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WHO: Komasan and Kururu
WHERE: Las Vegas
WHEN: New Year's Eve
WHAT: Komasan won a trip and he's going to use it, damn it.
WARNINGS: Nothing I can think of?

[When Komasan found out he was going to another city as a reward, he wasn't entirely sure what to think. Cities make him dizzy enough as it is, and he's only just now getting used to all four porter cities to the point where he can explore and usually find his way back home in time. ...But when Kururu said she'd go with him, his anxiety slowly shifted into excitement. He's never taken anyone on a trip before, it's usually the other way around.

Las Vegas ended up being...a lot larger than what he's used to. The porter cities already made New Sakura Town seem tiny, he honestly didn't think it was possible for cities to get any bigger. Exploring then meant that a lot of his time was spent in human form, being taller in a strange and new place made navigating just a little easier, and lessened his chances of being trampled.

As the day went into night and the celebrations started to begin, Komasan slowly began to realize that maybe American New Year's was, um, different. Normally holidays are not something he's very knowledgeable on, but New Year's he knows, it was one of the many festivals they used to throw near his shrine. Imagine his surprise when he saw he was the only one who decided to don a more traditional kimono...and then decided everyone else was being weird. Oh well, that didn't stop him from enjoying his trip. He got to explore and experience probably one of the prettiest and fanciest cities he's ever been to with his best friend of all people, a part of him wondered what Komajiro would think of all this...

As things calmed down, or at least calmed down as much as Vegas could get, Komasan lead Kururu back to the hotel, near the front of it anyway. The far front. Right by what he can only assume is its "giant fancy pool." The Bellagio is one hell of a place, but that's just what you get when you're a big shot model now. ...Who is actually a simple country bumpkin dog.]

Ah...do you need to sit down, zura? [Komasan pants just a little. He's been walking around all day, his feet are starting to rebel. ...N-Not that he's tired, he's totally not tired, who said anything about being tired?] I mean...only if you want to...I could keep going forever, zura!

[Komasan lies while throwing his arms behind his head.]

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Maybe for a little bit? It's almost midnight.

[ As if she can't hear the edges of exhaustion in his voice, or how the rhythm of his footsteps has become just a bit slower, just a bit uneven. And it's almost midnight here, but in the time zone they'd been living in, it would almost be three AM . . .

The city and the crowds of people filling it buzz happily in the background of her senses. Komasan's not used to cities at all, but to her, the imPort cities are so small, and spread out, and empty. The Las Vegas strip pulses with a life she hadn't even known she'd missed until she heard it again The energy of it, the lights, the excitement, the noise . . . it's nostalgic in so many ways.

For a moment, she wonders what this New Years would be like at home—

But it wouldn't be New Years, would it? The time at home is still the same as the moment she left, and it will stay the same, waiting, until she goes back. Komasan's time is like that too—right now, this is the only spot for both of them where time keeps flowing.

The first benches are full, but there's space still on one small raised wall. She hops up there, patting the empty spot beside her. ]

Even if it's not the best view . . . is this good?

[There's but a split second where Komasan's eyes shine with relief, like she somehow magically read his mind despite the more than obvious hints he's been dropping, before he remembers he's supposedly the exact opposite of tired.

...Komasan then reminds himself that he's a terrible liar.

Eagerly, he scrambles for that spot on the wall and sits down, accepting his fate.]

This is great, zura.

[He may be tired, but he doesn't regret this at all. There's just something about walking and taking your time to explore everything that makes it seem a little more up close and personal. They certainly wouldn't have been able to if he, say, somehow brought his car or something. It reminded him a lot of his first time in a city, but with a newfound sense of pride that he was able to do it without much help.

Komasan also had the feeling he's going to sleep well tonight after this anyway. If anything, that'll really make all this walking worth it if he gets to relax in his fancy hotel bed...]

S-Sorry, I won't take too long. Um...h-how much time do we have exactly, z-zura...?

Exactly?

[ She doesn't check her comm. She never does. ]

Six minutes and fifty eight seconds! So really . . . just a little bit more.

[ She turns a little, looking at him. The sun's long set (thankfully—it's hot as it is in Heropa here, even if it's dryer), but with so many lights around, it might as well still be day. It looks . . . not bad on him, she thinks. Fitting, maybe, for him to be haloed in golds and reds and cool blue white. ]

Has Komasan ever seen New Years in America?

[He shakes his head as he begins to look up towards the sky. Perhaps out of habit, again he can't stop thinking about the old festivals he used to watch back home. But unlike the countryside, everything was so much brighter here, it's difficult to make out the stars. Maybe that's why there's so many lights, maybe the people here just wanted to make their own stars.]

No, I guess not... I didn't show up here until New Years was already over, zura. [Huh, now that he thinks about it, he supposes that means he's been here for almost a year. And yet, he still remembers his first day like it just happened yesterday.] If I knew it was gonna be so different, I probably would've tried to fit in more, zura...

[Despite it all, a soft smile makes its way on his face.]

But even if it's different, I'm glad I got to see it, zura! I probably would've never known if I hadn't come to the US in the first place... The world's so much bigger than I realized, it only makes sense that some things might change, zura...

[With that said, he then tilts his head.]

And I'm really glad I got to learn about it with you. ...Thanks for coming with me, zura.

[Komasan could not be anymore genuine when he says that, when he heard he was allowed to bring one person with him, it had to be Kururu. Not only because she's his best friend, officially even, but because he knows if he left with someone else, he'd be leaving her alone in that house. To leave like that on New Years, he wouldn't be able to enjoy such a trip knowing he did something like that. He would either go with her, or stay home, that's all there was to it.

...But he'd be lying if he said he wasn't happy that she agreed to go with him. It meant she wanted to spend the holiday with him. It means more to him than he'll ever be able to describe, even if it meant going somewhere out of his element. ...Or more out of his element than usual.]

Um... Have you, zura?

No. It's my first too.

[ She follows his gaze up to the sky, to the few stars bright enough to still shine amid the sweeping spotlights.

The world's so much bigger than I realized. This world, their worlds, this whole universe . . . it's not just him. There's so much more out there, out here than she ever imagined possible. ]

We were— . . . mm. I was the same. It was just the start of January—January sixth. And it kind of . . . it took a while before the 'time' here felt real. I never really thought of it as 'just after New Years' until now.

[ Her eyes drop back down to the crowd, and she rubs at her head, smiling a bit. ]

Ahh, though I guess . . . it wouldn't really have been a new year for us, would it? Not when we never knew the old year. So . . . I guess, I mean, you could kind of say . . .

[ She pauses mid-head rub, glancing back up at him a little shyly. ]

It's . . . a new kind of New Year. Not just one that's in America. but . . . one that's here, too. Our first New Year.

[Huh, Komasan never realized how close their arrival times were. Then again, he tried to stay indoors during his first few days, some scary stuff was going on. But what really jolts him — literally causes him to flinch back — is when she says "we." He remembers, when they first met, she was with a friend... she had a lot of friends. Practically a whole pile of them. With how often she was losing people, he couldn't help but wonder...were they all gone? Is that what she's implying?]

Kururu...

[She made it to New Years all by herself. The new New Year. To begin a whole new life in a new world with familiar faces, but to cross the finish line alone, how can she still smile like that?

They could've had a big party, just like the last one they threw in Nonah. They could be having New New Years together!

New Years...

...New Years...

...

It's then that Komasan remembers that six minutes is not a lot of time and immediately begins to panic. With absolutely no grace, he stumbles off the wall and barely manages to land on his feet.]

We're gonna miss our first New Year if we don't hurry, z-zura!!

We won't miss it! There's still two minutes, thirty one seconds—

[ But he's already moving, and that means she is too, hopping down to follow before the crowd can swallow either of them up. It's impulsive and a little insane to try to get closer now of all times, but . . .

But it's Komasan, and it's an infectious, exhilarating madness. The kind that leaves sparkles in her eyes and laughter in her throat, and why not? A stormrider who doesn't ride and a sacred animal in corporeal form weaving their way through Las Vegas crowds minutes to midnight. It's an idea with no sense to it at all.

It's perfect.

Tight as his shadow, she nudges him forward, picking a path in the space between hundreds of footsteps. ]

Wherever we are is where New Years will be. Right?

But if you want to see the fountains, maybe this way? And around this person, and left here . . .

[With Kururu at the wheel, Komasan's determination burns to life as he weaves around people at her direction. Although reassured that new New Years is "wherever," that doesn't stop him from wanting things to go smoothly. Perfect. Something worth remembering. When Komasan hangs up the inevitable photo on the wall, he wants her to look at it and wish they could do it again.

Frustrated with the crowd, Komasan's politeness only allows him to furrow his brow as he apologizes to each and every person he may bump into or slightly brush up against.]

So close, zura...

[The fountains would be perfect, the ones in that big pool. If they could find a good spot, then New Years would be "won."

But two minutes is not a lot, and Komasan really starts clawing his way through people when the crowd grows more lively as time presses forward. He grits his teeth as he marches on, already regretting his decision to stop and rest.]

I think I can see it, zura!

Heeh . . . because Komasan is tall like this, right?

[ From here, she can't see anything but bodies. Were she a different kind of stormrider, a different King, she would be able to see a path through this crowd—the way to go would be vividly mapped out in her mind's eye, like trails of light through an obstacle course.

That's silly, though. If she was a different kind of stormrider, she wouldn't be on the ground at all. Ikki, or Yayoi, or Kazu . . . they'd be watching the night from on top of one of the countless flashing signs instead. They'd miss all of this—the way the crowd moves like a living thing around them, a broken clockwork cacophony of footsteps and voices and elbows. The way they're not just in it, but part of it . . . her and Komasan and every person shifting and moving like tiny parts in some great machine.

One minute left. More than enough.

She takes half a step back and reaches for his sleeve, fingers curling tight in his haori. ]

Just a little more. Move with me?

[ There's a rhythm to it. A heartbeat, pulsing in time with the countdown of the clock, shifting in how . . . there's a little more room around those two men dancing, and the hugging couple doesn't mind being moved at all. A pause while people shift, and—

there's a pulse from the front of the crowd, a single body trying to get away instead of closer. And just for a moment, just a few seconds before midnight, there's a small gap for two small Japanese teens to squeeze through, open just between them and the edge of the lake. ]

[He opens his mouth to say something at first, but as people pass by and he continues to keep his eyes on his destination, it suddenly becomes apparent how much things have changed in such a short time. Komasan had been so used to being short, it didn't even occur to him that he might have grown. If they had been here sooner, when they first arrived, there'd be no way he could see as much as he's able to right now.]

I-I guess so, zura...

[Although he's not sure if he's happy about that or not. It distracts him, the idea of "winning" disappears when a new worry sets in. Humans...they only grew when they aged. Was...was he aging? A human's lifespan is so much shorter than his, a year is a big deal to them. If this is how it is, he can see why.

Spending years in America honestly didn't sound that bad to him at first, he was prepared for it. But...what if it goes on for "too long?" ...Would he eventually die like everyone else? Dying normally wasn't a scary subject for youkai, and Komasan wouldn't be so bothered, but...he's still yet to find any local youkai. Maybe people just don't become youkai when they die here... What would that mean for him?

...What if...

There's a soft gasp before his mind can continue tormenting him, the feeling of Kururu's hand in his sleeve pulling him away from those depressing thoughts. That isn't like him, he realizes, to think that way...

Move with me?

Komasan can only give a quiet nod, deciding it might be best to just let Kururu take control. His movements become more relaxed, his steps light, much lighter than his more forceful attempts to push through the crowd from moments earlier. The people around them don't even feel like they matter anymore, he keeps his focus on her as every last bit of his energy is used to move with her, like a single body...

...like a single person who just happened to move at the right time. Komasan snaps out of his trance and quickly tugs to get Kururu's attention, again remembering how badly he wanted to do things the right way. His entire face lights up as he tries to pull her along with only his clothing, just trusting that she wouldn't let go.]

This way, look! You can see the water, zura!

[ It's one of those moments that seems to freeze time. The delight in Komasan's voice, how it lights up his whole face—how his face is lit up, how the lights around them and the lights reflecting off the water dance over his body. The way he's perfectly framed in that small gap in the crowd, the lines of his haori and hakama caught mid motion. The moment of silence, the collective indrawn breath of the crowd right before the countdown starts—

And the lake that spreads out and out in front of them both as she slips in close beside him, water inky black, a single cascade of water shooting up from the fountains as voices begin to chant. TEN . . . NINE . . . ]

It's perfect.

[ Her hand, still holding his sleeve, tugs in excitement. ]

Seven!

Seven...? Seven what— M-MOOONGE~!!

[It doesn't even occur to him that the people around them are counting down, he's so absorbed in the moment that they might as well not exist, their voices just a collective white noise. If he had half a second to think about it, he'd probably remember about the countdown and the new year, the whole reason why they're even there, but his attention lies on the fountain.

SIX

FIVE

The fireworks haven't even started yet, but they're already going off in his eyes. He turns his attention back to Kururu, acting as if they're standing right in front of pure magic.]

D-Did you see that?! I had no idea water could get that high, it's like a reverse waterfall, zura~!!

[FOUR

THREE

The more he stands there next to her, the more he gets lost in the moment. Now that they didn't have to worry about rushing around, Komasan slowly but surely begins to notice...her. It's hard to believe he didn't see it before, but Vegas was so big, it was difficult to keep his attention for so long. There's just something about the lights and how they get caught in the unique color of her hair. How she...is actually a lot closer to him than he realized, that she...hasn't once let go of him...

What she just said...]

It's perfect, zura...?

[That...surprises him for some reason.]

Don't you think?

[ She turns toward him, looking up, meeting his eyes. Smiling, because what isn't there to smile about?

Out on the lake, the single spray marks the last two seconds. The crowd chants down, TWO . . . ONE . . .

And behind them, in front of them, around them, the air above every highrise explodes into bouquets of light and smoke and magic, hundreds of fireworks lighting up in a multitude of magically synchronized displays as the first notes of Auld Lang Syne fill the air, audible even over the roar of the crowd. The fountains follow the music, the single sprays of before dwarfed and humbled by the dancing sprays of water.

It's amazing. Wonderous. And yet, in that moment, she's still looking at him—the corners of her eyes soft, gaze warm. ]

Happy New Year, Komasan.

[The lights catch Komasan's attention first as his head whips skyward, only to be greeted by what he can only assume is a million fireworks. They go by so fast, there's hardly any time to count, but he's pretty certain it's a million. His mouth hangs open in a failed attempt to shout a second "monge" or two, instead lost in the sensation of too many things happening at once and too many noises flooding his ears.

The countryside was never this loud, neither were the festivals there. ...Even the cities prior have never been so overwhelming. If Komasan didn't have another person there to focus his attention on, he would've probably passed out by now from all this stimulation.

But thankfully Kururu is there, and the sound of her voice breaks him from his wide-eyed trance. He glances over, a small smile on his face when he finally remembers how to close his mouth.]

Happy New Year—

[...why is she looking at him? There's a whole show going on and she's missing it. Komasan isn't sure what he did that would be more distracting than...everything else, but he's not going to let her miss this because of something as simple as...him.

There isn't any hesitation when puts his hand under her chin and attempts to guide her head up so she can see where the New Years is happening. ...There, now it's perfect.]

Happy New Year, Kururu!

[ Her eyes go wide as he touches her chin, breath catching. For a moment, it feels like her heart is sinking fast, falling to somewhere unknown. Her chest feels tight.

She doesn't even know what it is, too caught up in feeling it to name it. Fear? Anticipation? He's really close, closer than she'd realized, and she can't help but be aware of it—of how their chests are almost touching, of how the sound of his racing heart echoes in the touch of his fingers.

And he's lifting her chin up—

and . . . leaning away, shifting just a bit to the side, as if he's not what she should be paying attention to at all.

The night sky is filled with light and noise, sparks flying like a million multicoloured shooting stars, and it's so bewildering all of a sudden. Surely they'll stop soon? But they go on and on, the moment stretching into minutes.

. . . it's beautiful. ]

Do you think . . . should we make a wish?

Yeah, that sounds like a good idea—

[A good idea? That sounds more like a good idea, Komasan realizes. It sounds like something completely necessary in making the perfect New Years. Wishes are like the biggest part and he forgot. Thankfully, the fireworks cover his panicked whimpering as he begins to pat himself down in a frantic scramble.]

I-I didn't bring anything to write with, z-zura!

[He doesn't see anything to write on, either. The display continues to show off overhead and what was once a visual feast for his eyes, now becomes a distressing timer. Komasan knows they have to end eventually, and when they do he can only assume that means the exact New Year minute is over.

Desperate to make it "in time," Komasan slaps his hands together and closes his eyes, brows furrowing as he begins to wish as hard as possible. It's a little hard to concentrate with all that noise, but he's trying.]

[ Oh. Oh he is trying, and—

That odd tension seems to break as he frantically pats himself down. It's just normal, isn't it? Normal her, normal Komasan. No matter how close they are, there's no need to feel weird about it. That's just . . . it's silly, isn't it?

She's still holding the edge of his jacket sleeve, and as he presses his palms together . . . is he shaking a little? Or . . . flinching? There's the pull of tiny little motions, set in time with the crack and thunder of the fireworks.

Why . . . ? Because Komasan is a komainu, she thinks. And no matter how much she would never ever compare a komainu to an ordinary dog . . . it would make sense if he didn't like the noise, wouldn't it? ]

It's okay. You don't have to write it down. A wish . . . it can just be like a prayer, can't it? Like the kind of wish you make on a shooting star.

[ It's not much, but . . . she lets go of his sleeve, reaching up with both hands instead. He's not so tall that she can't reach the sides of his head, fingertips combing back his hair (it's soft) as she cups her palms over his ears.

She looks up, where the fireworks are still streaking across the sky. ]

The sky is full of shooting stars, tonight.

[As Komasan attempts to finish making his wish, his eyes shut tight, his world nothing but darkness and noise, everything comes to a halt when he feels something...on his face? No, his ears. He can tell by the way the fireworks don't assault his eardrums as much anymore.

He finally opens his eyes, only to be greeted to the sight of Kururu. It was hard not to look at her, in fact his usual instinct would be to turn his head and look away. But...his head is sandwiched between both her hands, firmly put into place. He can't look away, and with the sounds of the world muffled for the moment, it's like she's the only one there. ...He doesn't mind it.

...But why is she doing this? Didn't she want to make a wish, too? When her fingers reach his hair, he can only assume this is a sporadic petting session, and he can't say he doesn't like it. Did she remember when he taught her how to pet people? That must be it...

The timing might be weird, but he doesn't want to deter her from a good petting job. He fairly rarely got a good scratch behind the ear while in human form, who even knows why. But feeling Kururu run her fingers in his hair, it felt different, compared to fur anyway. His human hair was always much thicker, something he still never understood, and curly...like an actual komainu's mane. ...Oh wait, maybe that's why... Well, regardless, the sensation was much different, one he actually really liked. So he gently takes one of her wrists and leans into her hand, trying not to move too much so the other doesn't uncup his ear.

Komasan opens his mouth, ready to express his gratitude, but...Kururu's mouth is moving. He heard her before, about not having to write anything down, and that is a relief. ...But...um...]

WHAT, ZURA?!

[Anything after that is just as muffled as the fireworks. He can't hear her.]

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