Go(o)d-Natured

“Raaki, I might’a gotten us some’n.”

The fish was just a bite away from Rakshal’s mouth when he glanced upward. Igni jumped down from—seemingly—the sky itself, landing gracefully a few steps from him with the same small white snake around his neck. The older god wore his usual long white tunic, chains emerging and dragging from parts of material that didn’t seem bothered by them. His wide, tall form blocked the majority of the light as he bent forward to look down at him.

“Oh…that was fast," Rakshal muttered, turning his focus on the stick his fish was on.

Only to see that Goku had taken it, munching quietly on a bit while looking elsewhere.

Narrowing his eyes, he gave the monkey a look and let his hand drop.

A handful of days had passed since the decisive conversation within the palace. He had no choice but to put his plan of infiltration aside to reconsider and reorganize.

He scowled. "Reconsider" wasn't the word he would prefer to use, as these were his mother and friends in need, but there was no denying it: At this point, there was a enormous chance his mother wasn't even in the Soon Palace anymore...

"Ya done thinkin'?"

He sighed, raising his head to stare directly at the sky. White clouds stretched across it, seemingly, forever, blinding to look at as the sun's rays attempted to pierce through. "Who have you found?" he finally asked, idly picking a piece of fish from around Goku's mouth to give back to him.

Igni's voice carried amusement as he said, "A sebuan o' the Raja'shun's got a lil' naughty side-thing. Don't seem like he likes 'em real much."

Frowning, Rakshal looked up at him curiously. A captain? "How so?"

"Been watchin' 'im fer a lil' while." Igni slipped his hands into his billowing sleeves. "Jus' outta curios'ty. M'thinkin' 'e's some'n's spy, 'cause 'e had t'meet a gen'ral an' took some real good time t'snoop."

"Snoop in the palace...with a general near?"

"Ah."

"Ballsy bastard..." Rakshal turned his gaze back to the sky. "Are you watching him now?"

"Nah, 'e's in the barracks. Don' wanna be in 'ere." Igni crouched, letting his small snake slither down his arm and observe Goku. Its little pink tongue flicked at the monkey, and the monkey in turn focused on it.

Rakshal smiled a bit while watching. "What are you planning?"

"Mm, maybe t'just control 'im a lil' bit..."

"Control him? Why?"

"'Cause 'e might know somethin'. Might know places. Can git ’n places real easy-like."

"Why don't we just have him work with us? We might have similar goals." Rakshal reached out and gently pet the snake's small, thumb-sized head.

"Ah, true, true..." The older god trailed off. "Been talkin' t'm'snakes, 'e does."

"The sebuan?"

"Ah. Fer some ol' reason..." Igni looked to his left, and Rakshal followed his gaze.

From the top of the roof they crouched on, they could see the streets of Yake Meresta and the bustling city-folk. Several carried parasols, as there was a great threat of rain for the entirety of the day. The petrichor in the air smelt pleasant, reminding Rakshal of better days he would never get back or likely relive again.

A cloud of worry and solemnity overcame his features.

Keekaa—

Something white came quickly into his peripheral.

"Ow!" He rubbed at his left temple, glaring at Igni. "What?!"

A long, pale finger lowered, its owner hissing, "Stop thinkin' neg'tively. Good things'll come, event'ally."

"Shuddup." He shoved the older god out of the way, pointedly ignoring the hissing chuckle. "Do something useful and use your kids to get the sebuan, then!"

"M'kay. We poof."

And the older god—and his snake—disappeared.

Rakshal stared at the spot, deadpan. "Fucking snake," he sighed, situating himself back on the roof as Goku cooed, climbing onto his shoulder. His lips spread, listening to the monkey's unsaid words that echoed what Igni said.

Good things will come eventually? he scoffed. I doubt it. Not with the way things seem to be developing—

"Ow?!" He grabbed at the monkey, who ran off, as his ear throbbed gently from a bite. He stood and began to run after him, smiling widely. "Don't take after that bastard! I'll kill him! Goku! Come back, you little—!”

Rakshal’s tail swished swiftly with trepidation, but this time, he didn’t mind. He had every right to be nervous, approaching a park garden further into Yake Meresta with Igni at his side in the dead of night.

Nothing to be concerned about. They were only meeting the military spy Igni arranged a meeting with through one of his snake-children. Meaning, Igni himself had never met the captain.

Nothing to worry about at all.

Darkness clouded Rakshal’s face, though his paces were even and light. Beside him, the snake god seemed as nonchalant and quietly menacing as always.

One day, Rakshal would see him at perfect ease.

One day.

“Yer thinkin’ too hard.”

“How do you know?” he huffed, tail flicking in annoyance.

A humored, hissing chuckle was his answer.

He huffed again. “You’re certain this sebuan will come?”

“Nah.” Igni shrugged. “But m’thinkin’ we can trust ‘im.”

“Right. You. ‘Trust’…”

Another chuckle. The god was in a strangely positive mood.

Rakshal didn’t trust it. “If he turns out to be an ass, don’t eat him.”

“Wouldn’t 'ave done no such’a thing.” He heard the smirk, didn't trust the smirk, and saw the smirk when he glanced over.

"I mean it, Igni."

A third annoying chuckle.

He wisely let it go.

In the dead of night, the park appeared ominous, secretive. It had rained that day, nurturing the grass and all natural life, and he could smell a storm on the way in a few hours. He also sensed a presence further in the park that was undoubtedly a bashmut, but it carried a trace of something different and oddly familiar. He did wonder if his companion sensed it as well but didn't bother asking.

Goku chirped softly on his shoulder, and he brought the monkey close to his chest. "We'll see," he whispered.

The arranged meeting spot came into view, a round space where stone benches sat in a half-circle beneath a magnificent tree with large red leaves. Rakshal briefly eyed it, then panned his gaze down to look at the tall, slender figure standing directly under the tree. The branches were low enough that the man could touch them, and he did so with a gentleness that suggested to Rakshal that he was reminiscing about or yearning for something.

What had Rakshal's lips parting was the man's perfectly straight, reddish hair, swaying gently and on perfect display as his back was turned to them.

Only then, once the man came into view, did Igni's demeanor change. It was subtle, but a year of spending time with the older god was enough for Rakshal to tell.

Thus, his demeanor changed as well.

"I imagine you aren't bashmut," the man said softly, his voice gentle and calm, "so I won't bother treating you as such." If the man had been incorrect, Rakshal wouldn't have been able to hear him in the slightest.

Slightly tilting his head up, Rakshal's paces slowed. "You're right. After seeing my companion's snakes, I imagine that wouldn't come as a surprise."

"Indeed." The man lowered his hand from the leaves and turned to face them.

Oblique grey eyes scanned their bodies, pale features were framed by his dark hair, and an ominously pleasant smile graced the captain’s face. He wore casual civilian clothes colored black with a red sash, nothing out of the ordinary. “Gods, then,” he said after a moment of observation.

Rakshal, while suspicious, didn’t bother reacting. "I'll get right to it, then..." He glanced up at his mentor. The older god's smile, crooked and aloof, was painfully familiar. He didn't care for this man. Returning his gaze to the slender figure, Rakshal continued, "We know what you're doing in the palace and military, but I was wondering if you know a pirate who is part of the Lophasi crew."

The man's eyes briefly closed as he made a single nod. "I do. I've been in the military for over a hundred years as a spy."

With that confirmation, Rakshal came to a stop, slid atop a bench, and crossed his legs while Goku jumped to his shoulders. Igni merely stood beside him, hands resting lazily in his sleeves. "You might have an idea who I am, then," he said.

The grey eyes took their time looking him over. Placing his hands behind his back, the captain took a few casual strides closer. "You are either a believer of the Wasihl conspiracy, like myself, or is someone closer to the Wasihli than that...much like myself."

Rakshal's lips slightly parted, but he kept the pinch of hope to himself.

"Regardless of your position, we seem to have the same alignment, the same general goal, and I imagine...you would like to work together."

Brows furrowing, Rakshal began, "I—"

"I agree. We should." The captain eyes panned to Igni. "However. I do wonder what Aashubhanay's role is in this."

The snake god made a low, more menacing yet still amused chuckle.

Narrowing his eyes, Rakshal explained, "He is a trusted friend."

"Ah..." The man glanced away in momentary thought, then nodded. "Very well. You may call me Kyoukas."

"Alright. Call me Monsar." Rakshal's tail flicked.

"Call me Igni," Igni chimed in. When Rakshal gave him a strange look, he shrugged. "Special names ain't m'thing, y'know."

Sighing, Rakshal faced forward again. "No, Igni, I didn’t know."

An almost fond smile spread across Kyoukas’s face, but it was gone as fast as it came, returning to a kind, placating smile. Rakshal had an inkling it was merely a mask. But what was it hiding?

“Also,” he added, leaning back on the bench, “I would refrain from trying to betray us.”

Long red hair hid Kyoukas’ face as he bowed low, pressing his palms together. “Understood, Shishen,” he intoned.

Another hiss, deeply amused, emitted from Igni.

Rakshal couldn’t deny the satisfaction that reaction procured, but he quickly dismissed it. With a nod, he rested his chin upon a propped-up hand. His instincts were unusually wary today. He had the feeling Kyoukas was a person who made every move with great intention.

He narrowed his eyes. Possibly dangerous, though not exactly to me or Igni.

“Shall we meet again?” Kyoukas asked. “I’m afraid I must return to my sebuan duties shortly.”

“Alright. Igni’s snakes can make that arrangement.” Rakshal glanced at the older god for confirmation, and his response was a satisfied smile.

Kyoukas bowed his head again, but he did not move even after Rakshal stood.

Head tilting, Igni waved a hand to shoo him off. “Git goin’.”

After giving a single nod, the captain turned and used jooryovaa to leave.

Rakshal watched after him, noting his particular skill with the technique to move faster than most bashmut could. It was fitting for a captain of the imperial military.

He scowled. “Nope,” he muttered. “Don’t like him.”

“Same.” Igni shrugged. “But we’ll see what ‘appens, yeah?”

Huffing, Rakshal spun on his heel and walked back the way they came. “Whatever. As long as he’s as smart as he seems, we’re good." Goku softly cooed an agreement, causing him to nod to himself at the validation.

A familiar sly hum made him narrow his eyes as he sensed Igni following close behind. “‘E said somethin’ ‘bout yer fam’ly, eh?”

A deeper frown darkened his face. “Shut up.”

“Mm, ain’tcha int’rested ‘n who ‘e is?”

He almost paused. “Do you know?”

“Nope.”

“Then shut up.”

“So mean.”

He softly growled. “I’m going back to Chicheol…”

“M’kay. Where’re y’gonna be?”

He turned down the path of trodden ground, eyes glancing up at the dark sky in thought. “I’m going to go to a place I should have visited a long time ago. A place I was always afraid to visit, was never allowed to visit. But…I think I’m ready, now.” He nodded when Goku chirped, asking if he was going there. “Talking to Kyoukas’ got me thinking about all we lost,” he murmured somberly.

Igni hummed curiously behind him. “M’kay…”

Rakshal tensed, the familiar slithering up his leg informing him one of Igni’s snakes was in his tunic. Again.

“I’mma let m’kid stay wit’cha. See ya, Raaki.”

The moment the older god disappeared, he gave his eyes a hard roll upwards. “At least ask for permission, first,” he grumbled before disappearing as well.

Even after so many years, almost a hundred cycles, the land was still scorched and covered in chars, ashes, and hardened lava. The scars of the massacres remained rooted in the land; he could smell the blood that once drenched the area, clearly see the remains of bodies that merely decayed over the course of ninety-six cycles instead of becoming a feast for scavenging animals. Even they, the buzzards, refused to tread here.

From atop an unnatural hill made of iron and old blood embedded in its make, he stared upon the ruins of the last Wasihl home.

This was where his family and their dearly beloved called home. This was where his mother, and all that remained of her sanity, metaphorically died.

Tears slowly hazed his vision as he saw his mother in his mind's eye, sobbing and muttering and tearing at her face, drinking herself to what should have been painful, immediate death—over and over and over—because of what happened here before he was even born.

He was just a stone egg then, oblivious to existence and consciousness itself, as he had none. Wukong told him he was a miracle. His mother called him a miracle.

Now that he truly thought about it, about her again, he wondered if he was also her savior.

More memories came to him, ones of his blithering drunk mother telling him tender stories of family and friends between slurred words and teary smiles.

He teleported to the center of it all and inhaled the lingering fumes. He was almost amazed at how something so cruel, something so savage, could embed itself into the plane itself. How long would this place be a devastating reminder of the massacres and the utter, complete fall of the Wasihl Dynasty?

Tears overflowed down his cheeks as his eyes closed. Goku softly cooed, prompting him to bring the small monkey into his arms, holding him close. Smaller arms tried to hold him, bringing more tears down his face.

Maybe he shouldn't have come, after all...

But the possibility that Kyoukas was a close friend of his family did not evade him.

One day, he would ask. One day, he would learn even more about his family, a large family and close friends he would never meet.

Softly, he took a deep breath. He swallowed the tainted air, eyes squeezing shut, before disappearing, leaving the graveyard of over 800 soldiers, 200 family members, and countless friends behind.