VAGABOND

XVI: Skin

» [ XXXTentacion - Chapter 1] «
0:00 ─〇───── 0:00
⇄   ◃◃   ⅠⅠ   ▹▹   ↻

"The time didn't change? It's like we never left!"

Kure scoffed. "What are you talking about, Kami?"

"It was 11:36 when we left. Look at the clock!"

Kodomo chuckled. "Look at the clock—vro, look at your hair!" He winced through his chuckles as he laid propped up at Dr. Wonk's desk.

Kamiwaii turned towards the large scenic window, peeking at a glimpse of his own reflection through the tinted glass. His appearance was quite the same as before, despite the small wounds from his journey into the Kages, until he noticed his hair. His once black short locs now had a hue of white gold, parting on the right side of his head.

Kamiwaii let out a sharp gasp. "Yo, wha-what happened to my hair?" He questioned as he ran his fingers through the light half.

"It really doesn't look bad man. It actually suits you!" Sutō chuckled.

"Yeah Kakarot, you look great!" Kure cackled.

"Any of your hair change?" Kamiwaii asked condescendingly.

The boys all grabbed at their own hair.

Kure rubbed his bare scalp, feeling the stubble as if he didn't know he was already bald by choice. Kodomo did the same, pulling a strand of hair into his view, analyzing it carefully. Sutō took a peek under his durag, pulling the fabric away from his skull before smoothly concealing the contents of his hair from others.

"Nope!" They all shrugged in unison.

Kamiwaii palmed his forehead.

"L-Look at the jar!" Dr. Wonk panicked.

Everyone turned their gaze towards the jar. The contents swirled rapidly, the dark hue turning into a shade of pure white.

"Oh no—!" Dr. Wonk gasped as he took a step backward.

"What's going on?" Kodomo questioned.

The jar started to shake and vibrate as the contents began to move around more vigorously, levitating off the shelf.

"STEP BACK!" Kamiwaii yelled in defense.

On cue, the jar shattered, shards spraying around the room. They all winced and yelped in pain from the glass slicing into their skin. The gold-rusted lid tumbled to the ground, ricocheting against the wood floors before settling in place.

Kamiwaii winced in pain then looked at his forearm, the wound present resembled the shape of a crown. Though he didn't understand the significance of the wound, he knew it meant something. He looked around the room for any onlookers then covered the scaring with his hand.

Kure wiped shards of glass from his arms and face. "What the FU—"

"FOOLISH!"

Everyone turned towards the Doctor.

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO WAKE THE KAGE KING!" Dr. Wonk screeched.

"CHILL OUT, OLD MAN! Nobody did anything—"

"We got in and out okay. We did get chased by these creatures, but that's about it. We didn't wake anybody!" Sutō reassured.

Dr. Wonk turned his frantic gaze towards Sutō. "C-Creatures?"

"Yeah, they looked like ghostly skeletons—walked pretty slow at first, but then they started running on all fours. One of them killed a man right in front of us with it's bare hands."