thenearshore | (no subject)

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Who: Yuuko Ichihara + Kimihiro Watanuki (and possibly the rest of Team GuanYin at some point)
What: Initial meetings and plenty of braibreak
When: Backdated to late afternoon, June 5
Where: The Near Shore (That beach)
Summary: Because it had to happen.
Warnings: None really.

It might have been strange for Amaterasu's shinki to find a newcomer that didn't have a million questions for them. Instead, she was calm, accepting most everything they told her. She almost jovial, really. But then again, not many of these shinki believed in inevitability the way Yuuko Ichihara did. If she was here, then she was meant to be here. There was a reason her soul was brought here and not made to pass on like so many others were. Sure, her lack of memories were slightly concerning but again: inevitability. If it was inevitable she was supposed to be here, then it may have been inevitable she'd lost her memories along with it.

No coincidences. Everything happens for a reason, of course. She'd learned the name of her god and decided to file it away for reference. Guan Yin. A goddess, if what scant memory of her stock knowledge served her right. But she wouldn't sit around to wait for him. After all, natural curiosity had driven her to want to find out as much as she could about this heaven. (And the offered booze was far too big a temptation to pass up.)

When he was ready to find her, he'd find her.

Such was the way of inevitability, after all. But despite her wandering around, she did finally decide to settle down near the bonfire with half a bottle of sake left.

But he should be here. It was only a matter of time.

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There was only a momentary jolt of surprise at his sudden embrace. But a hand moves up, lightly carding through his hair as she remains where she sits. There's something... nostalgic about all this. About this boy. About this motion.

"I suppose I am... but this is certainly a much warmer greeting to get than I was expecting." There's a soft chuckle to that, an amused little smile. Who knew her god would be the expressive type? "Were you waiting long?"

"I dreamt about you," He admitted instantly, and there was no holding back, because the wave of emotions that were pounding against him kept him glued to her, holding Yuuko still. The hand through his hair brought him back to the time he spent in her shop. It seemed like ages ago... "I should have known it was you, but..."

There was some hesitance, then:

"I missed you... I didn't know if I'd ever see you again...!" And there was panic there, because what if he did lose her again? What if this was just a fleeting moment for him to grasp onto before she disappeared amongst the stars in the sky, never to be heard from again? What if he had to go back to waiting for her? He didn't know if he could bear it...! He had so many things he wanted to say to her, so many things that he wanted to tell her, would know that she'd find humor and interest in all the things that had transpired so far...

Missed her? Well that wasn't right. Surely, if she'd met someone like this before then she would remember, would she...? But then, there was the fact that she hardly remembered anything to begin with. Memories were fickle things. She uttered the smallest thoughtful hum, fingers continuing to lightly card through the boy's hair. Again, the inevitable. If he did know who she was and she wasn't meant to remember... of course there had to be a reason.

"There's hardly anything to miss if this happens to be our first meeting." she finally replied, head tilting slightly to get a better look at him. An expressive boy, someone who clearly knew who she was. "I take it you know who I am... other than the newest addition to your arsenal?"

'I take it you know who I am...'

Those words struck him hard and fast, and he jolted back, tears practically flying off of his face was he blinked rapidly, once, twice, three times, mismatched eyes a mix of shock and desperation, helplessness... no. Please don't let it be true.

"Yu--" But the tears fell anyway. Harder than before, more pressing, no longer of relief, but of agony, grief. Dismay. he was fighting to catch his breath as the tears rolled down his pale face. His stomach hurt. "No--no... please...

"I already had to live without you once..." Would this place do this to him? How he wished it were just a cruel joke, that she was messing with him, toying with him--but not even Yuuko would toy this far, not to where it brought him to the point of breaking right in front of her. And he grabbed hold of her sleeve, fingers clawing deep into the fabric.

"You're joking! Tell me you're joking! You know me--you know me!" Desperate now. Almost shrieking.

Normally, anyone would be quick to push away someone who seemed to be so desperate... especially if they seemed to be a total stranger. But that level of emotion, that measure of distress couldn't be faked. It wasn't an act, it wasn't an attempt to bind her to him. It was genuine. Only actual pain could cause that much of a scar. So she took it in stride, eyes closing a moment to take a breath. Unfortunately, it was true. Try as she might, she couldn't recall his face, much less put a name to it. As her eyes open, she reaches into her obi to offer him a handkerchief.

"All I realize is that I must have been important to you. If that was the case..." she began, placing her hand over his a moment as if that one touch could calm him. "There was a reason why we were meant to meet this way. While not apparent, I'm certain the reason will come to you in due time. I have no regrets from dying if that's what worries you. I'm certain that if I knew you in life, you must have been part of the reason why."

Watanuki looked down at the handkerchief. He took her words in, and oh, this was certainly his Yuuko, memories or not. Her sure way of speaking, how calmly she delegated, this was the woman he had left his heart with back home. And now...

She didn't remember him.

There was a moment's pause before he reached out and took the thin fabric in his hand. He didn't use it at first, instead choosing to stare down at it with a blank expression as Yuuko's turns churned in his head.

'I have no regrets from dying.'

No regrets? How was it possible to have no regrets? He didn't know how he ended up here, if he just appeared or if he just died, but even so there were so many things he had left behind... Yuuko, Himawari, even Doumeki... but at the same time, he had met so many people here, too. And then there was Ronald...

He remembered what he said to him suddenly, about Yuuko coming here... she was first, She was his number one priority. His lips pressed together in thought. He lifted the handkerchief to his face, dabbing at his eyes with it in slow pats.

"...Thank you," He managed, ad he wasn't sure what to say at first, but instead of trying to over thinking it, he let his words guide him. "But... yeah...

"You were very important to me." A beat.

"...The most important..."

There was an even longer stretch of silence, then:

"Are you hurt at all?"

Well that explained it. But then again, something like this didn't need to be explained. A bond of fate once woven, would never unravel. But it was good to see certain things pertained past death. Either way, this was promising to be a very interesting partnership.

The most important...

The smallest, wry smile crossed her lips at the thought. Hitsuzen, you mad thing. Perhaps at some point, she was important to this boy and if she was, well...

"There's no such thing as coincidence." she found herself chuckling, refilling her cup before taking another sip. That pause she took as a moment to do a mental inventory.

"Nothing's hurt. Apart from the apparent sudden loss of memory, everything seems to be in tact. However, there seems to be one thing..." she finally replied before grinning and holding her cup up. "I don't suppose you could remedy the problem I have with this being empty...?"

Only moments after Yuuko held up her cup, asking for a refill, Jade procured some sweet, fruit flavored liquor that was abundant around the beach. He slid up next to the two and poured a satisfactory amount into the glass.

"That should prove to solve your little problem" he said, straightening up. He pushed up his glasses, then glanced over to Watanuki. There was a subtle knowing look in those red eyes.

Yes, he had seen everything. Though he wasn't one to meddle with his god's affairs, that didn't mean he didn't keep tabs on his emotional and sometimes reckless deity. Slinking around the temple and hovering around the corners was a particular favorite pastime of his.

Besides, his god had been in distress. What kind of shinki would he be if he just left him unattended?

She regarded the newcomer as he filled her glass. At least he knew how to approach the situation. The drink was sufficient, the company even so. At least it would afford her the opportunity to learn about her god and his shinki in a way.

There was a nod of gratitude as she took a sip, regarding Jade from the rim of her cup. Interesting. He seemed reliable enough. But there was the faintest prick of a memory that came to her ever so briefly that she was quick to dismiss. Instead she made sure to make room for him. "I take it you've been in good hands since you last saw me?"

And then Jade appeared, wielding drink no less. Probably for the best. He was still a little dumbfounded to make a move. "Oh, ah." And Watanuki looked at Jade. He caught the look the other gave him, and eyed Jade back just as quietly. His mismatched gaze returned to Yuuko. "Yes, ah...

"This is Jade. He's my shinki." A pause, then, realizing he had just gained another hand that day, announced, "My Exemplar. I have two shinki, currently." And now you're in the loop, Jade. "...But Jade has been with me the entire time I have been a god."

Jade took a seat on his knees, tucking his feet neatly underneath him. Not saying anything at that moment, he just quietly regarded the other two as they spoke with one another. He didn't mind being talked about even though he was right there. His god was plenty capable of introducing them.

Another nod as she continued to drink, her attention on Jade a moment more before turning to Watanuki. Two shinki... "That leaves one more?" she asked, setting her cup down again.

But the smallest smile came to her as she glanced back at Jade. "If you're his exemplar then... that would mean I can leave things in your hands. You seem to be capable enough to begin with." she finished with a grin.

"His name is Rei. He just joined the team today," he stated, but the words felt strange coming out of his mouth. 'Team'. He never thought he'd have a team before... but his world was changing very quickly. He looked over to Jade. "Jade is...

"...a very good shinki." And he smiled a little.

As an automatic defense mechanism to way too much sentiment for his personal comfort levels, Jade's smile curled further on his lips.

"I would still be worried about this one. He does nothing but fuss over this and that--cluck cluck cluck all day." He waves a hand vaguely through the air. "And my new little brother is loud as well. I pity our heavenly neighbors"

That small snide smile never left even as she finished her drink. At least things were promising to be interesting. If the newcomer would be just as interesting was still left to be seen however.

"Never a dull moment. Either way, I believe I'll be looking forward to seeing if heaven really is everything they say it's cracked up to be." she finally said, setting her glass aside. "Now, I believe there's the matter of a name? I trust you to choose wisely, given the power of a name."

"Name?" Watanuki blinked, before finally whispering, "You... you'd really be my shinki...? I mean... I want you to, I want to be able to to... look after you... i-in my own way!"

Jade watched the two. So there was going to be yet another addition to this little family. At least this one seemed more up to his own standard. Rei wasn't horrible, but...well...it made sense as to why Watanuki chose someone like him.

"Make it good, my lord"

He seemed to settle down. "...I will. I've already thought of one." He looked back over to Jade. "Just as carefully considered as your own."

"My, you must have a way with words then. You came up with mine so easily" he replied. His name meant something heavy and he wondered if it had to do with Watanuki's tears upon being touched by his god for the first time.

It seems as if Watanuki has some prior knowledge of this woman. Whether or not it's divine, he isn't sure. But so far, the names he's given out haven't steered anyone wrong.

"Yes, I'm sure it will be up to snuff"

No amount of prior magical knowledge could have helped in getting her to figure this out. After all, the ways of the gods are mysterious. Even if she was once near god-like herself though barely remembering it.

There's a nod though as she sets her cup down again, hands placed properly on her lap. "Then I shall leave it to you, Guan Yin."

Good. He had just the name.

Watanuki closed his eyes for a moment, before opening them again and lifting his hand up to make some motions over Yuuko's head.

"...You," He began, "With nowhere to go and nowhere to return...
I grant you a place to belong...
My name is Guanyin!
With this name, I make thee my servant..."

He began to make strokes in the air, marking out Yuuko's name has his regalia.

"Joshinki!" Even though he was that god, in his heart, she was still his goddess.

There's silence as she accepts her name, the barest hint of a smile evident for a short moment before her form shifts. When the light dies down, she's completely disappeared and replaced by a small object in Watanuki's hand. It's a pocketwatch; a familiar one given the birds on the faceplate and the way his name is engraved on the inside of the cover.

It's a strange sensation on her end, however. Her consciousness is still there and she can still see and hear... but she can't move. Odd. She does in breathe in slightly, well aware of her heightened magical senses. "Well?" she finally asks. "I'm sure you'll be able to find some use for this form."

His fingers gently brushed over the face on the watch. He opened it, looking inside. Perfect time. He closed it again.

"A pocketwatch..." He mused thoughtfully. "...you're the first one that can't be used as a weapon! Probably for the best.

"...I wonder what you can do." Something with time, he suspected, as befitting for one who was once a Space-Time Witch.

It was an odd sensation, being in two forms at once. Her consciousness remained in this... space... but it felt connected to her god. A strange sensation indeed.

"I take it you haven't had anyone who can't be used practically in battle?" she finally asked, tilting her head slightly after the softest hum of thought. "Is there one way we can find out or would you rather find out the hard way...?"

Somehow, that sounds like a challenge.

"I'd rather not find out the hard way." Yeah, that sounded like a bad idea.

"...Maybe I could try using you now."

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