Boys of Summer 2025 challenge

Author: Patience

Prompt: Slow Bleed

Anubisu had noticed it first.

At Shuten’s dismissal from the main chamber, he had realized they had been sent two different ways. Despite knowing that he had been the one to stab him, it left a bitter taste, thinking he may die due to him following a simple order.

A simple order…? Was it really so simple, now? Shuten had argued not, and look where it had landed them both!

Shuten in the dungeon, and he in his quarters.

“Ah, shit”, Anubisu cursed, dismissing his own armer in favor of more muted clothing. While the armor was powerful, and assisted in manipulation of shadows, he had mastered that effect for himself with centuries of practice. It was almost as easy as breathing, now. Stepping quickly over to his wardrobe, he dismissed his traditional kimono for other clothing that allowed for free movement and less visual accuracy. His darkest indigo blue top, black pants, tabi and his most silent sandals. These…. He’d had them for how long, now? He couldn’t remember. The years had melted into one another like the snow in the spring…. Spring. Shuten.

Dammit, but he had to hurry! Something in his anima, urged him to action.

Shoving his feet in his sandals and tying them quickly, he turned about face. Stalking over to the door, he had to stop himself from ripping it open in his haste, and made sure the the latches were as quiet as possible. “One of the cons of living in an old castle,” he sighed mentally. He noted to himself to find a suitable oil for the door latches later. At least he had seen to the hinges, which moved without any noise whatsoever. Before leaving the doorframe, he took a quick look down the hallway, back and forth, up and down. He only knew too well how sneaky those who stayed here were. Hell, he was one of them!

Closing the door with a quiet clack, he stepped out of the light near his doorway and disappeared into the shadows. Quickly, and as stealthily as possible, he made his way to the nearest staircase, only to pause-

Naaza and Rajura! They would certainly be here, would they not? He stilled in the shadows, quieting his breath until he could no longer hear it, focusing in on the vibrations that the various sounds made throughout the old stone and wood frame. If one listened closely enough, well…. The castle would reveal many secrets. But only if one was observant, and willing to silence oneself to listen intently. Yet another handy skill to use to his advantage, now. Rumblings from upstairs, and the pleading sounds of voices seemed to indicate to Anubisu that somehow, Naaza and Rajura were still in discussion with Arago over…. Something. It was not enough for him to be able to tell now, but, if he was a betting man-

The sizzle of Arago’s imposed dismissal on his comrades- comrades? Were they that now? “Augh, focus!” he hissed in his head. They were sent away. He had to hurry. If he didn’t move, he’d be an easy target, even for the two of them. They had nearly the same amount of experience as he had at this… shadows help him if those two ever actually decided to work together. He turned his gaze towards the staircase, checking for movement.

When none registered, he pushed himself further into the darkness. As fast as possible, he descended, on the balls of his feet. His weight landing on each step, silent like the crystalline sound of powder snow. Thinking of that brought back memories. He’d have to be careful not to ice the stairs, again. Bringing the coldness closer to him, he hurried down each rung, despite his own human body protesting. Coldness and darkness together equaled faster movement for him, even if it chilled him beyond his own flesh. He embraced it and stepped faster. His own strength started to fade a bit, he stopped again at the next intersection outside of the reach of the nearest lantern to observe and catch his breath. At the first puff of air, he allowed things to warm up, if only for a brief moment.

The near silence greeted his ears, save for that of spirits passing through the hallways. He stilled himself to what felt like a near eternity of stopping, so as not to cause suspicion. Those old onmyouji had a way of sensing life that creeped even him out. Fighting the urge to physically shake it off, he did one last check for movement- human or otherwise. Most sounds had faded to vibrations and whispers, just the way he needed it to be.

Crossing the intersection with stealth and speed, he resumed his route. Further down yet more stairs, thickening darkness, and the hush of the snow-like quiet. The pressure began to build as he continued his descent, a product of both diving deeper into the bowels of the youjakai, and what he knew lay below- the pits. The putrid, nasty pits full of some disgusting amber fluid, long since forgotten to most humans. It was enough to trigger his own gag reflexes, despite having been subjected to it countless times. Would this be the last time? Maybe, if-

He turned the corner, staying out of the light of the first few narrow pits, headed towards the largest one. Surely, a traitor such as Shuten would be subjected to the full weighted might of the abyss, fusing Arago’s will with that nasty stuff. A small shudder ran through him, as he halted in front of the largest. Shuten was not there! That man was desperate to get the hell out of the castle, and the only way was, well, from the basement…. Going out through the front gates (the worst possible choice- he wouldn’t possibly be that thick, would he?) or crawling out whatever ventilation shaft or other hole presented itself, if not for the stairs (another obvious choice). If he could even move, or hell, was even conscious by now.

He had to find him. Surely, he was slowly bleeding out in his armor. If he wasn’t in the dungeons, where would he go-?!

An acrid crackling interrupted that thought. Two bolts of red lightning sizzled in the pit, and from them, appeared none other than Rajura and Naaza. Still in their undergear, they looked at him. Rajura, with a raised eyebrow in question, and Naaza with his trademark sneer. “Trying to beat us to the punch, eh Anubisu? Though you won’t last long in that,” he remarked, referring to his current clothing. Shifting mental gears quickly, Anubisu quipped, “Master Arago’s will was faster than mine,”. Damn, but the undergear would have to come out. Making the shift seamlessly, he stepped forward into the light. The face of Arago appeared, making his presence known.

“Rajura, Naaza, and Anubisu…. You wanted the full power of the Youkajai? You cannot have it unless you are immersed in it!” A hot, bitter wind shoved Anubisu forward, and he plummeted into the nasty broth- if one could call it that. It was more like goop. Careful not to gasp for breath upon breaching the surface, Anubisu quickly wiped his face, trying to clear the goo away. Though it stuck to other parts of his face and weighted his hair, he managed to clear his eyes, nose and mouth in a smooth enough movement. Realizing his personal mission to find Shuten had failed, something moved uncomfortably in his soul. What…. Was that?

The next thing he knew, Arago was electrifying the pit, using the conductivity of the liquid to his advantage. Their own screams filled the air. The power was immense, more than any mere mortal, or even untrained armor bearer could endure. His last thought, before succumbing to the mental darkness once more was, “Shuten…. Was like family.” Found family, but it was what he (and perhaps the other two Masho) had leaned on for so long. Within, a single word whispered to his soul, and he thought he heard, “Kou”. Filial piety. Drowning out the restless thought, he leaned into the power he also knew well. His own darkness enveloped him, and with it, nothingness, for a while more. For his own survival now, that thought would have to wait. He only hoped it would nag at him when his consciousness returned.