REMEMBERING EMBERS ♦ private

The young bakedanuki had a rough idea of why the trees were so angry. Not only were the large carnivorous plants hungry at this time of month, but they were vengeful, vindictive, and petty. Ever since she had taken responsibility for those two ‘strangers’ to the woods that were careless with their smoke lighters, the forest had not been satisfied. She had told the great sakura trees that she would deal with the trespassers, but unfortunately a scolding had not been quite to their liking. Ever since the previous encounter in Morgate Town, Izayuki had taken refuge in Sakuramori, only venturing to the guildhall of Silver Moon Inn once per week if she could help it. Being secluded with her symptoms had been comforting to the ill ayakashi, as opposed to being in a crowded area with unpredictable variables. She was not yet certain what might happen when she was around too many people at once and the tiny hell demons somehow became active. The experiences were always excruciating and in public, such a display would likely be a huge blow to her pride.

Sakuramori had been comforting, of course, up until recently. When the forest had laid witness to her letting the trespassers go, the hive mind of the region had grown increasingly hostile towards her. Finally, there was the night where the cherry blossoms that made up the bulk of the woods made their move. The bloodthirsty magical plants had trapped the ayakashi with roots and vines, while thorns from the ground sprung up to reach a thirst-quenching meal of blood to nourish the carnivorous forest, which was all interconnected. The forest had not anticipating the woman not dying from its catch, nor the polluted and contaminated blood that was suddenly spread throughout its roots and fibers. The dark-colored blood carried not only the demonic shadows but also the essence of the yokai as a whole.

Eventually, the forest left the bakedanuki alone, no longer hosting any will to kill her. The reason was simple-- the forest was a part of her now, technically, and she was a part of the forest. Her life essence was carried throughout the web of Sakuramori and as a result, she was unable to just up and leave. Doing so would be impossible and unthinkable. After all, a body did not just leave a part of itself behind. In addition, the contact with the forest began to change up the will of the yokai, who had fallen captive to connecting with the carnivorous forest’s mind. It triggered sensations that were akin to its own in order to trigger the bakedanuki to do the needed work in order to gather it sustenance; such a thing manifested in great hunger pains and a need for hunting.

The longer Izayuki remained in the forest, the stronger the will of the forest became. She had spent weeks hunting down trespassers that were not affiliated with Black Rose. Her own guildmembers were protected from the unique guild marks. The trees saw them as allies and friends, one of their own. Anyone else, however, was fair game. Literally. The ayakashi would lead an unsuspecting individual towards the heart of the forest and once there, the forest would rip apart and bleed the poor soul, absorbing every ounce of ‘life’ it could get-- blood, spirit energy, magic, and anything else it could get its roots on. Any leftovers belonged to the bakedanuki as a form of ‘reward’, or perhaps more accurately a treat for the new hunting dog.

She was becoming accustomed to the new life. The forest was always relaxing with a mild climate and fresh breezes. The trees sang to one another with the wind, or gossiped in little groves about nonsense. Life was carefree and there was little to actually bother with or worry about. Heavy topics were absent from the minds of the cherry blossoms and the little animals that roamed the woods and meadows were kindhearted and amiable beings. She no longer minded the gruesome killing of trespassers-- it was not truly by her hand, anyway. She simply led them along to the heart and center of Sakuramori and the trees did the rest. Was she really responsible, if she were she so comfortably carrying out the will of the forest and assisting it in its survival? Surely not.

A relaxing afternoon was passing by while the bakedanuki listened in on the idle tree gossip. They spoke of another individual who was coming close, entering their fringes. The magical plants noted it was male and a likely candidate for dinner. With enough information spinning in her head, the ayakashi quietly left that specific grove to their chatter as she made her way towards where they mentioned this person had entered. Izayuki stayed up in the canopies, jumping from branch to thick branch of each unnaturally gargantuan tree. The pink petals on the thin branches and flying through the wind provided a good mask and at least for the time being, she kept her magical power and soul concealed from being sensed while she investigated.

Calm his mind had been that of a windless day, not a single grass of thought had moved out of place for once it was fully aligned. The feeling was one he adored, control and structure, not over others but over his own self. Mastery of the mind was hard to achieve and he had only been growing closer. His mind had been in turmoil for a while, the sheer amount of information that needed processing was overwhelming. There were days when he was unsure if the seams of him or the seams of society were being unpicked, he had briefly stopped. A moments gasp of fresh clean air, the purity of it refreshing at first was an unknown shock to his system for the dregs of air passing through his lungs were always that of a liar, a fraud who couldn't even stand up to his own friends and confront them about his problem. It sounded so small when one thought of it like that, it was just an addiction, just a little problem. Was there an anonymous help group for it, one where he could hide his face but still turn up, perhaps drop a witty line or two and listen to other miserable souls.

Was it really not better to commit genocide, because at least then there will be no one left to mourn the dead.


Such thoughts had not been so persistent during his childhood, this was not something which had taken root from his parents teachings this, these ideas came from his insationable thirst for knowledge. A thirst which he had only recently been able to subdue briefly. It barely helped yet he did it anyway, hair parting before his fingers as the male ran his hand through his hair. Cobbles passed beneath his feet as he wandered the streets, thoughts and ideas passing through his mind just like the pathway under his feet they were fleeting and short, scrambled and unsteady. He had been to visit a business partner of sorts, a meeting he had not been fond or proud of it stood for many things he considered despicable about himself, yet there was that voice, all of them. The other versions of himself in his mind whispering things, the people he had been and the people he could become all giving advice and input into the scarred youths mind. Should he not just accept who he was, move on in life and embrace the person within instead of continuing this facade for all to see. Those were choices to be made carefully, thoughts that could not be rushed nor hurried. The deposit had been paid with his hand one briefcase lighter, hands free of all things it felt so casual, his off business clothes not suited for anything other than wandering the streets just casual pants and a button up, the chill of autumn had added a vest to his attire yet there was something so cleansing about a perfectly average outfit.

A union of colour the forest had swept him up, petals floating down from the blossoming canopy overhead a couple landed on his shirt, the pink flowers blending in and camouflaging as the mage wandered the edge of the forest. he could feel it, the trees and the plants here was alive, not human with limbs like he was but alive. All plants were, and the larger they were the more alive a plant was, the forest was one of many deep roots and aged branches. Yet there was something sickly within, it was like him, that he could feel for the unsettling feeling was hard to properly explain. Fingers tracing the lines in the trunk as he wandered the edges his mind fully captivated by the alluring breath of the forest before him. Words muttered under his breath really only meant for the speaker himself. "Your sick, just like me there is an impurity in your veins and your not quite sure how to get it out. Yet sometimes that darkness within is not ours to banish." each knoll of its wood told a tale of the weathering which it had undergone, each curvature and crease telling tales of how it had stood against the storms battering away during its youth. It was enticing, a taster the sample on a kind womans tray which only led to you buying a proper packet he ducked his head, avoiding a branch as his journey began, still on the outskirts his slow pace careful not to disturb as he wandered the quiet lands. There was a sick feeling deep within the bark of these trees, its cherry blossoms not sweet as they should be each one held a note of silence and sadness.

The target the trees spoke of was not hard to locate. The fresh scent of something that was mostly human was in the air while keen ears detected soft footsteps through the woods. High out of sight in the trees, the bakedanuki peered down at the snowy-haired man. He was an odd one, his fingers tracing the trunks and bark of the great cherry blossom trees as he spoke to himself, or rather, to the magical plants themselves. The ayakashi listened in, picking up on his gentle words directed towards the forest. He brought up a fact she had not thought about in a while, but more interestingly, he recognized what was flowing through the web of the forest.

Izayuki could not tell if he knew precisely what the source was, but he had referred to it as an impurity and darkness. It was more or less accurate, but what surprised the yokai was the fact that he had noticed it, unlike anyone else who had wandered through Sakuramori. Dispersing her body into the form of a mass of cherry blossom petals, Izayuki floated closer to stick to the low-hanging branches of the trees in order to fully observe the man. Something about him struck her as familiar between what he looked like and his scent. As she looked closer, she began to draw a connection as to who he was and why she remembered him. The man was the former Rising Star, Lester Drynedi. On top of being a fairly famous name in the world of mages, he was additionally a former guildmate of the bakedanuki’s, having been a wizard of Black Rose for a brief period of time.

When Desiree had created her guild and split from Black Rose, Lester had been one of the members to go with her from what the guild master could recall. She had never formally met the snowy-haired man, but realized that he now was the guild master of Crystal Swan. What brought him here to Sakuramori? If he had been searching for her on official guild business, he likely would have checked Silver Moon Inn first. Unfortunately, she had been out of the office for quite some time. Nevertheless, Seika and her aces likely had everything under control. As a result, she deducted that he was here for a reason other than guild matters.

Regrettably, his presence brought up a predicament for the ayakashi and the carnivorous forest. He was something of a celebrity and the leader of a renowned magical guild; there was no way that the forest would get away with butchering him for its own sustenance. Besides, the guild master still had some loyalty left for members who were previously in the Black Rose guild and left under peaceful and honest circumstances. She could not allow Sakuramori to kill him, both for his sake, and the sake of its own survival if the truth of its nature was discovered. Reverting from the form of cherry blossoms to a more humanoid form with white hair, snowy tanuki ears, and a long white tail tipped with black, the bakedanuki sat on the low hanging branch behind the former Rising Star. She wore casual clothing-- a loose-fitting, long-sleeved, black cotton shirt, and khaki-colored loose fitting pants. Tipping her tail was a shiny obsidian ribbon, a little ornament of sorts.

“Lester Drynedi,” the woman inquired, alabaster-furred ears twitching in curiosity. “What brings you here?”

What was wrong with it? He could feel the forests life, the energy through the roots as everything under the canopy was connected deeply, a wisdom dwelled there yet it was clammy with the illness that plagued these roots. A lethargy had settled over the woodlands here, sweet and heavy it was a blanket coming down to suffocate. The feeling of bile in the back of ones throat its acidic bite harsh, he could feel the sickness, a crease formed as his brows drew together, this was a special forest. The guild nearby was one he had once been a part of Black Rose, their activities seeming welcoming and lonely to the face yet it had once disgusted him when he had learnt the truth, not that it faxed him now for the male had undergone changes, matured past the childish recollections of fairy tales and brave princes realising that there were times when the harsh decision had to be made, and even if you didn't someone else would. The guild that dwelled here recruiting and focusing their business out of a local inn had often been close with this place, that he had remembered yet there were no childish laughs echoing through the forests,m couples no longer sat among the sprawling roots upon a picnic blanket sharing words of romance and love. He was a horrific human, a member of society that didn't belong who only hurt those around him and even those not involved yet that did not remove his sense of self. If anything it only deepened it, a plant in trouble, the entire forest was being chained down, its beauty had a bag over its head. This he could fix, he could cleanse this place and draw away the bandages from its eyes to reveal something much more beautiful, a cleansed forest, clean and sparkling its beauty would once again be the only thing on the  minds of all those who were drawn here. There was a deep underlying nature as well, the hunger for something which most forests normally didn't need, this toxin had only strengthened that to greater heights, he could cleanse the grounds of this toxin and return it to more. Yes he would cleanse this place, for too long he had been testing things which weren't beneficial to society only to please his own interests and feed his own mind which was starved of amusement and delight. He had the mental prowess and the magical power to seek out the cause of this blight which had affected the trees in such a way.

Softly the smile graces his face, warmth and love blossoming across his face the expressions of compassion due to the life which was around him, a sick grandparent whom he needed to nurse back to health, that was what this forest was and he could do exactly that, caring for its needs wouldn't be that hard surely, this was a way he could give back. Caring for nature in return to stealing those with dull eyes off the streets for something which was on no records or documents. He hadn't sensed her, whether it be due to the power she held which was greater than his the one with the title of goddess had just felt like part of the forest, as natural as a sweet scented wind in spring or another golden leaf in autumn his fingers were already intertwined with a branch when she spoke, his nails taking away a damaged leaf which had prevented a bud from blossoming, stern fingers managed to massage it open with a slight push of his own magic it had bloomed, the petals spreading open in an explosion of soft pinks. A question of why he had set foot in this place, not unprecedented yet as the man turned around he took a few moments to answer, instead tying his hair back with a ribbon as to neatly remove the locks from his face. A less ragged appearance was suited for greeting a woman such as this. Izayuki Hyoujin, she was a formidable woman indeed, there would be mentions of her in stories and around camp fires whether it be by bandits who whispered her name with fear or mercenaries who dreamt of her with lust. Named a goddess by the magic council if her sheer strength wasn't something to be wary of it was those who followed her. Not just an entire guild, but a guild of mages, many of which had honed their skills of deception to suit the guilds motives and needs. respect was what solidified in his eyes though, a slight bow sent his ponytail cascading down as a few strands broke loose, a hand over the heart as he glanced up slightly. "Ms Hyoujin, it is a pleasure to meet you." he had been a member of Black Rose once, and although not having met her directly whenever she had entered the general hall of the guild many would hold their breath, out of admiration mainly. That was what he remembered, so now he stood before her, a first time meeting he had grown a lot since last setting eyes on the slayer. "I was in town for some personal business, decided to explore the area and revisit old memories. I came across this forest again, it seemed, sickly. As if a virus had infected the roots and spread across to every tree. It needs to be cleansed, purged so the buds can no longer be held back from their full potential and allowed to fully bloom. You spend a fair amount of time here ma'am would you be able to tell me more about these roots?" Watermelon eyes had been locked onto a petal which he had acquired from the ground, yet it was now that he looked up in question, hopefully that perhaps the mage he could not fully sense would have knowledge of what plagued the area.

The bakedanuki returned the greeting with a polite nod and gentle smile. With one swift and elegant motion, Izayuki pushed herself off of the low-hanging branch onto the ground below. There was little noise in the impact with the earth and a few cherry blossom petals fell in her wake, joining the sea of others on the ground. “It’s nice to finally meet you too,” she said, hands folding comfortably behind her back. It was indeed a shame that they had not met sooner. As much as she liked to meet every one of her guildmates, sometimes the many tasks she had on her plate made such a thing fairly difficult, to the point that many introductions had often been delayed or skipped. It was regrettable, but there was little that the ayakashi could do about it. “Please, call me Izayuki or simply Iza. There’s no need for formality.”

Of course, that did not excuse what was going on now. She intentionally was keeping away from Silver Moon Inn to save her own face. The nerium illness coursing through her veins was as unpredictable as ever and it made no sense to leave Sakuramori. She could not, after all. Leaving the sakura forest would be akin to leaving a leg or arm behind. Nobody just up and did that out of survival instinct and mental logic. Doing so would require far more effort and dedication than the guild master was willing to put in. Besides, she liked the tranquil territory and the easy life she had been living for the past few weeks. She did not want to leave and could find no legitimate reason to do so.

The ayakashi had taken note of his magical capabilities, witnessing him bring a late bud to full bloom in a matter of seconds. It really was no wonder that he had taken such an interest in Sakuramori if his magic had anything to do with flowers or plants. He seemed rather mesmerized by the pink and white petals and dark brown trunks, after all. Perhaps that explained why he realized what was hidden in the roots of the forest. The bakedanuki listened in silence while he explained that the ‘infection’ of the forest needed to be purged from it. He had also mentioned an impurity running through its veins much like his own. Izayuki folded that information away until it was needed, potentially later. He inquired of the roots of the woods, but the guild master contemplated just how much information she was willing to give him. Even if he were passionate about plants, he was still a legal mage who was likely allied with the Magic Council. If word got out that the forest was too dangerous, the legal organizations would likely take action against it to rid the world of something that could hurt others. Unlike other dangerous locations that the council could not prune, Sakuramori was mostly defenseless. The only ones at real risk were those who were closer to the heart of the forest, where the mesh of roots formed something of a hive mind.

That, and in a way the bakedanuki did not want her own life force to be purged from the vein of the forest. Whether that was her own will or the desires of Sakuramori, she did not know. But the life she had now was peaceful and fulfilling; there was no need to sever her bond with the forest to go back to some other lifestyle. That, and the forest had yet to show signs of truly suffering from the nerium sickness or her life force. If anything, she was an asset to the forest, assisting it in getting the nourishment and nutrition it needed. Still, Izayuki was curious as to what the former Rising Star might know regarding the oleander illness and how to remove it, if he could. She did not wish to outright lie to him. Though a beast of deception, the bakedanuki did prefer telling the truth where she could and only relying on lies in instances where it was needed.

“Interesting,” the bakedanuki mused, contemplating the information he had given her. “The trees here have been nothing but normal, really. Their roots are like any other cherry blossom tree, if not just slightly more magical,” she responded with a smile in an unconcerned manner. “However, this forest is Black Rose territory and quite dangerous, especially come nightfall. For your own sake and to avoid any legal issues if something happens, I would ask that you please leave Sakuramori,” Izayuki continued politely, hoping that the guild master of Crystal Swan would be receptive to the request. She did not want a former guildmate hurt, nor did she want him to discover the actual danger of Sakuramori besides the obvious assumption-- wild monsters. Additionally, a small part of her feared he would find a way to remove her dark matter ‘blood’ from the interconnected web of the magical cherry blossoms, thus forcing her out of the life she currently found comfort in. Perhaps it was selfish, or perhaps it was not a fear in her mind but a fear in the mind of the forest the forest. Either way, it was a present thought in the ayakashi’s mind that drove her actions and words.



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Polite and graceful, she had simply swung down so simply before greeting him. Izayuki, Iza, he preferred the former first. At first she seemed quite happy to converse, offering a less formal name for him to use, mentioning the slightly more magical roots. It was then with a smile that she asked him to leave, a surprise indeed as the request was odd. During his time in the guild nobody had worried about the public going into the forest as long as they meant no harm. Most members either hadn't cared about the forest or had a mentality of 'why shouldn't we share it'  after all it was a truly wonderful place and it wasn't like there was a secret base inside. It was merely a forest. Citing reasons of avoiding legal issues and his safety she requested his immediate departure, it came oddly. For she knew full well that although he wasn't classed as H rank just yet the male had made his way up to the S classes. Legal wise if he damaged anything the male would be happy to repair it and pay a fine however, well what was she going to do, take legal action against a minor? It would have brought amusement to his face under other circumstances yet now it only left concern in his mind, why would she ask him to leave, after all there wasn't a big event on nor was he likely to damage anything. He let one emotion paint his face, surprise drawing his eyes wide before they settled into a questioning expression. "Is there a problem? Its hardly nightfall, I can take care of myself as well, Izayuki the forest is sick and it can hardly be good for the people in the area. I understand that you want to protect citizens but if you just hide the problem instead of fixing it the situation will only get worse. Please will you just let me help, I can do something." Pleading eyes urged her to reconsider, he had only come across the forest by chance, wandering down a lane of memories which lead him to the dark trunks of the forest, a feast for the eyes with its shades of pink, the soft hues scattered across the sky and the ground as if one were walking in a Colosseum with trunks for pillars it was a wondrous place.

Yet the unnerving feeling within was caused by something, he could sense the unsettled nature of the roots, in the base of their mind it was there, the subconscious feeling of nature being off balance that wasn't something you could control or hide. He could see it, he could feel how the forest had been tainted, yet accepted the taint readily as if it had a thirst for power regardless of how it acquired the power. Like some sort of child this forest had probably made a grasp for power yet not realised the consequences that would follow, he couldn't just stand by and what it corrode itself away. Such a beautiful place had to be protected even if those who loved it most wouldn't.

He would not, the slayer would not be able to just stand by, wander away from the forest and forget about its problem. If he left now the man would only leave then return later, likely at early hours of the morning, woken up by thoughts and stresses caused by the deep hues of the trunk and the soft warmth of its petals. In his mind it was best not to lie, he couldn't just tell the other guildmaster that he was leaving, then he would only return later, that would be worse. Leaving now only to return later and lie his way through it. He couldn't help like that, no he just had to convince her that the forest needed help and he could provide it, he needed to show or explain that he meant no harm and him having access to the place would be nothing but beneficial. "Izayuki I was living on a farm for the first part of my childhood caring for wildlife and plants there, then I went to live with my grandparents and apprentice in botany, I learnt how to grow trees in the bonsai fashion and helped set up community orchids of trees. All over the Crystalli are parks, forests and places just rich with nature and life flourishing I can tend to the forest, I can renew life here." She should be convinced, unless there was another reason why she didn't want him coming in.

It was obvious that the young man had no intention of turning around and leaving. The legal action she had mentioned was more about liability. Theoretically, if anything happened to him, it could lead to their insurance going up, and that would be a pain. However, the truth of the matter was that if anything happened, there would likely be no proof of the young mage left, his life force, blood, spirit, and magic consumed by the forest ultimately and whatever remained hastily disposed of. Of course, she could expect his stubbornness from any young human his age, especially one in a position of power and prestige. Either way, it was rather irritating to deal with. The bakedanuki’s temptation was to still refuse him until he further justified why he wanted to help. She did not want him getting hurt nor did she want him discovering the truth of the forest’s carnivorous nature or the nerium sickness it had consumed from her.

Another part of the ayakashi, however, encouraged her to allow the boy to go further into the depths of the forest. If anything, the forest likely wanted him there quicker, potentially seeing his intuition and powers as a threat. Attempting to shake off the horrible ideas and the thought of the reality of what would happen if Sakuramori caught him, Izayuki quickly conjured up a few brief conditions that would hopefully appease him and keep him safe, while ensuring he was gone before too long. Breathing out a sigh and crossing her arms, the yokai appeared as if she were giving into his request. “You can investigate what’s going on in Sakuramori and try to help on a few conditions,” she said, still polite but much more serious than before. “The first is that you have to leave by nightfall. I’m not sure if you remember from during your time in Black Rose, but Sakuramori is haunted by Shades-- corrupt Hansha, sometimes called Reflections. I know you might be able to defend yourself, but if something does go wrong I don’t want the liability or blood of another guild master on Black Rose territory,” the guild master stated evenly. The Hansha were well known among the Black Rose members who were familiar with the Kiyoshi, or Spirit Trial. Sakuramori often housed ‘reflections’ of the souls of humans. Many often came to the forest to seek out these spiritual guides and undergo the tests of the forest, but the chances of success were not as high as the yokai would have liked them to be. The corrupted Hansha were known to attack or manipulate people and generally came out at night. Izayuki herself had few negative encounters with them, but the Shades did not attack pieces of the forest.

“The second condition is, you’re forbidden to travel to the heart or center of the forest. You’ll know you’re getting close to the center when the cherry blossom petals are crimson in color. The Shades are heavily concentrated there and it’s a place even the Black Rose members avoid. Understood?” the bakedanuki asked. She was telling what was mostly the truth. While the Shades indeed were concentrated there and she and good Hansha dissuaded guild members or anyone from going too far in, that was not the real reason she wanted Lester to avoid the center. The actual heart of the forest which used to display sickly pale white petals among its grove had been dyed black from her own life force having been taken and unable to be fully absorbed and ‘digested’. The leaves were crimson for a decent while until the actual core grove of the elder trees displayed onyx hued petals. “The final condition is that I’m to remain with you for three reasons: to ensure your safety, to learn about this ‘sickness’ you claim Sakuramori has, and to ensure you don’t break the conditions~” the ayakashi concluded, the latter reason said with a more lighthearted and joking voice, more akin to her usual perky nature when around others. It was not as sincere as she would like it to have been, but for once she did not wish to come off as rude or demeaning to the guild master of an allied guild. “Do you accept those terms?” she asked with a smile, alabaster-furred tail flicking behind her. "And do you have anymore questions about the forest?"



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A huff, one similar to that a mother gave when her children came home muddy. With a crossing of the arms and a stern look he was glad to hear conditions, a compromise of the two minds that would allow them to coexist in this forest for the duration of his stay. Short- as he would have to depart by nightfall. A smooth nod of the head indicated his agreement, the shades were stories from his time here that he remembered. Horrific spirits who reflected the souls of those they came across,the corruption of the shades who came out at night, attacking all those who came across unguarded people, taking the form of small animals sometimes and leading unsuspecting humans into traps only to be surrounded and slaughtered like cattle. "That seems fair, I remember the stories, and I wouldn't want to put Black Rose in an, awkward, situation if anything were to happen." yes he could accept that, such a condition was easily fulfilled and if there was anything major it was likely he could just return when the sun rose once more. Yet his ears remained perked, for the tailed woman had specified three conditions, a rather common number wasn't it. Many things came in sets of threes, the second was unsettling, forbidden to travel to the heart. She spoke the word centre after it as if to clarify yet his mind lingered on the word heart. The user of it was odd, as if she were speaking about a creature, while the forest was alive to some extent it hardly had organs, normal forests didn't have organs. The blossoms slow change from a soft white pink to that of a blood clotting crimson, with each step towards the red petals he would be closer to the concentrated shades, closer to the depth of the forest where few stood and the world was most silent yet further away from keeping to his agreement. A slight pain was felt within, as if he were missing out on an opportunity as the male nodded slightly, he could figure it out, solve the problem without going into the heart.  

She would remain with him at all times, oh yippee a babysitter! A smile graced his face as the youth nodded. To keep him safe, learn what she could and to keep an eye on him. The last part was said more jokingly yet there was a truth to it. "I agree to them all, shall we be off?" With a smooth motion he offered his arm to the woman, the chocolate milk sweet smile and kind face was that of a gentleman. When she so agreed to take his arm Lester moved forward at a slow pace, wandering the forests path happily just feeling the area. Sensing changes in the forest and feeling how it felt, feeling the deep locked away part of the plant. As he started idle conversation, "I haven't been back here in a while. How has Black Rose been?" Hopefully it would put her at ease a little, the guild master seemed tense, not just from being on his arm but perhaps from how he had talked his way into her sacred space. Casual conversation would not harm either of them either, he hadn't met her properly before so it was pleasant to spend some time with his ex-guild master now that Crystal Swan and Black Rose were in an alliance although a bit informal. Maybe she had some information that they could share if they were a little more comfortable around each other. Yet both in body language and in magical presence she was locked away, unable to read her it left him feeling a little unsure, unsteady about how to proceed and thus had started 'mild conversation with Lester Drynedi'

They were going at a slow pace, it left him occasionally reach down or across to free a leaf from a bud that was eating it or pick up a petal or bud which seemed to be unnaturally pale. Like a limb that had been amputated there were some that lacked blood. That lacked a connection to the heart. He had noticed it, the slight changes in colour across different petals worried him, there were streaks of white, trees which had been fully affected all clustered together as if overcome by a plague. The colour growing more vibrant and stronger when they wandered closer to the centre he could feel that same nagging pain deep within growing ever so stronger. Just slightly with every step it slowly built up, as if there had been a spill of toxins in that direction. When there was a fork in the path or a wide open area with a choice to go he had let Izayuki guide them. She knew the forest best after all yet each time she chose the direction away from the centre. Yet he had agreed, they had reached a compromise of him being in the forest, if there was no way to get closer then perhaps he could just figure it out without moving closer to the heart.

Underneath the canopies of Sakuramori, there was little undergrowth that could be deemed to troublesome to pass through. Unlike an ugly and overgrown forest, bursting with bramble, bushes, and thistles, the cherry blossom forest floor was mostly clear with only tall grasses, ferns, and flowers at most. Plenty of paths had been created by animals and hansha, which created a winding maze around the forest terrain.

Izayuki was glad to see Lester accept her terms and conditions, deeming them as fair and agreeing with their purpose, or at least the purpose she had laid out for him. While she hid the intentions she found most important, the other ones were true and accurate. As a result, it was not a complete lie, but the better side of the yokai did at least comprehend that not giving the entirety of the truth was still, in fact, a fib. In a silky smooth motion, the man extended his arm to offer her to walk with him. The bakedanuki had not seen such a polite mannerism from anyone, save for her late husband, Elyx. The brunette had always been one for formality and fortunately he was not the only one. The guild master accepted the taller man’s arm and casually walked with him. Down the paths they went and from there, Lester attempted to make small talk. It was not unwelcome and certainly could assist in breaking the ice. “Black Rose has been fine. We recovered after an attack on our guildhall and have seen no incidents since,” the wizard saint replied, recalling Astrid attacking Silver Moon Inn almost a year before. Fortunately, the former Golden Phoenix mage had come around and apologized, paid for the damages, and even joined Black Rose. “How has Crystal Swan been? If you don’t mind my asking, what happened to Desiree?”

The change in guild ownership had been so subtle, to the point there was no big announcement or news that Izayuki could remember. Desiree had been an ace in Black Rose but after having been captured by Fluffy and tortured, went on to make a guild all her own. She had left the tanuki a long and apologetic letter, as well as a key meant to summon the woman. However, the bakedanuki was not about to just go and use the key out of curiosity or to try and understand what had happened. If Desiree had left Crystal Swan, the guild of her creation, surely there had to have been a good reason. She only hoped that Lester would know and would be willing to share.

As more forks in the road came up, Izayuki would direct them away from the center of the forest. They were in the southern fringes of Sakuramori, so if she could, she planned to simply take him in a full circle in the woods while skirting the heart of the forest. Surely nightfall would come before they finished the loop and Lester would be sent off safely, before the cherry blossoms starting making louder demands on his life. For now, he was a mere curiosity and only a likely candidate to feed the forest, but the trees had confirmed nothing yet. While talking to Lester, she could overhear their gossip and chatter among one another. The duo were certainly a big subject in the discussions, as the sakura trees mused on why the bakedanuki, one of them, was leading the young snowy-haired man around. As expected, the magical plants assumed it was for an upcoming meal, and she was leading him around to get him tired or taking him to the center. For as long as she could, Izayuki hoped to allow the blossoms to believe that ruse, while intending to later play it off as if he ‘escaped’ her before any demands were made on his life. It would be the smoother course of action, after all. Of course, there was the nagging sensation in screaming in the back of her mind and aching through her body that she was to lure him deeper into the forest, but such an instinct was but a mere nuisance for now, and something she could ignore by focusing on the small talk and figuring out the easiest ways to lead him out of harm’s way. Another fork in the road-- one led to crimson petals and bloody trees, while the other led to continued light white leaves.



[736 | 3,074]

That was a blessing, to hear that Black Rose had recovered smoothly from that entire, incident which had occurred prior. Really he hadn't been involved in it much but the entire thing seemed a little messy, those involved did not come out of the ordeal without mental scarring for sure yet that had also been the start of the guild. A guild which was now his, the guild had not exactly been well known in its time. While it had flew through the skies above many guildhalls and was one of the larger guilds that was all it was known for. They had a brief trade agreement with the West Fiore Trading Company and a small meeting with Lamia Scale yet that was all, they were reclusive and reserved. Which was for some, yet that solitude was starting to bite at his heels and howl for more, he needed information, to be in the loop of it all with his fingers tapped into a web of information ready to listen in to whatever came up. It would be rude to keep a lady waiting after she had asked questions so politely. "We are doing well, although there was an amusing little event recently. We had flown up to one of the sky islands, both citizens and guild members disembarking the painters went off to paint, children went to explore and the guild went on a little picnic. Well that was until some of us had fallen into a cave system and found ourselves in the nest of some type of giant pigeon bird. It wasn't anything major just.. a sweet memory of time spent with friends." They had many of those, and many more that were less sweet.

She questioned the change in leadership, who didn't. Even he had been unsure of it all since everything just happened sporadically. "Desiree had to go home, apparently there was something wrong in the crystal realm. She left in a sudden flurry, but its not too bad. Our ships captain takes care of day to day things. My team mates Rin Mayou and Theo Silversong are also there to help." he mused softly to himself at the duos support, they were two people that he didn't appreciate enough. It was likely that Izayuki had heard of them, having both been rising stars even if their faces weren't recognisable to all the names had been on enough media for children to point out the pink haired girl and the boy with the good butt. He had hoped there would be another candidate for ace. Should he need to move or or just to help out it would be good to get diversity, they needed someone to care for the guild when the entire squad went out on a mission together after all. Yes he would have to keep an eye out, perhaps it was time to get a mentee and teach them all he knew? He could guide them, set them on a path that was right and lead them towards a life that they could be proud of. Yet how could he do that when he didn't even do it himself, was he proud of who he was? Certainly not, the boy could hardly accept himself never mind guide another in life. Taking on a younger mage to guide and teach would only result in another child being broken and torn inside.

The idle conversation had been lovely, a sense of relaxation passing over him and likely the woman as well with the wind softly flowing through the area it was pleasant to view the blossoms as they slowly shimmered and moved, every so often a few would be drawn loose and blow around until they got caught on a surface, sitting there quivering until the wind died down their tender petals so white. he had been drawn off topic, speaking and thinking too much about the past it had rendered him idle in his mind. Eyes flickered, he could sense the edge of the forest being closer than he would have liked, the acidic bile in the back of his throat the warning of the darkness in the area had subsided and that feeling of shadows had lessened. A slight murmur of sound came from him, a compliment to the beauty of the place as he lead them carefully down a path towards the 'heart' of the forest. Each tree they passed had a darker trunk than the one before it as if an ashen cloak was growing only darker. The blooms now pink, their hues still soft and pastel yet with a more noticeable vibrant than the petals they were passing before. He let them stroll in silence, putting out tendrils of his magic to explore and search the area, canvassing all there was.

The bakedanuki grinned and gave a small chuckle at the story that Lester had to tell regarding Crystal Swan. The guild Desiree had designed and created seemed far more carefree and lighthearted than the atmosphere of Black Rose. The guild of the ayakashi hosted more secrets and fought bigger and deeper issues. In a way, the guild master envied the peaceable goals of the guild of crystals, but knew that the task of the guild of roses was important, and who would do it if not them? “That’s quite a memory to make,” Izayuki responded with a smile, before the other guild master went on to talk about his predecessor and answer her questions.

It was a good thing that she had not randomly summoned Desiree to check on her, seeing as there had indeed been a much graver issue at hand. The bakedanuki could not help wonder if the situation had been anything like the one where Astrid had been told to relinquish her mastery of Golden Phoenix by her birthmother. Family issues seemed to have quite a say in how mages could choose to live their lives. It could have been something different, but the fact that Desiree had been forced to return home struck the bakedanuki as curious, having remembered Violet forcing Astrid to return home until Izayuki stepped in. Well, no matter. From how it sounded, Lester had everything under control and the help of some good individuals, much like Izayuki had at the time she took control of Black Rose when Kakuma disappeared. “I see. That’s too bad, but I’m glad to hear that you and your team have everything taken care of,” she noted empathetically while they continued to stroll through the tranquil woods.

The casual chit chat had brought Izayuki to the point of lowering her guard. She had become relaxed, and as a result had subconsciously allowed Lester to lead them through the forest. The realization struck as the bakedanuki recognized magic floating out of him, as if searching. Any mage worth their craft could sense magic in use and Lester had not used much since they had begun walking, so the change was noticeable. The tendrils searching the area and a keen florist’s eyes observing the region, Izayuki decided it was time to put them back on course. A different temptation pummeled her mind to keep Lester on the course where he was heading, but the yokai easily recognized it as the lure of the forest, desiring to catch him in its trap. He was easy prey to Sakuramori, already being one who loved the magical plants so much.

Up ahead was a tree of crimson, the petals of its blossoms dyed a color that could no longer be considered pink by any means. Hand holding onto Lester’s gentlemanly arm, her grip tightened as she stopped in her tracks, hoping to stop him with her. “This is as far as we go. Let’s change our path,” she said, her gaze no longer as soft but far more serious and mildly grim than before. Clawed hand still firmly but gently gripping him, she attempted to change their direction and go back down the path they had come from. At another fork, she planned they would continue their loop, but there was no way she would allow him to cut through the heart of Sakuramori. The closer she got to the heart, the voices of the cherry blossoms became louder, and the influence the forest had over her grew stronger. Any further and she could not acutely control every action or thought of hers, operating in the best interests of Sakuramori rather than her former guildmate. Whatever the case, she hoped he would oblige and turn around, as he had agreed to when she mentioned her conditions for allowing him to venture into her territory.



[643 | 4,410]

The sunset hues had changed, their depending red becoming rich and slowly one of blood, the red of rich politicians who thought themselves better than the rest. The deep red of a carpet or drapes furnishing a lavish household the red only got deeper, to that of a stained wood, then a wound crusted over after battle the hue so deep and rich in meaning and memory that it seeped to sap away the colour of all surroundings like some kind of signal in the darkness that was a become from it. Calling out he just yearned inside to go, to feel it, to sense it and understand it, investigate and learn and gather knowledge on this tree which was of the deepest red. Yet she held him back, her hair so much lighter than the tree which was so closer her grip only tightened against his arm as he strained, deeply wishing just thinking, his mind in a state of deep compassion it dreamt of this tree its only thoughts were of getting to it yet the bakedanuki was his anchor to the forest of white and pastel pinks. Was it as far as he went? He had just said he wouldn't go to the heart, yet this wasn't the heart was it. Just the rib cage. Yes he could take a few steps more, he could edge closer and gain his way into this sullied forbidden territory. With the arm gripping his the mage drew back for a second, stepping closer to the woman his shoulders relaxed, submission painted his body language for just a few moments long enough. A brief word, the mutter of a sorry passed through his lips as the male tugged away, his arm snaking out smoothly as with a few deer like leaps he had come to the tree.

It was the first one that he saw, a rich red amongst soft pinks his hands ran across the darkened trunk caressing each shape its bark formed. He could sense it, this tree was closer, it was more ill the sickness had been implanted in this one stronger. Its branches spread out like the hive mind of darkness, its blossoms were a bath of blood and a feast for the eyes their colour was impeccable and those that had bloomed looked much like harsh wounds against a dying body when stared up at against the sky. He could feel it, there was a doorway in here if only he could push it open. If only he could press on and be able to understand this surely, surely there was a way to do that. Cheek rested against the bark as smooth strands of his magic extended, dancing around they frolicked the area surrounding the tree. Sliding and slipping into they keyhole shape he looked further, seeking answered that were hidden within the crisp redness. It came as a flood, the power first it simply overwhelmed him rendering the man speechless for a few moments just stunned as he could feel the depths of the darkness, a shadow opened. Yet somehow the darkness felt red, it felt pink. The figure of evil beckoning him forward in his mind Lester just extended a hand of his energy, grasping forward at the information he so deeply wished for the mage was mentally dragged to a place that was no reality. A greeting from the forest he was on the steps of the courtyard not even in their home, a figure, humanoid yet it blossomed with tiny buds across its limbs of wood. He was deep within the mind, away from his own body just staring at this embodiment of the forest.

Perhaps he could get a few moments before being dragged away, a few moments of communication and contact with the patient before Izayuki or something else would fling him back to reality. 'You're the forest right, what I've been sensing you're Sakuramori. But your sick. What is this. Show me. How me how your sick!' a sad look only crossed the illusions eyes as he reached out, a hand like branch extended itself to be placed across his forehead as a brief memory was shared. Bits and pieces, just arrangements much of it engulfed in a sickly black from whatever was plaguing this forest. That he would soon find out. The forest had attacked Izayuki, for a treachery that she had committed it had taken on the task of revenge, seeking out her blood as a replacement. Yet what it got what only darkness, and whilst the ill mind of the forest only adored this new euphoric state, deep within the spirit of the forest understood there must be balance, and that balance had gone the moment the tailed guildmasters blood had been spilled and absorbed. For there was not only the blood of the Izayuki but the curses and darkness within her blood that now inhabited the forest. She was the reason, and she was now part of this forest, this forest had its thorns in her, this carnivorous twisting root system had control of one of the most powerful guild masters.

When the resistance as he tried to pull from her grip stopped, the ayakashi relaxed and expected him to turn around and leave with her. Unfortunately, it had all been a ruse to completely break away from her. He left with a quick and halfhearted apology and bounded over to the crimson tree, eager to wrap his magic around it and secure knowledge of the root of the problem. Having the idea that his magic related to plants and likely communication with them, it was not a scenario that Izayuki liked at all. Before she could even mentally register what had happened, he was already at the tree, resting against it and seemingly unconscious as his magic snaked around the dark tree. “Idiot,” she breathed in annoyance at witnessing the foolish and disrespectful act.

In retaliation, the bakedanuki disappeared from where she stood and reappeared next to the other guild master. He seemed almost completely unconscious, but still breathing. Had the tree stolen away his mind or soul? Examining the tree herself, the yokai witnessed no evidence of it having consumed anything. Usually directly after stealing some form of life force, the petals would change in color or texture. From what she deducted, whatever happened was the result of his own magic and not a lone cherry blossom tree taking the chance to consume him. Clenching her teeth in frustration at his sheer stubborn rebellion, Izayuki attempted to shove him off of the tree before grabbing an arm to try and drag him a good distance from the crimson sakura. When he finally came to, she was going to demand he leave Sakuramori for good and escort him to its border herself. If he refused, she would simply drag him there, and if he put up too much of a fight, she would knock him out and take him to the nearby village. Whatever she could do to make him leave the forest in one piece.

As she had begun to pull him away from the cherry blossom tree, however, the whisperings from the other sakura trees began to sound in the air. They claimed he ‘saw’ something, but as expected, kept the full truth of the matter and the big picture away from the captive yokai. The magical plants explained that the elder trees near the heart had demanded he be detained and brought to their grove specifically. Pale eyes widened in shock and horror at the realization of the command, which was exactly what she had feared would come to pass-- all thanks to his foolishness and refusal to listen to her no less. The first attempt of the ayakashi was to continue dragging him away from the crimson tree and the heart, but upon mentally defying the will of Sakuramori, Izayuki felt a dose of pain shoot through her. It felt like a roaring and pounding in her head mixed with fire in her veins. Her intentions had been realized and she was not about to get away so easily. There would be no reasoning with them either; this was precisely what had happened last time. She had tried to rescue some unfortunate souls, the forest had tried to trust her with their punishment, and she had failed. As a result, the woods had attacked her in place of the ones she had guided out of the maze of sakura trees.

To additionally combat her desire to rescue him from the unfortunate fate, the will of Sakuramori dropped in subtle promises and reminded her of the reward for submitting. Lester would indeed be a promising meal, not only for the forest, but for the bakedanuki who was connected to the forest and craved blood. She attempted to fight the urges she morally knew were wrong in the eyes of humans and civilization, but the influence the cherry blossom forest had over her mind proved to be much stronger. Without realizing it while she was fighting the grasp on her mind, one of her magical spells had already activated and was binding the snowy-haired man with onyx-black vines. Being a plant mage, he likely could easily escape, but that was besides the point. The effects of the vines could potentially leave him nauseous, dizzy, and with blurry vision. Subconsciously, the yokai bent down to pick up his temporarily unconscious body and begin carrying him towards the heart of the forest. He was a little larger than her, but her strength rivaled that of many, her physicality being of much better use than her magic when it came to fighting.

The instant he started moving, however, the bakedanuki would drop him out of being startled and beginning to truly realize what she was doing. She was carrying a former guildmate and ally to his death which she would be indirectly responsible for. All the young man wanted to do was heal the forest and share his passion and kindness, while here she was, plotting his demise in the back of her mind with the many whisperings of other trees, eager to dig their roots into his soul and body. Once he came to and had been dropped, the nerium vines loose enough for him to wiggle out of, Izayuki would only give one last word of her own will, any other words in opposition of Sakuramori being impossible. “Leave.”




[891 | 5,301]

His brain was fuzzy, so much knowledge had poured in and he scarcely had a single idea of what to do with it. Izayuki being the source of the problem she was also part of the forest, this forest normally just had a mild tendency to be carnivorous yet now with the blood it was so much more than normal. And, gods, she was part of it. Iza had become part of the forest, just another finger or thumb that it could move in an effort to gather more food. Was that why she had warned him off at first, for fear that if he didn't leave the forest would be having Lester Drynedi soup for dinner. Yet he was still not in his body, no there was that embodiment of that forest before him just standing there, a slight smile playing across its oddity of a mouth. 'Send me back, or guide me back but I need to return, please. brows drew together as concern patterned his face, the humanoid tree like figure simply pointed up, as if the sky held all the answers yet it was just emptiness, a voice of nothing as gases fought each other of who would sit at the bottom. As gases fought themselves to see who was lightest, that was it. Feeling light was something one could do without being light, yet reducing ones mass would have been an easier time than lightening his brain. Complete calm, no thoughts about past failures or the demons sitting on his shoulders cackling about the darkness within. They all had to go, he needed to feel empty, light and he needed to understand himself.

There was something odd upon returning, the heavy blanket of drowsiness across his eyes and the faint feeling of being nauseated deep within the stomach were the first things which came to his senses upon returning. It was spun around him, something was binding him together around arms, and legs both it was, restrictive. Bleary eyes blinked open, the watermelon hue much kinder than the dagger red which surrounded him as he stared towards the canopy for a moment in time. He was being carried, a rope like plant wrapped around him and- yes that was, Izayuki was the one carrying him. Quiet and full of pain he grunted slightly as his limp body was harshly dropped. The vines around him relinquished their grasp, each thorn which had slashed his skin was retreating back into the vine while the black vine itself was slowly releasing him coiling further and further undone. Wintery his hair broke free of its ribbon, a blizzard of it forming around his shoulders as the male rolled to his feet in confusion, a moment spent looking at the bakedanuki his face glimmering with regret and sadness. She simply told him to leave, the one word holding enough weight along with the knowledge he held of her being part of it. Part of this, the entire forest. He could leave, there was still a chance to leave the forest, he could figure something out and return later with supplies to aid her,

"I will return, I can help you." Dipping slightly his head bobbed in thanks as the last of the vines fell to the ground, the brief moment for communication enough to steady his senses after the effects of the thorns. The ground passed under his feet, attire today was simple right, ha ha, yea. Simple, a button up shirt and some pants. Not bad for fleeing in. The petals here were so dark in colour a bloodied fingerprint would have held great contrast, and unlike their entry to the forest which had seemed to be forever white petals the journey out of the forest seemed rather more hellish, so much distance he kept a median pace about him. Yet the trees had their sights on him, the elders wished to feast upon the florists flesh and blood, this was still their forest and he was still well within their cunning grasp. Head ducking as arms raised to wack away any targets that were coming the mage dodged slightly to advice a nearby flying memento of this place. Yet it was the roots that won this time, they had tripped up the next dinner, He needed to get up lest they grow further around his body, yet it was so enticing to just lay down and now the vines had locked around his ankles there was not a reason to leave right?

Remember the vision, that of people being drained of blood and reduced to husks while in here, no he had to get up. Kicking sharply the vines had been disrupted enough for him to leave. Leaves from the ground still clung to his hands from where he had scrambled to his feet, the trunks now a blur as he let himself cascade through the forest, fleeing with a speed that was unknown to many yet the blossoms, they hardly showed a colour change, maybe he should have waited, waited for someone more familiar with the area to guide him

The leaves nearby were onyx black in color, or deep shades of blood red as she brought Lester to the heart of the forest, only to snap out of what she was doing and drop the youth before she could venture any further to the dangerous core of Sakuramori. Shades were not the main concern; it was the actual forest making its move to attack the other guild master, desiring to feed on his blood, magic, and soul. Her expression contained regret and guilt as she dropped him to the forest floor. He said he would return to help, either the forest or the yokai, but such a choice would be foolish. Sakuramori had him pegged out as prey and that fact would not change, even if he escaped. For once, Lester had listened to her words and began to run towards the edge of the forest, hopefully leaving.

The tanuki breathed out a sigh of relief at first, watching him free himself from the loosened nerium vines and begin to run. Unfortunately, the relief was short lived as another dose of pain rushed through her veins and head, causing Izayuki to stumble and fall to the dark forest floor. Clawed hands were brought up to steady her pounding head, but the yokai found no comfort in doing so. The anger of Sakuramori for colliding with its will was deafening and the influences the forest were pushing were far stronger than ever before. The life energy of the forest felt like fire in her veins and the thoughts and emotions of the cherry blossoms crowded out her own judgement and feelings. Like a puppet to its intentions, the bakedanuki focused her pale eyes on the abandoned nerium binds, recoiled thorns still coated in trace amounts of human blood. Sakuramori was making the signs clear, it wanted the blood of that human, and it was going to get the unwilling ayakashi to fetch it.

No longer containing her own rationality and thoughts, the bakedanuki laid witness to the root tripping and grabbing the unfortunate young man who had finally decided to adhere to the yokai’s wishes. He was running, but now she was going to force him to remain, fully under the influence of the forest. He freed himself from the root that had grasped onto his leg and proceeded to break into another blurred run, but the yokai had different plants. Targeting the space he would run through, Izayuki initiated more nerium vines to break through and rise up from the ground where he was. The vines were much more aggressive this time, with large thorns and white oleander flowers blossoming on their stalks. With great speed, the vines aimed to entangle the snowy-haired boy and secure him in its poisonous snare. If the thorns pierced flesh and drew blood, the petals of the oleander flowers would begin to turn a dark shade of crimson. The fragrance of the flowers was sickeningly sweet and toxic. The magic of those who smelled their sickly aroma would find their magic slowly depleted and the expected symptoms of dizziness, nausea, vertigo, and blurry vision. The fragrance would also make their movements far slower and lethargic.

If he was caught in the grim garden’s embrace, the bakedanuki would begin to move towards him, ensuring that the vines had him secured almost to the point of bone breaking, but without doing that type of damage-- at least, not yet. Her expression had changed from concerned and guilty to a stoic and apathetic emotion, as if she were focused on completing a mission. She had no reason to speak to him. The forest of Sakuramori forbid the verbal communication too, at least for now. She wanted him helpless and in a condition where she could drag him back to the heart of the forest, where the elder trees would be the ones to rip him apart and leave him a lifeless husk.




[657 | 5,958]

She was coming, he had felt it, sensed it rather in his mind the layout of the area had appeared clearly whilst he ran. She had fallen, drawn to the forests floor by roots and vines so similar to the ones she had sent after him, entangled and circled she was merely prey to this forest, a small creature to do its bidding until her time was up, and she was the reason why the forest was like this. There was no soft expressions now, no masks of sorrow or joy, pity or simple delight at a casual conversation between two mages who might've let a friendship grow. There was no surprise to him when the vines burst forth, they were odd in a way, looking exactly like vines even with buds across it ready to blood. He could only partially sense it as if the vine was not truly a plant. At least he had that mild warning though, the brief moments that he could feel the vines movements, its motions as it surged up to greet him. He had grasped it at first, two hands just holding it back as a spell came to mind, from those hands a shield grew, bark like the shield exploded out from the torn hands to surround the vines, catching it in a net of sorts he took the brief moment of rest to step back, pushing up one of the flowers from the ground, "ovo whats this?" It had fallen from the plant, blooming right after the thorns had bit into his hands, and now being cupped in those same hands which had not healed over this little flower, torn away from its stem was still alive and vibrantly feeding off the blood that came into contact with the surface. The small bag at his side was opened, a squeeze of the hand leaving it with some food he had simply dropped it in, leaving the flower in the solitude of the pouch. He had been so close to the heart, he had felt it, yet now he stood where the petals were still red but more like that of a summers burn upon the skin. He could see where it  hanged to pink in the distance, the further he got from the centre the less powerful the trees were, if so he just needed to evade, there would be no use hiding in this place.

She would not stop coming after him though, there was a limit to how much he could just run as well. No cravats or fancy glasses would help him here, there were no animals at his side ready to heal or attack for mew was of exploring the world with Theo and Val he had left back at the inn, like some sort of teenager the sloth had spent most of their trip sleeping in his room. This was not what he had expected, heavens forbid his activities in the forest were more complicated than the business he had taken care of earlier, and that had been about human experimentation! The problem here was Izayuki, the tailed woman was feeding the forest, keeping it sick with her own blood. Which meant that she had to be staying strong in some way, her regeneration was faster than the strength which she was giving to the heart of this wretched place. He had noticed the trees in the area feeling stronger, the symptoms of their pain gaining in strength when the yokai had fallen to the ground and been fed on by the thorns and roots. So in its thirst for him the forest had taken her blood. It was likely to do so again should it need blood and could not get his soon enough.

Perhaps she would just have the strength to break out of it, yet that mattered not for even a powerful mage would still have to take a moment to realise what was happening and then deal with it. Cuppediae privavit started as he felt a deep sense grow within him, it was an insationable thirst for sugar. He needed the sweetness upon his mouth, yet this craving could not overtake him, from deep within a pheromone burst out, spreading through the area but would affect the forest, and Izayuki. Short immobilisation, it could be broken free of yet there was also the halting of regeneration, maybe that would stop the forest from seeking her blood again, either that or next time it would bleed her dry. If she died or went in a state of near death then it might solve the problem. Nevermind, that would only cause more problems for the mage who was fleeing through the forest.

The grim garden she had created was briskly refuted by the other guild master’s own plant magic. A mesh of bark had sprouted from a spell and kept the vines from entangling the man. In a quick moment of rest, Izayuki observed him take one of the oleander blossoms and tuck it into a pouch. For research, perhaps? Had she been in her right mind, the tanuki would have been happy to allow someone to research and perhaps get to the bottom of the mystery of the nerium plants. Unfortunately, her current mind only viewed it as a threat, but took the opportunity he made upon pausing to draw closer to his vicinity.

It was only heartbeats later that the ayakashi noticed a burst of magic had immobilized her and the surrounding space. The whispers of the trees died down and the shouts and jeers of the blossoms ultimately quieted. In retaliation and fortunate awareness, Izayuki countered the freezing ability with a mix of her own magic to keep the enemy effect from influencing her. Despite the sounds being far quieter, the yokai’s mind was still governed by the ravenous forest which was eager to get its roots on Lester. Now that it had been frozen temporarily, only Izayuki was left to complete its task for the time being. “You wanted to see the heart of Sakuramori, didn’t you?” she offered, a sincere and kind grin on her face as she stepped closer towards the snowy-haired man. The one good thing about the forest being immobilized was that she at least had the power to speak once again, even if her mind was now pointed in the direction of the intention of the woods.

Utilizing some of her own magic from the oleander infection within her blood, the bakedanuki released a haze of black “pollen” over their vicinity. The pollen carried a ‘sample sickness’ that would mimic the effects of the illness the hell demons within her caused, if only a little worse. Exposure to the pollen would cause anyone to begin bleeding out from both open wounds and even some unscathed skin, their life force dyed a nasty black from the demonic oleander magic. The intention of the spell was to cause distracting pain while the infection would continue to chew away at their magical power. The infected blood could feed the forest and hopefully cause enough blood loss to get the young man to pass out, making him easier to carry to the core of Sakuramori. Not only that, but the black blood would be infused with her own magic to a degree to hopefully reawaken the forest. Such an effect was not guaranteed, but was something the yokai at least aimed for.

If the effects of the infectious pollen were enough to distract him, the bakedanuki would attempt to grow more of the threatening and thorny nerium vines from the ground, which would move towards his arms and more importantly, his legs. She had to keep him from running, and if possible, from casting any magic that could jeopardize the forest or assist him in escaping. Additionally, one of the vines would attempt to rip his pouch from him and secure the stolen oleander blossom which rightfully belonged to the stalk. As she used her magic, Izayuki maintained a gentle grin, eager to see the plant and sugar mage successfully ensnared and bled. There was more to come, after all, hopefully without her having to infect his blood when feeding the heart when it came time.




[591 | 6,596]

Perhaps this was a moment for them to converse, she seemed more normal, emotions expressing themselves on her face a more human way of holding herself the bakedanuki seemed to be herself. It was a moment where he let his guard down, hopeful that the magic would have quelled whatever hold the forest had over her mind, returning the kindness and sincerity she had shown him earlier. She offered a question, yet it was more for a statement since she already knew the answer. Yet a cloud drew closer, the black haze falling over the area snaking its way towards him surely there was nothing good about this, he had stood still too long. Attacking her would be the right thing to do, normally he wouldn't dare yet what he did wouldn't main or kill, he wouldn't be able to hurt her badly without some sort of help. With a turn of the foot he lept away, a slight glow formed across his body, a shining golden shield which had already, it stated to crack, the lower class spell starting to flake away against the strength of the shield. He hadn't a clue what it would do, yet this was no plant sperm that was safe to gobble up. It held a certain darkness which haunted him, the feeling was uncomfortable, an uncertainty that told him it wasn't safe. No he had to get away from this swarm, yet the density of it had pooled up at his escape route, where the petals got lighter the pollen made up for it in a great swarming mass as if blockading him and herding him.

Well this was a lovely day out wasn't it lester.

Each crack just widened, the flakes falling away had started to peel off faster as the barrage of pollen did not lessen. The range of the area it affected was large enough to be problematic. He needed a place to teleport that was low in pollen but not too close to her. A flurry of petals rose from the ground, thin and long their soft colours were that of the dawn as they swirled around him for just a split second as he took the chance to teleport a dozen meters away. Spinning around to face her with the movement a flurry of green encased the landscape. Green fronds taking over the land. Ferns, sculpted of pastel green sugar they sprouted vines and blossomed with pastel red flowers, not a harsh stark red like the blood flowers of this forest but soft and sweet. She couldn't avoid it, no mater how high or deep she went, the presence of these vines had started to take their affect, as she would be damaged, with an extra damage over time he had adored designing this spell. Its powers removing the mages magical resistance and increasing the damage they took from magic spells. It was likely to hurt, hopefully just as much if not more than the pollen which was now seeking to cleanse his pores.

The spell had been cast yet it was then that the defence broke, skin strangely pale after being surrounded by a golden glow his throat choked up, an arm twined around a nearby tree trunk for support as the mage spat out a glob of blood, the cuts from earlier widening and deepening, the blood stream becoming steady as his vision blurred. He could feel it, dragging him down and eating away at everything he had. The blood would soon leave his body so he would either bleed out here or get further broken. There was that feeling again, the vines from earlier were moving, if only now. He just needed to deflect them or teleport again, then heal. If he could heal and clot his blood from leaving him any longer than necessary. Yet that still left him with no way out of the forest. He just needed to fix it, heal the forest then perhaps Izayuki would return from this crazed state. There tree he was next to was a support to him, some of the cuts across his arms leaked blood onto the bark, it felt different. For just a moment he left himself relax, to extend his magic into the magic of the tree and feel it, he could sense the darkness that was clouding the tree had been swept away, corralled into a corner and banished from this spot as the cleansing power overwhelmed and outnumbered the dark. With each drop that sounded across his ears the plants in this area, the blossoms were less violent, the poison being flushed away.

It was his blood, each drop that fell from his left a wave of fresh and cleansing material in its wake, purging the traces of the Yokai, the spell she had initially used infused his blood with some of hers, yet the plants within his body had banished and cleansed that too. Her blood hurt the forest, driving it deeper into insanity yet his cleansed it. The predicament he was in seemed to be rather problematic. He needed to spill his own blood at the heart of the forest to save the forest, yet he couldn't just let himself bleed out. Which meant he had to be the one to make the cuts, and the hope that it would work. "You're right, I do want to see the heart, so take me. I'll follow you there, but I need to be conscious, I want to see it with my own eyes and remember it." Then words he called out would surely draw her attention, he himself couldn't last through many more attacks, and there was no fleeing the grounds.

He was indeed a skilled mage, able to react before her attempts could be fully initiated. With speed, he had manifested a golden glow of a shield to combat the pollen. The eldritch infection in the form of pollen begun to make cracks against his shield, but the magic he designed still proved quite useful against the nerium magic. The nerium anomaly, or oleander illness, was a direct impact of the hell demons still residing within the ayakashi. She was unable to get free of them and whenever it came to fight or flight or a need for protection or hunger to hunt, the demons typically triggered more violence than was really necessary. Alongside the dangerous will of the forest, the bakedanuki was also being fueled by the trio of demonic beings contaminating her dark matter body and blood.

More proof of his magical talents came to light as the snowy-haired youth initiated an offensive spell of unique design against her. The bakedanuki had not anticipated the use of sugar in an attack, but whatever the case, the magic in the range of the pale green and pastel red field was both sweet and sour, pushing pain to those caught within. The yokai certainly felt it and raised her barriers of energy to surround her body in an attempt to shield from it. It distracted her momentarily as the other guild master attempted to teleport to safety. The damage continued to chip away at her own defense, but fortunately did not completely tear down or penetrate the tainted air around her. As much as she loathed the sickness, it at least defended her on occasions like this.

Izayuki turned to see the man holding onto a tree trunk to steady himself. He was bleeding more than before from the nerium pollen, which brought an amused smile to the yokai’s face. Snapping her clawed fingers, the slayer attempted to use some of her glacial god killing magic, as opposed to the illness related mystic. The vicinity was quickly coated in a sheet of black ice and frost as she attempted to cancel the effects of the sugary ferns and vines. The effects of the other guild master’s magic battling her own shield was still not the most comfortable experience, with the spell operating in a way where it was constantly dealing damage. Once more, the ayakashi moved towards him in a quick walk with a smug smirk curling her lips. Was he really down for the count so easily after her pollen had made contact with him?

The words he suddenly said took the yokai aback. Eyes widened in mild surprise at first while she retained the same grin from before. She partially expected a trick on his part, for him to once again lower her guard or take a run for it while she was not looking. That, or he would attempt to harm the heart of the forest upon arrival in an attempt to escape. His kind words and small talk had once forced her to lower her guard, but it would not happen a second time. Completely influenced by the forest, the bakedanuki gave a nod of agreement but continued to allow her nerium vines to work their magic, creeping up to his neck to tie around it like a collar, if she were successful. These vines specifically contained no thorns meant for bleeding nor a toxin meant to make him dizzy or nauseous. However, she knew better than to just allow him to walk with her without some form of precaution. If he tried anything, she would grow thorns from the vine collar to tear his neck. “I’m glad to hear it,” she said with a calm smile before leaning in towards him, pale eyes glimmering more menacingly. One of her clawed hands reached down to grab one of his bleeding ones to lead him away towards the heart of Sakuramori. “Follow me, but try anything, and I’ll kill you myself,” she said simply before she began to walk, leading him deeper into the cherry blossom forest.

When the duo would walk deeper into the now eerie woods, the sakura trees would no longer exhibit dark reds and crimsons, but petals of an obsidian shine. Little light pierced through the canopies, but it mattered little, seeing as the sun was likely setting by now. The trees at the center of Sakuramori were larger than life, some of them matching the majesty of a giant redwood tree while still remaining of the serrulata species. Roots tangled and meshed together in the grove, but Izayuki led them through a narrow maze until they reached a small, dark meadow of sorts with short grasses and littered with black cherry blossom petals. Below the meadow floor rested many of the larger elder roots that hosted the more interconnected web of sakura. “Welcome to the heart of Sakuramori~”

If he moved too closely towards the middle, the elder trees likely would attack him instantly with thorns and strong roots from the ground, and vines and razor sharp petals from above. All Izayuki had to do was sit back and watch them consume his blood, spirit energy, and magic if he ventured too close. Anything leftover would be hers if she so desired it. It was not like he was a tanuki or other canine, so the consumption of humans was perfectly fine in her own eyes even if the bulk of human society naturally disagreed with it. Keeping a close eye on him and letting go of his bleeding hand, the bakedanuki leaned against a large root of one of the elders that was half her size. A clawed finger was brought to her face as she proceeded to quickly lick some of the residual human blood from it, finding the taste much to her liking, and quite sweet from the magic of the former Rising Star.




[986 | 7,582]

This was not the woman which he knew, a smile drew bak her lips into a leering grin, that of a demonic expression not one of kindness no this was a smile of pleasure derived from teh grief of others. This situation would have made him curl up in a ball when he was younger, yet now the man had come to accept the truths about many things, one of them being that people were not all what they seemed. Yet as the smile only grew more there was a change in the landscape, his spell vanished under a layer of frost, the blackened chill spreading across the area, she moved with a good pace, striding across the surface as it meant nothing. He wasn't out of the fight, yet it would be better to preserve himself in hopes of fixing it in some manner. The reaction he got was pleasant, a slight change in expression while the unnerving smile remained her eyes flickered wider for just a few brief moments after he spoke. A nod, there it was agreed to some extent. He could go to the heart, there was a slight relaxation that spread across his mind, flowers bloomed in his cuts then withered and fell away, leaving healed marks some of which would later scar. Well that was something, yet he didn't move yet, expecting her to do something yet not that. It had come unexpectedly indeed

A vine growing up crawled across his back, causing a slight shiver as it secured himself snugly around his throat, forcing the males chin up. This of it like a scarf, just harder and not as soft, this one could also sprout thorns which would likely slice his head off. Lovely, thank you for that Izayuki. A slight yelp left his mouth as in a flurry of activity his hand had been swept up by her clawed one, really he would have just followed her anyway. Its not like with the new scarf coiled around his neck he could just wander off without being beheaded. Hey maybe he would die in here! Then haunt this place and all the small children of Black Rose would share stories about the florist in the forest. It brought a little light to his mind yet the mans expression remained sombre with a streak of his inquisitive nature showing by the way his eyes darted around to assess each leafs dark hues. This was the place where some sort of emo satanic cult would gather, dark petals underfoot with the blossom trees towering providing a darkened canopy.

He was released, at least his hand was for the collar still remained around his neck, he did not venture too close to the centre, a dark feeling was in that area yet the male simply wandered around the circle, inspecting each tree for a brief moment. Stopping to peer at their trunks and petals in true wonder until he had worked his way halfway around the circle. Back to the bakedanuki it was time. He could tell the forest was about at his strength, so the spell would work on teh forest but not on Izayuki. Slight the spell was one not of great importance, it simply fortified his skin in an unobtrusive manner, yet everything looked the same, one would not be able to tell simply from peering at his skin. Throughout the walk to this place he had been releasing small amounts of energy to probe the area, now there would be little difference in his magic aura when he cast the spell.

His power had entered the forest, enticed it and let it fall under the illusion that Izayuki was him. In part anyway as now with her having some of his blood inside him it wasn't hard to coordinate it all to happen at once, the roots burst up from below. forming a wall in front of her. It would break within a few hits yet that was what he needed. A pocket watch appearing in his hand it all froze, time stopped for the tree, the entire forest came to a halt with a movement of his body the male stepped into the centre. If Izayuki got to him too fast it was likely the crazed woman would just slaughter him there, no he needed to heal the forest before she broke free of the roots. Then hopefully her returned self could ice over his cuts or something similar. A small knife in his hand, one from his belt which had been carefully placed there in case of muggers. Down the street not across, that was how one walked if they wanted to get hurt right. He bit his lip as the pain spread forth, blood welling from the deep slice as he opened up one arm from inner elbow to wrist. The hand now shook as he did the same to the second. Letting it flood across the roots which were frozen. It was what they wanted right? He just had to make sure that they didn't get too much, he still needed some. A slight muttering left his mouth as the man carefully lowered himself to sit down, something about how the forest should learn to share a little better.

The meadow of dark petals was the home Izayuki had grown most familiar with. A few low hanging branches made good beds for the tanuki, unless she wanted to sleep underneath a root for added security and comfort. She had essentially brought Lester to the part of the forest she saw as precious and dear to her, a place of comfort. Unfortunately, he would likely see it as detestable and a horrible little meadow before the end. She leaned comfortably against the large elder root, watching him with curious pale eyes in the dim light as he scanned and explored the area. He had least knew better than to walk straight into the middle of the meadow, but that too would change soon.

Before Izayuki could say anything or take any further action, however, a series of roots shot up from the ground, forming a barrier between her and the snowy-haired man. She instantly realized that these roots were of the forest, which she could easily recognize as a part of her. Somehow or other, the plant magician was dropping suggestions to Sakuramori to be turned against her. Additionally, it was not hard to consider it was attacking her with suggestion due to the fact that she had consumed some of the other slayer’s blood, even if a residual amount. Time was also immobilized again, but the personal freezing of her own time and mobility was halted by her own flow of magic. Still, this put the forest in yet another predicament. Just what did he plan to do, kill the heart of the forest? The desperation of the forest’s will pounded in her mind, as any loyal guard dog would go berserk for its owner.

Claws flexed and raked a slice through the air, the energy of the magically enhanced slices hitting the roots that had separated her from Lester. It was not enough to destroy them right away, but the ayakashi continued doing so, pained to hurt the forest. At the very least, Sakuramori understood the potential danger it was in despite the freezing of time, and after a few more vicious slashes, the strong ayakashi freed herself from the little root prison Lester had directed around her. Her first instinct was to launch herself towards where she sensed the former Rising Star, but the bakedanuki halted at the sudden smell of the sugary blood. She eyed the snowy-haired man with bleeding arms that he had seemingly slashed himself. The blood poured out over some roots, which quickly piqued the canine’s interest. Did he really believe that he would get out of here by offering a little bit of blood alone?

Izayuki took a few slow steps towards the snowy-haired man, the scent of blood being overwhelming, tempting, and nearly intoxicating. The bloodthirsty yokai forced forward her best effort to not outright try and take it for herself, knowing that the forest was to be fed first, and she second. “You’re doing it wrong,” she said softly with an apathetic but calm stare, her clawed fingers brought up swiftly to snap and initiate her magic once again. It would activate the collar of a vine she had put on him into releasing its thorns again, though smaller and tinier. They were far too small to cause any real harm, and the bakedanuki precision avoided the jugular vessel. Regardless, the nerium vine still attempted to bleed him further, unless he managed to get it off in time. If he did, it would at least be an amusing show of watching the bleeding boy pry the thing off or use more magic to do so.

She did not want him dead just yet. If she let him die now, his spirit and soul would pass on in an instant and the forest would be left with only an empty shell and only half as much magic to consume. Much to her inconvenience, Sakuramori was frozen in time and immobilized for the present, unable to directly attack or counter the chosen prey. In close proximity, the alabaster-haired ayakashi began to circle the other guild master, as if daring him to try and run. “Do you really think a few drops of blood will quench Sakuramori? The forest wants every bit of your life force, not just your blood, but your spirit and magic too,” the yokai explained with a small taunting smile. As she spoke, the ice slayer summoned a couple obsidian-colored ice needles in close proximity in an attempt to hit the back and shoulders of the sugar slayer. Once more, she was not aiming for any vital organ or mortal injury, but wanted to see him bleed out more for the sake of the forest. It was only a matter of time before Sakuramori awoke and could handle the rest. Perhaps more blood for strength would further the process along.

When she circled back around to bend down directly in front of him, the bakedanuki attempted to snatch his bleeding wrist with an intentionally rough clawed hand and fetch the pocket watch from his grasp, identifying it as an object that could potentially have something to do with the stopping of time. Little did she know that some components of the forest had likely started to change from contact with his blood, not yet displayed to her pale eyes from the immobilization of the forest. Nevertheless, her mind was still focused on the forest’s mission, to see its prey consumed before anymore tricks could be played.




[918 | 8,500]

It hurt the pain was bleating from his arms yet as a voice said something there was something else, lots of smaller pains, little tiny thorns they were around his neck, slowly jabbing in. It escaped his lips, the soft hiss running away on a wind as he flinched slightly. Eyes cracking open to regard the open before him. So now he was doing it wrong huh, so she was just going to help him bleed out how lovely. Yet that was the opposite of what he wanted, she wanted every last drop of it to coat the roots of the forest and aid in its growth. but he knew it had to be slower, the forest would turn away from the darkness within it after consuming enough of his blood. Then she would be free of its grasp and hopefully save his pitiful miserable life. That was if god didn't claim it first, it was hardly worth saving after the countless orphans, slaves and homeless citizens he had snatched away. No he wouldn't fight whatever heavenly being came for him now, the world was too him and his mind was tired. Yet the acceptance of his failures and wrongdoings did not mean that he was not curious, to the ends of the earth and back he had hungered for knowledge that he did not have. Brows raised in question as the bakedanuki paced around him, yet the movements were, smoother, a slinking fox or a viper coiling around its prey were a closer comparison as her smile was full of insult, the simple joy of his slow demise and torment fuelling her mockery.

She spoke down, from where she walked to where he sat the words were that of a person who felt victory dancing on the tips of their fingertips. His blood wouldn't quench the forests thirst. No he hadn't intended to quench the thirst, just renew the meaning behind the thirst and strip away the stagnant darkness that resided on top. The next information was more interesting to the male however, that was something he did no realise, it wanted his spirit and his magic. She seemed delighted by the idea, yet his eyes were on something else, dull coloured their darkness was breathtaking, yet soon enough they were no longer black, for red streaks has permeated the cold emptiness. Eyes growing wide with a half coked cough he stuttered slightly, as they went through, opening fresh holes in his body the thin needle like shards left him in a dazed state of semi shock. The pain had come so suddenly yet now it was a slow ache. This plan really wasn't going well, it left him bleeding, the sticky red fluid seeping out of wounds caused by both guild masters and the hard roots unsettled in their frozen state underneath where he had awkwardly sunk into a seated position.

She came around, the soft colours of her pale hair a gentle warmth after staring at the blackened trees around them, both trunks and petals held no colour , it was just all so empty and sad. A tormented forest who only knew how to do the same to others. A puppet on strings, they both were really, yet perhaps he could end that. A clawed hand snatched his wrist up, inspecting the item which he had brought into this world before taking it from his hand. Well not that it would do much use now, the spell had been cast and with or without the object it would still continue. Not that there was much of it left, he could feel the forest. He could sense it. Yet as she took the pocket watch from him the youthful man grasped her wrist in return, some of his own vines attempting to coil around their wrists, providing the strength that their master could not summon in is weakened state. "You said I was doing it wrong as if you understood what I was trying to do. I had not known about the forest wanting my spirit and magic as well so I thank you for that information." It was time for him to crack a smile. The weakening muscles of his face were still able to draw it back into a grin of amusement thankfully, "I have no intentions of bleeding to death, nor of giving my life to the forest, for this forest does not need quenching but purging." A wince crossed his face as he slipped away, releasing the wrist from his grasp the male fell back onto the trunk behind him with a harsh sound.

She hadn't a clue, "As for my spirit and my magic? You can sense that I'm a slayer, yet I was not like you. I haven't been taught it by some god or demon, I haven't had a pretty crystal embedded in me. No, I overdosed, I tried to end my own life and in return I end up just waking right back up with some 'sweet' powers. the irony in it is cruel so perhaps think before you speak as if my spirit and magic would benefit this place." were they the last words of a dying man? the pallor of his face could indicate so, it almost merged with the blizzard of white hair behind him. He just had to keep her talking, keep her distracted as he could feel both the time returning to normal, and the forest growing, healing over slowly and forcing out the bad blood.

The beast’s mind was enjoying the show set before her. Regardless of the fact that the forest had taken full control over her will, it only preyed on what was already there. The yokai was indeed a beast, a monster by nature that held no regard for human morals or life. The only thing that had made the bakedanuki any different was the fact that she had been raised by humans for a portion of her life and was willing to learn how to fit into their society. Even if they kept rejecting or scorning her, Izayuki had no problem with such, as long as she could at least hold a few people dear, such as the members of her guild. However, that fact did not overturn the malice she contained by instinct. Yokai were often naturally violent and preyed upon humans. Of course, some were rather peaceful, but a battle hardened yokai rarely met such tranquility as they continued through their long life. Izayuki was only a child, really, a toddler in the eyes of most ayakashi who had lived many centuries, but she had already withstood a life of suffering and hardship so young. There was no going back or venturing down a purely peaceful and light path. She could only do what she knew how to keep her mind preoccupied on the betterment of civilization and those she loved.

In the meantime, Sakuramori took full advantage of the yokai’s inner malevolence to use for its own desires. It had grown infected and ravenous, more so than usual. Anything foreign that wandered in was fair game for dinner and the woods did not care for past friendships, status, or intention of the trespasser. The forest was set on devouring the youthful mage and Izayuki was set on granting its wishes. The grin of amusement widened when her needles of dark and unholy ice penetrated the flesh of the already bleeding man. He no longer could even truly fight back with the damage he had done to himself. How pathetic. She gripped the bleeding wrist and took the pocket watch, but no such time spell was lifted, much to her chagrin. Surprisingly, some of him did begin to fight back. He reached up to grab her own wrist, reinforced by one of his own magical vines, which caused pale eyes to widen slightly as he pulled away from her clawed grasp on his arm and spoke. He mirrored her amused smile which had drawn back into a mildly annoyed expression.

He unexpectedly thanked her for the added information and stated he had no intention on dying. What did he think he was doing-- offering a little bit of himself to the forest while planning to escape? He mildly mocked her understanding of what he was trying to do and mentioned how the forest required purging, not quenching. The thought made the bakedanuki narrow her gaze suspiciously. When he finally released her wrist, Izayuki quickly ripped the vine created by his magic away, smirk returning when he fell hard against another tree trunk. While he continued to speak, the ayakashi brought her dark claws up to her mouth to eagler clean the traces of blood he had left behind. His own blood was sweet and sugary to the taste, honestly intoxicating to the bloodthirsty yokai. If he had not been claimed by the forest and she were not being governed by the will of the forest, she would have taken him for herself as a meal. Izayuki listened to his grim words regarding how he had obtained his magic. It was quite the sad story indeed, but in her current mindset, the canine could not shed much empathy towards the snowy-haired youth.

“You actually think Sakuramori cares about what your magic is or how you received it?” the yokai responded coldly with an amused smirk, making her way towards him once again. This time he was cornered between her and the trunk of the sakura tree, like dying little prey. “In its mind, magic is magic.”
The bakedanuki paused with a gentle grin and snapped her fingers again, allowing the vine she had placed around his neck to fall off. With the thorns no longer clogging up the punctures, she hoped to see him bleed and suffer more. “Luckily for you, you won’t wake up again with any ‘sweet’ powers this time around, and you won’t have to be the one responsible either,” she shrugged with the cruel joke, finding it rather fun to watch the prey squirm before her as he prolonged his upcoming demise with little tricks and spells. “But enlighten me while you continue to delay this, what do you mean by ‘purging’ the forest?” she questioned, her smile drawn back in lighthearted amusement, as if this were nothing more than a casual chat before dinner.

By his mention of purging, she had assumed two possible things-- he would try to kill the forest, or he would somehow ‘purge’ it of the malice or her blood. She doubted such a thing were possible, especially if he was merely giving the forest his own blood. She had an endless source of the dark matter that the woods were bloated on, but did he have any way to truly counter it? The bakedanuki could not help but muse on the idea. She did not want to give up the current lifestyle she lived, but deep inside of her mind and soul, a part of her was crying out for help and freedom from the forest’s web of control. In the deepest reaches of her consciousness, she did not truly want to hurt Lester, but the malevolence that had taken the wheel from the forest’s influence desired to see otherwise.




[961 | 9,461]

She was interesting indeed, under other circumstances he would have loved to watch and interact this Izayuki who had been so negatively influenced and poisoned by the forest. Her expressions would have been legendary amongst circles of play writes and actors for he couldn't help but feel a shiver utter its way down his back from the leering smile that he was confronted with. Prey indeed, he could feel the blood leaving as each drop seeped out, staining the hair behind him a bright and thirsty red so different from the sweet and homely red of apples this was a stain of darkness and horror, a sign of his clumsy planning. Magic was magic, perhaps the trees did just see it as that, a powerful meal which could be consumed, the wealth of his abilities absorbed. Spirit too, now that was curious to him, a magical forest that consumed not only blood and bodies but spirit. Stealing away someones identity and soul, did the forest just keep them, or was this the tree's method of consuming and surviving. Opposite hand to the one that she had clutched just earlier lurched up, automatic the movement only brought more pain as the collar fell from his neck. Its needle like thorns had left him with a reddening band of pain. earlier it had been a slow ache, yet now the slightest movement brought on another shuddering lashing of pain. The winds embrace was not caressing nor warm it was merely this sandpaper which tore and ripped, feeling much like a typhoon when in reality it was just a gentle breeze passing through.

He wouldn't wake up with any sweet powers this time huh, well he sure could feel the oncoming 'sweet' victory. Waking up this time with new powers would likely just cause more problems, he wasn't interested in growing much stronger than he was now, at least not in the magical sense. There were other areas he needed to gain power in, perhaps this little stunt would aid him in furthering that goal. Enlighten her? Oh did she think he was just delaying, well he was delaying her from giving him a swift death yet there was nothing to delay, no reason for him to draw it out. So why wouldn't he tell the bakedanuki? "It isn't that hard, rather simple really. Your blood and whatever else is in there that contaminated this place is merely a top layer that needs skimming off. As a gardener at the end of autumn rakes up the leaves I will skim away this top layer of corrosive darkness that has subjected the forest to being darker than normal. You know one way by cleansing something is with a flood, suddenly and sharply it doesn't even need to overpower in numbers but the shock of it will do half the work. Its fading off now, that wind that came, you can tell that time is slowly returning back to normal. Don't you feel whats happening." Toothy his grin was a red and white streaked smile of a man who could relax as the world had started to grow fuzzy.

In different times he would have thought that he needed glasses, yet accompanied with a certain feeling of distance he understood what it was. He could hardly feel his limbs, the limp lumps of flesh seeming disconnected from the male with blurry vision. Blood loss, it had been expected yet the feeling was one that he had not had before. He could heal himself, yet the magic needed for that, he needed emotion too, the desire to heal yet there was none within him right now. A smile settled on his face as he let his body sink back into the trunk of the tree behind him, eyes still raised to meet that of the woman before him there were no words that he felt would suit the situation. A hollow silence was perfect as the wood behind him surged with magic, the time freezing spell relinquishing its effects on the forest leaving it stuttering and unsure what to do. The roots had been fed with a blood, clean and fresh it held the magic of a healer, and a mage of nature on top of that. He was a Drynedi, generations of florists and people who had worked with plants, some of them mages others just simple florists, there had been those who used their bloods gifts for growing poison whilst others used it to heal and tend to others. He had all of that knowledge, it flowered through him with every heartbeat and breath he took. Now the forest had it, power hungry and infatuated with the next meal it had happily consumed the flood of florists blood which had been provided, only for his blood to heal and purge that of the yokai in front of him and whatever evil she carried in her veins.

"You can feel it Izayuki Hyoujin, can't you, the forest its back, slowly it comes and returns to how it was before. Are you?"

Distant and quiet the words were croaked out with a smile, eyes closing for a moment as he forced a grin to stretch his lips back.

The bakedanuki listened to the youthful mage, intrigued at the light he had to shed on the subject. She held a smug smirk on her face as she gazed at him with curious pale eyes, fluffy white ears pricked for the information he had yet to spill. He began, his confident smile somewhat unnerving the ayakashi, even though she refused to show it. He compared the dark matter ‘blood’ that the forest had taken from her to dried fallen leaves one would rake up in the autumn season. She was well aware just how corrupt her life force was. It was already a mysterious energy akin to shadows or grim concepts, and not really even “blood” as much as a thorough mix of her body and spirit that took the form of blood when she chose a physical shape. Were she in her truest form, the dark matter took the form of a shadowy creature, made up entirely of the unknown essence. When she stood in a physical form, that essence was mixed in and reflected in her blood and built into makeshift organs and flesh that could revert at will. That fact about her was far from corrupt. What had tainted the dark matter was the venom of the Nightshade Hell Deity and the three tiny hell demons she had forced into the yokai’s body. Unable to purge them from the dark matter, the hell demons remained and spread their nasty and corrupt energy through her body, spirit, and magic.

And now the forest had gotten a taste of that. It was truly an infection, moving from one being to another. The host carried it and poisoned whatever was around her from the nerium anomaly, the name she had given to the strange effect the corruption had on the dark matter and energy. Listening to Lester, the ayakashi wondered just how his blood could shear off her own and purge it from Sakuramori. She was about to ask and further taunt him over the subject when she recognized the wind blowing through the depths of the forest’s heart. He asked her if she felt what was happening, which urged the curious bakedanuki’s eyes and mental focus off of him and onto the surrounding meadow. The time spell began to retreat, freeing Sakuramori from its immobilization and allowing the full effects of his healing blood to be displayed. Most notably, the black-hued leaves began to change color. At first, they faded into a dark vermillion and blended back to a light crimson. From red, the cherry blossom petals eventually eased back into a pale pastel pink coloring, filtering in some of the moonlight and last stretches of sunset from above. The thorns in the meadow changed from black to dark green and brown and greatly diminished in size and appearance. The roots and trunks of the gargantuan elder trees eased back into the ground and seemed far healthier and less unquenched than before.

The display was a shock to the ayakashi, who had not expected to see such a thing occur before her eyes. The heart of Sakuramori had become something of a home, after all, thus she was used to seeing the grim obsidian petals and dangerous meadow. Last but not least, the horrible haze that had hung over her mind was beginning to lift, recoiling like an ocean’s tide receded back to the depths, exposing fresh untouched sand and plenty of treasures from underneath. For the first time in weeks, Izayuki could finally process much more clearly and begin thinking for herself. Her own will returned to her, freed from the intentions of Sakuramori. Her connection to the carnivorous forest was abruptly cut off by the end of it. Pale eyes widened in sincere and true surprise upon seeing the change in scenery and realizing what had just occurred. Finally, pupils dilated in horror and alabaster-furred ears perked as she heard Lester’s soft voice question if she could feel the tranquil forest, and herself, return back to normal.

Terrified and remorseful, Izayuki averted her eyes from the calming scenic grove and meadow and focused her attention back down at the bloody mess that Lester had become. His eyes finally closed while a forced grin remained on his face. “Lester…” she choked out in a scared whisper. An expression of horror and regret came over the bakedanuki, who dropped down beside where he sat. He was still likely bleeding out from what the forest, and mostly she, had done to him. Gentle hands were placed gingerly over one of his bleeding arm cuts, attempting to apply some pressure to cease the bleeding. The sweet smell of the blood certainly was overwhelming and tempting, but the shock of the reality of what she had done was strong enough to curb those impulses. “I’m so sorry…” she breathed, her eyes wet holding back salty tears of regret. “I didn’t mean for this, to hurt you or anything that I said.”

Guilt and sadness wracked the tanuki who began to wonder just how much of what she had done while under the influence of Sakuramori. The will had been the forest’s to control, but the actions had been purely her own even if her desires had been confused and hijacked from the carnivorous woods. Choosing to push away the consuming doubt for the time being, Izayuki proceeded to attempt to use one of her few magical spells meant for healing. It would be painful and uncomfortable, but probably not much more than he had already been through. A thin sheet of unholy black ice would freeze over his open wounds ever so meticulously, to avoid blocking any important veins or arteries or accidentally frostbiting the skin. The guilty ayakashi avoided eye contact with him for fear of what she might see-- hate, anger, betrayal, or anything of the like. She had hurt a guild master of a legal and ally guild, a former Rising Star, and a former guildmate and family member… all for what, to feed a ravenous group of trees? The yokai glared up bitterly at the elder tree blooming above their heads. Sakuramori had taken over her will and taken advantage of the malevolence she retained inside of her as a yokai for its own purposes. Her freed mind could no longer see the cherry blossom forest as a comforting friend or a part of herself, but instead as a despised acquaintance or an unsettling stranger.




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