[For Takatora]

[warintheextreme]

When I left the grounds of the Kusugami clan, the home of my forebears, I had every reason in the world to believe that it was the right choice.

Sure, I had to leave behind my name, and my claim to a long line of men and women who had protected humanity at any and all costs. Sure, I was more or less damning my little brother to a life and responsibility that he had no desire for.

But I'd always known that Aguri was more suited to the Makai life. And I'd always known that my strength, my power, my focus, lie elsewhere.

So I left them behind. I still wear Aguri's ring (as I'd had to give him mine when I forsook my place in the line of succession), and I know that if I ever needed him to come to me, he'd know. So it's not as if I was totally excommunicated.

I still had to take an assumed surname, though. Of course I did! Makai records and human records are not the same thing. There are records of Kusugamis throughout history doing things that are not generally considered... proper, by human standards.

And anyway, I want to succeed, or fail, on my own merits.

So I enrolled in university. I fabricated myself a false past in which I am an only child lost my parents at a young age.

My classes are going well, and I'm glad for that much, because everything else is proving to be surprisingly complicated. From needing to sleep at night so I can go to class during the day, to the constant low-grade fear that there might be Horrors on this campus and I could do nearly nothing to defend myself or anyone else against them...

And now, to add insult to every tiny injury, now I have to fight with this infernal machine that is adamant on keeping my limited money from me, and refusing to give me anything to eat in return.

"Damn thing." I mutter under my breath. I've got the front panel of the input pad open and am trying to figure out which combination of wires will actually deliver my food, or return my money. Either would be fine.

Comments

[my gods I wish we had proper icons for this ;w;]

[zangetsurider]

As a Kureshima, I don't need to eat on the schedule of the university's cafeteria, I can afford to dine at my leisure, wherever I decide, whenever I decide. I shouldn't even technically be living in this dorm, but it was an unfortunate paperwork oversight, one that should be corrected by next term, at the latest.

I don't actually mind.

A taste of the common lifestyle should do me some good. It's nice, sometimes, to pretend to be an average person. Someone without a name, without any real power.

That's how I choose to look at it, anyway (at least officially, my personally feelings on the matter are my own).

I am enjoying university. I am enjoying being just another face in the crowd - for now - I can move about as I please, do what I please, without anyone watching over me.

I am on the phone with Mitsuzane, as I make my way toward the door, when I pass the vending machines, and spy another student... seeming to be in the middle of an attempt at hot-wiring a vending machine.

"I will have to call you back, Mitsuzane, I'm very sorry. You should get some sleep anyway, it's quite late."

I hang up after saying my goodbyes, pocketing my phone and moving to the other student's elbow.

With my hands in the pockets of my jeans, I tilt my head, putting a faint and lopsided smile on my face.

"What, exactly, are you attempting to accomplish?"