AND NOW IT'S OLD MAN O'CLOCK
[ It's Yaozou's one day off.All the boys are out. Renzou is with their young master off at school. Kinzou and Juuzou are with Mamushi on a small expedition to catch some unidentified minor demons making a fuss in a nearby village. His wife is with their remaining three children on a much-needed vacation, according to her, and Yaozou had been all
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. . .
Oh, well. This thought process occurs in the span of a second at the most, because what does it matter. It's already happened. ]
I was with the others, but Mamushi's at the ryokan.
[ All things considered, he isn't that angry with Mamushi. However, there is something different about his father today . . . Ah, yes. It clicks, and like it's the most natural question in the universe: ]
When did you get better?
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Oh, he remembers the good old days. When his eldest was still alive and far outpacing his peers, when Kinzou's vacant stares were more cute than worrying and the spit bubbles he made could be considered a crowning achievement. Yaozou would give just about anything to go back to that simpler, more innocent time.
But he doesn't have that time anymore. All he has is this, and he almost wishes he still had it in him to be confused when Kinzou opens his mouth and it feels like some other language entirely comes out. ]
Why would Mamushi be at--
Better from what?
[ ...Kinzou's stupidity is reaching truly astounding heights, Yaozou is realizing just now. Kinzou's now so slow that he's out the other end and Yaozou just can't keep up with him. ]
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The miasma. I think it was, anyway, since you were there during the incident with the Right Eye.
[ He mostly paid attention the fact that his father was ill, and little more since that was enough to fire him up. Not to mention bubbles had been growing as of late . . . That was a little unnerving, but nothing Yaozou couldn't overcome, clearly. Still, isn't the timing of that a bit strange? Hmm. ]
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[ The particular pallor to Yaozou's face right then heavily implies that he's inches away from a coronary incident. Choose your next words carefully, Kinzou. To Kinzou's credit, though, Daddy Shima here has no idea they're on different wavelengths either. For all he knows, Kinzou's been sneaking booze. Or just finally completely lost what little sense he had to begin with, possibly after getting his head beat in by Mamushi. ]
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Maybe something malicious is at work. A demon . . . !? But wait, let's hear him out. Kinzou raises a brow, not quite confused nor surprised, but more thinking that his father isn't in his right mind to be so taken back. Kinzou, at the very least, appears overly calm despite the words he just uttered -- because it's nothing new! It's old news!
Who'da thunk it? ]
You okay, Pops? Did you hit your head?
[ That last part is honestly out of sincere concern. ]
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[ ...the resemblance is astounding at times, although show us someone willing to point that out to Yaozou and we'll show you someone who's gotten tired of living. Yaozou's about to pop an aneurysm, because if there's been an incident involving the Right Eye of the Impure King, Kinzou should be far more concerned about it than whether or not Yaozou's hit his head. ]
What happened with the Right Eye??
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Mamushi took it and revived the Impure King with one of her old teachers. You were pretty sick, but you led everyone into the fight anyway. How come you don't remember?
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[ Or in harsher words, are you high out of your goddamn skull, Kinzou? It has to be all those bleach chemicals. Yaozou's going to shave your fool head bald and make you grow your hair back in its natural color if this is how it's going to be, son. ]
I'm not sick! And I sure as hell don't remember leading a charge against the Impure King! Mamushi'd bite your head off to hear you talking about her like that!
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At any rate, Kinzou feels like this conversation has taken a very odd, very sharp, very wrong turn somewhere. Clearly, the best solution is to raise his volume, too, though it lacks anger of any sort. He's only being louder for the sake of being louder. ]
But you were, and Mamushi knows it, too! We were doing some heat sterilization when I wound up here!
[ Maybe he should have tried clearing up what he already said instead of throwing more variables in there, but. Eh. Everything should wrap up nicely in the end. ]
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There had to be a situation at hand. ]
Lower your voice! [ Of course now Yaozou is shouting right back. This is just how things work in the Shima household. ]
--Kinzou, do you remember that mission you went on with Juuzou and Mamushi? Your mother went on vacation around the same time.
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It clicks, though the implications behind the question have yet to reach him. ]
Oh, that? That was months ago.
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[ Though he'd suspected something along those lines, that still doesn't fully prepare Yaozou for the idea that either he's been in a coma for the last few months or something extremely powerful is afoot here. ]
That's the last thing I remember, Kinzou. You all being out, and me going to tend my garden. Then I opened my eyes and was here.
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Are you senile?
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Suddenly there's a fist in Kinzou's face. On the cheek, though. Wouldn't want to break the kid's pretty nose-- That face is about all Kinzou has going for him in life. ]
What did you just say to me?!
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That hurt, Pops! And isn't that what it's called!?
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--I mean yes! I mean-- I AM NOT SENILE!
[ That familiar vein in Yaozou's forehead is throbbing and he brings a hand up to try to soothe it before he bursts an artery and has an aneurysm. ]
Look around you! If we've been summoned to True Cross Academy somehow, don't you think whoever's responsible might also be strong enough to be snatching people from different times?!
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