Tekishozen may-June 2023 prompt: storm

Yuki sat and ate her soba happily nothing would go wrong she had her food, even if the world ended today it would be alright the only thing that mattered was this tasty tasty soba. This was till she felt a cold wind and the sounds of happiness of a festival die off.

She stopped and stared at her food, instinct made her fur stick up on end, something would happen, no it was happening, what can she do she’s out of the fight, did that even matter right now, she can fight not at full but she’ll grab em by the tail, Haruki is sitting there he’s been trained the same way as her he can fight to. She looked up at him knowingly that something was happening and it wasn’t good he was beginning to look up her the same from the book he was reading, a knowing look the fear that comes from the calm.

As soon as their eyes are level that’s when the screams begin. For a moment yuki is saddened lunch her unfinished soba slowly falling to the ground, a pale tasty reminder of the peace of twenty minutes ago, she rises to her feet. No idea what’s out there what’s happening all she knows is the screams and her instinct. It’s as if her body screams to fight whatever’s out there. Would she win? Who knows but what’s the fun without trying. 

The soba crashes and both siblings take off, they don’t even bother with the gate and both opt to hop the fence with ease, yuki can hear haruki mumble something about her resting, she can tell he’s not going to stop her, as they land people run away from the festival some kneel on the ground, the screams have died off echoing into the distance as many run away from the seemingly epicentre.

As the two run in sync, yuki glances at her brother, it’s been years since they trained together yet it’s almost like nothing has changed strangely, everything is quiet there’s some sobbing, yet no one screams it’s quiet like something is yet to set in for the world. A cold wind blew through the city as they ran it felt almost lifeless felt like nothing she had experienced even when used to the cold due to her ice element. Maybe it was the fear and dread of those around her.

As they ran yuki began to feel sluggish the new annoyance to her life as she’s been calling it, she gritted her teeth “not now” she thought “I just need to hold on longer” she was losing pass with her brother but caught a second wind to keep pase. 

As they both arrived at the building their family was using for the base of operations for the mercenary group things were in chaos, messengers flying out to send urgent orders to groups scattered in the countryside or to those already on missions, groups grabbing equipment then darting out to look for something and there was their father Makkuro barking out orders trying to get groups in line. 

Beside her haruki sighed as he too saw the chaos, yuki understood he hated disorganisation and this was it at its peak, granted neither of them knew what warranted this maybe a giant monster walking into the city neither of them knew but had both ran here due to it being taught by makkuro that in a emergency they were to assist. Granted Haruki should probably be sprinting to the imperial castle for his work.

Eventually their farther noticed the two standing at the gate. Even from a distance she can tell how tired he was, probably a long day has now been made an even longer one by this. He walks over keeping his head high “Haruki, Yuki” he patted yuki on the head she likes it so of course she’d aceept the affection with a smile and a tail swish. “So I’m assuming you’ve heard” makkuro continued

“We have not” haruki said with a mild annoyance, he hates not being in the loop yuki thought to herself yet nodding along in agreement at the statement.

“The I did manage to teach you both to grab your gear and fight when in danger” a deep laugh finished the sentence but yuki had to agree she was raised with grab your weapon first then jump into danger. 

Haruki sighed at the statement “yes yes” he then adjusted his glasses “what’s happening the festival was fine a moment ago”

“You know I think we need a tv or something at home” Makkuro said seemingly off topic

“You’d never use it and I spend my time reading”

“True but that’s how everyone else got the message”

“What message”

“…the god hayate has been kidnapped?”

Yuki jumped in surprise as haruki continued “what do you mean kidnapped who kidnaps a god”

“Don’t know but we’re tasked with helping the search”

Haruki groans “I just got some leave”  

Makkuro pats him on the back “sorry kiddo”

Meanwhile yuki is thinking to herself “huh not a thing I’d ever think would happen but here I am” she looks around and shrugs as she goes to find her gear, sick leave be dammed even raised by bakenomu she’s still a kitzen so she should help. 

As she walks into her small office she finds her gear it’s not how she normally leaves it since she last came in on a stretcher, from the way it’s organised…! Mother! Yuki spins around to see her mother shinju. 

“I can’t stop you from helping can I” Shinju pleads 

Yuki shakes her head solemnly 

“Fine but yuki” Shinju takes a step closer “don’t do anything foolish”

Yumi mods 

“This includes the statement of ‘it’s just a small dragon’ I don’t want to hear about what rediculous amounts of danger you were in”

Yuki nods her in respond feeling a little called out for her words as a child

“Now then” Shinnju starts to help gather her things “I believe you have a job to do and no child of mine shall be late” she said as she shoved yukis small bag into her arms

Yuki nodded and gave her mother a quick hug as she ran out the door to find her placement.

But even in all this there’s something in her blood that says she’s excited about the coming fight