Day 98, Late Afternoon/Early Evening

[loyallygiven]

Ken was a bit sore and tired, but he felt good about it. He’d learned a lot from Jennifer today. He still had a long way to go, but it was a start, and he felt he was taking steps in the right direction. He needed a bath, but that would have to wait until later, when the risk of meeting someone in the common area was less likely

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[wolf_kkm]

Wolf has once again been keeping to himself and kind of lurking in the background. It might be that he's been a tad antisocial. Ok, yes he's been really antisocial lately. He had finally accepted that his Murata was not returning and dealt with it by releasing anger and controlling it and such in the training fields and the like. Wherever he could use his Maryoku and not hurt anyone.

But there was one person who was probably wondering where he was. He slunk down the hallway and knocked on his door. "It's Wolf." He stated gruffly.

[loyallygiven]

Ken looked up from his book and stared at the door. He slowly shut the book and moved to the door, but stopped short of opening it. He wasn't really sure what he was feeling right that moment. The last time he had seen Wolf, he had been injured, and there had been other people around. He hadn't gotten any answers then, and there were still questions.

He opened the door and gave Wolf a bit of a glare. "Who are you, again?"

[wolf_kkm]

Wolf glared right back. "You know who I am!" He snorted. He looked Ken over briefly. "You're doing better." He observed. It didn't look like he had been anywhere which would explain his absence. In fact, the rumor was that he hadn't left the castle except once to check on something.

"Let me in."

The words were clipped, and somewhat petulant. It probably wasn't his right to be so, but he didn't like just standing there.

[loyallygiven]

Ken made a scoffing sound, but stepped aside and threw the door open wide enough that Wolf could enter. "Maybe I know you. Maybe I don't. Hard to tell. It's been a while." Four days - but he hadn't been in a good state then, and Wolf spent half the time pretending to be the other Wolfram.

He returned to his bed, and crossed his legs on top of it, with the book cradled between his knees, though he didn't open it again. "Are you here for a reason...?" The question trailed off awkwardly, as he almost asked, or did you just want to see me? He wasn't brave enough to ask that, despite his unusual good mood.

[wolf_kkm]

Wolf's gaze narrowed lightly as he walked over to the bed and found a chair to sit in. He folded his arms. "Of course I am, I'm here to see how you are." He stares unblinkingly at Ken for a few moments.

"And of course you know me, don't be absurd!" He huffed, though he maintained control and didn't show any signs of anger. Irritation, perhaps, but no anger. He actually seemed calmer than usual.

"So. How are you?"

[loyallygiven]

"I'm fine," Ken sighed, picking at a corner of the book, so he wouldn't have to look at Wolf. "It doesn't hurt so much, and the bruising had gone down quite a bit last time I looked."

It was a little more achy than it had been, and he added, "Jennifer was showing me how to use a sword this morning."

He looked over at Wolf briefly through the tangles in the hair falling over his face. "You used to come around all the time." His tone was almost accusing, before he snapped his gaze back to the book uncertainly. "I...I've missed you." It wasn't much of a confession, but for him, the words were hard to say.

[wolf_kkm]

"That's good, that you're healing and you're learning how to defend yourself." Wolf said gruffly as he took in the comments. "The person you're learning it from ... She's not the best qualified!" He scoffed with a snort

[loyallygiven]

Ken looked back at Wolf sharply. "Jennifer is more than qualified! She knows what she's doing! And...and I trust her!"

He listened carefully to what Wolf was saying. And though it bothered him on a level he couldn’t yet name, he thought he understood. Now probably wasn’t the time to be selfish, or to bother Wolf with his questions. He had spent his whole life confused. It wouldn’t kill him to remain so a while longer. Maybe it was better to try to figure some things out on his own.

He shrugged, like it wasn’t a big deal (despite clearly being upset earlier). “It’s okay. You had more important things…”

[wolf_kkm]

"If you say so." Wolf huffed slightly, he'd wanted to teach Ken himself, but he supposed he hadn't been around.

"Ehn. Not so much more important in that they had to be done." He didn't want Ken feeling -that- way.

"Are you sure you're ok?" He glanced at one of Murata's journals. "Ah, that's one of his isn't it? Did you learn anything? Are you starting to remember anything of any past lives?"

[loyallygiven]

"I do say so." He actually had no idea how skilled Jennifer was, but he was compelled to defend her. "M-maybe you could come to the field next time? She thought I should have someone to spar with..." Because he was afraid to hurt her. And though Wolf was surely above his skill level, he was less afraid of accidentally maiming the blond. That and he had been looking forward to Wolf teaching him, but with Wolf leaving and his own injuries, it felt like it might not happen. When Jennifer had offered, he'd only been thinking of spending time with her

[wolf_kkm]

Wolf's face lowered slightly as he looked at Ken while the other boy defended Jennifer and attempted to discern the nature of that request. He smirked. "You want someone to be a living Pell you don't mind hurting." He guessed. "As far as the journal's go..." He put a hand on Ken's shoulder.

"You would know things differently, I wanted you to read them so you would no longer think you were crazy. Your memories are real. They just happened differently. I thought maybe he'd have some insight on how to deal with them. He told me once he had to stop talking about them or people DID think he was crazy."

Wolf sighed "I'll come down and help you sometime soon. You need to learn how to properly defend yourself, after all." He had been saying that all along hadn't he? "I've taken care of everything I needed to, so you'll see more of me." He gave the other boy a mock-threatening look. "So you'd best start improving!"

[loyallygiven]

Ken flushed and shook his head. “No, it’s not that I wouldn’t mind hurting you. I just … I know you can handle me. If something goes wrong. Besides…” He shot Wolf a look, a bit of a glare, but it wasn’t very effective. “You really piss me off sometimes.”

He stared down at the book, and carefully set it off to the side. “I guess it did help some, then. It’s still strange to think I’ve got all these memories of past lives. And I’m not sure why.” It wasn’t covered in any of the books he’d read so far. “Anissina said she might have something that could help.” He shrugged uncertainly. “It can’t hurt to try?”

The hint of a smile appeared, and he nodded. “I am improving.” He hoped. He was trying. Whether or not Wolf helped him on the field, he didn’t really care. He was comforted to know he hadn’t lost his friend.

[wolf_kkm]

Wolf gave a smug look, "You're still very easy to tease, you know." He cuffed his shoulder playfully. "That's why you get pissed off easily."

"Anissina? Be careful..." He looked dubious at that, "Her methods tend to involve a lot of pain, especially if you have Maryoku. She means well though.

He was pleased to catch a smile, even only a hint. "That's good. I've heard that you are too. People talk around here. What is that you were looking at earlier?" Wolf had gotten a little closer now, of course, encouraged that he wasn't getting thrown out. He was also equally careful to leave space between them. Enough space so that Ken wouldn't feel uncomfortable.

[loyallygiven]

Ken grumbled a bit and rubbed at his shoulder, but he didn't have much of an argument for that. (Except that maybe he shouldn't be teased if it resulted in him getting angry...?)

He'd heard some things about Anissina, and he knew it was probably best to be cautious. But he was also desperate. Hand still on his shoulder, he shifted and said, "I'm not worried about pain." He didn't like pain, but he couldn't think of anything she could do to him that could be worse than anything he'd already been through.

He looked at the book for a second, before realizing Wolf must mean the other thing. It hadn't occurred to him that the other would have seen him interact with the paper that had been abandoned at his door - though he'd only just settled in to read when Wolf turned up.

He nodded to the paper, still on his desk, still crumpled and dirty. "It's nothing. Someone's trash. I got tired of stepping on it."

[wolf_kkm]

"You may not be worried about pain, but I don't want you to go through any more of it." Wolf said softly, and with sincerity. Even though he'd been gone a while, he cared still about the other boy and that hadn't changed. It was simply that he'd had to think about a lot of things. "You should have a happier life now." He went on to say.

"Nothing, huh?" Somehow Wolf didn't believe it. Curiosity getting the better of him, he attempted to rise as if to go get the paper and see for himself!

[loyallygiven]

Ken didn't have any words for that. He breathed in, and back out a little shakily, and conceded with an incline of his head. His expression was softer.

And then he blinked and narrowed his eyes at Wolf. "Of course it's nothing." He made a grab for Wolf's arm - though why? He didn't want the other to move away from him so soon, maybe. "If it were something important, then whoever dropped it would have come back for it by now."