Day cruising (Open RP, Great Hall)

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Realizing that it had been more than long enough since he explored the particular acoustics of the Great Hall, Kurama had grabbed up his guitar and made his way from the greenhouses to the many-purposed hall Not to be left behind, his imperialistic cat followed at his heels, sniffing at passers-by in a queenly manner. Finding a seat at one of the massive windows, he began to tune and re-tune the sadly neglected instrument, playing snatches of songs as they came to him, or as people passed.

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[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Words felt inadequate to return the sentiment. Kusuuriyuri allowed his own love to flow through his hand as he held Kurama. "Kochira koso," he murmured, color touching his cheeks.

He pushed the door open and the cats darted out in front of them. "The day shall be pleasant," he murmured.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"I should hope so," Kurama smiled, giving Kusuriyuri's hand one more squeeze. Then he broke away to set his guitar back on its stand, afterward going to the office where there were several large baskets and assorted tools. "How much do you think we'll be harvesting today?"

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri gathered up tools from within his medicine case, including some items that could be used to begin the processing of the plants they collected. "Saa, as much as is feasible and needed," he replied. "It would be foolish otherwise."

He looked down when Boukensha put his feet up against his leg. "We shall bore you, Ojiisama," he murmured. "You are not fond of harvest," he reminded the kitten.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

A wry, slightly guilty smile tugged at Kurama's mouth as he listened to the last. Great Gods, I really am a terrible influence on them, he thought, picking two of the largest baskets from a nested stack. He didn't let it show, instead putting on a martyred face. "Ahh, little prince, only one of us should suffer today." The cat looked between them and seemed to deflate, dragging himself away to flop dejectedly next to Belophoebe, who had enthroned herself on the bed.

"Mercy, he really does have sulking down to an art, doesn't he."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri watched, hiding his own masked smile. "He has studied well from a master," he replied softly. He turned to Kurama with a raised eyebrow. "Itoshii shall suffer mightily," he decreed. He turned slightly, enough to watch Boukensha brush his face as if trying to hide his amusement. "Let us go," he said, turning to the door again.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Kurama inclined his head, conjuring up the most arrogant look he could. It was one he was rather proud of: he'd practiced for centuries. "That his practice is so fine speaks well of his teacher," he said, as a lord giving a decree, "who will suffer for the sake of his beloved student." Then his voice dropped and he bent, so to whisper in Kusuriyuri's ear. "And for the virtue of having the company of his dearly beloved."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri would have tapped Kurama on the nose, but the last part of hiss comment stopped him from doing so. "And, for the promise of having your hair washed," he added, turning to brush a kiss against Kurama's cheek. He looked over his shoulder, one hand on the knob, his eyebrow raised. "If Itoshii is exceptionally helpful, this one shall also wash his tail," he said before opening the door.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

He followed behind as obediently as a puppy, closing the door as they left. "And if this one is extra-special especially exceptionally helpful?" He prodded, unable to keep his tail from wagging at the thought. Damn unprincipled appendage.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri lifted his chin, very aware that Kurama was much enjoying this game and finding it endearing as well. "Saa, this one may allow Itoshii a request," he said.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"Aaah," he readjusted his hold on the baskets to tap thoughtfully at his chin. "A request, a request... Oh, I'll have to think very carefully about that one..."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri raised an eyebrow. "But not so carefully that you cannot be 'extra-special especially exceptionally helpful,' ne?" he teased. He led Kurama to the fringes of the Forbidden Forest, examining the ground cover and trees the entire time.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Kurama kept his eyes and energy tuned as well, looking for the signs of harvest-ready herbs and plants. "I will be careful to be helpful and to consider my options," he said with dignity. He spotted a plush clutch of witch hazel not far off the path (which was more like a vague indent in the undergrowth, even so little a distance into the forest) and bent to examine it closely.

"Here, this will serve nicely. I doubt we'll find better conditions for witch hazel further in."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri bent to examine the growth and nodded approvingly. "Were you Deshi, I should ask after the use and preparation of this," he said, withdrawing his tools from his sleeve and carefully harvesting what he needed from the growth. When what he needed was within Kurama's basket, he thanked the plant and continued on.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

He smiled, not only at the comment but at the thanks Kusuriyuri gave. Another surprise from his lover, though a small, gentle one. Not may felt the need to thank their tools. That Kusuriyuri did made his heart (ah, his heart! How casually he thought of it that way now) feel lighter.

"Would it gain me points towards helpfulness if I did?"

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"Saa," Kusuriyuri murmured, reaching up to collect some changa mushrooms (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaga_mushroom) from the bark of a birch tree. "It would be interesting to see if Itoshii knows other uses or preparations," he said.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"Ah, chaga," he laughed softly, a nostalgic smile on his face. "Mother would drink chaga tea when she was ill, before it got out of hand. I know Genkai used it for ulcers when Yuusuke was being particularly irritating." He set down the baskets next to Kusuriyuri, then knelt at a particularly dense growth of calendula. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendula#medicinal_effects) "And this, do you know anything about radiodermatitis?" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation_dermatitis)

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri looked at Kurama, puzzled. "Radiodermatitis?" he asked. This one has not heard of such. What is it?" he asked, moving to work the calendula with Kurama.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"It is an affliction of the skin, a sickness caused by radiation." He paused a moment, trying to think of an easy way to describe exactly what radiation was. "Radiation is light, different kinds of light and energy, that travels from one thing to the next. Depending on its intensity or its source, it can be absorbed by skin. Like, the energy in sunlight is a type of radiation. Too much of it will burn you, or cause sickness."

He arranged the little flowers as he spoke, pruning the plant with focused concentration. "There are other kinds of radiation as well, some used to heal cancer, leukemia, that kind of thing. Radiodermatitis is when a radiation of that kind causes lesions in the skin, bleeding, sometimes killing the skin cells entirely. Calendula, in the right hands, can help heal that." Another thing he learned from his mother. Chemotherapy had done just as much ill as good, but experimenting with the calendula had yielded good results.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri listened, carefully filing away the information. "I see," he murmured softly, reaching out to touch Kurama's hand. "Itoshii is knowledgeable," he murmured. "His hands are well skilled, as well." It was unusual for him to offer such praise, but he felt that Kurama needed to hear it.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Kurama shrugged, but couldn't hide a faint blush at the praise. "It is what I studied, way back when. At first because of need, after out of curiosity. I might have gone into a sciences career, eventually." Calendula harvested, he stood and brushed off his knees, offering a hand to Kusuriyuri. "We'll likely have to go further in from here to find anything ready for harvest."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri took Kurama's hand, letting his touch linger much longer than the need to rise would have caused. "The season is still young, but some are ready now that would be spoiled by waiting," he said, beginning along the path deeper into the forest.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Kurama carried the half-full basket under one arm, continuing to hold Kusuriyuri's hand as they walked. He listened to the sounds of life around them, the earth and the creatures that inhabited this place. "I wonder sometimes," he said at length, "why I was brought here. There seems to be no true purpose to this place other than bringing people together who otherwise would never meet."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"So it would seem," Kusuriyuri agreed softly. "This one is pleased, though, to have had the opportunity." He paused, reluctant to fully let go of Kurama's hand. He squeezed first before reaching up for some usena (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usnea") growing on the trees near the path they were taking.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"The air is good here," he said, referring to both how well the usena grew, and to the general atmosphere. Held out the basket with a little smile. "I feel like I can breathe without worry. I wouldn't change this."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri draped a soft cloth over the usena before caressing Kurama's cheek. "It is pleasing," he murmured. "A few more, smaller harvests, then we shall return." He led Kurama to the side of the forest near the mangosteen grove, bending occasionally to check and gather a few smaller plants along the way, thanking each one as he did.