Arcanestars + Oneshots

🦁 Black Market Therapy

Jinx glanced around, a rather tall panda standing in front of her. "What is the Shishigumi doing with a child in their ranks?" He grunted in mild disgust at the lions, glancing down at the girl. Ibuki removed her mask, showing her human identity. "What is she?" He asked, taking a deep hit of his cigarette. "From what she says, a human." Ibuki spoke up, gently nudging Jinx towards the panda. "You are the black market's therapist. How does 3000¥ a session sound?" Free spoke up, quickly pulling out money. Jinx made eye contact, or at least she thought eye contact, with the panda.

"Alright." He huffed, guiding the girl to his primary room. In the room was a table, two chairs, a bed, and a desk. "Take a seat, kid." The panda offered, going to his desk to grab two teacups and a kettle. Jinx sat down in one of the chairs at the table, glancing at the now filled teacup. A leaf stuck out of it, making her tilt her head. "Bamboo tea. It's good for you, make your bones strong." The panda explained as he flexed his muscles, Jinx hesitantly taking a sip of the tea. It made her scrunch up her nose a little, but she continued to sip. "I am Gouhin. Your name?" He questioned, taking a seat. "My name is... Jinx." She quietly spoke, watching Gouhin lean back a little. "That's not your real name, is it?" He cut to the chase, catching Jinx off-guard. "It is now." She retorted, her tone wavering slightly. "What was your name before?" Gouhin carefully grabbed a notepad and a pencil, jotting down notes. "Do you promise not to tell anyone?" Jinx looked up, fear in her senses. "This is strictly confidential." Gouhin reassured. Jinx nodded, sipping her tea once more.

"My name was Powder. Before I came here. Before my family died and left me." Jinx scratched at her arm out of anxiety, Gouhin gently touching her small hand. "You're safe here." He reassured, his usual gruff tone replaced by a gentle one. "Let's start out small. What do you like to eat?" Gouhin saw the girl perk up, reminded of his son in her smile. "Rice cakes! Especially if they're filled with that red bean paste! They're delicious, especially when toasted with a little cinnamon!" Jinx perked up, now on her second cup of tea.

"How did you get here?" Gouhin turned to the next question, Jinx looking around for her bag. Once finding it, she showed the panda the glowing blue orbs. "I think these? I don't know what they do, but they exploded last time." Jinx explained, gently laying one in his hand.

Gouhin gently held the orb between his claws, gingerly turning it. "How peculiar..." He carefully gave it back to her, jotting it down into his notes. "How old are you?" "I'm nine, but I told the Shishigumi that I was eleven." Jinx explained, seeing Gouhin jot down a number. 2008. "Can you tell me about your family?" Gouhin inquired, giving Jinx her third cup of tea. He was just now on his second. "They're dead, my sister left me." Jinx's expression changed from perky to regretful. "Can you tell me what they were like before that?" Gouhin pressed, Jinx shuddering at the memory.

"Vander was like our dad. He spent a lot of time with Vi, always giving her advice and stuff. Vi, my sister, we've been together since forever. She usually stuck up for me, but Mylo was always a jerk. A bag of dicks, as Agata once said. Claggor didn't really say much, he was always kind." Jinx explained, drawing them. "They all left to go get Vander, they left me behind. I found a way to help them and... And..." Tears started to well up in her eyes, trying desperately to wipe them away. Gouhin's tough exterior melted, unable to watch a child cry. Holding his arms out, Jinx got up and accepted the hug.

Gouhin felt the child shake as she sobbed, choking out what happened next. "I killed them! I only wanted to help! I just wanted to help them! I only wanted to help!" Jinx's legs gave out, Gouhin holding her up and bringing the child onto his protective hold. "Vi hit me and said I was a jinx, that Mylo was right!" Jinx clung to his shirt as tears flooded from her eyes, being picked up by Gouhin and letting her head lay on his shoulder. Tears still rolled down her cheeks, sniffling. "You're not a jinx, sweetheart." Gouhin's voice was soft and sweet, fatherly. "You're just a kid. You're only a kid." He reminded, Jinx nodding. "Things will get better I promise."

Gouhin sat Jinx back down after she stopped crying, handing her a cookie. "It's no rice cake, but it's sweet." Gouhin offered. Jinx took the cookie, quietly taking a small bite. Chocolate chip. She gave a small nod, taking another bite. He went through his desk, handing Jinx a disk, a journal, and a box of bamboo tea pouches. "This CD has calming music, if you ever feel upset in any way, use it. This journal is to document how you're feeling. And since you love it, bamboo tea." Gouhin offered, Jinx carefully putting it into her satchel. "I would give you medication, but you're just a kid and these are dosages for big animals."

Jinx glanced up, walking to the door with him. "Can I see you in a couple of days?" Jinx piped up, catching Gouhin off-guard for a second. "Yes, of course." He gave a small smile and let her go to the Shishigumi. "See you in two days, Mr. Gouhin!" Jinx called out, waving goodbye. Gouhin waved goodbye as well, smiling.

After the door shut, his smile faded away to a bitter sadness. He slowly made his way to his bed, sitting down and glancing at the picture of his son on the bedside table. He felt his heart ache, sobbing into his hands quietly. "You're so much like him, Powder." He whimpered, unable to stop the tears. "I'm so sorry, my child."

---

Jinx glanced around, then up at Louis. "How was your first session?" He inquired, his voice soft and sweet. "It was good. I cried." Jinx admitted, feeling guilt for crying. "It's okay to cry." Louis quickly spoke, his smile awkward and reassuring. "Don't ever feel bad for feeling bad." He added, holding her hand as they crossed the market street. "Let's get you home, you must be exhausted." Louis teased softly, Jinx gently punching him in the leg. "You're getting strong!" Louis praised, laughing softly at the pain in his leg. Jinx smiled, getting into the car, glancing at the glowing neon lights of the black market.

---

Vi had been walking the streets, word had gotten around to weird appearances. A bipedal leopard had appeared randomly in Piltover, it's face blown apart. Nobody knows how it got there, it just appeared. She clung to a piece of paper, the words Shishigumi written on it. "I'll find you, Powder." Vi promised. "I'll find you."