Re: A Time To Heal - Makshim, Shiezin 119 4A

[Kara Winters]

"I'm glad," Hikaru's voice was full of warmth as he said this.

There was much more he wanted to say, but he wasn't sure how to say it or where to start. All he knew was that he was happy, but he hoped that a proper introduction would have thawed Ahkshi a bit, but he feared it probably hadn't.

[Nara-pyon]

Ahkshi was still poking at his food, but it was clear that he was still having trouble accepting the new Huron - that was, Hikaru.

He set his fork down gently. "What have you t-t-told us that is true?" he asked calmly, his eyes anything but.

[Kara Winters]

"Pretty much anything I could get away with, without people questioning who I am. It's actually quite troublesome to come up with new facts," Hikaru replied as he carefully took back his seat.

Because he had a lot of tails he sat at the edge and used his tails as a kind of back cushion.

"I am an herbalist, and worked in what Gaians call homeopathic medicine. I however did get some education in more modern medicine, specifically diagnosis and first aid. Mainly because I wanted to know when to send my patients to a specialist. This is why I've always been able to help you out as long as it's not surgery."

Which had always been something 'Huron' always made a distinction in. He was someone who specialized in medicine, he did not do surgery. He could maybe do a splint and a minor stitch up, but nothing more serious than that.

"I've actually been quite fortunate that my original profession is something recognized here. I did become a traveling herbalist, just because it allows me to travel. Originally traveled because I hoped to find a familiar place, these days I do just because everyone seems to be telling me I need to settle down. That is very awkward in my situation, so I travel to avoid the potential awkward introductions to other people..."

That is he was avoiding being set up to meet ladies. Really, Hikaru found that very awkward to be honest.

"As for my travels, the ones I've told you about are pretty much true. I do take advantage of the trade routes just to avoid trouble where I can, I have neglected to mention I'm never myself when I travel from country to country. Otherwise it is, what it is, I offer my services and hope a ride with a caravan or a ship to the next stop. It's much safer than being on the run. Now that I haven't done that, especially in my first century, but I've never told you how I traveled in my first century."

[Nara-pyon]

"In other words," Kyrie said thoughtfully, "you're always someone different when you travel from one country to the next."

"Different in appearance only, or also in name and occupation and history?" Ahkshi asked. His tone was even, but barely. He was struggling to control it.

[Kara Winters]

"Yea...." Hikaru replied with a small sigh, "I try to stay as Huron when I can, but you know how people can get in some countries. I mean at best, I just can't do any business at worse, I get run out of town. Actually no... worse is something bad happening and people blame you because you're the foreigner, that's worse. So is being hunted by locals now that I think about it..."

Actually he kind of had a hard time figuring out what was worse. Realizing that Ahkshi was asking a question though, Hikaru knew he had to answer.

"Occupation always stays the same, it's pretty much the only thing I'm capable of doing," Hikaru paused and then added, "Actually no, I can do brush paint, but I've never passed myself off as a painter. Ever.... Basic history stays as much of the same as possible. I don't often share a lot of my history, though I don't deny people may make certain assumptions about me depending on where I am, and I sometimes don't correct them, especially if they're not fond of travelers."

[Nara-pyon]

"I have to say," Kyrie admitted, "it was a source of great frustration, the fact that you're so closemouthed about yourself. So many people of those we've met have been quite open about themselves - at least eventually. But no one has ever tried to hide their country of origin, or the question of whether or not their parents were still alive. I mean sure, some things are very personal, but some things ... maybe don't need to be, you know?"

She grinned. "That being said, I do understand now why you tried to keep it to yourself. Even if you were enjoying their hospitality."

Ahkshi cleared his throat and folded his hands in his lap. Kyrie's words were true for more than just the travelers.

[Kara Winters]

"I didn't want it treading into territory I couldn't answer without an outright lie," Hikaru admitted.

Though he had a feeling that wasn't enough from Ahkshi, but if Hikaru was honest he really was expecting this. Just he was kind of expecting it from the both of them (he honestly didn't know if this was better or worse).

Hikaru added, "But I'm going to take a gander that you want a better explanation than that Ahkshi?"

[Nara-pyon]

Ahkshi continued to stare steadfastly into his half-empty plate, unmoving, silent, for several seconds. Kyrie looked at him anxiously, but she didn't speak either. If he was thinking, as she knew he was, she didn't want to interrupt his thoughts, or pressure him above what he already felt.

At length, Ahkshi looked across the table at Kyrie, catching her eye for a few seconds before he turned his head to look once more at Huron- no, Hikaru.

"Academically, I c-can understand why you felt the need to d-d-d-disguise yourself, and your hist-t-t-tory," he said quietly, his voice barely audible. "And I understand wh-wh-why it would be so d-d-difficult to tell the t-truth even after g-g-getting to know us and - hopefully - r-r-realizing that we would not c-c-care about your d-d-differences."

He took a deep breath. "B-b-but emotionally ... it's s-s-still d-d-difficult to underst-t-t-tand."

[Kara Winters]

"And I won't pressure you to understand," Hikaru replied frankly, "I sort of figured until a week ago that this was going to be my life. I mean... granted I could have always settled there, there are places...."

Places in the middle of nowhere, or even Caras Galadhon for that matter. It was just for whatever reason Hikaru felt like he couldn't.

"And I have been happy, being Huron, being all these people who were in the end me, just not the full aspect of me. Even if I felt envious of my personas at times, no matter how ridiculous that sounds."

[Nara-pyon]

Ahkshi nodded slowly, silently. Kyrie pushed her chair back and came around the table to kneel next to her husband, and took his hands in her own.

"It's so easy to forget that no matter how much I've seen," she said quietly, "Ahkshi has never left this town." She looked into Ahkshi's face and stroked his cheek tenderly. "It's easy to forget here just how hard - how dangerous - it is to be different in most places."

Ahkshi lowered his gaze.

[Kara Winters]

"It's the reason why I've always been in awe of you, because you always seemed fearless and clearly know how to kick butt when needed," Hikaru replied softly to Kyrie.

He thought her crazy when he first met her (which was probably the normal feeling when coming across someone like Kyrie), but knowing she did this on a regular basis and came away relatively unharmed amazed him.

[Nara-pyon]

"Yes, well, I learned at a very young age that I needed to be able to defend myself," Kyrie murmured, blushing ever so slightly, "and I really didn't have much choice ... in learning to fight, or learning to stand up for myself, to be myself, no matter where I am or who I'm around."

She realized suddenly that she had never told Hu- Hikaru the details of her early life. A glossed over version - very glossed over - perhaps, but never more.

"Being different ... living somewhere where I was constantly looked down upon simply because I wasn't like them ..." She shrugged. "I didn't have the option of hiding. Eventually, you get used to being yourself around others, no matter what."

She grinned. "Look at Miyuki. Lin. Shiro and Kaito. The only times they've hidden their appearances was in places where the entire group would have suffered if they didn't. They seem even to have fun with shocking people."

[Kara Winters]

When he thought about some of the people he had gotten to know in that group, Hikaru had to admit he wasn't that surprised to learn they seemed to have fun shocking people.

"That does sound a bit amusing, I can't imagine doing it myself, but it does sound amusing all the same," he admitted to her.

[Nara-pyon]

"Well if you're going to travel with us," Kyrie grinned, "you just might end up giving it a try, too."

She paused for a moment, and her expression turned thoughtful.

"That being said ..." She hesitated again. "Well ... I would love for you to travel with us, Huro... Hikaru. I really would. But my obligation is to those I'm already traveling with, and I can't agree to having you accompany us unless you also tell them the truth about yourself."

Which she half-wondered if he was already planning, considering he had come clean to her and Ahkshi, but she had to be clear on that.

[Kara Winters]

"Ah... I might as well, otherwise Cael and Kaito will be a pain in the rear for the whole journey," Hikaru shrugged, "Besides...."

He hesitated a bit, because he hadn't run it past the two people who would be involved. That is the teacher and the student in question.

"I heard from Lancaerial that she's become quite busy as of late. I know nothing of plant magic, but I know a lot about illusions, and I'd like to help in teaching in that regard..."

[Nara-pyon]

Kyrie smiled widely and stood again, though she stayed at Ahkshi's side and kept her hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sure she would appreciate the help," she murmured. "I know she has been feeling a bit torn lately, between her promises to teach so many, and her reunion with her husband and their desire to begin a family. And I'm not sure if you caught everyone teasing Miyuki about taking on so many projects, but Lancaeriel is just as guilty, just in different respects. So someone to help with teaching will be very welcome, I believe."

She thought for a moment about his comment about Kaito and Cael.

"If I may ask," she hesitated, "what exactly did Cael and Kaito do to you? No one seems really to know anything but that you've been avoiding them. Even they're perplexed."

[Kara Winters]

Hikaru sighed, "I didn't like they suddenly switched languages in front of me. During my first century here, whenever someone switched languages right in front of me, it was often right before I got run out of town, nearly arrested, ambushed, ripped off.... and as I learned languages if none of those things were happening, often I was being insulted. It didn't help I messed up during our conversation and admitted to knowing the word tea when asked if I wanted the drink..."

So he figured it had to do something with that, or at least a part of him figured it had to do with how odd he was.

"And Cael was really questioning me before then," he added, "I know they probably didn't mean anything bad by it, but I didn't want to be put into an uncomfortable situation."

[Nara-pyon]

"And did you ask them about it?" Kyrie asked him with a sigh. "They're really not bad people. Sometimes childish, yes, but not bad."

Especially Cael and Kaito - and especially when they were together. Sure, Cael didn't have the excuse of being a neko (which she understood often meant catty traits) or of being young (physically didn't count when your mind and soul were almost as old as the world); but they were who they were, and there was no changing either of them.

[Kara Winters]

Sheepishly Hikaru admitted, "I hadn't, at the time I was just wound up from all the questions, and after that... I just didn't..."

It was a bit petty of him, but he hated how Cael wouldn't leave him alone that night. At least Kaito's part was small.

[Nara-pyon]

"Then it's really not fair to hold it against them," Kyrie said softly, smiling gently.

"Perhaps even hypoc-c-critical," Ahkshi said under his breath.

Kyrie let out a soft sigh. "Ahkshi ..."

[Kara Winters]

Hikaru didn't take it amiss, after all Ahkshi did have a point. It did help that unlike the night the incident occurred he hadn't had a long day or two and only a few hours of sleep. So he wasn't as jumpy as he was a week ago. Maybe that was a sign he needed to be more social and needed a change.

"No, it's fine," Hikaru assured her, "He has a point, now that I think of it, it happened... maybe a few hours after all the patients were stable. I did sleep for a bit, but I bet I probably did read into their actions more than I should have. Honestly the only think I really vividly remember besides the language switching and the nature of the questions was that chai I had."

[Nara-pyon]

"Chai?" Kyrie repeated, the word unfamiliar to her. She wracked her brains, wondering if she'd heard it before. "Oh! One of their Gaian drinks that they figured out how to make here, too."

She laughed and shook her head. "Your Gaian drinks. I wonder how long it will take me to get that straight."

Sobering, but still smiling, she murmured, "You really should talk to them, though. Cael and Kaito, I mean. Let them know what bothered you. Chances are, they don't even know they did it. Well, Kaito maybe. It's not for no reason he's constantly getting slapped upside the head."

"But I c-can't see them allowing s-someone to t-t-travel with them who c-can't get along with everyone," Ahkshi added.

Kyrie sighed. "They just might for my sake, but I don't think it would go over well. The last place we were, there was someone else who wanted to join them, and they rallied against him - purely personal. It really would be best if you could talk with them. I mean Cael and Kaito specifically."

[Kara Winters]

Despite the fact that Hikaru knew that Ahkshi was still angry at him, he did listen to his friend's concern. While Wren and Mirania sounded like they were open to him traveling with them, that was at the beginning of the week before it became obvious he was avoiding both Cael and Kaito. Really members of a traveling group came first, and he could understand how that would cause tensions.

"I'll talk to them both tomorrow then," Hikaru replied.

[Nara-pyon]

Kyrie nodded. "Thank you. It would make me feel much better."

She looked down at Ahkshi and leaned against him. "And it would also make me feel much better if we could continue our meal as it began - as dear friends who share almost everything with each other."

Ahkshi looked up at her, and she smiled at him encouragingly. He continued to look at her for a long time - well over a full minute - and then sighed in resignation.

"Y-y-yes," he agreed. "We c-can try."

He would do his best.

Kyrie smiled, leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek, and then went back to her own seat on the other side of the table and sat down.

"So, Hikaru," she grinned at him. "Do tell us about yourself. Your real self, the stuff you always kept to yourself before."

[Kara Winters]

Hikaru grinned, "Well.... let's see...."

So he told them, he told them how he his family was a clan, and how he was the youngest of three sons. He told them a bit about his magical education, explaining that fire and illusions were pretty typical to kitsunes. He knew a bit about runes but the logic needed for it was a bit beyond him. Hikaru was good in math and basic algebra though, he had to be because he had to be well verse in chemistry and biology in order to study medicine.

He had studied martial arts, he explained the reason why he would disappear often in the early morning was to do Tai Chi. Though he told Kyrie was meant for disarming and much more for self defense than anything else. It was also good for meditation, he was never good at meditating while sitting still, he had to always be active. He learned the bow growing up, but it was living here that taught him how to use it for practical reasons.

He told them of the arts he had to learn, from brush painting to flower arranging. His favourite was music, he used to play the zither, a string instrument. His hobby was making tea blends actually, and he was well verse in the tea ceremony.

By the time he had finished, they had also finished dinner.

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