[D9, MM*] An important conversation (expecting)

[Agasha Yuna]

"Poor thing. Hopefully folks did not tease him too much after?"

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Some did. Some shut up about it."

Ryusei sighed.

"I felt guilty. Ended up in a fistfight over it, actually... wasn't his fault, you know? The dozing off, sure, but the rest, that was us..."

[Agasha Yuna]

"Though regret is a sin, recognizing that an act was not the kindest is part of growing up. It's a sign that you have a kind compassionate heart. And that's something I very much like about you."

She was now fishing through her pockets for items from the elements to anchor their meditation. She had so far found a really pretty smooth stone, a stick of incense, and a candle.

She looked it over. "I think the incense could be air, though it is initiated with fire. It becomes part of the air. Fragrant. Rising toward Heaven."

[Shiba Ryusei]

"If nothing else, it can help with something sensei once said... I think as a joke, although he never had much of a sense of humor, so who knows?"

He chuckled.

"'Remember to breathe.' Let's see... candle, incense, stone, I can get some water on hand..."

He motioned for a servant to bring a small clay bottle of water.

[Agasha Yuna]

Everything was ready.

She took a seat in the lotus position, opposite him.

She was close enough that he could hear her breathing. But definitely not touching him. A degree of closeness that any two students might take, facing each other.

"There is a breath prayer I usually think and breathe silently as I begin my meditation. I can say it out loud if you'd like or just begin in silence."

[Shiba Ryusei]

Your voice is music.

"I'd like to hear it. That way I can always recall the first time I did was here and now."

[Agasha Yuna]

She took a deep steadying breath. No words at first. But a chance for them to practice listening to each other's breathing.

"The breath prayer is based on the phrase 'Be still and know the void is all and nothing.' Here..."

She paused and wrote the words out on a piece of parchment. "Think those words as you breathe in. It will take you the time needed to really fill your lungs."

As she breathed in, her hand traced across the words. All the way to the end.

"Breathe out."

"Now, let's do it together."

Breathe in (Her hand traced: Be still and know the void is all and nothing)
Breathe out

She had them breathe in the full phrase several times. Breathe in. Breathe out.

Then she added. "I'm going to fold the paper back as we go so you can see fewer and fewer words. Replace them with deliberate silence. The same length of breath. But the words vanish."

Breathe in (One fold: Be still and know the void is all ... ...)
Breathe out

Again.

Breathe in (A second fold: Be still and know the void ... ... ... ...)
Breathe out

Again.

Breathe in (A third fold: Be still and know ... ... ... ... ... ...)
Breathe out

Again.

Breathe in (A fourth fold: Be still ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...)
Breathe out

Again.

Breathe in (A fifth fold. Only one kanji left: Be ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...)
Breathe out

Again.

Again.

She set the folder paper face down and closed her eyes, still breathing at that slowed pace, and moved into deeper meditation.

And reached the center...

[Shiba Ryusei]

It worked.

Maybe it was because it was Yuna. Maybe it was the prayer. Maybe it was both.

Or maybe he just had a handle on it- Ryusei could meditate without losing himself sometimes.

But he entered his meditative state calmly, easily, and without getting lost in the Void.

He could sense his surroundings fully, was aware that he and Yuna were breathing in sync, He could swear he could feel her heartbeat and his, as one.

The Void was all, the Void was nothing, and they were separate and they were one in the Void.

[Agasha Yuna]

Perhaps an hour later, Yuna opened her eyes.

She had worried that he would look absent. Slack. Unresponsive.

But he looked like himself! Thank Heaven!

She stared at him, glad to see it. Her breath released. Back to a normal pace.

Were his eyes open yet?

[Shiba Ryusei]

Without opening his eyes, he spoke.

"Every time I think I understand just how perfect you are for me, you offer up even more."

He opened his eyes slowly.

"It is going to be a wonderful life."

[Agasha Yuna]

"It is. Because you will be there."

She stared at him, adoringly. She wanted to reach across the distance between them, but it just wasn't done.

"I ... I should head out to my next appointment. Thank you for this. For everything. Seeing your sister's painting, deciding together, meditating together. Thank you."

[Shiba Ryusei]

"And thank you. For..."

For being Agasha, soon-but-not-soon-enough-to-be-Shiba Yuna

"... for clarity. Company."

And love, but we can't say that out loud

"For our future."

[/Scene?]

[Agasha Yuna]

(/scene; thank you so much!!!)