rockthemonkey | IC Inbox

He was actin' weird.

[Not that Goku knows what's normal for Nataku. He doesn't even know if they were close, how important Nataku was to him, or on what terms they parted. He has a feeling, all the same.]

... I know there's nothin' I can do about it from here. I can't make myself remember, or talk to him, or figure out what's going on with him. But I- [Goku flexes his hand and looks at his palm, staring at if it'll help him see something that isn't there anymore.] ... That time, he was crying. I wanted to do something.

[He still wants to. It's frustrating, knowing there's nothing he can do right now.]

We might not know when we'll get home, but we know, eventually, we were.

If not, you'd have noticed me missing, wouldn't you?

[His chopsticks tap the edge of his plate, quietly.]

When we get back, we will have the chance to do something.

[Nataku may be Goku's friend, or Goku's acquaintance, at least: if it's enough to partially overcome his amnesia, though, Hakkai thinks it may be friend. There's no doubt that he'll be involved in what they do, if they're continuing west. There will be the opportunity.]

[To be fair, with Goku "friend" is generally a good bet. ]

... Yeah. [Goku thinks about it a little more, before shaking off his melancholy mood and smiling.] Yeah! You're right! Once we get back, we'll probably see him again! An' I can talk to him then!

[Surely once he gets the chance to just talk to Nataku, they can work things out. Even if they don't remember each other, they can still be friends. All the shinki here prove that. Just the thought cheers Goku up.]

Thanks, Hakkai!

You're welcome.

[It probably won't be as easy as just talking to him... but then, if Goku knows him, despite his lost memories, perhaps Nataku, too, will be reminded with time.

If not, they'll have to work together. If it's impossible, at least, they'll try, and there's no point in worrying that it might be impossible in advance. He smiles, and nods to Goku's plate.]

Don't let your eggs get cold.

[Talking, punching, a mixture of both... However easy or hard it is, the only way to start is by meeting with Nataku again. Besides, it's what Goku wants to do.]

Ah, right! [Panic! He almost forgot about his breakfast! Goku begins shoveling food into his mouth, back to his usual self already.]

S'good!

[Friendship is very important. Memory is very important.

Breakfast is also very important, and since they can only deal with one of the three right now, Hakkai knows what he'll focus on. Smiling, he turns his attention to his own plate.]

I'm glad you like it. Ayumu's a very good cook too! Ah -- that reminds me.

[He flashes Goku, and Goku's new hat, a smile.] I picked up a souvenir for her at the theme park, too. May I give it to you to take back to her?

[For what it's worth, Goku seems genuinely reassured. It's amazing what talking about your worries out loud to someone can do. Maybe he just needed the confirmation that he wasn't going crazy and that there was still a chance everything wouldn't burn down around them.]

Un, sure! [Breakfast is so very important. Most of his might be gone already.] She said she needed to get her cats and stuff and then she was gonna bring 'em to the tree house. [Goku's temple is in a tree, did he mention that already?] I can bring it to her there, if you want!

[And maybe Goku will start to spend more time around there too. Leaving Ayumu alone doesn't seem like a great idea.]

You live in a treehouse?

[How big is this treehouse? Hakkai's trying to imagine Ayumu, with all her fastidious housekeeping, living among shedding bark and leaves....

It's not an easy image to wrap his mind around.]

Wheat-o-mochi's temple- [He's trying.] is in a tree! Uh, a couple of trees. It's nice inside!

[In the couple of weeks Goku has been at the Far Shore so far, he's spent maybe two days there total. But it does look nice!]

It's like a proper house, kinda. And there's a swimming hole outside and a bunch more trees with lots of birds!

Huitzilopochtli? [Hakkai's own pronunciation is a bit stilted and accented, but he's modeling it off the version produced by Goku's soulless shinki, so it's ... acceptable. Barely.

Goku will probably learn how to pronounce his own divine title at some point.]

That does sound nice! Although it's not the season for swimming pools, unfortunately.

[And maybe they'll be home before it's that season again.]

Yeah, that! [He'll probably get it eventually. In the mean time, Ishi has a purpose in death.]

Yeah, it was really cold! [Goku, don't swim outside in November.] But it got that purple stuff off real good. For a little while, anyway.

[One of the risks of having Ayumu as a shinki. Hakkai knows how it is.]

[Hakkai does know how it is. He frowns.]

If that gets bad, you should talk to Ayumu about it. It's better not to let it go too far.

It's just 'cause I got too close to those ayakashi things yesterday! It wasn't her fault.

[Sure, one of the stains was more stubborn than the others, but it's on his back. He can't see it very well. Goku winces and rubs the back of his neck, suddenly reminded of the light pain there.]

... I guess I missed a spot, but it's not a big deal. Right?

If shinki feel lingering guilt that they haven't resolved, it can cause both the shinki and their god to suffer blight that won't wash off.

[Hakkai takes another bite of his eggs, chewing and swallowing before he continues. His tone is mild, but he's not about to reassure Goku that it's not a big deal.

After all, it is.]

It'll hurt, but what's more dangerous is if it spreads to cover too much of the shinki's body. There's a spell called an ablution that can be used if it goes too far, but it's better to talk things over and resolve them before it gets that bad.

Oh. I think I forgot about that.

[Maybe someone mentioned it when he arrived, but with Ishi it wasn't really relevant. Having Ayumu for a shinki has already been a whole new experience. Goku lowers his hand from his neck, eying the new blotches on his fingers with concern.]

... I'll ask her about it then.

[Ayumu will definitely appreciate that and it will certainly help the situation. Definitely.]

[Goku is earnest, young and helpful. Maybe it will help the situation; Hakkai can only hope.

If it doesn't, there isn't much else that can short of an ablution. He smiles, and goes back to his breakfast.]

That's a good idea. Wash your hands before you go back, though -- I have a fountain in the back garden.

[A cute face and sincere kindness can do a lot. It can't do everything, but they can try.]

Ah, yeah, I will! And I'll remember to give her your present.

[Maybe that will cheer her up too.]

[Hakkai smiles.]

That's good! And thank you, Goku, I hope she likes it.

IC Inbox - thefarshore

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