madimpossibledreamer (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
madimpossibledreamer) wrote2018-02-28 11:45 pm
madimpossibledreamer) wrote2018-02-28 11:45 pm
Entry tags:
What's in a Name?
Main Points:
Devil Summoner Raidou Kuzunoha
Summary: Narumi has a question for Raidou.
Word Count: 655
Rating: Gen leaning shippy
Devil Summoner Raidou Kuzunoha
Summary: Narumi has a question for Raidou.
Word Count: 655
Rating: Gen leaning shippy
Most he catches in his little patrol is some nasty flashbacks. When he returns, Raidou’s dragged himself into a sitting position, resting his head against the wall behind him, eyes closed. One hand grips the sword, white-knuckled. Above him is what appears to be a worried blue floating fish-lady. “I don’t have any more ability to heal you, Raidou, dear,” she says, wringing her hands, and oddly enough she sounds like a kindly old woman.
“How are you?” he asks quietly, and Raidou’s eyes spring open.
“It is my duty to protect others. Even you,” he insists, looking slightly amused despite no changes in expression. Narumi knows it’s only a reference to what he’d said before, and he shouldn’t take offence.
“I enjoy being alive, kid. I just prefer it when you remain that way, too,” Narumi insists.
The look disappears.
After a few awkward moments, he asks, “Hey, Raidou, you mentioned a name when you were out. Jōhei?”
Raidou’s head shoots up, and the look of utter confusion is easy to read, even for Narumi. That’s a reaction he hadn’t expected. The eyes narrow slightly, and there’s a look of appraisal only a few seconds later.
“What’s eating you?” Narumi asks. That stare is making him a little nervous.
“I suppose I do trust you enough,” Raidou decides. He breathes out deeply. “That’s my real name.”
Well, that’s a real eye-opener. From the small smile that appears at the corner of the Summoner’s mouth, the shock must be written all over his boss’s face. “I…I thought it was a family name,” he manages, eventually.
Raidou actually chuckles. “None of the Great Families of Summoners are actually related except in our training and duty. Remember Nagi.”
Narumi frowns at the implications. “So…”
“Telling you is breaking more the letter rather than the spirit of the law. Just don’t use it around anyone else, even Gouto, or go around telling anyone.” He closes his eyes, looking pained, tired.
“Is it all right if I continue to call you Raidou, sweetie?” the demon asks, and he nods weakly.
“You’re not allowed to use your own name?” he asks, trying not to clench his fists. Maybe there’s a good reason why the Yatagarasu keeps him in the dark.
“It’s not like it’s completely forbidden,” Raidou responds. “Gouto will call me by it fairly often.” The absurdity suddenly hits, as he realizes the kid’s talking about being addressed by a cat. Might explain why he’s always staring at the thing. “I’m pretty sure outsiders or agents of the Yatagarasu who don’t tend to deal with Summoning,” with one look, Narumi gets the idea that’s supposed to be him, “…aren’t supposed to know it, though. Part of one of the ceremonies involves ‘leaving the name behind’.”
Narumi bites his lip, trying not to say something he’ll regret. Raidou—or Jōhei—notices, though, with his bright, observant eyes. “I don’t mind. It’s possible they’re taking advantage, but have you considered the sort of life I would’ve had without the Yatagarasu? I may not get to attend school very often, but I wouldn’t have been able to obtain an education. I don’t think I would’ve liked being a farmer. I wouldn’t have met you or Miss Asakura.”
“You’re talkative today, kid,” is all he manages, because he never really had thought about that.
“I’m slightly delirious,” Raidou agrees. “I’m not completely naïve. I’ve been learning a lot about life since coming to the Capital. I enjoy this. I don’t know that I’d be happy, elsewhere.”
“Well, I’m glad, and your secret is safe with me, Jōhei,” Narumi responds, and the corner of the Summoner’s mouth twitches up in a smile.
Only for a moment. “I lost the Mystic Eye. That’s a problem.” At Narumi’s glance, he shrugs. “It tells me the identity and abilities of demons.” He holds out his hand for help up, which is more the usual Raidou Narumi knows.
“How are you?” he asks quietly, and Raidou’s eyes spring open.
“It is my duty to protect others. Even you,” he insists, looking slightly amused despite no changes in expression. Narumi knows it’s only a reference to what he’d said before, and he shouldn’t take offence.
“I enjoy being alive, kid. I just prefer it when you remain that way, too,” Narumi insists.
The look disappears.
After a few awkward moments, he asks, “Hey, Raidou, you mentioned a name when you were out. Jōhei?”
Raidou’s head shoots up, and the look of utter confusion is easy to read, even for Narumi. That’s a reaction he hadn’t expected. The eyes narrow slightly, and there’s a look of appraisal only a few seconds later.
“What’s eating you?” Narumi asks. That stare is making him a little nervous.
“I suppose I do trust you enough,” Raidou decides. He breathes out deeply. “That’s my real name.”
Well, that’s a real eye-opener. From the small smile that appears at the corner of the Summoner’s mouth, the shock must be written all over his boss’s face. “I…I thought it was a family name,” he manages, eventually.
Raidou actually chuckles. “None of the Great Families of Summoners are actually related except in our training and duty. Remember Nagi.”
Narumi frowns at the implications. “So…”
“Telling you is breaking more the letter rather than the spirit of the law. Just don’t use it around anyone else, even Gouto, or go around telling anyone.” He closes his eyes, looking pained, tired.
“Is it all right if I continue to call you Raidou, sweetie?” the demon asks, and he nods weakly.
“You’re not allowed to use your own name?” he asks, trying not to clench his fists. Maybe there’s a good reason why the Yatagarasu keeps him in the dark.
“It’s not like it’s completely forbidden,” Raidou responds. “Gouto will call me by it fairly often.” The absurdity suddenly hits, as he realizes the kid’s talking about being addressed by a cat. Might explain why he’s always staring at the thing. “I’m pretty sure outsiders or agents of the Yatagarasu who don’t tend to deal with Summoning,” with one look, Narumi gets the idea that’s supposed to be him, “…aren’t supposed to know it, though. Part of one of the ceremonies involves ‘leaving the name behind’.”
Narumi bites his lip, trying not to say something he’ll regret. Raidou—or Jōhei—notices, though, with his bright, observant eyes. “I don’t mind. It’s possible they’re taking advantage, but have you considered the sort of life I would’ve had without the Yatagarasu? I may not get to attend school very often, but I wouldn’t have been able to obtain an education. I don’t think I would’ve liked being a farmer. I wouldn’t have met you or Miss Asakura.”
“You’re talkative today, kid,” is all he manages, because he never really had thought about that.
“I’m slightly delirious,” Raidou agrees. “I’m not completely naïve. I’ve been learning a lot about life since coming to the Capital. I enjoy this. I don’t know that I’d be happy, elsewhere.”
“Well, I’m glad, and your secret is safe with me, Jōhei,” Narumi responds, and the corner of the Summoner’s mouth twitches up in a smile.
Only for a moment. “I lost the Mystic Eye. That’s a problem.” At Narumi’s glance, he shrugs. “It tells me the identity and abilities of demons.” He holds out his hand for help up, which is more the usual Raidou Narumi knows.