1741/The quiet shrine visitor.

The quiet shrine visitor.
Date of Scene:	16 July 2016
Location:	Pikarigaoka/Uminari City - Hikawa Shrine
Synopsis:	Misa wakes up and does some cleaning. Rei wakes up and freaks out about her missing broom. Eilam gets to the shrine and relaxes. Conversations abound!
Cast of Characters:	Misa Sakagami, Rei Hino, Eilam Hisakawa

---

Misa Sakagami has posed:
     Morning. That time where certain people had likely expected to not see a certain young doll again. Which might have been the assumption when Rei woke up and the bed that Misa had been in was empty. But that wasn't the truth. In fact, Misa was still at the shrine!

     She was presently to the side of the shrine, seemingly having borrowed some clothing that ... probably looked a little comically oversized on her, but she was fine with that; it helped to hide her secret when it was oversized, covering both of her arms and body thoroughly, she almost looked like a little shrine maiden at the moment!

     A broom sits on the bench beside her, and there's a small pile of debris, leaves, dirt, etc., hinting at the fact that she'd been well. Sweeping. Probably in the effort to try to repay the kindness of Rei letting her stay there while she's healing. Right now, she was pretty safe... Maeko was still off recuperating so she didn't even feel her gaze for the first time in... she doesn't even remember the last time she didn't feel Maeko. Either way, she didn't seem fully at ease as she sat on the bench, eyes mostly closed.

Rei Hino has posed:
    Rei pretended to be asleep at the time, but one eye was open as she watched Misa get out of bed. She closed her eyes and waited. If Misa wanted to leave, Rei wasn't going to stop her, but it would be a mistake to think that the senshi wasn't aware.

    A bit later, Misa's bed is empty, and Rei is just starting to get out of hers. She looks down... did she fall asleep in her miko clothes again?! Geeze! She's getting to be just as bad as Usagi! She runs a hand through her hair, figures that Misa is long gone, and goes off to the bathroom to freshen up.

    Much later, she is presentable, dressed in a clean set of clothes, and frantically searching for the broom she needs to sweep up the courtyard. Where was it? She knows she left it somewhere in this closet... or did she leave it in the firepit room? Was it the kitchen? Wow, Rei, you're really becoming unreliable.

    When she finally decides to look outside, she finds---

    "Sakagami-san?"

    ---and the missing broom, thankfully.

    Rei stands there, quietly staring at Misa. "Did you... do this for me?"

    The miko isn't actually sure how to respond. Usually she doesn't get much in the way of thanks, and she certainly wasn't expecting it. "Thank you so much. It's a big help!"

Eilam Hisakawa has posed:
    Early as it was, there probably wasn't the most people actively attending the shrine who didn't actively work here. Which was a good thing for some, such as Eilam, who came early to avoid the crowds. Crowds and prying eyes were never an enjoyable thing for him at least. Which is why the soft sound of the stave he always had with him could be heard as he made his way up towards the main part of the shrine. His attire today was a little less than the business casual that he enjoyed on a day to day basis. A pastel pink and red short-sleeved flannel button-up shirt, loosely on, and a pair of dark blue jeans, still wearing his nice shoes though. If only because they're comfortable shoes. The colors on him was probbaly the most standout point, given he had recently dyed his hair a mix of pastel colors on a whim because it him amused.

    But here, now, in this morning? The sound of the walking aid that he had tapped on the path up towards the shrine before he sat down on one of the benches there, fairly exhausted still as he was the previous day. why had he even come out? He could have just stayed in at his house. Maybe all these magical types were rubbing off on him, making him feel like he had to get out and act at their pace, not his. It was draining.

    Draining enough that it left him looking a bit tired, his lack of energy showing to the world as he kind of just slumped forward against the stave and with his eyes closed seemed to maybe fall asleep? Hard to say.

Misa Sakagami has posed:
     'Sakagami-san?' Misa's eyes open as she hears that, blinking a couple of times as she comes out of her thoughts, her gaze lifting up towards Rei! She kind of quietly stares at Rei for a while; until Rei asks the question. "...Yes... I ... uhm... you're always supposed to do nice things for people who do nice things for you..." Misa mumbles quietly. Even if, normally, the 'nice thing' she did, was just do her best to stay away from people so that Maeko didn't curse them or something.

     Still. Misa had been restless when she woke up. She still hurt a little, and she was still healing on a couple of places; but also her old clothing was... probably somewhat destroyed and useless. Rei had possibly seen it in the bathroom if she wasn't in too much of a rush, even.

     "You're welcome... I didn't get much done before I had to take a rest..." Misa responds quietly. "...And I couldn't leave... I didn't want to just take things without permission... but if I didn't... uhm..." It would make hiding her secret harder. The energy around her was still there, though not swirling, or nearly as strong. But it was still obviously focused on places where there were presumably wounds. It might be possible to get more of a sense of Misa's personal energy; which was... not fully dark, though it was definitely wrapped in darkness and a bit tainted seeming.

     The soft sound of a stave tapping against the ground. Someone approaching, it seemed like. Misa shifts slightly in place, her gaze trailing over towards Eilam and she fell utterly silent. Hesitant to talk, though she was ... a bit curious. After all, the man's hair seemed to be utterly multicolor and that was odd. Even to the girl possessed by a doll! She blinks a couple of times as she watches him.

     But for the most part he just seemed to be sitting there. Hmm. She nibbles her lip and looks up towards Rei, finally standing up and beginning to move closer to her; grabbing the broom as she stands to hold it out towards Rei. "...Here... sorry I didn't ask before borrowing and using it..." She mumbles quietly. She mostly meant the clothes, but the broom as well!

Rei Hino has posed:
    Rei 'hmms' as she considers Misa just a bit longer. So, underneath the cursed doll really was a sweet and considerate girl. Somehow, Misa's kindness makes her situation just seem even more cruel and unfair.

    The aforementioned clothes in the bathroom were summarily disposed of. Rei doubted that Misa was going to come back for them, and she doubted even Makoto could salvage the kind of damage those clothes had taken. She had also noticed that one of her own sets of clothing were missing, but that detail didn't bother her.

    The miko shakes her head. "No, I said you could use my clothes, remember? It really is no trouble."

    Then their next visitor makes his presence known, and Rei turns to regard the boy whom she doesn't yet know is much older than he looks. The multi-color hair is certainly an eyecatcher, and an eyebrow raiser in Rei's case.

    The broom is offered to her, and Rei glances at it. "Thank you, and don't worry about that. It was nice of you to try helping out around here.

    The miko looks at the broom, and then at Eilam. Sweeping is necessary, but the visitor takes priority. She takes a few steps towards him and waves. "Hello! Welcome to Hikawa Shrine!"

Eilam Hisakawa has posed:
    At first he didn't respond. Maybe he actually did fall asleep. Though after a moment Eilam raised up and looked towards the sound of Rei's voice, looking her and Misa over quietly. "Hello." he finally said, his voice soft. "It was not my intention to bother anyone. I am uncertain why I even came here today." His manner of speaking, accent, is fairly upperclass posh and stuffy. Like he didn't speak Japanese naturally, but learned it from a stuffy old man and picked up habits of the sort.

    In truth, it was the constant remarks by others, specifically Jiaying, that Gods and such /were/ real. If they were, why had he not known for so long? Had they really just... stopped caring about him? Given up? There was a moment where he might have looked like he wanted to say something to the two, ask something, but he stopped and looked back towards the shrine only to shake his head a little and let out something of a ragged breath. "Does the shrine care if those who are tired relax on their benches? Or is that some offense to the gods?" There was a hint of bitterness? in his voice, but also not actually knowing what to expect.

Misa Sakagami has posed:
     And lonely. Mostly lonely. But that might be harder to see. Misa gives a little nod. "I must have been out of it... I didn't remember you saying that..." Not to mention that the night had been, well... normal for her. When she wasn't 'sleepwalking', it was nightmares of what happened when she was sleepwalking. Memories of a girl... really sickly, and pulling... something ... out of her. Saying she'd be better, but it would hurt a little. Misa shakes her head a little.

     Ugh. Why did she think about that? It just made her feel more guilty again. "...I might stay here until the people from the protection thingy come for me..." Misa mumbles quietly. Something that might remind Rei of the news the other day. Misa was thinking she'd probably let the CPS people think she ran away, instead of just sleepwalking. It might be safer for her parents.

     Still, Rei was going off towards Eilam and greeting him. Misa began to walk after her. "H...hello..." She says quietly, standing slightly behind Rei, though she was also waving towards him with the oversized sleeve that covers her hand and arm.

     Eilam's response was... disconcerting. He was here but didn't know why? That seems almost like when she woke up from her 'sleepwalking'. She begins to watch Eilam a bit more carefully for a while, listening to him and watching him. She blinks a couple of moments. "...She was just showing hospitality, I think... not trying to scare you off..." Misa mumbles softly towards Eilam, shifting a little bit more behind Rei as she speaks up, nibbling on her lip lightly. Was it her place to talk? Probably not...

Rei Hino has posed:
    Loneliness is becoming a bit more apparent. It's part of why Rei isn't running her off. Then again, from her story, one could probably assume that Misa was lonely, just by virtue of the fact that she had no one to turn to.

    Misa's words catch Rei's attention. Protection thingie? Her mind immediately goes to CPS since that makes the most sense in this context. She nods. "Alright. Should I call them and tell them you're here, or would you rather I not?" If Misa doesn't want to go home, calling them might be the worst idea. On the other hand it might be what she wants. On the other other hand it seems like CPS would be easy prey for Maeko.

    Rei frowns at Eilam as he speaks. Geeze. Who comes to a shrine and disses the gods? Especially considering that Rei herself has had personal experience in dealing with a kami and knows there's at least some truth to them. It rubs her the wrong way. Still, she remembers professionalism and says, "The benches are for whoever wants to sit on them. I'm sure the gods won't mind, and no one else will either."

    She glances down at Misa behind her, shrugs, and then turns back to the man. "Do you need help?"

Eilam Hisakawa has posed:
    When they came closer, a bit of their own conversation became apparent. As Eilam looked towards them, the blue of his eyes would be more visible, hinting that he wasn't even naturally from this country. The hair was certainly unnatural, dyed, but done very well and brightly. It kind of helped liven him up. Overall his appearance was very well kept, a polished person, vaine perhaps if one noticed the details of things like his nails being perfectly done or the subtle ocean fruit-scented cologne about him.

    Though the question of if he needed help came after he was told the gods probably wouldn't care. He relaxed back a bit more with the stave resting at an angle between his knees and up and over his shoulder, holding it lightly with his hands. "My whole life I have spent rather firmly believing that there were no gods. No... spirits, or well-meaning things like that. How could there be, if they let people get sick, let people who had done nothing get eaten away by disease and sadness over the centuries. But... someone I know /insists/ they are real and... you might find the idea silly, but I... hope she is right. Why I cannot say, but it would be nice, I guess. ...to feel a little less bitter?"

    Then Eilam lookied towards Misa and said, "Your conversation... I did not mean to interrupt it. No reason to worry about me? I will be here longer than you will." A strange choice in words, but it was far more resigned-sounding than he'd intended to have it come across, which was probably just as confusing as some of his other choices in things.

Misa Sakagami has posed:
     "No... someone probably already knows... I was in the news the other day..." And she'd been sweeping, so it's quite possible some well-meaning shrine visitor had seen her and called them. She shifts slightly in place, her gaze shifting away. "They probably think I ran away..." Misa mumbles quietly.

     A hand lifts to rub at her eyes. "...It might be easier just to tell them I did... then my parents won't hurt as much when I'm around..." Misa adds, her tone becoming much quieter. She'd seen it. The worry and the pain in their eyes when they looked at their daughter that they didn't know how to help. How frantically they'd tried to find someone, anyone, who could help their daughter.

        Maybe it would be better if she was just with Maeko again...

     But she was brought out of her thoughts by Eilam, he seemed ... odd. She couldn't put her finger on it, but something about him was unnerving, made her step a little closer to Rei as she listens to him speak, watching him silently with her red eyes.

     "O...of course there's spirits and gods... t...that's why prayer slips and stuff work..!" Misa blurts out suddenly, her tone a little bit hesitant. "I...it's just... there's mean spirits and probably mean gods, too... that do all the bad stuff..."

Rei Hino has posed:
    So they might already know. Rei frowns, and then nods. "Alright. Well, if they come then that's what I'll say. You showed up here after running away." Which is technically the truth. "Maybe Maeko won't bother them as much." Though, Rei can't help but feel sorry for Misa regardless. Wouldn't she just be alone again?

    As for the details of how Misa came to the shrine specifically... who knows? It's probably not hard to conclude that someone who had no one else to turn would go to a shrine of some sort. Maybe to seek protection from the kami or something.

    Rei 'hmms' at the question regarding gods. She reaches up to scratch her chin. "I think 'well-meaning' is a strong word."

    Misa shares her point of view, and Rei nods firmly. "They have their own concerns and desires and aren't always interested in the affairs of mortals. Some of them are tricksters more interested in pulling pranks than doing what we'd consider 'kind'." She flaps her hand back and forth as she goes on. "Granted, some of them are well meaning, and they tend to favor those of a particular profession or other such thing. Just... no promises about all of them being that way."

    This is, after all, a Shinto shrine. This is the wrong religion to go to for omnibenevolence.

    'I will be here longer than you will.'

    Rei isn't sure what to make of that statement. She's the one who lives here. It doesn't really occur to her what he really means.

Eilam Hisakawa has posed:
    Once again Eilam found himself just kind of looking between the two as they had their own conversation and he came to be reminded of the problem another he knew was having. Problems at home because of magic, running away. But how popular was magic even? What were the chances this girl was also having the same problem? Maybe it was best not to stick his nose into things. But what was the harm in dropping breadcrumbs and responding if they're followed?

    "A friend of mine, a girl about your age, has been having trouble lately with her family. She is having trouble making up her mind if she should try to work it out with them, or just... depart. I cannot offer any thoughts other than this is your life at the end of the day, and you only have the one life, so... live it so you will not regret it later? You are the center of your own world and the author of your own story. And while some may be more mundane than others magical, in the end - it is your story."

    Today, with life advice with Eilam. Words from a bitter immortal young fellow.

    "And you said they are not always interested in mortals, but what could drag their attention to something? I would very much be interested in finding out. Sometimes I feel like, if the gods are real... something about me must be like bug spray to the gods. Something driving them away. Should I try one of those prayer slips? I imagine there are plenty of people already asking for things."

Misa Sakagami has posed:
     Misa gives a small nod towards Rei, listening to her as she talks. "She probably won't..." Misa says, almost whispering the next part, "She likes seeing people suffer." She gives a small nod. She shifts a little bit in place, thinking on things, breathing slowly. Hmm.

     Hopefully they don't come before she's fully healed. She doesn't really want to answer those questions. "Right... l-like she said... their own concerns and desires. They do what they need to and want to..." She trails off, thinking briefly of Maeko as one of those 'spirits or gods'. But she shakes her head a moment.

     And... then Eilam spoke. A girl about her age, having trouble with her family... she shifts slightly. "I...if she can work it out she probably should.. I'm sure that her family loves her." Misa mumbles quietly. Live her life so that she won't regret it later.

     That gets Misa thinking. Live her life so she won't regret it. She wants to spare her parents from as much pain as she can. Would leaving so that they don't hurt as much be best? Getting away so Maeko won't hurt them, so that she can return when she can be a daughter who they can love without pain?

     Or would that be worse to do? Maybe she could try to tell them... somehow... let them know... but that just made it so her original parents were put to sleep. Maybe... she could... no... she'd just have to be quiet again. Try to stay away from people she didn't want to get hurt. Yes. That was the safest thing to do.

     Which meant that she'd have to try her hardest not to make it seem like she is friends with Rei. Because that will probably be the safest thing for Rei. The way she could protect her. "Maybe... it's less that they're driven away... but the wrong kind are drawn to you..?" Misa murmurs towards Eilam.

Rei Hino has posed:
    The admission that Maeko likes to see people suffer sends a chill down Rei's spine. It's one thing to hurt others because you need to feed or... whatever it is that Maeko does, but to enjoy it? As if hurting people were sport?

    Eilam is most certainly odd, and even a bit mysterious. She raises an eyebrow at the mention of magic. While they were just talking about that, but still. Normal people tend to scoff, ignore, or just not notice things like that, don't they?

    "Well, often if you want the attention of a kami, you go to their shrine and pray. You might even bring a small sacrifice of rice or meat, but those aren't always necessary." This is, after all, Rei's particular area of expertise. "You can leave a prayer slip if you like. I have to wonder, though. What exactly would you want to consult them about? Maybe if you give me a bit of information to go on, I can direct you towards the right one?"

    "Either way, it's likely that they just haven't tried to interact with you, or maybe they are and you haven't noticed. Or like she said, maybe you're attracting the wrong kind."

    Rei doesn't really have much to add on the subject of family trouble. She lives with her grandpa, and not with her dad, for a reason. It's not as if it's new to her. She just... didn't have the best ending to her own family problems.

Eilam Hisakawa has posed:
    Eilam smiled a tiny bit at Misa's choice of words, though Rei starts to speak again and he listens. Then asks the important question, what does /he/ want? Well, if he was honest that would just reveal everything, and chances are they wouldn't believe him. But there was no point in lying, because it would get him nothing. And he was still feeling... hopeful. Stupid Madoka making others feel hopeful about things.

    "Well, I would prefer to keep this a secret. Between us, okay?" Eilam looked between the two he was speaking with. "Not that you would really believe me if I told you I was born several hundred years ago, a disease ate away at my strength and I've been stuck like this ever since. But that aside, let's try something a bit more believable. I would very much... appreciate having more energy, or at least being able to feel... like I'm not dying every day of my life. Waking up, living, and going to asleep with the constant pain of having my body eaten away from the lingering effects of a disease I contracted when I was quite young... I am tired, I suppose. I just want to rest. But the gods do not want me to, or I would already be by now. So I suppose Enma, as my friend put it. I want to ask them why they do not want me."

Misa Sakagami has posed:
     It looked like, for the most part, Eilam and Rei were conversing among each other; which Misa didn't mind too much. It meant she wasn't talking and wasn't thinking about stuff at the moment. At least not as much. As such! She quietly reaches to take hold of the broom again.

     She doesn't just try and tug it out of Rei's hand though, instead moving it very slightly so that Rei knows that she's trying to take it, but staying quiet so that she didn't disrupt the conversation between the two. She was carefully using the arm that hadn't been damaged yesterday, her glove was there to cover her right hand, even if her left hand's glove was beyond repair.

     She looks towards Eilam as he speaks though, listening to him as he speaks. She tilts her head very slightly. He feels like he's always out of energy, can't rest... and has a disease? Hmm. Odd. Her thoughts briefly trail that getting energy from someone might be a good idea, but she shakes her head quickly; why would she even think something like that? That's the sort of thing Maeko does, not her! "My mom and dad drink coffee for that..." She mumbles quietly.

Rei Hino has posed:
    Rei's look is not one of shock, or surprise. Nor is it especially of disbelief. Sure, he's a little... young looking for being several hundred years old, and while she isn't particularly sure if she believes that at face value, the fact that he was already talking about magic makes the rest of that very likely. It's too early in the morning for her to pretend to be surprised.

    "Today is the day for strange curses, apparently." She shrugs.

    "Alright. So, sickly. Feel like you're dying all the time. Would like more energy." At the mention of Enma, she blinks, and then scratches the back of her head. "Well, he's Buddhist, specifically. Or Hindu. That would be a different shrine." She actually has no idea if other religions have actual gods related to them, though she wouldn't doubt it. "Around here you could find a shrine to Izanami, the goddess of creation and death. No comment on the credulity of your story, but you might want to ask why you've been left out of the cycle?"

    She taps her chin, thinking over the list of kami names in her head. "Juroujin might be someone to consult, too. Him and Fukurokuju are both gods of longevity. Sukuna-Biko-Na would be the deity of medicine, so he might also be worth looking into."

    Misa reaches for the broom, and without much prodding Rei glances towards her and allows her to take the broom. She flashes a smile at Misa before turning her attention back to Eilam.

Eilam Hisakawa has posed:
    At all the talk of gods and such Eilam seems just a little lost in thought. Misa's remark did cause him to smile at her, though. "Coffee is not my thing. Too bitter. Why waste my time drinking things that taste as terrible as that when I can enjoy sweet things? Perks of being ill I suppose, never really get fat." A bit of gallows humor, even if lightly so. "Izanami... I suppose that is as good a place to start as any. Thank you for humoring me in this. Though you speak of a day for strange curses? Whatever do you mean?"

    Raising up a little, Eilam held onto his stave firmly to give himself a little leverage and finally he was upright, looking at the bench next to him. "If you wish to sit, by all means. I... cannot speak to the energy of others. I just know when I get tired and how tired I get. Must be nice to be able to simply stand all you want, haha. Been a while since I thought about something like that. Mm... oh, and coffee does nothing for me. As soon as I get energy it just leaves me again." Though as he started to watch Misa, he realized she was favoring an arm.

    "Are you hurt?"

Misa Sakagami has posed:
     Rei's comment gets a brief glance from Misa as she takes the broom. She shifts slightly to carefully use the arm of her oversized outfit to wrap around the broom with both arms, beginning to make her way very slightly away.

     She does, however, listen to the conversation of the gods and spirits. She blinks a bit as she looks towards Eilam. "Maybe sweet coffee then..?" She comments towards Eilam, as she begins to sweep up some stray dirt and leafy debris with slow, careful strokes. Now that she was actually sweeping, she didn't seem to be favoring her left arm much, though she was careful not to let it show.

     "As soon as you get energy it leaves you again...? That's odd..." It sounded almost like an energy drain. She looks towards Eilam and gives a little honest nod. "I was sleepwalking last night and fell and scraped my hand pretty bad..." It was a lie. "I woke up and went here 'cause it was close and nighttime is scary..." She nods quietly, thinking a bit. She should probably get going though, before CPS sends out police to try to find her or something...

Rei Hino has posed:
    Rei's about to say something else, when suddenly their conversation is interrupted by a certain old man.

    "Rei-chan..."

    Something about the tone of his voice irritates Rei immediately. Probably because she expects another argument. An argument that she really doesn't need right now. It never occurs to her that maybe her own irritable nature might actually turn that into a self-fulfilling prophecy.

    "Grandpa," she says, flatly.

    "Rei-chan, what's going on? Did you have friends over? What's with these torn up clothes."

    Augh! Rei's vein is popping. She knew she should have burned those or something. "It's a long story. Anyway those clothes are rui---"

    "Eeeee!"

    Rei blinks. Grandpa is currently staring right at Misa. His hands are covering his mouth as if he had just seen the cutest thing in the world. "Are you working here? Did my beautiful granddaughter recruit you?" He then clears his throat, before adding, "Where are your parents? Do they know--"

    "For the love of... She's not that much younger than me, you know!"

    "Still too young to be away from home! Rei-chan why didn't you tell me you had such a cute friend?"

    "Not having this conversation!" Rei starts walking back towards the shrine. Grandpa is about to say something else to Misa, but Rei grabs him by the arm and drags him off. Whatever they're going to do, it's not bother Misa with whatever antics grandpa has in mind.

Eilam Hisakawa has posed:
    Eilam was largely quiet during the whole exchange, but he did wind up laughing softly once it was mostly over. And then it was just him and Misa. "Well, I suppose he is right, you are quite the sight to behold in that outfit. But I forget if I... introduced myself." In light of being silly, and taking advantage of the moment and all the talk of gods and mystical stuff, "Eilam, Vampire. Nice to meet you." he wasn't really a vampire, but he'd others tease him about it before that he came off that way, so no harm in just going with it and seeing how others react, right?

    Not that he was too focused on Misa at the moment, he was left thinking about Izanami.

Misa Sakagami has posed:
    'Eeeeeee!' The sound of squealing grandparents causes Misa to freeze as she listens to Rei's grandfather speak, trying to talk to her, and start asking questions. Misa is about to open her mouth, when Rei drags off her grandfather. "...Bye, miss Hino." Work at the shrine... that... didn't sound like an entirely terrible idea.

     Eilam then began to talk to her, and Misa just kind of ... watches the man for several long moments. Especially when he introduces himself as a vampire. "...Vampires burn..." She mumbles quietly under her breath. "...Misa. The girl from the news..." She mumbles, taking a slow breath as she makes her way over to put the broom somewhere safe. "I'm going to go... have a good day..." She mumbles.

            And then the broken doll was gone.

     Well. Okay. She was walking quietly down the stairs that were conspicuously extremely clean and not at all bloodstained from last night.