To The Teahouse!

Noah was breathing heavily, practically panting as he stood outside the door of a tea-house. He glanced about, abit paranoid. He'd hate it if Karasu snuck up on him with a needle at his neck. What did she say she was? A nun? No, a nin. A ninja in training, if he remembered the definition correctly. That lady sure is weird, not that he has much rights to judge anyhow. Pushing the door open with a gloved-hand that slowly lifted, he slipped inside.

Perhaps this is the chance for him to visit the reknown tea-house of Nede. He heard that this place has many visitors since it's opening day. Noah was curious. Just what type of tea does such a place serve for the citizens of Nede, and ultimately, for Aenied? And who is the owner of it? He heard that there is a charming lady about. Noah never met a woman that's truly charming. This would be an event to behold. He figured his grand purpose is to scout around, make sure all is well in Aenied. It would be necessary to check this place out aswell.

As soon as Noah stepped inside, the smell washed over him. The aroma made him pause, and sniff the air. Then he turned his head and swept his dark hues over the area inside...and he found Caste. What a coincidence. And why is she wandering around when she has a damaged arm/shoulder? Noah crept up behind her, and whispered against her ear, "Seems as if you are still as energetic as ever, Caste. How's the tea?"

Caste walked in the Tea house, and stood there with her eyes sweeping it's interior. It was very pretty, it made her feel very happy. Noah's voice drifted to her ears, and she spun around and smacked into his chest. She giggled, and wrapped her arm around him, giving him a hug as best she could. She turned her head up toward his. "I have yet to try any tea." Caste told him with a wide smile.

She turned back around, standing with her back close to his chest and continued to gaze around the shop. "I was looking for you, Master Noah. Then I saw the Tea shop, and I just had to go in." Caste explained, then tilted her head back to look up into his eyes. "Can I have a cup of tease please?" She begged him.

His mood lifted tremendously. Noah nodded and peered down steadily into Caste's eyes. Yes, they will have tea. He hasn't had any in awhile. Noah is not one to sit down and enjoy his surroundings. He present Caste with a brief smile, easing the tension in his jaw and expression overall, "We shall."

Now that he think about it, Caste is indeed very childish. Not in a bad way in most cases, of course. She is still ... innocent. A part of Noah envied that. How he longed to be innocent, and unable to see the hidden motives of others. How unfortunate it is for him that he has such perceptive eyes. Few things escapes him, though sometimes he wishes they do. Some things aren't meant to be known for the sake of keeping a relaxed attitude. Too bad that Noah isn't exactly a relaxed guy.

"Where's the owner?"

Taru comes in borne on almost a bouncing gait. She was excited to have someone in the shop. She was actually always excited..it was just a way for her.

"Hello everyone? Are you finding what you need?"

She walks up close to them, her hands full of tea cups, her fingers through the loops.

"Would you guys care for a little treat? I have some hot water on and some fruit biscuits I made earlier. What say you?"

Her smile was infectious and she looked from one to the other and she realized that the girl was bandaged.

"Oi, hey, were you just in the 'hospital?' I heard a lot of noise coming from there. OI, I bet you are the one I got the antibiotics for."

She called it 'the hospital' just like everyone called this the tea shop. It was just the thing to do in this area. Everyone knew what you were talking about.

Noah had to resist the strong urge to roll his eyes. This one would get along well with Caste indeed. Noah stood towards the corner of the room by then, a hand tucked into his warm pocket whilst the other brushed his hair back idly. Fruit biscuits? What in the world is that? He's never heard of anything like it. But he was kind of hungry...

Noah kept quiet for now, watching the exchange that would happen between the two ladies. He had almost no doubt in mind that this place was about to get very, very loud indeed.. A part of him wondered how Caste so easily conversed with others. Maybe it's just different assets of each person. Noah preferred the quiet most of the times, and he appeared as a reserved person with his stern expressions.

But he did want some tea. Whilst waiting, Noah wondered just what type of tea this lady here would have. He noted her infectious smile, and he felt the corners of his lips twitching, but he abstained. Smiling too much would make it a habit, and he didn't intend for that to happen anytime soon.

As the tea owner approached them, Caste watched her curiously. Her eyes lit up, this woman was so bubbly, so happy. Caste had yet to find anyone like that, all her friends were so quite and reserved. Caste moved over toward the woman and grinned. She glanced at the tea cups, "Would you like help with those? Your hands are rather full, I can help you put them away if you'd like?" Caste offered, then glanced down at her arm, when the woman mentioned it.

"Yea, I did go to the hosptial and I do have some antibotics. Somewhere." Caste patted her pockets, and realized they weren't there. Oh well, she'd be fine without them. "By the way, my name is Caste, what's yours?" Caste asked, then tilted her head to the side as she stared at the woman. "I'd like to have some tea, but what in the world is a fruit biscuit?" She questioned.

Caste had momentarily forgotten Noah was even there with her. She shot a quick glance around the shop, her eyes desperately searching for him. Finding him, and feeling satiysfied, Caste turned back to the woman.

"Oh, I have them, thank you for offering to help though. You should definitely find those antibiotics though, if Karasu finds you didn't take them, well... You met her."

With that said, she turned around and began walking behind the counter, talking all the while.

"Using the word 'biscuit' I guess is a misleading term. They are more like thick crackers. Perhaps a bit like a scone but with more crunch. People seem to like them very much. The ones I have today, have boysenberries in them. There over here on the counter."

After flashing a smile at Noah, she nods towards the treats. "Please, help yourself."

She turns and gently sets the cups down on a shelf behind her. "Would you like to know about the tea I have on special today? I made it for my friend Kyo when he came by. He said it was quite the lip licker."

Noah stepped silently towards the counter, lifting his eyes to glance at the owner of the shop briefly. Yes, she does have a mannerism about her that makes her rather...charismatic. Noah has a sharp eye, and when he sees charisma, he knows it. Lifting his arm, his fingers reached out for two fruit biscuits. Turning, he tossed one across the room to Caste, hoping that she'd catch it and not .. get them in trouble or something. But then, he was the one who threw it.

"I'd like to try the tea." Noah's voice was a deep monotone. That's how he usually gets when he's around someone he's unused to. He either gets really rude and tense, or really reserved and tense. Often all of the above, actually. He crept back to his corner and lifted a quizzical brow at them.

Yes, it is getting quite loud already. Noah has so much running through his mind as it is. But perhaps this is the best. He glanced to Caste briefly. When someone like him is around a really talkative, bubbly person, they either get really annoyed, or cheer up abit. It seems that Caste has the ability to lift his moods, ever so slightly. Well, it's better than nothing, definitely. Then Noah would glance to the owner of this place. Two bubbly people? Hopefully, his mood would lift furthermore.

The mention of the nin made Caste gulp. She had no wish to go back there, atleast not to recieve more treatment. She'd scope the whole town out for the medicine she'd lost if she had to. "Yes, I'll try and find it. Don't tell her I lost it though, I have no intention of going back for my check up." Caste said the last part in a whipser, not wanting Noah to over hear. She winked at the Tea owner, and glanced at Noah. She knew he probably wouldn't force her back to the doctor, he probably didn't even remember or care. Just in case though, she was trying to keep quite about it.

Caste was smiling up intil the point that the fruit bicuit slipped through her fingers and clattered to the floor as she tried to catch it. She wimpered and leaned down, and picked up the strange cracker. She hid it behind her back, and put her head down like an ashamed child. She moved over to Noah, who was looking rather uncomfortable. She slipped her hand into his, and looked up at him with a reassuring smile.

"Master Noah, I dropped my fruit biscuit." Caste said, with a hauntingly guilty look. She ducked her head, as she pulled him over to the counter. Her eyes were on the woman now. "I dropped my fruit biscuit, may I have another? I'd love to hear what tea you have today too, your shop is so very beautiful by the way. You still have yet to tell me your name though." Caste said, as she leaned her arm against the counter, her hand still wrapped around Noah's.

"No bother, just get another." She slides the plate towards them in offering.

"The one that I gave my friend is a tightly rolled, panfired leaf from Asia and is called gunpowder green. It is touted to produce a sweet, mellow brew. It is good for you too, have you heard of green tea?" Before they could even answer, her voice drops as if she were to tell a secret and she says, "Well, anyway, the man who brought it to me, a very short, dark man, said that it is popular in Morocco blended with fresh spearmint, cardamom, cinnamon and honey."

She began filling a mesh ball with some of the gunpower tea as she continues.

"OR! I do have Yunnan tea, cultivated in the Yunnan Province. It is a large-leaved black tea and has distinctive golden tips. It brews a strong, brisk cup with spicy overtones but most people just starting on tea a lot of times thinks it is too strong." She took a moment to pause and smile up at both of them, realizing her lack in manners.

"Oh! It slipped my mind. My name's Taru. What are your names?" She smiled looking from one to the other.

As Caste stepped towards him, Noah lifted his untouched biscuit to her, willing to offer it to her if she wanted it. But when her hand slipped into his, Noah jumped. His hand pulled away roughly, and the biscuit nearly fell out of his hand. His cheeks flushed. Her actions had caught him off guard. ... To be honest, Noah never as much as held a girl's hand before. This was .. out of his territory, and an area tha made him uncomfortable from his lack of experience.

He steadied himself, and turned to the one who introduced herself as Taru. She sure seems to know her stuff about tea. Noah bowed his head and felt the heat slowly fade from his cheeks, "My name is Noah. ..Uh, the second one." Noah stood apart from Caste, for about a whole feet or two. He felt a strange sensation in his hand, and slipped it into his pocket. He felt abit... nervous.

Eyeing Noah's actions, Caste giggled, he was acting like a childlish middle schooler afraid of cooties. Caste watched as he kept his distance from her, and shot Taru an amused look and chuckled. She pulled another fruit biscuit off the plate, and smiled. "Thank you miss Taru." Caste said gratefully, and bit into it. It was very good, and Caste grinned at the shop owner.

She listened to the teas that Taru described but it all went past her head. "Miss Taru, I have no idea what I want!" Caste whined, "I'm not good at this kind of stuff. Would you pick out for me what you think I would like best?" Caste asked her in a polite and sweet manner. She kept casting quick glances at Noah. She was sure he was probably fuming right now. She could imagine was thinking of some lecture to give her later about servants not ever touching their masters in such a manner.

Caste laughed at that thought then looked at Taru again. "My name is Caste, by the way, I think I already told you that though?" Caste rubbed her head puzzled. Then something clicked in her head. Her last name. "I don't remember my last name." She muttered aloud to herself.

Noah was shuffling his feet idly, barely paying attention to the conversation that went on in the room. He lifted the biscuit to his mouth, took a bite, chewed, and swallowed. He had a habit of that, just going through the motions of eating, and not really tasting. Noah went back to his corner and leaned against the wall with his back lightly. After finishing the biscuit, he watched them silently. He would much prefer to observe for now.

Then he thought of his reaction. Was it abit bizarre? Noah thought back on his life, and not once had he even held a girl's hand. Even as a little lad, he had a borderline dislike of females. It's not as if he doesn't feel the attraction ... He's not homosexual or anything. .. Just some circumstances made him very angry towards them in general, espicially since that from experience, most were failures in his eyes. But maybe he's just a sexist jerk. Who knows.

^Watching all about him as he traversed the streets Dark looked on at what is known as the TeaHouse. Studying it for a moment and noticing a few faces he was seeking and despite the decor he entered the shop full well knowing his ashen robe would stick so plainly out amongst the others. But seeming to care not he noticed a seperate table and after seating himself and pulling his flask from his robes he watched as the others seemed to be in a conversation with what appeared to be the establishments owner. Watching them and pulling a silver flask from his robes he took a sip from it and clearing his throat a bit louder than necessary he spoke in a near whispered voice though it carried across to them^ "Such a lovely place this is. Ive never personally visited a tea house before..Its quaint I guess?^ He released a low laugh^"But nevertheless it is enough for your store type. I use to enjoy the delicacies of tea and wine. Though time does see me away from such frivolties. And dear Caste. A lovely joy at seeing you yet again. i fear our last conversation was cut a bit short. How droll you find it fittin got run from me. Think I am as such to be a bother to you? I do hope not." ^He stated his eyes piercing deep within hers^

Caste was munchin on her third fruit biscuit, when she heard the door to the tea shop open. Too wrapped up in this interesting shop owner, Taru, Caste paid little attention to the fact someone else was in the Tea shop. When she heard Dark's voice though, her head snapped to the side, and pinpointed him sitting at a table. While her boby began to tremble with uneasiness again, his words made guilt start to wash over her.

Caste stole a glance at Noah, wondering if he minded if she went to apologize to Dark. He seemed rather upset with her though, and probably could careless if she disappeared, at the moment. She didn't regreat grabbing his hand though, his reaction was so very comical. Caste nodded to Taru, "Excuse me for a moment, Miss Taru." Caste said, and turned and slowly walked over to where Dark was sitting. His eyes seemed to be locked on hers, and she put her head down to avoid his gaze.

"Mr. Dark, I'm very sorry If I appeared rude before. I wasn't feeling too great today. Not only did I hurt my arm, I thought one of my friends was gone." Caste glanced up at Dark, her teeth grinding together at the thought of Jak being gone. How thankful she was that he was still alive, even if she had just sort of left in the street to go search out Noah. Caste blushed with embarassment, that was very unkind of her to leave him like that. She'd been extremely rude today, she would have apologize for that later, as she was doing now with Dark now. She pulled a chair away from the table, and slowly sat down across from the man. "Mind if I steal this seat for a mintue?" Caste asked, she smiled despite the nervous flip-flopping feeling she got in her stomach everytime that this man was around.

There didn't seem to be anything to to terribly dangerous about him. Actually, he hadn't really done anything at all. Just his words, and they way he looked at her, always made her on the edge when he was around. It was an odd mix of feelings, guilt and terror, still she couldn't help but smile at him. It was like a peace offering really. "Will you forgive me, for my fiendish attitude from ealier?" Caste pleaded with him, letting her gaze drop down to the table out of shame this time.

Watching Caste invite herself to the chair across from him he kept his eyes locked on her a bemused glint playing in his eyes. "Quite ok Little One. So many judge me and yet few actually try and get to know me." His eyes remained full of mirth as he continued. "I see much of this world and do as I please." He said as he pulled the flask out again and sipped from it. "I prefer anomity but alas so many fear whta they dont know. Take you for example." His hands smoothed his robe out as he spoke his flask being left on the table unsealed. " You seem so gracious to meet me at first then such a dramatic change? Your demeanor became as though I am a monster sent to end your existence?" His eyes staying on her he spoke a bit lower and almost as if he seemed sincere. "I do forgive you. Just for future reference though do try and be less disparging and perhaps more agreeable of me?"

Noah turned his head to watch Dark enter. That man had an enigmatic air about him. He kept quiet and kept his gaze on them as Caste sat down opposite Dark. Noah was on edge, tense, ready to launch whenever a stranger, or someone he barely knew, is around. His squared-jaw was taut, and he had his eyes glued to the two. Noah rememberd when he walked out of the cabin, almost in a relaxed state, then Jak transformed and attacked them. He glanced briefly to Caste's arm, and he remembered how he had to pierce through her shoulder to land a hit on Jak. A part of him almost felt guilty.

Noah would've done it again, though, if he had to. Caste is alive now, and all is well. This time, he would be able to whip out his weapon in time. Then he thought of how he saw the future, and his hair turning white. How bizarre, indeed.

Caste bit her lip and stared down. She felt even worse now, she had judged him and she hated when people judged one another. It was while she was looking down that Caste first noticed it. Her cheeks flushed a deep deep red, and she scooted her chair back from the table. The doctor had cut off all all her clothing except for her jeans, and while she'd still wrapped up everything, Caste still felt slightly indecent. Caste wasn't wearing a shirt--

Caste glanced up at Dark, "Um, don't think I'm being rude again, but I must go again." Caste blushed more, and then stepped over to toward Noah. She shot him a wide-eyed look, feeling tears of embarassment prick at her eyes. Even if he was mad at her, even hated her, he was the only one that could save her from this current problem. She dropped down in a seat beside him, practically hiding behind him. These simple bandages just didn't seem like a enough to cover up anything, a shirt would make her feel more comfortable more protected.

"Noah, Why didn't you tell me I didn't have a shirt on?" Caste hissed, she felt so exposed. She glanced down at her arm, all wrapped up to her stomach. She'd fix that later, she couldn't go around with only one arm for much longer. It was driving her crazy. "I need a shirt. Oh, and um I think I got your coat destroyed too." Caste frowned, how stupid of her. She should have pulled off the jacket, before she'd gone to the hospital. Why didn't she ever think?

Watching her leave almost as abruptly as she came he let his eyes meet that of her companions. His name he thought was Noah. He seemed a bit preoccupied mentally and seeing htis Dark's eyes lit up more in delight. He picked up his flask and sipped again thoughtful now. Watching the two he began to wonder several things. He pulled his hood lower and looked at Caste again. She seemed harmless enough yet naive. Yet she travels with the other and seeks his protection. Laughing lightly to himself at his thoughts he glanced at both of them. "Tis no rudeness child. If you wish though I do have a spare light cloak I rarely use? Of course its your choice and I am none the less for wear with or without it."

Noah blinked, and his eyes lowered to that of Caste's almost bare body. ...He didn't even notice it himself. How strange. He never notices or care for this type ofthing. Noah turned, bending on his knees some so that his eyes leveled with that of Caste's, "Well, now you owe me a coat, and vase." Noah's eyes rolled in its sockets, and he quickly unbuttoned his own shirt. It has Caste's blood stains on it, but that mattered little due to the current circumstances.

His digits curled lightly around Caste's upper arm, and he lifted it abit. Pulling the shirt on her body for her, he noticed that it was abit big on her. But that was only natural, for the shirt was slightly loose on him aswell. Noah buttoned the shirt up for her, concentrating abit on that task. Afterwards, he stood back and noted that the bottom end of his shirt almost reached way below Caste's waist. At least she has something to cover herself up now, or else she'd continue to freak later.

Noah glanced down at himself, the realization dawning on him that he was now bare on his upper-body. Scars of all sorts marked his light olive-skin, though he had a toned and slightly muscular build nonetheless. The almost bizarre thing he noticed though, was that he seemed abit ... bulkier in the muscular sense than when he last saw himself in the mirror. Does this link to his hair changing colors? What does all this mean?

Caste glanced at Dark ready to take him up on his offer, when Noah pulled off his own shirt and slid it around her. Her gaze fell down to his hands as he slowly buttoned it up. Caste darted a quick glance at his eyes, which were deeply focused on the task at hand. When he was finished, Caste watched him stand up and glance down at himself. Caste's eyes were studying all the scars on his body, she hoped she'd be able to ask him about them later.

Caste hopped up and then gave Noah a one armed hug. She stepped back quickly, befoe he could hit her or jerk away or something of that sort. Her eyes went back to Dark, his offer made alot more sense. "Master Noah, maybe I should give you back your shirt, and take Dark's cloack instead? That way you won't have to go around without a shirt on?" Caste suggested.

Moving back over beside Noah, hoping he'd calmed down since she'd hugged him, she looked up at him and flashed him a wide-smile. Her hand fumbled out of the opening of the long sleeve. She raises the material up to her mouth, and gently pulled the seelve back with her teeth. With her hand now free, she worked on slowly unbuttoning the shirt so she could return it to Noah.

Watching them and his hands slipping insed his robe he watched as Caste responded to the male. Pulling forth a dull gray riding cloak he put it neatly folded on the table in front of him and bowed slightly." I shall leave it here Little One. She is right though Noah. To walk about with such lack of clothing would show you open to many. I have the extra dont be as such to keep her and you from enjoying a little comfort. A warrior grows knowing how to fight to survive. A mage grows learning magic to defend his life. Even a thief learns how to survive. This one needs that, not an overprotective male whom would have them both dead because of his carelesness. But then again what do I know? Im just a simple wanderer.." Laughing loudly he turned to walk out the shop.

Noah turned his eyes to Dark as he spoke, and his normally dark eyes had a tinge of cold blue in it. Another strand of his hair turned white, and it was rather noticable in his dark hair. The muscles along his body twitched, and bulked up ever so slightly. This time, though, he had no vision. Noah's voice was a cold growl, "I will kill whoever dares to lay a hand on her." There was a moment of silence, then Dark slipped away. Noah's eyes turned back to it's original dark brown, and he picked up the cloak, holding it out to Caste.

Though Dark had an efficent point, Noah was rarely ever careless. His eyes locked with Caste's briefly, and he rememberd his resolve to teach her discipline and grace. Yes, she would need to learn. But until she is ready, she is under his protection.

She worked deftly the whole time she spoke, filling the mesh balls with the appropriate amounts of the appropriate ingredients and making sure to make it no less than perfect.

"Good choices. I like it when people like to try different things and even like when people who come in together and they try different things. Why in the world would two people come in together and try the same thing?"

She shakes her head then and drops the mesh balls in two separate cups, quickly following it with steaming hot water. She never put just-boiling water directly on her teas as it always gave them the slightest of bitter tastes. She preferred to wake up the leaves gently, not shock them.

"I mean, if you came in together you could share your tea, right? Get something different and say "oi! let me have a sip of yours, right" and then you would both have something different. It's nice to have common interests by there's the thing about being different..."

She hands them both their respective cups of tea and finishes with,

"If two people spend so much time trying to be alike, what's the use of having a friend, really? You just might as well be by yourself. Whatever would you learn?"

She laughed and turned to the new patron with mirth in her eyes.

"And you sir, how quaint are you? Is it cold outside? Is this shop quaint? It is indeed, if you call quaint the largest pharmacopoeia in all of Nede and pert near the largest in all of Aenied. We supply all the medications the doctor needs along with a good few hundred varieties of botanicals, both dried and fresh, and culinary herbs along with medicinal ones."

She almost wanted to laugh but she didn't want to be rude. He was so very serious. Wasn't he? Such a pity that people like him saw smallness in things he didn't see real use in. There was a use for everything in life, you just had to figure out what it was.

Taru suddenly remembered something and said "Excuse me for a moment!" Running behind the counter, she dipped down, grabbing the rucksack Kyo had brought her. Odd thing is, she didn't stand back up when she grabbed it, she just ran, crouched down behind the back of the counter until the sound of her obvious movements disappeared into the back.

Caste glanced from Dark to Noah, then down at the cloak where Dark had laid it on the table. Caste stood close to Noah, as he turned to give Dark a sharp retort. She shrank back slightly, hoping this wasn't her fault. She just didn't want to take Noah's shirt from him, and he not have anything to wear. Noah's threat rang in her ears though. He would kill anyone who touched her? Caste didnt' get it. If he needed a maid that badly, why hadn't he hired one long ago.

Her eyes dropped down to the cloak again as Noah held it out to her. "I'm sorry, Noah." Caste said, immediately taking blame for the dispute between Noah and Dark. Her hand went back to the task of trying to unbutton the shirt, her fingers slowly picking at the top button as she struggled to get it un-done with one hand. Taru's voice made Caste look up again, and she smiled thankfully at the woman as she set the cup of tea down infront of her.

Caste abandoned the task of unbuttoning the shirt, deciding to do it later. She sat down in the seat infront of her cup of tea, and stared down at the sweet smelling liquid. Her injured arm twitched, she wanted to pull of the bandages so badly. She laid her other arm on the table, her fingers curled around the glass, soaking in the warmth.