Hitsuzen; Sunday Evening

[wishfulenigma.livejournal.com]

Tonight, Yuuko wasn't planing on going out, but instead decided on a quiet evening. It had been a little busy during the day-- or as busy as they decided to get at the shop, between more organizing and cleaning and flat-out not really wanting to do it.

Yuuko sat patiently and quietly on a sofa in the main room, taking one last puff out of her pipe before burning it out and setting it down.

And then, she waited.

[ ooc: certain thread locked to that certain person; odd hour for ze plotty. but otherwise... feel free to throw yourself at her if you want. ]

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[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

Conner had heard a few things about a shop in town that granted wishes, or something of that sort. After all the things that had been going wrong for him lately -- or if not wrong then at least slightly off-kilter -- he was starting to wonder if going for some kind of reset button might be a bad idea.

More than anything else, it was the thought of what had happened to Kira (http://connernotconnor.livejournal.com/12015.html#cutid4) driving him; he still felt like he could have done more, or he should have been there. Maybe there was a way he could.

So, his mind on that, he headed into town that evening, found his way to Hitsuzen, and knocked on the door.

[wishfulenigma.livejournal.com]

Yuuko grinned once she heard the knocking. "Ah, a visitor."

"A visitor, a visitor!" both Maru and Moro echoed in a sing-song chant. "Should we let them in, mistress?"

"Yes, go right ahead."

"Okay!" They both scurried to the door, opening it quickly, and without spotting who it was first, they greeted energetically in unison, "Welcome to our shop!"

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

Conner was caught off-guard by the enthusiastic greeting, and almost jumped back a step. "Whoa! Hi. And thanks."

He fidgeted, hands in his pockets, unsure if he should actually enter just yet.

[wishfulenigma.livejournal.com]

"Please, come right in!" they continued, stepping aside. "Our mistress will help you with anything you need." Maru and Moro stepped further back, hand gesturing in unison where Yuuko sat-- not that it was hard to spot, but the two little girls felt the need to make things as easy as possible for visitors.

Yuuko sat upright, one leg crossed over the other. "As they said, welcome to my shop."

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

Conner came inside quickly and shut the door behind him -- it was still kind of chilly out there, to his way of thinking.

"Thanks," he said. "You're, uh, you're Yuuko, right? I heard you do business in wishes. Did I hear right?"

[wishfulenigma.livejournal.com]

"You're correct, that would be me," she confirmed. At this point, Maru and Moro knew to scurry back into the next room where they wouldn't be a disturbance. "You've also heard right. You must have something you want, if you're asking."

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

Conner nodded. "It seems like I've been screwing up lately, a lot," he said. "With my friends, with stuff where I should know better. Stuff that I used to know how to do without even thinking about it, and . . . I want that back."

[wishfulenigma.livejournal.com]

"I see," Yuuko nodded. "So, you want how things were, yes? An old lifestyle back?"

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," Conner replied. Back home in Reefside last year, he'd known better than to get himself kidnapped by trolls, and he'd reached such a comfort zone with his friends that he'd always had faith in their friendship even through the rough patches. He'd taken that for granted, but these days, with his friends here in Fandom, he wasn't so sure. "Is that possible?"

[wishfulenigma.livejournal.com]

"Certainly," Yuuko answered. "That is, if you want how you were. I cannot directly affect others around you, but if you want the way yourself alone was then, it can be done. But first, a price must be negotiated. Even wishes aren't for free."

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

Conner nodded firmly. "Nobody on this island is connected to my life from back home, so we're safe there. There was Doctor O, but he's not around right now."

He paused. "What kind of price are we talking about?"

[wishfulenigma.livejournal.com]

"Something that is the equivalent to your wish," she said. "Think of it like a trade. I've had many think I accept money, but that is not the case at all." Yuuko grinned. "Your wish won't be too hard to achieve."

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

Conner fidgeted. "There's . . . something about that part of my life that I've been keeping a secret. I don't think people would bat an eye if I told them, but it was just something we weren't supposed to do. I never really asked why. I don't even think it really matters now; it's mostly just habit for me. Sort of hanging on to the past. If I gave that up, would it work?"

[wishfulenigma.livejournal.com]

"You have something in mind already. Impressive," Yuuko mused. "I'll have to give you credit for that. Most of my customers become clueless when it comes to giving up something for what they want." She nodded. "Certainly. If you are absolutely certain you wish to expose your secret, then your wish is yours."

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

"I've been thinking about it for a while," Conner admitted, thinking he could just start by pulling aside a few of the people he trusted most, see how it went from there. "It's sort of a . . . what is it called? Moot point these days anyway."

[wishfulenigma.livejournal.com]

"Understood." Yuuko made a slight flick of her wrist. "Your secret is gone, and your wish is granted."

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

"That's it?" asked Conner, surprised. "Really?"

[wishfulenigma.livejournal.com]

Yuuko chuckled. "Were you expecting a light show and some sparkles?"

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

"Maybe? I'm sort of used to gratuitous pyrotechnics." Conner smiled self-consciously. "All I know is I want things to be they way they used to be, even for a little while."

[wishfulenigma.livejournal.com]

"Sorry if I disappoint, I don't exactly come from a fairy tale story," Yuuko grinned. "Don't worry, you paid the price for your wish, so you will get it. I wouldn't be in business for as long as I have if I lied to my customers."

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

"I don't feel any different," Conner said hesitantly. "

[wishfulenigma.livejournal.com]

"Oh, don't worry," Yuuko said. "You'll notice it."

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

Conner gulped and nodded. "Okay. Got it." Feeling weird about making a transaction without any money, he dug a hand into his pocket. "Are you sure . . . ?"

[wishfulenigma.livejournal.com]

"There's no reason to have any doubt in your mind," she confirmed. Of course, this was hardly the first time someone had suspicions. "Rest assured you will be getting what I promised to give you."

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

"I wasn't doubting you, honest." Conner extracted a crumpled wad of money from his pocket. "Well, I just meant, you know."

[wishfulenigma.livejournal.com]

"Don't bother with that useless stuff," Yuuko snorted, shaking her head. "It'll get you nowhere."

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

"If you say so." Conner hastily shoved the money back into his pocket. "Well then . . . thanks, I guess?"

[wishfulenigma.livejournal.com]

"It was a pleasure," Yuuko said. "I wish you the best of luck."

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

Conner nodded. "Thanks. And, uh, say good night to those two girls for me?"

[wishfulenigma.livejournal.com]

Yuuko chuckled lightly again. "That I can do. Goodnight to you, as well."

[connernotconnor.livejournal.com]

Still a tiny but dubious but feeling better already, Conner gave her one last smile before he slipped out the door.