fatealteration | (no subject)

Doppio opened his mouth to exhale a harsh sigh. When he turned, he saw Lisa Lisa, and his whole body seemed to stiffen up. Even if he wasn't facing the window, the way he began to fidget and shuffle made it clear he wasn't prepared to see a beautiful woman appear in front of him so suddenly. She merely smiled at him when their eyes met, which made him fidget even more.

Hitomi blinked. Was Doppio nervous? She looked over to Lisa Lisa and back to him. Well, she supposed it made sense. Most men would find a woman as beautiful as her intimidating. Even so, Hitomi couldn't help but feel a little jealous.

Lisa Lisa said something to him - it was brief but it made his whole body straighten up. He seemed to be back to his usual expressive self in the way he gestured off in some far direction and she nodded. He clasped his hands like he wasn't sure what to do with them and bowed his head (a familiar gesture he had picked up from both Reigen and Hitomi.) She waved that off and nodded towards the direction he was pointing.

At some point the old bartender's sagging eyebrows lifted off his eyes. He reached across the counter to give Doppio a firm but affectionate pat on the back and a little jostle. Doppio reached up and scratched the back of his head, clearly sheepish at whatever was going on. Minutes passed and Lisa Lisa stood and gave Doppio a polite nod as the bar hand sat him down, clearly wanting to make him settle in for a long conversation.

The door creaked open and Lisa Lisa emerged. She seemed to know where Hitomi was even if she was out of sight and she strode around the side of the building - with her long legs it took only a few steps. "Well. I think he'll be alright."

Was she that visible? Hitomi wasn't exactly hiding but she was trying to keep out of sight. And she had moved, too.

"What happened?"

"Whoever your friend was looking for was long gone by the time he made it back. Though...the bartender seemed to recognize your friend once he got a good look at him. He wasn't the only one. I've seen his pictures all over the house I'm staying at. Doppio. And you're Hitomi, correct?" She smiled. "Don't worry, I didn't say you were nearby. As soon as I introduced myself as a guest of his father's, he described you and everyone else."

"Oh, yes." She hadn't introduced herself earlier. She should have. "Then you're Lisa Lisa."

Lisa Lisa nodded once in affirmation, then again towards the street leading back. "I suppose we'll be living together for a little while. I'll walk you back."

Lisa Lisa's heels clacked sharply against the stony path as she walked. The cat's eyes gems glimmered even more brightly now that the moon was directly above head.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're Japanese, aren't you?"

Hitomi nodded as she walked alongside Lisa Lisa. "Yeah, I am."

"I traveled across Asia often as a child. Of course, I haven't been there in awhile." There was a clear wistfulness in her tone. "According to Father Serra, Doppio is the sailing type. Was that how you met?"

Hitomi shook her head. "No, Reigen-san found him and brought him back to our camp."

There was a story there, certainly. But asking further questions about it could wait. Hitomi carried an exhaustion that spoke to a long day and an even longer night.

"You seem quite close."

Hitomi scratched her cheek. "Well, we've been traveling with one another a long time..."

"How long?"

"About 5 months."

"I see." Lisa Lisa looked up at the sky as she pondered that. "It's no small feat you've all managed to make your way here from so far away. It's the kind of feat that demands a strong will but even stronger trust. That kind of trust is rare in a world that's become like this."

"It sounds a little like you might not have had an easy time."

“It makes one count their blessings all the more.” She left it at that. Soon, they had arrived back at the rectory. Father Serra had kept the lights on for her, just as he promised, even though she hadn’t asked. Still, it made Lisa Lisa smile. She opened the door for Hitomi to enter first and she followed in after, carefully peeling off her wide trailing scarf.

In the light of the house, Lisa Lisa saw it - a bruise forming on Hitomi’s wrist. It looked fresh. “That looks painful.”

"Oh." Hitomi lifted her wrist up to get a look at it herself. "I hadn't noticed until now, but it does." She had been so tense that only once she began to relax that she realized that her wrist was tender.

“May I see?” Lisa Lisa held out one upturned hand in offering.

"Sure."

Hitomi raised her arm so she could rest her wrist in Lisa Lisa's palm.

She gently ran her fingers over the fair skin of Hitomi’s wrist. It was clearly a bruise from being grabbed judging by the pattern. No wonder that young man was on the war path. Still, it wasn’t deep. It would heal in no time.

“Follow my breathing.”

An even thrum of energy flowed out from Lisa Lisa’s fingertips and to the cells of Hitomi’s blood vessels. Her skin warmed as they repaired themselves, the bruise fading in seconds.

"Wow." Hitomi's gaze snapped from her wrist up to Lisa Lisa. "So you're a healer."

“I wouldn’t say that.” Lisa Lisa released her hand. “Your body did the work. I simply helped it. Your breathing form is quite healthy. Fitting—you seem to be the athletic type.”

Not much time had passed after she said it than the door was opening again.

“Oh!” Doppio seemed surprised to see them both standing in the foyer. “Hitomi, you’re still up?”

"Yeah. I met Lisa Lisa earlier and we walked home together."