Chasma: Tsuru

[aono]

Comments

[cranelike]

You're aware he was a spirit.

(It's not really a question.)

[aono]

Well, yeah. I couldn't smell it on him, my nose hasn't been working right. But I could guess it from how he acted.

[cranelike]

(Interesting...)

From what I gather, he's been that way for a long time. Do you think his nature can change?

[aono]

I dunno. But he deserves the chance to change.

[cranelike]

Chances mean nothing if you don't want them.

[aono]

But we won't know what he'll decide to do if we don't give him a chance to decide.

[cranelike]

You don't think he decided when he killed and ate an innocent man?

[aono]

We still don't know if he did it on purpose or if he did it because he has to eat people.

[cranelike]

He killed an innocent man and would have let one more die.

He attacked him, hung him out to bleed, and cut off his leg to eat. At the trial, he kept silent, content to let us suspect an innocent girl. Do you think he would have said anything for her before Xie Lian drew out his confession?

If he wanted to explain himself, he had nine hours, Rin-kun. He had all of yesterday.

How much more would you give him?

[aono]

...!

[He's not wrong. Rin wants to argue it, but...he's not wrong. Qi Rong had plenty of time to come forward, plenty of time to even gracefully confess once accused. But he didn't. He fought it the whole way through.

Rin doesn't respond verbally, but the way he deflates ever so slightly gives his feelings away anyway. But is Rin more disappointed in Qi Rong for being an asshole, or is he more disappointed in himself for not seeing something so obvious?

His daemon, meanwhile, steps over to rub against his leg. Maybe it's a comfort here? Maybe.]

[cranelike]

(Kiku offers a sympathetic chirp,)

Don't lose heart. (He reaches out to pat Rin on the head, putting just a little more weight behind his touch,) Your heart is filled with compassion and kindness.

After all of the desperation and violence this week, something like that is precious.

[aono]

...mmm.

[He's still feeling a bit down, but that headpat is solid and reminds him of familiar memories of a time long passed. So it is comforting, even if it squeezes his chest a bit.]

I just don't want people to get hurt.

[cranelike]

Impossible.

(People will always be hurt, one way or another, sooner or later.)

The most you can do is make it hurt less; to help people heal.

[aono]

Heal people, huh?

[He lets out a huff of air.]

Yukio's the doctor, he's better at that than me.

[cranelike]

I'm sure you'll find a way.


(One last ruffle of the hair and taking his hand back. Kiku will also fly around the two of them. She flies in a circle, twittering something and settles back down on Tsurumaru's shoulder,)

Now, have you eaten?

[aono]

[Before he can answer, his stomach makes a loud gurgling sound.]

Ahaha....not really, no.

[cranelike]

(He laughs!!! And reaches into his bag? The sleeve of his kimono? THE POCKET DIMENSION OK... there's a little bag of popcorn. It's half-eaten and folded/rolled so it isn't much but....)

Everyone was so busy today! But nine hours is a long time for humans to go without eating.

(Handing the bag over to Rin,)

Let's find something more to eat.

[aono]

[popcorn sleeves...

But he takes the bag.]

We can go to one of the kitchens and I'll make something. But you gotta try it too, got it? Yukio heals with medicine, but I'll heal with cooking.

[cranelike]

I like eating!

(He lights up,)

This form is a pain but being able to eat isn't bad.

[aono]

[Hol up]

"This form?"

[cranelike]

This human one.

(Yes?)

[aono]

...are you not normally a human?

[cranelike]

I've only been human for a few years~

[aono]

[Gaaaaaasp]

A demon?!

[It's an excited gasp.]

[cranelike]

Eh? No.

(Though, that sure is a guess,)

I'm a kami.

(Which, for reference, doesn't necessarily mean "god." Generally speaking, its more like "spirit." )