!PRIVATE! Marchen: The Journey

[Aki Ameko]

Aki paled as Ryuu spoke and hissed, and a shiver went down her spine. "Ryuu..." She repeated again, slightly fearful. "No. Don't stand... Just give me a moment..." Again Aki reached into her pouch and pulled out a pearly white amulet. Pushing Ryuu back down into his seat, Aki placed the amulet near his ribs, where he was obviously hurting the most. "Kyua. Mendo de buroken bonzu." She whispered softly. The stone began to glow brightly, and the magical healing commenced.

[SilverDragonetsu]

Ryuu was surprised when Aki pressed him back into the chair. He stare at her, almost bewildered at her persistance. though his show of surprised faded in an instant as he seethed in pain from being moved so suddenly.
"ah...ah..I said--", Ryuu took a moment to stare from the Curess to the amulet glowing near his side. It pain began to vanish, first numbingly. Then all together. He held his breath in the moment, then released when the pain had gone at last.

"Guess I shouldn't underestimate the talents of a young curess woman...", he seemed to half smirk, though heaved himself to his feet with a soft frown. His hands hoovered at his side, caressing where it once hurt. Not even a flinch. It was really healed.
"I'm sorry to have burdened you like that.", he muttered rather plainly. Strange. Shouldn't he have acted more thankful?

[Aki Ameko]

Aki's brows furrowed in concern, but she was relieved that he seemed to be feeling better non-the-less. "No. It was nothing..." She said dismissively, seating herself in one of the nearbye wooden chairs. "I'm just...glad you're ok." After putting away her healing tools, she merely sat there in a rather withdrawn manner.

[SilverDragonetsu]

She'll be involved now. I dn't think they'd hurt her though. Geh. She's a strong girl, I'm sure she'll stand her own.
Ryuu wasn't sure what to do now. He thought he was just going to walk away. But...now....Now what? He glanced over towards Aki, and gave a rather sheepish smile. "Really? Your glad a** like me is okay?" He chidded. He was sure something like this might get her to smile. She looked---"RYUU!?", Usa suddenly bolted across the room from the door, flinging herself at the silver haired man. She flung herself at him, latching her arms around his waist.

Ryuu stare suddenly down to the appendage that had latched itself to him. He appeared bewildered. And a bit nervous. It wasn't everyday a child Usa's age just flung herself on an older being so openly and affectionately. "Ah...U-uhm..."

[Aki Ameko]

Aki scowled at Ryuu. "You were injured, and I healed you. It's what I do." Aki's gaze turned toward the ground. "...And I couldn't exactly call you the worst a** I've ever met."

Aki jumped, quite startled. "Usa!! You don't just go pouncing on strangers like that, it's--!" Her words stopped dead, just as the rest of her did, as she realized what Usa had just said. "Usa...you know who this is??" She pointed at Ryuu in an incredulous manner, as if he were something rather disgusting that a sweet young girl like Usa shouldn't be associated with.

[SilverDragonetsu]

Re-posted below.

[SilverDragonetsu]

"Of course I know him! I've been waiting for him! Ryuu-Rin, what took you so long!? I've been waiting here two whole years!"
Usa appeared gleeful at first when telling Aki she knew Ryuu, but then when confronting Ryuu, her gaze appeared rather dissapointed as she stare up at him. Clinging tightly to his bloodied and torn shirt.

"Look at you, Ryuu-Ryuu. You're a mess, like always." She chidded, scratching at a blood stain as though to intend she would clean it for him. A moment later, she began to sniffle, and rub at her eyes.

"Why's she gotta point at me like that? It's not like I'm some kind of pervert...", Ryuu muttered to himself under his breath. Blinking, his gaze returned to the child. Sniffles...oh, dear mage...not the sniffles.
"Aw, hey...come on...don't...don't..." Too late. A cringe and a wince later, little Usa was rubbing her eyes with her arm, whimpering on the edge of wales.

[Aki Ameko]

Aki just continued to stare at Usa in dumbfounded disbelief, hand still frozen in the air pointed at Ryuu. "You...whu...uh...been-wai-ting-for-him??" Her mind still coudn't seem to process the news. "Well...HOW do you know him? I mean..." Aki became frustrated as she stumbled over her words.

Aki was startled when Usa started to cry. "Oh...no, Usa, don't... It's ok, Sweetie..." She hurried over to the girl and embraced her in a hug, and started to stroke her hair in an effort to calm her down. "Sssh...It's ok Sweetie..."

[SilverDragonetsu]

"I-I-it's okay, M-miss Aki. I'm okay. R-really.", Usa sniffled again, sobbing quietly now. "Ryuu-rin", she cried out, rubbing her eyes.

How? How did Usa know him? That was something Aki didn't need to know. Ever... "Ngh!", Ryuu flinched back when Usa wailed his name. Pursing his lips, he gaze down at Usa, trying his very best not to cave in to those tears.
"Usag---Ah..Usa", he started firmly as though he was going to scold. Though he wound up dropping to a crouch and hanging his head for a moment. Combing back his bangs, Ryuu let out a heavy sigh. "Usa-usa. Why are you crying?" 'Why are you HERE?'
He reached out and tugged on the little curly cue that stuck up from the top of her head.

Usa sniffed and looked up from Aki's embrace. She smiled through water logged eyes. "I'm just so happy you came back....big brother..." Ryuu didn't appear so happy as Usa, resing his hand on Usa's head and his face in his other hand. His eyes averted away from Usa. The little girl didn't seem to notice this though.

[Aki Ameko]

Aki wasn't so sure she believed Usa when she said she was ok, but still continued her warm embrace as the two spoke with one another.

"Wait...BIG BROTHER?!" That was it. Aki had enough insentive to release Usa, and slap Ryuu hard across the face. "YOU b*****d!! IF YOU'RE HER BIG BROTHER, HOW COME YOU LEFT HER ALONE, HUH?! HUH?!! HOW COULD YOU LEAVE A POOR, SWEET GIRL LIKE THIS ALONE FOR SO LONG?!!! DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG SHE'S BEEN WAITING HERE?! WORKING HARD AND ON HER OWN?!!" Aki was extremely pink in the face with her fury. "YOU DISGUST ME."

[SilverDragonetsu]

"Miss Aki!?" Ryuu was looking the complete opposite direction, eyes wide and striken with sudden after shock. A ratehr nice red mark remain against his flesh, as he turn his face to glance toward Aki, his eyes not so large anymore. In a notion that he understood why he'd been slapped and understood the deserving of it. this wasn't the case though. He just wasn't jumping to conclusions to rigth Aki.

Having been knocked back on his butt, Ryuu pushed himself foreward and touched him gloved fingers to his cheek. Gingerly testing the tenderness. Though seemed to decided otherwise as he let his hand drift to rest over his knee. He barely even glanced up when Usa suddenly placed herself between hims and Aki, holding her arms out to hersides in a protecting manner.

Usa's lips became firm in a scowl, tears clinging to her lashes. It was obvious she hadn't liked Aki touching Ryuu in that manner, causing him obvious pain. "No! Don't touch him!" A whimper. She was trying to to cry as her frown wavered. "It's--It's--"

[Aki Ameko]

"It's WHAT?!" Aki screamed back at her unintentionally. She was in tears now, and she had realized what she had done. Aki's expression lost some of it's harsh anger, but her heart sank bitterly. "Usa...you...care for him, don't you?" She said rather meekly, not looking at either Ryuu or Usa. Sinking back into a chair again, Aki cradled her face in her hands. "No one should leave their family... NO ONE." She mumbled through harsh tears.

[SilverDragonetsu]

"It's...", Usa flinched as she spoke. She wasn't use to being yelled at. She never did finsh her sentance, though did nod to Aki, drawing her arms back in to herself a little. Sniffing, she rubbed her eyes. "Mm-hm..", She hummed nodding again.

"Usa." Ryuu murmured, staring from the floor to Aki. What was he suppose to say? the mood had just shifted so suddenly, and he felt like the bad guy. Hell, he probably was!

Stepping away from Ryuu, Usa stood on her knees at Aki's side, resting her head on her hands in Aki's lap.
"I'm sorry, It's not his fault. Please don't cry, Miss Aki." the little girl lifted her head and took Aki's hand, kissing her palm. It must have been sore from slapping Ryuu. "Don't be mad at big brother. Please don't hurt him."

[Aki Ameko]

Aki flinched slightly, startled that the young girl had come over to her and showed her affection so readily. "I...I'm sorry..." Aki rose suddenly, still not looking at any of them. "Excuse me..." Aki rushed out of the room as swiftly as she could, not wanting to burden the two of them with her presence anymore.

She reached her room and locked the door. Aki wasn't sure that Aster was entirely ready for her to settle in there, but she didn't care. Here she could sit on a warm soft bed, huddled in a corner away from the rest of the world. How she treasured these moments, but resented them at the same time.

[SilverDragonetsu]

"Ah--Aki! Aki, hang on!", Ryuu started to his feet, though was paused by a certain little girl. Usa. She clutched to his coat, despite it being bloodied up, holding him back. "Usa!? Let go, Usa. I--"

"No, big brother.", she spoke out flatly. Letting go, she pranced aroudn him, her face blank of expression. Clear of any tears or frowns, as though they had never been there. She then dashed off up the stairs herself.

Ryuu wondered to himself in suspicion of the girl. 'She better not say anything...That could--' "Ge!", Ryuu jumped as a large hand clapped onto his shoulder.He glanced over his shoulder to see Aster, whom glared firmly liek death, leaving Ryuu feeling rather small and tiny. Then he smiled, making Ryuu fell uncertain if he should be assured or worried.