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 Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 10:20 pm
Hayase made a soft, tsking noise and shook her head.
"Never you mind, young warrior," she mused, eyes sweeping over his arm to properly assess the wound. It likely hadn't started out as a terrible one, she surmised, but aggravation and a lack of proper treatment had allowed it to bleed quite a bit. Again she made the tsking noise, this time at her son.
"A bear, was it?" Ran nodded. He wasn't surprised that she knew; if there were two things the Saito family knew, they were medicine and bears. His mother's brow slowly rose, and she didn't need to voice her question for Ran to hear it loud and clear: why was he in the forest, provoking a bear? Ran felt his face grow hot and took it upon himself to defend Jianyu.
"It was an unfortunate circumstance, Mother. Jianyu did not mean to incite the rage of the bear; something must have set it off and caused it to blindly attack whoever crossed its path."
Growing quiet, Ran remained knelt on the ground and watched his mother while she worked. He already held a fair amount of knowledge concerning medicines and treating wounds and the like, but he had been taught to always take the opportunity to sit quietly and learn from his surroundings, if possible. Hayase said nothing to his explanation and removed the bandages with care, doing her best to peel them off without causing him additional pain. A fruitless effort, but the least she could do was try.
When they were completely removed, his mother motioned to Ishi, who had been standing by at the ready, to bring the bowl of water and a couple clean cloths to her. She silently obeyed, large eyes glued to Jianyu as if he were some strange, mythical creature in her home. With great care, Hayase dabbed at the blood and began to clean the cuts. "This may sting," she warned, but continued the dabbing.
Ran watched, falling into a half-attentive, half-dreaming state. Once upon a time, he would sit and be mesmerized by his mother's efficiency with the treating of wounds, and his father's skill at skinning and dividing kills. Now he watched with less interest, already aware of what to do and how to do it. He blinked once, then twice, until he realized he was being talked to. The world came back into proper focus, and he knelt down slightly to better hear Jianyu.
He was making jokes, in his current state? Ran gave him a bewildered look, then his brow creased in worry.
"You are something else," he said softly, watching Jianyu in quiet admiration. "Your spirit is very strong -- no, I would have preferred to meet under better circumstances, but it is said that there is a reason for everything. Perhaps your encounter with the bear was fated."
Fate was not something Ran was certain he believed in; he didn't know enough of the world to come to such a conclusion, nor was he very comfortable with the idea that everything in his life was unchangeable and already pre-determined.
Perhaps not everything, but some things. He pushed his philosophical questions to the back of his mind for now, taking the other cloth and wringing it out. Displaying the same amount of care as his mother, Ran nudged Jianyu's face back to stare at the ceiling, pushed his bangs back, and slowly began to wipe the cloth across his forehead, catching sweat and hoping to cool him somewhat.
He looked completely exhausted.
All my fault, Ran thought sadly and with more than a little annoyance toward himself. This only proved one thing: he needed to get stronger, and quickly. He couldn't remain in the academy forever. Not if he wanted to be of real use to men like Jianyu, or win against great beasts like the bear.
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Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 1:54 am
"Er," said Jianyu, glancing back and forth between Ran and his mother. "Yes, Ran is correct. I was in the...woods hunting, and I'm afraid I shot the deer that...the bear was after."
His face heated slightly, feeling as if the explanation sounded idiotic, but as he turned his head Jianyu could see that Ran's face was just as flushed. Apparently the both of them had a little explaining to do. Jianyu sighed, wincing slightly as Ran's mother continued to unwrap the bandages. She was obviously very skilled in her abilities, and she moved quickly and confidently, her fingers deftly pulling at the sticky, reddened cloths. Jianyu heard her say "This may sting" and then let out a rather inappropriate curse, flinching violently as she dabbed the wet cloth over his injury. His breathing hitched for a moment, but after a few short breaths he calmed himself down, his eyes flicking towards Ran as the younger man spoke.
Jianyu raised his eyebrows. " 'Something else?' " he repeated, somewhat confused. "I'm afraid, I...am not quite sure what you mean. But...I appreciate your compliments. My spirit is..."
Here he trailed off for a moment, lost in thought briefly, but then he said quietly "I would hope that my spirit...is strong, so it is...a relief and a gratefulness that another says so."
Jianyu smiled up at Ran, though it was a small smile, quiet and collected. "I'm afraid I do not really believe in fate, however," he added, somewhat apologetically. "Though I suppose...in this case...it could be warranted."
Ran reached across him, sliding the bowl of water closer and dipped his hand into the water, taking the cloth and wringing it out. Gentle fingers pushed Jianyu's sweat dampened hair back from his forehead and then a cool cloth was pressed to his skin. Jianyu was starting to feel significantly better, now that his injury was very nearly clean, but the feel of the cloth against his forehead relaxed him unexpectedly, soothing him, so he did not rouse himself.
"Thank you." Jianyu murmured softly, closing his eyes. "I am...very much in your debt."
He was not entirely sure as to how he would repay Ran and his family's kindness. After all, he was a perfect stranger, yet had not hesitated to help him, even before they knew he was a Legion. But he had to do something. 
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Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 12:33 pm
Ran felt a smile tug at his lips.
Perhaps it wasn't fate; rather, maybe it was something as whimsical as chance that led their paths to cross. Ran was not a sociable creature. He remembered a time when he would hide behind his mother's legs to avoid speaking to strangers. It was bold of him to bring someone else into their home, but time brought change in small, interesting ways. His smile faded.
Change. Was change really what he -- his family wanted? Wasn't that the one thing they were afraid of the most? A knot in his stomach tightened when he realized how hypocritical he was being toward their own cause; he shared his family's beliefs, without question. They fought for the emperor, to avoid the changes the Nobles wished to impose on their lifestyle. So, why...?
He told himself to cease that type of thinking; it was irrelevant. They worked and thought and felt as a family. If his family believed something, then he would do the same. They stood together, like the roots that upheld a large, ancient tree. Their traditions and their history cemented them to each other, as was meant of family.
Coming out of his thought - he tended to lapse into bouts of deep contemplation quite often, he noted with a hint of embarrassment - Ran blinked and looked strangely at Jianyu. "No, do not... no." He shook his head. His hand, which had stilled, picked up the dabbing motion again. "You do not owe anything to us."
We only did what was expected. As one Legion to another; no, even more than that, as... Lunarians. He frowned again. The pain in his stomach returned.
"Get well," his mother chimed in. Ran looked up in surprise, having forgotten she was there. She gave Jianyu an over-the-glasses look, despite not owning any. "It is done. Thank you for sitting quietly for me." With her work done she stood, wiping her hands on her cloth. She gave the two of them a final look and half-turned.
"If you would recover, then that would be payment enough." Ran looked at the ground and did not watch his mother leave, but he knew she took his brothers to the other side of the house to tend to them. She meant to give them privacy, and he was thankful for it. If his brothers were anything, they were nosy and fairly obnoxious. He sighed.
"How do you feel?" he asked, moving the cloth away. He brought an arm down and let his hand linger at the base of Jianyu's neck, to let him know he would help him sit up if he felt like it. For some reason, he felt the need to explain his mother. "My mother is of few words, but she is only worried about you." His brow wrinkled. "And about the bear. Like me, she is... quiet."
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Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 2:17 pm
Fate. It was an interesting concept, though Jianyu did not particularly believe in it. Several members of his family did, including his parents, but Jianyu had always scoffed it off, deeming it to be an unreliable, unsupported idea of why things were a certain way. But something about Ran seemed...different than the other members of the Legion Jianyu had met before, though he could not quite put his finger on the exact reason for that. Whatever it was, it was not unpleasant. Merely...curious.
Jianyu's eyebrows drew together in an expression of slight confusion as he glanced up at Ran and his mother. Not owe them? But he had been injured (not to mention somewhat humiliated by the entire ordeal), and the younger man had been kind enough to take him in and care for him. Jianyu had always been taught to respect those who respected him, returning their generosity when the situation warranted it. So the fact that Ran was telling him not to do anything was slightly odd for Jianyu.
"Ah," he said, as Ran's mother stood, her gaze solemn and serious as she looked down at him. "Thank you again for your kindness."
Jianyu was still somewhat miffed by that sharp gaze, but he turned his attention back to Ran, who was bending over him. One hand reached out, fingers brushing lightly against Jianyu's collarbone, and Ran was looking at him cautiously.
Reaching up, Jianyu pressed his arm against Ran's, hand gripping the other man's shoulder and slowly forced himself to sit up, wincing slightly as a sharp pain shot through his opposite side. It took a few seconds for it to clear, but after he was sitting fully up, he turned his head to face Ran, a small smile on his lips.
"Your mother is a very kind woman," he said softly. "I am sure she is a good person."
They were alone now, the room deserted. Faintly Jianyu could hear low murmured voices, muffled by the of the other rooms. The house was small, yet comfortable, and Jianyu felt surprisingly relaxed within its walls.
"Please," he said, a slightly awkward feeling creeping into his voice. "I...let me repay you somehow."
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Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 8:19 am
Ran felt his expression shift to reflect Jianyu's; they were both men of the same alliance. It was only natural that he came to his aid. Before that, however, they were both Lunarian. It wouldn't have been right to just leave him to the bear. Not fair to Jianyu or the bear. Scratching his cheek, Ran contemplated the encounter. He and his brothers had only been doing their duty to nature by safely leading the bear away. Ran had been doing his duty to his neighbors by protecting a man. Did he really require payment for doing what was natural and right?
Jianyu used Ran as a brace to hoist himself up, and he did not budge so that he may provide the support he needed. He was watching him again, quietly, a serious gaze contradicting the twisting knot in his stomach. It was out of protection against his prying, teasing brothers that Ran had learned to mask how he felt, although this trick seemed to fail him more often than he would have liked.
As if to demonstrate, a small smile lifted his expression when he caught mention of his mother. She made him proud, if not a little frightened from time to time. It was hard to keep a straight face when someone in his family was being complimented, especially when he could practically see the underlying suspicion in his mother's eyes. She was kind, yes, but also careful. She knew not to trust everyone she came across.
"I can't," he cut in, beginning to feel as awkward as he was certain Jianyu did. He cleared his throat quietly, not wanting to draw attention to them. They were alone, now they could talk. His family had respected that and tended to other things. He would thank them later.
He moved to begin again, but reconsidered. "If you... truly wish to repay me," he muttered, gaze dropping to the floor, "Then... when you recover, you may... y-you could help me hunt for a day, if you'd like." His change of heart had been induced by a realization of rudeness; he'd been refusing this man the ability to repay him when he thought appropriate. His father would have frowned at that.
Worrisome. Ran's stomach twisted and turned as he worried the end of one of his sleeves, finally picking up his gaze to look back to Jianyu. He felt too awkward, asking a wounded man to help him, but he didn't expect anything until he was fully healed. He wouldn't accept anything until then. "If that would be suitable to you. You... use a bow, correct? I am... lacking in that area."
His face reddened a bit. He was such a poor hunter. Perhaps Jianyu could teach him a thing or two?
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 11:28 am
Jianyu was well aware of the fact that Ran did not consider him to be in his debt. The way the other man held himself, almost stiffly, as if he felt awkward and unsure. It was not dissimilar to the way Jianyu felt at the moment, but at the same time Ran had given him aid when he needed it, which meant that to Jianyu, at least, he felt that he owed the other something. It felt rather like a standstill, which was difficult in and of itself, but Jianyu's stubbornness and determination to repay Ran's kindness outdid his desire to simply lie back and do nothing. He supposed this might have shown a slight for the other man's feelings, which made him feel a little unnerved, but it was not done out of unkindness or arrogance.
"Look," Jianyu said, somewhat awkwardly as he reached his uninjured hand up, rubbing the back of his neck. His hair felt tangled and damp, and he brushed it out of the way, blinking slowly as he turned to look at Ran. He lowered his voice a tad, quietly speaking. "I can see that we both have different ideals when it comes to this. What I see as kindness, you see as naturally helping out someone in need - at least that it was a glean from your responses," he added, with a vague, crooked smile. "I do not wish to make you uncomfortable in any way; that is, I merely wish to show you the same sort of kindness I believe you have shown me."
Jianyu lifted a brow at Ran's next words. To be truthful, he had not expected an offer such as the one the other man was giving him, and it both surprised and pleased him. He was used to hunting for his family, although his expression flickered a bit at the mention of his bow. Jianyu did not normally teach others the art of archery; there had been only one exception, a kind young man whom he had not seen in several months now, whom he did not expect to see again. To him, archery was a sacred thing; something that had to be lived as much as it had to be taught. He had grown up learning the bow; it was as much a part of him as the scars on his back or the markings under his eyes.
However, despite his normal reservations, Jianyu did not dislike the idea of teaching Ran. Rather, he found it to be a somewhat interesting concept, and he felt a small smile cross his face. Ran's face was tinged a pale red, which made Jianyu reach over, gently putting a hand on the other's shoulder briefly.
"Then we have an accord, do we not?" he said, tilting his head, and dropped his hand, looking at Ran. "I will teach you the bow and to hunt in exchange for your kindness today."
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:04 pm
He hadn't been spacing out, but he flinched very slightly and had to resist the urge to jerk away when Jianyu's hand found his shoulder. He couldn't remember a recent time he'd been so stressed out; it wasn't often that someone else's well-being depended on him, but he knew this was a feeling he would have to get used to in order to become something dependable in battle. He didn't like that his generally ambiguous demeanor was taking such a beating from the entire ordeal, however.
Exhaling softly through his nose, Ran tried not to look as severe as he generally did, although his mouth insisted on remaining in a firm line. It wasn't that he was at all displeased with the outcome, and it was times like these that made him wish he didn't always look so put-off by things. To say he felt awkward was an understatement, but he was also beginning to feel more and more excited by the prospect of learning something new.
Especially from someone as respectable as Jianyu - as someone who had already proved his worth to the Legion as much as he had. He would look no further than his father for a teacher, under normal circumstances; sadly, these were not normal circumstances anymore. He was tired of feeling worthless compared to his brothers. He couldn't bear failing over and over again right in front of his father's eyes.
His hand rested on his stomach and his brow furrowed a bit. It almost felt as if he were taking advantage of this man, using him for his own gain. Still... still. He looked into Jianyu's eyes, his expression solemn.
"If I am ever a burden to you, I want your word that you will not force yourself to continue the teachings," he said apprehensively, fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt, as if to suggest that he had a stomach ache. He knew what he wanted to say: I'll likely fail, don't waste your time. But he didn't want that to happen, so... so, he wouldn't even think it. His expression cleared significantly when he told himself that, and he nodded.
"Wait here." Rising slowly, he crossed the room, grabbed a basket, and was out of the house. In his absence, the small shiba inu that had been dubbed 'Seta' stepped through the door and stopped, staring at Jianyu. Somehow, he had escaped Hideharu's grasp, but his blank stare didn't seem to suggest any hostility toward the newcomer. He just sat and stared.
Ran was careful to step around him when he returned, basket full of herbs and plants. As he went to Jianyu he whistled softly for Seta to follow, which the dog dutifully did. The two were now sitting by him again, Ran sifting through herbs with a furrowed brow.
"These herbs will help with the healing process," he began, glancing up only briefly. "These will make a good salve, when mixed." He pointed to another herb. "Do you drink tea? Mix this in and it should help with the pain." As Ran went through the uses of the herbs, Seta stood by him and continued to stare at Jianyu, sizing him up. If it had been Yuudai, he would have bitten his sleeve and terrorized him by now. Apparently, he had decided that this man was fine. Yuudai would be so angry. Ran would laugh hysterically when he figured it out.
"And that should be all you need," Ran finished, patting the top of the basket down and holding it out. He waited a couple beats, then blinked awkwardly when he remembered Jianyu's hurt arm. "-- ah. I will escort you home, if you are ready to return. I am sure your family will be anxious to know of what happened when they see you."
Tucking the basket under an arm, Ran offered his shoulder to JIanyu so they could stand together, offering him an inquisitive look. "Can you stand? If you need time to rest, let me know."
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:48 pm
Jianyu was not quite certain as to what exactly Ran was feeling at the current moment. The other's brow had flickered ever so slightly at the touch to his shoulder, and his expression suggested discomfort, but his eyes did not. It was as if he himself were unsure of how he felt, which Jianyu could understand, though he did not trust himself to make such a judgment on another person. He was not the greatest judge on the feelings of others, as demonstrated in part by his lack of serious relationships (with a few exceptions), so he did not want to assume one way or the other when it came to someone like Ran.
A smile touched his lips. "I promise," Jianyu answered gently, dropping his hand from the man's shoulder to fold it in his lap with the other. His arm still throbbed rather painfully, but it had settled from a raging pain to a dull ache. Whatever Ran and his mother had done had helped quite a bit. "On one condition: that you also will not force yourself in my presence." He gave a small, almost unsure shrug. "I only wish for you to feel comfortable, so if at any time you feel I am intruding or creating an awkward atmosphere, please let me know."
Ran was standing now, disappearing into the other room briefly. In his wake he left the same small dog from earlier, and for a few moments Jianyu just blinked at it, tilting his head curiously. He had animals back at his home, yes, but none like this. Most of the pets his family kept were birds, and perhaps a few cats; no dogs.
"Herbs?" Jianyu repeated, a slightly confused expression on his face as his gaze flickered to the basket held in Ran's arms. He leaned over, attempting to see, one hand daring to reach out, almost hesitantly, slowly, until his fingers brushed over the little dog's head. His fur was soft, and Jianyu pulled back quickly, concerned that the creature might bite him. His expression softened, however, at the concern in Ran's face.
"Thank you," Jianyu said softly, smiling up at the other. "I very much appreciate your kindness."
Reaching out, Jianyu took ahold of Ran's shoulder and with a slow, careful push, he stood, sliding an arm around the other's midsection to steady himself. Once he was certain of his balance, he dropped his arm and then turned to look at Ran.
"Shall we go?"
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