We've literally just met and his words were certainly cordial, so why-
Why do loathe him so?
"It was more of a spontaneous decision on my part." I said while keeping my tone of voice characteristically bored and snobbish. "I had watchdog keeping tabs on me and I saw the hole right then and there. I just couldn't resist jumping in!" No good, I had to force a jovial tone to mask the hatred.
I should keep my answers short.
"I see." He smiled in understanding, more of an uncanny line that's akin to how a child would draw one that turned to real life. The edges of his form seemingly thin out like paper. "Then I suppose that would make us more alike than I anticipated. I too, have a multitude of 'supervisors' in laboratory as a compromise with the others. Laughable really, they're far too easy enough to be distracted by the more visceral experiments."
Hm? "You don't say..." Pretty sure he was taller than me earlier. "...It seems to me that this place is quite spotless." He is meeting me at eye level. Not only that, he's more 'full' now, or something.
"Well, now that the appointed supervisors are gone, I only needed to clean up a bit before I can resume my research in earnest." Actually, hasn't he even blinked once? He's been staring at me this entire time... "After all, it wouldn't do to have my workplace littered with stains no would it? Proper procedure dictates a certain requirement of hygiene for any laboratory. It would be a waste for any hard-earned result to be contaminated in the end."
What? His voice sounded different from before... "I suppose there's merit to that process." A lab coat? That's... Pretty normal for a researcher, I guess?
"To begin with, it was those same supervisor that love to parrot about safeguards and contingencies that ignore the very same things I set up for them." He chuckled in a strange mix of dainty elegance and bombastic drunkard. The colour of his visage seemed to fade closer to a monochrome gray, almost similar to the stone floor. "I still find it amusing how utterly ignorant they could be to not read clear labelings."
Wait, I just remembered- wasn't he in a suit just a while ago?! "Can you stop that?"
"Hm? Stop what, exactly?" He asked genuinely, like the very picture of innocence and-
His hair is longer now too! "That! Stop messing my with perception! And why do you keep shifting?!"
"Oh?" Suddenly, the mood around him seemed to change. "You're a lot more perceptive than normal."
"Tch. What are you on about? Don't you know how rude it is to keep changing Infront of somebody?" I couldn't help but growl out. Unknowingly or not, this person is undoubtedly testing my patience.
"I have met plenty of people over the years, all from different kinds of existences." He began in a voice different from what he started with. A bit higher now, younger even. "Some of them newly manifested. Arrogant and prideful, yes. But they were also wilful, or naive... Mostly ignorant of the world like children." His gaze stared straight into mine. "You seem quite observant..."
A seed of suspicion was sowed today, all because of this unfounded hate I feel.
Not yet, I can salvage this situation still. "Sounds to me like you've been dwelling in this basement for a long time now, old man." I snarked, ignoring the way his thing frame shifted in length. "I suggest touching grass next time. Actual grass and not the picture perfect cutout landscape on the mountain outside."
A beat past after my words were uttered and he simply sucked his teeth. A puckered sound escaped once, then twice before he gave an thoughtful 'hm'.
"...I suppose it has been a while." He muttered, voice taking a more deeper pitch. "I have always been of the opinion that younger minds tend to being more chaotic. Attempting to grasp the rapidly changing trends is nothing but a fools errand to those in pursuit of a farther goal."
"Yeah yeah, I heard it all before. If they aren't talking in riddles, it's always something along the likes of 'The youth are ruining the future!' or 'Kids these days have no respect for their elders!'." I rolled my eyes, his colours almost bleeding into the background. "Now, Are you gonna stop messing with my eyes or what?"
Safe for now, but I need to make sure the doubt doesn't take root.
The shifting stopped. "Unfortunately, not as often as I assume you would prefer." His form is a head, maybe a head and a half taller than me. His body is still rail thin, however, and his clothes are a mishmash of different outfits cobbled together as one whole attire. "My default state of existence is ever-shifting. To put it in words easier to understand, accommodating a singular form for longer periods of time is akin to flexing a muscle. Once the tension is gone, so does the stability."
"Great. You're the Kami equivalent of a disco ball. I'm sure that would go well for everyone." Distain was almost audible in my words but if he had noticed them then he chose to ignore it. "What, did they call you the living mannequin or something."
"Your sarcasm was noted and disregarded." He frowned slightly at that. Did I hit a nerve? "But on the subject of names, I realise that I haven't introduced myself. As fellow Kami of this shrine, you may address me as Kinnu."
Kinnu? Where have I heard that name before... "I am-"
"There's no need. I have already learned your name from the others." Okay, wow, rude. "As I am a busy man, I have other places to be and other tasks to accomplish, like fixing the hole you used as an entrance."
Is this guy a sore loser or something? All attack and no defense... Why insult someone when you can't bear to be insulted either?
Without waiting for my answer, he began walking down a corridor to the right with me following just behind him. Both of our steps were echoing loudly out of sync with each other for a moment. I couldn't see the expression on his face but I'd like to think that I'm currently testing his patience just as he did to me.
It was only a few moments and multiple turns afterwards did he snap and spun around to face me. "Pray tell, why are you following me?" He demanded with one eye twitching.
I met his passive aggression with a deadpan stare. "Do I look like I know my way around here?"
A nerve visibly bulged on his temple as now even the right edge of his lip began twitching along. "And why didn't you go back from where you came?"
"Hmm..." I took a pondering expression before quickly settling back into a deadpan. "No." Before he blows up, I cut him off. "I don't even know where the hole is anymore now that you lead me through different twists and turns. Not my fault this place is designed like a labyrinth. As this place is yours, isn't it technically your fault I'm lost right now? You being an awfully rude host to your guest, I'm not surprised if you barely get any visitors to begin with." Ignoring the fact that I didn't just leave immediately when he decided to be a sourpuss, it's technically my fault that I'm lost to begin with.
He took one breath and turned around again. "Follow me." He all but hissed. I could have said more things to rile him up but I decided to just follow him for now and see where that takes me. Not quietly of course, I made sure my footsteps were still as loud and out of sync from his. To a perfectionist, it would bother him to no end.
Just because I'm compliant doesn't mean I'm not petty.
My taunting worked.
When he tried to sync his steps with mine, I deliberately changed my pace again. After not-so-subtly trying and failing a handful of times, he gave up on syncing and began power-walking, fully intent on arriving at whatever destination he's going to even if it meant leaving me behind. Naturally, I followed.
Out of sync of course.
The silent walk would have been awkward if I wasn't haven't fun Messing with him but alas, all good things have to come to an end eventually. Finally arriving at a pair of doors that were made of stainless steel and painted stark white to fit in with the millennial grey of the walls.
Without hesitation, Kinnu walked through them. I was about to follow him further but he let the door close on my face.
I opened the door myself and audibly said "Rude" while looked around the room.
Cages, large tubes, cages with something fleshy inside of them, a random pile of stuff, scalpels and hammers for some reason, more cages, cleaning supplies, air fresheners and unknown liquids- "Okay, that's way too many cages. What do you even do down here."
He didn't answer. So he's just ignoring me now? The stickman isn't even looking in my direction.
Wait a minute- something feels familiar here, somehow...
I look around for the second time, really observing not just taking a cursory glance.
...those large tubes... The empty ones aren't really empty. The spiritual energy keeps moving erratically, almost as if they're excited.
Almost like... a Miasma catalyst...
What? Why would-
"Then I suppose that would make us more alike than I anticipated. I too, have a multitude of 'supervisors' in laboratory as a compromise with the others. Laughable really, they're far too easy enough to be distracted by the more visceral experiments."
My eyes jerk back to the cages filled with flesh as Kinnu's words from earlier fade from my ears. My gaze when from the cages dripping with blood from the weakly pulsating flesh, to the cleaning supplies and the recently used air fresheners.
My lips thinned at the thought of another having to deal with another mad scientist before forcibly returning my expression back to a nonchalant arrogance. At least the comforting thought that there aren't any children being used as a test subject eases me somewhat.
I stole another glance at Kinnu as suddenly-
One moment she was alone, the next, she became a crowd. Her other selves are holding long spears on one hand and a small buckler on the other. Few exceptions to this are the flag bearers, the crest woven onto them was an image of a green Torii gate dripping it's colour across a stark white background.
"I am Momose Amane, the Naishoten of Lord Kinnu!"
-the memory of the sports festival struck through my mind like lightning.
I chewed my tongue to stop the words from spilling out as the hatred I've tried to bury in my chest threatened to burst.
'May the great Enma have mercy, for my patience runs evermore thin.'