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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Yeah?? [Goku looks pleased as punch. He came up with a good idea! He got praised by Hakkai! Take that, Gojyo!] I'll go ask 'em, then!

[Cheered up significantly by all this, Goku goes to put the bag down near the fire as instructed. He turns back to Hakkai when he's done, and for a second his eye catches on the single blanket that's being folded up. One tent. One blanket. And it's supposed to be a secret?]

Hey Hakkai... Are we gonna be stayin' in town tonight??

[Goku it is not a competition why are you like this.]

I can point out a few of the farms on our way back in. [And we're packing up the folded bits.]

We might. If not the house, then I think my old room at the boarding house should still be open. Why?

[With Gojyo? It's always a competition. At least that's how Goku sees it.] Cool! Thanks, Hakkai!

[He's not sure what else he should be doing now, so he sits back down on one of the rocks and just watches Hakkai keep going about his business.]

I dunno, I guess I just figured we'd be campin' out tonight like we usually do. Will all of us fit in your room?

Ah, I see. Well... we've all managed to sleep in Jeep before. There's plenty of room on the floor, as well.

[There's going to be a fight over the bed, he's sure of it. Between those two...]

You're right! You probably only got one bed though, huh? So we hafta do rock-paper-scissors for it?

[That's just normal stuff with them, Hakkai. It's fiiiiine.]

[This is the sigh of the longest-suffering man in existence.]

Yes... unfortunately, I think that's what's going to happen.

[And then they're going to get into a fight over it.]

[Sorry, Hakkai.]

[Goku brightens up slightly, suddenly excited.]

I'm gonna win this time! I'm gonna win for sure!

[~~And then Gojyo and Hakkai will have to sleep on the floor curled up together like--~~]

You'll have to be careful - the landlady will make me pay for any damages to the furniture.

[His money's on Gojyo, honestly.]

[Or on Gojyo somehow managing to get Hakkai to use the bed and claiming the chair.]

M'not gonna break stuff! I promise!! [He huffs a little.] 'Sides, that's usually Gojyo's fault!

[It is not. But that's certainly how Goku sees it.]

I'll be holding you to that promise. Both of you.

[Do not piss off his landlady. She likes him. For a reason.]

Y'gotta tell Gojyo, then! He's th' one always startin' it!!

[Good thing Sanzo's not around to shoot at them when they become Too Much. Hakkai's landlady is at least spared that much.]

I'll tell him, I'll tell him... But do try to be on your best behavior?

[She would literally murder them all if there were bullet holes in her walls!!!]

[He lets out such a dramatic, petulant sigh, his head dropping back and everything.]

Fiiine. [Even though it's not his fault ever, geeez.

And then, perking up--]

Does the landlady have lotsa food??

Well... we can use the kitchen. But food preparation is our own responsibility.

[And Hakkai may have volunteered to cook more often than not for other people there...]

So don't worry. We'll make it work.

Oh.

[He looks a little disappointed. If only Sanzo were here with the magic credit card-- Waitaminute!]

Oh!! [Goku brightens up all over again.] And here we can trade diff'rent stuff for food, right?? So can't we just go someplace else, too??

Yes, we can. Good thinking.

[There definitely are places to eat in town, cafes, bakeries... places he probably should have checked out but uh. Did not. Really.]

I'm sure we could occasionally.

[Good thinking. That praise makes Goku's chest swell with pride.]

Can we go somewhere tonight, then?! I'm already starving!!

[Goku you just ate so many pork buns and mushroom jerky--]

Ah...

[He hesitates. Noticeably. And then fishes around in a pocket, pulling out a bag of - you guessed it - fancy rocks.]

Why don't you treat yourself? On me.

[What if he isn't cured. What if he changes again. What if he just turns again without warning and they're sitting in a cafe, or they're in the middle of a busy street, or worse. What if - ]

[No, he should just... Stay here a while longer.]

[It's definitely noticeable. Even if Goku wasn't weirdly more perceptive than he seems most of the time, he'd notice that hesitation. So he doesn't move to take the bag of rocks from him. Instead Goku's brow furrows ever so slightly, his head tilting to one side while he works to understand what he's seeing.]

...Mmm. I guess we don't hafta go tonight tonight. [He offers Hakkai a little smile, something warm and understanding. Goku may not fully understand why Hakkai still doesn't want to go into town (he seems cured now, after all!), but he can at least understand that he feels that way.

It lasts for just a few seconds, quickly getting replaced by a scrunch of his nose as though he's caught whiff of something awful.]

'Sides, it's no fun eatin' alone! We'll all go together soon though, right??

Are you sure?

[He hasn't put the bag away yet. It - feels a bit wrong to make Goku change his mind like that, when he'd been so eager. Denying him that? Telling him no when he'd been so excited? He shouldn't - he should just go with it. What kind of friend - ]

[He shakes his head.] I'm sorry, Goku. I don't want you to have to miss out on town on my account. If you want to go, I'd prefer you did.

I... am not entirely sure of crowds, at the moment. Just in case.

[Gojyo said he needed to try this honesty thing. Ugh, it sucks. He'd rather be friendly with a Beast.]

But yes. I would like to, soon.

It's okay, Hakkai! [Goku goes back to his cheery grin, thumbing at his nose with a chuckle.] I can wait 'til we all get ta go together!

[That willingness to be patient might be a sign that Goku's also still a little out of sorts. He did only just arrive, and whether he's conscious of it or not he'd rather stay close to his friends now that he's found them.

...But he's also assuming that they'll only be waiting to go until tomorrow.]

Is it just 'cause o' the vines that were on your face?

All right. I'll try and make it up to you then, shall I?

[He finally puts the little bag away, with a sigh. It still doesn't feel great. But his worries won't be completely put aside. Not yet.]

[Frankly, he'd rather the others stick nearby too. It's less worrisome while they get their bearings around the town. And. Well. He'd missed them. All of them. Even Sanzo, to an extent.]

Well, yes. You know what they are. [What they mean. Goku hadn't been out of it every time he'd gone and went Scary Demonic Mode...] To think that they could appear when I haven't removed my limiters has been worrisome.

[That makes Goku frown, just a little bit. A hand comes up to rub idly at the golden limiter on his own head, considering his own demon-like circumstances. He's worn the diadem for as long as he can remember, and it's never just plain failed to work before. The idea of him going berserk with the limiter still on... isn't a fun thing to think about.]

... If it does happen again, we'll help stop you, though! An' we'll make sure you don't hurt anybody. You guys do the same for me, so... Okay??

[Of everyone in their group, Goku's the most familiar with that fear. The awfulness of blacking out and waking up to find that you're responsible for all your friends' injuries. He wouldn't wish that on anybody, and especially not on Hakkai.]

Goku...

[It's been far too long since he's seen his friend. Too long since that positive vibe hit. It's really hard not to have a feeling about this. A soft gross feeling. Ugh.]

[He reaches back out again, and grasps Goku's shoulder.]

I will do everything in my power. Just like always. If I can prevent you from harming anyone, I will.

[Even if it kills him. Which, you know, fortunately, isn't a huge problem here.]

[His smile breaks right through again as he reaches up to clasp his hand around Hakkai's wrist, just returning the companionable gesture. Goku's glad he has his friends here in this strange new place. He can't imagine how scary and confusing it must've been for Hakkai to arrive here alone.]

Yeah! I know you will.

[There's a reason he always trusts his well-being to his friends, and to Hakkai in particular. That's never changed, and it probably never will.

Though this does bring a thought back to mind for Goku...]

Oh, uh... I think I should prob'ly tell ya... I think I musta gone a little berserk when I got here? M'pretty sure I didn't hurt anyone! But that's prob'ly why my hair's all long, an' why I don't remember where I got that bag from...

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