[Day 6, Early Morning] A New Friend! (Closed to all but Hirame)

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

Kasumi ambled into the Mantis common room, yawning and stretching as she looked around.

Whoa. What is THAT?!

It was sitting in a corner. A frayed paintbrush... with horrible little eyes? And... was that a crude attempt at a jacket?!

It was perhaps the most awful thing she had ever seen in her life.

Oh, right, Hirame made that terrible thing yesterday. Wonder why he left it out here?

The idea that he might not have wanted the twisted little thing in the room where he slept never occurred to her.

She grinned. Bowed to it.

"Good mornin', Hirame-kun. Y'look 'specially handsome today. In fact... I can't contain myself."

She picked the hideous little nightmare up and held it at arm's length.

"I think y'need t'move in with me. Ahiru will understand!"

She took the small nightmare back into her room, to keep the origami octopus company while she was away.

Nobody's gonna miss that thing, and it's so awful...

[Funegao no Hirame]

Later...

Dressed casually, Hirame stepped out into the common room, brushing a hand across his face, wiping the sleep from his eyes. "Mblergh." He mumbled. Yes, it was definitely time to get a start on the morning. A bit of breakfast, maybe some strong tea, that's what he needed...

Glancing around, Hirame frowned. Something was wrong. He could feel a strange tingle running up his spine. Hirame's lips pressed together as the uncanny feeling grew stronger. Something was out of place. Something missing...

That damn doll. Where was it?

"Oh shit." Hirame said through clenched teeth. Damnit, why hadn't he thrown that thing in the fire the night before? He'd said it looked like something that might murder people. And Natsuko had told him about how spirits could enter objects, and make them come alive! Were murder dolls real after all? "Shit shit shit." He muttered under his breath.

He dove back into his room.

A moment later, and Hirame emerged once more, a solid wooden oar gripped in both hands. He creeped cautiously around the common room, nudging furniture with one foot. The oar was raised, ready to smash anything he found.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

A bit later, Kasumi re-emerged.

Saw her clanmate walking around with an oar.

Blinked.

And spoke loud and clear.

"What th'fuck're you doing?"

[Funegao no Hirame]

When Kasumi emerged, Hirame jumped. He briefly considered trying to hide the oar behind his back, but, well, it was an oar. Much too large to hide.

"Oh... hey, Kasumi-san." Hirame said sheepishly. "I was just... uh..." He titled his head, considering how best to explain his behaviour. Nothing was coming to mind.

"Hey, have you seen that doll I made?" He asked suddenly.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

Something in the heart of Kasumi's being cried out against the evil impulse that seized her.

It said, "just tell him it's in there on your tea set because you liked it."

The voice was quashed by an imp of the perverse.

"Nope. What's the got t'do with runnin' round th'common room with an oar in your hands?"

[Funegao no Hirame]

Hirame looked at Kasumi. Within his mind, wheels were turning.

He made a nightmare doll. Spirits could invest themselves in objects. Who had told him that? Isawa Natsuko. Who was Natsuko engaged to? Shiba Jiro. Who had Jiro been flirting with? Kasumi.

It was crazy, wasn't it? And yet, it all fit together.

"If you do see it, hit it with something. Or toss it in a fire. Right away." Hirame said, his tone firm. "I know it sounds weird, but humor me. Please." He gave her a tense smile.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

She cocked her head to the side.

"You feelin' all right? I mean, it was pretty ugly, but s'not that bad."

A pause.

"Wherever it is."

Oh you evil bitch.

[Funegao no Hirame]

Hirame winced at that, looking around again as though expecting to hear the ominous thump of a paintbrush on the ground. He hadn't given it legs or arms. How would it get around? How would it murder? Maybe... maybe it would be alright.

Or maybe he would learn the answer in a terrible way.

"Well... keep an eye out." Hirame said weakly. "I should probably put this oar away. Not like I'm going out boating. And hey, Kasumi..." He chewed his lip a moment, "-be careful, huh?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Now, does that sound like me?"

I probably shouldn't put it in his room while he's out.

And I definitely shouldn't prop it close to his head where he'd see it when he wakes up.

[Funegao no Hirame]

"To be careful? No, it doesn't." Hirame chuckled. "That's why I'm asking."

He chewed his lip a moment. "So, uh, about that lunch yesterday. That was something, huh?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"It was. An' it is."

She sighed.

"I never did subtle, Hirame-san, you know that..."

As you will discover when you find your little creation staring at you tomorrow morning.

[Funegao no Hirame]

"So..." Hirame began, shifting awkwardly, switching hands on his oar. "Are you going to..." He trailed off for rather a long time.

"Seize opportunities?" He finally said.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Some. But not all."

She sighed.

"It can't work long-run. We both know that. An' no sense doin' anything with potentially lastin' results. But... I'd rather regret what I've done than what I haven't."

[Funegao no Hirame]

Hirame frowned, his brows knitting in concern. "I understand. Just do please, be careful. Of everything. For everyone's sake. Yours, his, hers..." Hirame grimaced a little. He'd met Natsuko, after all.

He looked at her, sighing. "Well, so long as you're discreet. No one else knows, right?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Ehhhhh... how good d'you think I am at keepin' my interest hidden? You were there."

[Funegao no Hirame]

"Yeah," Hirame grunted. "Seemed like me being there was the only thing keeping the two of you from jumping on each other. And it was only just barely doing that."

He sighed again. "Well... uh... watch out for that doll, anyway. And any siblings of Isawa-san."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Don't think she's got any, but..."

Wait, what's the doll got to do with anything?

"... I always keep out a weather eye, y'know that."

[Funegao no Hirame]

"Well, good." Hirame said, sighing. "Hopefully that'll be enough."

After a moment, he chuckled. "So, uh, I should probably put this away." He hefted the oar. "Don't really need it after all! Ummm... you eaten? Can't test on an empty stomach!" He slapped his own stomach with one hand.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Th'oar does make people ask things like 'what the fuck're you doin'."

She cocked her head to the side.

"An' if yer Crane princess could see ya now, sure she'd tell ya it's not fashionable, t'boot. So how bout you stash that damn thing, an' then we get some chow."

[Funegao no Hirame]

Hirame chuckled. "Actually, she's got other ways of showing her disapproval. Subtle things. I think I'm starting to get 'em figured out, though." He grinned. "That bodes well for my future, eh?"

He vanished into his room, coming out a few moments later, oar safely stashed. Frowning, he took one more look around, then shook his head. "I can do us some rice if you want. Since you and your... uh... Shiba-san fed me yesterday."