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Kurama watched carefully as the seed shot into life, responding to A's energy and encouragement far quicker than he had expected.

There are channels in him that shouldn't be open, or have been re-routed. Reiki? Something Kusuriyuri did?

But, he smiled. That would have to wait.
"Excellent job, A. I wouldn't have expected you to get this far so quickly. Would you like to see how far you can take it, or would you like to rest for the day?"

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A looked at the little shoot in his hand, so green and proud and new.

"I think, I, I think I would like to see it grow, see it do the rest of its growing at its own pace."

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Good boy, not taking things too quickly. It would have to be a patience game, no mater how much he dearly wanted to see how far A could go.

"Set the seed in the pot, we can replant it with some others after we're finished," he smiled a little. "Would you like to see a mature sunflower, so you know what to look forward to?"

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A set the seed down very gently, not wanting to jostle it too much.

"I would," he told Kurama softly. "I have only seen sunflowers in photographs."

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Kurama took another fistful of dirt from the pot, careful of A's seedling, and spread it on the ground, setting his own seedling atop it. Then, slowly, for A's benefit, he bade it grow, from seedling to shoot to bloom, growing as tall as A was standing, the bright yellow flower bursting to light.

He smiled.

"Sunflower."

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"It's beautiful," A said in awe. The fast-forward progression from seed to tall, proud plant made him gasp with wonder.

"But will it live as long?"

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He smiled at A's awe, and was impressed by his foresight.

"It will. The energy I gave it is the same as a few weeks of sunlight, water and soil. If I need to, I can grow a seed to maturity with nothing but my own will and its cooperation. With practice, I believe you'd be able to do the same, should you wish it. And the energy stays with it, forever. cut the bloom from the plant, and it'll survive twice as long in a glass of water than a completely un-tampered with flower, without you having to give it anything else. With a little boost now and then, a bloom could survive in a vase for years, though that seems like it would be a little crueler than letting it return to seed and grow again."

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"Cut flowers are not as lovely," A said a little sadly. "They are not growing anymore, away from sun and soil. If they're not being used as food, or medicine, or to make dye or ink, or something like that... then, then I would not pick one."

A ripe fruit seemed like a better gift, to A, than a bouquet.

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"A bloom in a vase can serve its purpose as well. All flowers have their meanings, their truths. A flower can convey love, or loyalty, hate or betrayal. But you are right in your feeling; they should never be used when they are not serving a purpose. For beauty, they should be grown in the sun and soil." He gently coaxed the sunflower back into a seedling.

"I'll let this one grow up with yours, it's unfair to have one ahead of the other," he said with a little laugh, placing it in the pot next to A's.

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If the plant's rapid growth had provoked awe, seeing it regress into a seedling brought shock.

"You can... you can do that?"

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"Of course, though it takes far more work than making it go from seed to bloom. It requires a lot of technical knowledge of the plant, and pulling the energy out and around it in such a way that it doesn't just wither," he unconsciously ran a hand through his hair, fingers brushing the rose seeds tangled at the nape of his neck.

Would A be able to progress fast enough to make plants his weapons? Probably. And he'd have to be careful if that happened, especially if that whoever-it-was who A hated so much made a bad step... he could probably take down half the school if he snapped.

"I think that'll be it for now. Later I'll show you what the clay is for. How about you go replant these? I bet they'd be a fine addition to the garden."

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A lifted the pot, nodding. "I will plant them, and care for them so they will flourish."

He looked at Kurama thoughtfully. "Thank you for the lesson."

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He bowed. "It is my pleasure and joy to teach you, A. Thank you for being an attentive student."

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Holding the pot carefully, A left the grove for his garden, to plant the sunflowers in the earth.

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Kurama watched him go and sighed, looking over to Kusuriyuri.

"He's strong. Stronger than I had expected," he waited a moment, before continuing. "You've been helping him via Reiki?"

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Kusuriyuri nods. "It was needed. He was badly damaged. He would not have progressed so far or so well without it." He pauses. "There was much malice inflicted on him." Kurama would understand the effects of malice on the spirit, even if L had dismissed it.

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He winced. He didn't know the whole story yet, but he was sure whatever A had endured had been... nasty.

"The reiki may have been what enables him to learn from me, then." He paused thoughtfully. "And, what would prevent him from becoming or attracting mononoke. You have done more than one kindness for him."

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Kusuriyuri looks down at the compliment. "He was eager to learn, to know. He was open to direction. He also seems to have an almost instinctive understanding." He looks back at Kurama. "We have moved our sessions from my room to the greenhouse and he responds much better, as if he is drawing on the plants."

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He nodded affirmation and lunged back against the rock, crossing his arms over his chest, regarding Kusuriyuri with half-closed eyes.

"I don't know what to make of you," he admitted. "I've met few Youkai who would willingly devote their time to a profession that benefits humans," he paused, choosing his words carefully. "You are different from all of them, though... I don't know how."

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Kusuriyuri smiles slightly. "How many of those that you know are exorcist?" He knows that's a rare calling for a human, much less a demon. "I have lived with humans for many years." He pauses before adding, "A seemed interesting."

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"Touché," he couldn't recall any, at the moment. Though Yuusuke, in a removed, more hands-on sense, might count. Though, Kusuriyuri and Yuusuke were incomparable in that respect.

He doesn't like talking about himself. How traditional...
"So you have lived among humans, you help and heal them. I wonder why. What does it bring you?"

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Kusuriyuri ponders a moment. He knows the kitsune won't accept the simple of answer of it gives him reason. Such answer would be sufficient for, A who was still learning and needed more ambiguity to continue learning.

"At first," he begins, talking slowly, "it was merely amusement, something to do. As times changed, people lived and died, it became my purpose." To the point that his name was lost to history. "It is fulfilling," he adds, almost an afterthought though it is his main point.

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He nodded, silent. A noble purpose, one he'd never have found for himself. (Unless, of course, certain circumstances moved him in that direction, as recent times seemed to dictate.)
Even then, there would always have to be incentive.

"You're very selfless," he murmured. An admirable trait he doubted he could easily find in himself.

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"Is that so? To derive my purpose from others is selfless? To seek out those in need, to seek out mononoke so that I may continue to seek form, truth and reason?" Kusuriyuri smiles, in anyone else, this would be a derisive laugh. "Hardly, kitsune. I have found my path and I cling to it."

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