Chapter Text
Crossing the honmoon can be a tricky process. Firstly, Rumi has to wait for the honmoon to weaken in a spot. Secondly, she has to be physically strong enough to cross it. Lastly, she has to time the crossing, and make sure no one knows about it.
Tugging the hoodie closer over her head, she watches as the honmoon pulses with pink, indicating a weak spot is going to open. It's at the very edges of the demon realm, a place Rumi specifically chose. She creeps through the decrepit houses laying abandoned and pauses by the porch of one, watching and waiting, body tensed with anticipation.
There's a zing of sound, and she knows it's almost open. She can't mess this up. If she does, who knows when the next opportune spot will open- she's been waiting for this one for years. She'll be stuck here, with her, if she doesn't leave now.
The honmoon pulses with a big enough spot that Rumi could work it open more to fit her. She dashes forward, feet kicking up dust, building enough speed to dive through like she's trying to break through a brick wall. She slips through the honmoon, time and space contorting around her.
She swears she can hear the voices of all of the previous hunters around her, talking over each other, laughing, screaming, singing. There's a cold jelly like feeling around her, and she can feel it pressing too tightly on her skin. Her eyes are shut to protect them from being damaged by the honmoon, but she rips ahead with her claws, forcing the barrier to birth her forward.
Within seconds but what feels like hours, she is ejected and hits the ground. She slowly opens her eyes, taking in the human world around her. She breathes in deeply, the scent of sulfur and despair replaced by the putrid scent of dumpsters rotting in hot heat and beer spilled on the ground. It's louder here, the ever present sound of flames and pained howling replaced by the honking of distant cars, a dog barking, TV's blaring show programs.
The rupture stays open behind her for a little bit before it slowly starts to close as Rumi examines her surroundings. It's been a while since she's last been here. She's missed the human world and all its peculiarities. But she'll be safe here.
Her eyes fall on the pop of color in the alleyway. She steps closer, nothing the poster slung up. Her eyes immediately go wide. She rips the poster off and squeals loudly. “No way! They made it big now?! And there's a concert, tonight?!”
Without another thought she teleports away into a cloud of pink dust.
She reappears inside the stadium, stealing a hat and pair of shades from the vendor without them noticing, as she marches up to find an empty seat. Her human disguise that she came here with makes her look like another fan, patterns covered up, but she could always use more merch. She snags one of those glow up wands that someone left on the counter as they struggle to pick up a tray filled with drinks.
The stadium is huge and easily packed. The stage rests empty, the Huntrix logo on the back.
Rumi won't be able to find a free seat; she knows the place is sold out. So she plops herself down into any unclaimed seat. She's having a hard time sitting still, bouncing her knees as she waits.
The guy whose seat she's taken comes back. She doesn't even let him argue her for it, snarling at him loudly like a lion, fangs bared. He lets out a yelp and backs off so quickly he almost falls down the stairs.
Rumi knows all about Zoey and Mira, the members of Huntrix. She's been a mega fan of them for years now. She also knows they're the new hunters of this generation. But without a third hunter, they've been unable to seal the honmoon, something the demons find great relief in.
However, despite it only being the two of them, they've managed to skyrocket to such fame that they've maintained the honmoon well enough. And who wouldn't love watching them or listening to their music?
Zoey is adorable, a spastic ball of energy that could rap with the fury of a thousand suns yet made Rumi want to squish her cheeks. Mira has killer dance moves and a killer attitude and is tall enough that Rumi wants to climb her.
The crowd around Rumi began to roar as the lights flared on. Rumi jumps to her feet, screaming at the top of her lungs. Music blares to life and smoke arises on the stage. When it clears Zoey and Mira are both there, standing back to back, their height difference endearing.
They launch into their first song and it doesn't take long for Rumi to figure out the lyrics even if she's never heard it before. As Rumi sings along, she can see the honmoon around her rippling with color, and as she belts out notes higher the honmoon ripples harder.
Up in a VIP section in a box, Celine is watching over the last show of the tour, glass of wine in her hand. Her eyes go wide when she notices the honmoon rippling stronger, that with the strength of another voice. She presses up against the glass, fogging it up as she scans the audience.
There's another huntress there, somewhere in the crowd.
She can't find her, but she can't afford to lose her.
She grabs her phone and makes a call, as she rushes from the box. “I need all security combing the crowds.” And if they couldn't find the girl in time, then Celine would have to have all the exits shut down to prevent anyone from leaving until they found her.
Celine weaves her way in and out of crowd, eyes searching with desperation, as the concert continues.
-
Rumi is still on a high after the concert ends, humming their new songs under her breath. She wonders how long she'll have in the human realm this time before she gets chased back. As the crowd clears out, Rumi sneaks her way into the backstage of the show, dodging around crew members who are already taking down the sets to make space for the next show tomorrow. They barely seem to pay her any mind especially since she's grabbed a face mask to wear and hunched up her shoulders to look like another miserable employee.
Rumi's hoping she can get an autograph or maybe a picture with them. She knows if they ever meet her on the battlefield that they'll chop her up into bits and send her back to the demon realm and she doesn't need that before they drop the new album they've been teasing.
She knows it's risky but sue her, she's a simple fan girl.
With a mega crush on both Zoey and Mira. She doesn't even care if they discover that she's a demon as long as she gets to at least see them up close, talk to them, hear their new album. Then they can chase her down and send her to hell for all she cares.
She'll find her way back to the human realm anyways.
She dips behind a piece of wall that had been used as a prop, trying to see where the star's rooms are. Maybe she should have brought flowers.
A throat clearing behind her makes her jump. She swirls on her heel and sees a middle aged woman in a suit behind her. Rumi would teleport away but this woman would see and Rumi doesn't want human's knowing. She'll have to give her the old slip.
“Oh, I work here-” Rumi's lies die on her tongue when Celine holds out a card.
Rumi takes it hesitantly. It's a talent management card. “It's come to my attention that you have a wonderful singing voice.”
Rumi genuinely doesn't know what to say to this or how this woman would have heard her voice. She keeps staring at Celine blankly.
“Come audition for us, we're looking for a third member for Huntrix.”
Is....is this woman saying what Rumi thinks she's saying???! She wants her to audition for Huntrix????
“I know it's rather sudden-”
“Hells yea!” Rumi cheers loudly.
Realistically, Rumi knows this is a very, very bad idea. She'll be auditioning for a group of hunters that will kill her the moment they find out who she is.
But she doesn't care. She'll get to work with Mira and Zoey if she manages to land this audition!
“When can I start?”
Celine is taken a back a little by her energy. “Oh, well, if you don't mind then today-”
Rumi rips off her human disguise to reveal a performance outfit underneath. “My body is ready. Bring me to Mira and Zoey.”