forum Under the Cherry Blossoms~ (O/O) (Open!)

Started November 20, 2020 by @Vuclan-is-tired

tune

(Sorry it took me so long, got a bit wrapped up in a writing project >~<)

Riku nodded with almost every word that the other said, he wanted to seem polite and show that he was intently listening. He had quite a few worries about the bath: how much it would sting, if it was hot, if he'd be able to get in and out of it without falling. Though he decided to voice none of those concerns. It would all work out, he was sure.

"I-I'll be fine on my own," he stumbled slightly on his words. He had spoken before he himself prepared and it almost all came out in a rushed whisper, one he could only hope was coherent. He bowed to Moriko, a strange gesture, though one that felt appropriate to Riku in the moment. "Thank you!" he blurted out, his once pallid face flushed pink with slight embarrassment. Before the other could even begin their response, Riku whipped around and hurried into the bathroom, clutching the spare clothes he was given tightly within his palms.

The bathroom was slightly humid with steam from the recently-drawn bath. The smell of the herbs in the water gave him a familiar sensation. It reminded him of… could he even call it home? It surely had lost its feeling of homeliness once he had come to see the sunrise of 15 years. The proper term could be his past residence..? Past? Had he any intention of going back? It gnawed at Riku's brain, addressing that place did, but regardless, it was that place that he was reminded of. It filled him with the warmth of good memories of his friends, his animals, his mother. What wrong had he truly done to deserve to lose them all? Tears began to burn in his eyes and he just made the decision to get into the bath.

Slowly, he undid his robes; his eyelids twitched slightly as his dark eyes caught onto bruises and cuts along his torso. His mind ached knowing that there would be more. It somewhat amazed him that through all the floggings and other abuse that he managed to survive, not just physically, but psychologically as well. Borderline torture such as that was would be enough to break most other people, perhaps he was as hard-headed as the village folk insisted he was. He removed his arms' bandages, swollen cuts and bruises lined up underneath them. The price of survival was truly a hefty one.

Once completely undressed, he began to adjust himself into the water at a slowed pace. The warm fluid wrapped around Riku's chapped skin in a way that felt foreign. He began to sink down more, the water displacing slightly with the shape of his frail body. He let out a loud yelp when the water touched the wounds along his arms. His clammy hands let go of the sides of the bath he was using for support and he landed at the bottom with a splash and a muffled thud. His cursed lightly to himself and held some slight hope that the other did not hear that… tragedy.

He grabbed the washing rag that was delicately draped over the side of the bath and used it to rub gently against the wounds. He hissed at each sting, and sometimes let out brief whimpers of protest. All that kept him going was the fact that it would be over faster if he did.

He watched the other head into the bathroom, his head tilted ever so slightly. He was worried about the other, but he didn't want to intrude. Crowding someone when they had just escaped a life of pain and misery. It usually meant that people didn't want to be touched or crowded in the slightest. He wanted to help as much as he could, but he knew that he needed to be careful and gentle around his new quest. Moriko sighed deeply and ran a hand through his hair and sighed deeply. He stood in the hallways before shaking his head and wandering about the shrine quietly.

His home… the spirits had taken such good care of his shrine as he slept. He walks out into the cherry blossoms, admiring the garden. Everything was in full bloom, but that what was interesting about his shrine. Everything lived no matter what season it was. At least, in this spot. He hummed quietly and takes a deep breath, touching one of cherry trees, watching its branches wave in the wind. He leaned against the trees as those foul memories ran through his mind. He pulled away from the tree and kept walking, trying not to remember anything.

He wandered aimlessly as he waited for his guest to finish in the bathroom, trying to gain his bearings again after being asleep for so long. New life had grown since his absence. He walked to the edge of the trees and paused where the wisteria trees barely ended. The forest was just as dangerous as it had been when he had fallen into his slumber. He could feel the hostile energy, feel it waiting to sweep into the air. The human was lucky that he had survived last night.

Moriko shakes his head and wanders back into the shrine, he needed to take care of his guest. That was his top priority right now. Take care of the person who had come into his home. He wandered into the guest room where Riku would be staying, making sure there were blankets, extra clothes, and basic self care items. He hummed quietly as he opened the window to let in the fresh air before grabbing the medical kit. He would tend to the humans wounds once he was dressed. He wanted to make sure the other was taken care of.