thenearshore | [open] we're closed to the earth until further notice

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[open] we're closed to the earth until further notice

Who: Cho Hakkai and you
When: Oct 15-17
Where: Around the Near and Far Shores
What: The best way to deal with stress is to stay so busy that there's no time to think about it, right? No flaws in this plan.
Warnings: Ayakashi-fighting violence in the Oct. 16 PM prompt, probable mention of illness/death in the Oct. 16 AM prompt, mention of suicide in Gojyo thread

Oct. 15 - Gardening, Temple of Li Tieguai

[Mid-morning finds Hakkai in old clothes and rubber gardening clogs at the front of his temple, where bright yellow chrysanthemums have bloomed all around the outside wall. He has a stack of cheap plastic pots, a trowel, and a wheelbarrow half full of pots filled with freshly uprooted flowers, and he's leaving a long series of sad little pits in the turf behind him.

It's not that he minds flowers, of course. Flowers are fine.

It's just that he's noticed the way these particular flowers seem to be influencing his mood, and he doesn't like it at all.

He sits back on his heels as someone approaches, and wipes sweat off his forehead with the back of one hand, leaving a long streak of mud there instead.]

Good morning! Would you like a potted plant?

Oct. 16 (AM) - Prayers, around Tokyo

[Tokyo's crowded on Sunday mornings, even on a gray and rainy day like this one, where the first gold and orange leaves of fall have been beaten down from the trees and are fading to soggy brown in the gutters and the canals. Hakkai slips through the crowds like a shadow, messenger bag over one shoulder as he scrolls through his phone calendar and snuggles his transparent umbrella closer down over his head. It's not doing much to keep the water off; he keeps having to dry his phone screen on his sleeve, to the annoyance of the small white dragon snuggled down on his scarf.

Chirps of complaint trail in his wake, and he looks up from his phone to murmur to the dragon quietly.

Unfortunately, that means he's not looking where he's going anymore, and in a crowd like this, if anyone's standing still--

-- well, they've just been run into by a man, a dragon, an umbrella, and a very heavy bag.]

Oct. 16 (PM) - Leech Treatment, Ikebukuro

[Hakkai hadn't really planned to wind up doing any fighting today. He has a long list of followers he needs to visit. He's busy, damn it, but a bloated purple leech-thing had detached itself from the neck of a glazed-over pachinko player as he brushed past and lunged for his face.

He hadn't had a choice, which he plans to point out to Chikusa if this gets him in trouble, considering that he also hadn't brought any of his shinki.

The leech is determinedly crawling towards him across the concrete. He aims a kick at it, and it dodges with surprising speed and bites at his toe, leaving an ugly, deep scar across the leather of his shoe. Jeep, reluctantly, lifts off his shoulder and circles up above the umbrella as Hakkai considers the stubborn ayakashi.

This is not the afternoon he'd planned on.]

Oct. 17 - Morning Classes, Abandoned Temple School - Mingle

[Hakkai doesn't always show up for the morning shinki spell practice sessions, but he's here today, sitting towards the side of the courtyard and taking notes in a battered memo book in between circulating to help with borderline or Bind spells. He'll occasionally stop, too, to listen in if anyone's talking about other spells. He'd only bothered to learn Bind himself, after all. It might help to learn a few extra....]

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[Ayumu nods her agreement. She'd spent a depressing amount of time trying to adjust to the shinki's presence and make do with his company when Hakkai was out. In the end, the housepets had been much more responsive and engaging to interact with.]

It's too quiet when it's just him around. He might as well not be there at all when he's in the room. But at least, he's useful when it comes to tasks that need to be done.

[She smiles and sips her tea, rubbing Kishi's belly with her other hand. It's not a jab. She truly has no hard feelings toward Hakkai anymore. Some lingering regret that so much of their time together had been difficult but all that's in the past.]

And Ken does have a pretty hearty appetite. I hope he and Chikusa aren't eating you out of house and home.

[She chuckles a bit.]

Ha ha, I suppose that's true, at least. ["At least he's useful"... yes, that's really about all that can be said for the soulless shinki. It's a shame. Banri might not deserve much better, but Hakkai can't say the same for any of the other shinki who've been left nearly mindless by whatever affected them.

He doesn't hear it as a jab; they'd certainly fought, but not because either of them were useless. His gaze lingers for a moment on the cat sprawling comfortably on his back, shamelessly soaking up the attention, and the lines around his eyes deepen with affection. Yes, Kishi and Musha will enjoy spending more time with her -- and he thinks she'll benefit from it, too.]

We're managing. I suspect Chikusa steals most of the groceries he gets, of course.

I wouldn't expect any less of him. You might wanna check his room, make sure he isn't hiding any food in there that might attract vermin. It couldn't hurt to check Ken's room either.

[It's just off-handed guess but she knows Chikusa. It's well within the realm of possibility.]

I don't know if there's cockroaches in Heaven but it's not worth the risk of finding out.

[Ayumu laughs softly at Kishi, her eye warm with affection. Oh, how she loves cats. They're so much easier for her to bond with and feel close to than people are. And she can enjoy having company in bed without feeling exposed or vulnerable.]

If they do get cockroaches in their room, I think I'll let them learn that lesson all on their own!

[Because a) they do share a room; and b) Hakkai's fairly sure that room checks won't do much good for keeping them from stashing food in it. He hasn't even managed to convince them to sleep on a bed yet, after all.

He hopes Spot will be enough of a bulwark to keep away any roaches that venture out of the room. If, of course, there are cockroaches in Heaven.]

It's not too close to my room, after all.

Not a bad idea.

[It was just a sudden thought that popped in her head. She hasn't seen any cockroaches but she's seen other bugs. It seemed plausible they might exist, too. Ayumu gives a little shrug.]

It'd be good for them to learn how to handle such things themselves.

[Chikusa, especially, can always benefit from a little extra work when he's too being too idle. Of course, if they are hiding caches of food. It's not like there's any actual proof. She's mostly just making conversation.]

Ha ha, yes, I think that's a lesson that's much easier to teach them through experience. [As long as they don't eat any of his herbs. Which reminds him-- he glances up at her.]

How is your wrist feeling, by the way?

[It had tended to ache, before. He's not sure how long the salve he'd concocted for it will last.]

Oh, it's a little sore, actually, with the cooler weather and all. I've been using the salve and it's been helping but I'm afraid I'm starting to go through it rather quickly now...

[All the strain she'd put on it during the raid really hadn't helped. She's been wrapping and resting it the past few days and it's helped. The swelling's gone down, at least.]

I'll make you another batch, then. [And flip through a few more of those books to see if he can find any recipes better suited to healing the soreness of an old, bad break. Surely there must be something there.]

And -- I'm afraid I haven't any idea if it's still a power of hers, but Sanzang was able to heal, when I knew her earlier. It might be something to mention to her if it gets too painful.

Thanks. I'll be sure to ask her about it.

[When Ayumu had come home after taking care of the yakuza, her goddess had opted to bring her a washcloth rather than use any power to heal her injuries. It hadn't been a big deal though, given how minor they'd been and she doubt Sanzang would refuse to help if she truly needed it.

It's kind of funny how both of the gods she's been assigned to so far have been healers. Maybe the Heavens are trying to tell her something? She doubts it but the thought makes her chuckle.]

[She chuckles to herself, and Hakkai raises his eyebrows at her in inquiry.]

Hmm?

Oh, I was just thinking it's a little amusing that both you and Sanzang are healers. It's probably just a coincidence rather than a hint but...

[She trails off, her expression looking a bit pained just for a moment.]

I know there's something wrong with me. I don't know what it is but I don't like it. I suppose I was just wondering a moment if I wasn't being given a hint to change. Maybe it's a silly thought.

[She picks up her teacup again.]

Mm. "Heal thyself"?

[His eyebrows quirk, briefly, and he adds in a gentler tone:]

Or maybe it's because you could be good at healing others, too.

[Ayumu looks up, a bit startled by that. Then she thinks about that. It's true that she is interested in medicine and helping others but it's just so strange to think of herself as a healer.]

I suppose that's it. It'd a little odd to picture myself as a healer... I'm not sure why.

[The answer probably lies in her forgotten past but she tries not to think about that too much.]

But I like helping people and want to get better at it.

[She's been content to leave much of the clinic affairs in Sakura's hands due to her experience but maybe she should consider taking a more active role in it.]

It's always a little strange to think of yourself as something that you aren't yet.

[He meets her gaze for a moment before looking down again, his own slightly mismatched gaze veiled under a sweep of eyelashes.]

But I think you could be good at it, if you want to.

I'd like to continue my studies when I can. Maybe once this trouble with the yakuza has passed.

[She'd need to rearrange her routines a little bit but she'll find a way to fit it in. Ayumu's about ready to move on from practicing her borderlines to studying spells now. Alternating study materials each day should be an easy enough task...]

It'd be nice to keep doing constructive things with my time.

[Perhaps a little of her new goddess's positivity is rubbing off on her.]

Yes, that sounds like a good idea. [He hesitates for a moment, and glances up at her.]

Ayumu, I know you're more than competent, and I'd rather not get closely involved with Gojyo -- but if this situation gets worse, please know that I am willing to help.

I don't want you to be hurt.

Thank you. If something more happens, I'll call you, 'kay?

[That reassurance is nice. As fond as she's grown to be of Tsuzuki, he's soft and that softness makes her want to shield him as much as possible from any more violence and bloodshed. Besides, how could she face Sakura after carelessly putting her shinki in danger?]

It's hard to predict what will happen next.

[She hadn't anticipated Gojyo taking off on his own so soon after the raid. And maybe, just maybe she's slightly miffed about that. Mercilessly shedding the blood of one's enemies together is a significant bonding experience, after all!]

Good. You can call any time, day or night.

[His eyebrow quirks, as he takes a sip of his tea, and adds:] Just let me know how ready I should be to fight when I arrive.

[It's easier to make that promise without Gojyo there. Although, against a bunch of hapless humans, Gojyo is more than enough of a fighter to have at her back, so it's less necessary to make that promise with Gojyo there.]

I will. I really appreciate this.

[She's seen Hakkai fight and there's visible relief on her face. Tsuzuki means well but she suspects his heart outweighs his actual skill. Knowing that she has reliable backup should she need it lifts a little of the weight off her shoulders. She can handle herself well enough against a single opponent, even an armed one, but should many come at once and bring guns, she'll be in considerably more trouble. It'll be her responsibilty to protect any innocent patrons in the bar from getting caught in the middle.

She continues petting the lightly dozing Kishi in her lap a moment before returning to her tea.]

I should probably get going soon, though. It's training day and I'll need a little time to drop everything off and get ready.

[After all, if she doesn't go of her own accord, Chikusa might start pestering her into it again.]

Ah, yes, of course! I'm sorry, I don't mean to keep you too long. [His own tea is cooling -- what's left of it -- and he slides the cup away a few inches, getting up. He tosses Ayumu a wry smile.]

Shall I get Kishi for you?

[She does seem trapped under the young cat. Not unwillingly, but still.]

[Ayumu chuckles, giving the cat in her lap a warm, affectionate look. He just looks so comfortable and cute, happily purring away. She's missed this and not just this - spending quiet time with Hakkai, too.]

Yes, please. I just don't have the heart to move him when he gets like this.

[And of course, Kishi knows it, too, which is exactly why he's doing it.]

And it's fine. I enjoyed myself. We should do this again sometime. It's been nice seeing you again, Hakkai.

That's how he controls us, you know.

[Chuckling, he steps around the table and reaches down, lifting the cat from her lap. Kishi emits a protesting little meow, until Hakkai settles him on his shoulder and he nestles in.]

-- And we should. It's been good seeing you, too, Ayumu.

[Ayumu finishes her cup and stands, reaching up give Kishi one last consolation scritch for the road. She'll see them all again soon enough. It's not her intention to be a stranger.]

I'll be in touch. Take care. And again, thanks for everything.

[She turns to leave.]

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[open] we're closed to the earth until further notice

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I could've sworn I replied to this /facepalm

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