Silver Fibers (OC Stand User x Kill la Kill)

I Am A Rock (Chapter 29)

A winter's day~

Also, new OP.

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Toshiro was once again on the hunt. This time, however, he was not alone - As per their last confrontation, Ryuko was now tagging alongside him. She walked slightly ahead of her partner, hands in pockets and back hunched slightly, creating a sort of lowered profile as her sharpened eyes scanned the area ahead

The posture, Toshiro suspected, was a habit gained during her time lurking in Kanto's less-than-quaint places. It was the sort of disposition that avoids inviting trouble, but still displayed that kind of 'I'll kick your ass if you look at me the wrong way' energy that Ryuko had radiated during their first meeting.

Toshiro felt half a mind to speak up, for her back's sake if nothing else; The only thing which held his tongue was the reaction it would no doubt earn from the owner of said back.

"Quit staring." Ryuko grunted, evidently noticing the stare Toshiro had been giving her. Her tone characterised the current situation betwixt the two - together, but with a slightly colder disposition over all. She stretched and popped her spine, before sinking back into the familiar posture. "Jeez, you're like, the only guy I've ever met that gets antsy when they've got backup. Feels like I'm takin' ya to get sentenced or something."

Toshiro grumbled. It's not as if he had nothing to say in return - he certainly had plenty to talk about, particularly on Ryuko's presence here.

While he'd given her the foundations behind his hesitancy to involve her, there were other grievances left unaired for... reasons, ones which Toshiro did not enjoy thinking about.

She wasn't the only contributing factor to his anxieties, though. That last encounter would have killed him were it not for Ryuko's miraculous intervention. And he was not at all remiss to the fact that his opponents were slowly gaining in strength... He did not know what the upper limit could be, and he didn't even wish to speculate it, to be honest.

"I'm just..." There was a lingering threat that this next stand could simply overpower him. Or even the both of them. He already knew and understood the risks he'd be taking doing this job, indeed yesterday's events only served to remind of that fact, but... He dreaded to think, at what point those risks would extend to Ryuko as well. "... On edge, that's all."

"Tsk. That's sellin' it short. I can practically hear your knees shakin' from here."

Ryuko seemed ready to send another remark his way, when suddenly Toshiro lunged out in front of her and halted her with an outstretched arm. Behind him Chariot had appeared, twirling and presenting its sabre towards a point on the ground.

"Hey, what's up?" Her gear-patterned eyes widened as she registered the alarm in Toshiro's actions. She beheld the point that caused him offense, and saw naught but a lone metal sphere. "... 'S just a ball..?"

"That 'ball' is the same kind [Turn To Stone] used as ammunition." Toshiro cautioned, crouching in front of the projectile. Ryuko 'ah'ed in understanding. "It's not activated... Not yet. Maybe it isn't even primed, as R. Cori shouldn't even be on Honno Island now... But it must have a meaning, if it's here now."

"Huh. Ya think it's a warning?"

"No... It's practically an invitation." The silver-streaked boy raised his eyes up cautiously, inspecting the corridor ahead. He snatched up the bearing in a closed fist. "R. Cori wasn't the only one who attacked me yesterday. The attack started with someone else, not R. Cori. The guy who threw me out of the window, and whose ability created the attraction of Turn To Stone's projectiles towards me. He must be nearby."