<@Ciara> [Evening, Thursday, March 18.] <@Ciara> [Haruko has come to Katie and Kyon's apartment to discuss something with Kyon.] <@Ciara> [Katie is out for the evening. Maybe she's at a study session; maybe she has some other reason for not being there. Regardless, she's unlikely to return before Haruko leaves.] <@Ciara> [Haruko has just arrived in the apartment.] <@Ciara> [Session Start!] * @Haruko is wearing her red hakama and a somewhat rustic sleeveless shirt under a duster she hung up after going through her arrival rituals and shoe removal and such. * Kyon is wearing an burnt orange and grey workout t-shirt and simple dark blue jeans, along with slippers. He gestures curtly down the hallway. "Come on back." * @Haruko does so. "Thank you so much for the bother." * Kyon shakes his head quickly. "Got the time if you need it." He heads back to the living room area. * @Haruko heads there as well, chattering nervously. "This is really a summer shirt, but it's one I've made. So it's compatible with my powers without having the long sleeves of my haori." It's a darker blue with closely tied lacing up the sides and a loose laced v-neck in the front. "The full miko outfit felt like tempting fate." * Kyon smirks, and sits down on the floor by the table on a floor cushion. "You think it's going that far?" * @Haruko eases slightly in response to the grin. "Well that's up to you Kyon-sensei." * @Haruko then glances down and adopts a slightly exagerated demure stance and tone. "This week I have already abused your hospitality by falling asleep on your couch, it seemed vital that I not compound that by disrobing in a fright." * @Haruko then mirrors Kyon's seated pose until she gets instructions to the contrary. * Kyon shakes his head curtly, still smirking. "Katie's probably happier that way, too." * @Haruko snorts. "She'd probably just laugh at our mutual morification." * Kyon snorts a laugh, and nods. "Yeah, probably." * @Haruko settles at the laugh. <@Haruko> So, I was reassured that Isao-sama did not share my fear. But it didn't melt away or anything after learning that. I've read through the passages in the book now, but that may have just been becoming more clinical rather than imaginative about it. * Kyon crosses his legs, and leans an elbow on the table. "Okay. So it's you." * @Haruko nods. * Kyon nods back curtly. "And you want to talk about it." <@Haruko> I don't really remember having the fear before I got my burn marks. But I'm not sure the origin really matters now. It's not like I'm specifically afraid of being caught in a garage fire. My imagination is much more versatile than that. * Kyon frowns, and flexes a hand. "It's anything?" <@Haruko> Yeah, anything where I can build a threat out of it. I mean I managed. Smaller or safe makes it much easier. <@Haruko> Trusting you helped make it safer too. * Kyon flicks his eyes down at the table, and nods again quickly. "Yeah. That part's important. Not going to hurt you." He glances back up at her. * @Haruko's tone is soft. "I know. I may get scared, but I know." So. We start here. And then if things are easy, we try something else. But for today, don't think we need to go anywhere. * @Haruko yawns involuntarily and then covers her mouth. She's putting on a better front now, but by the look in her face she's probably not been having the easiest time sleeping in recent days. "That sounds good." * Kyon cocks his head, and smirks. "You need a nap first?" * @Haruko shakes her head sharply and then pulls back the hair that's fallen in her eyes. "Believe me, I'm not in the right state of mind for that." * Kyon nods curtly. "But you should do it. Got to keep yourself in good shape. Right, though. It's not for now." * @Haruko nods, if Kyon manages to get his sleep, she certainly can. * Kyon blows out a breath. "So you sure you're ready for this?" * @Haruko closes her eyes and takes a breath in and out and answers calmly. "I do not promise that I will handle it well, but I have prepared myself as best I can." She opens her eyes again. * Kyon nods quickly. "You need to stop, we'll stop. Just say it." * @Haruko nods swiftly. * Kyon nods, and watches his hand for a second, before drawing off the armwarmer from his right hand, flexing it a few times. He takes a deep breath, and then nods. Whether it's to himself or to her is hard to say. * @Haruko watches quietly and intently. * Kyon looks across at her, and then raises his palm in front of his face, a good distance from her, and ignites the flame over his hand. * @Haruko stares transfixed at the flame, her breathing rapid. * Kyon frowns, watching her, and then moves his hand slowly over the table. Arguably, this is closer to her, but not directly at her. * @Haruko watches both the fire and Kyon, flitting her eyes back and forth seeking guidance in his expression. * Kyon draws his hand closer to her, halfway between the two of them now. "It's just energy. It's under control. It's not going to hurt you. And you can get away." * @Haruko indeed can get away, she scoots back about a meter with a swift motion. She is indeed cognizant of the furniture in the way of her fastest withdrawal route and her arm briefly goes translucent at it splashes through the arm of the chair behind her without slowing her down at all. She settles a meter away, still breathing quickly. * @Haruko sure wasn't moving like she was sleepy though, adrenaline must be kicking in. * Kyon looks up at her, and scowls, closing his fist and putting out the flame. "Maybe this's too soon." * @Haruko shakes it off for a moment after the flame disappears. "I... When I was kidnapped by Shingo and Tenjirou, things went very badly because I was afraid and struck out irrationally. I... don't know that we get to pick whether its too soon." * @Haruko adjusts the position of the chair, running her hand over it and gently pulling off any remaining water. She then scoots forward, back to the pillow. * Kyon doesn't really stop scowling. "If you're going to hyperventilate when you look at it, and then fly across the room when it's me and it's not that close, then that might be too soon." <@Ciara> [Before she can answer, Haruko's phone rings.] <@Ciara> [Caller ID says Ken Hibiki.] * @Haruko silences the phone and pushes it away. Sometimes she misses calls. It happens. * Kyon looks over at the phone, and raises an eyebrow curiously. * @Haruko shrugs. "Hibiki." <@Ciara> [Haruko's call log, when she checks it later, will have a missed call and then a second one plus a voicemail. But that's for later.] * Kyon nods curtly, and looks back at her skeptically. "We should just talk more for now." * @Haruko looks straight at Kyon. "It's like you said, I can always back up. It was the better choice than throwing water at it. But..." * Kyon smirks. "Yeah. Soaking me would have been worse." <@Haruko> Yeah. But when I learned to ride, when I learned to dance and twirl, when I first ask someone out... talking myself up felt like progress but often it was just a distraction. * @Haruko takes out a business card, Taro's. "Besides, Hibiki asked me to burn this. I'd like to do that for him." * Kyon reaches out a hand for it. "I can do that." * @Haruko hands it over. <@Haruko> I think I should watch. When you're ready that is. * Kyon crumples it in his bare hand, and looks at her, judging. "I get that you want to do more. But if you can't take it yet, that's fine. Can't beat this in one day." He lowers his voice, and says, a hint more quietly, "Doesn't make you weak." * @Haruko nods, blushing slightly. "Okay. But I'm only so strong. I'm afraid that if I stop it will be too hard to start again." * Kyon shakes his head curtly, and finally smirks a bit. "That part, I can help with. Come back tomorrow." <@Ciara> [Friday, March 19th.] <@Ciara> [Let's try this again. Haruko returns to the apartment in the late afternoon.] * @Haruko is back again. She's changed to a set of coveralls that also had the slightly rustic look, albeit not nearly as flattering to her form. * @Haruko has a set of heavy gloves in her lap as she sits. * Kyon goes back to the same cushion as yesterday. Today, he's in a Lions t- shirt and ash-grey shorts, and he settles in. "Feeling clearer today?" * @Haruko nods. "Yeah, and I treated this set with flame retardent chemicals years ago. So hopefully the slight scent will mean my lizard brain remembers that." * Kyon smirks. "Hope it doesn't get in the cushions." * @Haruko smiles slightly. "Wool apparently works particularly well for that. So I think I'll save up for some proper material, but in the meantime, maybe I need to knit a battle sweater." * @Haruko rolls her eyes at Kyon's comment, but doesn't seem perturbed. * Kyon nods quickly. "Worth the investment. I can put it for material, if that's what you need." * @Haruko thinks and nods. "Thank you. It will take a little time though, so we should proceed today and not wait on it. Would you like me to do anything for you once I have the material?" * Kyon shrugs. "Can see where we are when it gets here." He rests his hand on the table. "So you're ready?" <@Haruko> Yes. * @Haruko slips on her gloves. * Kyon comments, "Right." He slides off the same armwarmer as yesterday, and steels himself for a beat, before he comments, "Oh. Burnt the card for you, too." * @Haruko gives a small smile. "Thank you." * Kyon nods curtly, still watching his hand, and then turns to her, holding it up by his face, and, squinting, starts the flame once more. * @Haruko doesn't move but is shivering and transfixed again. * Kyon frowns, and says, quiet and warning, "Remember. Just me. And." He drops his voice more. "I'm not going to hurt you." * @Haruko watches Kyon's expression, thinking ~I can't do this, I'm weak. Kyon believes in me, I trust Kyon. What is wrong with me?!~ But there's no Satoshi there to hear. * @Haruko nods, trying to steel herself. "I know. I think you do the best of us at facing your fears. I try to use you as a role model. I trust you. I lo... learn from your example. I can do this." * Kyon nods curtly, and slowly moves his hand closer to her again, watching to see if she reacts like yesterday again. * @Haruko thinks and then holds up a hand, scootching back slightly. "Wait. I want to melt away. Maybe... maybe it will be easier if I start as water." * Kyon cocks his head, and then nods, closing his hand and letting the flame go out. * @Haruko stands up and walks over to the kitchen. She takes a seat in a central position on tile and clears out her pockets. She then adopts a meditative position before disolving into a puddle on the floor. * Kyon comes over into the room once she's changed, and says, "Right. So you're ready." He sticks out his hand again, further away from himself, and lights it up again. * @Haruko doesn't even ripple. "Rrready." * Kyon moves closer to her, bearing his hand down further, and crouching. "Remember. I wouldn't hurt you. And the way you are, you'll be fine." <@Haruko> Rrright. You and this forrrm protect me. My instincts call forrr it. * Kyon nods curtly again, and kneels, careful to stay away from the water, and careful not to let the light get too close. * @Haruko very slowly flows forward, to the limit of her comfort and stops. "It's beautiful, in its way, when you llook at it." * Kyon smirks, and waits a couple of beats, before putting it out, and shaking his hand in the air. "Can be." * @Haruko reforms in a seated posture right by the kneeling Kyon. "I still felt the fear, but I was working with what my body wanted instead of against it." She smiles up at him. "Thank you." * Kyon nods curtly, and tucks his bare hand in his shorts pocket. "Right. Moving forward. That's the important thing." * @Haruko's eyes watch the hand for the moment and then she nods. "That's all we're all trying to do. In our own ways." <@Ciara> [Session End!]