007th Meatbun ☼ Action / Voice

[the_brightest_sun]

[It has been already a month, hasn't it? Goku isn't really sure, he remembers that a month is supposed to have around thirty days and though he hasn't been counting he has the impression that such a length of time has passed. At first he hadn't minded it too much, even if he had asked Hakkai to promise to leave a note next time he left before the kid woke up Goku was aware that there were times in which it wasn't possible. And seeing that there was nothing left that belonged to Hakkai in the apartment the kid had assumed it had been one of those times rather than Hakkai merely leaving on his own.

So he had waited. He had kept going to play around the village and helping Ukyo at the okonomiyaki restaurant. He ate at the restaurants before returning to the apartment to wait for Hakkai. And he kept waiting. Eventually the days turned into weeks and he got tired of waiting. He wanted his friend back already, it was lonely without him, the apartment was big and cold and the drawings hanging on the walls didn't make him smile proudly anymore, happy that the older man appreciated his work, instead they made him want to cry and hurt inside. It wasn't the first time that being alone hurt, but the pain this time felt worse. Why wasn't Hakkai coming back? Had he done something bad? Had he got the other man angry? Had he been a burden? An annoyance?

Sitting and crying wouldn't help, so he had grabbed a bag, left a note at Ukyo's restaurant and gone to search for Hakkai. Everyone said they were trapped inside that barrier, they only went outside during those draft-things, so, of course, wherever Hakkai was it had to be somewhere inside, he just had to search for the man. He knew Hakkai's scent so he could track him, he was sure of it. Wherever Hakkai was hiding or trapped, he would find him and bring him back home with him, even if Hakkai was angry with him, it wasn't a reason to hide from everyone else too.

More weeks passed and Goku is finally back at the village. Alone. Hakkai was nowhere to be found. He isn't in Luceti. How had he left? Why? Had he gone back to search for Kenren and Konzen and bring them to Luceti? The two men were taking a really long time to get there after all... But why hadn't he left a note. Why leave without a word? And what if he hadn't found them? What if the army had got them instead and hurt them as Nataku got hurt? Goku has no idea, he can't understand and he is tired, exhausted and hungry.]

[There's a kid walking slowly around the streets, he wobbles and trips at times, but he keeps moving. His appearance is a real mess, he's dirty, full of mud and looking very much as if he had been out and without an umbrella during yesterday's rainfall. He isn't paying much attention to where he's going, or what or who he bumps into, mumbling a soft sorry before he continues his way.

It feels strange inside. It has stopped hurting as the days went by with him unable to find Hakkai, but he doesn't feel well either. It feels as when he's hungry, but he isn't sure how to fill that gap. Sure, he is also hungry now, if the growling stomach is any indication -no, people of Luceti, that's not a lion trotting around the village and roaring, it's just a hungry monkey-, but he knows it's not only that. He feels hungry in the chest too, where it hurt before.

He probably end at Seventh Heaven, he should go with Ukyo but he's worried about seeing her now looking like this. She probably won't like it, maybe she's angry that he left to begin with. So he just sits there, dirty and hungry, waiting for someone to ask him what he wants to eat before he starts munching the table.

Eventually he will open the journal and ask a question he didn't want to ask.]

How long does it take for someone who leaves Luceti to return here? Anyone knows?

Comments

[heavenslament.livejournal.com]

[Terra did notice and she's a mixture of relieved and saddened as she looks him over.]

He's gone? I'm sorry, Goku....

[Incoming hug.]

[justonename.livejournal.com]

[Hug! Goku is, for the first time ever a bit unsettled at first, he himself can't understand why but it soon passes. He needs a hug, he wanted lots of hugs so he will be hugging her back soon.]

I think he has gone back there, maybe he went to get Konzen and Ken-niichan... They were being very slow in coming here with us.

[Even if he can understand that he's gone, he can't understand the concept of being sent home, of Hakkai actually not having wanted to or having a say in the matter. It may be for the better.]

[heavenslament.livejournal.com]

[She sighs softly, not moving away.]

Maybe he did. They may not be here now, but that doesn't mean you won't see them again. It might just take a while.

[justonename.livejournal.com]

[The kid nods in the hug, not moving away either.]

I'll wait two years.

[Someone said it took them that long to return... They also said that in Luceti it was only six days but that can't be for Hakkai now, so he will wait those two full years.]

[heavenslament.livejournal.com]

[Her heart aches for him, knowing very well what it's like to wait a long time for friends that have long since left.]

Two years? Well...you won't wait alone. You still have me, and your other friends.

[justonename.livejournal.com]

[He nods, still clinging to her. Ignore that wet feeling, he's not crying. Really.]

Yeah. I'll wait with everyone... Even if I'm alone I'll wait two years.

[Somehow he will. It's okay, he was alone when he was born, he can be alone again... But he's not alone yet so it's even more okay.]

[heavenslament.livejournal.com]

[Terra squeezes him gently.]

Well, I promise that if you ever need me, I'll always come to you.

[justonename.livejournal.com]

[Oh, Terra, Goku clings harder at that.]

Me too, I'll go with Terra-neesan and wait for her if I can't find her. I promise.

[He shifts a bit to stare at her with wide golden tearful eyes.]

But don't go anywhere, please.

[heavenslament.livejournal.com]

[Terra blinks back tears of her own, wishing that choice was up to her and not the Malnosso. But she doesn't want to say that when he's clearly hurt enough, as it is.]

I'll stay here as long as I can, I promise.

[justonename.livejournal.com]

[The kid smiles through the tears, it's a bright and hopeful smile. Obviously he believes it with all his heart, she said so, so he's sure that she will be there exactly as she said "as long as she can". If she ever leaves it will just meant that she wasn't able to stay anymore, but even then he believes she would try to return so he has hope. Just as he has hope that right now Tenpou, Kenren and Konzen are together trying to get to the door that will get them to Luceti, it will be tricky, after all at first they were trying to go somewhere else, they can't use that same door to get to Luceti obviously.

The kid snuggles again against her, sighing in relief. It still hurts but being with someone helps, it makes it hurt less.]

I promise too, I will stay here. This is my home, my friends are here, not all of them but they will come one day here too so it's the same.

[heavenslament.livejournal.com]

[Aww, snuggling is always okay. She snuggles back, wanting to help as much as she can.]

You'll see them again, I'm sure of it.

[...whether in Luceti or not.]

You look tired....

[justonename.livejournal.com]

[The kid nods at the comment. He's hurt and tired, no longer hungry, thankfully, but the other two still remain. Though Terra being there helps with the pain as well.]

I have walked a lot, but I couldn't find Hakkai.

[He would sleep a bit when he was tired but not for long.]

[heavenslament.livejournal.com]

Well...if you're still hungry I won't stop you. But afterwards, I'm making sure you get some rest. Okay?

[justonename.livejournal.com]

[Pouting at her now.]

I don't want to sleep.

[He wants to, specially after he's full, he will sleep like a baby -which technically he is- but he doesn't want to go to sleep and wake up to find someone else gone or anything like that. Maybe if he remains awake and alert he will see it when they try to take his friends from him, maybe then he will be able to do something to stop it.]

[heavenslament.livejournal.com]

[She ponders this for a moment, then--]

You can nap in my house. Would it help if you had Carbuncle next to you?

[justonename.livejournal.com]

[But what if he wakes up and she's not there? Goku doesn't look very convinced, he's scared, he can't help it.]

But Carbuncle is tiny, I don't want to hurt him if I roll in my sleep...

[Unless "next to him" means safely put in a box or something and placed in a table next to wherever he's sleeping.]

[heavenslament.livejournal.com]

[She smiles and shakes her head.]

She's bigger now, so you can't squish her. You'll see.

[justonename.livejournal.com]

Bigger? How much bigger?

[Curiosity perked.]

Can I see her?

[heavenslament.livejournal.com]

A big as...a pillow?

[Well, a big pillow.]

And of course. Do you want to go now?

[justonename.livejournal.com]

That's really big!

[It makes him want to cuddle her though. The kid thinks for a moment, he's still scared but he doesn't want to cause problem and he is tired so...]

Okay. I want to go now.

[heavenslament.livejournal.com]

[Terra nods.]

Okay.

[And...teleport time. They're suddenly on the couch in her house's living room.]

How about we get you cleaned up? You'll rest much better that way.

[justonename.livejournal.com]

[Wait, wait, when did they get there? He got teleported back when he got drafted but it was different from this.]

Waah! We're here already? Did you do that Terra-neesan? How did you do it? How?

[Excited child is excited.]

[heavenslament.livejournal.com]

It's magic.

[Which is totally the truth. She stands and straightens, more interested in making sure that he's ready for bed.]

I'll draw a bath and get things ready while you clean up, okay?

[justonename.livejournal.com]

You can do magic? That's awesome!

[He will ask more about it at another time, probably.]

Can I help you?

[heavenslament.livejournal.com]

[She won't mind, though for now there are things that need to be done.]

Hm...you can get the towels, from the closet?