[An octopus, even a gigantic one, even one that's been corrupted by evil forces, should not have been able to punch as hard as it did. Hikaru wouldn't be surprised if his entire body is black and blue all over, a continuous bruise both inside and out. Having to cut off one tentacle was impossible enough with the others flailing at him, slapping him into the air and down to the ground--but somehow he cleaved a path through all eight of them. Rather lightheaded, he decides it's better to just tilt his head back and try to remember how to treat a head wound. If they haven't returned by sunrise, a search party will be dispatched to find them, hopefully, and he will not have bled to death by then. Hopefully.
His pulse trills a little faster when he hears Kamo's voice. He didn't imperil his primary objective by entering the fray, at least.]
Don't tell me what to do, idiot.
[It's something of a tired line, worn down from overuse like stones before waves, but it's good to have for its enduring familiarity. Many onmyouji have suffered far worse fates than a temporary bout of unconsciousness and dirty robes for doing battle. Far, far worse. Unspeakably worse. (He was forced to cut down one such maiden himself, when she succumbed to the seduction of multiple youkai.) (He tries not to think about anything like that happening to Kamo.)
He growls with frustration.] What was I thinking? I'm thinking I just saved your life, that's what I'm thinking. [Never a single word of gratitude. He hardly ever sees a smile, for that matter. Kamo-no-Akira: the least gracious person he's ever been assigned to protect. Hikaru opens his one good eye to look at Kamo again, and there he is, sniveling and clawing at the dirt like it's the end of the world. Even though they successfully repelled another invader, it's never going to be good enough for Kamo, it feels like. Yes, this mission wasn't as quick and painless as other sanctioned cleansings have been, but it's no less of a success.] And I'm thinking... I won't be having seafood anytime soon... [He's ready to start laughing, irreverent even after all of that, but it's one of the most excruciating things ever. It makes for a sort of spluttering sound in his throat, and he tastes his own blood.]
no subject
His pulse trills a little faster when he hears Kamo's voice. He didn't imperil his primary objective by entering the fray, at least.]
Don't tell me what to do, idiot.
[It's something of a tired line, worn down from overuse like stones before waves, but it's good to have for its enduring familiarity. Many onmyouji have suffered far worse fates than a temporary bout of unconsciousness and dirty robes for doing battle. Far, far worse. Unspeakably worse. (He was forced to cut down one such maiden himself, when she succumbed to the seduction of multiple youkai.) (He tries not to think about anything like that happening to Kamo.)
He growls with frustration.] What was I thinking? I'm thinking I just saved your life, that's what I'm thinking. [Never a single word of gratitude. He hardly ever sees a smile, for that matter. Kamo-no-Akira: the least gracious person he's ever been assigned to protect. Hikaru opens his one good eye to look at Kamo again, and there he is, sniveling and clawing at the dirt like it's the end of the world. Even though they successfully repelled another invader, it's never going to be good enough for Kamo, it feels like. Yes, this mission wasn't as quick and painless as other sanctioned cleansings have been, but it's no less of a success.] And I'm thinking... I won't be having seafood anytime soon... [He's ready to start laughing, irreverent even after all of that, but it's one of the most excruciating things ever. It makes for a sort of spluttering sound in his throat, and he tastes his own blood.]