A Samurai's union

It was a beautiful clean night. The full moon hovering above them covering the fields in a radiant light. The reeds dancing in the breeze creating a melody of nature. Stars littered the night sky.

A soft flute melody broke the silence of a soft song. In the quiet field sat on a log sat a young man. Adorned in fine kimono robes. long silk wings reflecting the soft moonlight around him as the nimble fingers danced over the polished brass in years of practiced skill.

Hikaru was tired. He had been travelling on foot for a long time now. His food rations now gone. And well like he could use that small card his father gave him for the life of him. But he couldn’t help but smile as his fingers danced over the flute. But now he had arrived in Xing. The origin of Alkahestry is here. This was where it was born. He couldn’t help but be excited. Maybe he would find a master here. To teach him to heal…to cure! But for tonight he would wait for now. He needed to rest. But for now he would play a melody to the stars.

Cool winter air breathed over his skin where his body lay beneath the reeds. Each exhale received its own cloud, dissipating into nothing like smoke. It was so quiet--a full January moon blooming overhead, leaking silver rays down upon his head of violet hair. Softly, it glinted off each strand, rustling against the reeds. His closed eyes opened, azure refocusing on the black sky, flecked with the stirrings of stars. Twinkle, twinkle little star...how I wonder wha--where you are... "Millie," he said out loud, his voice low and airy as the night. Would she be coming to Xing? Hoping was something foreign to him--distant--as far a reach as the stars. No, he couldn't hope. His life gave him nothing; only took. Even Sloth was gone now, lost to the far beyond. It was months since then... He couldn't really recognize if maybe this was hurt he was feeling. It was nothing physical, but... it lathered at his skin like razors dashed with water, running red that stinging flight.

A shrill sound stuck a forceful beat into the quiet hum of nature, swirling about in a peaceful melody. Zairen sat up, his long hair falling from his left shoulder down his back. What...was that? The song was growing closer and soon he heard undertones of footfall crushing along as well. He pulled himself fully to his feet, swaying just slightly before his plagued body readjusted to being upright. Squinting through the poorly lit darkness, he saw a silhouette of a man wearing kimono. Was that a man? Zai moved swiftly sideways and then came up on him, not wanting to interrupt the beautiful song, but... "Who are you?" He asked, quietly.

A voice...so quiet over his melody in the still night one would of missed it. The fingers stilled and the pipe lowered from the soft lips. A small pink tongue darted out to moisten them. "Who are you?".... Soft stunning azure eyes opened to look at a partnering pair of azure.

He lowered the pipe more and smiled. "Ah forgive me...I didn't realise this was private land." He tucked the pipe away into his kimono. "I will leave immediately." he bowed as custom. "I did not mean any ill will." He looked to the other eyes flickering over him. With a calm smile he held out a hand, the medical bracelet making a series of clinks from the movement. That was what the books said right? “Anoo….I’m kinder new to this…but my name is Tanaka Hikaru…It’s nice to meet you…” The soft wing played with the silk wings and for a soft second Hikaru couldn’t help but shiver. Something about this man was trying to reach his senses. Almost like some connection between them.

"Ah forgive me...I didn't realize this was private land." He spoke back--a male for certain. A low tone of voice, flowing out from parted lips and into the twitching set of black ears atop Zairen's head. They drew back and he focused dully on him, relenting that the beautiful sound of the flute had ceased. He lowered his gaze into a brief bow of recognition in turn with the man's own. "I will leave immediately."

"No, please stay," he interrupted without much thought. The flute that had been singing through his fingertips brought the modern day samurai a peace of mind. Instead of being alone, he did prefer the company of another despite it being a very toll-taking and bothersome thing. He would endure for the possible sake of enjoyment and bask in the results if they dared come. "There is no ill will taken, Tanaka Hikaru. Might you be Aerugese? What are you doing in Xing? And in the imperial gardens no less." He moved closer, holding silk robes closer to his body to escape the winter zephyr.

"No, please stay," Hikaru stopped looking over to the man. He had yet to say his name but he seemed kind enough. A soft smile played on the samurai's lips. "There is no ill will taken, Tanaka Hikaru. Might you be Aerugese? What are you doing in Xing? And in the imperial gardens no less." The man drew the silk robes closer to his pale body to try and hold in the warmth.

He was in the imperial garden!!! A strong wind chose this moment in time to blow up the silk wings like a birds shocked wing display."Ah I’m really sorry for trespassing!!!" He panicked slightly hopping quickly off the grass so his getas didn't ruin it. But for a second he looked round taking in the garden. It was stunning.... No wonder he had been draw over. It was beautiful. Truly somewhere he was glad to visit. "I came here to see if someone could help me improve my Alkahestry...." He rubbed his arm. "Ano...I'm really didn't mean to trespass.... " He was unsure what to say.

"Ah I’m really sorry for trespassing!!!" This man, Tanaka Hikaru, certainly seemed to have no idea where he had ventured to, therefore, it was hardly trespassing. Zairen held his tongue for the time being, letting the man finish. But he seemed more concerned with getting his strange shoes off the grass to prevent its harm. This act alone brought another soft smile to the ex homunculus' lips. This man, who admired the beauty of the garden, if anyone, most definitely deserved to be in it. "I came here to see if someone could help me improve my Alkahestry..." Eh? Automatically, he felt himself shift into alert mode, his fingertips just briefly brushing against the sharkskin of his hilt. Alkahestry? Xing was most likely the place to come to, but such a thing... No, he sensed no aggression from him and lowered his hand again with a brief sigh. He was just too paranoid...

"I see... My name is Zairen Moccau, Envoy of the Emperor. If you have business in seeking a teacher I may be able to assist." He felt each muscle in his body clench as he bowed regally. "Any who admires the garden I consider a heartfelt friend so trespassing you are not. Please, make yourself at home. Walking on the grass surely makes it feel alive." He nodded, motioning to the grass he had just stepped from. It swayed in agreement, extorting a small laugh from the purple-haired chimera. However, directly after the act of laughing, he felt lightheaded and shut his eyes for a moment, dragging in a hitching breath and swallowing back the ragged coughs that once abated, would never stop.

[Acra, Zairen isn't working for me and Millie XD So I'm rethinking my characters...bear with me. I'm so sorry! <3 This thread was really fun with you for how long it lasted. -hugs-]