!PRIVATE! Marchen: The Journey

[SilverDragonetsu]

"Aw, Just a snack. Snacks don't fill you up!" Usa tugged gently of kai's hand, leading her away form the stand of jewels and into the abyss of different foods and their mixing smells. Strange..how Usa seemed the stray as far as possible from all of those with meat.

"Oh, oh, over there Aki-ane!", Usa held a sparkle in her eye as she stood before a stand where person was selling produce, and also frying some of the fruits. One of which were fried green tomatoes.

[Aki Ameko]

Aki giggled a bit as Usa lead her away so eagerly. "I like the nickname, Usa-chan. Should I think of something special to call you?" She's so cheerful, even though her life sounds like it's been so hard... Aki was only liking this girl more and more.

Aki examined the veggies with interest. "My, these do look interesting! Which would you like, Usa?" Aki asked, digging into her pouch for a few coins.

[SilverDragonetsu]

"Really? Aki-Ane would think of a nick name for Usa-chan? Yey! Usa-chan would like that alot!", She giggled to herself. then suddenly blushed brightly when she saw Aki looking for her coin purse.
"W-what?! N-no! I couldn't accept. you must have worked hard to earned your money, Big sis! usa-chan couldn't accept Aki-Ane's money." Usa blushed bashfully, twiddling her fingers. It did smell good, and she would like some of the fruits, though she'd never had someone buy her stuff like food or gifts before...except.
"I-I don't want to be a...a burden."

[Aki Ameko]

Aki considered Usa for a moment. "Hmm, I'm not so good as you at making up nicknames... Any suggestions, Usa?" She smiled sweetly down at the young girl.

Aki blushed a little, slightly embarrassed herself. Big Sis? Now that's just plain adorable... "A...are you sure, Usa? It really wouldn't be any trouble..." Aki opened her pouch to show Usa that she had plenty of shiney coins within. "Really, it's alright Usa. I've been wanting to thank you for your kindness anyway." She smiled tenderly at her.

[SilverDragonetsu]

"O-oh....O-okay. If it would make you happy..." To make Aki happy in this manner, usa supposed. She found herself as rude now, when thinking about it. Denying Aki's kindness. Shaking her head, Usa puffed out hercheeks as if to build up her courage.
"Mmm...T-that one!" Usa pointed to a fruit pastry that was being fried. Aki had said it was okay. She had plenty of coins, so she had prooved. If Aki said it was okay, she'd let Aki buy her a treat. After making her choice, Usa felt a little better, like she'd accomplished some mighty obsticle in life.
"Ah...", he smiled proudly to herself. "oh...uhm...Aki-ane may call Usa anything she likes...anything but Usa-Usa."

[Aki Ameko]

Aki nodded toward the shopkeeper and gave him the proper amount of coins, also getting herself the same thing as Usa. "There you go." Aki said, handing the treat to Usa and taking a bite of her own. "Wow, this is good Usa! Nice choice!"

Still snacking, Aki turned to Usa again. "So where would you like to go next?"

[SilverDragonetsu]

One bite and Usa was in bliss. "Mmmm...It's hot and burns my mouth, but it's soooo goood!", she cheered gleefully, licking sticky sweet goo from her fingers before taking another bite.

"Hm?" Usa was chewing when Aki asked what next. The child smiled and went to speek, though paused and covered his mouth, chewing thouroughly before swallowing to clear her mouth. Though just a child, she had manners.
"Lets get back. Mr. Aster might have lunch when we get back. Mmm...I wonder what he made. Hope it's something tasty and crunchy. Hee...oh, thank you for the pastry, Aki-Ane." Usa gave a giggle, chomping on the pastry.

[Aki Ameko]

Aki giggled politely at Usa's momentary pastry dilema "Sounds like a good idea. Um...so how do we get back...?" She asked rather sheepishly.

[SilverDragonetsu]

"Back?" Usa giggled to herself, unable to help it really. "Silly, Aki-ane! it's this way! Come, follow Usa-chan. Usa will take you back." She took Aki hand, so they wouldn't get seperated in the crowd. From there, she lead the elf back towards the inn. That of which wouldn't take very long.
~
"hm...I wonder when those two will get back?" Aster wrung his hands dry into an apron, stepping out onto the front patio of the Inn. He glanced out towards where he'd last seen Aki and Usa go.
After a moment, His ears caught the sound of murmurs and whispers amoung the crowd.
'What is that?' 'A man? He looks hurt.' 'Someone should help.' 'What a mess.' 'poor thing'
From the road leading out of town, a ragged cloaked figure came limping down the road. His was covered by a heavy travlers cloak, torn and covered in stains of red. Aster wondered who this pitiful soul was. He walked hunched over himself, obviously hurt as a fine trail of blood lingered behind him. Why wasn't anyone helping him? Those surroudning him only stare or shy away. It was a stranger though, so it could only be expected from some people.
being who he was, Aster moved through the crowd to get a better look at th eperson, and depending, maybe offer his services. "Who...", he began, before realising, without having to go as close as he thought he'd needed."Ah...Y-you..?"

[Aki Ameko]

Aki smiled kindly. "Alright, then." Oh Usa-chan... Why does she feel like the little sister I never had...? That brief moment of thought made her heart sink unpleasantly. It's in the past. Just move on, Aki... But an opposing voice echoed dismally in her head. ...But how can you move on if the very thing you're trying to run away from is moving just as quickly...?

[SilverDragonetsu]

"Take it easy now." Aster told the cloaked being, resting him into a chair inside the diner. He felt nervous. Usa might be back at any time, and 'this' man was sitting right in plain view. He held him firmly by the shoulders as the figure began to slump to the side out of the chair, seething quietly in pain. "What happened to you?", he questioned to himself.
~
"Look, look! See, there's the Inn, Aki-Ane!", Usa pointed out the inn just up the street. He dragged Aki up to the inn, though paused as she felt a tap to her shoulder. A customer wanting a flower. "Oh. Aki-ane? Go on inside, okay? I'll be right in!", She smiled pleasently up at Aki, before turning back to the customer.

[Aki Ameko]

Usa's sudden interjection jerked Aki out of her thoughts. "Oh! Okay, Usa-chan, Mr. Aster and I will wait for you." And with that Aki strode cheerfully inside the inn.

"Mr. Aster! I'm ba-!!" Aki stopped dead when she saw that Aster was attending to a cloaked man who appeared to be injured. Aki put a hand up to her mouth silently, then walked forward to Aster's side. "Oh my gosh... Is he alright?!" Aki asked in a hushed voice. "Where'd you find him? If you'd like, I can offer some medical treatment..." Aki hadn't had the chance to examine the man too closely yet, and she was partially afraid to... But she knew she would have to help him, no matter who he was.

[SilverDragonetsu]

Aster glanced up momentarily toward the young woman. He opened his mouth to speek, though fell short as he jerked foreward to grab ahold of the injured guest, who'd lurked foreward in his chair. Nearly causing himself to spill to the floor.
"I'm not quite sure who he is.", He'd only just guessed who the man was earlier. Though had yet to confirm it. "He came trodding through town like he were a druken fool not long before you came. His hurt reall bad; he was spilling his blood, trailing it all down the road. He's so cut up , from what I can tell, though, I don't know where to start with him." Aster wished he'd his wife about. She'd know how to deal with a person this badly torn up.
"Easy Mate...", Aster cooed as the figure tried to stand, only to sway and nearly fall over his own two feet. He muttered something in a sort of hiss of a whisper as he was forced back to his chair by Aster.

[Aki Ameko]

Aki continued to hold her hand over her mouth, but after Aster's explanation of his injuries, Aki went immediately to the pouch around her waist and began pulling out some medicine.

"I..It's alright, Mr. Aster... I can take care of him..." Now with a small bottle in her hand, Aki stepped forward and lowered the man's hood.

"R-RYUU?!" Aki gasped and jumped back, nearly dropping the bottle. Sure enough, Ryuu's silky silver hair, (now stained with blood) and long pointed ears emerged from beneath his hood. Even with all the scars and cuts about his face, he was still unmistakable. "Oh my... Ryuu... Ryuu!" She was almost in tears now that she'd realized who he was. I...I never imagined he'd get this badly injured... I...I thought he was...much stronger than that...

Wasting no more time, Aki opened her bottle and sprinkled the powder potion all over Ryuu. His cuts began to heal rapidly, but now she would need to check if he had any broken bones.

Whiping her eyes with her sleeve quickly, she merely stood over him for a moment, a little reluctant to start checking him. Ryuu...I'm so sorry...

[SilverDragonetsu]

Aster could only nodd, wringing his hands gently as he gave Aki the space to work with the man. After a moment, he turned to those whom were staring and gathering around. He needed to put himself to use and quickly began to shuttle them off. Scolding heavily to those whom merely stood and gawked at the bloody scene and show of healing.

What loud noise. Ryuu flinched as his hood was pulled away and his name called rather loudly. His hearing felt more acute than usual, and the ligth burned in his eyes. "Hss..", He clamped his teeth and bowed his head. Aki. Please. Don't look. Don't look at me. he thougth to himself, wishing to hide his scared face. Such a sight shouldn't be something for her of all people to see. for more than one reason.

A moment later, Ryuu lifted his head and looked into his gloved palms; stained with blood. He felt his face only briefly, half cringing before realising the painful cuts and scars once carven into his pale skin had no vanished. All that remain now were smears of blood, sticky and drying, and dry and crusting. He could feel the rest of him healing as well. The large gapping hole in his side ceased it's bleeding, and was now but a wet, bloody, and sticky mess of a tear in his coat and his cloak.

Heaving a sigh, Ryuu lay his face into his hands, regaurdless of the blood that painted the leather. He cringed. There was still a burning in his side. He indeed had broken bones; three of his ribs. One broken, and two cracked. He eased himself up, his hand still covering his face.
"I'm sorry...You shouldn't have to bother with me...", he hissed, holding his side as he lifted himself from the chair, using the table beside him as a suport.