber so when he wakes up, he can see what's new and it acts as a breath of fresh air. Usually his slumber goes undisturbed, but this time something or someone is starting to interfere with his preferred sleeping hours. Think of it as you're in a really deep sleep and you hear people talking, shaking you, just -- overall constantly disrupting you. It'll make you grouchy and sometimes, it affects the dream you're having.
The fading of colors and absorption of life force from it is the results of him having a really messed up nightmare. His mind is interpreting that an attack of sorts is going on, so its lashing out by taking back all of his power. Not enough present time has gone by for me to know what else is happening currently, but that's what I know or.. I guess knew. Heh." Shion then looked over at Ginjiro.
The eldest sibling cleared his throat and shared his side. "Just as Shion said, this is something he has done for many, many years. Master is a really important figure to all of Rukaba and potentially beyond. He's given all living things their pigments, their shades, their unique physical traits. Its why all of us look different and have a sense of individuality despite being the same species. With that, it in a sense, gave us our source of life, its why we kin even exist, its why we even breathe. All of his naps have always gone well, when the village was still prosperous, we took care of the people there who worshipped him. Parades, festivals, the whole nine yards, it kept us preoccupied and made the time that passed less boring. But of course with time, things change, and things fade."
"And someone can't exactly accept that," Shion added. Ginjiro nodded his head in approval. "I have to admit that I'm glad you stumbled upon the village, that we got to meet you. Because maybe you can be the one who can stop this person before more damage is done. That dagger given to you is specially crafted from the cauldron of Master Osamu. Where he creates new colors, sparks new creative endeavors, everything, no weapon can ever compare to it."
"After seeing your adaptability, your creativity," Shion looked deep into Mitsuaki's eyes. "plus you're our only candidate fit for such a thing. No one is better to wield it."
The inheritor held his gaze for a second longer, then shifted it towards the porcelain, glass looking dagger. It was ethereal and slightly resembled Toiya's in appearance. "But.. Wouldn't a sword or a spear or something with range be better suited for me?" Averting his eyes, Mitsuaki continued. "I'm still lacking in the area of close combat."
Ginjiro patted Mitsuaki's back and shot him a reassuring smirk. "Nonsense. I see what you have done. Even though you complain about how much you hate being the inheritor, you still work hard so you're worthy of the title. A sword and any other weapon is child's play to you, if I'm being honest, I think you took it easy on Toiya back there."
"Someone was too caught up on his abilities, huh?" Shion snickered. Mitsuaki rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.
"Whatever, but isn't it in a sense just holding me back giving me something I'm not good at?"
"Something you're not good at looks like anyone else at mastery level." Shion quipped and finished the last of Mitsuaki's tea.
"Exactly. Stop talking yourself out of things, besides, think of it as improving where you're weak at."
"Alright, fine." The inheritor sighed. "So, say I agree with helping in dealing with this person who's giving your Master nightmares. Where do I even go to find them?"
"At the bottom of the hill, deep within the forest of Nomo there's a torii. I'm sure that's where they'll be."