Prompt 62: Prudent
Title: Trust
Author: britedark
Universe: pre-canon
POV: (young) Kaede
Warnings: none
Word Count: 299
Summary: Suriya has another lesson to teach Kaede.
Author's Note: This is the next chapter in With One Eye.
Trust
It felt surprisingly good to know that Suriya was pleased with her, Kaede realized, as she and Suriya started back towards the village.
“Amaya baa-chan asked me have you dig for ginseng this afternoon.”
Kaede bristled. “She could’ve told me! I’ve been gathering all summer for her!”
“Since I am your teacher, and responsible for you, people are going to come to me now,” Suriya pointed out.
Kaede prudently stomped on her temper, remaining quiet, though beginning to wonder which was going to be worse: being expected to step into Kikyo’s sandals, or be treated like a kid again.
They were into the trees when Suriya spoke again. “Kaede, do I have your word, that you will not talk about what you saw, between me and Hajime?”
“I... suppose,” Kaede said slowly. “Why?”
Suriya stopped and turned. “It’s always prudent to avoid doing or saying things that would make enemies. More importantly, a miko needs to be trusted by the people she serves. Because of her closeness to the spiritual world, people will come to her. She will learn many things in confidence, some of which, if made known, could tear a village apart. A good miko will never want that. Do you understand?”
Kaede considered. “If I told someone how rude Hajime was to you...”
“It would embarrass him, make him angry at you, and lessen the chance that he will come to accept his situation, and be truly willing to work on finding another path.”
Kaede puzzled over those words, not quite understanding, then dismissed her puzzlement with a sigh. “I won’t tell on Hajime,” she promised, before wrinkling her nose. “But, I still don’t like him.”
Suriya almost laughed, eyes sparkling. “Liking everyone is not required of a miko,” she said, voice amused. “Just be discrete...”
Author: britedark
Universe: pre-canon
POV: (young) Kaede
Warnings: none
Word Count: 299
Summary: Suriya has another lesson to teach Kaede.
Author's Note: This is the next chapter in With One Eye.
Trust
It felt surprisingly good to know that Suriya was pleased with her, Kaede realized, as she and Suriya started back towards the village.
“Amaya baa-chan asked me have you dig for ginseng this afternoon.”
Kaede bristled. “She could’ve told me! I’ve been gathering all summer for her!”
“Since I am your teacher, and responsible for you, people are going to come to me now,” Suriya pointed out.
Kaede prudently stomped on her temper, remaining quiet, though beginning to wonder which was going to be worse: being expected to step into Kikyo’s sandals, or be treated like a kid again.
They were into the trees when Suriya spoke again. “Kaede, do I have your word, that you will not talk about what you saw, between me and Hajime?”
“I... suppose,” Kaede said slowly. “Why?”
Suriya stopped and turned. “It’s always prudent to avoid doing or saying things that would make enemies. More importantly, a miko needs to be trusted by the people she serves. Because of her closeness to the spiritual world, people will come to her. She will learn many things in confidence, some of which, if made known, could tear a village apart. A good miko will never want that. Do you understand?”
Kaede considered. “If I told someone how rude Hajime was to you...”
“It would embarrass him, make him angry at you, and lessen the chance that he will come to accept his situation, and be truly willing to work on finding another path.”
Kaede puzzled over those words, not quite understanding, then dismissed her puzzlement with a sigh. “I won’t tell on Hajime,” she promised, before wrinkling her nose. “But, I still don’t like him.”
Suriya almost laughed, eyes sparkling. “Liking everyone is not required of a miko,” she said, voice amused. “Just be discrete...”