[LOG] ZAIZEN AND YUUSHI

[tensaimage]

Who: Zaizen Hikaru and Oshitari Yuushi
Where: Somewhere near the castle and to the capital (Raytin/Eldan)
When: Sometime... when they were both still there |D
What: They meet after Yuushi decides to go get some glasses and Zaizen's just trying to stay entertained while waiting for a reply to the letter :|
Rating: G
Comments: Shiraishi should learn from Zaizen's example P:

To say Zaizen was bored, was an understatement. After delivering the promised letter to his brother's conspirator, he had been told to wait a week for the reply that was sure to come. It did mean he had the time to sit around and do nothing for the week, but that also meant he was bored out of his mind. In fact, that was mostly the reason why he'd headed out in the direction of the castle to begin with... though the reason was more to check and see if he could find that girl again from a few days ago. He had time to spare, nothing to do, and she had looked like she'd needed more than one afternoon's worth of help.

As he came to the field where he saw her yesterday though, he found it empty, leaving him with nothing to do again. He didn't want to go wandering towards the castle, especially as he was actually from the other kingdom. While he liked the idea of being able to roam where he pleased, he wasn't an idiot. Getting too close without permission would only get him into trouble.

That left him with looking for other means of entertainment. He could only practise so much on his own without a supervisor, but even so, he settled down on a hill and started to practise a little himself. If the girl did drop by she'd be able to see, and if she didn't, well... he'd actually done something useful.

Despite the cooler temperatures creeping into the lands and settling in with a decent snow fall, Yuushi wasn't about to let his new-found information slip through his fingers. There wasn't much time in Raytin, after all. He simply had to find the shop rumored to have an ocular device to aid him in seeing! It was why the winter day saw the older mage dressed in thick, dark brown robes to keep himself warm.

He took the path leading down from the gates of the castle, wind whipping gently at his long locks of shaggy blue hair. It wasn't violent, but it was enough to annoy him as it blew the strands into his eyes with its mildly frosty breeze.

"Well," Yuushi's seductive voice rang in his own ears softly. "At least it is a nice, sunny day."

The sarcasm in his own voice was barely there as he spoke to himself. For all he truly knew, he was alone and there was no young man nearby to hear him sound like a crazy old man.

Having lived through all kinds of temperamental kinds of weather, the cold only annoyed Zaizen slightly as he sat in his place. At least he was wearing a make shift scarf, even if he didn't have anything to keep his hands warm while he practised making a few potions. It was the easier stuff and he already knew he could do it, but it gave him something to do. Of course, that moment of peace was ruined when some... weird guy walked past muttering to themselves. Zaizen gave them his best deadpan look, hoping he'd get the point across that he was weirded out without words.

"I think the center for the crazy people is that way." He pointed towards the city, not really caring if it was disrespectful/he could get murdered any moment. Actually, his eyes flickered to his bow and arrows nearby, just in case.

At least the guy didn't look that crazy really, and he had come from the direction of the castle... so that probably meant he wasn't going to die any time soon. Hopefully. He didn't bother to move yet either way, just stared up at the guy as he passed by.

Had Yuushi been the type of man to blush, his cheeks may have stained a darker color than the very light pink that dusted his cheeks then. Well, it appears that he had been caught. That was embarrassing.

Turning to the voice, the older mage's eyes landed on a handsome young man who looked... well, 'exotic' may be a better term for him. He, by no means, looked average. He was far too attractive for that classification to belittle him. And what a pleasant voice he had as well. Yuushi found himself almost charmed by the deadpan bluntness.

"If you mean the castle, I, unfortunately, know from personal experience that your statement is true." Yuushi chuckled softly as he buried his hands in the sleeves of his robes.

That expression only grew even more deadpan when he was actually spoken to, and as a response he just shrugged for a moment and started to pack his belongings up, organising each bit before slipping it into his make shift bag. "Most places are full over crazy people nowadays anyway." It was pretty hard to tell if he was actually being serious or not though, especially as he smirked at the fact that the man was embarrassed by it.

One point for him.

He leaned back a little, ignoring the cold seeping into his hands as he leaned on them, pressing them into the ground. "I'm pretty sure you just came from that direction though, so wouldn't that be admitting you're a crazy person?"

While his honest reason for being out was to find an aid to help him in seeing, his eye sight wasn't quite that poor yet. He saw the potions being stowed away, and more importantly heard the sound of vials clinking together.

"Perhaps it does," Yuushi admitted with an amused smile. "However, it takes an equally nonsensical type of man to practice his craft out in this weather."

He took a moment to survey the youth for a moment longer, and noticed that he might be stunning if there were warmth behind that smirk. Which would be rather breath taking to see, rather than the cockiness that seemed to be oozing from every pore. "Unless you're impervious to the chill?"

"It's not that bad." Zaizen glanced up at the sky, frowning slightly. "Been through worse." He dusted himself off and stood up then, not even trying to huddle into his own clothes - he actually wanted to prove his point there. He'd been stuck living out in the open for a large chunk of his life, just a few years with his brother wasn't going to make him forget that.

"Maybe you're just weak." That cocky smirk wasn't going anywhere either, despite him having no idea who he was talking to.

He tugged his bow over his shoulder, pulling the arrow case around his waist and fastened it all up then just grabbed the bag he'd made, holding onto it. "Though I should probably head back before the innkeeper thinks I've ran off without paying."

The implication that he was weak made him chuckle lowly, voice like liquid satin as it trickled out. Oshitari Yuushi was far from being what one would call 'weak', though this young man need not know anything of it. Perhaps one day if they were ever to meet again - though Yuushi wasn't sure it was likely - he would have the chance to wipe that smirk off his face."I prefer to use the term 'comfortable'. It's a far more kind word, and much easier on the ears to hear."

He waited for the young man to start toward town before he allowed himself to keep stride with him. This way, it enabled him to keep conversing with this... charming young man. "Not long for this area, I take it?"

Okay, even that chuckle surprised him - not enough for it to show, but enough for him to grow a little uncomfortable. Just because of how syrupy it sounded. Kind of weird, really. "So in other words you can't deal with the truth of it and have to sugar coat to live with it?" He stared at him outright, because really, that was exactly what Yuushi had said, only a little... more straight forward.

"I'm only here until this guy finishes writing his letter back to my brother." He shrugged and started walking towards the town, only giving him a slight glance as he carried on talking. "Then I'll have to head straight back to deliver it." That was a clue as to who he was anyway, considering he'd been bitching about it on the journals. Luckily, it wouldn't take longer than a week, but it was already taking long enough.

The charming way Zaizen spoke was much more memory jogging and familiar than any comment about his brother would ever be. It made Yuushi smile in his amusement as he heard each word slipping from between the young man's lips. The tone of his voice and the ease with which it all came out was so... eloquent in it's own way.

"I wouldn't say that," Yuushi directed his smile at Zaizen. "But it has a certain ring to it that's more appealing. Much like the refreshing way you put things, if I dare say so."

Truly, Yuushi would dare a thousand times or more to say that he was amused by such bluntness. However he was both experienced and not daft enough to even entertain the notion that the novelty of it would stay quite as amusing. Like anything else, it would wear out its welcome eventually. He was just kind enough to not blurt it out like his young companion for the moment may be. "Pity you should be leaving so soon. It's lovely in this area."

"Then you're only fooling yourself," Zaizen said that simply too, even if it was kind of an insult. "Though I always think there's no point in trying to work around something, if something is what it is, just say it as it is." He shrugged just slightly and hopped down from a bump in the path, shoving his hands further into his clothing.

"I guess." Zaizen glanced around, though he didnt really look impressed either. It was alright, really, but in a way he preferred home. In lots of ways, he preferred home, less travelling and all. He didn't really say anything else though, not even commenting on the comment Yuushi had said about his remarks being 'refreshing'. He didn't really deem it that important to say anything about it anyway. Of course, that's when an amusing question popped into his head, more considering what it would sound like. "I take it you come here often, then?" Yuushi sounded as if he was either from the area or did visit a lot anyway.

Plus, it would be interesting to see how the other took it. Not for any reason other than amusement though.

Just what was he fooling himself on, he wasn't sure. The logic of it escaped the old mage and he thought, perhaps, the young man didn't quite know hardship. Yuushi decided to let that sleeping dog lay, though. The lesson of bluntness versus sugar coating was something to be learned over time.

However Yuushi was, quite possibly, going to disappoint with his answer when he finally spoke. There was nothing special about it aside from the possibility that he might let on that he was from Raytin. Which was very entertaining, when considering he was working for the king of the nation he did not belong to."No, I am just visiting like yourself. But I did some traveling in my youth, and Eldan was by far one of the more beautiful places on the continent."

Oh, Zaizen knew hardship. It was just a simpler form of fighting for ones life and already practically raising a kid. That, and Zaizen was luckily pretty hard skinned, it was difficult to actually find something that could actually bother him.

"You travelled?" He glanced over at him, slightly interested now. He had, after all, travelled across on his own between both Kingdoms and the so called "rebel" territory, so he'd had his fair share of it as well. "I prefer the mountains." He stated it plainly though. "Less people there." The town was great for grabbing supplies, but really all the people that tended to gather there annoyed him more than made him think it was a nice place.

Yuushi looked in thought for a moment, silently contemplating something. What exactly was his favorite part about their surroundings? The mage in him loved nature and all it's fascinating creatures, while the romantic in him loved people and their complexities. It made it quite impossible to decide what he liked best, or what to comment on.

"I spent my first fifty years out of training traveling. There is nothing I have not seen, unless it has been constructed in the last century." While he only looked as though he was in his early thirties, Yuushi was closer to three hundred than he would like to admit. More than half his life span was already gone, though he still felt fit as a fiddle. "The mountains are beautiful, yes, but I prefer the places that have been cleared out by settlers. There's less of a chance to be eaten by something while sleeping."

Well, that made sense, didn't it? It made him start to consider who the guy was anyway. "Behind in the times, then?" He actually looked faintly amused then, because well, admitting that Yuushi was practically admitting he was getting on in his years - especially compared to Zaizen's young age. "I grew up in an area that wasn't really occupied as my parents are idiots." He told it like a fact more than anything. "So I'm pretty much used to it, I sleep lightly anyway."

There was the hardship that Yuushi seemed to have thought he lacked previously, Zaizen had, after all, spent time training with his father before moving away to live with his busy brother. "Sometimes I still head out there anyway, or at least into the forests, it's usually quieter."

"Such is the plight of a trainer, I am afraid. There is not much calling to travel where I live. My apprentices generally tend to come to me, or near enough when I am to take on the role of temporary instructor." His statement said a lot about himself, truthfully. He was a very skilled mage, who rather than take on a permanent apprentice for a full fifty years, was charged in teaching lost cases the basics. Perhaps when he was done with Shiraishi, he might take on someone much more stable. It would be a nice change of pace for him.

"Are you foolish enough to call your parents idiots to their face?" Yuushi chuckled. While he didn't... exactly condone it, he wondered just how amusing it might be to see someone be so bold.

"Sounds like such a fun job," his voice was dry, sarcastic as he said it. "Are there really that many that need temps?" He actually hadn't found the basics hard at all, hence why he was actually questioning it. He didn't mention that either though, because he probably wasn't supposed to be teaching himself - even if his brother was supervising him until he got it down.

He just stared at him at the question though, not really getting why he'd need to repeat himself. Instead of pointing that out though, he said the next best thing: "They're used to it." The corner of Zaizen's mouth twitched slightly. "They're more than aware of how I don't really agree with their decisions, I think my choosing of being a black mage instead proved that." Really, really proved it, all things considered.

There were quite enough that needed his urgent help, yes. Yuushi had, in all truth, had at least three apprentices in the last year. The one, despite her many charming points, he was glad enough to be rid of soon, though. His wardrobe couldn't take it for much longer. "You would be surprised at just how many mages out there need help in certain areas. I have had to fix many walls in my lifetime."

Yuushi turned his own amused smile back at the boy. "How rebellious." He commented lowly as he unfolded his arms from inside his robe. Reaching out, he ran his finger with a very faint touch against the icy metal inside the boy's ear. "Are those part of your statement?"

Oh, well, in the case of Sakuno Zaizen would fully agree. The girl needed constant aid to make sure she didn't turn a town into a crater. He just blinked at that though, thinking it over. "You'd think they'd just give up." Sometimes, he actually wondered if it would have been easier to fully rebel and just turn his back on everything - but the reality was that he did actually care about his family. He just thought they were stupid.

"Can't be helped." He sighed the words out, "it could be worse anyway." The touch caught him by surprise though, luckily not enough for it to show on his face (lord forbid that happen) but he did feel a slight tingle down his spine for a moment. "I just liked the idea of them and figured I'd try it." He stared back at him, seeming utterly unaffected by the motion.

"Giving up is not an option in this world, young one. Some of us, no matter how rocky we may start out, are destined for greater things." Perhaps he sounded far too optimistic for his own good, but he knew first hand several cases of a terrible mage coming into their own. It was why there were apprenticeships and council tests to determine how well suited an apprentice was to their master.

Dropping his hand, though, Yuushi tucked his hands back into the folds of his robes and turned his attention back to the town just ahead of them. "They look like they hurt, but they suit you very well."

"It depends on what you consider giving up." Zaizen glanced over at him. "My parents were, but they still decided to give it up." Yes, he might have sounded a little bitter about that too - but he held most of that back anyway. He wasn't really just referring to the new mages such as himself. Though, he did harbor the opinion that if they really were that bad, then maybe they weren't meant to be one.

Zaizen's own hand moved to cover his ear and he tugged at the metal as if to show him that it didn't hurt at all. "It stinged when I first stabbed it, but its all healed now." He didn't comment on the compliment though, even if his lips did twitch a little. He knew they suited him, of course.

The bitterness in the boys voice was a little shocking, and it tore his focus from the town back to Zaizen once more. Yuushi studied his profile for a moment, taking him in more carefully. His features were unfamiliar to him. He knew of no one that looked like they could be his parents, which begged the question of who they were. Who bore this boy and left him feeling like he should be more privileged?

However Yuushi was glad to see that he'd taken the compliment without qualm. The piercings truly suited him, and while they made him look a little more exotic than the average man, it was nothing to shudder or cringe about.

"What did you say your name was again? I believe we have accidentally skipped introductions."

Luckily, Zaizen was extremely good at keeping his face blank as the way he was being studied was a little... well uncomfortable. He hadn't mentioned any names or reasoning why, but he was well aware that his parents did have links to some of the older mages and well, his mother in particular could have easily tried to be in the council or something. She was good. More so than his father who had taken it upon himself to teach him how to use weapons such as a bow and arrow instead.

He huddled into his clothes even more and finally glanced back at him. "Zaizen Hikaru." He didn't ask for the other's in return, expecting it anyway - especially as he had practically said they skipped introductions. Logically, that meant he'd share in return, right?

Zaizen... Zaizen... Where had he heard that name before? It sounded familiar. While his memory was sharp as ever, one would hardly blame him for forgetting a name, at the very least. Probably many more, to be honest. There were many things that Yuushi had to do, and many people he had to talk to throughout his day. Surely, it was excusable?

It took him a long moment, in which the answer struck his brain like a bolt of lightening. "Your parents, if I am not wrong-" He rarely was. "we have asked them to join the council. It is a pleasure to meet one of their progeny." Yuushi smiled as he again removed his hand from inside his robes. He extended it to the boy, his own smile a sort of beguiling one that said he was, indeed, excited. "Forgive me for being so caught up, I am Oshitari Yuushi."

Zaizen just assumed the length of time it took him to realise was because of his age though, so he watched him patiently as he waited. When it came to the other though, his lips twitched just a little, threatening to slide into one of those cocky smirks again. "But they refused." He eyed Yuushi's hand for a moment before slowly letting his own slide out to shake it in return. Most of the hesitancy came with how excited he seemed to be from the information though.

It wasn't that great.

One thing did stick out though, the 'we' in that sentence when Yuushi had mentioned his parents being asked to join the council. "You're in the council?" That put him on edge just a little, because he knew at least the 2 people he'd spoken to online were more than a little perverted. Ew. Saying that, sometimes it could be amusing, just not when they were being utterly serious.

Saying he was excited by the news was dramatizing it a little more than necessary, honestly. He liked seeing talented mages, and even more so seeing their offspring. It made the older mage wonder if perhaps Hikaru was just as gifted as his parents. However if he chose a different path than his family, it made him that little bit more intrigued than it should have. For wholly innocent purposes, as well.

"I am not an elder yet, but once Osamu or one of the other..." Yuushi paused for a moment, thinking of the most polite way of putting it. "seasoned council members step down, I am sure you will one day be answering to me when it comes time for your own assessment."

Try possibly even more gifted. More for the fact that he took more risks and actually tried his own concoctions from time to time just for the hell of it. Most of the time they actually worked too. At least temporarily. "That old, huh?" Zaizen actually looked a little amused at that, partly teasing. There was only one problem with becoming an elder really... you would be old when it happened. If this guy was that close... well.

"Though I doubt that'll be anytime soon." Zaizen pulled his cloak closer to himself, snuggling into it. "I don't even have a teacher, what I know is from self learning." Which was kind of already showing off his abilities, really. If he knew how to follow instructions that well without help... Well. It only meant good things, right? Sure, he had supervision, but he didn't usually need any help with practising the easier things.

Showing off his abilities, indeed. That was impressive, even if he didn't know the true extent of Hikaru's power. Though of course the teacher in him wanted to properly warn that it was unwise to do such things, but somehow... he actually trusted the boy at his side. That was quite possibly due to the level head on his shoulders, though.

"Pity I'll be taking someone new on very soon, or I would offer that you come back to Nyper with me for proper lessons." Actually, it was both a pity and a pleasure, but he needn't say that aloud. Kuranosuke was bound to be terribly interesting in his own way. "Perhaps if you've not found a master by their departure, we shall meet again?"

Oh, how he wished.

Thinking along the same lines, though, Zaizen elaborated. "I don't try anything new without my brother supervising, he's qualified to anyway." See, level head on his shoulders. Plus, he had helped Sakuno before, even if he hadn't know the girl had been under Yuushi's care beforehand. It wasn't as if he would blow himself up or anything. He was well aware of what did what and the dangers of each item.

"Watanabe-san," Zaizen figured after the slip up before he probably should address him properly, "already told me there was no one available. I'm watching over my nephew most of the time at the moment, anyway." There was also the fact that he had a few suspicions over who this guy was... and if the hunch was correct, well, he wasn't sure he wanted to or not. Either way, there was no point in thinking about it. "Good luck with your new student, I guess." A tiny smirk spread across his lips. "From what you said before, it sounds like you'd need it."

Ah, good boy. Hikaru was a smart one, indeed. Very trustworthy unlike Kuranosuke, who tended to seem and be very... sneaky. It was terribly rude to be so elusive when there were urgent matters to discuss. Honestly.

"Yes," He admitted, expression a little solemn. "It is such a shame to have so many young ones in need, and so few seasoned mages willing enough to take someone under their wing." Though his expression did pick up a moment later as he halted his steps in front of a store - the very one he was meant to go into now that they'd reached town. "I believe I will need your well wishes, yes. My newest apprentice is going to make me feel as though I am chasing a child around. I do not envy your duty with your nephew for that."

No worries there though, Zaizen would probably help from the journals by bitching Shiraishi into behaving. It had slightly worked before... it was just unfortunate it wasn't in time. At least it seemed like the shock of moving away would be enough for him to pay attention now? Not like Zaizen actually knew the situation there yet, but really he definitely wouldn't know who deserved sympathy. The pervert or the slacker. Tough choice.

"It depends on what kind of mood my nephew is in though. He's not too bad really, and his mother is usually at least in the house, even if she can't watch him." He shrugged slightly, only to actually glance at the store considering that was where the other had stopped. Only... to look slightly amused. Okay, so a little more than amused as an a mix of amusement and smugness crossed his face. He'd heard about them of course, but... was he really?

Surely the pervert would be the wiser choice here, right? His cousin was, after all, depending on him to turn Kuranosuke into a model student for him. Someone dependable, and less immature when it came to his lessons. That was a lot of pressure.

"Except those moments when he steals your journal, correct?" Yuushi smiled knowingly. Oh, yes. He'd finally hit home as to who he was talking to as well. He'd started to get it some time back, when Hikaru first spoke of his nephew. All of the similarities, perhaps, took a little longer than necessary to put together, but they did finally come. And it was very nice to put a face to writing, and know that Hikaru was much more entertaining and pleasant than what his entry suggested.

In this case, it probably was. Mainly because... well. After knowing what Shiraishi could be like... he didn't really want to think about giving him any sympathy. It was kind of his own fault to begin with. Of course, he'd been nicely distracted by looking at that store that the comment Yuushi made almost startled him. Almost.

"So it is you, then." He'd had his suspicions anyway, but that was just the deciding factor, obviously. "He hasn't done it since though, so hopefully that was a one off." Hopefully that was the case as he didn't want to deal with the problems of trying to get the brat to behave again. Really though, that in itself was a sight to see, Zaizen Hikaru taking care of a child.

My, oh my, that almost startled expression was handsome. Then again, the boy was a beauty anyway, and Yuushi was fairly certain that whatever he did, Hikaru would remain at least 'cute'. It was a shame that he was so young, though. While his 'under aged' rule was far more relaxed in comparison to his own master's, when his age was compared to that of Hikaru's he was not more than a baby. Same as Shiraishi, despite his... merciless flirtation with the already taken youth.

Inwardly, he sighed in his frustration and chided himself for getting so attached to some people. It would do absolutely no good at all.

"I am glad that I stick into your memory enough that you question it." Yuushi smiled, his amusement brought on by the youth by him shining in his dark eyes. "And that you make lovely company. This has truly been a pleasure, and for your sake, I do hope it was a one off."

Quietly, he opened the door to the shop and bowed his head in respect to Zaizen. He didn't want to take much more of the boy's time, nor did he want to miss getting his glasses. Soon, he was sure, the shops in town would be closing due to the darkness coming sooner during the winter months. So, he quietly made his way through the door, giving a small wave as he did.

Well, it wasn't as if Zaizen had expected it, but luckily he wasn't that brilliant at showing his emotions even when caught off guard, so it was mostly his eyes widening a bit and his lips parting just slightly. In comparison though, Zaizen just wasn't interested, even if to him he wasn't all that young mentally.

Nor did he get attached to anyone, either.

"You might have amused me a little," Zaizen just shrugged it off and huddled into his clothes when Yuushi started to walk off. "Though I think you were lucky you caught me on a good day." He half smiled back and pulled his collar up to snuggle into it, even if he wanted to laugh at the fact that Yuushi was heading into a glasses store. "Good luck with the glasses too, pretty sure you'll need them at your age." He turned then and gave a half wave before walking off - leaving that nice little 'insult' with him.