[Closed] Face to face / The present and past collide

[pure_radiantics]

Who: Kairi and Hajime
What: Solidifying new shinki-god relationship at last
When: August 27th 2016 (Backdated)
Where: Neith's Temple

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[pure_radiantics]

One of the constants that kept Kairi happy -- between the time that she and Hajime were just friends to becoming a god-shinki pair -- was the fact that she and Hajime still jogged together in the mornings. Sometimes Deku would join them, but it was that way before too. It was a habit she didn't have to break and it was a reason to get up in the mornings.

It was coming up on a month now since Roxas and Sora disappeared - July 30th - or maybe it was Sora and Roxas, and along with it Kairi's illusion of a family home that somewhat resembled a normal life, as far as she knew it. She'd accounted for her various personal belongings in the dust that the Artemis and Baldr's temples left behind, she'd kept in touch with her brothers as much as possible, but there was still one thing she hadn't quite dealt with. One thing she kept to herself, not because she thought she couldn't trust Hajime or even Davesprite, but because she'd lost the only people she could've asked about the memory and the weapon that came along with it, so far as she knew. And of course she couldn't ask around too much either, for fear of risking her life and now Hajime's as well, Davesprite's too really, if she got too close to him while blighted badly.

But there were moments around Hajime that Kairi almost made up her mind to talk about it; moments where she looked very far-off as she looked in Hajime's direction without really looking at her. One such glazed-eye moment was now, just after their jog today, before going back inside Neith's temple.

[birdstheword]

Hajime stretches her arms high over her head as she walks along side Kairi. She's happy they still go on jogs almost ever morning. It's a great way to start the day and something that doesn't really ever change. She really needs to see if Davesprite wants to join in some time.

"Good run, Kairi~! Ah, I feel so good. All we need now is a hot shower."

She smiles, looking over and catching her gaze. She'd noticed it before but decided against poking at Kairi just yet. After Kairi lost her god and friend, it seemed best to just give her a bit of space and some love and care until she felt like herself again. Admittedly, even Hajime was still feeling off with Yuto now gone.

Clearly, giving her space isn't going to do it. Hajime stops just a couple steps shy of the door, staring at Kairi. Her smile doesn't fade.

"Kairi..."

[pure_radiantics]

She gasps, catching herself in her thoughts. "Yes, coming!" She jogs up to the steps and presses her lips together in thought. "I'm sorry... I didn't catch what you said just then." Kairi pulls her hair behind her ear, that casual gesture she does when she can't focus too well. "I know I should pay more attention to my goddess."

She looks sheepish, as it's one of the rare times she's referred to Hajime that way - normally it would be by her name, or simply calling her a friend.

[birdstheword]

Hajime just stands there, looking at her and listening. She pivots from heel to toe idly as Kairi moves up the steps. When Kairi is close enough, Hajime reaches out with both hands. Her fingers gently brush her cheeks before her hands rest there.

"Ha-ji-me."

She says each syllable, staring into the shinki's bright blue eyes. She grins a bit before her hands move just enough that she can pinch both sides of Kairi's face and pull gently.

"Helllooo? Are you home?" Hajime has to tease her a little.

[pure_radiantics]

At first she just listens as Hajime enunciates, smiling quietly and ruefully as she notices what she said having an effect on Hajime. It's definitely not how anyone - least of all Roxas - would have responded. She's going to have to be the one to speak up, she thinks- but then her mouth is getting tugged on.

"Ah- ah!" Kairi tries to respond in the affirmative until Hajime's done with her teasing.

"Yes!" She puts her own hands on Hajime's wrists. "I'm home, I'm ready to talk to you about... well, a lot of things." She taps one hand gently on Hajime. "I don't know if it's happened to Davesprite before..." She says before remembering that Yuto probably had a better chance of experiencing this too, before he vanished. "But I remembered something - awhile ago."

[birdstheword]

Hajime only stops pulling when Kairi reacts and puts her hands on her wrists. Just like that she stops now that she knows Kairi isn't dazing off. It's a little concerning only because Hajime can make vague guesses about it. It's something she should have probably poked Kairi about sooner but with Yuto gone she mostly just wanted to search around in vain for him or distract herself. But she's doing better. She's strong. She has Kairi and Davesprite to keep her spirits ever high so she has to do the same for them. Not as a god, but as a friend.

"Ah, Good morning Kairi!" She greets, giggling as if she just woke up the shinki. She lowers her hands from Kairi's face. The mention of remembering something does come as a bit of a surprise.

"You did? On your own? That's exciting! Nice Kairi! You're not the first to remember stuff, actually all my shinki have remembered at least one thing about themselves." She smiles warmly, moving a bit she she can reach out and grab Kairi's hand.

"Let's get ourselves some juice and you can tell me about it."

[pure_radiantics]

"All?" Kairi thinks that aloud before Hajime and she are walking inside. "Okay, juice it is." But her tone is still more somber as she thinks about that - just like her saying 'goddess', surely Hajime would have said Davesprite and Yuto otherwise.

Once they have their glasses and Kairi's taken a sip, she speaks up again. "I'm actually not sure I did remember on my own, Hajime. Maybe I did the first time - when I thought it was a dream that I woke up from. This was different. I was wide awake... but it was right as the temples disappeared." She rubs a finger over the glass. "So I don't remember seeing Roxas or Sora for the last time... instead I remembered something else." And that's one of the reasons she feels so guilty about it.

"That hasn't happened to... everyone else, has it? Your other shinki?" She's fishing for names now.

[birdstheword]

Hajime leans on the counter, holding her glass in one hand. She considers Kairi's words thoughtfully. She hadn't meant to group all her shinki together but more to put Kairi's worries at ease. While all the shinki she had did remember at least one thing, they were all very different from each other.

But the was Kairi remembers sounds a bit strange.

"Mmmm It's usually after they wake up." Hajime swirls her drink a bit before taking a sip. She's not sure if it's good that Kairi knows that but she's going to be honest with her.

"It might be important that you remember though. It could of happened for a reason. I know sometimes people have left letters or items before they poof....maybe that was something from Roxas or Sora somehow. They both had big hearts." She can say that more for Sora then she can for Roxas, but there were hints and an obvious love for Kairi.

[pure_radiantics]

The way Hajime explains her theory... she doesn't have to think too hard about what she may or may not remember in the future. It's all about that particular memory. She remembers one thing in particular that she had in her hands that immediately disappeared after her thoughts turned to her brothers in the wake of losing the temples.

She focuses on that feeling though - that warm glow that, sure enough, did remind her the most of Sora and Roxas. She sets the glass down and lifts both hands until they're resting at about her shoulder height. She wills the tears away; she's cried enough for the loss of her friends. Then that memory again - Riku handing her a keyblade inside of a strange place.

When she opens her eyes, the glow subsides and the keyblade is in her hands. Still nervous, she looks at Hajime - worried that she might think Kairi doesn't need a god if she has a weapon of her own like this. Kairi had wondered that about Roxas - if he needed a shinki when he could summon a keyblade. "This... is what I remembered, Hajime."

[birdstheword]

Hajime's eyes widen at the glowing, resisting the urge to shield her eyes from it. She watches in awe as the keyblade appears and once the light subsides she steps closer. The glass is practically tossed onto the counter where it wobbles a bit but somehow, magically, doesn't break and tip over.

Her attention is on the key blade as she wiggles from side to side. Her hands are up like she doesn't know what to do with them.

"Uwaaah! Kairi! That's...I donno what that is but it's cool! Pretty too! Like it's just for you." She exclaims, clearly excited. It's different from any other weapon Hajime has seen before and the way that Kairi can just summon it out of thin air is so ~magical~.

"Is it heavy? I guess you don't need a sword with that, huh? Wowee..." Hajime beams at her. "You remember how to use it? Tell me, tell me!"

[pure_radiantics]

That went better than expected. She smiles warmly and holds it just a little tighter. "Sora and Roxas called it a keyblade. I don't remember how to use it... I just remember how I got it. Riku handed it to me, but it didn't feel like he really gave it to me, you know? I don't think it was his to give away, just like Sora had his own and Roxas had his two."

Her smile gets broader then. "Sora said he and Riku were best friends... and he loved Roxas so much too. Maybe it's something special about where we all came from - or because we were all friends." But she shakes her head, then. "I don't remember that part, but I think I'll be okay not knowing for awhile. I've just spent so long trying... well, you know Hajime. I thought I had to train harder than anyone, because here I was this normal girl who didn't belong in a fight."

Kairi squeezes the handle on her keyblade a little tighter. "I guess I'm glad I worked as hard as I did, though. I know that a keyblade can't beat an ayakashi, but it still makes me feel better - like a part of Roxas and Sora is still with me."

[birdstheword]

Hajime bounces over and throws herself at Kairi. Instantly her arms wrap around her as the keyblade gets squished between them.

"Kairi~! That's great and I betcha they really are here with you. Even if you can't slay ayakashi alone with it, you should still practice! This is so exciting, I'm happy you told me! We can practice together too!" She tries to nuzzle her cheek against Kairi's affectionately before leaning back. She holds the shinki at arms length, hands resting on her shoulders as she gives a confident, reassuring smile.

"Keyblade or not, you've never been a normal girl, Kairi. You try so hard and put so much of your heart into everything you do. So much so it gets mine racing and beating so loud." She gives her shoulders a little bit of a squeeze.

"Keep at it, okay? As long as you always try your best. That's what makes Kairi, Kairi! You always will have Roxas and Sora backing you up. Even if they're not here-here, I know they're here." She moves her right hand to poke Kairi in the chest, roughly where her heart is beating. "And you got me and Forrest too."

[pure_radiantics]

Her and Forrest... Kairi is very happy to have two such supporters. The poke is welcomed regardless, and she sets the keyblade down on the table. "Well, if we're talking about trying my best... I do think I want to try really being your shinki, Hajime." She rubs at her chest where Hajime poked it. "You know, helping your followers like we used to... except this time you can call my name so I can support you."

She's still not sure how that'll work differently for Hajime than it did for Roxas - just knows that it will be different. It has to be. "But... if Davesprite wants to come, I'm okay with that. It's one thing I never got to experience before, but I always thought it might be better that way if it was possible." She smirks a little. "Apparently Raichi and Senri were just too wild as shinki to work together with others, even me."

But Kairi makes sure to smile sincerely at Hajime after clarifying that. Davesprite already knows her a little; not as well as her brothers do, but maybe enough. "I know that can't happen unless we practice on our own, though... so I'm okay with trying harder again."

M23 Holy Days Part 1

[pure_radiantics]

Nearly 2 months after deciding to stay at Neith's temple with Hajime and Davesprite, Kairi is starting to think of it more like home. It's hard because she can't quite bring herself to think of Hajime as a sister and Davesprite a brother the way she used to think of Roxas and the double-temple residents, but then she realizes she also doesn't know much about Neith aside from that one day she helped Hajime with a couple of her prayers in Egypt.

So she goes to look for Davesprite - wondering how much he's learned so far about Neith's powers and responsibilities. Maybe that will make them all better friends if they learn about it together.

[redotiertwo]

Davesprite is presently in his room, and the faint sound of a mixed music track playing and then stopping is audible through the door. Using his headphones is all well and good, but it's kind of hard to tell if something is going to sound like shit played through normal speakers if you only listen to it through headphones.

It also means he should be able to hear her if she knocks on the door, though.

[pure_radiantics]

Well that's reason enough to knock louder than she normally would think to. She doesn't mind his listening to music so loudly, she just hopes that he's not so deep into some project that she's genuinely interrupting.

So knock she does, and doesn't even open the door. She's not confident enough that she's allowed to do something like that with him yet, so better to wait for permission.

She supposes she can announce herself at least? A little louder so he can hear her. "Hi... it's me." She really wanted to come up with a nickname for him... something that suited him rather than her loss of her brothers. Maybe later. "I hope you're not too busy right now?"

[redotiertwo]

The music track stops again, and there's a faint rustling of feathers before Davesprite comes to answer the door. The table with his DJ equipment all over it is pretty clearly visible once he does, as is his nest twisted together out of numerous blankets and peppered with shed orange feathers.

"Yeah, hi, not that busy, just testing a thing. I'm guessing you want something specific, you don't usually do the whole knock on someone's door just to hang out deal."

She seems more inclined to grab people when they're already doing something for that, so he does look extremely faintly curious what it is she's after.

[pure_radiantics]

She looks slightly abashed. "I used to." Back at her old temple. Maybe she's been too cautious. "I'll try to come by to hang out from now on too." He was nice and she was genuinely interested in his musical expertise. So, later.

"You're right though, I started to wonder... what you knew about Neith. Like, what Hajime has to do as a goddess. I thought it might help if I knew more about what you two have already done together."

She tries to get back to a positive outlook at that point. "That way, when the three of us go out together, I won't get in your way." He's the exemplar after all.

[redotiertwo]

"I mean, if you want to do the whole temple bonding thing, that's probably the best way to do it."

But he listens to her idea, a somewhat difficult-to-read look coming across his face. After a few moments, he shrugs a little, as if it's not really a big deal.

"Pretty much what I could read on the internet. We've only done prayers together once or twice. I'm her exemplar, but Yuto was still kinda 'first', so."

Another shrug. He can't help but feel a little bad pinning it on Yuto, but he does still feel the other boy had somewhat of an advantage there before his disappearance, even if Davesprite's propensity to keep his distance definitely didn't help. "I dunno if getting in my way is the thing to worry about, but if you want to learn more about this whole deal then I'm not gonna object to coming with you."

[pure_radiantics]

"Ah... yeah, temple bonding, that's exactly what I was thinking actually!" Called out... She supposes he could be more enthusiastic about 'not objecting' versus being interested in it, but he said he'd come so she'll take that and run with it.

She tries not to look too disappointed at his calling himself exemplar, since she knows that's what he is. She hasn't quite given up on that dream, but it seems it may not happen after all.

"I forgot that some gods have information on the internet..." She tilts her head in thought. "I guess it's just that I got really used to going on prayers all the time with Roxas... I thought I was getting better at it, but now I'm worried I'm rusty again. Plus we never got the chance to try working with one of my brothers at the same time, but I always hoped it would happen... one day."

It seemed like an ideal situation, to her. Why not use more than one shinki to effectively answer a prayer if you had access to more than one to start?

But she stops talking when she hears the sound of none other than their goddess approaching.

[redotiertwo]

"Yeah, kinda obvious." Approaching him for something like that after waiting out the settling in period is classic temple bonding setup. And while he can see her expression change a little at the mention of him being exemplar, he takes it with an entirely different intent. He'd be pretty disappointed at having to work beneath someone like him as well.

"Most gods have that sort of shit online, but you have to go deep for the actual good information. And you're in good company if you're rusty on--"

And that sure is probably Hajime coming down the hall, so he's just going to break off there before he sounds like he's saying something worse than he actually is. Granted, he has done some prayers recently, but most of them were dabbling with people outside the temple, so he's not sure how Hajime would feel about that considering he didn't really ask first.

[birdstheword]

Hajime has her eyes focused on the rainbow-colored string laced about her fingers. Luckily, it isn't glowing so it doesn't seem to be anyone's life thread this time around. For once.

But its seeing Kairi in the hallway and Davesprite poking out of his room that grabs her interest away from her game. She stops, looking at the two of them curiously.

"Good Morning~!" Hajime greets them both. She lifts a hand to try and wave. Of course that doesn't work too well with her hands strung together, so she smiles warmly and waves both hands together instead. It's an awkward looking gesture but the meaning is there!

[pure_radiantics]

"Ah... Good Morning, Hajime!" Kairi smiles in her direction, embarrassed that perhaps Hajime noticed something amiss in the way Kairi was feeling, so she decides to be upfront about it. "I was just remembering the time that we went to Egypt together and you told me a bit about what Neith does for her followers, but I wasn't sure if Davesprite would know more than I did."

Then she turns back to Davesprite himself. "Temple bonding, more or less." May as well own up to what she was called out on. "Especially if there's something unique for Neith and not for other gods. I only know about the Greek ones so far."

[redotiertwo]

In the spirit of Hajime's slightly bizarre greeting, Davesprite links his thumbs to make a hand butterfly and waves at her with that, expression as deadpan as ever. Since Kairi seems to want to get back onto the topic of what they'd been talking about, though, he drops the gesture pretty quickly.

"Yeah, but I don't really know shit other than what the blessed annals of the internet provide, no offense." He's never braved the library for anything, and he's not planning to change that anytime soon. "I dunno if Neith was a big enough deal to have those kinds of records, I'm pretty sure Egyptian ones are harder to come by than Greek. But you know, do or do not and all that shit."

[birdstheword]

Hajime's eyes light up at the gesture and she quickly tries to mimic how Davesprite had his hands. That's really cute! She wiggles her fingers and making a flapping motion the best she can with her hands tied the way they are. Though she angles her hands so it looks more like a bird in spirit of Davesprite.

"I need a refresher but I looked up a bit on Neith when I first arrived back February." She admits, still wiggling her fingers as she looks to Kairi. "The details are fuzzy but I remember something about Feast of Lamps for Neith. I didn't look into that much 'cause since I was just wondering who Neith was. Like what she was goddess over and what she did. It help me understand my thread power more! I don't see dead people like she does though. Oh, maybe I'm not looking hard enough."

Hajime shrugs and lowers her gaze to her hands as she carefully starts unlacing them.