thenearshore | Open and Closed

Entry tags:

Open and Closed

Who: Yamazaki Ayumu, Cho Hakkai, and you!
When: late July 17th to July 19th
Where: Various spots on both the Near and Far Shores
What: Wardrobe problems, borderline practice in the park, and shopping.
Warnings: Possible mentions of violence, torture, and rape in the Hakkai thread if it comes up.

July 17th, night, the Far Shore (Open)

[The first few days of Ayumu's afterlife have been decidedly bizarre. How she'd gone from her present self to an ill-mannered child and later a cocky teenager is beyond her understanding but she's grateful when that final burst of energy comes, finally turning her back into herself even it did strand her on the Near Shore far away from her god's temple with nothing but a child's yukata and sandals to wear.

Ayumu's nothing if not resourceful, however, and the dilemma was solved easily enough with a little convenience store theft. And that's how Ayumu can be found strolling through the Far Shore back to her god's temple wearing a neon-orange glow in the dark rain poncho, a pink child's yukata tied around her waist in a makeshift skirt, and carrying a tiny pair of sandals in her hand. It's hard to tell for sure but she appears to be clutching a large wad of bloody paper towels in her right hand.

Regardless of her present attire, Ayumu makes eye contact with anyone she happens to pass by, offering them a cordial smile and cheerful greeting.]

Good evening! Nice night, isn't it?

July 18th, daytime, the Far Shore, the park (Open)

[Given Ayumu's current lack of wardrobe, her clothing options are pretty much limited to whatever she can find in her god's closet. His pants are a lost cause, being far too big to fit her small frame. However, the shirts are salvagable so she helps herself to one of those. He's taller than her, enough so that it hangs down low enough on her thighs to be somewhat decent enough to go outside in. But then again, Ayumu's definition of decent tends to be downright scandalous by modern standards, perhaps made worse by the fact all she's wearing at the moment is a shirt clearly recognizable as Hakkai's.

Currently, she's sitting on a bench, knees pressed together rather primly while she reads the information pamphlet given to her on her first day. Mentally, she's in a much better state to comprehend and absorb the information today so she's taking advantage of that with a little private practice on her borderlines. It's been a little rough going so when she finally gets it right, Ayumu jumps up from bench with a little cheer and fistpump at her victory.]

Yes! I did it!

[She's all smiles for the time being. Ayumu knows she still has a long way to go before she'll be able to consider herself a good shinki but it's a start. Dismissing it is much easier after which Ayumu celebrates by merrily scooping up a rather startled, floppy-eared puppy and holding it aloft.]

And you, my dear, are witness to my triumph.

[Ayumu drops a light kiss on its nose, apparently oblivious to any other witnesses to her antics.]

July 19th, morning, the Near Shore, shopping district (Closed to Hakkai)

[And at least, it's time for another victory to celebrate - clothing of her own! It'd taken patience and a careful strategy of wearing nothing but Hakkai's shirts for him to prioritize a shopping trip over work but it'd succeeded. Even without the bond between god and shinki, Ayumu's clearly in good spirits as she looks peers through the windows at the different clothing on display. Most of the styles look odd to her as they had when she'd been wandering the Near Shore as a child but clothes are clothes at this point and Ayumu will literally wear anything that she hasn't had to steal or improvise on her own.]

There's so many different styles, Hakkai-sama. I'm not sure what to pick. What do you think would look good on me?

[She turns to him for an answer, still barefoot and wearing another one of his shirts. Even though it's morning, it's still warm enough that she isn't cold.]

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No, they were for my feet. They were blistered and I'd scraped my heel. Hachiman-sama helped me tend to it. When I grew up a little more, they'd healed.

[It'd been very strange magic but a sort Ayumu had been grateful for. Though she'd refused to show the full extent of it, her feet had really hurt. It'd put her in another in another situation without shoes but she'd managed.]

I cut my hand on a package the night I'd returned. I didn't have any clothing so I had to improvise with what I could steal. Shizuo-san found me on my way back to the temple and carried me here.

[Shizuo's story of gods disappearing along with their temples has been weighing on her mind, making her question the wisdom of dedicating herself solely to serving Hakkai and while she'd accepted his apology, the impression of unreliability is difficult to shake. That total strangers had treated her with more consideration and care has left its mark on her as well.]

I also met a woman who offered to make me a yukata.

[It's too early to tell if any of the connections Ayumu had established within her first days here will prove useful but she has to admit that letting the public see her as vulnerable had turned out more fruitful than she'd anticipated.]

There are quite a few kind people here.

[His tone is as light and mild as if he were commenting on the weather: Shizuo, Hachiman... Hijikata, wasn't it? -- and someone who made clothing. It could, he supposed, be Forrest. Or Orihime; he'd heard she was about.

The subtext, All of these people helped me while you were derelict in your duty, does not go unnoticed.

He leaves it subtext, though.]

... There's also at least one murderer. [He'd been morbidly tempted, for a moment, to say at least two: but while true, it's not helpful. Only one of them has been recently active.] I'm certain you can handle yourself, but --

[He hesitates, briefly.]

-- Be warned.

Thanks. I'll keep that in mind.

[Ayumu's content to leave it subtext as well. What's done is done and her clothing crisis has been resolved. She may have a natural inclination toward being harsh and unforgiving of mistakes but she's not completely unfair or unreasonable.]

What information has been gathered about this murderer so far?

[The more information she has, the better. The contacts she's establishing aren't merely for her god's benefit but her own as well. While Ayumu intends to do her best, she can't ignore the information gained from Shizuo. It would be in her own best interest to cultivate alliances and resources of her own in case she suddenly finds herself homeless.]

[Having her own contacts and her own, reliable resources is just good sense for a shinki. At least, even if he disappears, she'll have the school and whatever he leaves there to rely on.

And Asshole, he supposes, although Asshole isn't particularly good company. Hakkai's woken up twice to find him standing silently in the bedroom since he'd named the man, and he has to give no-longer-Banri credit: he's gotten strange enough to even spook Hakkai. A little.

He frowns thoughtfully, considering the question.] The first known murders happened just after Tanabata, and have tended to occur in pairs. The first two were laid out in a park on the Far Shore with 'Death to Amaterasu' carved into their backs, the second two were also laid out in a park, and since then a few more have been killed in varying ways.

Amaterasu's shinki have been investigating. I'm afraid I haven't paid close attention to the investigation's progress so far.

[She listens intently, picking up the shopping bag off the counter and begins to move out of earshot of the cashier. The sooner she forgets them the better, otherwise given the subject matter, she could alert authorities.]

Do you know how many victims have been taken so far? Or if there are any similarities between them?

[Depending on how much attention Hakkai's been paying to this matter, she may need to look further into this investigation on her own time. She needs to be aware of any and all threats that might endanger her god. Besides, a killer can't be allowed to run unchecked.]

More than four. I don't know the identities of most of them.

[He tucks his wallet back into his pocket and follows her, settling the bag from the other shop more comfortably over his arm.]

... if you're going to go look into it, would you like to pick up a weapon or two as well? While we're out.

Yes, please.

[If nothing else, Ayumu will simply feel more secure being armed. With her wrist and her eye being as they are, she's hesitant to rely on her unarmed combat ability, especially since she's not quite sure what her own skill level with that is. Just that she knows she can fight.]

Are Amaterasu's shinki the only ones investigating to your knowledge?

I believe some of the friends of the deceased may be looking into it, but I don't know too much. You might try asking Izuku.

[He glances thoughtfully down the street. This is just a fashion district, no place to buy weapons.]

What sort of weaponry would you feel most comfortable with? Knives, swords, staves, guns?

[He's seen her fight unarmed, and it looked like a style that would adjust most comfortably to short melee weapons, but that doesn't mean she isn't trained with others. Something concealable, he thinks, ideally.]

Knives. Maybe a sword - a short one.

[Something concealable, definitely. But also something with a little extra reach would be worth looking into as well. She's comfortable with the idea of both.]

Do you know where to find a weaponsmith?

[From the looks of the shops in the area, this seems to cater to different clientele.]

And Izuku's the one mentioned in the pamphlets, right?

[The name sounds familiar.]

Not offhand, but I can look it up.

[He already has his phone out and is tapping away at the screen for a search.] Knives are easier to find than swords, at least... yes, Izuku is the one who compiled the pamphlets. He's very good at keeping track of local information. I'm afraid I was in no shape to track events through the beginning of the murders, and then I was gone for a while.

Knives will suffice then.

[She's not surprised to hear that swords are difficult to obtain. Or how a killer could claim so many victims so easily. As confusing as this world is, it also seems soft to her somehow.]

I'll contact him then. I still have the flyer in my room.

[She's been working on committing the information within to memory.]

Ah, were you injured recently, Hakkai-sama?

[He glances up from the phone screen, fingers briefly stilling.

It's embarrassing to admit the truth, but it's also something she has the right to know. Gods can't blight their shinki in the way that shinki can blight their gods... but still.]

I was ... quite badly blighted. It was when I was still a shinki, and --

[He coughs, politely.]

Well, it had to end in an ablution.

I think I've found a likely shop. Shall we? [He holds his free hand out, palm up.]

[Ayumu places her hand in his.]

That's the ceremony to purify shinki, right?

[Ayumu thinks she remembers reading something about that in the pamphlet, too. There was a lot of information in it to digest but the term sounds familiar. There's no judgment in her expression or her tone as she regards him, just mild curiosity. She does want to get to know her god better. They're in this situation together, after all.]

That's correct. I wasn't a very good shinki.

[He takes her hand, checks the phone screen again, and focuses, his eyes slipping briefly closed as the street dissolves around them. They reappear a few inches above the pavement outside a martial-arts supply store that sells both safe sparring gear and real weaponry, and Hakkai cranes his neck to get a good look at the display. He makes a mild, approving noise.]

What do you think, Ayumu? Will this do?

[Ayumu studies the display with a critical eye for a few moments then nods.]

This should be fine.

[There seems to be a fairly good selection of knives and swords. Most look to be katana length but there might be shorter ones inside. If they sold shuriken, that would be ideal. At any rate, this shop certainly looks worth taking a closer look at.]

Shall we?

Yes, let's!

[He steps inside, turning his interest immediately to the glass-topped tables lining the walls. Long swords are displayed on traditional wooden racks inside the cabinets above them, but the tables hold smaller weapons: some are clearly meant for performance, but others look sturdy enough to handle actual combat.

There are a few knives that even appeal to him, although, really, if anyone gets that close he won't need a knife.]

Pick whatever you like -- to protect yourself, you should have the best.

Thank you, Hakkai-sama.

[She shuns the racks in favor of the table, inspecting each blade with the same casual criticism she might give produce while grocery shopping. After a few minutes, Ayumu picks up a simple traditional dagger. It wouldn't work very well as a projectile but it looks sturdy and easy to hide on her person. It feels comfortable in her hand so she sets it aside and continues browsing.

Some of the smaller, lighter blades might make passable projectiles so Ayumu picks one up to test its balance and weight. After a quick glance around to make sure she won't hit anyone, she indulges in an experimental throw at a cylindrical punching bag hanging on display.

The blade veers a little bit off target but the throw was good; clearly Ayumu knows what she's doing with a knife.]

Hmm. Balance isn't quite right.

[The proper way to shop in modern day on the other hand....]

[What's improper about trying out the merchandise before you make a big purchase? Hakkai eyes the punching bag as it sways back to stillness, and nods thoughtfully. She'd picked a smaller, lighter one to throw. Something concealable and subtle. He scans his way down the display tables, stopping with a pleased ah! as he finds the throwing knives.

These are a little flashy, made in bright metal with handles wrapped in equally brightly colored cord, but they're small, double-edged, sharp, and can always be lampblacked to avoid drawing the eye.]

Try these? I believe they're made for it.

[They are a bit too flashy for her tastes but that's a problem fixed easily enough. If a knife doesn't have the proper balance for throwing, there's not much that can be done about it. Ayumu picks up one of the throwing knives, handling it thoughtfully a moment before swiftly turning and hurling it at the punching bag. This time it hits the spot she's aiming for.]

That one's much better. A few more of those and the dagger I set aside a few minutes ago for certain. I'd like to take a look at their short swords if they have them. Then I think I'll have all I need from here from now.

[But just like the costume shop, she intends to pay another visit here later on.]

Try the back wall?

[There are wakazashi with the katana in their display racks, but wakazashi are an awkward length to wield alone, he thinks, and picks out several of the less brightly-wrapped throwing daggers for her. The back wall had seemed to have the larger weapons best described as "won't fit anywhere else."

While he's at it, he pulls the thrown two knives from the punching bag, and adds them to his double-handful of possible purchases. Torn foam bulges sadly from both slashes in the bag.]

Oh, I see them now. I'll take a look.

[Ayumu leaves her shopping bags with Hakkai and heads over to look through the sword racks. There are, indeed, wakizashi. As elsewhere in the store, it's a mix of decorative blades but a few look strong enough for practical use. She takes a few different ones, doing experimental, quick draw slashes with each one after making sure no one was close enough to get hit. Once she selects the one she likes best, a rather plain, sturdy looking one with a slightly straighter blade than the others, Ayumu sheathes it and returns to Hakkai's side.]

I think I'm ready to go now.

[His smile is fonder than he realizes as he nods to her. He has trouble, sometimes, understanding the appeal of fashion beyond armoring oneself in the appearance of normalcy.

The loving selection of weapons, on the other hand: that's something he can empathize with. He holds up his double handful of knives.]

Did you want that one with the dubious balance? It would be a good short-range weapon.

[It does have a guard, which makes it a better stabbing weapon than the throwing knives, even if it's worse for long-range combat. If she doesn't want it, Hakkai has to admit he's a little tempted.]

Sure. It'd be easy to conceal. And I suppose if I ran out of the throwing ones, I could make it work in a pinch.

[With some careful calculation and practice to get a better sense of how much the balance will skew the throw and accounting for that against a target, it could give her the element of surprise against an opponent expecting her to miss. Or potentially serve as an effective feint if she were to target something else.]

[Well, that's that, then. He heads over to pay, rushing through the usual hello-yes-I-do-exist, funny-you-didn't-see-me routine with the shop attendant, who seems a little dubious about the kinds of weapons they've selected; Hakkai beams at him, and trusts in the evanescence of mortal memory.

He's back shortly with a new bag, this one quite sturdy and full of well-wrapped, neatly boxed knives.]

Was there anything else you needed? Or will this do?

[Hair supplies, eyepatches; clothes, a minor arsenal.... it certainly seems like everything to him, but it's been a long time since he did the shopping for a woman. Besides, despite his insight into her memories, he can admit he doesn't know Ayumu well yet.]

I think I'm good for now. If something comes up later on, I'll be sure to let you know.

[It's hard to predict if she'll need anything else when she's still just now getting a grasp on her new environment.]

Again, thank you, Hakkai-sama.

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