D8LM Pious Observations (Open)

[Seppun Urusai]

Sakura inclines her head towards him, "Saw what?" Curiosity growing on her expression.

"I was..." Urusai's voice shudders to a pause, and he swallows, breathes before he continues.

"I was seeking the still-point, and, and...I saw what lies beneath it. I mean, it's not 'beneath,' as such, maybe more like 'within.' But there is a...place?...where the...I don't know how to put it into words!"

He smiles, beaming, and tears well up in his eyes.

"It was beautiful."

[Asahina Sakura]

"It was beautiful."

"Clarity is a beautiful thing when you find it," she nodded seriously.

[Seppun Urusai]

"Clarity is a beautiful thing when you find it," she nodded seriously.

"It wasn't just clarity, though," Urusai replies. "It was...it was..."

Transcendent, whispers the voice in his mind.

"Transcendent," the youth echoes.

"I don't...I don't know if I can...I have to get back to it!"

His fists clench at his hips, his arms quivering with tension.

[Shiba Kuroneko]

Kuroneko went to a corner and sat down. He yawned. Kiba sat on his lap and Tori on his shoulder nipping on his ear trying to keep the Shiba awake.

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[Asahina Sakura]

His fists clench at his hips, his arms quivering with tension.

"How can I help? We can, um, I can research spiritual hotspots? for us to visit? Or um. Further guided meditation?" Sakura gave a small smile, but didn't love seeing Urusai so distressed.

[Seppun Urusai]

"How can I help? We can, um, I can research spiritual hotspots? for us to visit? Or um. Further guided meditation?" Sakura gave a small smile, but didn't love seeing Urusai so distressed.

Sotto voce, Urusai says "You being here is help itself."

Then he shakes his head. "It's...I don't know that...I think..."

He trails off, shaking his head. "I don't know. I really don't. And I don't think I like that."

He sighs, forcing his fists to unclench.

"But as to going together...shall we to the Shrine after this?"

He sighs again, fixes a pleasant expression on his face. "And elsewhere after?"

[Asahina Sakura]

A light blush, and she dips her head softly.

"Oh. Um. I understand, it can be, frustrating? To see a glimpse of something, and be ...held back from finding it again." she spoke gently.
Then a nod, and she meets his gaze. "Yes. And yes."

[Seppun Urusai]

A light blush, and she dips her head softly.

"Oh. Um. I understand, it can be, frustrating? To see a glimpse of something, and be ...held back from finding it again." she spoke gently.
Then a nod, and she meets his gaze. "Yes. And yes."

Another sigh, lighter, and a slight smile. "I should like that," Urusai says.

And, again sotto voce, "Perhaps I might hold your hand?"

[Asahina Sakura]

And, again sotto voce, "Perhaps I might hold your hand?"

"Perhaps..." she lowered her voice as well.
"Perhaps you might kiss me again?"

[Seppun Urusai]

"Perhaps..." she lowered her voice as well.
"Perhaps you might kiss me again?"

Urusai flushes somewhat, nods.

"All--" his voice croaks, cracks, teenage vocal cords still adjusting somewhat. He clears his throat, nods again. "All things must be practiced diligently," he says. "And all the better with a good training partner."

He takes another deep breath. The voice in his mind asks him if he needs to exercise more, build up his wind.

[Asahina Sakura]

An amused smirk crossed her lips at Uncle's idea, and she retrieved her pale blue fan to hide behind. "Uh!" she chirped, "I... believe Urusai-san is very wise? and look forward to studying with him?"

[Seppun Urusai]

As long as I can keep seeing that smile, Urusai thinks.

"I shall endeavor to be a fit training partner for you," he says, and he winks.

"Lunch later this afternoon?" he asks, following with "Or perhaps dinner early in the evening?"

[Asahina Sakura]

"Lunch later this afternoon?" he asks, following with "Or perhaps dinner early in the evening?"

She thrilled at the idea of spending so much time with him. "Lunch? This afternoon? After our work at the shrine?" It wasn't a question, so much as a confirmation.

[Seppun Urusai]

She thrilled at the idea of spending so much time with him. "Lunch? This afternoon? After our work at the shrine?" It wasn't a question, so much as a confirmation.

"I can think of few better meals" Urusai replies. "Where this time?"

[Asahina Sakura]

"Um. The Garden Park? By the koi pond? I can make sure a picnic is provided to us that's fit for Seppun-sama's tastes?"

[Seppun Urusai]

"Um. The Garden Park? By the koi pond? I can make sure a picnic is provided to us that's fit for Seppun-sama's tastes?"

Urusai smiles.

"Please treat me kindly," he says to her. "I place myself in your hands."