Discovery of the Field of Dreams
by Kakita Kaori
A story of the Space Ronin, Shinwa, in an age of Space Travel
Leaving the bridge, M'thack-kir sighs with relief now that The Warren is safely out of harm's way; that last planet had a touch more action than he had anticipated. He touches the commlink on his wrist and whispers, "Shinwa, okay-okay?"
It never had quite clicked to him that you could speak normally into the communication device.
There was a delay in the response that was significantly longer than expected, but the response was clear when it was made.
Very clear.
It is not coming through the commlink at all, but right behind M'thack-kir.
There, leaning against the wall, his face a little too pale, is the ronin Shinwa. "I am okay, Kiru-san." His voice sounds very tired, but retains that almost preternatural even, calm tone that he has always used, no matter how insane the situation at hand might be. "Thank you for asking. And for your healing. I had not noticed his companion with the concealed Kiss."
Kiru smiles with his lips parted, amused but not surprised as he swivels about to face his name-kin. "Kiru just fixed Shinwa's Name. It is fine."
His gaze shifts to examine Shinwa from top to bottom. "Cannot refresh Shinwa, though. Sorry-sorry."
There's the slightest displacement of some of the folds of the obi Kiru wears as a neck-scarf. It is clear that Rik is beginning to stir from his own nap, although he does not poke his head out to greet his friends.
Still so calm and formal. He gives a slight bow...a little less low than usual. There is pain in his thigh where the bullet tore through him, and he is endeavoring to mask it, though Kiru obviously knows all about it. The token effort is important to him anyway. He is samurai, even if he is a ronin.
"To trouble the kami...or anyone else...for such little need when we have the blessing of sleep would be foolish. I will see you in the morning, my friend."
The corner of his mouth quirks in a small smile. "You too Rik."
Upon being directly addressed, Rik scampers out of the bottom of the strange collar and nods at the ronin. "Bedtime? But it's finally night time!" he squeaks.
"Rik nocturnal, silly," Kiru replies with a twitch of his nose, followed by a standard Rokugani bow. "Rest well, Shinwa."
Shinwa does not answer....he knows by now that Kiru will be staying up longer than he, and he sees no need to speak. He nods his head, and retires to the small alcove that serves as his room and shuts the door. Much like every day, he first reverently sets his wakizashi and katana on his daisho stand next to his pistol. He removes and folds and sets aside his outer jubon, inner jubon, obi and obi-age, and shitabaki, checking each as he does so for any hints of blood from the day's fighting or seepage from his bandages. Finding none, he changes into simple indigo yakuta.
He then picks up the shitabaki he had been wearing earlier and his brown trenchcoat. The shitabaki had been ripped through with the bullet from the Daidoji's Kiss and was stained with his own blood. The trenchcoat had been stained with the blood of his enemy. With a sigh, he places a bowl under the water dispenser and presses the button to have hot water come steaming forth, grateful that it seems to be working correctly for him today. Scalding hot water, the required prayer, and soap and the blood is gone. He feels the same flash of confusion he feels every time se does this as the paradox catches up with him. But best to keep the form. He is too sore to worry today about what it means. He would have to repair the hole in the shitabaki in the morning after they dry.
He rolls out his futon and blankets from the cabinet in the wall that stored them when he was not sleeping.
He lies down. He should sleep. He needs to sleep. The blood loss had been significant, and he could feel the fuzziness imposing on his thoughts. But the pain is too great. The bandage on his thigh is uncomfortable. Sleep is eluding him, and the more he tries to go hunting for it, the more muddled his thoughts become.
He sits up.
Perhaps some meditation to calm him.
He tries for some time, but even that is eluding him for tonight.
He is thirsty. A drink of water should do.
He goes to the water dispenser, switches the setting to 'cold' and places a cup under the spout. Unfortunately, only scalding hot water comes out this time. It has broken for him, again.
Tired. Thirsty. Unable to find center.
Shinwa quietly emerges from his capsule to go find a working dispenser that would give him something cold to drink. And wondered if Kiru was still awake. Even if he was, best not to disturb him. Except...he /always/ went to sleep after he did. And he always made absolutely certain he knew when he was going to bed. A flash of curiosity got the better of him. Maybe he could check on him on his way to get some water anyway.
Shinwa's unerring senses tell him immediately that both Rik and Kiru are in the captain's quarters, the first room down the corridor from the bridge. Now that he is paying attention to it, there is a faint tingle in his skin, that same feeling that seems to occur every time the Nezumi enacts whatever mysterious power it is that he possesses.
The door to the rodents' room is closed, as it always is when Kiru is occupying it. Standing on the outside, being in greater proximity now, Shinwa can not only hear the rhythmic chittering of a Nezumi song beyond. He also senses Rik high up, presumably on the latticework of rope rigging installed in the room to make him feel more comfortable on the ship.
Kiru is moving about in the room at an erratic pace...he is dancing again. Just like he did at the ceremony that bound them both together.
Shinwa is holding his glass, and finds himself outside Kiru's door.
A conflict.
He is pretty sure the nezumi won't notice him if he is in the throws of his dancing. And he never asked him not to look in his room.
On the other hand, it is not very honorable to spy on him.
Shinwa is swaying a little bit due to the fuzzy-headed feeling accompanying the bloodloss. In fact, sitting down might be a good idea.
Rather than compromise his honor, he'll answer by doing what his body seems intent on doing anyway...send him slumping quietly into a seated position /just/ outside the room door to drink his water and wait for him to come out and explain what he was doing.
The dancing continues for a few more minutes, and then Kiru finishes, falling with keen precision onto his bed asleep. As he does so, Shinwa falls unconscious—it is fortuitous that he had sat down in a relatively safe position.
Kiru opens his eyes to gaze upon the stark brightness that is the ever present daytime of the Field of Dreams in Yume-do. With a smile of contentment, he inhales deeply, taking in the scent of the other members of his tribe, the green grass, and Shinwa.
"Eek!" He screeches in shock and fear, scent glands suddenly perspiring as he looks down at the 'body' of Shinwa sitting by his side. This is bad-bad-bad-bad! What if he is killed by Chief? Then Kiru will die!
He looms over him and snarls through his teeth a command that brooks no defiance, "Shinwa will stay very still. Kiru will return."
A heartbeat later, Kiru dashes off with Nezumi swiftness to find Chief, desperately hoping that he won't be exiled for bringing an outsider to their only sacred place.
Shinwa, much of the fuzzy-headed feeling related to his bloodloss now gone thanks to the virtues of yume-do, still feels another wave of confusion as he arrives in the nezumi dreamspace.
He pulls himself up into a sitting position to look around to see over the long grass, but does not stand. Kiru's tone was concerning. From the things he has learned so far, at least from Kiru, is that the nezumi are unlikely to attack unless they are threatened and feel no other choice, especially not attacking a formidable opponent. Perhaps there was someone here who might feel threatened.
He looks around carefully, raising an eyebrow, but says nothing and makes no other move. His face remains utterly calm, in the face of the strange place, in response to Kiru's dire warning...
An unexpected twist...but a fortunate one. I needed to learn more.
Kiru runs past his kin on the outskirts of the gathering, zeroing in on the fire circle at the centre. Chief would be there—he always was, his real body comatose back home as it was.
He arrives at the fire circle and awaits acknowledgement.
Shinwa, while he waits, quietly performs a set of tests on himself to determine how 'real' this is. Does he feel pain? Has he the ability to focus on one thing, or does his concentration drift? Does he remember the specific details of a complex task. Does it capture all the senses?
How would you distinguish this place from reality at all?
He picks long stem of grass from the ground near him. He runs it through his fingers, smells the end where he tore it. If it still is satisfactory, he pops the end in his mouth and chews on it while waiting for his nezumi friend to return.
The Chief is slow to respond. The dream is his dream, his part of Yume-do, and after so many years here he can certainly tell when people enter or leave it.
However while the new presence is unexpected, it doesn't feel hostile. In fact it feels similar to Kiru.
His eyes turn to Kiru and after a moment said, "M'thack-kir...what troubles you?"
"Wind-seeks-allegories followed M'thack-kir to Field of Dreams!" Kiru exclaims in the Nezumi tongue. "M'thack-kir thought Wind-seeks-allegories was asleep-asleep, like normal. M'thack-kit yields-yields to Chief's judgment."
He prostrated himself on the ground, exposing his neck in submission.
The Chief was silent for a moment, looking at the subservient form of Kiru. Finally, with a touch of amusement in his voice, the Chief said, "M'thack-kir will not see Tomorrow yet. No need to cower-cower like a Samurai." He quickly reaches out through the dream once more, sensing Shinwa before he said, "Wind-Seeks-Allegories shares M'thack-kir's Name-Name. Wind-Seeks-Allegories travels with M'thack-kir's. Helps M'thack-kir's search for Burnt-Crane Tribe's Home-Home. This is a rare bond between a Nezumi and a Samurai. Almost unheard since the Terrible Day."
He gestures wide, his voice loud so all present could hear, "Wind-Seeks-Allegories is different from Nezumi. But Wind-Seeks-Allegories is also of the same Name-Name as M'thack-kir. Wind-Seeks-Allegories part of Burnt-Crane Tribe. So Zin'tch has ruled-ruled."
The Chief looks down at Kiru, the first touch of reprimand in his voice, "Of course, Wind-Seeks-Allegories has never been to the Field of Dreams. And while here is safe-safe, there are still many ways here that can lead Wind-Seeks-Allegories and M'thack-kir to Tomorrow, if M'thack-kir does not protect Wind-Seeks-Allegories. In fear of Zin'tch's reaction M'thack-kir forgot the other dangers-dangers.
No one stays put when Nezumi tell them to."
"M'thack-kir knows exactly where Wind-Seeks-Allegories is because of Name-Name. Still, M'thack-kir will go check on Nnich'charatha." He smiles a toothy grin at Chief Zin'tch before getting back to his feet and walking at a brisk pace back to where he senses Shinwa awaits him. It takes a bit longer than expected, as several members of the Tribe try to waylay him for news of the Land of No Land that he is tasked with travelling.
He finally extracts himself by deftly somersaulting over one particularly insistent female, and jogs over to the human. At seeing the grass in his mouth, he frowns.
"What is Shinwa doing? Here less than ten heartbeats and already disrespecting Chief's dream?"
Shinwa removes the grass stem from his mouth. He accepts M'thack-kir's anger calmly, and responds evenly, raising one hand with a regal gesture to make clear he is not interested in being lectured. "Kiru-san. You have brought me to a strange destination and told me nothing about it save to stay where I was or even the existence of a chief in this place. If your Chief is disrespected by my presence or actions, then perhaps my introduction to the rules of this place was insufficient."
He lowers his hand, and lifts and looks at the grass stem in the other. "I was trying to find out the differences between this place and...the place where we were before we came here."
Kiru's nose twitches in annoyance, and he mutters something in Nezumi under his breath as he shakes his head. "Must-must join the others now. Danger is certain if far from Chief."
He calms down and smiles cheekily.
"Does Shinwa want to meet Shinwa's family?"
The corner of Shinwa's mouth crooks in the slightest of smiles. He stands in the tall grass and gives a proper bow. "This one would be honored."
M'thack-kir returns the bow and bounds off, tail streaking behind him, back to the gathering, causing more commotion by calling out with glee.
Other Nezumi respond with like squeals, some of the youngest bouncing up and down in joy at meeting a new member of the Tribe.
Shinwa walks after M'thack-kir in a more restrained way, a faint smile curving his lips. He nods at the nezumi that approach him in greeting, not having learned their language, keeping his hands outspread, both to show that he means no threat and that he's not carrying anything shiny or interesting at the moment. When directly approached and greeted, he bows a more proper greeting in response.
In juxtaposition to the Tribe, 'restrained' is a clear understatement, as the Nezumi Shinwa interacts with are all exuberant in their gestures and demeanor. Many, but not all, lean in far too close for samurai propriety to take a loud sniff of Shinwa's shoulder (or perhaps armpit? With their noses it is rather hard to tell).
Eventually they manage to progress through the throng enough that they reach a group of women with (presumably) their babies. Most have the typical grey, black or white fur that many in the Tribe share, but Kiru stops at the one female who is as blonde as he is. She is bouncing a little Nezumi on each knee.
"Shinwa, meet M'thack-kir's mother. G'hi'hi is wise rememberer." Kiru leans over to pick up the two kids (only one of whom shares his colouration), to allow G'hi'hi to stand up and squint at Shinwa properly; the ronin has long since learned that Nezumi eyesight is a bit poorer than that of Rokugani.
Shinwa bows politely to G'hi'hi. "I am honored to meet you. You have much reason for pride," he offers with earnest sincerity, though he doesn't necessarily expect to be understood.
His eyes dart over to M'thack-kir. "I have no gift," he says simply. He looks across the long grass around him. "Save one, if I am permitted to share without causing offense?"
Shinwa always sounds like he stepped out of an old vid-drama on late night. He sounds even more like that at the moment as he makes his way through the uncertain situation.
Kiru doesn't know what to expect exactly, but that has always been the way with this specific human, and he has never intended harm towards him. He might still get in trouble with Chief for whatever this is, though.
He smiles and nods, both at Shinwa and then again at his mother, indicating it's fine. "No gift-giving is needed, but it will ease Shinwa's mind."
G'hi'hi, for her part, seems amused and looks on with interest.
Shinwa looks around himself for a few moments until he finds what he is looking for. He takes a few steps until he reaches a particularly long piece of twin-bladed, sturdy grass, and snips it short between his fingernails. Then he returns and sits down near G'hi'hi and the children.
Using his fingers, he trims the pair of blades of grass and lays them next to each other. Then he looks up with the very faintest of smiles at the interest he has gathered. He cups his hands around the blades of grass, bracing the pair of blades next to each other between his thumbs just as one would lay the paired reeds of the Hichiriki.
Then, concentrating on the challenge of the primitive reed instrument, he places his thumbs against his mouth and starts to blow. A buzzing whistling sound can be heard, not loud, but at least somewhat melodic. He repositions his hands again slightly and tries again. The sound emerges again, slightly more in tune.
Then, with one more glance to M'thack-kir, G'hi'hi, and any other audience members he has gathered, he begins to play a /very/ simple folk melody.
Kiru frowns at the damaging of even more of Chief's dream, but the others look on in wonder—they are not kir, and therefore do not understand the meaning in the desecration. Apparently Chief does not think it significant, however, because the dream is still stable.
G'hi'hi closes his eyes and enjoys the music, taking note of each part of the simple melody. Once Shinwa has finished, G'hi'hi smiles and nods at him before uttering in Rokugani even more precise than Kiru, "I will teach it to all of my pups, this gift you have given the Tribe. Thank you."
Shinwa bows again to G'hi'hi. "You are welcome," he says formally, letting the broken blades of grass fall to the ground.
He glances over at Kiru and his disapproval and gives him a questioning glance, and shifts in his place sitting on the ground so he can converse with both Kiru and his mother. He does not seem to object to the presence of the kids, though he makes no move to pick one up himself. "I apologize, Kiru-san, if that also caused offense. May I ask questions?"
While damaging the dream is always a risky affair, given how the chief makes and sustains it for the Nezumi across the Empire, the dream seems a touch...brighter? As if the Sun is higher in the sky and tomorrow is further away.
Shinwa's name is changing here. Chief favours Shinwa.
He makes himself comfortable, playing with the child that is presumably a sibling of his. His mother has higher Niche here, and so it is her right to answer Shinwa's question first on behalf of them all.
G'hi'hi nods eagerly. "It is a great thing to seek counsel. We revere such a thing; asking questions is never rude to our people."
Shinwa's expression is quite serious, though he does not seem tense. "This place...where is it? It seems like it might be the place called Yume-do. But it might be part of a different story. " He glances around towards the horizons. "And do you live here always, or do you travel here? Kiru-san...do you come here every night?" He turns back to G'hi'hi. "Do all of you travel here every night?"
He shakes his head. "I fear I have very many questions."
"This is the Field of Dreams," G'hi'hi replies. "I do not know your word Yume-do. There is much more to this place than we can see or imagine, and its existence has been tied to that of our people since before the Terrible Day. What you see and feel here is Chief's dream. He is the chosen prophet of the Transcendents, and he cannot leave this place." Her voice grows quiet and her gaze lowers. "Chief's body has long since gone away. He still leads our people, and with the help of the Transcendents he provides the Burnt Crane with a home to connect with each other, even as many of us, like M'thack-kir, journey across the stars to find the Bright-Happiness Day. When we find it, we may no longer need a Chief ever again."
Kiru nods excitedly. "Getting closer, Kiru is. Kiru knows it!" He scratches behind the ear of his presumed-sibling, eliciting a squeaky giggle. "Kiru returns every night, yes. Sometimes there are many here, sometimes only a few. But Chief is always here, and never alone. Only Nameseekers can find Chief's dream, can bring rest of the Tribe with them."
G'hi'hi peers at Shinwa, awaiting these 'very many questions.'
The ronin considers this over thoughtfully, but while he thinks, he says, "I am no scholar of the realms, but Yume-do is said to be where a human's spirit travels when they dream."
He pauses to collect his further questions.
"Is there only one Chief of the Nezumi who create a dream that is shared here, or are there many? Do the Nezumi have, then, their own dreams, as humans do? Are they like this one of the Chief, or very different?"
He gives time between his questions for answers, but there are more, and he listens with intense interest. "Are there beings who only exist within the realm of Chief's dream, who have no counterpart in the waking world?"
His skin seems to grow a little paler, but it is hard to tell. "Have others like me ever come here?"
"Burnt Crane are the only Tribe left," Kiru explains. "There is only one Chief at a time, but since the founding of this Tribe long-long-long before-before, same Chief has ruled. Chief is the only Nezumi here who cannot leave. Chief protects the Tribe from the other beings who walk the Field of Dreams."
G'hi'hi nods before adding, "You are the first human to witness our gathering here in a very long time. Only the Prophets of the Burnt Crane Tribe can visit without Nezumi aid, and they haven't come in years. Too busy, I suspect, with human matters."
One of the children, braver and perhaps more bored by all of this foreign talk-talk than the others, makes himself comfortable in Shinwa's shadow, eyeing his possessions for anything shiny-shiny.
Shinwa is wearing just what he wore before he entered the dream, only a simple indigo yakuta with a river's rippling pattern on it with a simple white obi and tabi. No shinies today.
He listens to the answers thoughtfully. "What is Bright Happiness day?"
Kiru's mood picks up, as though he's pleased Shinwa has finally asked about the right topic. "Not what. Where. Bright-Happniess Day is a place. Bright-Happiness Day will be home-home of the Burnt Crane Tribe for the rest of Time, will save the Burnt Crane Tribe from dwindling away into Yesterday as a forgotten civilization."
G'hi'hi quietly adds, "A home that no God or Rokugani can steal from us."
Shinwa has been growing progressively more pale through the conversation, though he hasn't seemed hurt in this dream at all.
In response to the description of Bright Happiness Day, he looks pained. "I hope you find such a place soon. That it brings the end you hope for. It sounds like a good ending."
He frowns and shakes his head, as if effected by something.
Kiru frowns again. "Shinwa is unwell, but the sickness is not from Field of Dreams. Cannot get sick in Field of Dreams."
He puts the child down and, ignoring personal space, approaches the ronin to examine his face closely. "Does Shinwa know why Shinwa is unwell?"
Shinwa solemnly considers that question. "I feel fine. And I have more questions," he answers, but he seems unsteady in his responses. "Though...it's like...there's another place I'm supposed to be." He shakes his head again, starting to look confused and even paler. "I can't leave....we still don't know the right ending.... The Nezumi...when did they come? Did the Phoenix bring them...I...? This dream...it seems real. What if that's what happened? Is this all just a dream?"
"Shinwa? Does Shinwa still feel pain from battle, not just tired?" Kiru unceremoniously prods the ronin at the site of his wound from earlier in the day, not patient enough to navigate the foolish samurai etiquette of lying to appear strong. At his reaction, even if it is one of a determined face angrily hiding any actual reaction of pain, he squeaks at his mother with urgency and closes his eyes.
Shinwa's own vision blacks out as his soul is transported instantaneously back to his body.
Scant seconds later, Kiru is standing over Shinwa, muttering to himself. A surge of wellness passes through him, that tingle he is now very used to feeling.
"Itsuki!" he shouts, voice echoing down the corridor to the pilot's quarters. "Quick-quick!" He then crouches down to calmly reassure his Namekin. "Shinwa will be fine-fine. Just wait."
It takes the meek, yet particularly handsome Shiba Itsuki a few minutes to arrive, evidently having needed to dress himself properly before responding to the summons. He rushes to Shinwa's side with no attempt made to hide his concern.
"Keep him awake-awake, Itsuki," Kiru instructs flatly. "Kiru needs time-time to fix Shinwa's Name."
Without explaining any further, Kiru dashes back into his room, the automatic door closing as he throws himself into another, louder dance.
A slowly widening pool of blood has spread across the floor. It has soaked through the bandages on Shinwa's thigh and his indigo yakuta. His face is almost as white as a sheet from the amount of blood he has lost. It is hard to say why such a wound reopened, but it has. Perhaps mere misfortune had been enough, or perhaps some friendly earth kami had been supporting him had left. The fresh healing Kiru performs staunches the fresh flow of blood so the pool stops expanding. He blinks the sleep out of his eyes, puzzled, as he fixes on the face of Shiba Itsuki. "...It must have been the Phoenix..." he murmurs as his eyes start to drift shut again.
A story of the Space Ronin, Shinwa, in an age of Space Travel
Leaving the bridge, M'thack-kir sighs with relief now that The Warren is safely out of harm's way; that last planet had a touch more action than he had anticipated. He touches the commlink on his wrist and whispers, "Shinwa, okay-okay?"
It never had quite clicked to him that you could speak normally into the communication device.
There was a delay in the response that was significantly longer than expected, but the response was clear when it was made.
Very clear.
It is not coming through the commlink at all, but right behind M'thack-kir.
There, leaning against the wall, his face a little too pale, is the ronin Shinwa. "I am okay, Kiru-san." His voice sounds very tired, but retains that almost preternatural even, calm tone that he has always used, no matter how insane the situation at hand might be. "Thank you for asking. And for your healing. I had not noticed his companion with the concealed Kiss."
Kiru smiles with his lips parted, amused but not surprised as he swivels about to face his name-kin. "Kiru just fixed Shinwa's Name. It is fine."
His gaze shifts to examine Shinwa from top to bottom. "Cannot refresh Shinwa, though. Sorry-sorry."
There's the slightest displacement of some of the folds of the obi Kiru wears as a neck-scarf. It is clear that Rik is beginning to stir from his own nap, although he does not poke his head out to greet his friends.
Still so calm and formal. He gives a slight bow...a little less low than usual. There is pain in his thigh where the bullet tore through him, and he is endeavoring to mask it, though Kiru obviously knows all about it. The token effort is important to him anyway. He is samurai, even if he is a ronin.
"To trouble the kami...or anyone else...for such little need when we have the blessing of sleep would be foolish. I will see you in the morning, my friend."
The corner of his mouth quirks in a small smile. "You too Rik."
Upon being directly addressed, Rik scampers out of the bottom of the strange collar and nods at the ronin. "Bedtime? But it's finally night time!" he squeaks.
"Rik nocturnal, silly," Kiru replies with a twitch of his nose, followed by a standard Rokugani bow. "Rest well, Shinwa."
Shinwa does not answer....he knows by now that Kiru will be staying up longer than he, and he sees no need to speak. He nods his head, and retires to the small alcove that serves as his room and shuts the door. Much like every day, he first reverently sets his wakizashi and katana on his daisho stand next to his pistol. He removes and folds and sets aside his outer jubon, inner jubon, obi and obi-age, and shitabaki, checking each as he does so for any hints of blood from the day's fighting or seepage from his bandages. Finding none, he changes into simple indigo yakuta.
He then picks up the shitabaki he had been wearing earlier and his brown trenchcoat. The shitabaki had been ripped through with the bullet from the Daidoji's Kiss and was stained with his own blood. The trenchcoat had been stained with the blood of his enemy. With a sigh, he places a bowl under the water dispenser and presses the button to have hot water come steaming forth, grateful that it seems to be working correctly for him today. Scalding hot water, the required prayer, and soap and the blood is gone. He feels the same flash of confusion he feels every time se does this as the paradox catches up with him. But best to keep the form. He is too sore to worry today about what it means. He would have to repair the hole in the shitabaki in the morning after they dry.
He rolls out his futon and blankets from the cabinet in the wall that stored them when he was not sleeping.
He lies down. He should sleep. He needs to sleep. The blood loss had been significant, and he could feel the fuzziness imposing on his thoughts. But the pain is too great. The bandage on his thigh is uncomfortable. Sleep is eluding him, and the more he tries to go hunting for it, the more muddled his thoughts become.
He sits up.
Perhaps some meditation to calm him.
He tries for some time, but even that is eluding him for tonight.
He is thirsty. A drink of water should do.
He goes to the water dispenser, switches the setting to 'cold' and places a cup under the spout. Unfortunately, only scalding hot water comes out this time. It has broken for him, again.
Tired. Thirsty. Unable to find center.
Shinwa quietly emerges from his capsule to go find a working dispenser that would give him something cold to drink. And wondered if Kiru was still awake. Even if he was, best not to disturb him. Except...he /always/ went to sleep after he did. And he always made absolutely certain he knew when he was going to bed. A flash of curiosity got the better of him. Maybe he could check on him on his way to get some water anyway.
Shinwa's unerring senses tell him immediately that both Rik and Kiru are in the captain's quarters, the first room down the corridor from the bridge. Now that he is paying attention to it, there is a faint tingle in his skin, that same feeling that seems to occur every time the Nezumi enacts whatever mysterious power it is that he possesses.
The door to the rodents' room is closed, as it always is when Kiru is occupying it. Standing on the outside, being in greater proximity now, Shinwa can not only hear the rhythmic chittering of a Nezumi song beyond. He also senses Rik high up, presumably on the latticework of rope rigging installed in the room to make him feel more comfortable on the ship.
Kiru is moving about in the room at an erratic pace...he is dancing again. Just like he did at the ceremony that bound them both together.
Shinwa is holding his glass, and finds himself outside Kiru's door.
A conflict.
He is pretty sure the nezumi won't notice him if he is in the throws of his dancing. And he never asked him not to look in his room.
On the other hand, it is not very honorable to spy on him.
Shinwa is swaying a little bit due to the fuzzy-headed feeling accompanying the bloodloss. In fact, sitting down might be a good idea.
Rather than compromise his honor, he'll answer by doing what his body seems intent on doing anyway...send him slumping quietly into a seated position /just/ outside the room door to drink his water and wait for him to come out and explain what he was doing.
The dancing continues for a few more minutes, and then Kiru finishes, falling with keen precision onto his bed asleep. As he does so, Shinwa falls unconscious—it is fortuitous that he had sat down in a relatively safe position.
Kiru opens his eyes to gaze upon the stark brightness that is the ever present daytime of the Field of Dreams in Yume-do. With a smile of contentment, he inhales deeply, taking in the scent of the other members of his tribe, the green grass, and Shinwa.
"Eek!" He screeches in shock and fear, scent glands suddenly perspiring as he looks down at the 'body' of Shinwa sitting by his side. This is bad-bad-bad-bad! What if he is killed by Chief? Then Kiru will die!
He looms over him and snarls through his teeth a command that brooks no defiance, "Shinwa will stay very still. Kiru will return."
A heartbeat later, Kiru dashes off with Nezumi swiftness to find Chief, desperately hoping that he won't be exiled for bringing an outsider to their only sacred place.
Shinwa, much of the fuzzy-headed feeling related to his bloodloss now gone thanks to the virtues of yume-do, still feels another wave of confusion as he arrives in the nezumi dreamspace.
He pulls himself up into a sitting position to look around to see over the long grass, but does not stand. Kiru's tone was concerning. From the things he has learned so far, at least from Kiru, is that the nezumi are unlikely to attack unless they are threatened and feel no other choice, especially not attacking a formidable opponent. Perhaps there was someone here who might feel threatened.
He looks around carefully, raising an eyebrow, but says nothing and makes no other move. His face remains utterly calm, in the face of the strange place, in response to Kiru's dire warning...
An unexpected twist...but a fortunate one. I needed to learn more.
Kiru runs past his kin on the outskirts of the gathering, zeroing in on the fire circle at the centre. Chief would be there—he always was, his real body comatose back home as it was.
He arrives at the fire circle and awaits acknowledgement.
Shinwa, while he waits, quietly performs a set of tests on himself to determine how 'real' this is. Does he feel pain? Has he the ability to focus on one thing, or does his concentration drift? Does he remember the specific details of a complex task. Does it capture all the senses?
How would you distinguish this place from reality at all?
He picks long stem of grass from the ground near him. He runs it through his fingers, smells the end where he tore it. If it still is satisfactory, he pops the end in his mouth and chews on it while waiting for his nezumi friend to return.
The Chief is slow to respond. The dream is his dream, his part of Yume-do, and after so many years here he can certainly tell when people enter or leave it.
However while the new presence is unexpected, it doesn't feel hostile. In fact it feels similar to Kiru.
His eyes turn to Kiru and after a moment said, "M'thack-kir...what troubles you?"
"Wind-seeks-allegories followed M'thack-kir to Field of Dreams!" Kiru exclaims in the Nezumi tongue. "M'thack-kir thought Wind-seeks-allegories was asleep-asleep, like normal. M'thack-kit yields-yields to Chief's judgment."
He prostrated himself on the ground, exposing his neck in submission.
The Chief was silent for a moment, looking at the subservient form of Kiru. Finally, with a touch of amusement in his voice, the Chief said, "M'thack-kir will not see Tomorrow yet. No need to cower-cower like a Samurai." He quickly reaches out through the dream once more, sensing Shinwa before he said, "Wind-Seeks-Allegories shares M'thack-kir's Name-Name. Wind-Seeks-Allegories travels with M'thack-kir's. Helps M'thack-kir's search for Burnt-Crane Tribe's Home-Home. This is a rare bond between a Nezumi and a Samurai. Almost unheard since the Terrible Day."
He gestures wide, his voice loud so all present could hear, "Wind-Seeks-Allegories is different from Nezumi. But Wind-Seeks-Allegories is also of the same Name-Name as M'thack-kir. Wind-Seeks-Allegories part of Burnt-Crane Tribe. So Zin'tch has ruled-ruled."
The Chief looks down at Kiru, the first touch of reprimand in his voice, "Of course, Wind-Seeks-Allegories has never been to the Field of Dreams. And while here is safe-safe, there are still many ways here that can lead Wind-Seeks-Allegories and M'thack-kir to Tomorrow, if M'thack-kir does not protect Wind-Seeks-Allegories. In fear of Zin'tch's reaction M'thack-kir forgot the other dangers-dangers.
No one stays put when Nezumi tell them to."
"M'thack-kir knows exactly where Wind-Seeks-Allegories is because of Name-Name. Still, M'thack-kir will go check on Nnich'charatha." He smiles a toothy grin at Chief Zin'tch before getting back to his feet and walking at a brisk pace back to where he senses Shinwa awaits him. It takes a bit longer than expected, as several members of the Tribe try to waylay him for news of the Land of No Land that he is tasked with travelling.
He finally extracts himself by deftly somersaulting over one particularly insistent female, and jogs over to the human. At seeing the grass in his mouth, he frowns.
"What is Shinwa doing? Here less than ten heartbeats and already disrespecting Chief's dream?"
Shinwa removes the grass stem from his mouth. He accepts M'thack-kir's anger calmly, and responds evenly, raising one hand with a regal gesture to make clear he is not interested in being lectured. "Kiru-san. You have brought me to a strange destination and told me nothing about it save to stay where I was or even the existence of a chief in this place. If your Chief is disrespected by my presence or actions, then perhaps my introduction to the rules of this place was insufficient."
He lowers his hand, and lifts and looks at the grass stem in the other. "I was trying to find out the differences between this place and...the place where we were before we came here."
Kiru's nose twitches in annoyance, and he mutters something in Nezumi under his breath as he shakes his head. "Must-must join the others now. Danger is certain if far from Chief."
He calms down and smiles cheekily.
"Does Shinwa want to meet Shinwa's family?"
The corner of Shinwa's mouth crooks in the slightest of smiles. He stands in the tall grass and gives a proper bow. "This one would be honored."
M'thack-kir returns the bow and bounds off, tail streaking behind him, back to the gathering, causing more commotion by calling out with glee.
Other Nezumi respond with like squeals, some of the youngest bouncing up and down in joy at meeting a new member of the Tribe.
Shinwa walks after M'thack-kir in a more restrained way, a faint smile curving his lips. He nods at the nezumi that approach him in greeting, not having learned their language, keeping his hands outspread, both to show that he means no threat and that he's not carrying anything shiny or interesting at the moment. When directly approached and greeted, he bows a more proper greeting in response.
In juxtaposition to the Tribe, 'restrained' is a clear understatement, as the Nezumi Shinwa interacts with are all exuberant in their gestures and demeanor. Many, but not all, lean in far too close for samurai propriety to take a loud sniff of Shinwa's shoulder (or perhaps armpit? With their noses it is rather hard to tell).
Eventually they manage to progress through the throng enough that they reach a group of women with (presumably) their babies. Most have the typical grey, black or white fur that many in the Tribe share, but Kiru stops at the one female who is as blonde as he is. She is bouncing a little Nezumi on each knee.
"Shinwa, meet M'thack-kir's mother. G'hi'hi is wise rememberer." Kiru leans over to pick up the two kids (only one of whom shares his colouration), to allow G'hi'hi to stand up and squint at Shinwa properly; the ronin has long since learned that Nezumi eyesight is a bit poorer than that of Rokugani.
Shinwa bows politely to G'hi'hi. "I am honored to meet you. You have much reason for pride," he offers with earnest sincerity, though he doesn't necessarily expect to be understood.
His eyes dart over to M'thack-kir. "I have no gift," he says simply. He looks across the long grass around him. "Save one, if I am permitted to share without causing offense?"
Shinwa always sounds like he stepped out of an old vid-drama on late night. He sounds even more like that at the moment as he makes his way through the uncertain situation.
Kiru doesn't know what to expect exactly, but that has always been the way with this specific human, and he has never intended harm towards him. He might still get in trouble with Chief for whatever this is, though.
He smiles and nods, both at Shinwa and then again at his mother, indicating it's fine. "No gift-giving is needed, but it will ease Shinwa's mind."
G'hi'hi, for her part, seems amused and looks on with interest.
Shinwa looks around himself for a few moments until he finds what he is looking for. He takes a few steps until he reaches a particularly long piece of twin-bladed, sturdy grass, and snips it short between his fingernails. Then he returns and sits down near G'hi'hi and the children.
Using his fingers, he trims the pair of blades of grass and lays them next to each other. Then he looks up with the very faintest of smiles at the interest he has gathered. He cups his hands around the blades of grass, bracing the pair of blades next to each other between his thumbs just as one would lay the paired reeds of the Hichiriki.
Then, concentrating on the challenge of the primitive reed instrument, he places his thumbs against his mouth and starts to blow. A buzzing whistling sound can be heard, not loud, but at least somewhat melodic. He repositions his hands again slightly and tries again. The sound emerges again, slightly more in tune.
Then, with one more glance to M'thack-kir, G'hi'hi, and any other audience members he has gathered, he begins to play a /very/ simple folk melody.
Kiru frowns at the damaging of even more of Chief's dream, but the others look on in wonder—they are not kir, and therefore do not understand the meaning in the desecration. Apparently Chief does not think it significant, however, because the dream is still stable.
G'hi'hi closes his eyes and enjoys the music, taking note of each part of the simple melody. Once Shinwa has finished, G'hi'hi smiles and nods at him before uttering in Rokugani even more precise than Kiru, "I will teach it to all of my pups, this gift you have given the Tribe. Thank you."
Shinwa bows again to G'hi'hi. "You are welcome," he says formally, letting the broken blades of grass fall to the ground.
He glances over at Kiru and his disapproval and gives him a questioning glance, and shifts in his place sitting on the ground so he can converse with both Kiru and his mother. He does not seem to object to the presence of the kids, though he makes no move to pick one up himself. "I apologize, Kiru-san, if that also caused offense. May I ask questions?"
While damaging the dream is always a risky affair, given how the chief makes and sustains it for the Nezumi across the Empire, the dream seems a touch...brighter? As if the Sun is higher in the sky and tomorrow is further away.
Shinwa's name is changing here. Chief favours Shinwa.
He makes himself comfortable, playing with the child that is presumably a sibling of his. His mother has higher Niche here, and so it is her right to answer Shinwa's question first on behalf of them all.
G'hi'hi nods eagerly. "It is a great thing to seek counsel. We revere such a thing; asking questions is never rude to our people."
Shinwa's expression is quite serious, though he does not seem tense. "This place...where is it? It seems like it might be the place called Yume-do. But it might be part of a different story. " He glances around towards the horizons. "And do you live here always, or do you travel here? Kiru-san...do you come here every night?" He turns back to G'hi'hi. "Do all of you travel here every night?"
He shakes his head. "I fear I have very many questions."
"This is the Field of Dreams," G'hi'hi replies. "I do not know your word Yume-do. There is much more to this place than we can see or imagine, and its existence has been tied to that of our people since before the Terrible Day. What you see and feel here is Chief's dream. He is the chosen prophet of the Transcendents, and he cannot leave this place." Her voice grows quiet and her gaze lowers. "Chief's body has long since gone away. He still leads our people, and with the help of the Transcendents he provides the Burnt Crane with a home to connect with each other, even as many of us, like M'thack-kir, journey across the stars to find the Bright-Happiness Day. When we find it, we may no longer need a Chief ever again."
Kiru nods excitedly. "Getting closer, Kiru is. Kiru knows it!" He scratches behind the ear of his presumed-sibling, eliciting a squeaky giggle. "Kiru returns every night, yes. Sometimes there are many here, sometimes only a few. But Chief is always here, and never alone. Only Nameseekers can find Chief's dream, can bring rest of the Tribe with them."
G'hi'hi peers at Shinwa, awaiting these 'very many questions.'
The ronin considers this over thoughtfully, but while he thinks, he says, "I am no scholar of the realms, but Yume-do is said to be where a human's spirit travels when they dream."
He pauses to collect his further questions.
"Is there only one Chief of the Nezumi who create a dream that is shared here, or are there many? Do the Nezumi have, then, their own dreams, as humans do? Are they like this one of the Chief, or very different?"
He gives time between his questions for answers, but there are more, and he listens with intense interest. "Are there beings who only exist within the realm of Chief's dream, who have no counterpart in the waking world?"
His skin seems to grow a little paler, but it is hard to tell. "Have others like me ever come here?"
"Burnt Crane are the only Tribe left," Kiru explains. "There is only one Chief at a time, but since the founding of this Tribe long-long-long before-before, same Chief has ruled. Chief is the only Nezumi here who cannot leave. Chief protects the Tribe from the other beings who walk the Field of Dreams."
G'hi'hi nods before adding, "You are the first human to witness our gathering here in a very long time. Only the Prophets of the Burnt Crane Tribe can visit without Nezumi aid, and they haven't come in years. Too busy, I suspect, with human matters."
One of the children, braver and perhaps more bored by all of this foreign talk-talk than the others, makes himself comfortable in Shinwa's shadow, eyeing his possessions for anything shiny-shiny.
Shinwa is wearing just what he wore before he entered the dream, only a simple indigo yakuta with a river's rippling pattern on it with a simple white obi and tabi. No shinies today.
He listens to the answers thoughtfully. "What is Bright Happiness day?"
Kiru's mood picks up, as though he's pleased Shinwa has finally asked about the right topic. "Not what. Where. Bright-Happniess Day is a place. Bright-Happiness Day will be home-home of the Burnt Crane Tribe for the rest of Time, will save the Burnt Crane Tribe from dwindling away into Yesterday as a forgotten civilization."
G'hi'hi quietly adds, "A home that no God or Rokugani can steal from us."
Shinwa has been growing progressively more pale through the conversation, though he hasn't seemed hurt in this dream at all.
In response to the description of Bright Happiness Day, he looks pained. "I hope you find such a place soon. That it brings the end you hope for. It sounds like a good ending."
He frowns and shakes his head, as if effected by something.
Kiru frowns again. "Shinwa is unwell, but the sickness is not from Field of Dreams. Cannot get sick in Field of Dreams."
He puts the child down and, ignoring personal space, approaches the ronin to examine his face closely. "Does Shinwa know why Shinwa is unwell?"
Shinwa solemnly considers that question. "I feel fine. And I have more questions," he answers, but he seems unsteady in his responses. "Though...it's like...there's another place I'm supposed to be." He shakes his head again, starting to look confused and even paler. "I can't leave....we still don't know the right ending.... The Nezumi...when did they come? Did the Phoenix bring them...I...? This dream...it seems real. What if that's what happened? Is this all just a dream?"
"Shinwa? Does Shinwa still feel pain from battle, not just tired?" Kiru unceremoniously prods the ronin at the site of his wound from earlier in the day, not patient enough to navigate the foolish samurai etiquette of lying to appear strong. At his reaction, even if it is one of a determined face angrily hiding any actual reaction of pain, he squeaks at his mother with urgency and closes his eyes.
Shinwa's own vision blacks out as his soul is transported instantaneously back to his body.
Scant seconds later, Kiru is standing over Shinwa, muttering to himself. A surge of wellness passes through him, that tingle he is now very used to feeling.
"Itsuki!" he shouts, voice echoing down the corridor to the pilot's quarters. "Quick-quick!" He then crouches down to calmly reassure his Namekin. "Shinwa will be fine-fine. Just wait."
It takes the meek, yet particularly handsome Shiba Itsuki a few minutes to arrive, evidently having needed to dress himself properly before responding to the summons. He rushes to Shinwa's side with no attempt made to hide his concern.
"Keep him awake-awake, Itsuki," Kiru instructs flatly. "Kiru needs time-time to fix Shinwa's Name."
Without explaining any further, Kiru dashes back into his room, the automatic door closing as he throws himself into another, louder dance.
A slowly widening pool of blood has spread across the floor. It has soaked through the bandages on Shinwa's thigh and his indigo yakuta. His face is almost as white as a sheet from the amount of blood he has lost. It is hard to say why such a wound reopened, but it has. Perhaps mere misfortune had been enough, or perhaps some friendly earth kami had been supporting him had left. The fresh healing Kiru performs staunches the fresh flow of blood so the pool stops expanding. He blinks the sleep out of his eyes, puzzled, as he fixes on the face of Shiba Itsuki. "...It must have been the Phoenix..." he murmurs as his eyes start to drift shut again.