001; action

[nikori]

[may 15; late morning/noonish]
[so like

If anyone happens to go on over into the item shop, they'll find a man -- who, to be quite honest, looks more like a boy, if anything -- curled up on the floor of one of the back corners, next to a large pile of stuffed animals and, uh... pillows. He may or may not have knocked all of these over in his sleep. He's quite a graceful sleeper over there, you see. Especially since he's curled up all over one of those pillows. A very large one of those pillows with an image of a certain Toshizo Hijikata on it. Is he aware of it? nope.

...Yeah. May wanna wake him up.]




[may 16; evening]
[The following day, once he's more or less settled and kind of knows of what's going on here, he can be found walking over to Seventh Heaven for food. Except once he gets to the restaurant? He finds the bar. But he decides to actually not get a real drink for once while there. Instead, he gets one of these... milkshake things. A chocolate milkshake. What the heck is a chocolate milkshake. He's staring this thing down with a raised eyebrow before trying it.]

Huh...

[Feel free to poke at the guy who's staring at a milkshake like it's a cup of rainbow brussel sprouts and platypi.]

Comments

[nikori]

[but Souji, he makes the best excuses...!

w/e w/e he'll just get up then!] Get my stuff..? Souji, what're you talking about? My stuff's already here! And it's too light-- [Well. Not like he really cares much about the light, but seeing as how he already got into the habit of sleeping all day...

..but. oh. Wait. Once he's up, he realizes that this actually isn't his room or.. any place that he would even recognize!] Wait.. S-Souji! Where even are we?!

[wait. WHERE ARE YOU GOING AAAH following while asking these questions!]

[gohon]

[ Souji takes the cat food in hand, and when Heisuke starts making his ruckus he just looks back for a moment to study him. ] ...That's what I thought.

I don't really want to explain, but I don't really have a choice, do I? Just look for your things in here. I'll wait. [ He folds his arms, tucking his hands into his sleeves. Really. He'll wait. ]

[nikori]

Huh? [..You're confusing him, Souji... But whatever! As long as he explains afterward. With a sigh, Heisuke will start looking around the store for his things that were apparently jacked from him and set out in this place. Including his clothes. Why the hell did someone jack his clothes. He's like, walking around half naked...

Give him a bit and he'll be returning back to Souji, possibly looking even more confused now.. He's kind of examining his things as well, whether it be like. sniffing his clothing or looking over his swords. Nobody did anything to these, right...?!] So... What's going on, Souji?

[gohon]

I'll explain on the way. [ May as well just take him back to his abode right now. He turns to leave, only glancing back to make sure Heisuke's close behind. ]

I'm sure you've noticed those wings. Yeah?

[nikori]

[Right, right. Heisuke's following, and he looks back at his wings for a moment when Souji mentions them.]

Ah, those? Y-yeah, I noticed 'em while looking for my stuff. [It's kind of hard not to, seeing as how they do hurt a bit. And because the few other people walking around the shop had them as well.] How'd those get there, anyway?

[..Oh, and before they leave..] Oh and uh.. Are we going to just leave that [gross] thing with Hijikata-san here?

[gohon]

[ He gives a wave of the hand. He doesn't want that in his house, Heisuke. Don't bring it with you!! Plus it'd be funny if Hijikata showed up and woke up embracing that thing too HAHAHAHAHA

He gives a sigh. Ugh. Thinking about his situation in depth again just... makes him angry all over again. ] Some sort of experiments or scientists. I don't really know, but everyone has them. And they're a nuisance. [ If you can't tell since his haori is covering his. heisuke you will learn that he never never ever shows them



not even to you ]

[nikori]

[What if... someone else takes it... but whatever! It's not like Heisuke wants to see that thing ever again, anyway..

That all sounds kinda weird and Heisuke does not like the sound of it. He kinda wonders how the hell one is supposed to sleep with them, but...]

Everyone has 'em? [So... Even Souji does? He kind of peers around Souji to see if he can see them but.. oops they're covered, aren't they? He'd think he was pulling his leg but since Heisuke had seen a few others with them...] What kind of place is this, anyway?

[gohon]

Some sort of "other world." [ And the way he says it is in a manner that says that even after two months of being here, he still doesn't believe it at all. ] We're stuck in the village and we can't return to Kyoto. [ His expression doesn't change, but... it's very clear he's upset about this. ]

[nikori]

Some other world? [And they're stuck here? Heisuke gives Souji a bit of a dubious look.]

You know how nuts that sounds, right? [Despite the weird wings... But given how Souji actually does appear to be quite serious about this, well..]

[gohon]

[ He just shrugs. ] I don't lie. I didn't believe it at first, either.

[nikori]

[...Sigh.] So... We're really stuck here then? [And without the others? Do they even know they're gone..?]

What're we supposed to do in the mean time?!

[gohon]

Basically. [ Still slightly frowning... ugh.

Well. Hey! Luckily Community House 4 is not far from the item store, and luckily Souji's room is right by the entrance. Pushing open the door and leading him inside. ] Who knows. It's not really exciting here.

[nikori]

[Good because it's too light out for Heisuke anyway aaaahhhah]

Mm.. Well, you've been here longer than me, haven't you? [Some..how... Heisuke doesn't recall Souji being gone or anything, so...!] What have you been doing then?

[gohon]

About two months. [ Oh yeah he's been counting the days. ] I haven't been doing much, just the usual. You should join me on rounds after this. [ He opens the door to his apartment and oh hi Toshizo. Why are you sitting in the entryway giving me that look? ]

[nikori]

[Two months... what the heck. This place makes no sense. Souji wouldn't lie about that though, so.. gah! none of this makes sense...!]

I dunno... It's too early for that, isn't it?-- [..wait.] --Hey, Souji, what's a cat doing in here?

[gohon]

Oh. [ --oh right, only Shinpachi of those three ever met the animal. Oh well. He doesn't have to explain too much. ] That's Toshizo. Just ignore him. [ And like his instructions, he just gracefully steps over the cat like it's no big deal. ]

Even if you say it's too early, [ Entering the room and leaning against the couch, studying Heisuke carefully. ] I was in the middle of doing so when I found you. I kind of want to finish what I was doing.

[nikori]

[wait wait. Hold up on leaving to go back to what you were doing, Souji..! Did you just say Toshizo? Heisuke will get back to that but... Toshizo... That's too funny...! Which is why he bursts into laughter.]

Pffff... Hahahahaha! Toshizo?! You named a cat after Hijikata-san? I wish I could see his face after hearing about that..!

[sorry bro he's kind of stuck on this right now..]

[gohon]

Ah, I'm pretty sure you can imagine what his reaction was. [ Grins. Oh good, he thinks it's funny. ] Just look at his face. He looks just like him.

[nikori]

[Heisuke thinks everything is funny, Souji. Come on.

He gives the cat another brief look before letting out more barks of laughter.] Hahahahaha! It really does look just like 'im! I-I can't...! This is too funny! Hahaha!

[gohon]

[ Wow as you laugh Toshizo will give you a look before storming out of the room haughtily. Or he would have if he was a person. It's a normal cat's walk but with the image of Hijikata... yeah.

Souji is just kind of grinning the whole situation. ] Aw, Heisuke-kun, you offended him. [ Though he probably would have started laughing too. ]

[nikori]

[Even so, Heisuke can't help but imagine the cat as Hijikata, which leads to a few last chuckles and him wiping away any tears of laughter that may have spawned.]

Haha, oh man.. He's even as grumpy as Hijikata-san! [He is very glad that Hijikata isn't here right now-- and wow this conversation has derailed. Totally worth it though..!]

[gohon]

[ Yeah, but Souji's not one for games! ...Okay. That's a lie. But he still snickers in Heisuke's direction before standing up off the couch, taking a step or two towards him. ] No other name fits as well as that one, yeah? He won't even respond to anything else. [ Except "Vice Captain" but that's Saitou's job.

Nodding towards the door. ] C'mon. Grab your swords and let's go.

[nikori]

[Heisuke just grins at that, since yeah, that's totally true..! That cat is like. Hijikata's spirit animal. Or something-- Okay no. When Souji mentions leaving, Heisuke doesn't move, and instead gives him a bit of a "bro are you serious c'mon" look.]

Oi oi, Souji. I already said it's too early for me to go. Normally I'm not even up at this time, you know? [Duh. Come on, Souji. Get your head in the game!!]

[gohon]

[ He doesn't bother to respond until he gets to the door, where he just stands, studying Heisuke. Arms crossed. ]

You aren't? I know you're a pretty late sleeper... But it's the afternoon.

[nikori]

[Cross them all you want, Souji! He's still not going, as much as he'd like to. He tenses a bit though, giving his friend his own baffled look.]

Even in the afternoon I'm not. I mean, I used to, but since I gotta sleep in during the day I usually don't even get up until around when you guys all have dinner. You bump your head or somethin', Souji? [Because you should know this already!]