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For a person like Ichimatsu, it was easy to forget that other people are there, or were there. Most of his time was focused on himself and cats. He'd go out and find himself blessed if he were to run into a feline friend or two and call it a day from there.
But tonight, he felt restless. He was being a piece of shit as always and loafed around at home (Osomatsu was likely trying to continue a streak at pachinko, and Todomatsu was at another mixer), and as much as he enjoyed it in his own pessimistic way, he was lonely.
No, he didn't miss his brothers. He missed the cats. He hadn't gone out to see the cats today, and none of them visited to come play either. Not that he cared, trash like him wasn't really worth the time of day.
(But then again, I haven't gone to feed them today), he reasoned to himself, standing up to get his secret stash of sardines from the shelves, having made a decision despite it almost being midnight. (I'll just give them a little snack and hang out with them for a bit.)
It was definitely a good idea that he had gone out the usual alleyway to see the cats. Upon seeing them, he found his often gloomy expression brighten even by a little, especially as they meowed and approached him like usual.
"Sorry I didn't come by today. Hopefully you all have gotten something to eat?" He asked as he knelt down to pet those that came close. A few managed to sniff out the dried fish that was in his pockets and pawed it out, nibbling at their late night snack, which caused Ichimatsu to chuckle.
"Guess it was a smart idea I brought those, huh?" the cats simply mewled in return, as if they understood what he was saying, and he in turn understood them. He was a cat person, after all. He would like to believe that both sides knew and understood each other.
For a while, the only thing that accompanied Ichimatsu in the alleyway were his furry friends, his and their shadows lining the walls. The night was at a slow crawl, so there weren't any cars or people currently passing by to cast any additional light or shadows their way. The only sounds he could hear were the cats meowing and munching on their morsels.
So when one or two of the cats started hissing at something at the very end of the alley way, Ichimatsu was immediately on high alert, his own feline features coming out as some sort of defense mechanism. It was literally a dead end over there, and only the strays hang out here. What could be there?
Apparently something that can talk, Ichimatsu soon came to find out as he and the other cats approached it.
"Let's see... Most of the ones in North-West area are already being handled by Tacchan, and those living near the park I already handled as well... The apartments nearby may be the next ideal delivery area then." They were heard muttering, pacing about as they cast a shadow didn't make their face as visible as Ichimatsu and the rest got even closer, letting out a shriek as one of the cats meowed directly at them.
"GYAH! Huh, wh–?" They paused to look at the cat that had broken his train of thought, looking up further to see that they had gathered a crowd that involved a person.
"Oh, right. Ichimatsu would usually be here, huh?" They crossed their arms, chuckling to themselves as if they were the only ones there, straight up ignoring the other person in the alleyway with them. "But it's night, so shouldn't he be at home with Osomatsu-niisan and Todomatsu?"
Ichimatsu frowned. Something about the thing's silhouette was bugging him – (was it just him, or did they sound exactly like Choromatsu?) –, but he was more focused on the fact that he didn't like being ignored like this.
"I can hear you, you know. We all can." He stated as loud as he could.
Once more, the stranger stopped. They turned silent. If Ichimatsu squinted, he swore he could see them blink.
"You... You can see me?" They slowly asked, gulping audibly as the other nodded. "Oh no, this isn't right. I shouldn't be seen, you shouldn't see me."
"What do you mean 'you shouldn't be seen'?" Ichimatsu had half a mind to step back, but only found himself stepping forward, to get closer at this odd silhouette that had Choromatsu's voice. His cat-like features even faded away at the mere assumption that this was someone he knew.
"Exactly what I mean. I shouldn't be seen when I'm traversing like this," the silhouette said as if it were the most commonly known thing on the planet, clicking his tongue in annoyance. "Animals, I kind of expected to at least notice my presence, it's happened before. But people? I've literally walked past people and not once have they noticed me! Which is good! That's good! The veil between the waking world and the dreaming world is thin, but it should never be crossed so easily that people can just see me!"
He kept talking and talking, complaining about something that the fourth son couldn't wrap his head around. The alleyway cats who had alerted Ichimatsu about this stranger's presence in the first place had since calmed down, curling their bodies by the feet of the latter, relaxed and drifting off to sleep.
(So he's definitely someone they know), Ichimatsu surmised. (But it can't be Choromatsu-niisan. Unless he's suddenly into wearing top hats with deer antlers since he and the others left home.)
That was the one thing throwing him off. The silhouette that had unwillingly made his presence known looked human, but at where the head should be, it looked like he had horns or antlers sprouting out the sides. The only weirdo Ichimatsu personally knew was Jyushimatsu, but considering they were all brothers, perhaps Choromatsu, if this even was Choromatsu, had risen to the same heights and became something beyond human?
No way, that was stupid.
"Speaking of, what time is it anyways?"
Ichimatsu jumped at the sudden question, forgetting that the silhouette, the creature, the person (???) was still there. Actually, even he wasn't aware of what time it was. He pulled out his phone, the screen showing a 00:00 for a new day.
"It's uh, midnight."
The silhouette with Choromatsu's voice groaned.
"Damn it. The midnight hour, I should have known." He shook his head. "That's when that veil is the thinnest, right next to the witching hour. But that's not our jurisdiction anyways, so I didn't really care about that–"
Okay, yeah. This silhouette was definitely Choromatsu, Ichimatsu decided. Nobody prattled on as much as his older brother did.
"Choromatsu-niisan, why are you even here?" he asked as he put his phone away, stopping Choromatsu from monologuing further. "And, not like I can see you properly, but what's with your head?"
Tonight was particularly cloudy, so not even moonlight could cast anything on Choromatsu's form, but his shape was visible enough for Ichimatsu to see that odd one out and actually point it out.
"Well, I'll try to answer what you asked first." Choromatsu began. "You're right, it's me, Choromatsu. But right now I'm working as a Dream Distributor. I share dreams around Akatsuka Ward so that no one has a dreamless night. I stopped by here because I was figuring out where to go next. The city is often busy, so not a lot of folks sleep the same hours. So I wanted to do the most optimal way of doing this while leaving the urban area for last. I end up befriending the cats here too at night since I drop by often to map things out."
Ichimatsu blinked. He absolutely had no idea what any of Choromatsu just said meant. Dream Distributor? What even was that? Was that a real job?
"Secondly, I guess you mean the antlers." The sort-of-looking human patted the one near his left. "Well, it kind of took some getting used to, but it's part of me now! They help guide my way around Akatsuka, but they're light enough that they don't bother me at all! I even forget they're there sometimes, haha!"
That made Ichimatsu freeze. Part of... him?
"So they're not... from that hat of yours?" He asked.
"Oh, not at all. Here."
He took off the hat and true enough, the antlers didn't come off with it. They were glued to the silhouette's – Choromatsu's round head. Ichimatsu felt a lump in his throat. Choromatsu was strange in his own way, the not-so-above-it-all, but this was...
"Choromatsu-niisan, what happened to you?" Ichimatsu asked, not sure what kind of answer to expect.
"Hm? I got a job." Choromatsu simply answered, putting the hat back on as he did so.
What.
"NO NO NO I'M PRETTY SURE JOBS DON'T JUST MAKE YOU GROW HORNS!!!" Ichimatsu exclaimed, surprising the cats that were accompanying both of them. This was crazy, even for Ichimatsu! "CHOROMATSU-NIISAN DID YOU GET A JOB FROM DEKAPAN OR SOMETHING?! DID HE MAKE YOU TAKE SOME WEIRD DRUG?! IS THIS AN EXPERIMENT?!?!"
Choromatsu tilted his head towards his younger brother, as if he sprouted a second head.
"What's with the outburst? No, I didn't take anything, and I'm not working for Dekapan." The Dream Distributor replied. "I already told you, I work sharing dreams so that no one in Akatsuka Ward has a sleepless night. That should make enough sense, right?"
"NO IT DOESN'T YOU SHITTY OLDER BROTHER!!!" Ichimatsu shook his head, feeling like he's about to lose it at Choromatsu's nonchalance. "THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AT ALLLLLLLLLL!!"
Choromatsu stayed silent. The lump in Ichimatsu's throat returned, followed by his chest tightening. Suddenly, the air felt colder than usual, and the wind had stilled.
"Ichimatsu, it's getting rather late, isn't it?" Choromatsu began, walking over to where Ichimatsu was, making sure not to step on any of the sleeping cats.
"C-Choromatsu-niisan, what are you–"
Ichimatsu found himself glued to the spot, despite his want – no, this primal uge to walk back and run away now. As Choromatsu came closer, he could see him a bit clearer now.
He was wearing a formal suit of sorts, with fur lining the collar area of the jacket, and a tie tucked under a vest. It was nothing special. If anything, it matched the top hat that Choromatsu was wearing. However, they seemed to be glowing green. How Ichimatsu failed to notice it earlier, he would never know. But now that Choromatsu was coming close, he could see the fur lining, the tie, and even the ribbon wrapped around the top hat all glowing softly, as if the night sky above them had been plucked and placed onto this very outfit.
"Ichimatsu, I shouldn't be doing this, but I would prefer if you got home safe. I promise you that you will be, safe and sound and tucked in bed. And then I can give you your dreams."
Ichimatsu was so distracted by his brother's new appearance that he failed to register how close the other had gotten. The urge to just scamper away had disappeared and was replaced with nothing but calm.
As if he wasn't freaked out to begin with.
"So please, look at me."
But this should have.
As Ichimatsu did as he was told, he was met with eyes that glowed a pale white. But those only seemed like accessories as he looked up even further and stared at the deer antlers. The antlers that seemed to curl on each other and have gaps in between them, now had something in them, and they were glowing as well. But unlike the other glows that had the sky, these seemed to have galaxies, universes within them.
And they were looking right at him.
Ichimatsu woke up with a jolt, hand clutching his chest as his breath caught up with him.
"What the... Huh...?"
He looked around. He wasn't in the alleyway anymore, he was at home. He was in the bedroom, right on top of the futon that they always slept on.
He looked at himself. He wasn't in his usual jacket and sweatpants either, he was in his pajamas.
"But when did I...?"
He looked to his left. Todomatsu and Osomatsu were both sound asleep. What time even is it?
"3:25 AM." Ichimatsu squinted his eyes to read the numbers on the alarm clock. That... was not right.
He left home some time before midnight, and he didn't even remember going home prior.
And there was...
"Choromatsu-niisan."
He saw Choromatsu in the alleyway. He said some things he didn't really understand (or want to understand, really), but he was sure of what he saw and heard.
It was Choromatsu, in some different form.
Ichimatsu groaned as he laid back down, head hitting the pillow with a thump. Just as he did that, he heard one of the other two with him on the futon groan.
"Ugh... Osomatsu-niisan, are you awake?"
Osomatsu groaned once more, before letting out a yawn.
"Mmm? Ichimacchan, when did you...?" he asked groggily, not even finishing his own question.
"I... I don't know" Ichimatsu admitted. "But I think I saw Choromatsu-niisan."
He didn't say what they looked like, but that seemed to be enough to get Osomatsu to suddenly stand up and crawl over to where he was.
"Did he now? Where did you guys meet?" Osomatsu asked.
"In the alleyway. I was with the cats and he was there and..." Ichimatsu paused. "I don't remember what he looked like."
Now that he was awake, the details of what Choromatsu looked like were starting to fade away.
"Did he say anything?" Osomatsu pressed on.
"Not that I could properly remember. That guy says the weirdest shit. Couldn't make heads or tails of it... Fuck, Osomatsu-niisan. What if I just dreamt it? What if I didn't actually go out and see him there?"
This wouldn't be the first time his mind was playing tricks on him. An imaginary situation where he met Choromatsu because maybe he secretly missed him wouldn't be out of the question.
"Now now, maybe you did and maybe you didn't. It is rather late in the night." Osomatsu reached over to ruffle Ichimatsu's hair. "Go back and get some sleep, I think you need a bit more of it."
"But I..."
"Come on now, big brother knows best~"
Ichimatsu frowned but conceded, muttering a 'goodnight' before heading back under the covers. As Ichimatsu did that and eventually slept away, light snoring heard coming from him, Osomatsu stood up and headed downstairs.
(No, Ichimatsu definitely wasn't home when Totty and I got back and went to bed. But it wouldn't make sense for it to be that he sleepwalked the way home either), Osomatsu thought to himself as he headed for the living room.
He stepped on the couch to reach over the shelf above it. The bag of dried sardines Ichimatsu had hidden there was gone. He can assume that some of Ichimatsu's cat friends could have just dropped by during the day and were given them, but last he checked, that was a full bag. Those would have taken days for those feline visitors to empty out.
It would have to be taken outside where there were a bunch of cats that would eat a whole bag out.
(I knew it. He did go out. So he really must have met Choromatsu in the alleyway.)
Osomatsu frowned.
"Karamatsu, what the hell did you guys get yourselves in to?"