Post by Ksathra on Jun 19, 2014 17:45:22 GMT -5
Koudai watched almost disinterestedly as Chainhunter began to lose some semblance of his self-control and left in search of food. Not that the old man could blame him. It must be difficult being a Hollow that could actually hold morals and show self-control. So he merely grinned at the Hollow's disappearing form, momentarily seeming either proud of Chainhunter or pleased that everything was better in this world than it had been centuries earlier.
Now he addressed Kasumi's questions, more than obviously amused by her confusion at his age. "It is as I told you once already, Kasumi-chan. I am over 1000 years old. One thousand, two hundred and fifty-nine years, to be precise. I'll be growing a year older in naught but a few months' time." Sensing she might want a bit of an explanation, Koudai continued. "You see, Shinigami are 'born', if you will, from the souls of the deceased. All of us, at one time or another, have lived in the Rukongai, the place where all souls are reborn."
He took a few moments to gather a piece of what Chainhunter had been perched on before adding it to his cart. "Barring dramatic circumstances, these Souls are able to live either until their usually-unnatural demise and are reincarnated in the world of the living, or until they become Shinigami via the Academy or enlistment. The latter doesn't usually happen." The old scientist took a moment to gather the remains of his ruined device. "Some of us just refuse to die in the line of duty, though. Like me. I've survived all of the recent events by luck: I'd been retired from active duty until just days before the destruction of Karakura Town. Even managed to avoid that awful mess that nearly emptied the Fourth Division."
To her second question, as soon as he remembered it, all he could do was chuckle quietly. "You're not too far off, dear child. The structures around here, in this world, barely rose to the third set of this monstrous building's windows." For a moment, Koudai seemed to get almost pensive, or even delve into something painful. "Back then...things were a lot more violent, too. People dying was a much more common thing, but mass deaths and unholy destruction were thankfully less frequent." Still, even with that statement, Koudai seemed almost certainly in pain as he recalled the past for a moment longer. "People dying was much more frequent than it is now. Humans and Shinigami alike. Be grateful you didn't have to see some of the wheel of tragedy that existed back then."
With that, Koudai changed the subject so quickly it would've given someone whiplash. "I'm drinking sake, Kasumi-chan. It's like drinking water to me, but for someone your age, besides being outright illegal, it would likely be very detrimental to your health. It's alcohol, after all." A scheming grin briefly adorned his face. "I would consider corrupting a child by giving her alcohol, but at this point I've likely been picked up by any Shinigami in the area. The last thing I want to do is let them think I'm even more of a threat or a bad influence. Not that people exactly hold me in high regards as-is."
The old scientist finally went over to his cart again, and folded up the supports holding it up. "With that understanding in mind, I must be off, my dear. I do not want them to follow me or find my private laboratory." He started pushing the cart back the way he came, then turned back and grinned before bowing. "It's been a pleasure as always, young miss. Do take care of yourself."
Gracious parting words precluded him and his cart vanishing in a burst of quiet sound, almost akin to a gentle breeze rushing past one's ears.
(Thread Exit)
Word Count: 636
GP Earned: 12; 44 Total