"Kunikuzushi"

Turmoil

When you awoke next it was to nobody's surprise that your body was covered in bruises, aches and pains. Even the act of lifting your head to turn and face Scaramouche proved difficult as a result. The former harbinger was stationed by your side as though he were waiting to answer your beckon and call. His eyes were focused on something in his hand before they switched their attention onto you.

"Good afternoon," you offered a voice hoarse from a mixture of moaning, screaming, crying and choking.

Your eyes darted around the room in search of something - anything - to soothe your throat and Scaramouche understood, reaching over to hand you a glass of water he prepared beforehand. "Evening," he corrected, "you weren't out for long."

With his assistance, the wanderer sat you upright to help the liquid flow down your throat easier.

"Was that the gnosis in your hand just now?" The inability to curdle your curiosity would possibly be your downfall.
"Wow, straight to business with you already? You've barely regained consciousness." Scaramouche breathed out a heavy sigh, not particularly directed at you, but enough to warrant his distaste for the topic. He placed the ornament into both of your views and nodded. "That's right. Just as fragile and useless as ever."

"Fragi-?" You didn't bother repeating his words. Instead you fought your weakened body to turn and face him. "Scaramouche, how..? What? That? Useless?"

In an attempt to avoid answering your confusion, Scaramouche offered you naught but a cold smile. "'Scaramouche?' You're referring to me by that name?" The corners of his lips didn't curve as much as his devious smirks, they curved to express the softness in his demeanor. "I thought we parted ways with the fatui, no?"

You blinked in understanding of his words, thus allowing the nickname to fall from your lips once more. "Kuni..." Perhaps you were back to square one; with nothing but a dream - a concept, a goal - for Kunikuzushi to follow. The first journey had taught him nothing but violence as a means for vengeance while the second journey had lead him astray into the hands of the fatui. Where would the third lead him? Where would the third journey lead you?

"Nevermind your title, tell me what you meant about the gnosis." There was a disappointed expression donning Scara- Kunikuzushi's - face as you easily dismissed the formality of his name.

A worn-out and heavy sigh answered your question. Kunikuzushi's demeanour dampened considerably as the topic of the gnosis rose again. He supposed an explanation was in order for his choice of words. "You heard correctly. This piece of trash only seemed to cause problems."

"Have you... tried it?" You weren't sure how to phrase the question since you had no idea what the gnoses were capable of. Did the gnosis emit its own type of power? Would it enhance? Extract?
Kunikuzushi simply chucked the small device into your unsteady hands, laughing as you fumbled over catching the ornament. "See for yourself," confused by his words, you raised a brow in thought. At first you had assumed he meant just anybody would be capable of withstanding its divine energy, but the limelight shifted over to Kunikuzushi who pointed a sole finger to the centre of his chest.

There was hesitation present in your movement; cautious to the power of a gnosis yet curious about Kunikuzushi's prior modifications in the fatui. Was he modified purely to unseal his powers or to wield both an alien power as well as his own? A quick glance at him solidified your resolve to press the gnosis against his chest. He nodded.

You handled the gnosis between the pads of your thumb and index finger, slowly closing in on Kunikuzushi's chest until the skin or space around his body began to distort. Skin - because the particles in his body began to dissolve and disintegrate to form a space welcoming of a gnosis. Space - because it didn't look remotely humane. His chest opened to reveal a purple coloured space almost replicating the Raiden Shogun's abilities. "Kuni..." You didn't like where this was going. It reminded you dearly of your late friend's passing - the way how the Shogun slashed her sword with such lightning speed and intricacy, slicing the very air with her blade.