Floating Like a Lilo ── Itadori Yuuji (✓)

04 CHOOSE YOUR HELL

I'M AFRAID OF MYSELF AND I HATE IT
ALL MY SKELETONS OUT FOR THE TAKING

skeletons,
keshi

The first thing that sends you into a wave of panic upon opening your eyes is the blatant unfamiliarity of the room. A painful headache scorches the pit of your skull as you rub your temple sorely.

Naturally, the first thought that pierces your train of thought is something along the lines of 'Oh my god, I've been kidnapped!'

Memories, distant and new, emerge from the trenches of your mind, and the events that befell the night before come running back like wind grazing a prairie.

The curse. The boy. The sound of demons.

You blink, and then struggle a little, realising you are in restraints. Your hands are tied behind your back as you sit on a chair, and with blurry vision, your eyes look lazily around you.

The walls are plastered with old letters and writings, paper that's lined with age and dark memories. Omens linger in the air like smog in the busiest parts of Tokyo, thick and unwavering, not even batting an eyelid at the thought of suffocating you.

Your eyes are entranced but there is too much to read, and the bitter light of the lanterns scattered on the floor are too soft for you to see through the darkness.

So really, you're blinded in a place of the unknown, armed with nothing but the tragedy of yesterday and the power of the future.

"Ooh! You're awake!" Someone hums. Their voice is delightfully childish, nonchalant and smooth, like treacle is dripping from their lips.

You turn, feeling your heart beat so fast that it might just rattle enough to break apart your chest.

A young man sits before you in a chair, but not sitting in same way as you were. The chair was backwards and his long arms and even longer legs hung out from around it.

His hair was an extraordinary white, coated with winter's frost and the ice of the new world. A colour so cold it strikes purity into the gaze of many; in the dim light of the room it was a meandering grey, however. Like he too, had hazy patches and areas of grey to walk in.

"Did you kidnap me?!" You ask, stupefied, neck curving as you lean in. "Answer me!"

He smiles; it was a smile that no one can quite describe, like the words to entail it are forever stuck on a quivering tongue. "Nope, I'm not like that! But, because I'm kind, I'll give you a recap after you passed out."

Passed...out?

It comes clawing back at you, the monster, Itadori, Fushiguro. You rasp for breath, stomach lurching at the thought that while you were unconscious, some life or death battle was unfolding.

He gives a brief description, general and vague and certainly not descriptive in the areas where detail is warranted (for example, why did Itadori eat a finger?!).

"The events I know and your recap don't line up," You narrow your eyes warily at him, well aware that you were the victim here with your hands and legs tied and an injury on your arm.

He shrugs, rather uncaringly, "Hey, I did my best."

In the silence of the room, his voice echoes, giving rise to a plethora of thoughts. Were you underground?

"I have a few questions," You say suddenly, a sharp tone coupling your words.

The corner of his lips twitch, "Not surprised, but go ahead!"