And progress continues outside... ((Closed RP, A, Kusuriyuri))

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

The walls of the castle seem more confining than usual. Though he is usually adept at avoiding the wanderlust-feeling, a holdover from his most recent occupation, there are days that Kusuriyuri just needs to be outside, to feel the plants, the sun, the earth and hear the water near by, to taste it in the air. He needs to reconnect to the elements around him that make up his world, his power.

Picking up his case, he finds a house elf and politely requests the creature deliver a note to his student for him. The way they fall over themselves when he asks anything is almost amusing, almost sad. His note en route, he heads outside to his student's pride and joy, his garden and new greenhouse.

The contents of the note are as follows:
Deshi,
Today, let us meet outside for the elements call to me.
Kusuriyuri.

Comments

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

It's even more soothing than usual, lying on the floor of the greenhouse and feeling his energy currents being smoothed and prodded. He has the odd sensation, disorienting but not unpleasant, that he is being tended like a plant.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

After a bit more of soothing energy into proper channels and holding it there, giving it a chance to become familiar with those paths, Kusuriyuri allows the energy to flow where it will. Thought it returns mostly to its previous state, the return is slow, thick mud filling a whole, and incomplete, rather than water rushing in. He remains a moment longer, to observe. But, the return remains incomplete.

Withdrawing, he nods. He feels less drained than he has in his room. "Perhaps we should continue out here," he murmurs when he believes A is in a state to answer him.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"Here," A echoes, sounding just a little distant and dreamlike. "I like that, being here. It was almost... It was like I could feel the plants."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"It is good for you," Kusuriyuri agrees. "The plants are good," he adds.

He reaches over and brushes A's hair out of his eyes. "Deshi has come a long way." There is warmth in his voice.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"I'm learning so much from you," A says with affection and respect. "You... you've done so much for me. Thank you, oh, thank you."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri waves the praise aside even as he enjoys it. "I am only a medicine peddler," he murmurs. "It is what is done. Deshi has done much."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"You are my teacher," A insists. "I cannot learn if I am not taught."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"A good student can learn from even a poor teacher, but a good teacher cannot help a poor student," Kusuriyuri counters.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A flushes faintly at the praise.

"And you have," he insists. "You've done so very much for me."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Rather than prolong this conversation, which is rapidly becoming unseemly, Kusuriyuri changes the subject. "Shall we work with the plants?" Kusuriyuri is still uncomfortable with praise, both as a result of lifelong habit and humility.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

Open admiration and affection isn't an uneasy thing for A, but e can tell it is bothering Kusuriyuri, and he lets it go.

"Yes, I, the citrus, they need a little pruning," he says. "I think a few of the branches were damaged slightly in transit."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri nods, moving to stand. "It would be wise to trim them before they cause damage." He glances around the greenhouse once more. "You have had help?" Because if A has done all the work in the short amount of time that the greenhouse has been there, he would encourage the boy to rest. If the labor wasn't affecting him now, it would soon.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"Some help," A tells him. "Mello helped with the kitchen herbs."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri nods. "Remember to take time to yourself, to rest." He nods to the catnip. "It is good that you bring the cats. They are good for you, as well."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"I like their company, and they like exploring, and seeing the new plants. Although there are many I need to use charms to keep them away from."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri nods. "They are curious, cats. It is their strength and weakness. It is the responsibility of those who care for them to enforce limits so they learn not to endanger themselves."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"It would be bad if they got into the thorn apple," he says, naming the most toxic plant currently in the greenhouse. "And soon there will be monkshood, and foxglove, and nightshade."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"That is so, so you must teach them limits." As A himself learns new limits. "They will push, but you must be firm." He doesn't doubt that A will be, and this is in his voice. "It is good for them to learn."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"I have read that some cats like valerian," he comments. "I will be growing some for medicine, and because Professor Snape says it is good for potions, but I might grow some near their catnip as well."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri nods. He knows that A doesn't need to be reminded to watch the cat's intake if they do like it. "Some grasses are good for cats as well," he murmurs. He runs his hands along the trunk of the tree they're working on. They are strong plants, and A's care will only make them stronger.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"I will find out which grasses, and get some." He nods firmly. "If they are spending time with me in the greenhouse there should be things there that are good for them."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"Has your L seen your greenhouse?" Kusuriyuri asks, a touch amused.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"He has seen it now, yes." A's grin is mischievous. "It was a surprise. But it was very empty then, and there are more plants in it now."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri is glad to see the mischief in A's smile. "Just as A wanted," he murmurs. He is very glad to see the progress from asking L about everything to making decisions and working a plan to surprise L and pleased that the success will likely encourage A to continue.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"And he said he would help me, sometimes. So he will see it with more plants. He will see the trees that are here now."

He'd chosen the lemon and lime on his own as well, with an eye toward using them in cookery.