[ ν ] - εγλ 0001: May
Aiko Shirakawa
It had taken them twice the amount to reach the temple, as Shan was so weak he needed his grandmothers' support just to walk and Aiko was not taking any chances of being seen so she walks in the darkness between the houses instead of the main road. But after twenty minutes or so, they had finally reached the Temple doors and entered.
She got her Grandson to the altar and laid him gently on the floor. He appeared delirious; his normally vivid green eyes were now glowing a violet hue and where unfocused. He was curled up in the fetal potion, rocking slightly and moaning softly in pain. And even though he was shivering there was a sheen of sweat covering his body and soaking his clothes.
Tears of frustration burned in Aiko eyes, as she had no clue how to help him and feared that the only thing she would be able to do is to hold him as he passed on from the world.
"Why? He has done nothing wrong!" she cried softly into the silent sanctum as her heart clenched from the pain she was feeling. At that moment the doors to the temple quietly shut and locked. The braziers all lit at once, flooding the interior with a brilliant and welcoming light. The air warmed considerably and soon smelt strongly of sea water. Then the temple filled with the sound like moving water.
Aiko bowed her head in reverence. "Leviathan?" she inquired softly.
At the top of the Alter, behind the golden statue of him, a brilliant glow of green light formed and a vision of their God, Leviathan appeared. "Yes my child. I have heard your plea and know some of what ails your grandchild but his, will no longer be an easy road and he must choose his path." He said solemnly.
"Here give him this to drink. It will lessen his suffering!"
She watched, as a goblet appeared on the altar. Going over to it she peers in as it fills with a red liquid that faintly glowed and held a slight metallic smell. She looked into her Gods eyes with uncertainty.
"It is alright. It is of my own body and will aid him greatly, as he has denied himself that which his body now needs to survive. I will explain what I know as soon as he is coherent enough to understand. " She nodded her compliance knowing He would do nothing to harm Shan in this state.
Taking the goblet she sits back down on the floor by her grandson and cradles his head in her lap. Supporting his head she tilts the goblet to his lips and lets the liquid drip into his open mouth. The moment it hits his lips his eyes flare open; a look of pure terror in them. "No!" he pleads.
"SSShhh Shan, you must. It is a gift from Leviathan and he says it will help you. Now drink!" she replies softly but firmly. At this he seemed to lose what will he had left to fight and let the liquid pour into his mouth. After a second he was drinking, almost greedily and finished the cup a moment after.
Almost instantly the color returned to his face; his breathing evened out and he stopped shivering but he looked sadly into his grans' eyes "You don't know what you have done!" he replies in a defeated voice as tears well up into his now green eyes.
She pulls him into her embrace and rocks him gently. "No I do not, yet! But we will both know soon. Grieve now, my child. there is none here to see you." she said calmly.
Wrapping his arms around this woman who had been as much of a mother as a grandmother; he buried his head into her shoulder and cried.
[ ν ] - εγλ 0008: February
Tseng Shirakawa
Tseng paced the hallway of the house where he and his subordinates where currently staying in sector five. He flipped his phone open for like the tenth time; rereading the message he had received.
'Shan is safe and with me! Sector 5 house 9 in 10 block. K'
Thank God! But why hadn't Shan messaged himself? and why did his reply to this sender keep saying 'sending failed'?
Shan was only a few blocks away from where Tseng was but it could be a trap! But if it was Shan, Tseng didn't want any of his subordinates with him, as they still didn't know of Shan's existence. And who the hell was K?
God, he was ready to tear his hair out in frustration. At least it was only Reno in the house and he was engrossed in the magazine he was reading. Tseng didn't want to deal with their curiosity right now.
Reno, covertly watched his boss pace. There was a slight frown creased Tseng's normally serene face; and a slight twitch under his left eye. A sure indication the Tseng was seriously stressed over something. Reno had clued into the tell shortly after joining the TURKS but had kept the information to himself as it seemed the rest of his co-workers either didn't realize what it meant or, like him, chose not to mention it. It wouldn't do anyone any good to know this and most likely would end up causing more harm than necessary.
"Something wrong Chief?" he stated simply.
Tseng looked up from his phone and shook his head. "No! I'm just concerned that we have heard nothing of Rufus," he replied evasively.
Reno nodded but replied. "Everyone is looking for him so I'm sure we will find out something soon." There was more to Tsengs' worry but Reno knew better than to push him. If it was something Reno needed to know Tseng would tell him. "Is there anything you want me to do?" he asked
"Yes stay here for now and wait for Rude and Elena to return! I'm going out for a walk and check to make sure the warehouses are still secure." And with that, he left the house and headed over to 10 blocks to find out if his cousin was there or not!
Reno stared at the door. He was sorely tempted to follow his boss but his intuition warned him against it. So he reopened his magazine and continued to read it as he sipped his booze.
[ ν ] - εγλ 0008: February
Shan Akechi
The two men entered the house once Kunsel had it unlocked. Shan had all of his senses on high alert. If this was an ambush of some short he was going to be ready for. But there was nothing that triggered any alarms for him; so he stepped further into the house.
Kunsel closed and locked the door plunging the interior of the house into a gloomy light, as all of the curtains were pulled shut. "One would think you have a phobia of the light, with how dark you have it in here," Shan remarked casually.
Kunsel chuckled dryly. "That's a good one coming from you! But we are both Mako enhanced. So the darken interior is more of a hindrance to those who would try to force their way in here thus providing another layer of protection."
Shan let the first comment pass unchallenged, although it caused him to raise his eyebrow at the younger mans' audacity. And conceded to the second. "I take it you have been here for a time?" Shan questions, having noticed the personal touches here and there in the way of pictures, art, and whatnot throughout the hall.
Kunsel just nodded as he past Shan and headed into the kitchen beckoning him to follow.
Upon entering; the first thing Shan noticed was his sense of smell was assaulted with the familiar scents of home. Predominately the scent of tea favored by many Wutains and not by many of the population of Gaia as not only was it a very deep and rich flavor but the leaves needed to be soaked for about 12 hours and both boiled for twenty minutes or so and then left to simmer for about another hour. Most people did not have the patience for this and seeing the young man had already done so, judging by the pungent smell that filled the space, said much for his character.
Kunsel motioned Shan to seat himself at the small kitchen table. He then proceeded to set a small black and white candle in the center of the table and light it; Shan arched his eyebrow at this but said nothing yet. Kunsel then retrieves, what appeared to be a very old tea set and places it on the table. He pours tea into the teapot from the cooking pot. He then sets the table with a matching set of dishes. The next step produced steaming baskets the emitted the most wonderful smells and made Shan stomach growl in response. Kunsel chuckled and nodded but continued with the tradition. Palms opened in front of him he bows deeply and then proceeds, in Wutain.
"In good faith, I welcome you to my home! In good trust, I sheath my sword in your presence. Let any previous grievance between us be left at the door."
Shan was impressed. There truly wasn't many of the younger generations you knew of the 'Unity' tradition; let alone how to perform it. But Kunsel had just done so perfectly. The black and white Unity candle. The family tea set, The offering of food and drink. Right down to the perfect body posture and cadence of speech used in the welcoming.
Shan stood then and he to bowed; palms opened facing Kunsel. "In good faith, I accept you welcome. In good trust, I sheath my sword in your presence. Any grievance I hold shall be left at the door." Thus completed, they both sat down. Normally, the wife or Eldest sister would then serve the tea and food. Honoring the potion of head females' right to further extend the welcome of a guest. But seeing as this was not a normal situation; Kunsel proceeded to serve the tea. "Help yourself to the food Shan, as I am not sure what you can or may want to eat."
Once again, Shan raises an eyebrow at the implied implication that Kunsel knew more about Shan then anyone else besides his Grandmother and Tseng but he let it pass as he served himself from the steam baskets. "I am pleasantly surprised at your knowledge and skill of Wutain speech, traditions and food!" he remarked instead.
Kunsel laugh was full of mirth. "My Grandmother was from Wutai and very adamant that her children and grandchildren would at least know the traditions of our people even if we chose different paths in our lives."
Shan chuckles. "Ah you have one of those too." seeing Kunsel's confused look, he explains further. "My Grandmother also believes that everyone has their own path to walk. But no matter where that path takes you, you never forget the traditions of your people, as they are the foundation of the person you are." Enlightened Kunsel smiles and nods.
A comfortable silence fell between the two as the ate. Shan was surprised at just how hungry he was; as he ate healthy portions of everything from the herb steamed rice, mixed vegetables, and sauteed meat. The tea was perfect.
As the two ended their meal, eyes downcast, Shan casually asks. "Kunsel, will you be candid with me and tell me everything you know about what is going on and... what you know about me?"
Kunsel looks up at Shan. He was only two years older but he radiated a powerful aura. And if things hadn't gotten so screwed up, would have become Kunsels' commanding officer. Regardless of the fact, he was now a TURK; but he had been SOLDIER and Kunsel placed his faith in that. He sighed deeply and nodded.
"First of all. You have been unconscious for about a week. I have been watching over you, to make sure nothing happened."
Shan's head jerked up at that. "WHAT?" he cried.
Kunsel smirked and began his account of events...