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Itto often had these… Little fits that only the gang knew about; he'd lock himself in his room and just refuse to come out, because everytime someone new opened their mouths he feared they'd say something he'd heard all too much. So he would come to the conclusion that if he couldn't talk to people without fearing the worst, it may be better if he didn't talk to them.
This wasn't healthy by any means, it was self-destructive if anything, but the Arataki gang lived by very few principles, one being "not here for a long time, just a good one." and he would abuse that saying they had. It gave him an excuse, he could shelter from everything bad if he acknowledged it, but explained the 'reason' why he did it.
You see, what he feared someone saying was a phrase passed down since people heard of the blue oni's 'treacherous' crimes. It was a thing that discarded the sacrifice made by them, something that lumped all oni together.
"Once an oni always an oni."
Yeah, he was born an Oni, why would that ever change, should he look at a human doing bad and just say that "Once a human they're always a human"? That's stupid. Utterly stupid.
But did anyone ever take him seriously? No. No they did not. Because another curse that came with being an oni was the lack of proper education he received, leading to him being less than… adverse in a few topics.
From the second he was born he was taught that the world never actually cared for him, or for anyone else, so he may as well just give up and act like they want him to act. If they want a monster, well… The Arataki name has always been good at being a punching bag for those lacking their horns. If they want a criminal, than fine he'll be a criminal.
Because once an oni…
"Always an Oni." The bartender finished off, watching the creature that killed their customers with an odd mix of fear and disgust