Natural Consequences (Closed RP: Kusuriyuri, A)

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

((OOC: the day after))

Kusuriyuri needed to talk to A. While the growing confidence was encouraging and the progress was most encouraging, A still lacked an understanding for the results of his actions. He still focused on the immediate to the detriment of the long term, as B's mounting paranoia showed.

He sat in his office in silent meditation for the better part of the morning, trying to sort out what the best way to speak with A about the incident. He wanted A to continue to grow and develop, didn't want to discourage him. But, A must also be made aware of the results of his actions and begin thinking about them.

With a sigh, Kusuriyuri penned a note and asked a house elf to deliver it to A and then bring him lunch.

The contents of the note:

Deshi,

If you are free, please join me for lunch in my office.

Comments

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

A frowns. "I don't want him to hurt anyone, not ever again."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Cautiously, Kusuriyuri wonders if maybe he has reached his student. "B lashes out against others when he is frightened, deshi," he says softly.

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

"He never needed to be frightened, when..."

A's more used to B lashing out from boredom.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"Things have changed for him, deshi. The old personality, the one that was, is unaware of what happens when the new one appears, and the reverse is true. So, if something is done to the new B that leaves a mark that the old B is aware of, he becomes frightened." He pauses. "That there is a new B frightens him as well, deshi. The more he fears, the more he lashes out against others."

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

"The new one, he, he doesn't need to be hurt. If the old one was gone..."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"It is beyond my powers to do more than separate them for a short time, deshi. I cannot make one leave. The only other way is for either you or Mello to be around him constantly."

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

Another frown. "I, I don't like him being around me."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"And, I do not think Mello would appreciate it either, deshi."

He reaches across the table to touch A's arm again. "A has removed B's fingers and marked him. That should be sufficient, should it not? Or would A wish to do all that B has done?" He knows this question is likely to cause a very strong reaction and says it as kindly as he can.

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

A stares at him in shock and revulsion, then moans.

"No, oh, I'm not, I'm not filthy, he, he, he didn't make me filthy, he didn't, he didn't, L said he didn't!"

It's worse than Soichiro's assertion, because it's Kusuriyuri, and there's fear in A's voice.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"Deshi is not filthy," Kusuriyuri says firmly. "I would know. I would have seen it if he were."

He reaches for A's cheek, wanting the boy to look at him. "Deshi, listen, please. A is not filthy. You are not filthy."

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

A's starting to hyperventilate a bit, but he looks up, eyes pleading. "I'm not. I'm not."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"Deshi is not filthy," Kusuriyuri reaffirms. "And, I would know. Reiki would show me if he were and he is not."

Very softly, he adds, "Reiki shows me that A has been hurt much. It was not my intention to add to that, deshi. Forgive me?"

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

"I..." A looks at him, speechless, and tries to blink away tears. Being asked for forgiveness is alien to him.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri brushes his fingers against A's cheek. "I was trying to help deshi understand, not cause him harm. Forgive me?" he asks again.

He lets his hand go to hold A's. "This is very important, deshi. Both your forgiveness and that you try to understand that what you do has consequences beyond just your actions." It is the most directly he has stated the purpose of a lesson with A.

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

"I, yes, I..." A grips Kusuriyuri's hand, taking a deep breath. It would take something very serious indeed to make him angry with his teacher.

"Yes, yes, and I want to understand."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri bows to A. "Thank you."

When he sits up again, he continues to hold A's hand. "Deshi has seen water ripple when something is dropped into it?"

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

"Like when L drops sugar cubes into tea?"

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

A smile teases Kusuriyuri's lips. "Yes. Though the sugar is small, the ripples fill the cup, do they not?"

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

A nods. "And then he drops in more and there are more ripples."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"Actions are like the sugar cubes, deshi. What is done is not just limited to where it is dropped into the tea."

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

A thinks the analogy through, then nods again.

"And when the surface is stilled, the sugar cube remains underneath?"

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"And it continues to influence the tea, does it not? Even when it cannot be seen anymore." He knows A works well with analogies and it does seem he is understanding this one, taking it the step farther.

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

"The tea is sweet, even when the cube is dissolved and cannot be seen." He smiles faintly. "But L adds more anyway."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri permits himself a small smile at A's addition. "That is so."

He squeezes A's hand lightly. "Deshi can be wiser than a sugar cube. The sugar cube does not know that it's fall will cause ripples, therefore it cannot take action to reduce ripples that may slosh the tea out of the cup. Understand?"

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

"If you lower a sugar cube in on a spoon instead of dropping it in, it won't ripple. Like, like that?"