Even if tomorrow disappears...

Nabeshima, Asaji.

Even alone, a dance for two is a dance for two.

Character Information

Name: Nabeshima, Asaji.
Written as: 鍋島氏あさじ.
Also known as: Asa, Saji, and Belladonna (only by those familiar with her ballroom skill refer to her as such.)
Species: Demon.
Age: 19.
Gender: Female.
Pronouns: She/her.
Birthday: October 30th.
Height: 5' ft. - 153 cm.
Weight: 102.8lbs - 46.2 kg.

Family:
Nabeshima, Yumeiko. [Adoptive mother.]
Nabeshima, Renju. [Adoptive father.]
There are other relatives in her family tree, though she has poor memory of them.

Occupation: Unknown. Routinely attends competitions for ballroom dance and ballet, though she doesn't consider that work.

☾

Dancing alongside the moon.

Born to a woman by the name of Mainei Okata on the side of a dark road outside of Imari, it was not in her good graces to be kept. The man to whom was the father of this child was unknown, though in the end it didn't much matter. Asaji was a silent and gentle baby, soft in her mother's arms. Mainei however knew that there was nothing in her heart for this child, that there was nothing that her or her family name might offer to her.

Four days after being born, it was once again under the guise of night that Mainei took Asaji to an orphanage the next prefecture over. Offering the woman who had answered the door in the dead of night only two things: the child and it's name--Asaji. The elder who had answered the door had intended to ask the woman if all was well, her pale complexion and dark circles told a tale of self neglect or worse. Though, there was no time to ask this for as quickly she had appeared she had vanished into the dark of the moonless night.

What remained of Mainei was not much in the end, for the rest of her would turn up washed ashore a few prefectures over not even a month later.

Asaji for the first three years of her life was raised in the gentle guidance and care of the orphanage. Being the most docile and curious of the children, Asaji was one to play alone rather than with others but not isolate those who wished to play with her. Sharing well and engaging respectfully with others. So, when she was adopted by a family it was of no surprise. Where the awe truly lie was in the fact that the family which intended to adopt her was from a long ways away. A handsome and well dressed man by the name of Nabeshima, Renju had come looking for a child. There was not much in way of elaboration as to why he had come so far to adopt, but he arrived in a pristine vehicle and kept cash. Perhaps it was Asaji's gentle nature that drew him to her, but after some words and some exchange of currency, Renju had left with the child in tow.

As far as Renju knew, Asaji was perfect for his family. Abandoned with no listings for next of kin, raised in the orphanage from her inception and quiet. " You'll be so happy", he promised the small child who sat beside him in the back of his car.

" I promise you."

In truth, Asaji was happy. A mother and a father who doted upon her, a large bedroom all her own and people who seemed to wait on her family even if she didn't know why. The optimism of a child is unrivaled in many things, especially in its desire to be completed by a family. Never bating an eye at the oddness of their requests, thinking they were just silly. Asaji had never felt uncomfortable or unhappy with them, so why act out? Going on family trips, running around the estate and having the most fun a child her age may have. Getting into the occasional bouts of trouble, or getting lost in the labyrinthian home. At the age of five, Asaji had the "privilege" of meeting the rest of her family. For the first time in her short little life she knew what it was to fear. It wasn't like the scary spiders or bugs she sometimes saw... It was a group of persons surrounding her, chanting, and no matter how much she screamed or cried for her parents they never came for her. Who had they promised a home...?

Daddy had promised she would be happy.

It was a blink, burning pain and then nothing.

Before Asaji had known it, many birthdays had passed. Seven, then eight... It was unfortunate though, that it seemed that had forgotten all of them. But, her parents seemed so happy. Much happier than Asaji thought she had ever seen them, even if there was not much memory to confirm or deny this notion with. Homeschooling was far more entertaining than Asaji thought, how long had she had these teachers? Such questions as these were always the point of soft teasing over dinner, about how she is far too young to be so forgetful. It always made her smile and giggle, then apologize for her forgetfulness.

It's the little things. How sleeping soundly was now a task because nightmares plagued her dreams, forcing her to seek company with her parents just for a few hours of rest. It would go on for weeks at a time, just to end, only to begin again without any warning at all. The way evening time brought with it discomfort and anxious energy that made her wander around the home at odd hours. Initially her parents believed the child was just experiencing some after effects from the family gathering.

It was not as if it wasn't uncommon, as Renju's grand father had explained it to him, it was never a comfortable process. His late elder sister had not lived past the age of nine as a result, but not every body could handle playing vessel to a demon. With age came fragility, but youth was just as fragile the same. Despite all of his consideration, it never seemed as if she was aware of what they had done. Had she repressed the thoughts? Possible, yet every gentle nudge of engagement on the topic was met with nothing of substance in return,

Had her eyes always been blue? Asaji once heard a servant inquire in passing, only to be whisked away by her mother as her father went to speak to the awfully chatty servant. That servant was terminated the same day. Asaji thought the question was odd, because of course they were always blue. As long as she could recall they were always blue! Like her parents always told her, they had always been blue...

At the age of ten, Asaji was given the choice to learn an instrument or learn to dance. It took not a mere two minutes for the child to decide that during her recreational period instead of doing assorted things, she would learn to dance. Ballet was the first means of dance the child took to, and Asaji took to it in spades. Making leaps and bounds in her form and flow, finding delight in all the motion and beauty of it all.

During puberty, Asaji grew out instead of up and became a beauty neither of her parents had expected. The face of an angel, and a voice to match it tenfold. However, this seemed to bring with it behaviors and changes they had not expected of this peculiar child. As if the young one had not already displayed odd traits prior. Asaji had always taken all suggestions and change in stride, but now certain things warranted pushback. Every year, she would receive a haircut that would trim her hair to the length of her shoulders. What was removed was often donated, but when they dare suggesting it this time. Asaji furrowed her brows and sneered, not so much as letting them near it. For an instance it seemed as if the child might lash out, but with a gentle bit of negotiation Asaji had agreed to only lose a few inches. Keeping it a bit past her knees and not allowing for any more than this under the threat of violence. Though, Asaji would apologize softly for these bursts of behavior, though she would never elaborate beyond that. Not only that, dinner had now grown silent. Asaji no longer lit the room up with her chatter and chiming, and began to eat with immense reluctance. So much so that there was concerns of her health, vessel or not she was no immortal. Even more now that her dancing had exceeded beyond ballet and to the ballroom, giving an already well off family line the grace of giving to the world one of the most talented young dancers in quite some time.

No words could describe how much food seemed to make her stomach burn, it was not bad nor did it upset it. Yet it seemed like she couldn't eat enough... Food was delicious, but what was missing? The growing pestering of her parents annoyed her to no end, and as a result Asaji made a point to eat all her food without a second thought and always remark about it. Even when there was no desire to do just that.

At the age of sixteen, Asaji finally figured out what it was that was missing from her diet. Much like when she was born, it was a night where the dark cloud's hide the moon's light from all eyes. It was a crash, a clatter, and a bang which woke Renju and Yumeiko. To their feet and to her room before even the servants could make it up the stairs, an outcome that was for the best. What lay before them was a sight not fit for mortal eyes, a large creature mangled and twisted, and Asaji face first in the midsection of its brutalized body. Nightgown and hair soaked deep in dark crimson, glowing eyes with thin slit pupils lifting to regard the faces of abject terror. An expression she cannot recall having seen on their faces before, turning into disgust as she swallowed what could've been intestines. Apart of her felt bad, but the discomfort and burning in her stomach ceased when she ate. Her body no longer feeling as if it were boiling, fracturing...
" This tastes so good..."

The only response she received to this statement was the slamming of the door and the requests to barricade the door until further notice. The servants sounded confused by this request, but Renju could do nothing but assure that Asaji was not in the room and that they would have to call animal control in the morning. A simple inspection with a flashlight and functioning eyes displayed a long smear of blood along the side of the building, to the third story balcony which their daughter's room lay. For the first time in years, Renju called upon his family line with a desperation no one expected of him.

This was no vessel, this was a monster.

Removing Asaji from the room was no difficult task, the moment the barricade had been removed the young girl simply walked out. Prepared for her studies, bathed and having abandoned her bloodied clothes in a heap atop of inhuman bones. It was baffling, that the gentleness and care they were so use to returned to her after /that/. On the main floor awaited her two dozen persons who she knew only from photos and a vague recollection: Her family. They were wary of her, Asaji could feel it... In fact, the young girl could feel quite a lot of things. Giving in to the impulse to consume had done more to her than simply correct her stomach, having unlocked apart of her that had existed the moment they had given a demon home in her. Where had the servants gone? Her teachers? It only smelled of kin here...

When bound there was no resistance from her, only soft discontent. Renju and Yumeiko had descended the steps into the main room as this occurred, caution present but finding strength in numbers. How very human of them, wasn't it? Being dragged away, taken to a place she had never once been before: The basement, as elaborate and confusing as the house above. Chained to a slab in the deepest part of this abysmal place, there was a nostalgia that came with it that confused Asaji. Once more, the girl was surrounded on all sides, but there was no chanting. The eldest man of them all, Renju's father, approached her and gazed upon her. Why did it look as if he despised her? How could someone she never met hate her?

"We promised you a vessel so you would not bring ruin upon us. What have you done to this child?"

There was silence, as Asaji looked up to him as if expecting him to continue. The candle light making him seem even more aged than an initial glance, worn thin by stress and the natural deterioration of age.

" Answer me, demon."

Still there was nothing. Obviously not the desired outcome of this discourse, as another soon stood beside him. An elder woman who was younger than he but still high in age, adorned in attire more befitting of a priestess than whatever she was here... Asaji watched as she handed the eldest an item, it looked to her like a medallion. It was only an instance, from the moment he clutched the item, he then pressed it to her forehead and she writhed. Screeching the call of a demon, yet when the medallion was removed by the man he watched her. Expectant. This item was that which had been designated as a means to bind the demon's spirit to it between vessels, and in a pinch used to invoke it. Though they had never needed to do this before, speaking to it usually brought it forth without issue, yet there was nothing.

"Oji-san..." Asaji croaked, eyes dazed, "That is pointless... It hurts, too." The words left her lips, even if she didn't completely understand why it was she said it was pointless. Those words left him stumped, and the whispers that fell upon those around him were all those of bewilderment and thinly veiled fear. Oji-san hushed them all fiercely, " What trick is this?"

"I don't play tricks, Oji-san..."

"Lies. Where is Gojiro?"

Gojiro? Asaji didn't know why, but that felt right... It felt correct. As natural as Asaji did, a rose by any other name. Just as sweet, and just as covered in thorns. " I'm right here."

"Lies."

A tinge of irritation, a foreign feeling which over took her in spurts. It made her whole body ache and throb, yet it all felt as if this anger was her nature. Even without air flow in this place, it was a gust which sent the candles' lights away in an instance and then there was darkness. Calling someone a liar was a serious accusation, wasn't it?

When there was once more light, Asaji had found herself in bed. Mother and father sitting at the edge of it, watching her like buzzards. "You had a bad dream, darling." Her mother soothed, her smile pained and soft, "Sadly, we don't have much good news either. It seems as if your grandfather passed in his sleep... So, we will be traveling to attend his funeral..." Like any good child, Asaji went to her parents, hugging them and comforting them. Not missing how they seemed tense until realizing she meant no harm. She would never hurt her family... The venture was a long one, going to the other side of the island for the sake of this funeral. Asaji was asked to join them, having been told it was what grandfather would've wanted.

It was a rainy day in April when they attended his funeral, the only one to adorned in all white was Asaji, standing out amongst a sea of black. Laying upon his casket the most beautiful bouquet of blue roses before he was lowered inside to his final place of rest. After this death in the family had occurred, Asaji was soon after sent a private school, and while it was a major adjustment it was nice. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew it was because her presence around the house brought discomfort. Yet, her normalcy in a functioning environment and distance put Renju and Yumeiko to ease some. Dinner's once more were filled with the chirping and chime of Asaji, the jokes and laughter. These moments of peace did not dampen the tension beneath the surface, yet all seemed so much more normal.

Those who kept Asaji's company in school always spoke fondly of her friendliness and delightful banter. Even when she didn't have much to say she was a good listener, and asked many questions. Conferences and meetings were always met with compliments on her care and consideration. Though, they had all made note that Asaji would occasionally have spells of forgetfulness consistently. Seeming to go through different stages of clarity throughout the course of the day. Yet, now and again that burning would return... Sometimes it would be every week, sometimes only once a month. But, when it came, Asaji never resisted it. Renju and Yumeiko would simply have to play dumb to the sound of their child leaving in the dead of night and returning hours later. Thankfully after the first time she never returned with a corpse again... Every time Asaji consumed another demon, the more she felt complete. Beginning to recall things that she initially had no concept of playing party to, and memories that weren't hers at all. Or, they were but they didn't make much sense. It was hard to define any of it. With these memories came power, confusion, and questions that Asaji couldn't remember the answers to.

By eighteen, Asaji was well respected in the ballroom scene, and regarded warmly in the ballet scene as well. Having graduated with high marks and decided against university, to continue to dance. Those in the proper channels know her well, but to the average person Asaji is just a delicately dressed heir to a wealthy businessman's legacy. It was Renpu who suggested she move out and live on her own, Yumeiko warning him that such a thing might not have been the best idea. Much to their surprise, Asaji took it in stride, and they came to an agreement without much issue.

As a result, Asaji became the sole owner of a property of a mountain home in Okinawa. Despite its isolation, the mountain brings her peace and calm, the large property which makes up her home giving her ample space to thrive. The location giving her ample time to hunt, as with age the urge to consume has only grown. Only grown stronger and more vile, but Asaji has grown to accept it, knowing that it didn't much matter if she killed a few demons. They were more of a nuisance to others than they were an aid, no? So who was it she was hurting? Not a single soul, it seemed. That was always fine with her.

At ninteen, Asaji lives a life of a hunter by night, and a maiden by day. Whether she likes it, or not.

There once was a demon...

There was once an oni who roamed the mountainside, warmongering and desperate for a challenge. In his youth he slaughtered humans and demons alike, though as he continued on his path he found humans to be subpar... In this he had a revelation, and that was to sate his need for violence and conquest he would seek out other demons and challenge them. Across the mountains, he would challenge others of his ilk to best him in combat and bring his existence to an end. However, that did not occur. In all those he defeated, the demon would come their body until there was nothing. In this, gaining what power their flesh possessed. Consuming more and more was beyond simple habit now, he dare say this was even better than the flesh of humans. So he continued on, battle after battle, conquest after conquest. As word spread, there were those who sought to challenge him, but one stranger stood above all others in the peculiarity of their request.

One day the oni was visited by a human, weak, sniveling and fleshy, the human was... But, it had an interesting request. The human told the demon that a mighty demon held his village captive. Having only heard tale of one demon who might so willingly face off against this being, the human sought out this demon. With interest aroused the demon agreed to this, though only under the condition that at some unknown point in the future he may call upon the human for a favor. The man had no desire to make promises to the demon but if it was the only way for the man to save his village, he had to. One thing the man asked, which seemed utterly pointless at the time was if the demon had a name. The demon regarded the man with amusement before offering him one word in response:

"Gojiro."

The demon Gojiro allowed the human to lead him in their travels to his village, and with no rest and much haste they had arrived. Many of this small village had died, but the fragility of the human existence. Though there were many who still lived, too, hiding in their homes in fear and filth.

The battle of two demons was fierce, and for a mortal to witness such a thing was beyond words. Though what came after was nothing any mortal would dare desire to see, Gojiro had defeated these mortal's foe and consumed it. A demon who seemed so grand to mortal eyes was being swallowed in chunks by an even greater demon, and it was... Terrifying. In the completion of his task, the demon approached the man and asked him in turn for his name...

"Sunae."

Gojiro gave the human Sunae a medallion which he wore upon his neck, telling him to keep this with him. That one day it would come in use for the favor which he will fufill for him. Overwhelmed with emotions and relief, Sunae agrees to this and demon takes his leave.

It is said the demon lived for many more years before finally being defeated by a band of hunters who sought to purge the land of evil, his legacy lost to time.

But that, is incorrect.

The demon was clever, and an existence by the blade was meant to be ended by the blade too. But the soul is eternal, and in the demon's wisdom he chained his soul to something attainable. A medallion which the demon once wore like a badge. Sunae, in all his foolishness and well meaning had made a bargain with a demon that was to curse his entire lineage. When the medallion spoke to him, he was astonished. But, what it told the man brought him immense distress. Having become the father of two children, and a loving husband he was told what his favor would be for the demon:

To bring its soul to a vessel for as long as this lineage existed.

Sunae had promised after all, and if not the demon could always bring disaster and ruin to his home. All Gojiro had asked was that he give up one child, and that was all. Allowing him the honor to decide. Bringing his plight to his family, the first born son offered himself to the demon. Desiring to help his father by carrying this burden, and it was with much reluctance he agreed to this and so the cycle began. Their descendants would inherit this strife, taught to breed more than one child, taught the way with which to chain the soul to the vessel, and taught that not every vessel would live long after taking the demon in...

There was once a demon who moved from body, to body. A promise kept through the generations and decades, until one day a vessel was offered to him that the demon did not expect. A child who could be no older than five years of age, with eyes like honey and rosey cheeks.

In this moment their souls collided, it was in this instance the demon ceased to be. In turn, this child ceased to be too. No, the demon did not possess the child, and the child did not overtake the demon. Melting into something that tore both of them asunder and created something that was, and all at once was not...

There is a demon. One who's body is carried upon the breeze and swaddled in fabrics of white and blue. She dances in the moonlight, pursuing that which she so seeks to make her feel whole. Who memories span far beyond the years of life she has lived, and will continue to live. A demon who's heart was as soft as it was volatile, a rose by any other name.

TRIVIA

Lacks a proper sense of identity because she is not herself and will never be herself. But, she isn't not herself either.

The best control of her powers and abilities is during the witching hours. Her eyes reveal their true luminosity in pure darkness, and her pupils are slits but in daylight they appear normal due to dilation.

Asaji is really sweet and genuine. Her maidenly manner and softness are her best qualities she’s told. And she’s always happiest when dancing. She’ll dance whenever she can so never be scared to ask her to dance.

Her family is exceptionally well off, and well regarded in all tight knit circles. Asaji being adopted is actually a secret amongst the family.

She feels no remorse in murdering and consuming other demons.

Asaji is acutely self aware that something is wrong with her but there is not much she can genuinely do about it.

Always dressed beautifully and stands out because of how well she is always dressed.

Her favorite color is baby blue.

Asaji has surprising levels of reasoning and deductive skill, but never mistake this. Her impulse control is poor when it comes to things such as violence and the like. Even if she knows something is wrong, it has yet to stop the part of her which desires to act on all things.

Asaji's demonic aura can only be felt but those extremely attuned to demonic energy, however, she wears gloves quite often because her aura stains fauna. Her home is decorated in blue roses as any planlife she touches stains blue with her energy. Her energy also makes her hands warm, which isn't immediately noticeable but she is much warmer than the average human.

Spicy foods are her favorites.

She has knowledge of hand to hand combat and weapon use, and can manipulate metal at will. Whether in its finest form or already formed metal.

Asaji's father owned a collection of weapons, and after leaving she returned and took quite a few from the home. Those she keeps for her hunts.

Harboring as much knowledge in her mind as she does, Asaji goes through random moments of true clarity. These moments are always oddly introspective, but never unwelcome.