[Day 11 - Late Afternoon, Hospital] Blessed Day (Closed)

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

Despite being given ample medical attention after the incident at the Temple of Light, there was a bit of internal damage that sat with Haruto that they kept him in the hospital for observation. It didn't help that he was dragged twice after being shot to further agitate the wound. At least, that was the reason that the Magistrates would tell him as an excuse to keep him in custody as the investigation was ongoing. He unfortunately fell low enough on the status chain that his word meant less than others. It also didn't help he was a leadership position at the Temple, too.

Haruto would lay in bed with back of the bed inclined upwards enough that he was comfortable watching the window, ignoring the informator that played in the background. There was a yoriki posted at the entrance they were largely too busy reading Tales of Horror by Kuni Jouji.

[Moto Shiwahime]

It would begin with the doorway: all signs of hospital activity would seemingly fade and go silent until nothing from beyond the doorway could be seen.

Then the informator would shut down and the lights would flicker as the sound of hooves began to come closer.

She would appear afterwards, heralded by a cold breeze, a rider in white armor on a white horse. They were not just white...they were a white so pale that one could not conceive of it existing amongst the living.

''Yasuki-san'' the phantom said, in an echoing voice ''How do you fare?''

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

Haruto blinked and looked over to his sudden guest in the room. He might have spaced out enough not to notice someone who might have walked in normally, which he would assume at first with Shiwahime. However, the mode of dress was rather strange, and he was initially puzzled at first. Maybe it was for the Bon Festivities? He wasn't sure The Yasuki would inch up slightly so that he was properly sitting in his raised bed and flattened the sheets to make himself 'presentable'.

"Oh, Moto-san, good afternoon," he said gently with a quick bow. "I didn't know that the magistrates allowed guests, but I'm glad to have the company. How are you doing?"

[Moto Shiwahime]

Yasuki Haruto

''Oh me? I can't complain I suppose.'' she replied, coming closer and making her translucid more apparent ''I died doing my duty and what I believed was right. There are far worse fates then that.''

She gives the priest a shrug

''Probably why I can come to you. The barriers between the realms are thinner, I have been judged favorably and the magistrates can't really stop me from coming and going. But what about you? How are you doing?''

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

"Wha...?" Haruto would say at first, looking increasingly confused at this revelation and beginning to make him feel a bit uneasy. Wait, so this wasn't just a trick of the light or the medicine that they had been feeding him? His hands placed themselves at the edge of his sheets in a defensive gesture.

"I'm not too sure..." he would say softly at first, although it wasn't quite obvious what he was referring it. "I think the magistrates want to keep me a little longer to make sure that I'm safe after the... assault."

Clearly, he was a bit shaken by what Nagisa had done to him. He had assumed that all Trinity Elders would have some semblance of respect for each other.

Haruto nodded slowly at the question. "I'm doing as well as I can be at the moment. I remain in this realm as a servant while the Sun bestows me with much hope and optimism for the future, no matter how uncertain. This hardship was a test from the Sky gods, and I'd like to believe that this alone is a sign that I have passed it, maybe with some intervention of the angels. I do know that I have more tests waiting for me, but I have faith that they will continue to look kindly on me."

[Moto Shiwahime]

Shiwahime was not to sure about that take

''Yeah, I am not sure about that take''

Not that she could really disagree considering the type of narration we got going on here, but it's always nice to feel validated. At any rate she's also to the point so it makes sense

''Mind you, I am glad you survived but what you seem to want to learn is very...self-centered. Yasuki Umiko held you wounds while we stormed the temple to save you lot from...in all appearances...yourselves. Yet you take this as validation? Why is it you want this to be so?''

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

Haruto blinked at that and dipped in an apologetic bow. "Sorry...I didn't mean to imply that I wasn't thankful for your and Yasuki-sama's aid in the matter. I have to admit that I was barely conscious while this all transpired...There was no chance I would have made it out on my own, thank you very much. At the end of the day, what happened was almost miraculous to be a coincidence. We merely found ourselves where we needed to be, Moto-san."

[Moto Shiwahime]

Shiwahime stepped closer, her face stern.

''Stop hiding behind courtesy, Yasuki-san. Stop deflecting and evading. I am not here to harm you, scare you, nor even pass judgement on you. I do not even blame you for my passing even if there is blame to be put on your shoulders for how things were allowed to progress.''

She raised a hand to stop him from making another apology

''I am a Moto of the Unicorn. The gods I worship were gaijin too, once. They were tempted by power and thus fell to cruelty and led their people astray but eventually acknowledged their wrongs. I say this so you know that I do not share any disdain towards gaijin faiths nor do I think that gods nor their servants can do no wrong...neither yours nor mine. I am here to talk to you and, perhaps, allow the people that put their faith in you and your faith not to be led astray and let down by weak leadership and erroneous dogma.''

She stared straight into his eyes

''Now, Yasuki-san, please answer my questions...first of which is: why do you believe and why do you want to believe?''

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

Okay, now Haruto was getting scared, especially with Shiwahime moving closer to him and her rather spectral nature looking more than obvious now. His eyes went wide and he tried to lean back more into his bed, unfortunately, the controls to decline the bed were a little further from his petrified reach and he could only try to sink into the mattress more.

"..f-for a-a-a bettter path and hope!" He cried out.

[Moto Shiwahime]

''Is that true conviction or just a prayer...a mantra you just repeat without thought?'' she demanded, even toned ''What better path is served by throwing your lot with pirates? What hope is there in plots and deceit?''

She now stood at the feet of his bed, waiting.

[Boogiepop]

Yasuki Haruto

"I didn't know it was going to end up like this!" He would scream out at the spirit of the Moto, perhaps easily the most vocal and least composed he had been all the last two weeks. His beliefs would have nothing to explain this. Maybe even what transpired, he was pushed to his limit here. "Leave me alone! Foul ghost!"

That was enough to get the posted watch's attention as she rose from her chair and walked right into the room...



"Hey, who are you talking to over here?" the yoriki demanded of Haruto, quite disappointed to be interrupted from her productive reading.

"..." Haruto was a bit at a loss, as the Moto would cease to be in the room.

/scene

***
Sorry, it was getting a bit confrontational and a little difficult for other public parties not to interfere.