::Owls to A and Kusuriyuri from Kurama::

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Owl to A
A,

I believe it is time for us to consider the lessons I spoke to you about.
Please meet me in the mangosteen grove as soon as you are available.

-Kurama
_{Attached is a magnolia flower, the meaning of which is "newness, and a love for nature."}

Owl to Kusuriyuri

Kusuriyuri,

I have invited A to the first lesson, I would appreciate your company and insight. We are meeting in the mangosteen grove, please come at your leisure.

-Kurama
_{Attached is a white chrysanthemum, the meaning of which is "truth."}

Comments

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

A sent an owl reading only "I am on my way" before making his way down to the grove; he was eager to learn more about plants.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

The flower amused Kusuriyuri and the invitation flattered him. He did not send a return, rather went to the grove, his case on his back, should it be needed.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Kurama had prepared a simple spread at the center of the grove. Nothing to cover the ground (of course), a clay pot full of black dirt, a large jug of water, various unmarked seeds, and a large lump of river clay. The Leopard Cat - still nameless - had situated herself at his side, half asleep in regal repose. He bowed in greeting to A and Kusuriyuri as they arrived, an easy half-smile on his face.

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

A had left Schrodinger and Einstein in the room, and the little flying squirrel (snug in a cage the house elves had found) as well. He smiled as he reached the grove and saw the Leopard Cat.

"You have a new friend."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri lowers his case by one of the trees and kneels by it, out of the way, since he is there merely to observe. He rests his hands on his lap and watches with interest, taking in all the objects and wondering just what the kitsune will do with them. He bows in return to Kurama's greeting.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Kurama nodded to Kusuriyuri, and smiled thinly at A. The cat was a friend, sure. One that liked to use his back and legs as scratching posts at any given time. He'd train her out of it, hopefully, but for now she was the most painful alarm clock he had ever owned.

"I've yet to name her. I've been thinking of 'Hiei,' but I'm not quite sure, yet." He gestured to a spot opposite himself, in front of the pot and seeds. "Have a seat."

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

A sits readily, as instructed. "I don't know the name. But she is lovely."

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

He nodded, maybe he'd explain that later.

"I know when we first talked about the idea of me teaching you plant lore I asked you to keep it quiet from Kusuriyuri and Ryuuzaki," he began, with a nod to Kusuriyuri. "As you can see, I've spoken to Kusuriyuri about this already, though I've not had the chance yet to bring up the subject with L." he felt slightly embarrassed and unkind admitting that he'd originally planned to keep Kusuriyuri out of the loop, but that truth had long since been revealed.

"I would much rather be able to teach you what I can without breaking any confidences, any previously standing agreements, or your trust. If you feel I am pushing you too far, or making you uncomfortable, you must tell me or I won't stop until the desired result is reached. Do you agree to this?"

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

A nodded. "I am glad Kusuriyuri knows," he says softly. "It will make it easier if I can tell him what I am learning. And I will tell you if I am uncomfortable."

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

He smiled.
"Good, I'll tell you now that this will not be in any way easy, or that it'll come to you quickly. You see all this?" he pointed upwards, at the leafy dome protecting the grove. "That is the product of many countless years of study and work. I don't entirely doubt that you'd be able to manage the power it takes to grow seeds to maturity in a few moments within your lifetime, but the odds of that being the case are quite low. Don't despair if you don't become great in a short amount of time."

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

"I was watering the trees when you made the dome, but it is very beautiful." A smiled. "The light is greenish from all the leaves. And I will work hard and not expect it to be easy. And it is the plants that are great. I only help them."

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

He ducked his head at the compliment.
"I know you will work hard, A. I know that you respect the plants, and that is why I want to teach you. We will begin your first lesson now."

He reached for a seed - sunflower, easily identifiable, and offered it to A.

"I want you to hold this in your palm as I speak to you, as you would hold a bird's egg. Be very gentle with it, and do not flinch."

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

If anything, A handled the seed more delicately than he would an egg. He cradled it in his palm and stroked it very lightly with one fingertip.

Seeds had so much potential, in such a small space.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"You have studied, I'm sure, how a seed works, its makeup, and how it is built." He rested one hand underneath A's, taking a fistful of dirt with the other from the pot and setting it around the seed.

"A seed is more than just the fetal stage of a plant. It is a representation of all the forces of nature, in its temperance and life. You transfer a tiny part of yourself to every seed you cultivate, every plant you care for. I wish to teach you now how to give it more, how to make it grow and answer you." He looked seriously into A's eyes, pressing the next point.

"Answer, listen, but never obey. You must give to them what they need to hear you, guide them to answer you, but never expect them to obey you. They are stronger, infinitely, than you will ever be."

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

A listened closely, nodding to show he understood.

"Before it is anything else, the seed is a seed, and it will always be what its nature tells it to be."

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"Exactly. Respect them, and they will aid you."
He sat back, picking up a seed of his own, making a bed of dirt in his palm, and pressing the seed gently to the soil.

"Now, you have already gone past the very beginner's stages. You aid the growth of your plants with your energy, that much is obvious. Elsewise your garden wouldn't be as far along as it is," he motioned to the seed in A's palm. "Imagine you've just planted it. That you've just dropped it into the right soil, given it the care it needs. What do you think when you do that, how do you feel?"

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

"It is satisfying, to have planted a seed where I know it will grow," A said thoughtfully. "And it is the time for me to wait, and be patient, while the seed makes itself ready to be a plant."

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

He nodded, watching the little seed in A's palm, cradling the one in his own. He could see the tiny threads of energy running to the seed from A, just the barest amount.

"Imagine what it would look like when it blooms," he urged. "Encourage it to grow strong and beautiful."

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

A's eyes were half-closed as he sent encouragement to the seed. "I have only seen sunflowers in photographs," he said. "They do look strong and beautiful, cheerful and proud, with broad faces and bright petals."

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"Let it tell you, then," he murmured, pressing a little energy into his own seed, feeling the minuscule shoots dig into the dirt in his palm. "let it show you what it wants to be, and help it along."

The threads were stronger now, a good lesson so far.

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

Nodding, A lets his eyes close, trying to sense the seed's own energy as he visualizes a sunflower, trying to let it tell him what a sunflower is, picturing the heavy head, the vividly yellow petals, the thick green stem and broad leaves.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"Very good," he said gently, noticing the tiniest strengthening in the energy around the seed. A was slow, but determined, and the seed was responding, the tiniest crack in its shell revealing the infant green within.

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

"I can, I can feel it." There was wonder in A's voice, but he fought to maintain his concentration. "I can feel it being alive."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri watched, paying close attention. The channels that Kurama used were ones he could feel but not control or use. He could write wards to block them and maybe ones that would reinforce those channels, but to do as A was doing was beyond his skills. He was impressed that Kurama could coax such energy from his deshi.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"Careful," he warned, noticing the shaky hold A had on his seed.
"Here, have a visual."
He urged his own seed into a shoot, the tiny stem bursting from the seed, part of the shell stuck to it like a cap.
"If you can get that far, we'll call it your first success."

He glanced over to Kusuriyuri and smiled just a little. I'll need your help on this, he thought. He's stronger than I thought.