deercountry | A May Arrival from the East

Entry tags:

A May Arrival from the East

Who: Goku & YOU!
What: Goku has arrived! And is sitting on the beach, staring back out at the ocean. Still naked.
When: early May
Where: on the beach!
Content Warnings:nothing yet, will mark threads as needed!

[This has been a markedly more confusing day for Goku than usual. He doesn't really remember how it all started, but he does have some hazy memories of swimming in the ocean, of being spoken to by someone in robes. They're not super clear, more like some half-remembered dream from several days ago, except he's pretty sure whatever that was actually did happen mere hours ago. He's also pretty sure that he hadn't really been himself at the time. He must have gone berserk again, because his hair is all long again at the back, except nothing bad happened; which is weird.

What Goku knows for absolute certain is that he'd been asleep on this beach, stark naked, and there was no one around when he woke up, just a bag cradled in his arms like it was the most important thing in the world. His head still feels like it's in a weird kind of fog, as if someone had taken all the contents of his mind and tossed them around in his head like a salad. Which- gross. Salads are so boring. There's never really any good meat in most salads. Maybe they're okay when you're right about to eat, like they're just something to get you ready to really chow down on something good. But how can anyone eat just the salad like it's the entire meal? That's so--

--Wait, what was he thinking about again?

He hopes one of the guys comes around soon. He's pretty sure that's why he keeps looking out at the ocean like it's bound to give him answers. His friends are okay, and they'll probably show up real soon to properly tell him what's going on. Yeah.

Goku lets out a sigh, feeling his stomach growl out a complaint as he clutches his bag tighter against his chest.]

I'm hungryy....

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He - what?

[Hold up. He'll feel some kind of ugly sense of victory over hearing something horrendous happened to Hazel, later. The rest of what Goku said is infinitely mote important.]

This other Sanzo - he was the one who hurt you?

[And they didn't get to kill the bastard??]

[Goku looks back up and nods, his expression uncharacteristically solemn.]

That's what you said, at least. He was so strong- I didn't even sense anythin' when it happened! An' he had a scripture like Sanzo, 'cept it could swallow up everything if we got too close.

[He frowns a little then, reaching up to scratch at his head.]

Sanzo shot him in the end. Musta messed him up pretty good, 'cause that's when he ran off.

That's... unnerving. Why would another Sanzo attack like that?

[Shouldn't they be on the same side? Or, at the very least, not trying to actively murder each other?]

Good. A pity he didn't do more damage than that.

[That's uh. A little intense in tone there, Hakkai. But hey, it's probably warranted, considering what that guy did.]

M'pretty sure Sanzo said he was workin' with the youkai, like in Gyuumao's castle or-- or somethin'.

[Didn't he? Goku isn't super sure. It was something like that, at least. But he's definitely sure that Ukoku was everyone's enemy, even Hazel and Gat's.]

Anyway, all that matters is that we won! [BEAM. EVERYTHING'S FINE.] So at least you don't gotta worry about that!

Interesting. I wonder if Gojyo is aware... Or even when he comes from. We haven't discussed it yet.

[Too busy trying to make sure Hakkai wasn't about to go ripping people to shreds in town and all.]

Ahah, well. I'll certainly try not to. [Aw, Goku gets an Almost-Real-Smile.] In the meantime, we should probably discuss this place, and what it means to be here, squids aside.

Yeah, he made this kinda funny face when I mentioned Sanzo to him. But I didn't get to ask, 'cause I had to put my clothes on.

[Don't ask how long he was sitting out on the beach in the buff, Hakkai. It will only irk you.]

Gojyo also said you've been here without any of us for a long time... [He starts to look concerned, looking Hakkai over again. He can kind of see those faded vines on his friend's face, and it makes his brow furrow slightly.]

Well, you know how Gojyo is. Maybe Sanzo borrowed his lighter without asking before he arrived. [Or they're both still irritated at the man for abandoning them. One of the two. And - wait.] Did you... not have any?

[You shouldn't have mentioned it, Goku.]

[Since this is Hakkai, he shakes his head.] Ah, don't worry about that. It's all right. [It was not all right.] Right now, we should start with something more important. Such as your new blood type.

AH!! Maybe he stole his last cigarette, too! [This is clearly hilarious and has cheered Goku right back up.] An' then smacked him real hard with th' fan again!

[He's just gonna grin a little in response to that question. Maybe he'd even respond to it if Hakkai hadn't gone and said something... weird. Something that makes his eyes go big in confusion.]

New blood type?? What happened to my old one?

Oh dear. The situation must really have been desperate if Sanzo was willing to borrow from Gojyo like that. [He's pretty sure they'd both rather die of nicotine withdrawl.]

[And here we go. Instructor mode!]

When we arrive here, we're not ourselves, as you know. We're transformed into squids. That process also alters our blood type into one of five different types from this world. So - because you turned into a squid, so did your blood.

Each of them is different, and each has unique properties.

[Ooooh, instructor Hakkai! As per usual for Goku, as soon as Hakkai takes on that tone of voice he's unconsciously sitting up a little straighter, leaning forward just a little, like he's visibly hanging on every word. His eyes are still big, even as he nods along with what he's hearing, doing his very best to remember what he's being told.]

Ohhh... Issat why we all smell diff'rent?? When Gojyo saw me on th' beach, it was weird 'cause he didn't smell familiar. I thought it was just 'cause we were so close to the water.

Ah, that could be. You would know better than I do, on that count.

[Since you're the monkey. But Hakkai politely does not imply or say that.]

Myself, I was given what's known as "Paleblood". Supposedly, it's meant to enhance one's emotional sensitivity. So far, though, it's only glowed. Incessantly. At night.

[That sounds like a compliment, Hakkai. It makes Goku kind of puff his chest out and grin for a second... But that drops pretty quickly because class is clearly still in session.]

Paleblood... makes you glow? So then that'll make it easy to fight in the dark! That sounds useful!

[He missed you, Goku. This kind of normal interaction is more helpful than he's really capable of saying. Eventually, those faded marks will disappear completely.]

It does. It can be helpful, yes, but not so much when you're attempting to sleep.

Here, see? [Because Hakkai's gonna Hakkai and just. Peel off a hangnail. No big deal. It's easier to show than tell, where Goku is concerned. A little droplet of white-ish blood wells to the surface, and... yeah, it's faintly glowing.]

[As soon as Hakkai starts peeling the hangnail off, Goku flails in alarm. What the hell?!] UWAH?! Hakkai what're yo--

[And then he's promptly distracted by the strange blood. He probably should've clued together that "paleblood" meant it wouldn't be red in color, but of course he didn't and seeing it is a shock. It also smells off to him. Still a bit like what he's used to but at the same time not quite.]

Whoa... It really is different. It's super different! Hey Hakkai, how do I know what kinda blood I have??

It's all right. A small amount like this won't hurt anything.

[It's barely a droplet. Just enough to show Goku what he means. Once his point is made, it's simple enough to apply pressure to the spot with another fingertip.]

Well, the easiest way is what I just showed you. A small scratch would do fine - we just need to see the color, really.

Mmmmm... Okay.

[Goku leans back and holds his hands out, palm up and facing him. He looks between them like he's assessing each hand carefully before doing anything. After a few seconds he comes to a decision, bringing the thumb of his left hand up toward his mouth and, taking a deep breath first, bites down hard on the meat of it. Hard enough to draw some of that blood out.

What he gets as a treat is a slow flow of pale blue blood, and as he pulls his hand away it starts to turn into ice. Which, as far as Goku is concerned, is highly alarming. So naturally, he immediately starts to flail.]

UWAAAHHH!!! HAKKAI, IT FROZE!! MY BLOOD FROZE!! WHAT DO I DO?!

Be -

[- Careful.]

[Because it looks for all the world like Goku is going in for a very dramatic, very hard bite, right there. And they definitely don't need that much blood. The panic definitely doesn't help.]

It's all right! You're all right-! Calm down. It's normal.

[He's automatically reaching out to try and take the injured hand. It's not a bad injury, but maybe if he heals it up, Goku can calm down.]

It's just Coldblood!

[There's no protest when Hakkai reaches for his hand; in fact, Goku practically thrusts his injured thumb at him without thinking. It takes another few seconds for him to actually calm down and stop making all sorts of panicked noises, but he does at least get there.]

C-Coldblood?? [He even has the presence of mind to look sufficiently weirded out.] Like... Like a lizard??

[He's still frowning, though. Did lizards have blue blood, then? He'd never seen one bleed before, so maybe they did? Or-- Wait, this is because he was a squid here. Did the lizards here also used to be squid?

So many questions.]

[Ah, yes, the familiarity of patching his friends back together again. It's second nature - though, really, this probably just needs a bandage, not healing. But if it calms Goku down, then he's happy to do it.]

It's the same term, yes. [Just going to heal up that bite mark.] But not the same thing. Lizards don't bleed icicles, after all.

[See, Goku, everything is fine.]

Coldbloods are usually... how to put this? Elemental-based? They can control ice and fire, and are far less susceptible to changes in the climates, like sudden cold or heat.

They don't?? Then why're they called coldbloods?

[Once it's healed he brings his thumb back up to inspect it. Not because he needs to check that Hakkai healed it - that's obvious - but because he wants to see if the blue blood is visible through the skin (it's not). Or if any of the ice is still sticking to his skin (there isn't).]

Uweehhh? So I'm... magic now?

[Goku turns to Hakkai with big, bright eyes, a smile threatening to overcome the look of awe on his face.]

How do I make it work?!

It has to do with how they maintain body temperature, not that their blood is ice.

[Once they're back in the city, maybe he should take Goku to the Archives and pick up a little more education while they're there...]

I suppose you could call it that. But - oh. [Don't you dare look at him like that. It's going to be very hard to answer when Goku is staring up at him so expectantly.]

I have no idea! [Or maybe it's not hard at all.]

Ohhhhhhh... Okay. [He still looks a little confused about that, but... That's kind of what happens when you've never been to a proper school before.

And now this? This is the look of someone who just got their newfound hopes shattered. Goku looks back down at his hands with a little frown, brow furrowed like he's trying to focus on making a ball of light. The way Hakkai does with his chi!]

Ain't it s'pos'd to be like how you use your powers?? How do ya do that??

[Obviously nothing is happening. Even though Goku looks like he's trying real hard.]

Mine - ? I don't think so...

[His abilities aren't elemental. They're his own energy, focused. Unless energy itself counts as an element? Maybe it does.]

[Still, he reaches out to pat Goku's shoulder.] Not to worry, I know at least one other Coldblood who could help you. I was actually doing some work for him around his dojo - I'm sure he'd be happy to assist.

[Goku tries one more time to be like Hakkai, focusing his energy on making something magical happen... Only to fail miserably. He slumps down with an anguished kind of groan, disappointed that it doesn't come naturally to him.

He does look back up at the words of comfort, at the hand on his shoulder. He even gives Hakkai a little smile.]

Oh yeah, Gojyo said you've been here for a while already. You probably made lotsa friends!

[You probably made a lot of friends]

[Hah.]

[His smile tightens. In that classic Hakkai way. The way Gojyo reads like a book. And shakes his head. And deliberately does not comment on the "friends" part. What friendships he did tentatively broach have probably been burned by now.]

He's correct. I arrived last fall... so it's been roughly eight months.

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