"Ow..." Kikushou winced as she tried to push herself up, one arm not really liking the idea of supporting her at this moment, and the other shaking too badly to really help. Still, she managed to get herself upright, kneeling on the ground as she looked around. This must be what the Silver World was like, she mused to herself, her gaze turning and taking in everything. Somehow, she thought it would have less weeds. Mother?? No, mother wasn't here. Nor was anyone it seemed, and she shrank back slightly, nervous for the first time. Had she died? The last thing she remembered was the tower... and those thoughts again.
NO. She hadn't jumped. She knew that much, although it HAD been tempting for just a moment. But she'd fallen regardless, and must have died.
Wait... if she was dead, how was she still hurting? That didn't seem right, from everything she knew. Her hand came up idly to the opposite shoulder and she let out a squeak as the pain came back. Peering underneath the fabric of her top, she saw the angry bruise there and realised that this is where she must have landed. Now, where exactly was she? This didn't seem like the Silver World... then again, she'd never been there herself, so who was she to judge?
Still, it seemed very odd that she would fall from a window and land in a flower bed. Especially since she had been pretty certain she'd wind up a splat on the ground. She obviously wasn't dead, so that meant she had to be somewhere else. That was when she started to 'call' out, wondering if she was still alone, or if there was anyone else there.
Hitsuga had been using the table in the front of the udon-ya as a support for the piece of paper he was scribbling a note on, addressed to Lady Rika with a query as to when she may be next available for a short talk, and....what he supposed was the number to the hellish tele-phone thing that was now taking up residence in his front room.
What had been the neatly-formed scrawl of his signature, however, had become a jagged spike that jolted off of the paper entirely into nothingness as he STARED over his shoulder in the direction that the child-like scream, both inside his mind and outside it, had been cut off abruptly by a nearby rustle of vegetation.
The perfumer remains where he is, momentarily petrified by the start he'd been given. Who....or WHAT had that been?!
The tentative projection that follows, also child-like, makes him collect enough of himself to, at least, rule out the possibilities of things it COULD have been. And he can safely scratch 'the end of times' off of his list.
Remaining warily in place for the moment, he returns the tentative call with one of his own. Is....is everything all right...?
Her head whipped around, one eye closing slightly as her shoulder ached again. Slow movements, Kiku, remember. Slow. It's better that way. Getting to her feet shakily, she spread out her arms for balance, then seemed to get the hang of it rather quickly. This was good, at least she wasn't injured any more than the bruise... and WHAT was all over her clothes?!
Fine! She sent out an answering call, the reply rushed and perhaps just a bit too quick in coming. It was rather like a child trying to convince a parent that no, we really did NOT just dump your favourite canister of tea into the fountain to see if we could make one big batch. She set about trying furtively to pick the splinters and plant bits off of her clothes. Oh they were ruined, she knew it, and here there was someone she didn't know, they were going to think she was some dirty little child that didn't have sense enough to not fall into flowerbeds.
What would mother think?
Kikushou brought both hands up to her lips then, eyes wide as she stared off towards the direction the other call had come from. Other Porcelain were here? Oh no, maybe she'd gotten saved from the fall and wound up in another district? Another land? And their first impression of her was going to be a MESS.
Slowly, Hitsuga ventures away from the table toward the source of the disturbance, looking less like a man coming to the aid of a child and more like a housemaid edging toward a pantry where there may, or may not, be a mouse waiting to jump out at her.
It had taken him a moment to realize he was looking at a young girl emerging from what....HAD been a flowerbed, so disheveled was her appearance. And, at first glance, save what he gathers of the aches and pains emanating from her, she does not appear badly hurt.
But where had she COME from...?
Hitsuga's eye steals momentarily to Setsushi's home, seeing if she'd perhaps, tumbled out of a front window for whatever reason she might have had, but the nearest one was not only closed, but out of reach of the flowerbed. The roof, maybe...?
Setting his jaw, projections of concern and confusion both emanating from him, Hitsuga offers her a hand to step out of the flowers. Madame looks like she took quite a fall, is there anything he can do to assist? Was she, perhaps, looking for Lady Rika or Master Setsushi?
Oh no! Kiku looked to Hitsuga, trembling faintly. It wasn't from fear or nervousness, but it became obvious that she was thinking of her appearance and what HE must think. It was gone a moment later, however, and despite her disheveled appearance, she set her hands neatly in front of her, bowing deeply. While it was very kind of him to inquire about her health, she was, most assuredly, fine. Perhaps a bit sore, but none the worse for wear, but thank you for asking! You must be a very kind soul...
Shen she rose again, however, her brows furrowed as she tilted her head and watched him. But she hadn't been looking for anyone when she was pushed out a window... was someone looking for her?
He returns the bow of greeting politely.
He is glad, then, to see that she is fine. But....someone had pushed Madame? Out of one of
these windows...?? he inquires, seeming more than taken aback. He cannot not fathom either resident of the udon-ya doing such a thing....
....but....but no, as far as he knew, no one is looking for her. That is to say....Hitsuga is not entirely sure who Madame may be, so he's not CERTAIN if someone is looking for her...
Kikushou looked up then, shaking her head faintly. No, it wasn't these windows, these weren't nearly high enough. It had been a window of the Astronomer's Tower, and it was MUCH higher than that. She thought she was dead at first, but that seems to have been incorrect... unless he was dead too? The Silver World was supposed to be much different, however, at least from what she'd been taught.
Then his comment sunk in and she startled, suddenly apologetic. She was Kikushou, daughter of Yuushou and Kikuka, of Horn's Mirror, Toukoku. And who did she have the pleasure of addressing?
The perfumer blinks, momentarily taken aback by such eloquence from someone so young. She is, perhaps, a third his age and her introduction is better-formed and more polite than that of many of the adults he'd done business with in the past.
He shakes this off to give her a smile. And he is Hitsuga, formerly of Gray Shells, Rinkoku. He is honored to meet Lady Kikushou.
And....no. He is certain, at least, that this is not the Silver World. This is....somewhere else entirely, he's afraid. Though he offers Kikushou assurances that she is, most certainly, not
dead.
Master Hitsuga is very kind, and his assistance is appreciated. It's good to know that she isn't dead, that would definitely be something that she would have had trouble getting used to. If there is any way she can repay his kindness....
Wait. Maybe.
Kiku reached into her pocket then, fishing around for something. It was with a happy squeal of glee that she found it and held out the cloth-wrapped item to Hitsuga. It was originally bought for another, and she does apologize for that, but if he would accept her gift, she would be so very pleased?
Lady Kikushou needn't worry herself. He is happy to assist if he can. Perhaps he should try knocking on the door of the udon-ya again and see if he has better luck getting someone to answer as this has suddenly become a bit more important of a matter than--
That line of thought derails suddenly as he is presented with the cloth-wrapped something. ....oh...!
He allows the item to pass from her hands to his, bowing his head to her graciously, and carefully roping in feelings of uncertainty about the matter. As much as he wants to assure her she owes him nothing for any help he offers, he likewise does not want her first interaction in this world to be misunderstood as one of insult or rejection.
He would, indeed, accept. And be honored to do so. He gently brushes the cloth open...
Kiku beamed then, bouncing on her toes as she watched him open it. The brooch inside was intricate, obviously purchased in the Golden World... and likely quite expensive in the process. Not something that a child would normally carry, but it seemed commonplace to her. She hoped he would like it, it would look very pretty on him.
She paused then, blinking as her stomach growled softly, and her hands came to cover it. She hadn't eaten after her lesson, she'd just run up to the tower. However, he'd mentioned an udon-ya? Could Master Hitsuga please show her where it was, and if it was currently open? Perhaps she should eat something...
The sun catches the brooch in such a way that the glare off of its metal surface makes him momentarily unable to see it. As it draws into focus, though...
....
He wonders, behind the wall of his mind, who someone her age could have possibly purchased such an expensive gift for originally, and furthermore who would have rejected such a thing...?
Dark eyes look up from the brooch, only to be met by a delighted young face looking back up at him. He reaffixes his smile, which had faded some in surprise, making a show of pinning the brooch to the front of his garments. Lady Kikushou is very kind, he tells her, and it is very, very lovely.
At her mention of being hungry, he fidgets. They are, in fact, standing right in front of the udon-ya, but he is afraid Master Setsushi and Lady Rika must be out for the time being...
But, he offers quickly, they are very near to the shopping district. If Lady Kikushou would allow him the honor of buying her something to eat, he would try to, perhaps, tell her what he knows of where they are currently?
They were? She looked up then, catching sight of the Udon-Ya sign, and frowning as she tilted her head slightly. She hadn't quite learned to master the written word, but itw as something she had been working on. Of course! The reason she hadn't known was because there was no one there and nothing was cooking! It stood to reason that if there HAD been food, she'd have known.
Master Hitsuga's offer is most kind, and Kiku is honoured to accept. She smiled up at him, finally dusting off her clothes to some semblance of presentable, and nearly squealed when she saw the brooch on him. It looks exquisite! Perfect for him, it truly does bring out his eyes. Maybe they can find something else too, at the shopping district! She pulls her sleeves low, hiding her hands in them as she brings them in front of her politely. She is ready to go whenever he is!
Hitsuga flushes, as is his custom when faced with compliments of any description.
They will see, he supposes. Gaia is nothing if not host to a very wide variety of things to offer its inhabitants.
He then gently urges her to follow as he begins in the direction that will lead them off of the quiet sidestreet and into the general hustle of Gaia's activities, his mind already churning busily for where to even BEGIN explaining this world to her...
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