[ That single word hurts his ears, both from the noise and what it represents-- the idea that Akira is going faster than him, that he'll be left alone until he follows the same fate. That maybe this will be the last time he gets to hear any semblance of the voice he's come to love so much.
He sighs and leans in closer, further presses the side of his face against Akira. ]
Something about blood breaking the curse. Some said it worked for them, while others were still confined to their tree forms. Even if we assume it was true, it's clearly...
[ He trails off, though Akira should be able to figure it out for himself, considering all the blood sipping out of Akechi right now. ]
He sees the sap-like blood pooling on the ground around Akechi (terrifying, but this whole situation is). It's clear that Akechi is covered in it and he's still turning into a tree, but that's his own blood - and it's only on the ground, keeping it from getting on Akira.
And Akira can still move his hands.
That spark of inspiration is all it takes for Akira to grab his knife from under his coat, still draped over his shoulders even as his body goes stiffer and stiffer, hold his left palm out over Akechi, and slice the blade over his palm.
He watches as his blood rains down on Akechi. Worse case, he'll just have a scar on his wood once he's fully a tree. But if the rumor is true...]
[ Desolate as he is, it takes Akechi a minute to even take notice of the blood trickling down his head, but eventually he feels something moist in his hair, then his forehead, until it's running down his nose. ]
Blood...? [ He finally looks up, and his eyebrows shoot upwards as realization dawns upon him. ] Akira, what are you--
[ But he doesn't have the chance to ask.
Before he can voice his concerns, he feels something else; his sides are warm and more malleable, and though his skin still looks rough and far too similar to bark, he finds that, on the inside, his left arm and leg seem to be pumping blood again; the pain from his wounds surely feels a lot sharper, too, fresh and exposed. Out of instinct, he brings his one good hand to press on it and stop the bleeding, but that's when an idea comes to mind.
Could it be the rumors might work for them, after all? It's worth a try, at the very least.
With less difficulty now than back when he settled down, he comes to his full height again, and wipes a bloodied hand across Akira's trunk, stepping back to see if it bears any results. ]
[When Akechi starts to get up and move with greater fluidity than a moment ago, Akira feels his body sag with relief. So it worked. They'll be okay.
He feels confident even before Akechi rubs his bloody palm against his trunk, but the moment it hits, he already starts to feel better. Slowly, steadily, the transformation reverses, with only some pain - his skin returns to normal, his legs are no longer rooted to the ground. He shrinks back to his normal height, to stand before Akechi.]
...It worked.
[His voice is no longer like the wind through a tree, though it's still pretty raspy.]
no subject
He sighs and leans in closer, further presses the side of his face against Akira. ]
Something about blood breaking the curse. Some said it worked for them, while others were still confined to their tree forms. Even if we assume it was true, it's clearly...
[ He trails off, though Akira should be able to figure it out for himself, considering all the blood sipping out of Akechi right now. ]
no subject
He sees the sap-like blood pooling on the ground around Akechi (terrifying, but this whole situation is). It's clear that Akechi is covered in it and he's still turning into a tree, but that's his own blood - and it's only on the ground, keeping it from getting on Akira.
And Akira can still move his hands.
That spark of inspiration is all it takes for Akira to grab his knife from under his coat, still draped over his shoulders even as his body goes stiffer and stiffer, hold his left palm out over Akechi, and slice the blade over his palm.
He watches as his blood rains down on Akechi. Worse case, he'll just have a scar on his wood once he's fully a tree. But if the rumor is true...]
no subject
Blood...? [ He finally looks up, and his eyebrows shoot upwards as realization dawns upon him. ] Akira, what are you--
[ But he doesn't have the chance to ask.
Before he can voice his concerns, he feels something else; his sides are warm and more malleable, and though his skin still looks rough and far too similar to bark, he finds that, on the inside, his left arm and leg seem to be pumping blood again; the pain from his wounds surely feels a lot sharper, too, fresh and exposed. Out of instinct, he brings his one good hand to press on it and stop the bleeding, but that's when an idea comes to mind.
Could it be the rumors might work for them, after all? It's worth a try, at the very least.
With less difficulty now than back when he settled down, he comes to his full height again, and wipes a bloodied hand across Akira's trunk, stepping back to see if it bears any results. ]
no subject
He feels confident even before Akechi rubs his bloody palm against his trunk, but the moment it hits, he already starts to feel better. Slowly, steadily, the transformation reverses, with only some pain - his skin returns to normal, his legs are no longer rooted to the ground. He shrinks back to his normal height, to stand before Akechi.]
...It worked.
[His voice is no longer like the wind through a tree, though it's still pretty raspy.]