minutemen | 4 ❀ 花吐き病

[ Wow, Hakusan, so forward. ]

I'm pretty sure just the shirt is enough.

[ He'll pull that off readily enough and set it to the side before sitting down. ]

Come on. Let's get this over with.

( Wasn't that implied? Anyway, with Chougi's shirt off and him allowing the check up, Hakusan moves close to do his inspection. He places a hand on his chest, cool and smooth. There isn't any swelling or growths so outwardly, it seems fine but inside...

It isn't that he's particularly strong but sudden acts of force are rare for Hakusan. He presses back on Chougi, pushing him down onto the ground and leans in close, his ear on his chest. )

Exhale and inhale.

( The fox on his shoulder maintains perfect balance.... and is very close to Chougi's face. )

[ Chougi is too startled to resist, mostly because Hakusan has never been this pushy before. At least not that Chougi remembers? Maybe the training regimen has gotten harsher at their old citadel and Hakusan has gotten pushier to compensate.

A question for another time, because suddenly Hakusan's ear is on his chest and his heart leaps into his throat. This sets off another brief round of coughing (mercifully, he doesn't cough any flowers into Hakusan's hair) and he glares at the fox like it's Melon's fault.

Okay. Okay. Calm down. Deep breath in, slow breath out. ]

Good?

( He presses his hand against Chougi to try to still him so he can hear. He can hear a rattling in his chest and when Chougi coughs and once it passes, he stays there silently, listening very carefully while Melon watches Chougi with squinty fox eyes. )

There is a build up in your chest. ( A beat, ) Your heart rate is elevated.

( Sitting up neatly at Chougi's side, his hands folded in his lap. )

Your condition is severe.

It isn't that bad.

[ He sits up slowly, rubbing his chest. It actually is getting pretty bad. He's still managing to hide the flowers and the coughing for now, able to explain the coughing as "just some dust" for now. But it won't last forever and he knows it. The real problem is... ]

This can't be cured, y'know. That's why you can't tell anybody, Hime, you'll just worry them over something they can't do anything about.

[ Well, there is a cure...but he's not about to get his hopes up that it'll happen. ]

If it gets too bad I promise I'll go see Aruji and she can... [ Cut his heart out of him. ] figure something out. Okay?

The assessment is unfavorable.

( If he had more emotion, he'd emphasize it more but he says it as flatly as ever. He's really no good at arguing. He's too used to doing as he's told that when he's in situations like these, he can only state the facts and hope others will listen.

The idea that this can't be cured though... His eyes shift across the room, at his blade set neatly on display. So he won't... go to the saniwa even now? He can tell this is serious and it needs to be taken care of. He shifts in place, looking almost uncertain under his regular demeanor, and rises to get retrieve his blade. Holding it contemplatively in his hands, for a moment, he then holds it over Chougi. What follows is the familiar healing effect of his tsurugi-- a white light, a cool feeling, and hopefully, an improving condition.

He doesn't speak for a moment, still trying to sort out the right feelings and words, )

You shouldn't keep secrets from aruji-sama.

[ The feeling is cool and refreshing. Not the same as the saniwa's healing, but pleasant all the same. The tightness in his chest eases...but unfortunately begins to return almost as soon as Hakusan is done.

Chougi doesn't tell him this. ]

It's not like I'm avoiding it.

[ He's totally avoiding it. ]

I'll tell her. Just not yet.

( If only he could heal him for good.

He still isn't convinced but Chougi has always been someone he could trust in his time here so (perhaps against his better judgement) he let's it go for now. It sits with him uncomfortably, knowing that this still doesn't seem right. That it isn't right.

Until he can figure out the best course of action, he'll continue to tend to Chougi to the best of his ability, in the morning, at night, whenever he can whether it be by healing or offering tea. This time, after what feels like too many ineffective sessions, he holds his tsurugi in his hands, looking at the blade thoughtfully and then at Chougi. It's after dinner and getting late, the air will become cool and that won't help. )

Requesting to administer direct healing. ( Stabbing, he means stabbing. The fact that he asks first is proof of some of how he's grown since being at this citadel. The fact that he offers to explain is even more, ) Current methods are ineffective.

( From his shoulder, Melon watches curiously. )

[ Not just ineffective. After some of them, Chougi even seems worse than he was before them. Which is probably why he hesitates at the request. ]

Direct? Are you serious?

[ Haku, where exactly are you planning on stabbing him? Nope, Chougi doesn't like this at all. He's not a huge fan of the thoughtful look on Haku's face, either, not entirely sure how to translate it. Nor how to translate the fact that Haku actually attempted to explain, when he's never needed to before. Not with Chougi anyway. ]

...Fine. You haven't tried it yet so fine.

[ He shrugs out of his jacket and starts unbuttoning his shirt. ]

But I don't want to turn the direct method into a regular thing, okay? Getting stabbed in an emergency is bad enough.

Yes.

( He's serious.

He frowns, watching Chougi remove his shirt. He doesn't like that he can't see what's wrong. He can't now the full extent of the damage. How far as the infection spread? How bad is it really?

Sword in hand, he kneels down next to Chougi and touches the ground next to him, motioning for Chougi to lie down in front of him so that he can work. He doesn't make any promises that this won't happen again. It's getting harder to keep these secrets and promises.

Once Chougi does, he raises his blade over Chougi's chest, closes his eyes in what looks like prayer, and brings the blade plunging into his chest. It cuts through but not like an ordinary physical blade. It's cold like steel and sharp like a knife. Like being plunged into ice water, feeling the shock and then nothing from the cold. It isn't a pleasant feeling but sometimes you have to suffer to grow stronger. That's what he was told back then, at least. )

[ It's awful. Really awful. He's never been a fan of the feeling, but right now it's somehow so much worse. It's like a shock of cold water directly to his lungs and his lungs hate it. ]

Haku--

[ He grabs Hakusan's wrist. This is bad. Let him go. It's not helping, it's making it worse. He doesn't understand how, but it is. ]

( He draws back the knife, the wound it leaves behind heals but slower than it would have if he was in healthy condition. It doesn't take long for Melon to come over either, placing a paw gently on Chougi before climbing onto his chest. For a no good communication device, he's soft and warm.

Chougi looks down at his wrist, still held by Chougi and at the blade in his hand. )

Ah...

( There's something on the blade and with his other hand, he traces the flat with his finger, holding it up to see. Hydrangea flowers. Small and stuck to the steel. )

Why...?

( Why is nothing helping? Is there really only a certain way to cure this? His hands tremble, his fingers curling into a fist, the other holding his sword tight. )

[ There's a distinctly threatening rattle when Chougi sucks in his next breath, but at least he manages not to start coughing. He releases Hakusan's wrist and tentatively pets Melon instead. The circumstances might suck, but hey, he's never gotten to pet Melon before -- he'll take his victories where he can find them. ]

It's okay, Hime. You tried.

[ Ugh, okay, he has to cough a little bit. He manages to rein it in, partly because Melon is on him and partly because he's trying not to upset Hakusan any worse than he obviously already is. ]

You did the best you could.

[ Looks like he might have to tell Aruji about this and go see Yagen after all... ]

... It's not.

( Okay. This is the opposite of okay and thinking about it makes his chest twist as if he can feel some of Chougi's pain. But it's true that he's done the best he can and he shakes his head. That can't be true. There has to be something more. There is something more and he holds his sword tightly, speaking quietly, )

The one you love. ( He knows the stories. He'd thought they were just stories but that's all he has to go on for now. ) Who is it?

[ Oh. Of course. Of course Hakusan knows the stories. If he didn't, he would have researched them. Chougi shakes his head slowly. ]

...Doesn't matter.

[ It's not like Hakusan could do anything about it even if he knew. Sure, he's changed a lot since arriving at the citadel, grown warmer in some ways, softer in some ways, but he's still Hakusan. Slightly distant. On something of a pedestal. While Chougi has absolute faith that Hakusan will eventually reconnect with all the emotions he's shut off, he doubts it will come in time to stop the progression of this. ]

Even if you knew...you can't make someone love you back.

They must.

( That's it. They must. If they don't, Chougi will only get worse. Both hands on the ground, his finger tips come together to form a triangle tip and he leans forward. It's a half bow, incredibly formal and polite but pleading, )

They must know.

( So they can at least try to help. )

...Shit. Hime.

[ He finally sits up, cradling Melon against his chest carefully. Don't fall, buddy. ]

Don't...don't do that.

[ No, this isn't what should have happened. Hakusan being disappointed, Chougi could handle that. If he was upset, Chougi could handle that, too. But Hakusan pleading? Hakusan coming to him with a kind of formality that he's never used before -- not with Chougi, anyway. ]

It...he...

[ He can't. He can't say it. It won't matter, it won't change anything, all it will do is upset Hakusan further and it still won't fix Chougi. ]

...It's you.

( Melon shifts, curling against Chougi and this time, the fox watches Hakusan.

Hakusan's eyes widen, a surprised expression falling on a usually neutral face. It doesn't compute. It doesn't make sense. He's a tsurugi and thus, unable to act like katana. He's eerie and stiff, his personality straight and lacking character like the edge of his blade. The first words to spill from his lips are a flat, )

It's not possible.

( It's just not. There must be someone else. Someone more adequate. )

[ Yeah...That's about what he expected.

Chougi puts Melon down; he can feel another fit trying to start. Sure enough, he starts coughing, and it lasts for too long this time. He really is worse. It takes a while to finally calm down, but once it does, he looks Hakusan in the eye. ]

You asked, Hime. Have I ever lied to you?

( About going to repairs. About going to the saniwa. But everyone lies about that.

Chougi begins to cough and he braces himself, sword still held tight in his hand as if he could try to cut out the flowers at any moment. Of course, he decides against it and when the fit passes, he rises to his feet, )

Aruji-sama must know.

( That's it. There's no other choice now. )

[ Okay but about the things that matter, Haku.

Hakusan rises and Chougi reaches out to grab one of his hanging sleeves. ]

Haku--

[ No. Maybe this is better. Maybe he should have done this long ago instead of letting it fester. ]

Let...let me talk to her. There is one other way to fix this.

[ One he suspects Hakusan already knows. ]

( Removing the flowers by force, cutting them and ripping them out by their root until there's nothing left in more than one sense of the word. There won't be anything. The feelings that had given the flowers nutrients will also be gone. That's good. Good? He won't be sick anymore so surely, that's a good thing.

But in his chest, his heart hurts. Hakusan Yoshimitsu is a dowry sword, one that was given as a symbol of good will to promote love and happiness. Those are... important things, even if he can't fully understand them for himself.

He looks down at his sleeve and pulls it away from Chougi's hand gently. )

Talk to her. Now.

( Right now or he absolutely will. )

I'll go.

[ It's a promise. Chougi gets to his feet and puts his shirt back on, though it's still untucked when he leaves. And then he's gone. For a long time. A very long time. He doesn't come back that night, actually. And he's noticeably absent at breakfast, too. Their master is absent, too, and anyone who knocks on the door is gently but firmly rebuffed. Seems like she wants to make sure she gets the whole story, every detail.

He finally comes back to their room a little after dinner, looking exhausted. It's been a very long day. ]

Aruji said she wants to talk to you, too.

[ Apparently, she wants to hear Hakusan's opinion of the situation before they do anything. For the moment, Chougi's feelings are still firmly in place, along with the flowers in his lungs. ]

(Chougi doesn't come back at night. He knows because he waited up for him, thinking he would return. When he does, he wants to check his condition but he never comes and likewise, Hakusan never sleeps.

His absence in the morning doesn't go unnoticed either and not just by him. He doesn't always sit with Chougi for breakfast (sometimes he sits with his brothers) but in the morning, he'd seemed a little more lost despite having been here and grown used to the routine of things. His brothers pull him over towards their table and try to have a conversation with him, asking him where Chougi is and if everything is all right. (He's been sick recently. Is he in bed? Can we visit him? Or is he in repairs?)

By afternoon, he's tired from the lack of sleep, not paying attention and his brothers begin to ask different questions. It's Midare that notices the more subtle differences on his face-- how tired and puffy his eyes look from not resting and they take their new brother aside, trying to give him some space and a chance to express himself the best he can.

When Chougi finally returns, he's waiting with his brothers. Sitting quietly in their room, petting Melon while his brothers suddenly stop talking about whatever they'd been whispering about until now. They express their surprise when they see Chougi more vocally than Hakusan who sits up alert and at attention in front of Chougi, ready to move at any moment.

At the request, he's on his feet, Melon on his shoulder and he follows (very) closely behind Chougi.)

Did aruji-sama help? (What did she do? Chougi's clearly not better. Was it beyond her help? Was it too late?) Your condition is the same.

(He's not sure if this is a good or bad thing.)

[ A room full of Toushirous is...not exactly something Chougi wanted to see when he first arrived. He waves them all off as politely as he's able to before turning down the hall again with Hakusan trailing along behind. No, behind is no good. Chougi adjusts so they can walk side by side. ]

She said she will help.

[ Though not immediately. Chougi isn't sure if her gentle order for patience is a good or a bad thing. He wants to think it's good, but...

Well. As long as she helps him eventually. ]

But before she does anything or makes any decision, she said she wants to talk to you and get your perception of the situation.

[ More specifically, she said she wanted to speak with Hakusan and determine for herself if she needs to intervene or not. But Hakusan's perception of the situation is a vital factor in her final decision, that's true.

Chougi stops outside the saniwa's room. ]

You go on in. She wants me to go to repairs for now, so I'll be there when you're finished.

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