Chapter Text
“ so, what brought you two here?”,
Toge scribbled on his measly notebook, beaten and drawn on to death- water stains covered each page, holding memories of him and his siblings playing tic tak toe, when their father argued with receptionist . Toge thought it would be a nice ice breaker, trying to bring levity to their predicament
The three were huddled together, their knees glued together-forcing them to awkwardly maneuver to make space. It didn’t help Toge ego to have taller companions around, making him the most expendable. Panda, the literal panda, a fact the two humans still trying to wrap theirs head around- took up most space, his furs filling in ever nook and crannies it seem.
Toge blubbered thankfulness of tonight’s cooler temperature, making the huddling more bearable; Fainting at the idea of the day warming even a little.
Maki, he learned before the quietness was filled with his question, lifted her eyebrows-to only gave a huff, “trying to escape the rain, to only end up here”, a light despondency ranged in her tone. Her legs was pulled to her chest, arms draped over her knees, a wet leather jacket laying across from her
Toge gave a small nod, being in the same unfortunate boat. Burning legs from walking all day, he was becoming beside himself. Stumbling over his own feet, forlorn to take another step, he needed to rest. Catching the old house from the corner of his eye, he hesitated, going back and forward. Was it smart to enter an abandoned house? his mind submerged with horror tropes- but then the wave washed back , leaving more realistic concerns: the building crashing onto him, glass splattered along with broken, and rotted furniture- rodents, and things crawling by.
He nearly broke down at the last part, yet Toge had to swallow the gun.
Walking only few feet, he heard rumblings of whispers. His chest was swirling with a negative energy. Toge, frightened- planned to run out..to only land in this hole, now with two other lost and trapped souls
And the questionnaire ended with the sheepish panda, gently scratching his face with his claw; giving them a simple grin , “I was in search of what is in this house ”
Maki tapped in, “and that being?”, her voice drifted of the final syllable. Toge turned his attention to panda, wanting the million dollar question- wanting to know what other being that could be with them
Panda was In thought for a moment, trying to piece together an answer. A little light bulb went off in his head, pleased, even patting himself on the back
“Well, It’s goes by many names, but the one you may be familiar with is………ghosts”, panda elongated his final word, adding an explosive to the end, his arms expanded out to reflect the said bomb
That only left two main reactions, maki whole face twisted. A nice mixed between staggered, bewilderment, and maybe a twinge of disappointment. Quite warm to the unknown, and the occult; she occasionally dribbled to get a good scare, expectation was high…So, colored her surprised to only hear it was a ghost? They could be “frightening”, but that wasn’t what keep her at night unable to close her eyes
Toge was more confused, sure-he is someone that is deem more unusual-more uncomfortable than a “ghost”. He have down things that supernatural, so it’s have to be real- if he is real. Yet he his mind ping back, does the existence mean the other could be possible, where does the line stop? Having the never ending conversation of true, or not; But, nonetheless Toge is intrigued-
“Ghost are real?”, Toge scrawl
“Yes! They are”, panda dubiously answered
“So, it was Casper who got us in this hell hole”, maki quip and let out a unsure snicker
Toge joined in her little chuckle, ridiculous yet humorous at how they are essentially hiding from Casper the neighborhood ghost. He picked up the chewed up blue pen, drawing little ghosts on his paper- turning it to the two, mimicking the children character.
Panda joined in, maki rolled her eyes- turning her head to hide the smile small on her lips
“Ok, ok”, panda stopping the play, putting on the serious veneer. “The ghost we are dealing with is a low threat, but quite a slippery critter. All I need to do is sneak upon it, landing my one-two”, he threw air punches
“What I need you to do is to distract it- you will be out the way, but you may have to throw something, are you in?”
Panda gave his perfect pitch, Toge and maki glance at each other. He doubted his ability to help, feeling to be more of a burden who will be in the way, but looking into those panda eyes-toge couldn’t leave panda hanging, not wanting to fail him. He even maybe want to go with him on the road
Toge flashed two thumbs up, panda wrapped his arm around toge neck, giving his a hair shake with his knuckle. Panda turn to maki, a glint in his black eye,“are you joining?”
Maki ponder, promptly, she unceremoniously agreed
“Sure why not, I have nothing better to do”,
Panda nearly jumped in the air, potentially causing the house to imploded, “hell yeah!”, panda to put it simply, was euphoric to have people, even if it’s for time with him. He looked at both of the humans, one with wide eyed curiosity, and the other a determined gaze. Panda couldn’t place his paw on it, but he had a satisfying sensation
“The first thing first: getting out of this hole- now, I think Toge should go first. He will pull upwards, while I push below”, panda said
“I am ready!!”, toge enthusiastically moved
“Could you hurry yup!”, maki howl was dampen down by the fur in her mouth. Misery filled her soul, as she was pressed into the wall- trying to give the giant animal some space, but her patience grew painfully thin. Panda was bent over, nearly having his tail in maki mouth, hands pressed over each other. Toge tucked his notebook in his pants, peaking out from his waistband, and the blue pen in his pocket. Panda drove home: “don’t want your items stuck somewhere unwanted”
“make sure to be as quiet as you can, even one mistake-and that thing is going to be on trial “, panda whisperer, muddled because his position. Toge marginally wag, it didn’t help his nerves-already frightened to be their end, but he sucked it up, they needed to at-least to get out to go home.
Toge pressed his foot into the paw, trying to test its security-“ready?”, panda espouse, giving a supportive smile. He breathed through his nose, letting it coming out his mouth. Toge patted his shoulders, he placed his foot on panda hand- before Toge could place his hands on the bear shoulder, his body was shot up. Discombobulated, body moving swiftly through the air, his brain desperately trying to catch up quickly. Toge landed safely, on his back. His whole body stiffened like the board that caught , grunts wanting to escape but knew better. He held his breath, trying to hear possible footsteps; but, it seem lady luck was to be on his side, allowing him to relax into his plank body
“Hey, you made it? Are you okay?”, the hushed tone of panda paused Toge radiating pain. He turn his head slightly to the hole, toge wanted to scream- or be able to mutter something. Moving was out of the option, needing more rest; he was becoming frustrated, leaden still sprightly build inside, causing the dam to bust
“O-o-o…okaka”, he barely managed, meekly emit- yet it came out
Okaka, or okaka onigiri rice balls, a simple but delicious meal. Made up of dried and thinly shaved bonito or skipjack tuna flakes (called katsuobushi) and soy sauce; The mixture is smoky, savory and loaded with umami – and Toge favorite meal since he could walk, a special holidays gift, since they never really gotten anything-the sibling would get their favorite meal. His older brother taste always prefers Katsudon, always melting when he within a sniff of it. His sister had an tastes for Sukiyaki, eating the scraps from the inumakis back in the day- but they always came up with her second best, an egg sandwiches; but Toge had a soft heart for okaka onigiri rice balls, always lighting him up no matter
Toge was surprised that came out, and at such an odd time, giving him a warm smile. “I will take as an okay, come over to help with maki. He dread the come up, but It was better to rip the bandaid of quickly; Toge went piece by piece: rising up with his arm, and knee on the ground. On his knees, his foot bent, to be on the tip of his toes. Lastly, he was finally on his feet; Toge could observed a pinch of an headache, yet he persisted on
He ogled around, moving his whole body to compensate for his neck. Finding the notebook still on his person , and a pen that, graciously, stayed with him. Toge walked over to the hole, panda gave a cheerful greeting , maki had a scowl-spitting out furs of black and white coloring. Toge, ruffled hair, and messy clothes, waved passionately back to panda. Toge cracked his knuckles. Yanking the notebook out of his pants, he at full tilt, scratched on the blue and red lines
“Are you ready to go maki?”, Toge eyes crinkled
“I’m ready”, she vocalized a assured response
Toge placed his things down, squatting toward the hole. Panda got right into his pervious position, maki stepped into his digital pad; he hoisted her up to Toge, clasping their hands together, as she pressed her other hand on the surface. Speedily they got maki out of the hole, she was weightless-panda taking majority of the lifting. He nearly landed on his back again, if wasn’t for maki stabilizing him
Toge raised his hand, shaping into the ok symbol, raising his eyebrows, expanding his eyes. Trying to ask if she okay, “Yeah, i am okay”, maki responded
“Are you good?, maki reflected the question back
He gave a nod back
“I’m on my way!”, panda announced
Maki was going to turn, walk to the hole for assistance, and ask what did he mean- a gushed up wind interrupted maki. The panda below did light stretches, warming his limbs. Panda squatted, his tail nearly touched the floor, he counted down
3
2
1
He frog leaped, gilding into the air beautifully. The two were stunned, amazed at the height-but panic kicked into gear, is he going to alert the creature?- would this jumping panda put them back where they were, but even worse then before?!…… Panda gracefully touch down on his toes, having all his weight dispensed to his crouching knees- as his arms flew up in the air. They were amazed not a peep came through, Toge covered his head to brace himself-but peaked to see if he landed
“What the hell was that panda?”, while slightly in state of wonder from the alethic feat from panda- but that state was shared with stupefaction from his actions. She slapped the panda behind the ear
He grabbed his head, giving maki a comically frowned “ what was that maki”, panda pouted
Toge flipped to the nearest clear page, “what is next panda”, he showed the duo
Panda stopped the act, scanning Toge question. Resuming back to business, panda softly clapping his hands. “ the step is to find where the creature is at”
With the sun being able to peer through the cracks, Toge eyes were able to adjust and see. He knew panda was a panda, because he told him- but he was a panda, a full fledged animal..who can talk? And leap. He stood heads above them, taking up space in the mental, and literal. Panda was the first real life animal he saw, never allowed to go to the zoo- too expensive, never stayed long enough, and his parents would shame them as a sprinkle on top
Yet, what was the shock was maki- another young person, who looked Toge aged, what brought her here?; sure you could argue the same with Toge, but he is…a little strange, bizarre even (especially if you we’re talking to his folks) However maki seem normal, cool even-the hell Is she doing here!?
“Alright let’s get going”, maki matter of factly stated
And they hit the road
They knew the house was decrepit, even so-damn, how are they walking steady on this beaten foundation. The soul of the house reeked of mildew, swarming in their senses-clinging death onto their brain. Brown soaked wood splintered under their toes, the material that perhaps was thewy, stalwart to its strands- was now floundered, microscopic lurched; the house seemed weighed down, any personality of furniture from couches, paintings, rugs was disintegrated . The sunlight being the saving grace, highlighting the destruction but gave life to the rotted house. His fears were accurate, there was splattered glass in corners, pieces of sticks dangling above -floor boards, and walls exposed. Toge did see something moved in the corner of his eye, but decided to keep a lid on it, the only way for the mission to be successful
Panda signal upwards the staircase, surprisingly “in-tact”, he pressed his foot down to test. A squill came out, causing the group to wince, but they had to keep going. Slowly the stairs were introduced to three bodies, inchmeal up the steps. Toge held his breath, worried it would add weight; maki gripped the molded rail, her disgust was subdued, trying to control her body. Panda lead the way, his right foot came up, and then their right foot came- they were a well oiled machine, Simon said only goes
As their left foot was near planting on the steps, when a caterwaul tunelessly interrupted their focused. The machine was petrified, wanting to trade glances- but too rattled to move. Once finishing its wailing, panda meticulously turned his torso. The two, stilled statuesque, gawping at the panda; he pointed toward Toge, his digits lower to-to…..to…
“Oh”, Toge looked down at his notebook book. His head snapped to panda, signaling to the book-panda gave two thumbs up. Toge quickly gathered his paper, and pen; steadying himself, he passed it to maki, then she gave it to the panda. They waited for the panda to “speak”, he hastily wrote, panda places the pen in the spiral
“When we reach the second floor, we will enter in the first door we see-then, go forward”, They both nodded mechanically
the journey was near the end, they march forward all feet going the same speed. Panda put a hand up, stopping the train from proceeding; he gazed around the corner, left then right- seeing the coast was clear, he cued them to advance onward. Maki, and Toge clanged to the bear- mimicking the panda, checking to see if the boogie man was near. They walked down the hall, standing in front of the crumbly white door.
Toge was on panda right arm, and maki was on his left- panda slowly clambered to the knob, weighed down by a force and the threat triggered by the tiniest of sound. It opened seamlessly, to a cramped dingy orange room- with a window, sunlight washing in. Though foolish, the trio rushed in, and closed the door- letting them have the delusion of safety.
It was soundless, only having their deep breaths breaking through. Sweat even dropped off maki face, showing how stressed filled their body was. Unspoken, they sat in the middle, placing Toge tablet in between them
“How do we feel?”, panda softly chirped
They breathed in their last breath, allowing the lungs to be replenished. “Yeah”, maki gave a low answer. “o-okaka”, Toge frailly said
Maki, and panda exchange quick glances- knowing after their encounter, they need to softly launch questions about his lack of language and mask. “Are you okay panda”, maki scanned the fur body to anything
“Good as I can be”, he coyly smiled
He rosed after the confirmation, the duad was flummoxed at him, preparing to rise up-panda interjected. “I am going to check the floor plan, it’s easier for me to go alone”, panda ended with searching. Eyes followed as he looked, releasing a pleased hummed, turning around to give them a plank. “Lock the door, I will be back- I am going to knock three times to let me in, but if you here two-don’t open”, before anyone could blink, panda slipped out the door
It was just two then, Toge and maki sitting facing each other. Maki leaned back, planting her hands on the floor, as she propped a knee up. Toge toyed with his dirty shoelaces, he twirled to gain some confidence-wanting to get to know her, what better time then now since they have a little moment together
Timidly he pick the paper, and pen then started to write. That sparked curiosity in maki, observing the quiet boy scrambling on the paper. He stopped, then looked at maki, sliding the notebook towards her; she gazed, and then picked up the notebook-reading the boy disgruntled penmanship
“Can I ask you a personal question maki, if you don’t mind- but if you do, then we can drop it”, Toge made sure to throw that in, not wanting to give the impression of pushing boundaries
Maki looked at the paper, then backed at the shy boy- whose eyes is drifting everywhere. She chucked, crossing her arms, and giving a playful smirk
“You can, if I can as well”, she preposition Toge, finding his backstory far more interesting then hers
That put a battery in his back, he got the notebook once more; writing his thought in a second. “Why are here, if you don’t mind me asking? How did someone like you ended up here?”
Toge mimic the emotions of confusion on his face, maki read the note- gazing at Toge with a lifted brow
“I could ask you the same, how did someone like you ended up here?”, since the question was raised-she wanted Toge to answer. Toge was different, thin almost frail, sliver locks reached his neck, covering his too big violet eyes. Dingy clothes, that swallowed him whole, leaving it almost falling off. Maki knew it was semi weird for her to be alone, considering her age, but if his family even cared a little about him-they shouldn’t let him go, she personally wouldn’t
Toge jerked reaction was to scoff, if his throat didn’t sting a bit. But he showed his best, by dramatically rolling his eyes, giving her a “are you serious “, as he wrote
“Well, I am off putting - unlike you, you’re normal, cool even, so to have someone like you here is crazy .”, Toge finished
Maki completed her reading, ending with a natural smile. She gently shoved Toge, mumbling “nerd”, Toge laugh, little hiccups being released, pushing her back.
“I had to get away, it was now or never, my family had crossed the lines too many times- I let it go because I had a sister, but it was becoming unbearable, slowly suffocating me- I know we can survive, doing better then those bastards. So, I asked my sis to come with me- and then I left”, maki let it flowed out
A part of her wanted to stop, gluing her mouth shut, to stop spilling her business to a stranger- however, this stranger, Toge….. she felt oddly comfortable talking, only having this with her sister. He listened attentively, focusing to soak it all in- its uncannily how similar they were, painfully understanding the choice: scare to leave, foolish to stay
Toge started writing when maki stopped, she was interested to see what he wrote-slightly worried he is going to pitying her, almost regretting her choice to be vulnerable. He gave the notebook to her, waiting patiently to see her reaction
“We have been the road ever since I was nine , it was good..until it wasn’t- the family I knew becoming strained..-restless, as bad as it sound, I knew our end was coming-the downfall is near. I didn’t want to go, almost pleading myself to stay-but I knew it will be the end if I did stay. So, that is why I am here”
Toge wanted to give as much as she gave, maki peered at him- not adding nothing, allowing an almost mutual understanding, and respect; knowing that sinking feeling to stay with their love one, walking to the unknown abyss alone .
Panda for his size was swift on his feet, not having an extra life to care for, panda can fly across the house. It was deathly silent, still having quietness against him; it was a push and pull, moving as gracefully and nibble as he could . He took out his blue phone, with panda and heart charm, checking if he had it on silence. Panda started his scavenge, taking notes and picture of the place.
The house was rather a small place, tight spaces being the norm; the hall was a long square U, Starting where they were, to the other side-doors open and closed ; all the rooms were brightly colored pinks, greens, yellow, and purple. Satisfied with his pictures, he moved on up to the third floor. Panda neck bracingly moved at a slowly pace, wanting to see the creature and more if the flooring allowed
He took step, after step-starting at the door slightly Doodle on. Panda turned the corner, he patiently turn his head-placing it on the corner of the walls; He paused, happy to see what he came for.
“Bingo!”
the creature was crouched down, messing with something, it was a deep blue-with a heavy top, and a smaller brunt bottom; hands scattered on its side, groping the air. Snarling to itself, enraptured with whatever small unfortunate creatures landed in it sights; panda head rose above, the hallway had fewer doors but similar lay out- a plan was gearing in his head
He took the final picture, praying-sweat dropped at not trying to get wind of the demon . Panda, carefully, and wisely got up out of there-was it an easy “ghost?”, absolutely, but he knew well: under or over estimated these things, and it’s your or someone else life. Panda shot through to the stairs, walking-running to the end of the hall- he entered the second floor, Turing a right. Panda, gently knock the door three times, placing his ear to hear some shuffling
The door was open by maki holding a brick, with Toge an inch behind
“Prepare yourself, we won’t be here much longer!”