towerofanimus | [Attn: Gyousou and Haldir]

Characters: Taiki, Gyousou and Haldir
Setting: Room 2-20, 25th October late afternoon
Format: Prose unless you guys have any problems with that and I can switch
Summary: Taiki dies, already very very sick with bloodsickness they fail at having enough candy and his costume gets him.
Warnings: Dying obviously, angry demons, angry kings and elves. It will be really sad.

Sanshi burst out of room 2-20 searching for Gyousou; the king was out looking for candy while Sanshi and Gohran guarded Taiki back in the room. It did not take her long to find him, even without the Ouki that Taiki felt to draw her to the king he cut an imposing figure wherever he went.

She ran up to him, pausing before she reached him; formal even in such dire times. She met his eyes and shook her head, the weight of the news she had to give him bearing down at him.

Back in the room Taiki lay curled up around Gohran, his costume was so tight he could barely breathe, his fever was high he was trembling where he lay. He cried quietly feeling helpless; he hadn't been able to collect candy for days now, he was completely reliant on his Shirei and Lord Gyousou.

Sanshi and Gohran had been out searching until a little while ago, but when they saw his state they had stayed with him, he was deteriorating with every moment though. The blood sickness had not been so bad in a long while and just staying awake was a challenge.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Taiki's incapacitation had not been an 'if' for some time now, rather a 'when', an inevitable end that could come at any time. Gyousou had held conflicting hopes - that Taiki would last a little longer and survive this nightmare, and conversely that something would kill him and end the corruption of the blood sickness. Several times he had considered killing the kirin himself, but the deaths and twisted returns of the other tower inhabitants had changed that. He was only a floor away when the chimera Sanshi found him, her silent acknowledgement a summons worse than the dying call of a Hou-ou.

He near-sprinted back. The child's state had worsened, unimaginable when he had been suffering so when Gyousou had left that morning. Still, there was little he could do when collecting the confectionary needed to save him now required murder and theft. Better to let him die and just provide the support he could.

It didn't make it any less horrific, of course, but it helped in the slightest of ways to know that they were both resolved. He gathered Taiki in his arms, ignoring the grime on his robes from the search.

"Kouri!"

Taiki whimpered when he felt Lord Gyousou's presence approach and heard his name being called. He clung to him when he was picked up, feeling guilty for the pain he was bringing to his king but glad he was here.

The blood sickness didn't abate but Taiki felt happier as he wrapped his arms around Gyousou. "I'm sorry..." His tears were beginning to soak the kings robes.

Tragedy and horror seemed to be commonplace these days within Animus, especially now that Ruana was pulling the strings. Leaning against a nearby wall with his gaze downcast towards the floor, Haldir wasn't surprised at all to see Gyusou rush inside. In truth, if the Peace-King of Tai hadn't emerged, Haldir would've hunted the man down himself. The march warden didn't know what he could do for Taiki other than coax the child to live with needless words. He promised the kirin that his passing will be a peaceful one, and tried all he could to reassure him. Yet none of it would be enough to ease the sorrow and fear that lingers within Taiki's heart.

This is why Gyousou is needed. The bond the boy shares with the king isn't fully understood by Haldir, but at least the elf felt better knowing that Taiki will be somewhat at ease.

Casting his gaze towards Gyousou, Haldir inclines his head in respect. "I had hoped for us to meet again under better circumstances..." He whispered quietly as he walked towards the bed. "He is very ill."

"This is no realm for holy creatures," Gyousou said, both as reassurance for Taiki and agreement to Haldir. It was heartening just to see that the elf warden was still amongst the living - or at least, not amongst those who had been twisted. Both for himself, and because it was one piece of bad news Taiki wouldn't have to be troubled with. "Kouri, Haldir is here."

Taiki whimpered again at the new voice and clung tighter to Gyousou's robes, but he turned slightly when he learned who it was. "Haldir..."

Haldir was still alive, that made Taiki glad because he didn't want any of the people who had been so kind to him to die. He reached out weakly, trying to push his bucket of candy over to where he thought Haldir's voice was coming from.

A look of sadness may have marred his elven features for now, but Haldir did his best to smile. If Taiki is fated to die, then so be it. However, let the boy's last memory of him be a happy one. He doesn't wish to burden Taiki with anymore despair, even if that's all he feels now. "Sut naa lle umien?" He whispered in Sindarin as he approached the bed. "How are you doing? Are you in pain?" Though he could not erase the agony that Taiki felt, Haldir at least thinks to ease it with some medicine he still possessed from his realm.

He wasn't quite sure if this elven tonic would do the kirin any good, but he offers it to the boy in the form of a small glass vial. "Worry less about me, child." The march warden said as he gently smoothed Taiki's hair. "It is you who needs aid, not me."

Gyousou didn't insult the offer by asking if Haldir was certain, just smiled, worn but honestly touched by the care bestowed on Taiki. There was little he himself could do, other than help Taiki sit a little more upright.

"Until his last breath, Kouri will feel compassion for others. I cannot find it within me to condemn that."

Taiki leaned against Gyousou unable to sit unaided and reached out weakly when the vial was given to him. He felt bad because what if Haldir got ill... wouldn't he need it...

He whimpered again as the costume tightened further and glanced at Gyousou as if checking it was alright to take the medicine. He might be a kirin but he was also a small child and he was confused and upset.

"Than... you," he whispered his eyes flickering with pain. He stared at the vial as if confused about what to do about it.

Still offering the medicine to the youth, Haldir's tired gaze comes to rest upon Lord Gyousou once more. "Why must their last thoughts be of another when they are in so much agony?" He asked, not quite understanding why the Kouri's kindness knows no bounds. Fearing for the worse once Taiki's voice became meeker in tone, the march warden attempted to pry the ridiculous costume off the boy.

"Lie still." He warned as he started to pull at the fabric. "There must be some way to get this thing off him."

He nodded needless permission for Taiki to take the medicine, but was less intent on trying to prevent the shrinking of the costume. He'd seen the results of other attempts to resist it - or lack thereof - and was resolved besides.

It didn't make him any less angry, though.

"There is no way to do so that I have seen or heard of. It is their last insult."

At the nod Sanshi went to his side and opened the vial, pouring the medicine into Taiki's mouth, his costume was so tight he could no longer move his arms and he whimpered in pain as Haldir pulled at it.

His eyes flickered in fear at Gyousou's tone. "Please... don't be angry..."

[Attn: Gyousou and Haldir]

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