Fuselage

×~❄ Chapter 38 ❄~×

The interior of the mansion was everything Katsuki assumed it would be; high end, expensive, traditional but new. Irreplaceable and priceless, something mysterious hidden in every nook and cranny. He couldn't suppress the desire to explore it all; to touch it.

Masks and vases and garments pressed behind glass.

The only thing holding Katsuki back was that same dizzying sensation of duality. Here and there all at once.

They have my source. The kitsune's words rang through Katuki's head, and he wondered where it would be hidden in the expansive grounds that housed generations.

"C'mon." Tetsu's shoes clicked against marble flooring, interrupting Katsuki's thoughts, grounding him to the present. "We're not stopping here. We gotta go upstairs-"

"Where is the kitsune's essence? Are there other... Other me- No thems running around right now? How does she force the reincarnation like she does?" Katsuki's rambling questioning silenced by a tug on his arm.

"I wouldn't know." Tetsu grit his teeth, jaw flexing as he responded, leading Katsuki up the stairs. "Only the heads of the clan are privy to that." Another tug as Katsuki stilled before a hallway, "We don't keep Mother waiting."

Katsuki opened his mouth to retort, but stopped himself. Tetsu wasn't even looking at him; eyes glued to the doorway they were supposed to be walking through; up the stairs, off to the right. Katsuki swallowed his scalding response. It burned the back of his tongue.

"I like the shirt, by the way." Tetsu's voice echoed, just the tone, not the words. "Good choice."

The admission made Katsuki shudder. "So you noticed?"

"How could I not?" Tetsu chuckled. "He wore it at our last family meeting. The one before Denki's birthday. Mother will be thrilled to see you in it."

Katsuki let the words sink in, let the wicked smirk spread across his lips. "Anything to please her mighty ladyship." He shot back, feet banging up the stairs, heavy and deliberate.

"Angering her outright may not be a-"

"I don't give a shit." Katsuki cut him off as they paused outside the door, voices lowering. "I don't bow to you, or her. Or the fucking God that's supposed to be a part of me." Eyes flicked to a startled Tetsutetsu. "No one can-" Katsuki stopped himself.

But that's not true. Fists clenched at the memory of leaning against Kirishima, drunk fingers tangling in red hair during the festival.

"One person only." Katsuki corrected, "And he isn't on this continent."

Tetsu whistled low. "That's powerful stuff, man."

"It's a fucking curse is what it is." Katsuki pushed his way into the room, immediately coughing on the smell of cloves and cigarette smoke.

"Ahh, does the smell offend you, Lord?"

The feminine voice was as coy as it had been yesterday.

"Who the fuck clogs up an entire room with fucking cigarette smoke like this?" Katsuki trudged to the low table, scooting a pillow over and falling onto it gracelessly. "Fuckin' rude when you've got guests coming over."

"It is rather thoughtless, Mother." Tetsu seconded, following Katsuki at a more elegant pace.

"And don't fucking call me 'Lord'." Katsuki's hand smacked the tabletop. "I'm Katsuki."

"Hmm." She tapped out her long-stemmed pipe. "I thought, since we were obviously playing games." Bright blue eyes snagged on Katsuki's shirt, words heavy to emphasize her meaning as she tapped out her kiseru. "And I'm the Madam of the Clan." Gaze flashed in the dim light as they captured Katsuki's. "Address me with the proper respect."