thenearshore | [open] the wheel is come full circle

Entry tags:

[open] the wheel is come full circle

Who: Konzen and open
What: Flailing with a pole-spear thingie; being a worried papa; getting help from an assassin; face-to-face with karma
When: April 11 (unless otherwise indicated)
Where: A park in the Far Shore; somewhere in front of Elsa's place; a vending machine
Warnings: n/a (except maybe cussing? This is Konzen after all)

Prose always welcome! Will match format. :)

[open] Failing/flailing

[ So the rules of this heaven are just as arbitrary and idiotic as the heaven that Konzen knows. That should come to no surprise. This whole ayakashi business is a lot of nonsense if you asked him. These eyeball monsters are practically everywhere, and yet a god or shinki alone is powerless against them. He always knew that divinity meant shit, but this was just rubbish. It meant being pinned down inside a school cafeteria snapping and arguing with Tenpou and Kenren while getting clobbered by ayakashi snot because three gods (two of whom were actual accomplished military officers) could do jack shit against it without their shinki.

This is the reason why Konzen is here today, in this small park on the Far Shore. He's brought his shinki Haru with him so he can figure things out on his own. Goku might also be his shinki now, but he knows that he can't really bother him very much. It's not safe to be around him. He furrows his brow a little at the thought, but pushes it to the back of his mind. ]

Miki.

[ The eerily silent young man beside him nods and disappears in a flash of light. In Konzen's hand is a naginata, made with a light but sturdy wood pole with red tassels and a curved blade on one end. It feels rather clumsy in his hand. He's never really handled such a weapon before. Or any weapon, for that matter. He stares down at it for a moment, wondering what to do next. Maybe he should have borrowed some How-To books from Tenpou's library before coming out here. ]

[open] Not suspicious at all

[ He feels a stabbing pain in the back of his neck. There is something else too, a heavy and anxious feeling that he can't quite wrap his head around. It makes him restless and upset. It keeps him up all night, pacing. He just knows something is wrong.

Goku.

What is happening to him? Konzen wants to rush over and see him, to check in on him. And yet, he knows that his very presence could trigger something bad. Make this cluster of dark emotions even worse. Maybe he'd known before he named Goku that this might happen. He just never realized how hard it would be. He feels so powerless again, and the fact that he might even be part of the problem just makes it that much more painful.

Nevertheless, he can't just sit around doing nothing.

And so he finds himself lurking about the front (or thereabouts) of Menrva's temple, not looking weird at all, of course not. He's hoping to maybe catch a glimpse of Goku without making himself too obvious...just to know that he's okay. ]

[closed: Omi] April 12: Hot cans of what

[ They call it 'the near shore,' which Konzen thinks must be this world's equivalent of Down Below. The human realm, that place beyond the Dimension Gate where they were all headed in their great escape. Of course, it never happened. They had said that the cherry blossoms bloom differently there compared to heaven. Something about being so close to death that they try that much harder to look alive. It sounded like philosophical BS, but somehow it made sense to him back then.

It feels strange, how he can just will himself to that realm now and find himself there, among the humans and the famous cherry blossoms (though they've mostly turned already by now). Tenpou used to come here a lot, bringing back strange knickknacks to add to his collection. Konzen walks around, awed by the sheer magnitude of things all around him. Buildings that soar high above his head. Vehicles that beep and move across massive boulevards. And the people! Konzen has never seen so many in his life. It's overwhelming.

He finally escapes into a smaller side street to take a breather. And hopefully grab something to drink. He finds himself in front of a large container known as a 'vending machine.' He's seen enough of these around to know that they dispense beverages when you insert coins in them. He has a little bit of money, from what he found lying around Helios's house. (Yeah he helped himself to it, whatever). He's not quite sure which ones he's supposed to use, though. He knits his brow together and pushes the coins around in his palm. ]

[closed: Sanzo] April 13: I am not you

[ There's a small and secluded area of the park near Helios's house that Konzen has come to like. It's nicely shaded by a circle of trees, and it's an outdoor space that doesn't catch a lot of people's eyes as they're passing through the park. He finds himself going there in recent days to practice his naginata and to just get out of the house every once in a while.

And maybe the place reminds him of that one spot in heaven where they all had sake under the cherry blossoms. Just a little bit. He's not sentimental at all.

He heads toward there now, his shinki in hand and a bottle of water in the other. He's dressed casually, a basic pair of slacks and a button down shirt, with comfortable shoes for moving around in. He pauses suddenly when he hears a voice. It sounds weirdly familiar. He frowns.

Him.

Konzen almost turns right around. But it grates him a little bit to feel like he should have to retreat. Besides, much as he hates to admit it, the man isn't a complete stranger. In fact, he's probably much more than that. Maybe he can't avoid him forever. Still…he's not fond of being shot at, so he makes sure to not sneak up on the maniac. His footsteps should be obvious to anyone, but especially to someone with a hair-trigger like Sanzo. He pushes some leaves out of his way and steps into the clearing. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Huh...?" Omi blinks a couple of times, and at first it's difficult to process that assessment thanks to a head that feels full of cotton. Fever...? Him...? Having not once considered this himself, it's just too novel a concept.

"I don't have a fever... it's just a bit warm right now." Says Omi and not one local thermometer. "Sorry to worry you..."

"Don't have a fever," Konzen says incredulously. He reaches out with his hand, and if the kid doesn't object, he'll set the back of fingers against his forehead to feel for a temperature.

While a bit puzzled, Omi doesn't recoil from the hand that reaches out to feel his forehead. It will confirm the man's suspicions: Omi definitely has a fever.

He sighs.

"You're burning up. You should be in bed."

He looks at him disapprovingly for walking around in the Near Shore spreading germs and making himself sick.

"You're from the Far Shore, aren't you?"

In bed...? But, how is he going to get all of his to-do's done if he's in bed?

It's hard to argue with the man, though, when he's giving him such a disapproving eye. Even though it's a stranger, it's enough to make Omi feel somewhat abashed, and he ducks his head guiltily.

"Yes...?"

"I'm taking you home."

Don't argue with this god, kid. He knows what he's talking about.

And no, you're not getting a sugary beverage. That's only going to make things worse.

"...Eh?"

What is happening. Because he could not have just heard what he thinks he just heard.

(At least he's not arguing?)

Yup, this is Konzen clapping his hand over your shoulder and teleporting you both to the nearest shrine to Helios on the Near Shore.

Blink, and they're there.

One more jump from here to the Far Shore. But he pauses to make sure the teleport didn't affect the kid too much. He's never done this before when he was sick.

"You all right?"

No, really, what is happening.

Down comes the hand on his shoulder. Goodbye to the alley and the vending machine and the can of coffee still waiting for collection in the dispenser. Hello to... somewhere. Omi isn't quite sure where. He feels rather dizzy and half-falls against the other blonde just to keep from crashing to the ground (he really wasn't in any shape to be out of bed).

Mentally, he's still catching up to the part where Konzen has decided to teleport them away without any further notice than that. Perhaps it's just as well, given that his condition may serve as answer enough to the question.

"But... my coffee..."

"Didn't I just tell you that you need to be in bed? Coffee will keep you up."

Konzen decides that the kid looks no worse than a second ago, so he goes ahead with the second jump. Blink. They arrive in front of his house. He considers maybe taking the kid back to his own temple, but he doesn't seem to be in any condition to answer questions about where he lives and whether he's actually got people to take care of him. And besides, he has a feeling if left to his devices, the boy might go wandering around again like a pale ghost and collapse in the street and die.

"Haru," he says as he enters his house. His shinki comes rushing over. "Help me get him over to the den."

It'll be too difficult to drag the kid upstairs. There's a big enough sofa that can double as a bed and it's closer.

Edited 2016-09-05 22:01 (UTC)

Of course it's going to keep him up. That's the point!

Weirdly, the next teleport isn't back to the alley, but to somewhere Omi doesn't recognize at all. Presumably, it's this guy's house. And only now, as it's processing that they're at the other guy's house and he's taken it upon himself to be a personal nurse to a stranger... Well, at least Omi's face is already hot and flushed; his embarrassment can't do much more damage on that front.

"Wait... Mister, I can't accept this! You don't have to go so far...!"

The last thing he wants is to be a burden. Especially on someone who owes him nothing. It isn't right to impose like this. His body isn't cooperating very well, though, as it ambles along whatever path it's guided. He's just too tired for more than a verbal protest.

It's immediately too warm as they go inside.

Mister? Konzen pulls a face.

"It's Konzen. And just shut up and sit down." He's already guided him over to the really large white sofa that wraps around like an L. There are lots of fluffy white cushions too, but he begins to shift them aside to make more room for someone to lie back on.

He sends Haru to grab extra sheets and a blanket.

"Stay there. I'm getting some meds."

It's hard to argue with someone who already sounds in a bad mood (and who could blame him? He probably didn't expect to find an idiot wandering around in denial of the fact he has the flu). It's even harder when you're sick and have no energy. As he comes before the big white sofa, Omi can't deny that it looks tempting.

You can't do this, one part of him protests. This is someone's home, you don't even know them, if he's right you'll get germs here...

The other part of him simply doesn't have it in him to keep fighting the compulsion to sleep when there's a convenient napping place right there and staying awake now also means arguing with Konzen. And so he surrenders, and settles onto the cleared area of the sofa.

"Sorry for the trouble..." He says quietly. He means that. He hates inconveniencing others. He stays put as instructed, only shifting to more of a recline against the couch while Konzen gets the medicine. The hot flash wears off and turns to a chill, and that same air that was too warm just seconds ago is now too cold.

While Konzen steps away for the medicine, Haru silently returns with sheets and blankets and pillows, which he spreads out on the sofa to turn it into a make-shift bed.

Konzen returns shortly with a tall glass of ice cold water and a few pills in his hand, which he holds out to the kid to take.

"This should bring down the fever."

He holds out the glass of water. Drink it.

It's probably a good thing Omi is a god instead of a shinki, otherwise someone would be getting blighted right now. He's grateful for the blankets and pillows once they arrive, and by the time the head of the house is back with medicine, he's all tucked in and already on the verge of falling asleep.

Normally, he would be wary about taking pills from a stranger, even someone who seemed to have good intentions. Right now, he's so fuzzy-minded and sleepy that he doesn't think about the possible dangers and just takes them without question.

The kid takes the meds without protest, which is good.

Konzen takes a seat on a nearby armchair and sighs. What kind of a kid runs himself so ragged? Didn't he know he was feverish and barely standing? He almost reminds Konzen of Tenpou, who gets so caught up in his books and scrolls that he forgets to sleep (or bathe). And then eventually he passes out from fatigue. At least this kid doesn't look like he's neglected his hygiene...

Whatever his deal, Konzen will sit here and make sure he actually does fall asleep, because the kid needs it. And maybe if he does, he might bring over a wet washcloth and put it on the kid's forehead to bring down the fever.

After swallowing down the medicine and water, Omi settles back against the pillows and is asleep within five minutes.

He stays that way for several hours. A few times, he half-wakes, with his eyes opening for a few moments and only taking in the fact that he's inside and extremely comfortable and moving would take more energy than he has. Then he drifts back off.

When he finally does wake, he's confused at first about where he is. He knows he's comfortable, and that the room doesn't look at all familiar. There's something damp and a little cool on his forehead. And he's hungry, but the thought of food turns his stomach. His mouth is dry.

And sitting close by, slumped in an armchair, is a man with long blond hair who looks vaguely familiar. Asleep by the looks of it. Has he been keeping watch over him...?

Omi tries to keep his groan quiet as he pushes himself upright on the couch. All of his muscles feel stiff and sore. Now he feels sick. Stop and let it catch up with you, and sure enough... But the truth of the matter was that there was no outrunning an illness. He'd simply been ignoring it as long as he could, until someone put their foot down and made him come to terms with the fact it was a setback he was just going to have to ride out and get over with. And then that same someone had stayed with him, taken him into a comfortable home and assumed the role of nurse for someone who'd done no more for him than buy him a hot drink.

What a cheap sum he'd paid to get this level of kindness in exchange. He was going to owe this man a daily can of tea for the rest of the year.

It turns out he doesn't have to wait long before the kid falls fast asleep. Konzen spends the next couple hours sitting by him, changing the wet towel when it got too dry or warm, checking his temperature, and making sure the covers stayed on him. As he's about to fall asleep from his own exhaustion, he wonders briefly to himself how he ended up taking care of some random kid he doesn't even know. Seriously, this whole business with babysitting monkeys, it's annoying. Eventually you find yourself taking any poor child in.

Are you happy now? He's quite sure the meddlesome goddess would be patting herself on the back right about now, smirking in that knowing way that she has.

He's not sure how long it's been, but when he opens his eyes next, he gives a brief start. Konzen raises his head and glances at the kid.

"You look terrible," he says rather bluntly. He leans in and takes the cloth from him and dips it into the bowl of cold water he has on the coffee table.

He feels terrible. Omi doesn't say that, though, just flashes him a guilty look as the man takes the cloth from his forehead to rewet it. Why was he doing this? Omi is generally an optimist about people's nature, but this still seems unusually kind and trusting. Of course, if the situations were reversed, Omi would bring in a kid that clearly needed help, too. Had done as much in the past, when he found Shouta collapsed in the street during his morning jog.

That still doesn't mean he ever wants to be the one inconveniencing someone else. No one likes a burden.

"I never meant for something like this to happen..."

Who cares, now that it's done? Konzen shrugs. It's like all the other times he found Tenpou passed out from exhaustion under an avalanche of books. Some people just don't understand their own limits until their bodies finally catch up with them and force them to rest.

"I've seen it before," he says.

He squeezes the water out of the towel and hands it back to him.

"The fever is under control, but you still need to rest. When was the last time you ate anything?"

Omi isn't sure if he feels better or worse knowing he's not the only one this man (Kon...zo? zan? What was it he said his name was? Omi's memory is so fuzzy at the moment) has had to take in and care for. He takes the towel with a quiet word of thanks and drapes it back over his forehead as he lets himself fall back against the pillow.

"I don't know... a little this morning I think? I don't know if I can handle anything."

"Hm."

Well, he's not going to feed him if he's going to just throw it up. The kid will just have to ride it out with fluids and meds.

"Fine. I'll get you something to drink. You can eat later."

Omi utters a sound of acknowledgment and slips his eyes closed again. The drink comes, and that's about the last thing Omi remembers before falling asleep again.

Most of the next day passes something like this, with short bursts of fuzzy wakefulness between stretches of sleep. He begins to take food late that evening, and by next morning, when he opens his eyes after another long rest, he feels... not well, but well enough to sit up and not want to simply collapse right back down. He touches the back of his hand to his cheek, and it's hard to judge himself, but he thinks the fever has broken.

"You're awake."

Konzen says as he glances up from his book. He's been sitting on one of the bean bag chairs in the living room, far enough away to give the kid privacy, but close enough to keep an eye on him.

He puts a bookmark in place and closes the book.

"How's the fever?"

Omi looks over towards the voice. It's so incomprehensible that this man is still tending to him, to the point of staying in the room with him even as he sleeps. What did he do to deserve that level of dedicated care-- from a stranger, no less? Surely a can of tea wasn't worth all this.

More puzzling, why does it make his chest hurt? Grateful wasn't the right word for this, though he's certainly that, too.

"I think it's better..."

[open] the wheel is come full circle

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