[Social] Five Minutes To Midnight

[Amy]

SpoilerShow

As a warning, she's my more emotional chara xD

Slamming the door behind her, Rai stormed away from the Inuzuka clan compounds, a grimace on her face. Too many words had been said and her face was scarlet from the anger boiling in her blood. She was halfway out of the compound before she heard the gentle but heavy pads of Kuro falling her. She turned on her heel suddenly, her fists clenched and her voice rough. "Kuro, go home. I don't want you following me right now." She turned and walked away faster than before and behind her it was silent but only for a few seconds. Soon, the plodding sound returned once again. Her heel made a divot in the ground as she turned once again to face her dog but as she opened her mouth the look on his face was too much to bear. "Fine. Whatever," she mumbled, resuming her walk but her pace was slowed and when Kuro made his way to her side she placed her hand on top of his head out of nothing but habit.

Harsh words flew around inside of her head, words said by her but also by her parents. It felt like the older she got the less they understood each other rather than the other way around. Every day it seemed like they were growing further an further apart. She wanted more freedom, they wanted to know where she was all the time. She wanted to do her own thing, they wanted her to follow clan proceedings. She didn't get it. It wasn't as though she didn't appreciate her clan but sometimes she wanted to just do things her own way and in her own time. She sighed, shaking her head at herself. It was such a stupid argument too. All they had done was ask when she would be taking her exams, if she was ready. But no, she had to go and get an attitude with them and it eventually escalated into a fight. She hadn't missed her brother hiding behind the door jam, the heartbroken look on his face. And now she was walking in the quickly falling dusk while they were all in bed, wondering where she was. It was a lovely little mess that she had been painting herself in more and more often lately.

The dusk air was calming, but only minimally so. The cool air opened her senses but her mind was still clouded with her own problem attitude. Her only comfort was that her parents would know Kuro was with her and that they wouldn't go looking for her as long as he didn't return home without her. The further from home she got, the less apt she felt to return. She didn't know what was wrong with her and it truly didn't feel fair to submit her family to her messed up attitude. Somewhere at sometime she had started to veer onto the path of troubled teenager and she couldn't seem to fix it. The more she walked the more exhausted she got, both mentally and physically. For hours she walked in the cool night air, mostly silent but sometimes talking out loud to herself. She was trying to work through whatever her problem was but she wasn't making progress. Every time she returned to the though she just got mad at her parents all over again as illogical as it was.

It was hours later that she looked up suddenly with a sinking feeling. Her preoccupied mind had neglected to let her know that the moon was sitting high over her and she estimated it to be close to midnight. Swearing lightly to herself, glad no one was around to hear, she started spinning around in circles. She hadn't been paying any attention to where they were walking and she now had no idea where they were. She guessed that she could track her own scent back home but that was no guarantee as the wind was pretty strong. Shaking her head at herself and this one more mess she had gotten herself into she decided that walking forward was the best option. She hadn't realized until she stopped just how tired she was. Her legs were starting to drag and so were Kuro's. She looked around dishearteningly as she looked around once again and saw that they had somehow wondered into a forest or grove of sorts. Her senses were telling her something but she wasn't caring enough to figure out what they were telling her. With a sigh, she plopped down, dressed in the white shine of the moon. She leaned heavily against a thin tree trunk and laid her head back, staring at the star filled sky. Kuro curled next to her and it wasn't long before Rai was lying on top of him, her head snuggled against his side. She would soon fall asleep until dawn broke unless someone or something came along before then to wake her from her slumber.

[Trurouno]

The moon shone against the corner of the Awai compound as light flooded against the tatami mats a few paces from Ruadhri. The gentle ticking of a grandfather clock looked down on the boy as he took another sip of his tea, eyes fixed on the book clutched in his hands. A candle sat a few inches away, close enough to be a threat, far enough that Ruadhri didn't feel the need to throw the book across the room. A small plate of biscuits sat next to it, not touched sine he had placed it there. He had spent most of the day making them, he had even woken up early to go and buy the ingredients before the morning rush. Apparently that was all in vain, that was the problem with a good book though. Ruadhri had been searching through his grandfather's library, a musty old room tucked away at one side of the house. He was on his rounds while cleaning and the wooden door of the room had reminded him just how long it had been since he had taken a duster to the place. Just the one window, a pile of books and plenty of holes alive with whatever bugs had chosen to take residence in them. Ruadhri had needed to build up a bit of courage to go in there. The rest of the house was gleaming but that one library had always bugged him, it was always the room his grandmother had dissuaded him from going.

The boy felt glad he had taken that extra step. Sure, the cookies had almost burned due to distraction but now with the novel in hand he didn't regret the little extra crunchiness of his snacks. The book was fascinating. The leather binding seemed to be sown on recently as if in a last ditch attempt to keep it together, even the pages themselves seemed to reek of days gone by. He had found the book poking just a little further out from its slightly better cared for neighbours. It wasn't like the sort of books Konoha published these days, no blurb, no picture of the author in the back. The book had just started telling its tale and Ruadhri had just sat down to enjoy it. Taking another sip of his tea the boy glanced up at the gentle taps of the clock. It was later than he thought.

Running his fingers across his scalp the boy sighed loudly and stretched out his arms as he turned down the corner of the page and set it down in front of him. Yes it was fascinating and yes he could go on if he wanted but there was only so much he could manage. That was the problem with old books. They were the definition of adventure stories, they were the ones that created them after all, but more often than not the language was like reading a brick wall. Pulling himself up slowly Ruadhri felt a knot in his back before stretching it out and reaching for his tea. He took another sip and realised there wasn't anything left, just the last couple of drops. Turning the cup over Ruadhri ran his finger across the rim of the lacquer. He wondered how long he had been drinking air.

His grandmother would be ashamed, he couldn't remember a time he had ever seen her without a full cup. He was convinced it must have been an addiction, she was born in the age before tea bags as well. She said green tea was better the old fashioned way, unfortunately that wasn't so easy when he was almost ready to welcome in the new day. Reaching back down for the candle Ruadhri glanced around the room before walking over to the shutters and closing them as he cut off the soft light of the moon. Walking away he left the room in darkness before wandering over to the kitchen and placing down his cup as he went to fill up the kettle. Plugging the electrical equipment into one of the few sockets in the house Ruadhri went to close the shutters into the garden before stopping.

Past the white tree, between the cherry blossoms sat a girl. She was gently resting against an animal, Ruadhri had to guess she was a ninja. Still, it wasn't that it was late that surprised him, more that she was sitting in his garden. Smiling softly the boy walked over to one of the kitchen draws before taking out another cup. He thought to get a saucer as well but couldn't work out exactly what sort of animal the girl was lying on, it was probably better to wait. The kettle coming close to boil the boy felt another bright idea pop into his mind and jogged back to the room silent except the gentle clicking of the grandfather clock. The room was lit up for a second as Ruadhri reached for the biscuits before turning and making his way back to the kitchen. The door was shut behind him and the gentle clicks of the clock halted as the chime of midnight echoed through the long halls of the house.

The boy came back just as the kettle came to the boil and threw a couple of tea bags into the lacquer cups before placing them on a tray. Carefully he placed the small plate of biscuits next to them before pouring the water into the cups and gently removing the bags. Pulling himself up straight the boy coughed to himself and put on his best smile before taking the candle in one hand and the tray in another. Turning he crept outside and made his way towards the girl, hopping over the roots of the blossoms as he went. Within a few second he was only a few paces from the girl and came to a stop as he knelt down and tried to catch sight of whether she was awake or not. "It's not good to sleep outside" Ruadhri began, leaning forwards as he spoke softly. "You'll feel terrible in the morning."

[Amy]

She had indeed fallen asleep while inside the house the boy was preparing his tray. It wasn't a deep sleep, indeed she had barely crossed over the thresh hold when she was startled awake and into a panic by a low guttural growl coming from Kuro. The flash of panic in her eyes was clear and the way her hand reached behind her back for her sword made it clear she was willing to protect herself as her body was soon balanced on her knees, her breath still in the nightly air. Moments passed as she would look at the boy in front of her, holding nothing but a candle and a tray of food. All at once a shuddering breath released from her lungs and she threw herself back against the tree, replacing her sword in its sheath on her back. Kuro sensed the relief and resumed his napping, as exhausted as Rai was. Rubbing her hands up and down her face, she apologized to the stranger. "Sorry about that. You scared me though." Her head tilted back and she stared at the night sky as she slowed her heart rate and tried to figure out what to say to this stranger in the dark.

When he spoke, the corners of her mouth turned up and her head fell to her shoulder so she was once again looking at him. "You are quite right, though I already feel quite terrible so I'm not sure how much the consequences will be felt. Besides, it was either rest or keep walking throughout the night and this seemed to be the better choice." The smell of tea and biscuits was filling her nostrils ad she realized in a moment just how very hungry she was. Not giving herself the chance to indulge in dinner before she ran out, her stomach growled fiercely, begging to be nourished. Her hand fell lightly on her stomach while she sighed and shook her head at herself, wondering what she had done to get herself to this place where strangers were lecturing her about staying out all night. It was quite ironic really.

"Inuzuka Shinrai," she said shortly, the silence berating her. "But you can call me Rai if you want. Most people do." Her eyes examined the boy closely and she was pleasantly surprised to see that it seemed as though he was member of a Konoha clan himself, the color of his eyes giving him away. Of course there was also the tone that came from being a trained ninja, whether one was strong or not it was impossible to avoid the most basic of muscle hardening. Though crouching, he appeared marginally taller than herself which wasn't surprising, being on the small side still though everyone was always promising her she would sprout up yet. He looked kind and the fact that he had a tray of goodies only solidified this thought. In an instant, she was overcome with a sense that she should send him away, lest she hurt him somehow. And yet all at the same time, she couldn't do it. He was offering her something, something more than a tray, and for a moment Rai wondered if she would be able to receive it.

Refusing to take anything she hadn't been offered, she re-situated herself against the tree and pulled her knees to her chest, resting her head on them. Her eyes were still cloudy with sleep and her voice was soft as though she was afraid being too loud would break the night. "I'm sorry if I'm trespassing. I happen to be a little lost and didn't care to find my way home in the dark. I understand if I need to leave though." That was it, she gave him an out. It would be up to him to take it if he wanted. She offered to move and he would never have to see her again but the worry in her face was clear. She was afraid he would send her away, and that was the last thing she wanted.

[Trurouno]

The girl almost jumped out of her skin as soon as she heard Ruadhri's voice, in fact it seemed more like she was ready to take his head off. He chose to trust her sense and kept up his smile even as she reached for her sword. Being a ninja, he now noticed, promised a certain amount of sense on her part. But the sudden revelation also brought to light the large animal she was lying on, the dog. She was an Inuzuka, one of the older clans in the village. Ruadhri hadn't had much experience with the clan, especially not in his orchard. In fact the last time he had seen one of the members he had spent most of the time trying to dissuade the boy's dog from peeing on any of the blossoms. Of course that was many years ago, the woman didn't seem to have the same control problem. Instead the dog growled when Ruadhri came near and calmed as soon as its master realised who she was facing. He seemed to be perfect for the ever vigilant ninja. Ruadhri regretted not having such a useful friend, he also couldn't help but feel a bit guilty he hadn't been daring enough to bring the dog something to eat.

"Well, sometimes the shortest rests are the worst" Ruadhri smiled. "You don't get to the good bits in only a few minutes" he added, lowering himself to the girl's level as he sat a few paces from her. As soon as he sat Ruadhri heard the girl's stomach growl, his mind freezing for a second before he laughed loudly in reply. "Oh dear" he laughed before placing the candle down and beginning to place down the drinks and food between the two of them. Settling himself Ruadhri took a sip of his tea before hearing the girl quite suddenly introduce herself. She seemed to be the trusting sort, not that anyone who was hungry would go being suspicious of people who had so readily supplied them. Ruadhri placed down the drink and nodded a bow before speaking. "A pleasure to meet you Shinrai" he replied, happy that he was right when he had supposed she was an Inuzuka. "Or just Rai" he added with a smile. "My name is Awai Ruadhri" he introduced himself, taking one of the biscuits before sweeping a hand over the orchard. "You happen to have ended up in the Awai district, though this is just the outskirts."

Ruadhri kept up his smile but he couldn't help but notice that the girl still seemed hesitant. He supposed it wasn't a surprise but began to suspect that perhaps there was more than just the surface tiredness that had led her to him. There must have been something wrong to set such a young girl out into the town on her own, especially if she must have passed through the back streets that led to his orchard. She was pretty as well, though perhaps he was wrong to worry about her with the hound still only a few paces away. He felt another longing to go and get something for the animal, though held it back as he noticed the animal already drifting into its own world of dreams and nightmares. But that was when something else strange happened and perhaps Ruadhri began to dig a bit deeper into why the girl was being so hesitant. She talked about being a trespasser and Ruadhri's couldn’t help but show for a second just how shocking he found the term.

"No no" he said quickly, placing down his drink as he looked at the girl. "Far from it. Perhaps I was a bit surprised to see you here but this orchard isn't just my own. I raised these trees to be seen by other people, they would lose their whole purpose if people needed to leave just because I said so." Ruadhri breathed a bit more calmly as he returned his smile and tried to prompt the girl to take a sip of her tea. "Not to mention it gets rather quiet around here so late. If you feel any responsibility for being here then having a chat is more than enough." Ruadhri took another biscuit before nudging the plate towards Rai. The air became a bit colder as Ruadhri shifted where he sat before glancing up at the heavy moon looking down at them. The thick branches of the tree obscured its light, like shutters to the dreaming. She had chosen a good tree to settle herself under, Ruadhri had done the same a long time ago. But a question still scratched at the back of his mind and as he looked at the girl he couldn't help but ask.

"I'm sorry to be so forward" he began, becoming very obviously restrained as he seemed to struggle with the question. His grandma would scorn him for trying to dig into someone else’s business despite only knowing them for a few moments, but he couldn't help it. "People don't just wander around town so late at night without a reason. Is anything wrong?" he asked suddenly, looking at the girl carefully as he threw away his doubts. Not everyone came wandering into Ruadhri's orchard like her. Some came for visits, some just ended up lost but never like her. The cherry blossoms called people like that, ones that needed help, that was what he wanted to believe at least. They were asking him to help and Ruadhri happily accepted. The dim light flickered from the faint candle fighting a constant battle against the ever vigilant light of the moon. The two soldiers were stuck between in their moment of tranquil calm. The garden was silent, the trees listened and covered the ground with the heavy shadows of the moon. The candle wasn't nearly as effective but at least so close to Ruadhri it set its warm light on the biscuits he was once again offering to the girl.

[Amy]

He was much too chipper for how late at night it was. His smile was endearing although it was equally as tiring as everything else because every time he smiled she felt obligated to return it. She sat quietly though while he talked, contemplating how she had ended up so far away from her own clan grounds and in someone else's. She could only be thankful an understanding someone found her. She didn't expect everyone was so happy to have their grounds trespassed upon. Her hands sank into the thick grass surrounding her and she once again found herself wondering what it was that was taunting her nose. She shifted into a more comfortable position as she thought but her thoughts were halted suddenly by the surprise in Ruad's voice. He seemed legitimately upset at what she had said.

She opened her mouth to apologize but the word orchard stuck in her head and she suddenly started laughing. All of this time, she had been trying to figure out what she was smelling and suddenly it hit her like a brick and she felt silly. As her giggles died she looked at Ruad and decided she should explain. "I didn't mean to laugh, but I finally figured out where we're sitting. With my incredible nose you think I would have deduced that sooner?" Amusement at herself died quickly and her mind turned back to what he had really said. He seemed definite in his opinion that she was welcomed in the orchard but she still felt terribly out of place. Insisting that talking to him was enough, she didn't believe him. Willingly though, she took on a cup of tea and a couple of biscuits, enjoying the way they settled her growling stomach. She was quiet, not quiet being able to think of anything worthwhile to say.

It was when she was about to say anything to fill the silence that he spoke once again and she wondered that he ever enjoyed a moment of silence. She stopped chewing in shock for a moment at his words. Slowly, she finished chewing and when she swallowed she set her tea down and drew her knees to her chest as a protection of sorts. She sighed quietly and laid her head on her knees while she thought. She had no reason to be honest with this boy. He had been very nice to her but she wondered how much she owed him for that. Then again she also had to consider the fact that she didn't have a particular reason not to tell him. It was quite the internal fight and it would be minutes before she finally lifted her head to speak.

"Anything isn't wrong," she began simply, her voice small and difficult to catch in the night air among the whispering of the trees. "Everything is wrong." Burying her head in her knees, she continued talking but the emotion in her voice was clearly read. "Do you ever just feel like nothing is right? Everything is messed up. I mean I have ended up miles upon miles away from my home in the middle of the night and I'm not quite sure I want to go back there. So you tell me...is that wrong?" If she lifted her head the mist in her eyes would sparkle in the moon and candle light and her voice was choked, her emotions eating away at her very being.

[Trurouno]

Ruadhri found himself stunned by the sudden silence, though perhaps that was just the girl telling him he had gone too far? Sure, she had laughed only a little while before but now looking at her Ruadhri could see thoughts running through her head that should have only been hers. Growing silent the smile shrunk across his face as he waited silently. She had given him the chance to thrown her out, it was his turn to do the same. No matter how small the smile became it never left his face as he watched her carefully, not even daring to take a bite or slurp in case it threw her off. Instead he just watched and waited. Sure, perhaps this would have been a good time to think about the dog and a counter-urination plan in case he started to go after the trees, but instead he just waited. The girl finally looked up as Ruadhri tried to catch her eye. He hung on her slight breaths but as she spoke he breathed a sigh of relief. Shinrai opened up like a flower to the sun, she chose to trust him and Ruadhri couldn't have been more thankful.

She didn't tell him the issue, perhaps that was where she drew the line, but she did at least ask him his opinion. Smile still slightly restrained Ruadhri mused on what she had said. A little bit of him was nagging to know the problem but he held it back, at least until the girl had trusted him with that. It sounded like quite a problem he had to admit. "Everything is wrong" he mumbled to himself, repeating Rai’s words as he thought over the question. "I can see why some would" he said slowly, obviously hesitant as he continued to think. Racking his brain with a hand firmly brushing against his chin Ruadhri looked for what else to say but the girl's words brought back more than enough pain for him to know exactly what she was talking about. Empty halls, burning bark, fresh graves, he had enough memories to fill up his heart with darkness if he chose to. But, leaving home? That was never a problem he had.

"But, they do say that distance is sometimes best" Ruadhri added, still mumbling as he took another sip of his tea. "Do you think they. . . he. . . she?" he questioned, realising he didn't even know if the girl was talking about a group or an individual, "would forgive you one day away? Maybe if that gives you a chance to think?" Ruadhri was trying but it was becoming somewhat clear that he didn't know what he was talking about and, against the clear emotion in the girl's voice, he was nothing more than an onlooker. Sure, he wanted to help but debates with people weren't his forte. When it came down to it he wasn't used to people, just to plants. Unfortunately he doubted she was in a riveting debate against an apple tree. But at least he could offer her an ear to listen and one more biscuit to stave off the hunger a little longer.

[Amy]

Her legs splayed out in front of her and she rubbed her face wildly with her hands, suddenly animated. "My parents would give me anything if they thought it would help. That's what just doesn't make any sense. I get so mad at them and yet, I know that they would do whatever they could to make me happy." A sharp breath exited her nose and she chewed almost angrily on her biscuit. Her self-frustration would read loud and clear as she sat with her head down and the energy gone out of her. Her eyes were tired in the candlelight as they flitted around without commitment.

It was without warning that she fell onto her back with a mild "Oomph", her head next to the candle, her face lightened and shadowed all at once. Her head was now near Ruad's knee and she looked up at his face and examined him from her upside down position. Her eyes blinked slowly but yet there was a smirk on her face as though even in her time of emotional turmoil she could find humor in something. This became apparent when she sighed and mumbled, loud enough for him but quiet enough that he might wonder if she really said it at all. "You're really pretty." Maybe it was the way the moonlight played off of people's best features or maybe it was the haze of sleep that was clouding her eyes but she soon found that she couldn't stop staring.

Her arms soon folded behind her head though and though her eyes stayed on Ruad's face she was looking elsewhere. She began talking and though she was speaking out loud it sounded a lot more like she was speaking to herself. "You know, people always told me that things got easier when you got older. They always said that because you were more 'mature' that things came easier. But lately, I can't make a decision for the absolute life of me. I can't even have a conversation with my parents before and previously, I could talk to them about anything. Sometimes, I think I must be broken."

[Trurouno]

So maybe they wouldn't come looking for her if they thought it was for the best? If it was for the best though, that could mean anything. Going silent Ruadhri just listened to the girl's crisis, but when it came down to it how much could he understand? She couldn't tell her family a thing, he had didn’t even really have a family to tell. He could listen though, that had to be something. He wanted to tell her family was like that, but held his breath. He decided it wasn't his place and just nodded along, it's not like his father was the most shining example of a parent after all. Taking another sip of his tea Ruadhri mused over his next sentence but as he placed down the cup the girl suddenly fell back. Seemingly within a few minutes he had found himself surrounded by a collapsed pair of guests. He wasn't sure quite what to think but the girl's whispered words confused him even more.

Looking at her suddenly he went to say something, anything but that was when she began to open up more and say even more things that seemed to just be throwing her into even more of a circle. Ruadhri went back to being silent but this time when the girl finished he smiled neatly and began to speak. "You know, I don't know much about family" he explained. "I live here alone, have for a while now." Smiling softly Ruadhri glanced up at the trees. "But, being in a place like this does teach you something. You see this tree here?" Ruadhri began, pointing to one of the cherry blossoms to the left of him. "This guy's been alive for a while now. My grandma planted him, watched him grow until he was big and strong and then, suddenly, I was there as well. He's a lot older than I am" he chuckled.

"I don't know about your family but I can at least tell you about trees. A tree that's only fourteen years old, one like me, can still grow in any way imaginable" he smiled. "A thicker trunk, stronger branches, deeper roots, I can't control much when they get to that stage but they keep on growing. Still, how much does a couple of extra roots change?" Looking back towards the girl Ruadhri took another sip of his tea. "They all have enough room to grow, nothing in their way. Enough food, enough water, enough light and they can keep on going but I’ll keep on looking after them regardless because I care about them. However they grow I’ll be happy just because they're still going. Maybe your parents are the same" he smiled.

"Rai, it's not my place to say you're still young but that’s how you're parents probably see it. They still see you as a young tree, they still want to help you flourish. Only difference is that you're not stuck in one place, you can run away if you want. But that's just another way of growing, you don't look broken to me." Ruadhri smiled softly and he hoped the girl knew he was being honest. Still, he was barely bigger than her dog, what reason did she have to listen? That was just another part of life. If humans had roots they wouldn't be the same. They had to make their own decisions and grow in their own ways, but even they still needed a little help blossoming.

[Amy]

She listened quietly as Ruad's voice and words helped to calm her thoughts down, helped to make them more manageable. All of a sudden though her ears perked and her eyes refocused their gaze on his face. She kept listening, politely waiting until he was done speaking, but she had gotten stuck on something he said and she had to know the answer before she could respond to anything else he said. It was when he stopped talking and smiled at her that she asked her question, hoping he didn't think she was ignoring everything else he had said. "What do you mean you don't know about family...you live here alone?" It was a bizarre concept to Rai even as she was confused about her own place in her own family.

To her, the thought of having no one was scarier than the thought of being mad at everyone you loved. Her mind drifted to thoughts of her own family and her little brother especially. Sure they drove her nutty sometimes but wold she rather be without them? A fresh wave of pain crashed over her as she realized that here she was complaining that her family was too loving and Ruad didn't even have a family to be mad at. All at once she got angry at herself all over again as she was doubly filled with the knowledge that she really didn't deserve all the nice people in her life, her family, her friends, and now Ruad. She was self destructive and undeserving and she wondered how no one could see it but herself.

Her face harsh all of a sudden, she turned over the boy's words in her head. She was still growing. She knew that. But was it really true that with all of the right tools she could grow to be as beautiful as a cherry blossom? She just couldn't believe it and she was finding that her verbal sensor, the thing that kept her from saying all of the wrong things, didn't seem to be functional at that given time. She found this out for sure when her mouth opened and she said, "But what if the tree just fights everything that you give it and it grows into this horrible monstrous thing? What if something too large to get rid of is standing in the way of the tree growing? Doesn't that ever happen? A fence set too deeply, a boulder too heavy to move? What happens to that tree? Can all those other things really override the giant immovable object?!" The only difference was that Rai was the very object standing in her own way.

Talking to personally was not a normal occurrence for Rai and it was starting to wear on her emotionally. Looking away from Ruad and directing her attention towards the starry sky, she could feel moisture gathering in her eyes and she resisted the urge to wipe them away for fear of drawing attention to the tears. She was feeling more conflicted than she knew how to handle and all at the same time she wanted to be alone and she wanted the comfort of another human. She lifted her head up and moved to push backwards, moving herself so close to Ruad her head would near be in his lap. She stopped herself though, quickly reminding herself that they were still strangers and that she had no idea how he would feel about her doing something like that. She was just the pure definition of a mess.

[Trurouno]

It seemed like Ruadhri had stood right on the girl's sensitive side as she suddenly reacted. He hadn't expected that honestly, though maybe he wasn't thinking carefully enough. "A tad excessive isn't it?" he smiled sadly as he glanced back at the house. Long halls, empty rooms and a lot of them. Yes it was excessive now but a while ago, a long time now, it hadn't been so empty. Still even with two people there was always a lot of spare cleaning to catch up on. Only difference now was the conversation, there was only so much he could discuss with himself. Still, there was still this deep debate within Rai that he didn't seem able to stop. It hurt, not just for her but for him as well. Seeing a bud fighting against it's own growth, though perhaps that was just another harsh side of human nature? Ruadhri had seen many buds blossom, but there was still so much intricacy he had to learn about humans. Rai was another side of that, one he couldn't help just by his own experiences. Still hardening his resolve he returned the soft smile to his face as he took another sip of his tea.

"You're right" Ruadhri admitted slowly. "Sometimes trees wither and die because of things like that. Sometimes they're even cut down before they truly have a chance to blossoms. But that's because they have to rely on humans. You're not like that." Edging a little closer Ruadhri sat over the girl, resting his hand just close enough to touch against a couple of strands of her hair. "But that's why humans are amazing" he smiled. "They can jump, run, shout, fight, all to get what they want. They have problems yeah but at least have the strength to fight against them when given a chance. Sure, a tree might shatter and wilt under the force of a rock but what would a human do?" Glancing up at the sky Ruadhri caught another gust of wind rushing against his brow as he tried to take another sip of his tea. The cup was already empty, he wasn't sure how long it had been that way. "I'd push harder" he smiled, "until nothing could hold me down."

"What about you Rai?" he asked. He expected to sound nervous but as he glanced down at the girl he smiled harder than he had the whole night. Sure, he didn't know a thing about people other than himself, but what had he done when he had failed? These trees had wilted and froze some years, others they had blossomed and his skills had died along with the falling blossoms. He had been stuck under a boulder back then, forced up against a fence he couldn't scratch his way through. Back then what had he done? He hadn't sat down and taken it, he wouldn't be there if he had. Life was about motion, the swaying of the trees, the sweat on an old man's brow. It was about keeping on going and constantly reaching as high as you could, even if that ended up shading everything else around you. "It's exactly because we're not trees that we can keep on going. You can't stay in the same place forever after all" he mused aloud.

Smile spread across his face Ruadhri caught the flicker of a shadow against the branch of a tree before looking back down to Rai. "But, you can always wait a little longer before deciding what to do" he finally said. "Sure, maybe we don't live forever but we still have enough time to sit down and think every now and then" he chuckled, slightly nervously as he dropped the pretentious front. "And anyway" he smiled, "why does a tree have to be monstrous just because it's been through a bit of adversity?"

[Amy]

Even in the moonlight, Rai didn't miss the look that crossed over Ruad's face when he spoke about his empty home. She wished that she hadn't focused in on that one piece of information that he let her have. She watched as his face mirrored the emotions flowing through his body, much the same way that he was watching her own emotions flash across her face. It was an interesting thing, the way the things in someone's head could show across their face as though their face was nothing but a stage. It was a difficult peculiarity to control and one that Rai was still working on mastering. She watched his eyes while he tried to figure what to say to her admittedly depressing words. She hoped that she wasn't giving the impression that she was always so down. Unable to stop herself any longer, she swiped the back of her hand across her eyes, sighing, her voice obviously shaky.

She listened with effort while he spoke, working to find hope in the words that he spoke. He had so much faith in human-kind, so much faith in her. It was astounding to her that someone that she had only known for several hours could care so much. His eyes watched the sky while her eyes watched his face and a small smile would flash across her face when his hand brushed against her hair. Scooting herself backwards until the top of head pushed against his leg, she contemplated his posed question. What was she going to do? Was she going to keep pushing or was she going to just give up and let herself be torn down? She couldn't stand the thought of losing herself but her very soul was exhausted from trying so hard every day. It was better some days than others but overall it was getting harder and harder to get through the day with a smile on her face. But could she ever stand to give up?

Her hand absentmindedly reached up and her finger tips brushed against Ruad's while she entertained the idea of just giving up, the idea of quitting. Her eyebrows drew together in concentration while she pictured herself lying in bed all day, doing nothing, with no ambitions, no goals, no nothing. She was surprised to find a shudder running down her back and her stomach tied in knots. The air was silent as she examined the way the thought made her feel. She had been taught to trust her instincts, to allow her instincts to lead her down the right path. And yet even now, she was trying to fight against herself. But here she was, lying on the ground so close to a boy she didn't know. What did she have to lose? She was getting ready to speak when Ruad broke the silence himself. He seemed to know just the right thing to say for someone who didn't have anyone there for him, himself.

Finally she decided to speak, her voice firmer but still soft. "You're smart," was what came out of her mouth first and she blushed easily in the night air. "I just. You have a point. I can't imagine giving up and not pushing forward and pushing myself past this rift and into the rest of my life. It's just so hard though, you know? When every day is a challenge it can be so hard to fight through till the end. Do you think it will ever get easier, Ruad?" Her voice had lost it's hopelessness and was now exuding a child like innocence. She was being offered a string of hope and she was desperately trying to hold onto it. Her hand finally closed around his own and she smiled up at him, her head still pressed against his leg. Maybe it was the mesmerizing moonlight or maybe it was the way his soothing voice filled the calm air of the orchard but she felt entirely comfortable around Ruad and she trusted him completely.

"Do you always know just what to say?" She asked this with sincerity and as a true question. She lifted herself onto her elbow momentarily, her hand sliding off of Ruad's, her eyes searching for Kuro. There was a panicked air to her movements but when her eyes lit on her pet, she sighed with great relief. His eyes opened curiously and they shared a moment before Rai half turned to look at Ruad straight on. "He's not normally so quiet," she explained. They had been laying so close that now, sitting up, her face was right in front of Ruad's. Chewing on her bottom lip, she half smiled at him, cocking her head at him. She ached to lie down again but she didn't know if she could any longer resist laying half on top him. Her eyes were clear and bright as she spoke again. "So do you always change the lives of people you find sleeping in your orchard?"

[Trurouno]

Rai's honesty hit Ruadhri hard as he looked down at her, soft touch of her finger tips embracing his own as he leaned a little closer. She felt warm, alive. It was hard to imagine someone like her, so full of life could be so tormented. It was sad to burn her down to a case study but it seemed to pitifully reinforce how complex humans could be and how many masks they could hide themselves behind. For better or worse they had all done that once, even him with nothing to hide. But, it was because they all did it that it became a part of human nature and unfortunately something each and every one had to live with. But still, as Rai asked her innocently fearful question Ruadhri felt he could smile honestly and answer with what he truly felt. "It has to" he said softly, "how could humans keep on going if it didn't?" Maybe that was part of human nature that came as a natural hurdle though, the one big question of the future each generation of each new century had to face. But Rai wasn't alone, and Ruadhri had to have a little faith no one else truly was either. If not then the orchard's gates were always open.

Softly setting his other hand atop hers Ruadhri just smiled through her next question, any answer might have been too presumptuous after all. Still, as she pulled herself up and her pet began to shift Ruadhri was reminded that they weren't in their own little world after all. He wondered, even if just for a second, whether Kuro had understood a word they were saying. Maybe that was the very reason he had looked up right when he did, perhaps he was waiting. It made him chuckle slightly, it seemed no one could be alone after all with animals like that in the world. Maybe he had tried to help this time but perhaps the animal could have a shot at it next time, it wasn't like he missed the glance between them after all. The famed dog whisperers, though surely that implied a two way relationship. "It's fine" he smiled in reply, "places like this have an effect on people and animals alike."

"They calms the soul" he mused, half to himself as his voice faded. The pink cherry blossoms had done the same to him when he was young, when he had first seen them. They had even let Rai open up and tell him her worries, it was odd how powerful they could be. Ruadhri could feel himself getting distracted, there were more important things he should have been thinking about after all. He could muse on the cherry blossoms and human soul when it wasn't getting in the way of conversation or, more importantly, thinking of somewhere to sleep for the night. In fact, Ruadhri was about to advance on the topic when Rai said something else that he drew a small chuckle out of him. She wasn't serious, that much he could tell but that didn't mean he wasn't touched. "Only those who are willing to talk" he said confidently, hoping just a bit of humour came through in his own words.

"Rai, you know. If you'd like you could stay here tonight, it's late and there are enough rooms after all" he began. His smile faded for a second as he tried to look serious, though perhaps a little bit of nervousness still showed in his expression. He had spoken to her, tried to help but that didn't mean there weren't boundaries. A councillor didn't invite his patients home, the only problem was that Ruadhri knew he couldn't leave Rai out there alone. "It may be a bit dusty but I know I have the guest futon lying around somewhere" he explained through a winced smile. "Oh, and if you want I can make breakfast tomorrow as well. I think I have enough to make pancakes, though you may have to help me juggle a few pans" he began enthusiastically. "I'm used to cooking for myself in truth but they’re not bad, you wouldn't regret it." His voice had seemed to pique for a second and maybe he was honestly excited about the prospect of cooking, but tied in with that were the reminders of the long, lonely halls of the old house.

Rai had touched him, metaphorically and physically. Her plight had in the worst way become his and now he felt responsible. He shouldn't have but at the same time the recited rules of his grandmother reminded him of his duty as a host. "I can get you some more tea if you'd like?" he added meagrely. His little smile was back now at least, even if it didn't have the beaming confidence of a few minutes before. Only problem now was that he was so desperate to please he couldn't just come out and say it: he wanted her to stay. It was weird, she had asked him for a favour, a stranger. Could he not do the same?

[Amy]

At his offer, Rai's mouth popped open slightly and her head tilted just the side, not unlike a dog that wonders if they heard the wind correctly. Her stomach churned and she tried to say something, anything, but her mind had momentarily dropped all intelligence and she couldn't have formed a word if she tried. Trying to jump start herself into action, she turned herself around so she was sitting on her knees, her bottom resting on her heals. Her hands lit lightly on her knees and she looked at Ruad curiously. Here she was, a complete stranger and he was requesting her presence in his home. She knew that that was not an offer to scoff at and she considered the offer seriously. There were problems to both sides that she had to consider and she could only hope that Ruad didn't think that she was being dismissive as she sat there quietly, weighing all of her options.

On the one hand it was intensely late and going home was dangerous. Even with her nose and even with Kuro there was no telling what they might run into and though their senses might be better than the normal person's, they were both exhausted and that always led to clouded and unreliable senses. She was pretty sure that she could make it home but a pretty sure wasn't the most comforting thing. However, to stay with him opened up an entirely new can of worms. Besides the basic inappropriateness of it, the thought of it made her stomach jump and get very fluttery and it was a feeling that she didn't quite know what to do with. However, she couldn't really stay int he orchard either, not after he offered her a place in his home. Her inside person was torn in two and she couldn't make a decision. Taking a deep breath and closing her eyes, she tried to quiet her insides and let herself trust her subconscious. A small smile, minuscule in all means but it was there, when she could practically hear her mother's voice telling her that she could trust him, that everything would be okay. If Rai couldn't trust herself, she knew that she could trust Ruad.

Eyes opening slowly, she smiled at the boy in front of her. "That sounds awfully nice, and a lot better than sleeping on the ground. If I drink any more tea though, I'm afraid I'll be up all night." She stood up slowly, her aching body telling her that she had spent much too long on the ground. Stretching, her arms reaching up to the sky, she shuddered as she brought them down, picturing him making her breakfast. Nodding as enthusiastically as she could manager, she replied readily, "I'm a pretty expert pan juggler. I think you'll be impressed." Kuro slowly made his way over to her side, yawning himself, his paws heavy with sleep. He looked at Ruad suspiciously for a minute but several sniffs in the air and he was satisfied. He would follow them readily and Rai could only hope that Ruad didn't mind him coming into the house with her - she couldn't stand the thought of leaving him alone outside. Glancing quietly around the orchard she smiled and held her hands behind her back, teetering herself back and forth. After a moment of debating with herself she held out her one hand to Ruad and said with a blush coloring the apples of her cheeks, "Lead the way?"

[Trurouno]

Smiling softly Ruadhri stood up alongside the girl. He had thought he had asked too much, maybe for just a second, but now with all her confidence how could he stay like that? Maybe he was still a little hesitant, but he wouldn’t let it show. He could worry about it another time, sleeping arrangement worries took priority right then after all. "I'll expect quite a show then" he replied with a smile. Confident and satisfied Ruadhri picked up the plate of biscuits and cups before taking the girl's hand and directing their way to the house. With the soft patter of steps, human and animal alike, the cold orchard was deserted for the warm house but still in the centre of the orchard sat the flickering candle. Swaying in the wind, soft and warm, a sudden breeze washed over the light and plucked it away. The lights of the house grew dark with it and the whole compound rested in shadow as the soft breeze against the cherry blossoms slowly grew silent. It had been a long day, even the trees needed their rest.
-------- Reaching down for the snuffed candle Ruadhri sighed softly. With the sun reaching over it he was surprised it hadn't melted anymore, it had been a reasonably quiet night as well. It had been cold but now the sun was blaring down and Konoha looked like it was going to have a gloriously hot day. Ruadhri had already made his first circuit of the orchard. He had been awake an hour already and sure, perhaps he knew all the trees would be okay, but the schedule was something he was used to. Back when he had first started caring for the trees he never knew what he would find, he always needed to get up at the crack of dawn just to make sure. The wind and rain had been one of his worst enemies back then. Broken trunks, drowned buds, weak soil, disaster after disaster testing him. Now the trees were a lot stronger and he had methods for helping the youngest buds get through those first few precious months.

The kitchen was already decked out for breakfast. It had been another reason to wake up bright and early, though even the man at the dairy counter had been surprised to see Ruadhri up so early. In the end it seemed milk was in sparse supply around the Awai's kitchen and he had chosen to make the extra effort rather than break his promise of pancakes. Now, wandering back to the kitchen with the candle in hand there weren’t many other chores left. There was cleaning, there would be cleaning as long as the house stayed standing but Ruadhri chose to shelve that for the time being. He just wanted to focus on something else for once and the treat of having another person to cater for was a good distraction.

Ruadhri had set Rai up in one of the spare rooms. At the other end of the house it left him plenty of space to run around in the morning without waking her up. The futon had been a little harder to find but in the end he had managed to reclaim it from a grumpy pile of rather aged sheets. Kuro, well Ruahdri didn't have a special place for dogs but he had left the animal with Rai. He was certain she knew how to care for the animal best and there was no way he was going to tell an Inuzuka what to do with their dog. It had all been pretty simple, pretty uneventful. He had got another cup of tea, Rai hadn't and the night had ended with him reading a couple more pages of his book. Four hours sleep and he was back up, as per normal but the day before hadn't been the most energetic after all. 'Cognitive training' he remembered, that meant that today was the physical side.

Coming to the edge of the kitchen Ruahdri glanced down the halls leading into the house, luckily not catching sight of the girl. He hadn't even had breakfast. Placing down the weary candle he made his way into the garden. The white tree looked down at him as Ruadhri took his pose and breathed in softly. Inhale, exhale and repeat. Twenty of those and then begin to work the chakra. He muted his jutsu before they came to life but all the moves were there for when he would need them. Then suddenly a punch flashed out in front of him. A kick, a roundhouse and then a hop followed before another crushing blow struck down at Ruadhri's invisible opponent. He worked his fake chakra into a hook and clasped it around his opponent before dragging them forwards, another kick immediately following. Fast, precise, powerful and perfect. The patterns had been taught to Ruadhri by his father. They were the base of his style, the Sakura-No-Ken, and he had to wake up with them every two days.

At least such a lengthy routine gave Rai time to wake up and plenty of time for him to think over what he wanted with his breakfast.

[Amy]

The night had been rather uneventful, though it had taken Rai a lot longer to fall asleep than she had expected. Perhaps it was the fact that her ears could pick up on the slight sounds that suggested Ruad was still awake. Maybe it was the way that the wind blew softly through the trees outside, something she wasn't entirely used to. Maybe it was just the way the futon hugged her body differently than her normal bed did. She lay on her side, listening to Kuro breathing next to her. She hoped that it was okay that he was on the futon with her. She didn't often let him sleep in bed with her but it was a special occasion and she was feeling oddly lonely all of a sudden. However, eventually, she did fall into a fairly restful sleep, her dreams filled with beautiful orchards and an awful lot of a certain boy.

Waking up was difficult. She startled awake, her eyes wide with fear and she had barely realized that her feet were out of bed and on the floor, her arms braced to the side. Silent as ever, she stayed in that position for several minutes while Kuro watched her in amusement. Finally, she relaxed, remembering where she was and the events of the night before. Standing up straight, she looked around sheepishly, glad to see that the only witness to her silly show was Kuro, who she had to admit looked entirely amused. Straightening her clothes out and grumbling at him, she fell back onto the futon, curling into a ball as she tried to figure out what to do.

She was in an entirely strange house. The polite thing to do seemed to be to wait for Ruad to come and get her. But, how long would she be waiting for him? What if he wouldn't come and get her, afraid of entering the room lest she be asleep. The sun was still just barely rising into the sky which told her it was still early, earlier than she was normally awake. Burying her head in the blankets, she was distraught trying to figure out the best course of action. She was normally so indecisive but so far, she hadn't even really met the boy whose house she was sleeping in as late night meetings didn't count. Those were more like a dream, best to be never spoken of again but always cherished. She considered trying to sleep again to postpone the awful encounter but she was wide awake now. Her hands drumming against her thighs, she eventually pushed herself up and tried to straighten herself up as much as possible. She had no idea what she looked like and she didn't know if she should care and either way she had to call it quits and go with what she had.

Slowly, she opened the door and listened quietly. She couldn't hear anything. With Kuro plodding lightly behind her, she made her way towards the front of the house, catching sight of Ruad, outside, practicing. A shy and embarrassed smile flew across her face as she watched him for a moment. His form was good, she thought to herself. She didn't want to be caught staring though so she made herself move forward to the doorway, knocking quietly so as to not startle him. "Good morning..." she said quietly through the doorway, her body language clearly depicting how unsure of herself she was. "Are you always up so early?"

[Trurouno]

A shy little knock caught Ruadhri's attention just as he fell back into his stance. Looking back he could see Rai standing at the edge of the garden, peeking out at him. "Sleep well Rai?" he asked with a smile, staying confident regardless of how hesitant she seemed. Maybe her worries should have rubbed off on him, but someone needed to be the confident one. They had told each other a lot the night before, both total strangers, and it was important they knew they could still trust each other. She was always going to be hesitant, he knew that all too well, but that's why the pancakes were so important! Food is the pathway to the heart! "You know what they say" Ruadhri began confidently, "the early bird catches the worm." With a small chuckle Ruadhri hopped up onto the porch next to her, brushing off some of the grass from his feet before walking into the kitchen.

Throwing on an apron he set himself in front of the collection of goodies he had already set out for breakfast. "Or in this case the eggs" he smiled, beginning to break a couple into a bowl before starting to whisk. "Turns out I wasn't as prepared as I thought. I had to run down to one of the main streets and pick up some from a friend, even that early bird was surprised to see me." With another confident laugh Ruadhri dared a slight glance in Rai's direction. Kuro was with her, he hadn't noticed him before but he at least seemed settled. His fur was a little ruffled, but so was her hair, he had to suppose the guest room hadn't done them too much harm. "Luckily though" Ruadhri restarted, speaking quickly before Rai could even get a word in, "turns out that's all I needed. Everything else is stocked up fine."

Perhaps this was Ruadhri way of worrying, perhaps he thought she would suddenly reject him if he gave her a chance. It was embarrassing yes, and that made people do stupid things but a little bit of confidence, even if it was faked, could make all the difference. "Especially the toppings" Ruadhri smiled as he dropped the whisk and picked up two cans of jam. Apricot and strawberry, there were others but he had unsurprisingly chosen his favourite. "There's a couple more in the fridge" he explained, handing the cans to Rai. "Can you place them on the counter over there for me?" The kitchen wasn't big but there was at least a good split between the place where Ruadhri was working, next to the oven, and the counter he was indicating. "Or there's a table in the other room, but I was thinking it might be nice to take advantage of the weather and eat in the garden?"

"Oh, and I don't know what Kuro eats but I had a look in the fridge earlier and we have a few bits and bobs that might work. Feel free to take anything you want." His heart was beating, he was more worried than he thought he would be. Was he speaking too much? Too little? He was worrying about silly little things like that now, but for some reason he wanted it to be perfect. Maybe he was trying to impress her, maybe it was this confidence thing? Perfection was hard and maybe that little bit of confidence would help get him a little bit closer, but really he just wanted Rai to feel comfortable. He had asked her to stay when she could have left and even more miraculously she had accepted. She was his responsibility now, he had to make sure she was okay. That was the determined decision that kept Ruadhri so confident, but maybe all this was also just a way of showing how thankful he was? She didn’t have to stay after all. "Is there anything else you need?" or was there anything he had forgot.

[Amy]

She smiled and nodded to his question, stepping to the side as he came through the door. She wondered if he could hear her heart beating against her chest cavity as he passed close by her, bringing in a hint of the outdoors with him. She followed him around not unlike Kuro did to her, just listening to him and trying to figure out something to say. It seemed that every time she opened her mouth to say something, Ruad would break in with something else to say and she had to wonder if he wasn't as nervous as she was. In the kitchen she stayed to the side, quickly putting Kuro into a down at the far doorway as he was much too big to be another body in the kitchen. Her brain had zero time to catch up as one moment she was grabbing more toppings from the fridge to finding something for Kuro, trying to shoot a smile or nod at Ruad whenever he said something that dictated a response.

Placing the cans on the counter, she finally got a word into the conversation, a quiet, "The garden sounds nice, flowing from her lips. She honestly didn't know what had come over her while she organized the cans on the counter absentmindedly. She was never this shy and not for this long. She generally speaking bounced back pretty quickly but something about the situation had her second guessing herself at every step. She was just putting a bowl of scraps for Kuro together when Ruad asked a question of her directly and this time, stopped to wait for an answer. A sudden blush crept over her cheeks as she smiled and shook her head softly. "Everything is perfect, Ruad, it really is. You're...just, well, it's perfect."

Kicking herself mentally, she sighed at herself. That was the best she had? She had spent the entirety of the night before spilling her heart to this boy, telling him things that she hadn't even known herself and now look at her, barely able to look him in the eye. Disgusted with herself, she turned back to her cans in an effort to pull herself together before turning to Ruad, a determined look on her face. She was going to act normal if it killed her. "Ruad, thanks for letting me stay here last night," she said, her voice quiet but calm. "I got really lucky running into you last night and, well, I'm quite glad that I did." Cue the blushing. Trying to ignore the heat, she asked one last thing before waiting anxiously at the counter her hands clasped behind her. "Do you need help with anything here? You're being so nice, even getting up early so as to make us breakfast. The least I can do it help, somehow."

[Trurouno]

What was one night when it was in the back of your mind? It was sad, but Ruadhri stopped and thought about how many nights had been lost because of the morning after. Maybe it was even simpler than that, one time meetings or awkward encounters no matter the situation. Maybe it wasn't just the troubled people like them though, maybe it was the warriors and the Shinobi as well. The ones who gave their everything for each other but could never quite look each other in the eye after that. Maybe emotion itself was a battle, or perhaps he was just getting too articulate for so early in the morning. But there was one thing Ruadhri was glad for, even through all the-would be problems, Rai tried to smile and accept him with everything she had. The pancakes had been a good idea after all, who knows whether she would have come back if he had just let her walk away.

Rai's words were the kindest thanks she could give. She didn't talk much about herself, just him, but deep inside he knew every word she said applied just as much to her. Everything was coming together and now Ruadhri’s heart beat slower and his breath was a little calmer. But that didn't mean he was relieved of his duties. Those pancakes weren't going to cook themselves, he wasn’t a good enough Shinobi for that.

"Rai, just relax and wait" he smiled. "I'm the host here, I just want you to sit back and enjoy yourself." Turning, Ruadhri switched the heat on before taking a hold of the batter mix and glancing back to Rai. "But, if you could stay and chat that would be more than enough. You see, say what you like and thank me all you want but I’ve lived alone here for two years now. The mornings are always the same, the breakfasts, the lunches, the suppers. It's nice having someone else to serve. . . like it gives the place a bit more life." It had been a long time since there had been any life in the house, there was only so much he could do on his own. "So, maybe I’m just doing this all for myself" Ruadhri laughed, looking down at the pan as he poured in the first round of batter. "Maybe I should be the one thanking you."

With another laugh Ruadhri went back to work, but for a moment his laugh faltered. Looking up his eyes fell upon the white tree standing out like a sore thumb on the outskirts of the garden. It really had been a long time. Everything had been so quiet since then. . . "The tea!" he said suddenly, seeming to fumble with the words for a moment. "Oh, uh. . ." he began suddenly, looking from the pan to the kettle to Rai. "I feel a bit silly, after all that, but is there any chance you could make some?" Perhaps a shade of scarlet crossed over Ruadhri's face, but the pancakes demanded his attention. "It wouldn’t be the same without it. . ."

[Amy]

Her mouth puckered lightly, not quite a pout, at his words. Her eyes were bright though and if it was a hint of a pout, it was a playful one. She took the gentle reprimand well, folding herself into a chair, her knees hugging her chest tightly as she watched the boy dance around the kitchen, preparing a meal for them both, thinking about what he had said. Thanking her, just for being a bother and an inconvenience, the thought was just silly. She had to consider the fact though, that she couldn't tell him what to think and if that's how he felt about the matter well, she could only allow it and be gracious. Her hands fumbling around each other, she was once again intimidated by the silence that surrounded them. It wasn't as though she was uncomfortable around Ruad, she had after all spent all night with him in the garden. It was more, she felt obligated to fill the silence and for the life of her she didn't seem to be able to do it.

Her ears near perked up at his words though. A task was just what she needed and the small girl readily slid from her perch, ready to anything, even if it was as menial as filling a pot of water and watching it boil. Kindly ignoring the color that had settled on Ruad's face, she set about her task, deftly lifting the pot and making her way around the stove as she prepared the tea, finding the things she needed, with a little help of course. Sadly, her task was soon done and she was left standing awkwardly near the stove, trying to keep an eye on the kettle without getting into Ruad's way. She had so many questions she wanted to ask but none of them seemed very appropriate. But, was that merely because it was now bright out?

Hands clasped behind her back, she leaned against the counter with her hip, her head tilted lightly and easily to the side. "Doesn't it get so lonely here alone? I know you said someone needed to take care of the garden and the house but, I don't know, it just seems like a lot of work...it is beautiful though," she said, trailing off as her eyes once again strayed out to the beautiful garden. She was trying to understand the reasoning behind staying here and it was that much easier to "get it" when her eyes traced the blooming trees and the picture they painted against the beautiful sky. A happy sigh blew from her lips as she finally started to relax, her mind rushing away with the wind that traveled through the trees.