Aku smiled to himself as he listened to her speak, though his eyes were fixed presently to the little totem he held in his hand— which he now turned there and about in the warm yellow light afforded by the wall sconces beside her bed. He admired her brave, yet imperfect attempts at carving the beast’s teeth and fur, though he still thought it could use a bit of work. Perhaps, he thought idly, he might ask her to carve one of himself someday…
“Hm…” He hummed aloud. “Does my presence fill the citadel so?” He asked lowly, casting her a warm sidelong glance as he gently passed back the little bear. “I regret that I had to be gone for so long, but certain things elsewhere needed my.. attention. You see, I quit the citadel because I had to find… something I’d been missing…”
He looked down at his hands again, and it takes him a moment to gather his thoughts before he speaks again. “Do you recall that man I was seeing? ..Rick? I… er… accidentally admitted to feeling a certain way for him just before I left, and… well… I didn’t think he…”
He tries bravely to finish the sentence, but just can’t bring himself to speak the words aloud.
He cleared his throat and tried again. “Anyway… I allowed him time to think about whether or not he wanted to continue seeing me after my admission, and during that time apart I… concerned myself with finding something for the both of you. The mortals that I’d care to keep in my life.”
He turned to her then, and brought forward his fist which held something just out of sight. He dropped a small vial of clear liquid into her hand.
“That’s for you. Waters, from the Fountain of Youth…”
She takes the carving in her hands once more, fingertips running over the sharp points and rugged sides. Silently, she listens, eyes turning to see him struggling. Though she may not be versed in relationships, she understands the complexity of being close to another person. Confusing, even for someone like Aku. Must be worse to have "human” feelings when you’re God-like.
In the past months, she’s taken a liking to Rick. He’s an interesting man, really unlike anyone she’s met before, and that’s her favorite part. He always has something new to showcase, something that she could never imagine. Plus, she has to admit, Rick suits her father. It’s as simple as that.
The vial falls into her open palm and she cradles it in gentle hands. Pure water glistens inside the fragile glass. The Fountain of Youth... She’s heard the name, and if it’s title is literal, she knows what it does. To be forever young... That’s something she never saw in her future.
“Really?” is the first word out of her mouth, “You’d want to keep me around forever?”
It has the one of a joke, but the question is genuine. Yes, her father loves her, it’s a fact, but millions of years could pass and her mother would still cling to her mind. Not that Ashi wasn’t wanted, per se, but not wanted as a child. Wanted as something disposable.
She closes her palm around the vial. “I think... I’d like that, dad.”
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