二; Mallynappings suck 「action/voice」

[onifukuchou]

[Hijikata stumbles out of the edge of the forest, barely managing to not trip over his own feet. He looks decidedly unwell - pale, sweaty, tired. A small part of his mind realizes he can't remember what day it is - or why he feels so awful, or how he ended up in the woods in the first place - but the larger part is concerned with more immediate problems like not falling over, and moving slowly enough that his vision doesn't start blurring again.

After a few largely fruitless minutes of trying to figure out where he is and where home is - gods, it feels like his brain has been replaced with mush - he realizes he should probably let someone know he's alive. Or something. He digs out his journal, not bothering with filters.]

Souji...? Someone...?

[...no, he doesn't sound a lot better than he looks]

Comments

[windandrain]

[Firmly she directs him towards the village and starts to walk, careful to keep an eye on his progress.]

You're welcome. May I ask your name, stranger?

[onifukuchou]

[He follows, and he seems steadier on his feet than he was before, keeping up with her without major problems]

Hijikata Toshizou.

[windandrain]

[There's an ever so faint widening of her eyes, as the name is familiar.]

A pleasure then. My name is Saori Kimura, the Daughter of Wind and Rain.

[She huffs a soft laugh.]

You were asking after Souji-san?

[onifukuchou]

Well, then. Thank you, Saori-san.

[He shrugs a little]

I didn't want him to worry.

[windandrain]

No, you wouldn't.

[Huffing a laugh, she looks back at him.]

You are the Hijikata Toshizo from his world, then?

[onifukuchou]

[He makes a little bit of a face at her laugh - what does she know of them? But he doesn't tell her off for it.]

Yeah.

[windandrain]

[She nods once and takes a deep breath.]

You and yours have always been well regarded by my people. Toshizo-san.

[There's just a faint emphasis on the honorific. Almost like it's unfamiliar.]

Many of us wish we could have done more to help you.

[onifukuchou]

[He gives her a confused look. His headache is starting to work it's way back, which isn't helping]

...Are you from Kyoto, then? [that's the best guess he has, really]

[windandrain]

No. Dazaifu, on Kyushu originally. Hakata, you might know it by. But I've been to Kyoto.

Though...never during your stay there. It was not permitted.

[onifukuchou]

[He doesn't look any less confused. Then again, he remembers feeling that way a lot the first time he was here in Luceti, too.]

Government trouble, or...?

[windandrain]

Heaven's laws don't allow us to interfere in mortal conflicts like that one.

[Simply stated, but with a lot of implication.]

[onifukuchou]

[he actually slows, and stops to stare. Because he knows that the temples have no problem involving themselves in worldly affairs, whether they're supposed to or not - and there's a calm surety in her voice that makes him think deeper than the rules of the earthly world]

...Kami...? [there's uncertainty mixed with hushed awe]

[windandrain]

[The reaction stops her short as well, though a soft smile graces her lips. The awe in his tone holds quite a lot of meaning for her. So few in this world have anything but contempt for the gods and spirits of the natural world. Being looked at without that is refreshing.]

Myojin. [A gentle correction, but an important distinction. Kami she is, but one of the elder, the exalted among the spirits.] Did my title not give it away?

[onifukuchou]

[He gives her a bow, deep and formal, though when he straightens, there's a small sheepish smile on his face]

No - I'm... not particularly religious. [but has the decency to sound embarrassed about it, at least]

[windandrain]

That's quite alright. Few here would even know what a Kami is, let alone just a title.

[She inclines her head, a muted smile there too.]

I am glad to meet you, regardless. Religious or not. But we're close to the clinic, so let's hurry.