[Action/Open] Laying Awake

[koishi_komeiji]

WHO: Koishi and her visitors
WHAT: Revival after getting eaten
WHERE: Genessia Hospital
WHEN: Feb 9th
WARNINGS: Sad

The white light was peaceful. Bright, but overall pleasant. She didn't hurt. She didn't fear. She didn't need. It was like floating in warm, tranquil water. She knew what she wanted to give up, but this was a feeling she wasn't quite ready to abandon. Just a bit longer, then she would return. Satori was waiting for her.

***

It had been more than the usual several days since Koishi had gone into Fayren's woods. Koishi's revival had taken over a week. Nearly two. Back home Satori might find the seashell comb missing. A favorite prop used when they told stories on the mountainside and one of the only ones that had held up over the years without breaking.

The younger satori rolled over in the hospital bed, stirring slightly. She was restless, tensing, claws shredding the pillow and sheets and digging into the mattress under her. It wasn't long before her eyes opened, sitting straight up, looking around... and falling back into the bed. She draped an arm across her face, covering her eyes, taking a deep breath. Entirely in her youkai form, she didn't bother trying to shift, rolling onto one side and pulling the covers up over her head.

No doubt the doctors and nurses would be checking on her soon, but a strange inhuman sound warded them back, and they eventually left her alone entirely. It wouldn't last forever, but she wanted to be empty right now.

Youkai could only die when the concept that created them ceased to be. They could not truly die from physical trauma. Upon completely losing their corporeal form, a youkai might be reborn with new or adapted concepts or be heavily altered in some way or have new form entirely. It all depended on the beliefs of the humans around them. Sometimes the new being would have no memory. Sometimes they would feel malice for whomever brought their end. Sometimes they would simply not care.

None of these things had happened though. She knew she had been destroyed. Even more thoroughly than many other youkai. She had been unraveled in her entirety. But, somehow, she was okay. Her form and essence were in order and identical to how they were before, as far as she could tell. Her mind was unaltered. Her youki and mana were both topped off and stable. She was still her sister's other half, tarnish and all.

She knew it was good that she was entirely unchanged. She knew her sister would be happy, but there was already a tightness in her chest. A feeling she didn't understand. Even with no emotions to reflect, something hollow and noxious was slowly growing and burning inside of her.

She didn't want to get up. She didn't want to face anyone. She just wanted to sleep. At least until the emotion left her. So she did just that. Pulling the shredded blankets more tightly around herself she settled into a shallow, dreamless sleep.

(ooc: Satori or Mewtwo will likely be present in the room for all visitors)

Comments

[satori_komeiji]

Satori had known a certain feeling from the start. The feeling of loss was always one that weighed heavily on her, and being used to having little but her sister and pets the look after, such a fear was nothing new. It was never any easier to face losing Koishi to something else. She recalled the hazy, tear-filled memories of Koishi severing her Third Eye. The countless nights of sitting by her bedside as she lay, empty. The countless days of providing for her and trying her hardest just to understand her. To learn her sister's life all over again after her words and thoughts couldn't always reach her in the same way as they used to do.

But Satori was stronger than she looked. She learned. And in time, she knew her sister still loved her after all, even if she couldn't express it.

But that was just the problem. If a youkai's death had seen relatively little interference, there was the possibility she would reconstitute exactly the same way. It was a resurrection unlike the typical afterlives and reincarnations of the human sphere of things. Once again, Satori feared that if death hadn't fully taken her, that it would change her. That, once again, all the work she'd done and the time she'd spent...all of that would be worthless if her sister was reborn as something else. If she changed too much Koishi wouldn't be Koishi. And if her faults were healed and she returned to her lucid state, Koishi wouldn't be Koishi.

But in the strangest way, her little sister living unconsciously as she did, was more true to what she was than ever before. Perhaps it was the fact that she lacked a 'self' in the traditional sense, or that her mind worked (or didn't work) on an entirely different level.

As Satori made her way to the hospital, to the place where Koishi would no doubt be waiting, old worries resurfaced. Fretting over her sister like this was her duty.

All that mattered was the fact that Koishi would always be just that and nothing more.

Uncertain of what would await her, Satori entered into Koishi's room to find a pile of blankets to greet her. A pile of growling blankets. The staff had told her that Koishi hadn't wanted to be bothered, seeming thankful Satori was here to deal with her, instead. A lump formed in her throat as she spoke. Words she'd said only once, a long time ago.

"...Koishi? Can you...still hear me?"

[koishi_komeiji]

The mass that was Koishi stopped growling the moment she heard her sister's voice. Satori was able to glance a green glowing eye through the shredded remains of the blankets before the younger one shifted again, hiding. She finally settled, less tense, though that did nothing to lift the atmosphere of the room.

"I can hear you." Without her human guise, Koishi's voice was the tiniest bit altered; smoother with subtly harsher pronunciation. Still, it was nothing that Satori wasn't already familiar with.

Koishi remained hidden for a few more moments before, she shifted, a tendril lifting one corner of the blankets near the foot of the bed, revealing the little youkai curled up on her stomach, several tendrils wrapped loosely around her body. She had torn her sleeves off, her exposed arms crossed loosely in front of her, cheek resting lightly against one of them. She was idly picking apart the mattress with one clawed hand, the fingertips of the other resting lightly on her still-closed third eye. She was unwilling to meet her sister's gaze.

"... I did something stupid again..."

[prismaticdestruction]

[It took time, as Koishi's death had taken a toll on Flandre. She had spent some time withdrawing and hiding where she could. After while she took off, wandering around and asking questions. Which was why the vampire started bothering the hospital every other day to see if her friend had come back. When that finally paid off...She hovered at the door quietly, peeking in but never entering..

She didn't know what to say and was unsure if she ever would.]

[azaleafae]

When Azalea heard that Koishi had come back, she rushed over to the hospital. Being a dragon, there was nothing that would scare her away. She entered the room and perched herself on a table next to the bed.

"Koishi...I heard about what happened. How are you feeling?"

[koishi_komeiji]

Koishi was sitting up in bed, picking at some food that looked homemade. Some sort of meat over rice in a wooden bowl. The room was absolutely saturated in her presence, the little youkai not bothering to disguise her inhuman form. The elder sister had sequestered herself in the far corner of the room, apparently reading. Perhaps both to stay out of the way or to keep watch. Every once in a while, she'd peer over the top of her book.

All eyes in the room flicked to the door as Flandre peeked in. Koishi lowered her bowl, glancing once to Satori, and then back to the door. "Miss Chimes? You can come in if you want."

[koishi_komeiji]

Koishi was hiding under the blankets again. She wasn't asleep but her eyes were dim, though they did brighten when they focused on Azalea. "Oh. Hello there Little Dragon." Her voice was soft. It wasn't really frightening to see Koishi with such vastly inhuman traits, though it was unusual.

Satori lowered the book a little to keep her eyes on Azalea and Koishi. While wary of her sister's condition, she trusted this guest not to cause trouble. After a moment, she peaceably went back to reading.

"I'm feeling fine. More energetic than before, actually. I'm less pressed for energy."

[azaleafae]

Azalea let herself smile now. Koishi certainly looked better, despite returning from death.

"I'm glad. Richard Cypher had told everyone about what had happened...he told us that he managed to defeat that thing...whatever it was."

[koishi_komeiji]

Koishi tilted her head. "Oh... Oh! The human?" She blinked. "Wait the human managed to kill the monster?" She just stared at the little dragon for a few moments.

"Huh... I... Will have to thank him." She seemed a bit unfocused. "But if a human killed the creature then it's okay I suppose." Koishi brightened a bit, managing a more genuine smile. "Yes. Yes I'm okay with that. Thank you for telling me."

[azaleafae]

Azalea gave her an odd look. She didn't recognize the other people that Richard had named in his announcement, but it seemed odd, since Genessia seemed to be dominated by humans.

"Was Richard really the only human among you?"

[koishi_komeiji]

"I'm not entirely sure. I don't remember the others. I don't even remember Richard going. But he's a hunter and a warrior and I'm glad it was a human like that stood on my bones. It's quite a story, isn't it?" The little youkai was a bit caught up in her nature at the moment.

Koishi closed her eyes. "I don't actually remember much, actually. I was very unconscious. And then I smelled something sweet and things got really really fuzzy." She shook her head, her expression falling a little again. She seemed about to speak, but refrained, shaking her head.

[psychic_supremecy]

It had taken a lot of time, persistence, and persuasion, but Mewtwo had finally convinced Satori to go home for a little bit. Feed the pets, sleep, that sort of thing. Koishi would not be alone, however, as Mewtwo had brought his device with him and was going over surveillance as he stayed with Koishi. He didn't say anything but he was there regardless.

[koishi_komeiji]

Koishi was watching Mewtwo from the bed. Se was sitting eerily still, the sheets draped gently over her shoulders. She still hadn't reeled in her aura, causing it to somewhat dampen Mewtwo's psychic abilities. It wasn't intentional, however, and he still had no trouble using his communication device.

It was about thirty minutes before. "Purple thing?" A pause. "You're twisted around a point, crackling and shivering. Are you mad at me?"

[psychic_supremecy]

When Koishi speaks, he shakes his head, a small sigh escaping his lips as his voice is projected through the device. "No, I'm not mad. Part of me is proud that you would be selfless enough to do this... however..."

He hesitates for a moment, thinking how to word how he felt. "Remember what you told me when I insisted on patrolling for the Death's Hand alone? Well... it's a two way street, Koishi. You should have told me."

[azaleafae]

"What...?" Azalea didn't quite understand what the youkai was talking about. But it sounded like a painful experience, and she didn't want to draw it out of her.

"Well, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to..."

[koishi_komeiji]

She was quiet for several moments, looking down at the bed. There was another ripping sound, another bit of the sheets and mattress going. "But I didn't go alone, and you were busy with Death's Hand. And if you did go you would have just been caught too. I don't... really understand what was done to me, but it had me completely fooled. My aspect and my strength and my abilities protect my mind on so many levels. Much better than you. But I was entirely fooled. I don't even understand how."

A pause. "It wasn't really selflessness though. I went because it was a problem that needed solving and it was dangerous. I know the woods really really well so I thought it would be good to go."

[koishi_komeiji]

"Umm..." She furrowed her brow in thought. "It's a youkai thing I guess. He bested the creature that bested me. He demands my respect." she took a deep breath. "As for the creature itself..." A pause She couldn't lie. "Yeah I would rather not talk about it right now. I'm sorry."

[superficially_busy]

[Better late than never. Alice had been hard at work making a get well gift for Koishi.

She arrived at Koishi's hospital room with a bag and her two dolls floating beside her, stepping in cautiously in case she was intruding and needed to leave.]

"I'm not intruding, I hope? I brought you some gifts, Koishi."

[Alice will present them if her presence is welcome.]

[koishi_komeiji]

Koishi wasn't really busy, absently weaving the shredded blankets into... something. She looked up as Alice walked in, tilting her head slightly before looking back down at her work. A little mopey perhaps but not as upset as she had been.

Mewtwo glanced up from his device just long enough to register Alice's arrival before returning to his work.

"Hello Miss. You're not intruding at all. And you didn't have to get me any gifts."

[superficially_busy]

[Alice approached the bed casually since she was welcomed.]

"Perhaps, but I did it anyway."

[One by one, Alice pulled a short series of hand-made dolls from the bag, as per her usual generous routine, and setting them beside Koishi in her bed. The first doll was in the likeness of a Bulbasaur. The second, a Sliggoo, and third and final, a Kirlia.]

"It took me some time to research your pets, but I hope you like them."

[psychic_supremecy]

He sighs a bit. Part of him realizes that if he had been there he likely would have met a similar fate, considering Koishi's own formidable power, but still. "That isn't the point, Koishi. Your sister and I worry about you, and if you're going to do something that dangerous you should at least tell us. We may not be able to help, but we would still prefer to know before finding out after the fact that something has happened. For now though, just rest. You've earned that much."

[disdressing]

Nui strolls in like she owns the place and hops on the bed.

"Hey, what's up tentakid, heard you had a whoopsie!!"

[koishi_komeiji]

"Umm..." Koishi really didn't know what to say to that. She had been nibbling on what looked to be dried meat. She didn't seem to mind that Nui had hopped on the bed either.

"Tentakid?" She blinked. "Oh, it was another creature. But that's okay. I'm much better now. Thank you for visiting."

[koishi_komeiji]

"If I remember." Her voice dropped a bit, her eyes dimming. "With my disconnected mind I can't imagine that even death will teach me anything. Which I suppose is fortunate. Hatred and vengeance can be like rot for a youkai like myself. I've worked hard to be a symbol of love to those I meet. I would rather risk getting hurt than lose who I am completely."

[disdressing]

"Oh yeah? Must have been really tough to get the drop on ya. What was it like?"

[koishi_komeiji]

Koishi... just stared for several moments before reaching out, taking each one and pulling it close, squeezing the little dolls. But not too tight. She took a slow breath, some of the tension draining out of her shoulders.

"... Thank you. They're so cute. You're so good at making them. I don't know how you do it."