[Moon 13, Morning, Sick Bay] Imbalance

[Isawa O-Washi]

"An island, blessed by and sacred to the Thunderer. The Kuni have warded it up one side and down the other so that it's free of the...malady." O-washi, superstitious as any pious sailor, refused to mention the Taint where a kansen could hear it. "A blessed relief, however brief our stay will be."

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

"Some relief at least."

An attempt at a smile only slightly spoiled by the haunted look in his eyes.

"If you wish, I will watch Isawa-san for now. I am sure you have more important duties onboard, Isawa-sama."

[Isawa O-Washi]

"Hai, I've lessons to ready for. Arigatou, Agasha-san. I'm sure my Cousin will be grateful of it, too, when he's well enough to say."

With a friendly clap to his kin's shoulder, O-washi exited the bay, making his way toward the fore stair.

/exit

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

Qian-Fan bowed politely as the gunso left and then made a quick check on Junpei before settling in to await the air tensai awakening.

[Isawa Junpei]

It wasn't until around midday that Junpei finally stirred, his whole body aching like his insides were on fire. He was burning up and thirsty, but most of all he could still feel the sickness of the sea, heavy blankets of miasmatic fog surrounding him. Even if down below he was free of them, they felt every bit like they were suffocating him. Drenched with sweat he eyes slowly focused on the dimly lit ceiling.

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

Qian-Fan stirred from his attempted meditations. They hadn't been that successful with the torment of the water at the edge of his awareness constantly.

"Easy, Isawa-san. Try not to move too much."

[Isawa Junpei]

"W-water," he choked out his hands weakly trying to move up to his chest. Instead they rose only slightly, shaking intensely before simply falling back to his sides. He doubted he could move even if he wanted to in his current condition.

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

This had been anticipated, so Qian-Fan filled a small cup with water and brought it to Junpei's lips.

"Slowly, Isawa-san. Slowly."

[Isawa Junpei]

Lifting his head to drink, he sipped at the water, each gulp making him feel like he was swimming in it. Laying back down and breathing heavily for a moment he closed his eyes and looked as though he had returned to sleep. "I," he started in a whisper, "I should never have come."

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

"Nonsense. It is an honour to serve in the Legion. Your malady is unfortunate and made worse by our location, but you will recover. Isawa-sama has already dosed with a cure. A little more water and I will send for some miso for you. You may not feel like eating but we need to restore your balance. Your Water is weak and needs bolstering. We'll have you skimming the sail tops again as soon as possible."

He smiled at his sick clanmate and refilled the cup before bringing it to Junpei's lips again.

[Isawa Junpei]

"This place is evil," he turned away to face the wall. "I...I don't have the strength to contend with these spirits. I want to be ever free of their poisonous whispers. Please, merciful winds save me from their song."

It was clear he was no longer talking to Qian-Fan, shifting slowly onto his side and curling up as much as his body and his strength would allow. "Stay close. Sing me sweet melodies to drown out the terrible sound. Be near me and let's be together against the shadows." His words were spoken in the language of the kami, words that might have otherwise gone unheard were he in the company of anyone other than a fellow shugenja.

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

And a non shugenja would have missed the possible danger in those words.

"Isawa-san, you need to drink more to replace what you have lost. Isawa-san? Are you still with me?"

He moved the cup of water close again, hoping that Junpei would come back to him enough to drink.

"Don't call on the kami, not here."

The last was said to the wall of the ship, not entirely clear if it was for Junpei or if Qian-Fan was talking to himself.

[Isawa Junpei]

Closing his eyes he stayed silent for several moment, but then slowly turned to lay on his back again. His greatest aid was gone to him, and he was left alone to face this horrible place. He distracted himself thinking about whether it was the Sea of Shadows or the absence of the kami that made him feel weak. Inevitably there seemed to be no difference between the two.

Sitting up he tried to drink some more water.

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

Qian-Fan kept hold of the cup, carefully regulating how much the Isawa could drink at once. No point in upsetting his system with too much water at once.

"Better, Isawa-san. You'll be back on your feet in no time at all. Shall I see about that miso for you?"

[Isawa Junpei]

Junpei didn't respond, he just stared up at the ceiling, the damp rafters oscillating in shades of wood-grain brown. It was obvious that he wasn't far away, he just didn't feel like answering. Oh, yes, he would be a difficult patient...perhaps not as difficult as one of the bushi, barreling out of the infirmary, half-stitched up with their guts still hanging out, but uncooperative all the same.

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

Qian-Fan sighed and settled back in to watch. Isawa always proved to be difficult patients, arrogant and proud. There were ways around it though. The Agasha puzzled his way through the best ways to go about this particular Isawa.

"Isawa O-Washi-sama will check in you later, to make sure your condition is improving. I will have to go soon. I have training lessons to attend and do not have permission to miss them."

He paused a moment, voice softening a little when he continued.

"I do not wish to leave you alone with . . . the conditions we are in. I will have one of the peasants serve his duty by attending to you in that time."

[Isawa Junpei]

Junpei opened his mouth, but closed it almost immediately. He might have asked Qian-Fan to stay, but he refused to submit to his own weakness. He enjoyed the company of his clan, but he couldn't help reminding himself that he was also distracting them, tarnishing their already fragile image on the ship. No, he couldn't indulge himself in any way that might be selfish, even if it meant long hours spent alone with one of the lower class.

Instead he continued to peer up at the deck, whispering an appreciative, "Thank you."

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

"I would stay if I could. This is my place to be I would think, but the duty roster has not been declared yet and I will not disobey orders."

He half filled the cup again and offered it to Junpei.

"Here. More water. I will go find one of the peasants now and have something sorted with the cook for your sustenance."

Once the cup had been taken, he rose, bowed and slipped out quietly, immediately looking for one of the ship's heimin or eta to attend the stricken Isawa.

/exit

[Rixy]

Gentle Kuji, junior carpenter, was soon found and was happy to do her work (the carving of a new belaying pin to replace one broken by high winds) in the company of the tensai.