fourth page ❁ agitated animals

[bearcub]

[A certain slightly odd young man is wandering the halls down to the library, looking slightly tensed and confused. Something was rubbing him wrong but the +Anima couldn't tell what it was... it just made him really uncomfortable. It was like being in the presence of a predator yet not knowing it.

He still had Amaterasu's flower in his gray near-dreads and Ukitake's lock of hair in his belt, and together those mementos had given him enough mental coherence to know where he was - Paradisa - and which room belonged to him. Things had been a lot easier for the teen after that.

Rounding a corner on the way down to the lobby, the teen notices something move at the back of his vision. Growling a little, Senri glances back, only to see an empty corridor. Picking up his pace, the deerskin-clad young man finally reaches the lobby and relaxes a bit.

It seemed safer among people.]

Comments

[lifeandpride]

[Things seemed a bit on edge, today. So Ukitake was doing what seemed routine in times to unrest - patrol. Now that he had a sword he felt a little more well defended and useful in doing so. He spots Senri on the other side of the lobby.]

Ah... Senri!

[He calls to him and waves for him to come over.]

[bearcub]

[Hearing his name, Senri notices Ukitake and nods, moving over to him. This time, it looks like the boy remembers the white-haired man just fine.]

[lifeandpride]

Senri, I think you should stay close to me today. There are strange things going on. Would that be all right with you?

[He mostly trusted the young man to defend himself physically, but he wasn't sure how Senri would react to this type of mild panic in the air. He seemed a bit on edge, as it was.]

...I'm Ukitake. Do you remember?

[Gestures to his hair, and the missing snipped bit of it.]

[bearcub]

[The boy moves even a bit closer and nods his head once more. He really does seem agitated, a low growl leaving him.

Then Ukitake speaks a second time and Senri glances at the man, nodding yet again.]

Ukitake. 321.

[There's a small smile from the teen. He knows you, sir.]

[lifeandpride]

That's right.

[He gives a reassuring smile to calm the young man, and pats him on the shoulder.]

I know things seem strange today, but if we stick together we should be all right.

[bearcub]

[Another nod from the silent boy, and he tries to relax a bit. But both his anima and Senri himself was on edge, so it was difficult; it was like asking an animal to relax when it was being hunted.

He growls again, glaring at the corridor he'd come from.]

[lifeandpride]

[Ukitake follows where Senri was looking.]

...Did you see something there?

[bearcub]

[Senri shakes his head with a sigh.]

No. Feel bad.

[lifeandpride]

[Sensed something, perhaps. It was clear that the sometimes-bear-arm marked Senri as something special, but he wasn't sure what the young man was capable of.]

Lets have a look, then. Stay with me.

[He keeps a hand on the hilt of the sword he was given by Ashura - ready to draw it at any moment, and cautiously starts down the hallway.]

...Later I have a gift for you, but lets make sure it's safe here, first.

[bearcub]

[Noticing the sword, Senri gives Ukitake some space. Sniffing the air, he cannot pick up anything weird at the moment, but the hairs at the back of his neck was still on edge and he just felt... bad.

Walking with his friend, he growls low again, baring his teeth just slightly. Not a happy boy, this one. Yet the hallway remains empty.]

[lifeandpride]

[Ukitake keeps one eye on Senri as he searches the hallway thoroughly, opening some doors and checking out some windows, but he finds nothing. Seeing how upset the young man was, he shakes his head.]

I don't see anything. Let's go back to the lobby for now, okay?

[bearcub]

[He nods at this and turns, making sure that Ukitake comes with him. When they come back out into the lobby, Senri's worry seems to lessen a little bit, but he's still on edge.]

[lifeandpride]

[He's a bit worried about the young man, and leads him to one of the couches to sit down on, so he could relax a bit.]

Take a few deep breaths, it will make you feel better.

[bearcub]

[A bit hesitant, Senri follows along and sits down. Obeying like a good boy, he takes a deep breath, followed by another.

It's not overly helpful, but he tries to smile.]

[lifeandpride]

That's it. You're safe with me, all right?

[He smiles back, then reaches into his kosode top.]

Perhaps it's not the best of times, but I've been meaning to give you this. I lovely young woman was kind enough to let me have it for you.

[It's a blank book. He holds it out to Senri.]

I hope it can help you remember.

[bearcub]

...book.

[He takes it and glances at the cover before opening the book and looking inside. It was a blank book with nothing written in it... not like his book. Would it work?

Picking out the flower from his hair, he places it between a few pages and then adds the lock of hair between a few others.]

[lifeandpride]

[He almost chuckles, but due to the tense day they were having, he doesn't.]

I'll take that as a 'thank you' then. You're very welcome. Keep it safe, all right?

[bearcub]

...yes. Thank you.

[Have a smile, Ukitake. The teen really appreciates the gesture.]

[mom_to_us_all]

[The safest things weren't for her, so she's been poking her nose around, looking for that thing everybody is been talking about and after having found nothing, she goes and make sure people in the lobby are doing fine-- Looks from a bit afar with wary eyes and... Hey she knows that flower!

Forgets any decorum and pads to than man quickly!]

Hello! [Oh, human voice, she'll never get used to it.]

[bearcub]

[On edge as he is, Senri jumps a little as the unknown woman walks over, and gives a startled growl.]

[mom_to_us_all]

[Oi... backs down a little.]

I didn't mean to scare you.

[bearcub]

[Embarrassed, Senri blushes a bit and steps back.]

...sorry.

[mom_to_us_all]

[Smiles kindly at him.]

Don't be. [Hesitates a little, she might be mistaken so gotta makes sure at first.]

That's a nice flower you have there.

[bearcub]

[He glances up, but that doesn't really help him, so he reaches out to pick off the flower from his head instead. A small smile briefly comes over his face, and he simply nods.]

[mom_to_us_all]

[Those silences are definitely familiar... How does that even work?]

Is your name Senri?

[bearcub]

[He blinks, looking at her. She knew him? Had he met another person and forgotten them?

Nodding, he looks apologetic.]

[mom_to_us_all]

[And that makes her smile.]

I'm Ammy.

[bearcub]

[Really surprised this time, Senri holds the flower in his hand up to her face -

...and then smiles. Relaxing, the odd teen seems much more at ease; even happy to meet her.]

[mom_to_us_all]

[And now it's time to confuse him:]

Well, this isn't really me, though. The castle changed me.

[bearcub]

[This is the face a puppy gives you when you talk too long and they just cock their head to the side and stares. Quite spot-on, actually.

Congratulations, you have confused the bear.]

[mom_to_us_all]

I'm actually a wolf. [Tries to explain, because that face is blatantly obvious.]

... but that's not very important, is it?

[bearcub]

[He shrugs at that. If you say you're actually a wolf, who's he to judge? He's half bear, after all.]

...nice to meet you.

[Oh wow, that was almost a whole sentence.]