Megumi/Miyoko & Kuga Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma Tag for animal death, T, 656 words. Eternal Sonata!AU?
Perhaps it's by fate that Megumi meets Miyoko in the town plaza, where Megumi is fruitlessly trying to sell floral powder. Business has been dwindling ever since the Kingdom approved of the mass production of mineral powder. Even Megumi is starting to doubt herself when Miyoko appears and buys out her remaining supply.
"Do you make these by hand?" Miyoko asks as she opens a package and swabs some with her finger. Under the moonlight, the floral powder shines a faint, translucent pink color.
Megumi nods as she hands Miyoko her change. "Yes. My family has always done so. I harvest the flowers in the spring. Each batch takes three weeks to dry and formulate."
"How tedious," Miyoko says. "The production cycle of mineral powder is much faster, and the reduced manpower allows them to be sold at a much lower price."
Megumi looks down at her feet and sighs. Everything Miyoko said is true. "I heard that the Alquamist is consulting on the production of mineral powder. There's no way a family business like mine can rival his." She stops when her brain catches up with her mouth. "Ah! I'm sorry for rambling."
The look Miyoko shoots her is indescribable. After a moment, Miyoko asks, "Will you come with me? I want to show you something."
Megumi knows that she should not follow strangers home, but there's something about Miyoko that makes Megumi feel at ease. Still, Megumi follows silently when she's brought to a small house at the edge of town. Inside, they're greeted by a short boy with blonde bangs. "Yo!"
"I brought back the samples, Kuga." Miyoko lifts the basket of floral powder.
"And a friend, I see." Kuga raises an eyebrow from where he's hunched over the table. "Do you trust this girl?"
Miyoko seems to consider this. "I trust her as much as I trust you."
"Touche," Kuga laughs and kicks his chair back. He gestures for Megumi to come over as he administers what appears to be mineral powder to a mouse.
Megumi has never used mineral powder, but even she can tell the dosage is too high for such a small animal. She's even more confounded when the mouse begins to struggle moments later. Megumi backs into Miyoko's side just as the smoke begins to rise from the mouse's ears, and she watches in horror when its flesh turns dark and begins to erode.
That's when a jolt of controlled thunder sets the dying animal aflame. It ceases to struggle after a beat. With a wave of her wrist, Miyoko sends a gust of wind that blows the remnants into the rubbish bin by the table.
"You understand now, don't you?" Kuga asks.
Megumi finds her voice. "Mineral powder is turning animals into monsters?" She looks up when Miyoko sets a reassuring hand on the small of her back.
"Not just animals," Miyoko says. "With the right dose, it can turn even humans into monsters. You're the floral powder expert in town. Tell me, is this a regular phenomenon for your product too?"
"Of course not!" Megumi insists, then immediately drops her voice.
"You said the Alquamist is behind the manufacturing and distribution of mineral powder," Miyoko continues while Kuga skitters around the work area, opening and moving large bins through magic. It dawns on Megumi that Kuga is packing up, perhaps erasing all evidence of their experimentation now that Megumi has seen the result. "I'm willing to bet that he knows about this side effect."
"We're going on an adventure!" Kuga calls from where he is manhandling a shaking box. "It's not for the faint of heart!"
Megumi's gaze travels between Kuga's grin and Miyoko's thoughtful expression. She too, has been wondering what she would do once the sale of floral powder completely ceases. Miyoko and Kuga's plan seems much more productive and hers. Against her better judgement, Megumi squares her shoulders and says "I'm coming too."
FILL: TEAM IMAIZUMI SHUNSUKE/NARUKO SHOUKICHI, T
Tag for animal death, T, 656 words. Eternal Sonata!AU?
Perhaps it's by fate that Megumi meets Miyoko in the town plaza, where Megumi is fruitlessly trying to sell floral powder. Business has been dwindling ever since the Kingdom approved of the mass production of mineral powder. Even Megumi is starting to doubt herself when Miyoko appears and buys out her remaining supply.
"Do you make these by hand?" Miyoko asks as she opens a package and swabs some with her finger. Under the moonlight, the floral powder shines a faint, translucent pink color.
Megumi nods as she hands Miyoko her change. "Yes. My family has always done so. I harvest the flowers in the spring. Each batch takes three weeks to dry and formulate."
"How tedious," Miyoko says. "The production cycle of mineral powder is much faster, and the reduced manpower allows them to be sold at a much lower price."
Megumi looks down at her feet and sighs. Everything Miyoko said is true. "I heard that the Alquamist is consulting on the production of mineral powder. There's no way a family business like mine can rival his." She stops when her brain catches up with her mouth. "Ah! I'm sorry for rambling."
The look Miyoko shoots her is indescribable. After a moment, Miyoko asks, "Will you come with me? I want to show you something."
Megumi knows that she should not follow strangers home, but there's something about Miyoko that makes Megumi feel at ease. Still, Megumi follows silently when she's brought to a small house at the edge of town. Inside, they're greeted by a short boy with blonde bangs. "Yo!"
"I brought back the samples, Kuga." Miyoko lifts the basket of floral powder.
"And a friend, I see." Kuga raises an eyebrow from where he's hunched over the table. "Do you trust this girl?"
Miyoko seems to consider this. "I trust her as much as I trust you."
"Touche," Kuga laughs and kicks his chair back. He gestures for Megumi to come over as he administers what appears to be mineral powder to a mouse.
Megumi has never used mineral powder, but even she can tell the dosage is too high for such a small animal. She's even more confounded when the mouse begins to struggle moments later. Megumi backs into Miyoko's side just as the smoke begins to rise from the mouse's ears, and she watches in horror when its flesh turns dark and begins to erode.
That's when a jolt of controlled thunder sets the dying animal aflame. It ceases to struggle after a beat. With a wave of her wrist, Miyoko sends a gust of wind that blows the remnants into the rubbish bin by the table.
"You understand now, don't you?" Kuga asks.
Megumi finds her voice. "Mineral powder is turning animals into monsters?" She looks up when Miyoko sets a reassuring hand on the small of her back.
"Not just animals," Miyoko says. "With the right dose, it can turn even humans into monsters. You're the floral powder expert in town. Tell me, is this a regular phenomenon for your product too?"
"Of course not!" Megumi insists, then immediately drops her voice.
"You said the Alquamist is behind the manufacturing and distribution of mineral powder," Miyoko continues while Kuga skitters around the work area, opening and moving large bins through magic. It dawns on Megumi that Kuga is packing up, perhaps erasing all evidence of their experimentation now that Megumi has seen the result. "I'm willing to bet that he knows about this side effect."
"We're going on an adventure!" Kuga calls from where he is manhandling a shaking box. "It's not for the faint of heart!"
Megumi's gaze travels between Kuga's grin and Miyoko's thoughtful expression. She too, has been wondering what she would do once the sale of floral powder completely ceases. Miyoko and Kuga's plan seems much more productive and hers. Against her better judgement, Megumi squares her shoulders and says "I'm coming too."