4/3/2003

01:44 PM

Logfile from Hotohori

 

                                    Inn                                    

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Typical of most inns, this one is some distance from the main gates of the city, the interior cluttered with tables as well as a long wooden bar. Stairs lead to the rooms meant for traveler use, the walls hung with lanterns to provide illumination.

Nuriko(#331) is here.

Exit: Out (to Konnan)

 

Chiriko has arrived from Konnan.

 

Nuriko walks out of the kitchen, carrying two bowls of fried rice and sets one down in front of Chiriko and the other beside him then takes a seat. "Eat up, Chiriko. Are the others out having a look around then?" Picking up his chopsticks, he gives the rice a stir, watching the steam rise away from the food. "And before you ask, I haven't had a chance to talk to Tasuki yet."

 

Chiriko takes a moment to even notice the rice, much less acknowledge the question. Why? Because he was studying yet another scroll that was just bound to take his attention. He was listening, though, and Nuriko's words finally register on the boy.  "Hai, arigatou, Nuriko," he smiles, not touching the rice for a moment.  "Ooi, I'm going to get a chance to talk to him if I have to stop him in his tracks first. However, I wasn't going to ask. That's your business, ne? If you want me to know these things, you'll tell me." 

 

"No, I assure you, I really haven't a clue what you are talking about," floats a voice from just without the inn. A brief pause. "That is wonderful to know but... No, really, I'll just -Thank you. Thank you. I... Thank you!" Hotohori enters into the inn backwards, waving his hands in almost a shooing motion to whoever is speaking to him just outside. No sighs of relief as the door closes, just a blink, and then another. A slow shake of his head and the man turns about, not looking too worse for the wear already, because that simply wouldn't do. 

 

Nuriko picks up his bowl of rice, drawing it closer to his mouth as he begins to eat. "Hai, Chiriko, but you are my otouto and I love you. My life isn't closed to you. I've been avoiding him. Well, more so that I've been working in the kitchen a lot and not necessarily making time to talk to him. Anyway, eat, alright?" Noting the voice of the newcomer, the sound vaguely familiar, he turns to regard the man entering the inn. The result? *CRASH* goes the bowl of fried rice on the floor, the heavy porcelain shattering into pieces.

 

Chiriko turns. Blinks. "Hotohori-sama..."  YES! See? He told everyone and no one but Nuriko wanted to believe him.  "I told you, I /told/ you! Hotohori.."  The dropped bowl isn't even noticed as he stands, making his way to the man to look up rather happily.  "We've been waiting a very long time for you."  That's the greeting the man is going to get, because it's the truth. "Someone tried to take your place and nearly had us convinced." 

 

Hotohori simply hasn't the will to look flustered anymore, because he has long passed that need. Probably some time yesterday. Now he is just going with it all, or as best he can. The one with the dropped bowl gets a far-away blinks and an absent, "Careful there, Nuriko." Beat. A rather confused haziness comes to his eyes, trying to pick out where exactly that word came from. And then then chibi in front of him receives a passing pat to the head as he passes around him, "Me? You don't happen to have a message for me then? Possibly a cell phone?"

 

"Hotohori-sama!" Nuriko all but shrieks, making the inn's few other workers and guests stare in complete surprise. So much for trying to keep a low profile. The slender man nearly flies toward the other, glomping onto him and all but squeezing the stuffing from him. Even tears start to come from his wide, shimmering eyes. "It is you! Finally!"

 

Chiriko shakes his head. "Iie, no phones here, but.. anou.."  Blink. Oh, look, there's Nuriko nearly squeezing the stuffing out of their former emperor.  "That might not be a good idea, oneesan, he may not even remember anything. We aren't exactly meeting under the best of conditions, after all." Well, he's going to ask even if the newly found seishi is having his insides compressed.  "Anou, do you remember anything? Anything about us or your distant past?"  It's a start.

 

And the oddity of this entire experience continues. But considering this hasn't been the first time Hotohori has been latched onto in the past 24 hours, he'll just stand there in a state of long-suffering, and gasp every now and again as he is fairly sure his innards are being rearranged. "Well... *breathe* Do you think you could-" Another gasping breath as he shoots a glance down to Chiriko, "Could you possibly get this person to... stop." Must - breathe!

 

Nuriko says, "Iiee! Gomen nasai, Hotohori-sama," stammers Nuriko as the man is released and his clothing quickly smoothed. "I'm just so happy to see you and .. person? It's Nuriko. You called me by my name a moment ago." Chiriko gets an odd expression at his questions about memories and past life as the man points out, "Chiriko, we /are/ in the distant past. Again. That makes that question a little confusing, ne?" But the newly found seishi is being scrutinized closely as Nuri holds onto one arm, probably making sure he doesn't bolt. "Do you remember us?""

 

"That's Nuriko, and I'm Chiriko," he introduces, giving a bit of a bow out of old habit. "Iie, not so distant that he'd be who he was then. We still have our memories of being our normal selves, so..  If he doesn't know who you are, then he must not remember. We'll just have to explain things and do our best to not make him think we're all insane. Although, he's right where we are, which just proves who he is, ne?"  He's a happy boy.  "Let me just say that I'm very glad that you're you and not the person who was pretending to be you, because I very much want him dead." Oops.

 

Hotohori draws in a thankful breath, hand immediately reaching up to smooth back his hair. He peers down at Nuriko, gaze almost studious as he examines the man, before dropping to Chiriko with equal scrutiny. "Deja vu," he mutters, confusion showing up once more in his gaze. "Remember you? Should I have? I'm sorry if I've forgotten your names. We could have crossed paths before. Possibly." The boy is getting another frowning glance, "I'm rather happy that I'm me to, even if a slightly confused me." Understatement. "Pretending to be me?" Okay, there is skepticism in his tone that time. "I find that hard to believe."

 

Nuriko frowns slightly as he looks up at Hotohori. "How about if I ask you who you think you are? Do you recognize the name Hotohori? Do you recognize where you are now?" Simple questions first it seems. He still hasn't let go of the man's arm. At least he's not rubbing his face against his shoulder and muttering his name endlessly, ne?

 

Chiriko nods at Hotohori's question.  "Hai, pretending to be you. You're very important, even if you may not know it yet. You'll remember eventually, but the fact that you're here means you are who you are." If he could be any less confusing..  "Hai, we've crossed paths, but it's the first time we've done so in this lifetime. ..anou, Nuriko? Would you mind letting go of Hotohori-sama please? We might be making a scene." 

 

"I think that I am either hallucinating or have found myself at the wrong end of a practical joke, that while amusing I'm sure in its own way, I'd really rather have done with it and return to the real world. Not that this setting isn't charming and very well done," Hotohori notes, the ring of truth in his tone. But once more confusion clouds his gaze, "Hotohori?... That was what you said before? I'm not so sure about..." Annoyance returns though, more at himself than any attachment of Nuriko.

 

Nuriko glances around the inn, looking at those watching. As soon as his gaze meets theirs, they turn away and pretend they weren't watching or listening. "Too late," he says with a grin. "Besides, Chiriko, I'm not letting him go anywhere. Except perhaps to sit down? Hotohori-sama, would you care to sit and let me get you something to eat and drink?" The former emperor is gently tugged toward the table, the effeminate seishi practically beaming back at him.

 

Chiriko would facepalm, but that wouldn't do any good. "Anou.. you don't remember /anything/? This isn't a joke, I'm afraid, and if it is.. it's a very good one that the gods have played on us all."  The tugging of the other sieshi is given a shake of his head and a half grin as he makes his way back to their table. If Nuriko wants someone to sit, they sit, no need of help from short, scholarly kids. 

 

"That would be nice. Thank you.... Nuriko," Hotohori responds, allowing himself to be tugged along, mostly because he probably couldn't stop him, although all of that beaming is getting something of a curious look. "What am I supposed to be remembering? Maybe if you told me, I could remember it?" Sound reasoning there. "But if this has anything to do with that week on Cyprus, I doubt I'll be recalling any of it."

 

Nuriko gets the man seated and disappears into the kitchen to fetch another bowl of fried rice, chopsticks, and tea for the heika. He returns with all, balanced on a tray upon one hand. In the other is a broom for the mess previously made. Once Hotohori is served, Nuri cleans up, saying, "I think perhaps Chiriko could explain it better than I. He is the scholar of our group."

 

Chiriko blinks at Nuriko, looking a bit surprised. "Anou! I was hardly there for anything.." Wait, that argument doesn't work. He knew about what was going on.  "You don't remember? You're Hotohori, a seishi of Suzaku, and your job is to help protect our miko, Miaka."  If it's short and simple, and filled with key names, he might be able to trigger a few memories.  "You were once emperor of this country, and you were very good at looking after it. You don't remember any of it? Ooi, we have to trigger some kind of memory before you meet Miaka." 

 

Hotohori is seated, and given local fare but before he starts in, he speaks, "Thank you again. Please, sit." Hand waves to indicate the other seats. Tea is held for a moment, but he is hesitating once more, peering across to Chiriko with another confused glance. There is a flicker of recognition in his eyes though, causing him to glance away momentarily, searching for an explanation. "I am not so sure..." he eases slowly. "An emperor?" This provokes a soft smile, almost wistful. "Now, wouldn't that be something."

 

"He is rather old to not be remembering, Chiriko. Unless he's been tampered with so that the other come take his place." Nuriko does sit, propping up his chin on one hand. "Hotohori-sama, this is Konan and you /were/ emperor here. Hmm, do you remember the names of Houki, your empress and Boushin, your son?" He is trying for anything here. "There's also Tamahome, Mitsukake, Tasuki, Chichiri - they're the other seishi of Suzaku. Hmm, how about Nakago. He was a Seiryuu seishi. A real jerk too."

 

Chiriko shakes his head, pointing to Nuriko.  "You weren't so willing to face your memories, ne? The only reason I was able to accept mine was because I was afraid of not remembering and failing everyone again. So, if Hotohori-sama doesn't have any reason to not be afraid of not remembering.."  The thought trails off as Nuriko speaks and he nods at both seishi.  "Hai, you were emperor, it's the truth. We're all coming together again to protect our miko, and she /really/ needs the protection. Trust me on this. She tried kidnapping one of our enemy with a lamp as a weapon." 

 

Hotohori is watching the pair of them with barely-restrained unease. The oddity of this entire situation has not escaped him, that is for sure. Hesitation is obvious as another flurry of names causes him to pause, eyes darting down while he searches for an explanation once again. "Houki... Boushin?" A blink later and the man is looking back up, "Konan?" There is something there, but he seems to be unable to quite grasp it. "This is all very odd."