just forget the world

Hattori was, as ever, a busy man. His situation had no doubt changed for the better, but there was still much to be done within Ashen. It was during his nightly patrol that Venom's squirrel had sought him out and gestured for him to follow with a wave of it's fluffy tail. The Empress- his yakusoku- seemed to enjoy the little critter but he truly thought it was about time she got a more fitting companion, perhaps that was another thing he ought to add to his agenda. With a grumble of acknowledgement Hattori followed the squirrel as it steered him towards the Shrine's borders, across Obsidian Beach and then to a mouth of a cave. It chittered, rubbing it's little hands together for a moment before pointing inside, as though he hadn't already gotten the hint by now Not that he could blame the thing, he supposed, it was only doing as it was told.

He turned a little as his gaze wandered back to the shore and to the looming shape of Black Island in the not so far distance. The salty brine of the ocean tickled his nose, highlighting the fact that other than Venom no one else had been here in quite some time. A few weeks at least. The depths of the palace offered plenty of privacy but nothing like this, were the world seemed to be at it's quietest, as though Hattori was the last of his kind. Dismissing the giant squirrel with a grunt, he stepped over the threshold and into what appeared to be an unassuming sea cave.

His eyes took a moment to adjust to the change in lighting but the scents that filled his nose told him all he needed to know. Yet again it seemed as though she was spoiling him and whilst he appreciated the sentiment even now he didn't think it was necessary. She did not need to buy his affections, she already had them. She waited there, laid out across the furs, as though she was completely and utterly at peace within the shadows. The white of her coat and the purple of her eyes seemed to stand out stark and bright in the darkness, and he was so distracted by her that he didn't notice the flask of sake just yet.

"Venom." He said, as though her name was the highest form of praise.