Day 28: Bus 1

[accursed_rock]

Zelgadis was not happy, at all. Not that this was any change, but the events of the past few hours had given him more to angst about than usual. Nightshift had been dreadful: first he was attacked by a small green man and then covered in leeches, neither of which lead to warm fuzzy feelings

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[screwthegods]

Homura had made sure to sample some of the blood himself before he left with Okita, and to his benefit; there were no bandages on his face that morning, only faint scratches still left of his wounds. And what a curious thing he had woken to: a strange set of clothes laid out for him, though anything was preferable to what he was typically forced to wear.

So they would venture out that day. Homura couldn't help but be concerned, especially given what he'd seen a glimpse of the night before. Just before waking, when they'd found a hall of empty rooms, Hijikata not in sight...

He dressed quickly. Better he find Kenshin before Okita did.

It was fortunate that his assignment put him in the same place as the very man he needed to speak to. Taking a seat beside Kenshin, Homura gave the man a slight grin.

"Be wary of Okita today. Our friend is more dangerous than normal."

[screwthegods]

"Partially correct." Homura closed his eyes, remembering the scene from the previous night. The timing had been inconvenient to say the least, the night ending just before they could say anything. "We didn't find Hijikata, but there wasn't time to speak."

Of course, the warning could be pointless. Okita had given Homura his word, and there was the chance that even through his grief, the man would keep it. But the demi-god wasn't going to take the risk.

"I'm going to find him when we arrive. I'll talk to him then."

[screwthegods]

Homura nodded, his laugh knowing; he'd seen Hijikata and Okita interact, and he knew well enough of their bond. Okita's want of revenge, the guilt he would doubtlessly feel: Homura was intimately familiar with it. And while there were no scriptures to recreate the world with, the mourning swordsman could still do a great deal of damage.

That, more than anything else, was Homura's motivation in this.

"Of course." Homura gave a short nod, and smirked. "It wouldn't be to my advantage if he killed you, correct? We'll also have to work on getting you your sword sooner."

Only then did Homura open his paper bag, pulling out what was a meager meal at best. "Interesting things they've given us so far for this trip."

[screwthegods]

"I can understand that sentiment very well." Homura himself had felt much the same when he first arrived, stripped of both power and blade. There was immense pleasure in having both back, at least to some degree. He had little doubt that even Kenshin would feel it once he had a blade again, despite his oath not to kill.

At Kenshin's prompting, Homura took out his own juice box, looking it over with equal curiosity. The paradise he had known was lacking in such things, leaving the demi-god just as clueless about it as the man beside him.

"Such interesting devices you mortals come up with." Homura looked at the thing from different angles, turning it to try and find an answer.

[screwthegods]

"A half god, to be precise, but yes. The once War Prince of the Heavens, for nearly five hundred years." Homura grinned, rather amused by the reaction. It was better that Kenshin didn't believe it so easily, Homura much prefering those who remained skeptical until they were offered proof. "The elf's name wouldn't happen to be Valyn, would it?"

[screwthegods]

Homura laughed, fully aware that the gods of his world looked so much younger than they were. "Thank you. But the truth is, compared to some of the more content gods, I probably look older than I should."

Half a milenia of battle could do that to a heresy.

"Only a little. I fought beside him my first night here, and to him spoke the morning after." The conversation ahdn't gone well, but he still an interest in the man, for his power. "But we haven't spoken since, I'm afraid. How is he doing?"

[screwthegods]

Homura considered Kenshin's question, then grinned, closing his eyes. "I achieved what I wanted to when I was alive. I'm satisfied with that."

Niravana was something Homura had never even considered for himself. He was a heresy, and it had been hard enough keeping what he gained during his life--even after the most important was lost.

At the information about Valyn's fellows, Homura only nodded. What could be said in response? The best that could be offered were half-meant congratulations, thankfulness for the newcomers lace with pity.

[screwthegods]

"There's a chance she might not realize that you've gone." Homura watched Kenshin for a moment, wondering how much he knew of the different times and worlds. "There are several from my world here, but we've been taken from different times. One of them is from 500 years ago, while the others are from the more recent past."

He grinned slightly. "I believe I'm from further in their future. Kenren knew of me from Heaven, but none of the others remember."

Such an interesting end to everything.

"There are certain people I wouldn't be as upset to see here." Shien and Zenon, of course. The men who had fought with him, and who Homura knew could take care of themselves. "But others...I wouldn't wan them to experience any part of this place."