Naoya's rage personifies through his eyes where they glow so brightly that the initial flash given off is rather disorienting.
"Ch-...you…why the FUCK would you…", the Zenin glances to Getou with disgust but then back to the being, struggling to stabilize his emotions which is when he vehemently screams, "LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE FUCKING DONE CHO!"
"NO!", Choso's eyes widen as he stumbles back, tripping over his own nervous feet and falling to the hardwood floor, "I…I didn't mean…I didn't want this!" He vacuously stares at Getou's seizing body with his own trembling hands reaching up to cover the damning sight, "No-no-no-no! Not him…please not Getou…" Choso flinches to Naoya's increasing presence, now comprehending why what he did was wrong but is so overwhelmed by the Zenin's violent aura that he sucks in air and finds that his lungs have seized into nonoperational means from culpability.
"YOU FUCKING DID THIS, CHO!"
Toji drops down to his knees, trying his best to tune out his cousin's voice and Choso's tears. "Doll…", he whispers, turning his head towards Elska and eventually crawling closer to lift her into his arms. The sound of Suguru's bones smacking off the floor disrupts his sanity with each thump but it still pales in comparison for his incertitude regarding what she did. He would usually be the bigger man and put a stop to the bickering but in this moment, Toji wishes for someone to hurt over these developments.
The golden light travels over Naoya's body with the urge to rip Choso apart sparking in his mind. "HOW WOULD MAKING HER SWITCH FUCKING HELP HER CHO?!", he cries out, no longer capable of keeping his swirling sentiments at bay. For some reason though, he feels bad for his friend when they lock eyes; Choso's expression completely explaining his turmoil but Naoya's not yet able to forgive.
"SHE WANTS TO BE WHOLE!", the being bellows, "I AM SUPPOSED TO MAKE HER WHOLE!" Choso's not felt this devastated since the deaths of his brothers and is currently unable to compose himself as he usually would. His head flings back suddenly but doesn't realize right away that it was due to Naoya's kick.
"Doll…what do we do?", Toji solemnly asks while lifting her up as he stands, cradling her against his body. He kisses her cheek with a blank expression while thinking, 'Are we supposed to accept this now? Accept your cruelty? Accept Getou?', torn between decapitating the Titer and protecting him. He knows that killing the Suguru would be the easiest immediate solution but his chest burns as he recalls Getou's importance involving the battle against the King. Lost in eonian thought, Toji isn't even aware of the shouting match turning physical but when his gaze falls to Naoya and Choso, his vision blurs with tears.
Naoya has Choso pinned to the floor, relentlessly pummeling him with his bare fists. "FUCKING GETOU IS LIKE US NOW! WHY DID YOU DO IT?! THIS IS ON YOU!", he hollers with viable indication of discontent. A part of Naoya wishes he'd stop himself as he's not actually enjoying beating his friend but every time his fist connects to the being's face, the tiniest amount of relief results from it.
Choso doesn't even defend himself. He's lying there taking this bloody pummeling while regret pours out of the corners of his eyes. 'Elska…', he monologues, shutting them before Naoya's knuckles crash down onto his nose and cheek, "I'm sorry…", he cries quietly, "I'M SORRY!!!!!", wailing the words out this time.
Naoya brings his fist back for another but ultimately sobs too, crestfallen by his own actions and the genuine sorrow that can be detected in his friend's face. Doubling over Choso, he chokes on his breath and decides that although he's livid with the being, there's another who deserves his fury more.
After shoving himself off of the swollen half-curse, Naoya staggers to a stand with heinous intentions and calls for his wings. As soon as they form he twists himself to look at Suguru, narrows his eyes with resolve and informs, "I know exactly how to fix this..." Screaming, Naoya lunges towards the defenseless Titer, focusing his energy in order to saturate himself to reinforce his aggression with physical aptitude. Midway through his attack however, Naoya get clothes-lined by a rock-solid force and is nearly knocked senseless for a second while staring at the smooth ceiling.
"Listen you little shit. CALM THE FUCK DOWN."
Once Naoya is aware that Toji was the force that knocked him on his ass, he wildly loathes, "WHY!????!", not understanding what would cause his cousin to protect such a worthless bastard.
Toji takes a deep breath but is unable to hide his disappointment over the position he's been put in. Still, he helps the Zenin to his feet but has to rotate his body with Elska and look at the floor as Naoya falls apart.
"YOU FUC-fucking dick!!", Naoya verbally lashes out, "LET ME KILL HIM!!!"
Naoya begins punching Toji now too but only in the arm and without much strength as he agonizes and recites that same question, "Toji, Why", over and over through his tears. The giant hasn't any answers that will make the blonde feel better so he sympathizes and allows Naoya to get it all out of his system.
Choso curls up into the fetal position and mentally checks out of the room. "This isn't what we wanted…", he brokenly explains to no one, "I didn't mean to do this…" He feels nauseous from all of the heaving but is simply unable to catch his breath, "Elska…", he whines, "Master…" His vision is starting to fade to black, not having blinked while his reasoning and purpose falls to shambles, "What have I done?!"
Naoya's kept up his barrage of frustrated punches, needing to feel his hands hit against something. Anything. He finally stops once his emotions take over and leave him balling while he simply stands in front of Toji, doing his best to not bring his eyes to Getou.
The blonde whimpers his depression, the misery of knowing what is to come with Suguru being turned. His limbs are quivering along with his lips, his heart crushed by the inevitable future this is going to bring. To his complete surprise though, Naoya's sorrows are stalled when he feels Toji wrapping a large arm around him. Naoya gasps with a frozen, shocked expression but can't bring himself to enjoy the insinuation before he's crying against his older cousin.
"I'm sorry boy…", Toji soothes, adjusting Elska in his right arm while bringing Naoya's head to his left shoulder. The sheer anguish he absorbs while the Zenin's muffled voice explodes into his shirt brings a daunting weight to Toji's existence. He wants to make everything better, take back the series of events that swiftly unfolded but knows that he's completely incapable of doing so. It makes him feel useless, weak, not having the power to protect them all from the rattling and bizarre outcomes that life brings them to.
When Naoya sniffles and grips into his arms, Toji calmly shares, "We can't kill him right now. I hate this as much as you do, Naoya but we still have a lot of trouble coming our way and the Titers are key to us having enough allies…", but it's no use as the blonde continues cracking. Toji's head tilts upward, eyes rapidly blinking in an attempt to stave off the welling tears when Naoya's voice breaks into a heart wrenching squeak. "I need you to be strong boy…we all have to be strong."
Getou's body now ceases from seizing but that only accomplishes the sensation of drowning for everyone else in the room. The distraught silence that encases them could only appeal to the devil.
Naoya sniffles again but hugs Toji harder than he ever has, "He ripped out her wing…", his shaken voice declares, "…and tried to rape her Toji…how can we…", he feels his chest jump unevenly while inhaling, "…how can we just allow this? You fucking know what being turned means!" Toji squeezing him tighter provides a little bit of comfort but the Zenin proceeds to reach over and grab Elska's slip while quietly crying.
"Princess...what good is it being Zenin if I can't stop this?"
———————————
Elska feels like she's floating and thinks about how wonderful of a nap she must have had since she doesn't even recall falling asleep. A tiny yawn grows until she's lazily wiping her eyes and rolling over to reposition. A gentle breeze climbs over while little fibers tickle her legs, compelling her to cover up but when she stretches her arms to search for blankets, she instead finds a voice.
"Good morning, little one."
Elska peeks open one eye and instantly spots Getou's long black hair draping over her, "Mmm…", she yawns again, "Good morning to you too, Sugu-", but then her eyes unfasten, "SUGURU???!"
Getou smiles to her obvious confusion but instead of having too much fun, tells her, "Don't be alarmed. We're in the first stage…" She jerks upwards from his lap, throwing his center of gravity off but understands she isn't aware of what's happening yet. When she gasps to his appearance with concern, he chuckles and adds, "Ah yes...besides my clearing subconscious skin, it would seem as though before we were sent here, I was bitten!"
Elska's jaw drops when she studies his glowing red eyes and protruding fangs that subtly peer out between his lips. This is when she also recounts how they're for some reason always made to be nude int his place.
"Shit. Is it that bad?!", Getou half muses to her shock, trying to lighten the mood.
Elska says nothing and reaches up to touch the points of his teeth while Suguru stiffens and displays a wide smile that makes her blush and retract her hand. While trying to piece together everything she's missing from before they arrived here, he says her name and nods his head to gesture her to look ahead of them so she does.
When she relaxes back into his hold with awe, he explains, "Take this time to discover yourself Elska."
"Why does everything look so weird here?"
Getou softens his eyes, "I'll explain. Your sun is light blue…", saddened by the symbology of Satoru Gojo, "…and your sky is a never-ending deep blue.", knowing that likely represents her Zenin lovers, "Think about the clans." Honestly, Suguru would easily be more upset by this but little does she know, he's about to trek them through a field of golden grass.
"This looks so strange!", she says with laughter in her voice, completely mesmerized by the color scheme and how absolutely surreal it is.
As Suguru carries her to the base of a nearby hill, she takes notice of the surrounding Titer-themed foliage and sighs as denying Suguru's existence inside of her heart and mind seem unreasonable by this point. When the negative emotions regarding herself surface, she depresses and feels a stinging sensation along her ribs.
Getou notices a new scar forming, obscuring her abdomen to his own dismay. "Elska…", he coos, "…why do you do this to yourself?", he questions wholeheartedly. His own have minimized greatly, noting that her acceptance of him and everything they've gone through has continued to heal him every day. She doesn't respond but instead silently cries which makes him stop halfway up the hill.
Elska feels him lowering her to her feet; the shyness in her demeanor causing her to look away from his alluring gaze. When his fingers delicately lift her chin up towards him though, she finally takes in his beautiful wings and gawks. They're a murky brown but pale golden highlights exist that blend in with the feathers giving them a brightness that she's not seen in her other turned.
Suguru sighs while she rakes over his new form, loving the astonishment on her face. When their eyes meet again, he becomes lost in her glow and how she's clearly captivated by his new physical attributes.
Everything makes so much more sense to him now too. Their nature, her dynamic with her lovers but their willingness to share her bringing the largest epiphany of all. "You are allowed to love all of us…", his voice trailing off when her expression hardens and seems resistant to his meaning. 'How do I get her to understand?', the complexity of the situation making him ponder on what he should do. Ultimately, he discerns that showing her just how okay it is, is needed and leans down so their lips can meet.
Elska would've repelled him had she the time but he was so sudden with his action that before she knows it, they're kissing. She closes her eyes and tries to fight back how good Suguru feels against her bare skin and grimaces to how she unknowingly desires this to be. When she whimpers from the delicate way his hands rub, her mouth opens just enough to gain him entry. They exhale through their nose simultaneously as if the simple assertive move was like a signal to unleash suppressed stress.
She hears her name being called but by an unfamiliar voice to which she jerks her head to the side to locate where it came from, "Who is that?"
"It's coming from up there. We have to climb the hill so we can see.", he states reluctantly, not knowing which of her hidden memories will be shown to them. "You have to overcome the past now but I'll be here with you, little one.", his tone truthfully endearing as he knows from experience that this will likely be unpleasant. Part of the Titers' greatest accomplishments is that they're able to conquer every aspect of themselves through this exclusive dimensional hybrid therapy mixing cognitive stimulation and exposure.
Elska hesitatingly nods in agreement but Getou slices through her fear with a playful growl before scooping her back up into his arms, "I don't know how to use my wings yet so unfortunately they're just aesthetics right now." She giggles to his phrasing which warms him tremendously and gives fuel for his reaching the top. As he moves forward, there are large bodies of water in the distance that hold a deep thick maroon color, almost as if it were blood. Not wanting to frighten her, he points and explains, "I believe those represent Choso…", and smiles to her relief why hiding his curiosity as to why the being's symbology is unproportionately present. Elska appears as if she's unable to deeply process everything but Suguru's eyes linger on one massive, burgundy lake that shows bubbles gathering in it's center, wondering, 'Is something alive under there? Why does it feel like we're being watched?'
Getou narrows his focus to the boiling water and becomes a little uneasy when he begins sensing the absolute destructive nature of whatever the fuck it is. Unintentionally ignoring Elska's questions, the Titer feels a wave of power emanating from the precarious spot that instinctively freezes him with alarm.
"Suguru? What's wrong?", Elska innocently asks as nothing feels out of the ordinary to her besides being there in the first place.
"Elska…"
"What?!", Now aiming her view in the direction he's staring only to see the stilled water. His tone however, was haunting.
Getou tightens his grip on her and distrustfully steps back, "Do you not feel tha-", but before he can finish asking, his right foot slips in the grass and they both tumble a short ways back down the hill.
Elska digs her fingers and toes into the slope but feels herself sliding. She calls for Suguru as gravity refuses to let her remain.
"Gotcha!", Getou exhales a groan of relief after grabbing Elska's wrist while he himself lays flat on his stomach at an inverted angle.
Elska cannot help but belt into laughter after rolling to her back. She uses her forearm to shield her embarrassed face as she replays how funny they must have looked falling naked.
Comprehending her humor, Suguru becomes infected and cackles to himself about how uncool that whole ordeal was. Basking in humility, their glowing gazes intertwine which is when he shakes his head with a grin and carefully gets back on his feet.
He holds out his hand, "I promise not to drop you this time!", and more so throws Elska over his shoulder and secures her butt into his hand. A few minutes later, they then reach the mound of the hill. Suguru searches the eerie bodies of water again but finds absolutely nothing at all. He squints in that direction some more but when nothing more happens, he switches his train of thought, sits down with Elska in his lap and wraps his arms around her while encouraging, "Just remember that whatever we see, it cannot harm you anymore…"
'What the hell does that mean?!', Elska wearily follows his eyes upwards into the dark sky and jumps when it turns into a large projection of images and sound, almost as if they were at a drive-in theater but without the backdrop.
"Woooaaah…"
Inside of the blurred edges, the picture begins to show stone walls similar to a castle's interior, oil lamps lining the walkways, dingy red-stained glass hueing the sunlight and dusty, granulated air. 'This is so familiar but I don't know where its from.', she thinks with a strange sensation.
The point of view changes abruptly now showing her and another man enveloped into each other's arms.
"What's wrong with him?", Elska inquisitively asks as she can make out other details about him but not his facial features. Suguru seems to have difficulty distinguishing him out too though so she decides to continue watching since it's clear neither of them possess answers.
The man has short, dark auburn hair and towers over her, 'He's even taller than Sati!', she discerns with disbelief as Suguru's hands can be felt lightly brushing over her arms. The shown room itself is large, elegant and very old fashioned. The walls are also of pale grey stone, the floors unfinished wood, the bed large with multiple different kinds of fur pelts decorating it's surface.
The man calls her name again, sweetly, "Elska", to which the version of her in the 'movie' giggles and says something back, but her words a silenced for some reason. He spins her around and traps her between himself and the bed, caressing her body and clearly seducing her. He raises her long, elegant dress to her hips and forms fangs behind her.
Elska clears her throat in embarrassment as she's not so sure Suguru should be watching too. She feels invaded by this scene as it's eerily familiar but still seemingly new all in the same but when she insecurely turns to look at the Titer's face, his expression is so calm that it sends her into an odd state of reprieve. 'Has he always been this peaceful?', she wonders to herself but quickly shaking her head as she knows that no, he has not. She realigns her head to view the scene once more but is perplexed by this Elska's reaction to the man's fangs as he trails them along her shoulder.
The girl in the movie screams horrifically and proceeds to fight against the man she was just so enamored by.
"STOP!", she rages while clawing at his hands that steady her, "I'M NOT READY!", she cries miserably but ultimately loses to the man keeping her in place.
He cackles sinisterly and in a different voice claims, "You're such an idiot, how could you not sense that I was a fake? Do you really love my brother at all?", his cancerous voice bringing her into additional fear. Movie Elska says something else, likely the man's real name but her voice is muted again. They watch as his eyes glow against her skin but hers do not change at all, bringing Elska to the question, 'Why am I being so easily overpowered here? Why am I not attacking with energy, or using my wings?' Quaking to this ominous show, she's comforted immensely by Suguru leaning against her back, his body's warmth helping her find courage to continue through this.
Suguru takes in the fact that shown Elska seems completely helpless too, despite her clear disinterest in the emerging situation. He finds that bizarre but her screams of horror make him shiver knowing that he's heard the Elska in his lap make the same desperate sounds but because of himself. He staves off the discomfort, not wanting to be selfish as this was obviously not about him but, 'Who is that man though? Is this someone from her world?' When they both witness the brutal display of the man forcing her to endure his groping, he squeezes Elska a little harder, understanding that this is about to get very dark in nature.
The man hits her in the back of the head hard enough for her to bend forward onto the bed in a daze. They can't see him expose himself because of the angle but its very apparent that he's about to force himself onto her by the insinuation of movements.
The man seethes, "You should've left when you had the chance. He may be king in this moment but that is all about to change.", while thrusting his hips into her as she groans in pain. This marauder continues to hump movie Elska, harshly pushing her head into the bed and seemingly celebrating his conquest while revealing, "I can turn into whoever I want so long as my eyes have met theirs. Why did you assume you were safe?"
Elska screams wildly through her dampened cries, suffocating in the tan pelt and is unable to move or retaliate otherwise as the monster uses her body for his liking.
He pulls out of her though and jacks himself off, his seed spewing erratically all over the floor. With that same hand, he pulls back on her hair, yanking her upright in an awkward crescent while he smells her neck.
"Just taking in the scent of your humanity before I destroy it.", he laughs maliciously as his body entirely morphs to show a shorter man with natural curly blonde hair. "You have no business being here still, you were supposed to be gone already…worthless bitch. Or you could've acknowledged me some, you know?!", the sadism and excitement in his voice noticeable while he jerks her head back more so that she's contorted in front of him. "Now my brother will know exactly where he fucked up during his rule…", is all he says before a weak violet light glows against her hair and neck. He wraps his left hand around to her chest over her heart and sinks his fangs in.
Elska clutches Suguru's arms as her eyes blur in bewilderment. How is any of this true? How can she even deny it though when it's right in front of her?
When they witnesses the man back away from movie Elska without drinking she's further confused until a chill courses down her spine.
"I was…", she sheepishly states, "Fuck...I couldn't fight him because I was human here.", the very realization rocking her while she copes with the unsettling understanding of the violence that made her what she is today. "He's not doing it right though…why isn't he feeding?", her voice minimizing in effect while she prompts her brain to figure it out.
The man leaves her unconscious and in the lewd position of her being bent over the bed, even tucking her dress underneath her thighs so that she remains exposed. Before leaving her side, he bites his own finger and uses his blood to write some kind of message on the small of her back.
"Things would have been different had you two not fallen in love…", he almost sympathetically states, "Or perhaps it should've been with me.", a slight mixture of hatred and regret peering through his expression before he releases a harrowing shriek as if to draw attention to the room. The mysterious monster then calls for his wings that emerge pitch black and jumps out of the large stained glass window to the right without so much as looking back.
Elska and Suguru stare in horrified silence as movie Elska is alone for a few moments before a replica of the original man they saw runs into the room and breaks down while covering her and laying her correctly on the bed.
"ELSKA!!!", he shrieks, shaking her in an attempt to get her to respond, "ELKSA!!!!!!!"
The auburn-haired man is hysterical, crying on his knees as he helplessly clings to her feet and kisses them while saying, "Elska…this can't be…" He climbs back to his feet and appears to hold his breath as he notices the semen and reads the message, now erratically smearing the bloody words from her body, "How...how could he do this to us? This method...when it was mentioned before…", the man chokes on his words, "NO ONE KNEW IF IT WOULD EVEN WORK WHICH IS WHY I RULED AGAINST IT!!"
Another winged man who also has jet black feathers but is just as unidentifiable, runs to the tall man's side, gasps but then collectedly suggests, "You must complete the ritual before it's too late, Sire. I understand that this is not how you wanted to do this but I fear she doesn't have much time. Her energy weakens by the second..."
The auburn-haired man wails with remorse, "BRING HIM HERE AT ONCE AND DRAG THE COUNCIL IN. HE WANTS TO PLAY THE FOOL? HE SHALL MEET THE SAME FATE AS ONE!"
The second winged man bows and is dispatched instantly, leaving the auburn haired man alone by her side who whispers, "Darling, I'm left without a choice. You'd think with all this power, I would never be cornered in a such a way but alas, I too was a fool. I should have known better. There were...signs..."
Suguru's eyes unfasten when the connection is made inside of his brain leading him to whisper in disbelief, "The King…"
The assumed ruler untucks Elska's dress and then lifts her wilted body into his arms so he can reposition her. Leaning over with tears falling to her skin, he searches for the bite marks knowing he'll have to re-enter in the same spot. He locates them but a contrasting visual of reprieve and disgust can be sensed as he growls into a sob.
"Your revenge will be had. My beautiful bride, I vow that I will protect you or I shall give my life out of shame. Please...please be alright.", his eyes gleaming that same violet, only stronger, as his palm lies against her heart and his fangs pierce into her.
When the projected display vanishes Suguru lets out an oppressed breath, as if he'd been holding it in. "So, this is how you came to be?", he inquires out loud as she twists in his lap and buries her face into his chest. "I'm so sorry little one…I had no idea…", he soothes as he embraces her, wanting to reach inside of her heart and pull out all of her sadness.
Elska relentlessly sobs for quite some time which he allows without a second thought knowing this must be incredibly hard to gain knowledge of. His eyes search the sky as he wishes he could've made out the faces since those men will likely appear before them all soon.
'They will never have the pleasure of getting to her ever again.', he resolves fluently, distraught and mortified by what she had to go through as well as what he's put her through. Something bothers him though but he refuses to actually think on how much the King cherished her. He can't.
"You've said I'm worthy little one, but I am not.", he morosely utters while running his fingers through her hair, "But I will guard you from these beasts with every ounce of my power. I will crush them all…" Lifting Elska up, he prepares himself to enter the next stage, no longer being as enthralled about their training as he previously was. 'To think I was restless while waiting for this to occur…', the naivety of his former self fouling him as he should've been aware of the ugliness that they would meet.
His own past blares through his recollection, the excruciating disappointment and shame he feels for having hurt so many, including her, causes his heart to agonize. For the first time ever, Suguru thinks about Naoya, Toji, Choso and even Gojo in a new light, with the thought, 'We can do this if we work together…', stapling itself with permanence as his mentality rapidly matures.
——————————
Nanami deeply sighs, stressed beyond belief as he looks over Satoru and Elska in the bed, Suguru on the floor. He turns to Ieiri, "Do you have a way of reaching Baidal?", rubbing the bridge of his nose while his eyes tiredly shut with vexation.
Shoko sits next to the sleeping Elska, holding her hand while wondering, 'Why would she want to become this monster as Choso claims?' Her view meets Gojo now, half smirking to the knowledge of him wanting to have been turned for while, "No I don't know how to get in touch with him.", she finally responds, wishing she did.
"Great. So, we have the true head of the Titer clan here unconscious and unable to tell his people that he wasn't kidnapped. That will go over well seeing as they've been our enemy for some time now.", the sarcasm in Nanami's voice burning everyone in the room.
Naoya wipes his eyes, "Look, you can be an asshole all you want, none of us wanted this shit to happen. We don't even like his ass!", angered by the tone Kento took. He isn't meaning to be nasty in return but because he's done everything in his power to avoid this and failed, his patience over the situation have grown extremely thin.
Toji stands up from Choso, who's still in the fetal position on the floor, "Naoya don't snap at him, none of this is his fault. If anything, it's ours." He turns to Nanami, "My cousin isn't taking this well as you can see but I apologize on his behalf. I know you're here to help." Nanami seems to appreciate this and also offers an expression to show that he is also wishing to retract his previous statement.
Shoko stands too, raising an eyebrow to the hybrid losing his mind next to the bed, "Is he going to be alright?", she asks awkwardly while pointing to Choso.
The room quiets down as they all listen to him repeat, "I-didn't-mean-to, I-didn't-mean-to." With her knowledge of medically and psychology related aspects, she's uncertain if the being is something they can assume will simply turn out fine. She walks over to him and silently begins healing his cuts and bruises knowing it wouldn't take too long as the wounds were primarily superficial. 'He's like a child…', she discerns with confusion as she's come to learn that he's at least 150 years old.
Naoya grinds his teeth but walks over to his friend, squats down and snaps his fingers in front of Choso's face. "Cho?", he attempts to gain the being's attention but it doesn't seem to be of any use. The anger Naoya held in regards to him before has been pushed aside as he becomes increasingly concerned, "Cho!"
He's never seen the being like this before and begins to feel guilty since he's aware that he's likely solely responsible for Choso being sent over the edge earlier. "Fuck…please don't break Cho, we'll figure this all out…", reaching out to hold Choso's cheek as a brother would. "Wow, your technique is almost as fast as his!", he exclaims to Shoko while observing the depletion of swelling and the healed gashes that decorated his face.
Toji isn't sure what to do about the being either, "Things got pretty ugly earlier…", turning to Nanami and Shoko, "…I think it was too much for Choso to handle." He now wishes that he would have stopped it, thinking, 'Choso's too powerful to be going off the deep end.', as he instinctively brings his eyes to Gojo and internally snickers, 'You two are pieces of work, I swear.'
Nanami furrows his brow as a creepy sensation crawls across his body, but hides it and states, "That much is clear. It would be wise to bring him out of this lamentable way sooner than later.", not meaning to be snappy again. "Ughhh…damn it you guys…", running a large hand down his face, Nanami professes, "I want to help you but these situations endanger our students. Unfortunately, we need to move you all farther away on the campus." He gives Toji apologetic eyes, having grown to respect him a lot over the past months, "I'm also worried about Satoru waking up. If he reacts in any way like you've told me Choso or you did, Toji, there's no telling what destruction with follow."
A hint of fear washes over his entirety as he tries to maintain a strong air but the thought keep coming, 'I was never able to overpower Satoru before so what the hell are we going to do if he's as the Titer's predict?' Nanami's eyes now dart to Elska where he secretly prays, 'Oda, I hope you can handle him without getting hurt.', the assumed dread that would strike the rest of her turned if something happened to her adding on to the pressure as well. He resolves to bring all of this up with Shoko in private so they can explore possible outcomes before riling everyone else up.
Shoko taps her foot while lost in thought, mentally searching through conceivable places the turned could go where they would still be accessible in the event of an emergency. She truly doesn't want them going too far, not with all of the looming danger coming their way. "I've got it!", she proudly asserts and waits for everyone's attention, "There's an older building on the edge of the property that used to be a faculty area. We'll need to make it livable with proper amenities but given a few days, we should be able to pull that off!"
Naoya hangs his head low, brushing over Choso's hair while despising the fact that he can't use his estate as an option right now. 'Chonan would definitely take advantage of our crisis.", comprehending that he may need to watch his own and everyone else's back until he can effectively meet with his brother to tackle whatever issues there are.
The amount of debilitating stressors that linger in the back of the Zenin's mind allows a moment of hopelessness to take over but he's quick to berate himself since he comprehends that self-loathing won't help anything.
He sighs when he fails to see any changes with Choso and becomes emotional again, sharing, "I'm sorry Cho, I was just so angry…and kind of scared." He turns to face everyone and with narrow eyes and warns, "Don't any of you dare mention what I'm about to do to anyone. Got it?!", and somewhat begrudgingly sits on his knees and maneuvers the being's head into his lap. Although rather embarrassed, Naoya ignores it and asks Toji, "Could you bring me something to clean him off with? I did a number on the poor fella…"
"Yeah, give me a sec."
Toji walks into the bathroom and wets a small towel. As he heads back to the room and hands it over to Naoya though, he can't help the curiosity on his face while wondering exactly what he is about to see. He watches his cousin tenderly clean the being while saying, "Shhh… we know you didn't mean for that to happen buddy, it's going to be alright.", stunned by how nurturing the blonde can be.
It actually brings a small smile to Toji's face to know that even while bearing the Zenin name, Naoya has outgrown all of their ways. 'I guess I shouldn't worry about you so much anymore.', he tells himself with pride as Naoya's become a completely different man ever since meeting Elska. 'She may have helped but you were your own catalyst…', a security swarming him as he now knows for a fact that if anything ever happened to him, Naoya would surely watch over Megumi and Elska. These sentimental thoughts have him absentmindedly walking over to his cousin and patting his head while saying, "You will make a fine clan leader, boy."
Naoya immediately blushes under the praise but instead of playing it off with a smart remark he exposes his true emotions and genuinely offers his thanks. Their sweetened moment ends when Toji's eyes meet with Suguru behind them though which brings him back to dread as he tries to contemplate on how things will definitely be different now, again.
Nanami seems to understand what's bothering Toji and regrettably offers, "I hate to say it but even if you guys are able to endorse this, I don't see Satoru doing the same." His lips purse and become thinned as he desires to have a solution but is afraid that no amount of counseling will quell the silver shaman's vicious history with them. 'It would really be up to Getou to offer amnesty but would he with Satoru's behavior?', comprehending that there is a very slim chance that Gojo will magically just open his arms to Titers of even Suguru himself.
Shoko chimes in, "I'm going to have to agree…he finds abhorrence in Getou and the Titers alike.", wanting have put a more positive foot forward on the matter. "That will be an incredible hurdle to conquer. And how do you think the Titers will feel?"
Naoya snarls, "I'm not endorsing shit! That fucker would already be dead if he didn't have his position.", meaning every word as he loathes the bastard beyond what words can describe, it can only be felt. He thinks back to the horrific day where Elska almost died in his arms because of Getou's brutal barbarism and tenses his entire body as his imagination allows him to think of all different ways to make him suffer in return. 'I can never forgive him for that. Never.'
Toji adds, "It's honestly a good thing the fucker showed up though. I'm not sure how we would've distracted that thing in her otherwise...", the urge to scrape his tongue after finding it's performing for the sake of the Titer. He turns to Naoya, "It's a hard pill to swallow boy, but I've fed off of him before and his feelings for Elska are as true as our own. He will fight for her when the King comes too."
Naoya's face scrunches up as he looks up to his cousin, "What the fuck? When did you drink from him?" He shakes his head immediately however, rescinding his question as he honestly does not care for an answer and starkly states, "Never mind." He returns his attention to Choso, becoming unnerved by how crazed the hybrid remains. He hears Toji's voice inside of his head, 'I know it's asking a lot but you need to consider how Getou's affiliation will benefit Elska.', which makes Naoya frown as he knows that Toji's right.
"First thing in the morning, I'll schedule maintenance to begin on the building Ieiri mentioned before…", Nanami brings his eyes to Elska and Satoru in the bed, still not liking the weird vibes he's receiving from them or Choso. Contemplating, he wonders, 'Why do I get the feeling that something really terrible is about to happen?', being incapable of shaking it off. Returning to the conversation, he shares, "For now though I am going to take this lovely woman back to bed.", lacing his fingers with Shoko's after grabbing her hand, "Try and keep it together until the morning."
Shoko attempts to give a warm smile, "Please come get us if anything else happens. We're going to restrict any of the students from this side of campus for now though, just to be safe." She glances at Toji, "Megumi and Itadori as well, alright?", nodding empathetically to the gratitude on his face.
Toji says his thanks and remains courteous as they leave through the door. He understands exactly where they're coming from, 'What happened with Megs is a prime example.' That thought brings him to look at Naoya and say, "Hey, thank you for saving my boy earlier…", not wanting to continue the sentence with what he feared may have come out of that, he can't even vocalize it.
Naoya, who has been humming a quiet tune to Choso responds, "You don't need to thank me. He's your son so he automatically gains my protection. He is family.", rocking the disheveled being in an attempt to calm him. The blonde looks down at his broken friend, 'At least he's not spouting off anymore…', relieved at this tiny improvement as Choso clings to Naoya's pants. He's still beside himself with grief after having beating his friend so ferociously along with placing the blame solely on him. Naoya of course still finds Choso at fault for forcing his princess to drink that corrupting blood but gathers that he should've assumed how deeply his violence would've affected the innocence left in him. 'I need to be more careful with Cho.'
"Naoya…", Choso shakily speaks, "I am so sorry…"
The Zenin tells him, "Hey…it's okay…", lightly patting his back, "We should get some sleep and start fresh tomorrow. You good with that?" He chuckles with welling emotions when Choso finally looks up at him and sheepishly nods yes.
Toji takes a deep breath before telling them both, "Don't freak out but I'm going to put Getou on the couch. For once, he truly had nothing do with this so he doesn't deserve the floor.", and hoists the tall Titer up.
Naoya scoffs but can't argue against the veracity of what Toji said and decides to hold his tongue. 'I guess it would look better too in case they use that water technique to find him.', hating that he indeed should be mindful of their alliance against his better judgement.
Now that Choso has settled down some more, Naoya gets up to get himself ready for bed. After walking over to Elska, he sighs his stresses and says, "I need to be with my baby tonight…", and brings her over to the open bed so he can place her down in the middle of it. He tells Choso that he should get off the floor and get some rest to which the being acknowledges but doesn't really move. Sliding under the sheets, Naoya maneuvers them up and around Elska and snuggles with her while whispering, "We will get through this my princess…"
After turning off the light, Toji steps over Choso, while also saying, "Don't stay down there too long bud, there's no reason for it.", wishing he'd sounded friendlier but is honestly exhausted from the night's events. He takes off his black shirt and shimmies into the bed, groaning as he finds comfort on his back. Toji then reaches down for Elska's hand and holds it, hoping that she'll wake soon. After gazing down on her, he thinks, 'Sweet dreams, doll.", and raises their conjoined hands to kiss the back of it.
As Naoya's dozing off, he takes a moment to appreciate the moonlight shining into the room. 'Why do they live underground like that?', referring to the Titers and their strange compound. He begins to create possible reasons but discontinues the train of thought once he realizes Choso is still on the floor.
"Cho…", he then sighs as he can't believe he's really about to say this, "…get in the bed, okay? You can lay with us tonight. She wouldn't want you to be over there by yourself anyways…"
Choso finally sits up and saunters over to the foot of the bed. He doesn't say anything at all but he studies the three of them in the dark, all suffering under the result of his actions. After Naoya opens his eyes, cackles and says, "You standing there is freaking me out Cho, just come on!", it breaks the sulking expression the being's had into the smallest smile.
"Thank you, Naoya…", he mutters sincerely. Postured by the forgiveness, he meekly lifts the sheets by their feet and crawls under them until he's nestled between Elska's legs. It isn't until he wraps his arms around her does he comprehend how potent her skin is to him. "Elska…", he whispers with the slightest pep in his voice while he lays his head onto her stomach, soothed by her breathing.
"Weirdo…", Naoya playfully jokes, while turning his body to face Elska. He stares at her from the side and grazes the backs of his fingers across her cheek before stretching his neck to plant a soft kiss. Plopping his head back down, he tries his best to erase the troubles of Suguru being turned, if only for the night so he can bathe in her warmth without negativity.
Choso takes a deep shaky breath, slowly exhaling while his anxieties conclude and slowly dissipate. As he's drifting into slumber and replaying some of his favorite occurrences with Elska behind his eyes, they suddenly dart open with an epiphany.
'Is Suguru with her right now?', Choso's body tenses up to the swelling feeling in his gut, leaving him to think, 'Of course he is…'
Snarling under his breath, Choso side kisses Elska's stomach and concentrates on her brain waves, noticing the synchronization from Getou's on the couch. His eyes angle under the blankets; the rage boiling deep within from the Titer's constant involvement. Tuning himself to their destination, Choso bears his fangs and thinks, 'I am coming master.'