048 [Voice | Action]

[ahappylie]

...oh. They really did leave me in the woods.

...

I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

[Souji's back from his mallynap as a kid; a kid totally opposite of what he's usually like. He vaguely remembers Luceti and is wandering around in the woods on the edge of town, confused and dragging his journal around.]

Comments

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

I'm not lost. [He stares down at the ground, however, a little put out by how cold it is.] I was just left here.

[ayu_nee]

Oh, dear, that doesn't sound very nice. Left here by whom?

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[He shrugs and looks away. Saying who would be rude to Kondou since it was his parents. And besides, he doesn't really know if it's them. He's just been left. Maybe someone else left him there.]

I don't think it matters.

[ayu_nee]

It matters if you don't have anywhere to go. It's a bit cold for you to simply be out walking like this, don't you think?

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

...It's not too cold for you to be out here, so why is it too cold for me?

[ayu_nee]

Hm, were you on your way somewhere warm? Because I was.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

.... [HNNNGH he wants to go with her, but she's a stranger and that would...be a bad idea. So instead, he just stares and then looks at the ground. After a moment, he sighs.]

I don't have any money. If you're thinking of robbing me. Neither does my family so I'm useless for ransom.

[ayu_nee]

[She just laughs quietly at that, amusement clear to be seen.]

Oh, is that so? Mm. But do you have a name?

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[Geh, rude. The kid obviously looks a little miffed at being laughed at.]

...It's rude to ask for a name without giving yours first.

[ayu_nee]

It's a good thing I didn't ask for yours, then, but simply if you had one.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

...[Geh. Souji looks at her, bows his head and turns to leave.]

[ayu_nee]

[She starts to turn away as well, talking to the air as she does.]

Ah, that's too bad, then. I'd thought that you might want to go somewhere warm and have something to eat. I must have been mistaken.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[Hnnnnngh. He stops and looks back over his shoulder. He wants to go so badly, but he has no idea where he is or who these people are and if even Kondou's family had no use for him then why would complete strangers?

His stomach rumbles and he crouches in the snow, biting back a sniffle.]

[ayu_nee]

[She stops when he does, watching him with a faintly curious air until he crouches. At that point she steps closer, crouching down to be more on his level as she reaches out a hand.]

My name is Ayumu. I'm afraid you're very far from home, but if you'd like to come with me I can give you somewhere to stay until you can get back.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[Welp, Ayumu, I hope you like crying kids because you've got one now. He misses his family and having someone be nice to him is something he hasn't had for awhile. He reaches out for her, trying not to sob openly.]

[ayu_nee]

[Ninja can deal with any situation, even when it involves a crying child who bears a rather strong resemblance to a certain missing captain. She's brave like that. So she'll just smile, all warm and big-sisterly and encouraging.]

My house isn't far from here, so we can go get in out of the snow. Would you like some tea?

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[That's because ninja are awesome. He buries his face against her lap and nods. He finally says his name, but it's muffled.]

......jirou.

[ayu_nee]

[She hesitates for the barest fraction of a second before resting her hand against his head, lightly stroking his hair.]

Pleased to meet you. Are you from Edo?

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[He nods again and moves back, wiping his eyes against the backs of his hands.]

.....

[ayu_nee]

I'm originally from Osaka, myself, but I've been living in Kyoto. Before I came here, at least.

[She straightens up, offering him her hand again with a smile. He can take it or not, but either way she'll still lead him back toward house 50.]

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[And where is here? He just figured he'd been left somewhere and had somehow missed the fact that it was cold and snowing. Maybe he'd been dumped up north. He wouldn't be surprised to be honest. Kondou's mother loathed him.

Rather than take her hand, he falls into step behind her, shuffling along and trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.]

....were you left here, too?

[ayu_nee]

[Ayumu prefers that, really, so she just walks down the path back toward the house, moving a little slower to accommodate the smaller boy's pace.]

Yes, I suppose I was. That's how everyone ends up here, not by choice.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

...Oh.

[He keeps following, clutching at the fabric of his clothes.]

....So there is a place where abandoned people go. I thought it was just a story told to scare children.

[ayu_nee]

[That's as good an explanation as any. And hopefully he'll be back to normal soon enough, so there isn't much point in trying to give him the full Luceti orientation....]

It isn't such a bad place, really. See, up ahead there? That's where I live.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

....Patronizing me won't make it any better.

[Rude little kid is rude and he frowns, looking at the unfamiliar house. It looks...weird. And yet familiar. Why would such a weird house look familiar?]

Why are you being nice to me?