Still strolling through the shadows, part IV

[Nayt]

Fin

It was about this time that Shin Shiden would feel something. It wasn't a pleasant something, either. It was . . . sickening, to an extent. It was forceful, too, to an even greater extent, but it clearly did not come from an outside force. It was within his body, a twitch, a motion, a shudder, a shake--a belligerent tick that would come from nowhere, prompted by nothing, to exist for second on end. Shin Shiden might twitch at his joints, but never elsewhere--the joints of his limbs, his chest, and stomach, portions of the body where Qi collected, for the most part--and while he was not aware that he had any Qi to control or the ability to control, the spasms would be all the same.

d him.

They weren't painful, at least not too painful, but they'd last a good several seconds before calming. It might make Shin sick, it might make him tired; there were a number of ways his body could have possibly reacted. He might even drool during the event. Seizures were like that, after all . . .

[Shin]

So wrapped up in himself that Shin didn't know what was happening until it happened. Shin was so busy trying to handle his conflicting emotions that the spasms literally knocked him off his feet. Shin collapsed into a heap on the ground, his body went about it's own business for the next few seconds.

It was perhaps the most frightening thing that Shin had ever undergone, his stomach convulsed and luckily for him Kremnaes had already left because he he vomited when it was done. He laid in the fetal position, his hand clutching his stomach. Shin didn't know what to make of what had just happened...it had been the first time like that anything had happened.

Shin felt weak, physically all he wanted to do was sleep but the pain in his joints kept him from simply laying where he was in his own vomit. It wasn't a sharp pain, more of dull throbbing that was slowly residing. Shin didn't move, he stayed still wondering if there would be some sort of second attack or if his vision would go out like Kremnaes said it would.

Oblivious to how much time passed; or didn't pass, Shin would do no more then roll over to his other side and zone out as he stared at a wall the only hint he was still alive would be the the slight rocking motion of his body.

[littlebean]

kremnaes proceeded nervously, with caution. It wasn't often that he visited Isac's house, and he wasn't too familiar with the route. The last time he travelled there, he was guided by Isac, but this time he had to rely only on himself, which surprisingly despite his incompetence in anything physical,wasn't too much of a problem. His eyes were kept to the ground watching them for traces of his own footprints. Currently it was convenient that he left a trail behind him wherever he walked, this way he could trace his own steps back to his destination, however the major flaw was he wasn't the only one who could do it.

How was he to go about in secrecy if his location, no if everywhere he'd ever been ever could be followed by a trail? It was a huge disadvantage, one that Shin no doubt would be wise enough to use. Things were going to be difficult, and speaking of which, what should he say to Shin upon returning? He'd made it very clear that he didn't want to be near him, when he arrived Shin definitely wouldn't be too pleased.

For a large portion of the journey Kremnaes recited in his head what he should say to Shin to hopefully make him a little less angry. Should he explain that he was simply sent back by Sturm's orders? It was the truth of course, but it didn't change the fact that he was there when Shin wanted him to be. He tried to figure out some sort of excuse for him to be there but could come up with none, until more than halfway through his walk he realized something.

Shin didn't have his sword anymore.

Ha! That was right, Shin actually GAVE it to him without a fight, and for seemingly no reason! Not to threaten him not to scare him into doing anything. It meant that, well it actually only meant that he couldn't hurt him with his weapon. The excitement faded away when Kremnaes realized the man could probably break him in half with his own two hands if he wanted too. Without any support to aid him or a confident bone in his body, when Kremnaes arrived he opened only a small crack in the door slowly, peaking inside.

"Shin! Oh my goodness Shin what happened?" Everything he'd been practising to say was forgotten. Even though there was a deep fear of the man, he wouldn't leave anyone to suffer regardless of the circumstances. Especially not this man, his project. Something horrible must have happened to bring such a powerful man to the ground. "C-can you get up?"

[Shin]

Kremnaes would have done better to let Shin lay in peace. Of course there was no way to know how Shin was going to react, Kremnaes couldn't have possibly known that Shins sense of helplessness, his own sense of weakness would turn to anger rather quickly.

Shin was still laying on the ground, the silence broke by the slugs voice and snapping Shin back to reality. He didn't turn to face the thing...no.., Shin was much to embarrassed to do that. There was nothing on this earth that would make Shin reach towards the creature for help, he would rather die and to Shin that actually seemed plausible.

His anger got his adrenaline pumping, his fatigue and weariness was being pushed from his body. The dull pain was still there but that was a physical pain, a pain that Shin could block from his mind what he couldn't block or lessen was the emotional pain that accompanied it.

Shins rocking came to a stop and he sat straight up, his eyes either red for the tears or pure anger. Probably both as far as Kremnaes would have been able to tell. Shins anger became visible as his face became red and his eyes locked onto Kremnaes. Yes, the slug would have been better if it just walked away.

Carefully Shin got to his feet, he moved slowly, stretched each finger each arm and leg as he stood to his fool height. "I...I told you to leave." Shin said in one heavy breath. Shin may have not had his sword, but he did have the sheath for the weapon which was made of steel and in Shins hands it could be a deadly weapon. He thought over this as his hand rested on the spot where the Shiden Blade would normally be.

Shin didn't seem to care that there were still bits of snot and vomit on him, that or he didn't notice. Shin couldn't afford to have an image that portrayed him as weak, as someone that would need this things help. His grip tightened and his eyes narrowed..he was forming a plan.

[littlebean]

As always with Shin actions spoke louder than words and as if he were without any words, he slowly stood himself up straight to his full height successfully answering his question. "Oh thats good." He sighed to himself. If Shin were to remain in poor condition it might make his job easier, but since Shin was everything but a cooperative patient he was glad he could at least stand. He doubted Shin would let him assist him in anyway, he was far too proud.

Yet at the same time Kremnaes couldn't help but scoff at the irony of a man exhiling his nurse who was sent to monitor his condition, only to have a seizure as soon as the nurse left. The situation had "I told you so" written all over it, and it was a damn good thing Kremnaes brought an extra set of pills. Of course, Shin wouldn't ever appreciate this kind of help and medical treatment. As predicted, the very sight of the slug sent him into a rage and he conveniently forgot how sick he was before to be well enough to threaten his life once again.

The routine was growing boring and exhausting, almost to the point where Kremnaes was growing tired of being scared, but only almost. Shin was very much a threat, and Kremnaes was still very much defenseless against the man. He had his weapons he brought just in case, but he knew very well that using them would only provoke Shin to attack him at full force. The knife to Kremnaes was the equivalent of a teddy bear or blanky a child kept about for comfort. He'd do all that he could, which was try to play nice with the crazed man.

"Y-yes Shin I know b-but..." His voice was the usual scared quivering sound and he stepped back from the weapon. He literaly forgot all about the sheath. "I was sent back, I-i have to!"

[Shin]

Shin took a step forward....and then fell. It wasn't exactly what the Tenken had in mind, but his body simply couldn't handle all the stress Shin had forced it through over the past couple months. Shin had literally been moving non-stop with out much regard to how it would effect him and without Chi to sustain him and push him farther, like he had been doing, Shin simply ran out of gas.

Shin crashed to the ground with a loud thud, his eyes rolled back and his body became nothing more then dead weight. A person could only push themselves so far, it was a miracle that Shin was even alive! His breathing was quick and shallow, skin clammy and wet to the touch, yet he was deathly cool.

It was hard to say how long Shin had been pushing his body, fight after fight, the seizure simply pushed his body over his limits. It didn't matter how strong Shin got, how perfect his sword skill was because regardless of everything he could do Shin was still just a human.

He was at Kremnaes's mercy now, if the slug thing wanted to kill him there would be nothing Shin could do about it. Medically speaking Shin was in a coma, and comas were tricky things because it was impossible to tell how long it might last or if there would be any long term damage if he awoke. It was out of Shins hands now...Kremnaes would have to decide what was best to do.

[littlebean]

What happened next was a completely unexpected reaction. Even though he explained to Shin that his return was a simple order from his master he was sure that, like last time it would only get him death threats and possibly actual death this time around. Shin passing out on the floor was a startling turn of events. Now "I told you so" wasn't even appropriate. Regardless of the fact that Kremnaes was sent to monitor his condition, this would hardly count as proving Kremnaes's point because that was a lie entirely.

Now it seemed there really was a condition to look after. "Shin!" Instantly Kremnaes rushed to his side, kneeling over his body in a way that, should Shin be conscious right now would have earned him a swift punch in the face. With his chest close to Shin's head he inspected it for any injury or damage from the fall, and luckily there was none.

"Shin? Shin can you hear me?" Kremnaes did everything he could to get his attention, calling his name, snapping his fingers, waving his hand in front of his face but to his horror Shin was unresponsive. It didn't take a genius to figure out an unexplained seizure and a sudden coma meant that something was wrong, and now Kremnaes would finally have to put one of his very few skills to work.

Leaning over Shin's body once again, he brought his face close to his. The procedure would be entirely unremarkable, the only visible indication that Kremnaes was doing anything at all was the inward and outward retracting of his antennae. Unlike most doctors and nurses, this was how Kremnaes performed his checkups. He started at the top, paying close attention to his head (his brain specifically, looking for the cause of the seizures) then down to his torso, stopping at all of his vital organs and eventually making his way down to his limbs. Even with his ability to detect illness and injury, he found absolutely nothing throughout his whole body.

Since he was in a coma there would be no harm in using the communication device in front of Shin. He brought it out from his mantle and began to message Sturm nervously, hoping he wasn't bothering him while he was in the middle of something again. "M-master? M-master? Are you there?"

[Nayt]

There was no answer for Kremnaes, only a strong static emitting from the radio. There was static, in fact, as soon as Kremnaes tried to communicate with Sturm--as if his words couldn't possibly reach the man at all. Perhaps something had happened, but that might not be important, not yet at least. Currently, Kremnaes had one man sprawled out here that happened to be in a coma.

And apparently no contact with Sturm.

[littlebean]

"Master? Master?"

Kremnaes spoke louder into the machine in case Sturm simply didn't hear him, but didn't get any sort of reply. "...God damnit." He swore for the first time. Cursing wasn't something he usually did, but this time there wasn't anyone around or even conscious enough to be offended.

With a whine he stared at Shin's motionless body, thinking everything through in his head. It was obvious that the man needed medical attention and SHOULD be taken to the clinic, but that's where his sword was, and he didn't think that having him anywhere near his sword would be a good idea. At the same time, Sturm didn't specify if he wanted Shin dead or alive. Perhaps he didn't feel the need to because he assumed he was to live? It didn't look that way now, but a dead Shin certainly couldn't leave the city.

Leaving him to die was definitely not an option. Kremnaes didn't even consider it as an option, he would take him to the clinic. Sword or no sword, at the clinic he couldn't abuse the employees or Sturm the way he did to Kremnaes and get away with it. Like he thought before, if he wanted the sword he'd have to deal with Sturm, and Sturm was a very capable man.

"Hrn!" Having come to his conclusion he struggled for a moment to pick up his patient, but once he had him he left the house to carry him off to the facility, only looking back to stare at the pile of vomit left on Isac's floor. If he had the time, he would return to clean his house. They both owed him that much for his hospitality.