!PRIVATE! Marchen: The Journey

[SilverDragonetsu]

"Well that's good to know. Usa surely has taken a liking to you awefully quickly, but she's a good hearted child that way." Another smile. Aster would almost always smile when speeking of Usa. It was hard not to, in his shoes.
"Well then...ah. As soon as the others get out here--"
No sooner had Aster opened his mouth had a Certain little girl come dashing under his feet and hidden behind him. She giggled and peeked out from behind the man as Ryuu came out shortly after. It appeared that Usa was hidding from Ryuu, all in good fun though.

He instantly knew where Usa was, though pretended not to notice. His eyes averted way form usa and to Aster, whom he half heartedly smiled to. That man...just...That man. Coughign to clear his throat, Ryuu gave Aki a forced smile. His face still had a tinge of red from when aki had slapped him, but he greeted and joined Aki at the table as though nothing had happened. the only off thing about him is that sitting opposite of aki, he had to slip past Aster adn did so very quitly and slowly as though waiting to leap away like Aster mitgh suddenly launch an attack of sorts or something.

[Aki Ameko]

Aki didn't say anything. She merely sat there, arms folded, glaring at him with a mixture of resentment and sympathy. She wasn't sure what to think of him now. She believed Usa, but she still couldn't bring herself to trust Ryuu. No, not the way she had been treated by him before.

[SilverDragonetsu]

Aster looked between Ryuu and Aki with raised brows. He wondered if they'd had a quirell. Then thought to earlier. Ryuu had been slapped, and for reasons he'd rather not think about, when he already knew. With a heafty sigh, he pulled on his biggest smile adn began to unload the tray of bowls and dishes. "On todays menu...soup. My special soup. Todays special, for a matter of fact. Now Ryuu, stopp googling atthe pretty lady. And miss, It's not polite to stare." He smiled in humored glee.

"Wh-what!? I was NOT googling!" Ryuu stare in embaressment at Aster, taken aback by his words. Google? since when did he ever stare at a woman for such interets as a pretty face or...or...He felt his face grow hot in embarressment. Ryuu held his hand to his face. he lokoed up to Aki in an attempt to glare, though only flinched back with a brighter glow of red. 'Aster! Damn you!', he growled. Thanks to aster, he had thoughts swarming his mind. 'How humiliating...', he humming to himself in his thoughts.

Usa slipped out from her hiding place and crept onto the bench to Ryuu. She looked rather cute in the manner she was trying to peek up under his arm. In a split moment, the child poked her head up under Ryuu's arm and sat on his leg while poking at his cheek. "Big brother! Your face is all red! All your sick?" She looked abit worried adn felt his face. She made a gasping noise. "Big brother, you're all warm, too! You have a fever? Big brother, you're so irresponsible; you never got sick when I was around." Usa poked Ryuu in the cheek with her finger.

ryuu only felt even more red with usa sitting in his lap and cheeking him over for a fever. 'Good Mage, why me, why me?' he chanting in his thoughts, grinding his teeth. He wanted to just shove Usa out of his lap. But he couldn't that. Not little Usa! He tried to bare it, while being 'humiliated' in front of Aki.

[Aki Ameko]

Aki shot Aster an embarrassed but irritated glare before glaring stubbornly away from everyone else in a pouty manner, her dangley jeweled earrings swinging sharply. "I wasn't staring..." She mumbled.

Usa's comments made her jump slightly in surprise, and stare back at the others in a slightly horrified manner. Try as Ryuu might, Aki could still see his red face. 'I think I'm going to be sick...' She thought before turning away again and holding her head. She was just as red as Ryuu now.

[SilverDragonetsu]

"Oh no! Aki, your not feeling sick too, are you?" Usa watched Aki put her face into her hands as well. Standing up in Ryuu's lap, little Usa pushed Aki soup closer to her. "Eat your soup, Aki-ane. It will make you feel better. Usa knows, because Usa lets Mr. Aster use Usa's garden vegi's."

After smiling sweetly, Usa frowned at Ryuu, whom was glaring gently at her with a look that said, 'why are you standing on me?'. Usa merely ingored it, waving a spoon in his face like a scolding mother.
"Alright, Mr. Sicky head. Time to eat your soup so you can get all better too!" Usa sat herself in Ryuu's lap liek she owned the man. using the spoon, she scooped up some soup and held it in Ryuu's face. "Open wide. Here comes the dragon!", Usa chidded with a smile.

Ryuu stare at Usa with wide eyes. She was not treating him liek a child infront of Aki? "Hey now. I can feed my---ah.." Ryuu paused. Usa tilted her head slightly, almost looking depressed. sighing, he rubbed the back of his head. Jeese. Little kids. Setting his arm aroudn Usa's waist as she set there on his lap, Ryuu opened his mouth and let usa feed him. Usa looked pleased. And if she was happy, he was too, he guessed.

"Now THAT is cute.", Aster chidded with a small laugh, wipping his hands in his apron. He turned and left, laughing all the way before taking to new customers.

[Aki Ameko]

Aki turned her head reluctantly and stared at her soup. It DID look delicious, but...she just didn't feel comfortable eating in front of Ryuu.

Aki couldn't help but to snicker at Ryuu and wear a sly smirk. "Amazing, Usa's so much more mature than you, Ryuu! Does wittle Wyuu aways have Usa Usa feed him?? Aaaaw, Usa, that's so sweet of you!" Aki sipped some of her soup rather triumphantly, as if she had just won an argument. Picking fun at Ryuu made her feel a lot better, and took her mind off her worries.

[SilverDragonetsu]

Usa smiled with glee toward Aki. She enjoyed praise. It meant she was good. Giggling, she turned back to Ryuu and gave him another spoonful of soup. And Ryuu ate it obediently.

Licking his lip, Ryuu glared at Aki. He was only just a little red in the face now, more annoyed than embarressed any more. "Look who talking. Gloating is a childs sin, you know.", he informed Aki. It wasn't much of gloating, but surely Aki would know what he meant by his words. It was she after all whom was acting like a child just now.

Ryuu flicked a piece of hair out of Usa's face, his eyes rather empty of expression. Usa smiled, sticking her tongue out in child like embarresment. She gave Ryuu another bite, or tried to. Ryuu took the spoon away and made Usa eat it instead.
"Your soups going to be cold by the time your' done feeding me.", he scolding in mono-tone. Usa merely giggled and enjoyed a few bites of soups from Ryuu's spoon.

[Aki Ameko]

Aki scowled harshly at Ryuu. "Fine. I guess I'm not suited for the big kid table, now am I?" Aki promptly stood, leaving her soup there on the table. "Send me a memo when you grow up, would you? Jerkoff." With that Aki turned to leave.

[SilverDragonetsu]

Usa looked betwene Aki and Ryuu, brows furrowed in worry. She stare at Ryuu in disbelief. How could her big brother be so mean to Aki? "Big Brother!" Usa stare at him with watering eyes. Since when had he been so mean like this? "Big sister, wait! Ryuu didn't mean it! He..he just...Big brother apologise!" Usa sniffled frustraitedly.

"I will not.", Ryuu scoffed in return, glaring towards Aki's turnt back. It was as simple as that. From what he knew, Aki was very childish. And he wasn't going to deny it. though he would likely regret not apologising when Usa demanded him to. Her pure tears began to flow. Making his hard face grow soft.

"Big brother! Why? Why won't you apologise?! Big brother, your so mean!" Sobbing, the small girl hurriedly left his lap and rushed past Aki and out of the Inn.

"Ah. Usa! Usa, come back here!", Ryuu calledout, only to have his voice fall onto deaf ears. He left his seat, to start after Usa, before remebering.
"That's right. Usa never did like it when people...Jeese. Have I really been gone that long that I'd...forget?" He whispered to himself. Frowning to himself, Ryuu glared towards Aki from the corner of his eye.

[Aki Ameko]

Aki turned and glared at Ryuu in a similar manner. "What are you glaring at me for? You were the one that made her run off, you jerk." Aki put her hands on her hips and addressed Aster now. "Sorry, but I can't put up with any more of this child. Call me when you get rid of him." And with that Aki walked out the door in the direction that Usa went.

[SilverDragonetsu]

Disbelief was striken across his face. "I made her run away? You started this ridiculous fight in the FIRST PLACE!" His voice rose with each coming word. "Child this, child that. I'm right here. Instead of being a child yourself, why don't you just say it to my face?! Impudant Female!"

He growled, hissing after the elven womans feelting figure. Turning toward Aster, Ryuu hunched his shoulders rather childishly, crossing his arms and grumbling under his breath. Glancing up at Aster when the man tapped on his shoulder, Ryuu replied with a scowling 'WHAT?!'. Only to cower under a towering skyscraper of a man. Ryuu easily cowered under his gaze. "Eep." Aster was cracking his knuckles. Aster said something about a lesson before nabbing Ryuu by his collar to drag him away to the back room.

[Aki Ameko]

Aki's ears were deaf to Ryuu's rantings as she walked out the door. "Psh, like I care what he has to say..." She muttered under her breath. At least I have to give him credit for not being the LEAST charming man in all the land. But he's certainly coming close. Her mind was straying toward an area that she'd rather not think about, so she set her mind on Usa.

"Usa! Usaaaa!! Usa, Sweetie, where'd you go??" She called out to the girl.

[SilverDragonetsu]

(Later that night.)

Ryuu whimpered to himself as he dragged his feet along the road. How humiliating, he thougth to himself, as he reminessed of earlier that afternoon. His...lesson...with Aster. He shivvered, almost peeking over his shoulder, and yet too afraid he migth see Aster there watching him. Never had one man ever striken such fear into him with a mere look or presence. No deathly afraid though. More a nervous fear. 'Cause you never knew what he'd do next.

Once mor ehe shuttered, though groaned in pain. "ow...ow...ow....Aster, that b*****d...", he moped, eyes smarting as he clung his cloak tightly aroudn him. "Where's that damn witch...", he muttered to himself. He'd been looking for Aki for some time now. Usa even. Though he'd no sign of them. Regretfully, he stepped up onto the awning of Asters Inn, pausing in reluctance to enter. He knew Aster would be inside waiting and watchign him him the moment he step foot in the door.

Swallowing his will power, Ryuu forced himself dismally forward and into the Inn, a rather submissive stare cast over his features. The restraunt was filled with customers. Good. Aster would be busy taking care of them. He hurriedly entered and found a booth to sit at near the door, hoping that if he kept his hood close over his face, Aster wouldn't notice him. And if he did, Ryuu would try to bolt for the door.

[Aki Ameko]

Aki walked in the tavern door, worried and frustrated. "Where'd she get off to...??" She mumbled to herself in desparation.

She surveyed the dining area, at a loss of what to do. Suddenly, she spotted a certain someone. "RYUU..." She growled under her breath before walking toward the man and slamming her hand hard atop the table infront of him.

"I CAN'T FIND USA." She said accusingly. "Since YOU seem to know her so well, how 'bout you tell me where she got off to, HMM??!" Aki was seething in her anger and dislike of the man before her.

[SilverDragonetsu]

Ryuu bowed his head, ready to lay his hed down and take a nap. He hand't so much as let his head nodd foreward when a loud thud jerked him to awareness. The poor man nearly lept from his seat in fear that it was aster. He say Aki though and stare in light announce.
"Oh, it's just you.", he murmured under Aki's loud voice.

"Phish. You think I wasn't looking for her myself? I don't know where she is any more than you do..." Which was a half lie. If he knew Usa, which he did, the young girl had gone to the one place that gave her comfort.
"She went to her garden. And she wont let me in." Ryuu muttered in a pout. He'd puffed his cheek out and lain his head on the table. Sulking. Usa never locked him out of the garden.

He knew just how serious Usa was about making him apologise to Aki because of this. He looked up to the female, adjusting the way his head was lain on the table, arms folded under his chin. Silver mirror like eyes scrutinized the woman with a blank stare. The kind that looked like he were looking right through her.