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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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...

[It sucked, a lot. He kind of isolated himself completely, as Hakkai is wont to do. It's not healthy. But it's how he is. No matter how horribly unhealthy, how self-destructive. After all, it was a new place. Somewhere to keep your past behind you, as much as you were allowed.]

[Those nice confident vibes vanish though, once Goku admits that. His eyes widen, and he reaches for his communicator. To check - to see if there's any news. See if anyone has reported a massive swathe of destruction.]

You're sure? People occasionally have trouble remembering things when they wash up... maybe that was what happened?

[Scrolling... scrolling... no. He doesn't see anything yet.]

Mmm...

[He looks down at his hands for a moment, flexing his fingers like he's testing for something. Searching for a sensation, a memory in his muscles. Usually when he goes on rampages he can still kind of feel it, and more recently he's gotten little flashes of memory when something is able to trigger it. Goku doesn't feel that way here. The only things he can vaguely recall is being in the water, and then someone talking to him. Nothing else.]

Yeah. Yeah, I'm sure.

[There's that smile again and everything. It's the first time he's ever really felt confident about this, so he's pretty pleased. And fortunately Hakkai's search is going to come up empty, too. A true instance of "no news is good news"!]

Oh hey Hakkai, can you cut my hair for me? I don't like it bein' all long like this.

Hm... [Still scrolling... still scrolling... ah, there's his own fatalistic message there. And Goku definitely hadn't been around for that. Which leads to one logical conclusions.] I don't see anyone reporting anything out of the ordinary. If you're correct, and it did happen... somehow, nothing terrible came from it.

[They should be thankful for it. He is, of course. But also a little baffled. Maybe it was just the squid.]

I think you're in the clear. [And that's with a real smile, too. Goku is Winning.]

Oh! Yes, of course. Let me see if I can find where the scissors are... [Hakkai why do you have scissors in your wilderness camp.]

[There is a real sense of triumph that swells up in him when he sees Hakkai's Real Smile. That on top of the fact that things are starting to feel so normal makes Goku feel pretty damn good about... Well, everything. It's just better when their little group isn't broken up. He's happy and relieved that Hakkai can still find it in him to genuinely smile.

And now Goku's even getting a haircut out of it. He really is Winning!]

You brought scissors out here? [He'd sort of expected to have to use a carving knife or something...] Did you hafta cut your hair, too??

[They're almost all back together again. For Goku's sake, he does wish they were. But on the other hand, meeting up with Sanzo after what he pulled probably wouldn't go over terribly well. Someone would get shot.]

Ahaha, well, they're sewing scissors... [Oh, that's why he brought them.] I brought them out in case someone needed their gear repaired.

[That makes so much more sense than Hakkai carrying around random ass scissors.]

[Fortunately for everyone, Goku's really started to grow out of his "depend on Sanzo for everything" phase. It's a bummer for him that Sanzo isn't there, of course, but at least it isn't as upsetting as it once was. Goku will live.]

Oh! So that'll still work, right?

[He... didn't even really know there could be different scissors for different things. But there are different knives for cutting different meats, so it still makes sense to his monkey brain.

Either way, Goku's already preemptively straightening up in his seat, ready for Hakkai to work his magic. After all, if he had his way he'd just be hacking the long parts off with the nearest blade. Maybe ask Gojyo to lend him shakujo for it.]

They should. It just may take a bit longer than with regular scissors.

[Just to Goku knows he'll have to sit still longer than usual. And hopefully he'll stay sitting still.]

I thought maybe you were trying to match Gojyo's style. [Good work sitting already, buddy. He brings over the blanket they'd been using, improvised drape, and starts his examination. Best to know what he's working with before just hacking through Goku's hair.] Let me know if you need a moment to stand?

[Goku makes a face at the idea of the haircut taking longer than normal. And then straight up sticks his tongue out in distaste when Hakkai suggests that he could ever want to copy Gojyo's style. Retch.]

Bleeecchh! No way! That pervy kappa can keep his long haired style. I don't want it gettin' in th' way when I'm fightin'.

[There's at least nothing complicated or weird about how his hair suddenly grew out. It just... did. And just like when he was much younger and whenever he goes Seiten Taisei, the length is really just concentrated at the back. The rest of the shaggy mess that sticks up at all angles is the same as always.]

Mmm.. I'm good for right now! [He splays his legs out in front of him, letting his heels rest on the ground so he's nice and stretched out. For the time being it satisfies any restlessness he feels.]

So those teeny tiny scissors are meant for sewin'??

Haha! It's really not that bad on him...

[Hakkai why would you say that. Why would you go there. But it's time for a haircut. And like everything he does, Hakkai is absolutely methodical here. Carefully starting with the long bits in the back. And, of course, the tangles in it. Working those out with his fingers before he clips the strands.]

[It's slow going. Tiny scissors and all.] Yes, they are. Sewing is often very delicate work, and threads don't need very heavy scissors to clip. You've seen me repair our clothes before, haven't you?

[... Granted, Goku probably didn't pay attention, but he has to ask.]

[He's doing his very very best to sit still here. Goku lets his eyes wander around the little camp, to all of the meticulously packed up boxes and bags while he fights the urge to kick his feet a bit while Hakkai does his work. It's surprisingly homey, really. No worse than some of the hostels they've had to put themselves up in, and probably better than most of their makeshift camps outside have been.]

Mmmm... I think so? I don't really remember. [His lips purse and his eyebrows knit together while he thinks about it a little longer.] You always do a real good job, though! I can't even tell where all the holes used to be anymore!

I thought as much. [Shockingly, there isn't judgment there. Just an observation.] That's all right. I didn't think it was something you'd pay attention to.

[Honestly, Hakkai dealt with his problems by organizing. Then reorganizing. And then doing it all over again. So of course it's all put together. At least it's going to make moving back to the city easier.]

Oh, thank you. I've had a lot of practice, so I would hope I was decent at it.

[This is why Goku doesn't mind admitting stuff like that to Hakkai. He always just kind of nods and accepts it, even when he disapproves. Gojyo always makes fun of him, and Sanzo tends to make it clear that he finds it extra annoying even if he doesn't smack Goku over the head. That's probably just something that happens when he's been Goku's teacher for as long as he has.

Goku hums a little bit to himself, letting his hands fall to his knees so he can idly drum his fingers there without making a lot of noise. He wouldn't want to bother Hakkai too much with that.]

D'you think you'd hafta fix 'em up a lot here? Th' monsters must be pretty strong, right? I can try ta make sure they can't cut me up too much!

[...Clearly Goku figures asking questions won't be as distracting to Hakkai as the drumming of his fingers.]

Oh, I assume so. [The monsters have been wickedly strong, powerful. Not what they're used to seeing.] I haven't had to do as much, though. Most I know don't leave the city too often.

[Hakkai you know like three people. But at least he's not wrong about that.]

Most of it has been minor repairs for the dojo - Ah. Hold still please. [The fidgeting. The fidgeting! He has to do the short bits now. All close to Goku's ears.]

Uweh?? Are they stronger'n th' youkai we fight back home??

[If Goku sounds just the tiniest bit excited about that, well... Don't mind him. He's not as bad as he used to be, but he still relishes in a good challenge!]

Ah-- [When Hakkai asks him to sit still, of course he has to obey. He even straightens up a little, his fingers gripping at his knees like that will help keep him from moving. And- Is he holding his breath?

He's holding his breath.]

I'm not sure if "stronger" is the right word...

[He's quiet for a while, working. Making sure it's all the same length - or as much as Goku's hair ever gets. If it's not perfect, it won't matter to Goku, of course. But Hakkai will notice!!]

Different, perhaps. Most recently, it was walking corpses, like in a zombie story. Giant insects have appeared... and a lot of times the monsters are, in fact, humans.

People who turn into monsters due to blood corruption.

Uweh? [Sorry, Hakkai. Goku's kind of turning his head so he can look at Hakkai at that last statement, eyes big as he blinks in confusion.]

But then if they're human, we shouldn't fight 'em, right? It ain't like the people Hazel brought back, so can we still bring 'em back to normal?

[He's not sure what this "blood corruption" is either, but he can only ask so many questions at a time (if he wants to have any hope of remembering the answer).]

Goku - [He has to pull the scissors back to keep from clipping Goku's ear.] Please hold still.

[He doesn't want a repeat of the "oh god I have ice blood" incident.]

I'm not sure if we can. Once someone has transformed... it doesn't sound as if they can be brought back.

[Which sounds awfully familiar, doesn't it.]

Ah-- Sorry...

[He turns back around obediently, this time with a small, thoughtful frown on his face and his eyebrows knitted together in concern. It does sound familiar. And he doesn't like it. Even back home Goku feels a little bad sometimes about having to kill so many youkai that have gone berserk, but then he just remembers that usually they've done a lot of really shitty things that mean they deserve it. And also most of them are attacking the Sanzo Party first. So.]

...That sucks.

Yes, it does. Very much.

[Especially since it seemed he'd been exhibiting signs of blood corruption... hm. But that had been taken care of. And they had safeguards, now.]

Gojyo did some research for us, though. He found out ways to prevent or even help cure corruption before it hits that point. I'm sure the three of us being around one another will be helpful. [It's hard to isolate yourself with friends like the Sanzo Party.]

So we'll know what to watch for. And how to help should it be necessary.

Oh... [He considers this for a second, looking thoughtful (and just barely managing to not tilt his head at the same time). And then he dares to look a little hopeful, putting on a tiny smile.]

So then... That's good, right?? At least we won't hafta fight each other, right???

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