estoria | [closed]

Who: Saitou

tsuranuki & Hakata

businessboy
When: Three IC days after Interlude004
Where: A laundromat in the Shopping district
What: Waking up after a rather untimely death, by acid.
Rating/Warning: PG, PG-13? Saitou lost his clothes thanks to acid but otherwise there's nothing else that need warnings, I don't think.

[ There hadn't been anytime to think, much less react. It didn't even hurt, but Saitou remembers the looking down and seeing his skin getting eaten away...and there had been nothing. The next thing he knows, he's blinking up at a ceiling and...well, his clothes are gone. But he's in the laundromat that he'd be in earlier; and there's a lingering smell. Hardly bad, but it was odd. The acid hadn't smelled like this. Nothing about him feels off, either.

Then he suddenly remembers that he hadn't been the only one to get the brunt of the acid. He looks around and see Hakata nearby. He takes the time to dig through a dryer (he'll find his real clothes later) and find something to wear, before he goes over. ]

Is there any permanent damage?

[ He's all right, but just in case it was just him and his fast healing, he has to check. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I ... I don't think so.

[ Hakata slowly sits up, still somewhat dazed from his sudden "death." He doesn't quite understand what exactly happened - he remembers a burning sensation as his real form eroded away. Although it was really painful at the time, he feels fine now.

Strange. ]

Um, where are we exactly?

A laundry place. [ Of all places to be...Saitou is making note to never visit this place again. Old-fashioned handwashing of clothes is the way to go, next time. ]

It seems as if the others have continued on. [ He didn't even get a glance inside the storage hut. ]

[ Hearing that he's not in that horrible place anymore, Hakata visibly relaxes. ]

I see... Ah! That's right!

[ With more leisure at hand, the wheels in his head begin to turn. This man in front him! He was definitely hurt during that little skirmish too, wasn't he? ] What, what about you mister!? Your skin was, um ... !

[ Is melting the right word to use right now? ]

I believe it is fine. [ He holds out his hand and turns it slightly from side to side to show Hakata. ] I wonder how the others fare. Likely they dealt with the source and are proceeding into that building. [ It's a shame they got taken out so quickly.

And then he glances outside and notice it's still light, when he distinctively remembers it had been afternoon. ] ...just how much time has passed...?

[ He's rambling just a little, still disorientated. Usually, things in his control are dealt with and handled. But when he just died and came back, without his belongings...he talks himself a little more. ]

[ Thankfully, the hand does look like it's in a perfect condition. That's good. Very good, in fact. If something permanent remained, an apology probably wouldn't suffice. ]

Hopefully, that's the case. The two remaining guys were pretty strong too, so I'm sure they wouldn't have a problem. [ Unless they get stopped by a safe and decides to blow it up or something. But that'd be silly. ] Let's see ... wow, it's it's been several days already!

[ Upon checking his CereVice, he jumps and shows it to Saitou. ]

[ Or if they decided to suplex themselves across a room of giant robots. Saitou considers the others, and decides that Hakata is right. ] We should get their names, so that we know what things of important they found. It wasn't coincidence we were all forcibly moved to that place.

[ His voice trails off when Hakata shows him the date. Come to think of it, where was his own CereVice? Saitou glances over back to the spot he'd found himself in, and sees it lying next to one of the machines. At least he doesn't have to go looking for that. ] I know people who die here take some time to return, but... [ A slight tug on his hair. ] No one ever said anything about such a scent as this.

Scent? [ Being in a laundrymat and surrounded by detergents, their special herbal shampoo treatment doesn't quite reach Hakata's nose. The short hair doesn't help the matter, of course. But he'll rub the top of his head and give his hand a sniff. ]

Ah, you're right. [ He frowns, groaning a little. ] Maybe it's some kind weird consolation. Since we seemed to have dropped out earlier than the rest.

[ Who knows what these CERES folks are thinking really. ]

Come to think of it, we don't know each other's names, do we? I'll introduce myself then. My name is Hakata Toushirou. What about you, mister?

A little too early. [ Death by acid is so rapid; he didn't even have time to react. That's what he gets for being in the front, trying so had to see what's inside.

He doesn't see how smelling good is any consolation, but it's better than smelling like acid or blood, at least. ]

Saitou Hajime. [ He gives his name, then pauses. ] Are you a sword spirit?

[ Saitou Hajime? That name sure sounds familiar. He can't place his finger on now though. Is he some kind of famous swordsman? ]

Ah, yes! I am. I'm one of tantou made by Awataguchi Yoshimitsu. [ He smiles, a little flattered and definitely impressed. ] You must really like swords if you can suspect that from just my name.

I've met some others, but you are the first tantou.

[ "Must really like" is an understatement. More like he's the person who will say "I will gives people random facts of history and everything else i can possibly think of as long as you're listening to me."

He bows slightly. ] It's an honour to meet you, even if the conditions are...rather unconventional.

[ IT KEEPS HAPPENING; he ran into Kogitsunemaru also in bedraggled state. The only time he had been actually presentable was probably upon his arrival and he had met Kashuu...what is this luck. ]

Likewise! [ Here, Hakata will bow too. Except his bow is more deep and straight. Like that of a practiced merchant. ]

The situation ... it really is, isn't it. [ he lets out a little sigh as he shakes his head. ] It's memorable at least. I don't think I'll be forgetting about our little trip anytime soon.

[ For various reasons. ]

Um, Saitou-san is a samurai, right? What time period are you from?

I will not, either. But since we...died so soon, we hardly discovered anything.

[ He'll have ask. But in the meantime, he can also ask about his clothes and where they went. Satisfied with these plans, he returns to the conversation. ]

Yes; from the Edo Period.

[ Saitou-san from Edo period, Saitou-san from Edo period. There were instances where he was sent to Edo period of course, but the skirmishes mostly involved the Shinsengumi in Kyoto. He doesn't remember any Saitou-san ...

Wait. ]

Eh, could it be .... are you Saitou Hajime-san from Shinsengumi? [ He remembers now. The third captain. Who's famous for being one of the core members to er survive. ] You're practically a celebrity!

I am him, yes.

But...a celebrity? [ He blinks. ] I have heard that the Shinsengumi was remembered...however I don't see how that applies to me. [ Colour him surprised. ]

Well, Shinsengumi isn't just remembered you know? Over the years, you all actually became an icon. Even foreigners know about you guys!

[ A tragic icon but an icon nonetheless. After the outburst though, Hakata excitement slowly fades, and guilt settles on his face. ]

I really messed up. Even though we're supposed to be protecting guys like you, I ended up hurting you instead. [ Saitou did say he wasn't hurt but it wouldn't feel right to not apologize now. ] I really am sorry about that.

[ Even foreigners. Considering the different versions of the Shinsengumi that he has encountered, it feels like they're not lacking. ] I know people who would be satisfied to hear that. [ He very, very much misses each and every member that isn't here in Cerealia.

As for other matters. ] It was hardly your fault. I think one of us would've ended up gone in the situation anyway. The whole creature was poisonous. [ Stabbing just isn't the answer to everything. ] However, I'm sorry about the harming of your vessel. That is no way to treat a sword.

[closed]

saitou did you just causally steal

if no one knows, it's not a crime

spoken like a true assassin

protecting the shinsengumi reputation

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