Backdated to Wednesday, November 1st Who: Tsurugi and Takahashi What: Talking about classwork Where: Takahashi's office When: Nov. 1st/09 at around 7pm Rating: PG Status: Complete
Takahashi was in his office, stacks of folders in front of him all neatly labelled. There was one for each student in his focus class as Professor Jamenson had meticulously kept notes on all of them and in a way, he supposed that it was a good thing that he hadn't been given normal classes to teach. The strain of regular classes on top of trying to play catch up on nearly three months of school would probably have been far too much. His door was open as it normally was, not wanting to chase away any students or to get so deep into his reading that he didn't hear the knock. Currently, he was looking at the file of the boy whom he had asked to come see him immediately.
Kudou, Tsurugi. Japanese. He had powers that were akin to Takahashi's, yet reversed. Where the other boy showed promise, he was weak and where he had always been strongest, the student was weaker. No matter. Calmly, patiently, Takahashi continued to go through the folder, making notes as he did so and waited for his seemingly reluctant student to appear.
There was something about open doors that seemed more intimidating than those which were closed. Both presented identical choices: to walk in, or walk away. It was only the open doors that blatantly hinted at voiceless invitation, and it was this that made Tsurugi wary as he approached the office. From what he'd gathered of Takahashi, the professor was a sharp man. That, or he was the pesky sort that made a hobby out of keeping a too-close eye on his students. Your progress in class, the text had read. Professor Jamenson had never wanted a word with him about his progress, only assuring him that it would all come in good time as long as he paid attention to the lessons and diligently practiced the techniques he'd been taught. And diligently practiced he hadn't, not that anyone had managed to figure that out. Yet, or so it might have seemed, had Professor Takahashi not arranged this meeting. A couple more quick steps and he was at the open door, hovering at the doorway as he raised his hand to knock anyway.
Takahashi heard him coming and raised his head, eyes focusing on the student at the door. "Come in, Kudou-kun," he murmured inside the other's mind, gesturing with one hand toward one of the empty chairs in front of his desk. "Thank you for coming to see me," the second sentence was spoken aloud, his eyes gentle and serene as he assumed the void, assumed the ageless persona that he so often carried with him. While he was waiting for his student to respond, he closed the folder, setting it to one side and looking down at his notes instead for a moment before his gaze returned to the younger man.
The casual use of telepathy was unnerving, though Tsurugi had to admit that there was something rather intriguing about it. It contrasted sharply to what he himself was capable of, mostly sending wild, uncalculated blasts of thought while crossing his fingers and hoping that they met their target. A nod was given in response to Takahashi's welcome, and Tsurugi made his way towards the chairs, picking one without much hesitation and taking a seat, expression sullen. He was slouched in the chair, long legs stretched out lazily as he interlaced his fingers and let them rest in his lap. "So... why am I here?" Despite the uncomfortable situation, it was always a nice change to be able to speak in Japanese, and Tsurugi relished in making the most of such opportunities.
"You're behind the other second years in your focus courses," Takahashi's voice was mild as he said what he considered to be a mere statement of fact. "It is interfering with your progression with your powers. Mutants with mental powers always need greater amounts of concentration that those without them." Glancing down at his notes again, Takahashi paused before considering. "In fact, in some areas you're in danger of falling behind the first years and while Professor Jamenson was willing to let you go at your own pace, I would rather try to bring you up to the level which you're supposed to be at, Kudou-kun."
At that, Tsurugi sighed his posture growing more relaxed as he allowed his hands to fall to his sides, letting them dangle over the edge of the chair. "Levels." A small, almost sardonic laugh escaped him. "You speak as though it's a level playing field where all this is concerned. I know my limits. Everyone has limits, and how could you be more familiar than I am with my own?"
"These are basic levels," Takahashi's voice remained mild as he smiled at the younger man. "Professor Jamenson never specified in her notes where your levels were and I have yet to see any boundary that we have touched in class that would be insurmountable for you. From the way your progress seems to be going, I have to ask... Do you practice what is taught in focus classes outside of class, Kudou-kun?"
Almost immediately, a second smile crossed the student's face, this one a touch warmer than the first though the motivation seemed to be internal, rather than a response to Takahashi's own smile. "What sort of delinquent student do you think I am, Takahashi-sensei? Of course I've been practicing. I can't bake cheesecakes without the use of my hands, but I can lift things."
"I was talking specifically about your progress in focus and meditation," Takahashi nodded switching over to English when Tsurugi did and, making a small note in his book without looking down at what he was writing. "Have you been practicing what Professor Jameson has taught outside of the classroom?" An interesting student to be sure, one whom he wasn't sure where he stood with, but it was of no matter. Whether he wanted to or not, Takahashi would make sure that the younger man was proficient enough in both focus and his powers to be able to take care of himself once in the outside world.
Caught. Not that Tsurugi had expected to get away easily. In fact, he hadn't had a single expectation in the first place. Nevertheless, he was not phased, neither was he uncertain of his reply when the question was repeated to him, and no longer in his native language too. He sensed that Takahashi might be out to unsettle him and assert his authority. "I practice when I can." Spoken, his English was accented, strangely stilted. What he lacked in proficiency was made up for in confidence. "It is an invisible technique, is it not? Not like powers, which may only be practiced where they are allowed."
"It is indeed an invisible technique," Takahashi smiled, moving around his desk to lean against the side of it that was closest to Tsurugi. "I am able to tell though when it is being practiced and when it is not." It was a lie, or rather a half one, but his student didn't need to know that. "Perhaps you could demonstrate to me your technique, Kudou-kun?"
Tsurugi smiled back at the professor, boyish, almost cheeky, and not at all believing those words. "You can tell? For real? If I were to sit up straight, close my eyes, and look like the calmest person in the world, what would you be able to see?" Despite that, he did sit up a little straighter, resting his hands in his lap once again as he assumed a more serious demeanour.
"I can," Takahashi nodded and there was one way that he could, although he wouldn't have chosen this method normally. Reaching out, Takahashi reached into his calm, the ageless void and began just the basic of a link, smiling as he did so. "Please be calm," he murmured and then reached out to touch the other's temples lightly with his hands. "Now, Kudou-kun, please show me what you know."
Lesson one: Never underestimate your teachers. Tsurugi had not expected the professor to be as casual with physical touch as he'd been with the use of his powers, and it was worrying to not know the extent of what the additional contact did and what additional information Takahashi would be able to obtain from it. Lack of calm -- that was obvious enough from the slightly twitching fingers. Ironically, meditation would do little to alleviate that. Stripping each layer of thought away one at a time, until all that remained was nothingness. Brushing off the most superficial of thoughts was easy, and Tsurugi did so as he closed his eyes, trying to ignore the weight that was pressing down on his mind as he made his slow and reluctant attempt to empty it. Unsurprisingly, there was resistance. That barrier that came with flashes of warning. Lightning. The sweet, sticky scent of blood. He embraced the rejection, relieved as thrashed for the surface once more, forcing his eyes open as his lungs drew in a harsh, sudden breath, seemingly of their own accord.
"I can't." He braced his feet against the floor, pushing himself away from Takahashi. A corner of his lips quirked upwards uncertainly. He wasn't sure of what his professor had learned about him.
There were things to know, things to file away and Takahashi did so, closing his eyes to reassert himself for a moment. So the boy was blocked and blocked so strongly that even a light brush against his consciousness caused resistance and panic. Opening his eyes again, he was calm as he looked down at his student. A block was a serious thing and usually a detrimental one, but still, there were ways to work around it if one knew how. "We won't be doing that again, Kudou-kun," he said softly, moving over to behind his desk to grab a bottle of water before handing it to his student. "There is a block there and with that block in place, I can understand how it would be hard for you to do the meditation exercises required of you."
There was a pause, a long one as he considered it. "If I were to teach you a way to find your focus without having to go through the normal channels, would you want that? There is more than one way to do this and I'm sure I can find a way that you won't find so..." Takahashi paused, searching for the right word. "Distressing."
Tsurugi frowned, taking the bottle of water while trying to look grateful. The result was an expression which only made him look more apprehensive than ever. "More than one way?" No one had mentioned alternatives, and he had been content with the belief that there were none. However, Takahashi had managed to rouse his interest with his unassuming and calm manner. Certainly, it was still suspicious, but if the block had already been discovered and there were methods to bypass what lay under it... He didn't have anything to lose, or did he? Passing the bottle from one hand to the other without opening it, he looked up at the teacher and saw the sincerity of his offer.
"There's always more than one way," Takahashi smiled, wanting to help, but not wanting to push too hard. He could see that the younger man had been agitated by the entire experience and a light brush should have done that. "It will be harder and it will take more work, but it will allow you to keep up with your class mates and may help you to gain greater control over your powers." It was strange for him to be in Freedem. If he were back in Japan, he would have already stepped over the line, but here, he thought he might be able to get away with pushing more in order to help students. At least he hoped he would be able to. Not letting any of his hesitation show on his face, Takahashi nodded. "You will have to have remedial sessions however, Kudou-kun. You are already far behind of where you should be and we would be starting from the beginning."
"You'd be wasting your time, unless the wasting of time is how you pass it." The words were impolite, but the tone neutral. Tsurugi smiled, albeit briefly. Professor Takahashi would soon realize that he had a lost cause on his hands. There were people in his classes who were constantly pushing their limits, hungry to maximize their potential and seize hold of all ways and means in order to further their abilities. Tsurugi had always been content with the amount of focus he could muster, cursory and yet sustainable enough to perform simple tricks that gave the illusion of progress. He'd never truly had the desire to gain more control, glad enough that he wasn't losing what little he had over his powers. Most of the time, at least.
"I highly doubt that," Takahashi replied, his tone soft, but brooking no argument. "I will see you twice a week outside of class, Kudou-kun and we will do remedial sessions to catch you up with the rest of the class. If that doesn't work, I will see you three times a week." There was something hard about the way he was speaking, although he was still serene. There was no argument in his mind, he was determined and sure of the course that they would have to take. "While there are limits to what people can do, no one should be blocked in the beginning levels of focus classes. You need to learn more control or you could hurt yourself or others. I have agreed to work around your block, I will not push that until it becomes necessary, but until the time when you have enough control to continue with the focus lessons without my help, you will be coming to see me." Takahashi paused, closing his eyes for a brief moment before he opened them again. He didn't like forcing people into anything and if he had been in a normal university and a student had been behind, he would have let it slide. But this wasn't a normal university and the classes that were taught here were more important than the classes that were taught elsewhere.
When his eyes opened once more, the expression within them gentler than before. "I do not believe that working with you will be a waste of time, Kudou-kun. I understand that Professor Jamenson had different methods, but I would like to see at least some progress with you. We will work around your block, but having a block is no reason to give up and say that you cannot do things."
Tsurugi looked away from the professor, eyes darting around the room, examining it with the interest and attention he was unwilling to commit to the words that he'd just heard. It was doubtful that Takahashi had intended it that way, but Tsurugi felt as though he had been spoken to like one would with a child. He laughed to himself inwardly, shoulders jerking once though his face remained expressionless. That man would have made a good elementary school teacher. Hell, he'd make a good parent. The ability to disguise instruction with such subtlety and patience was a skill that was not easy to acquire, and yet it was one that came to certain people so naturally that it seemed to be a fundamental part of their nature. "You remind me of someone." The words were accompanied by a small huff of laughter. "I'll come for your lessons, if only for that reason. He'll want to know that I haven't forgotten what he said." The final sentence was vague, Tsurugi's voice growing softer till it became a mere whisper under his breath. He wouldn't leave an opening to be questioned about that, though. Grinning, he set the unopened bottle of water down on the desk in front of him. "Twice a week, you said? I'll be here." And you'll see. There are some things better left untouched. I will not push that until it becomes necessary, Takahashi had said. In good time, the professor would find out that Tsurugi would not let him.
Takahashi didn't know what Tsurugi meant when he said that he reminded him of someone else, but if it would get the younger man to come for his lessons, he could only be grateful for it. "Twice a week," he nodded agreeably, knowing that he had touched something important, but not knowing what it was. "When would be good for you, Kudou-kun?" Takahashi didn't know why he suddenly felt so tired nor why he felt like he had been running uphill the entire time. The calm never wavered however, neither did his smile. "My schedule for this term is quite open."
"So you do have plenty of time to waste." Tsurugi laughs -- snickers, covering his mouth with a hand. "Wednesdays and Fridays," he says more seriously, leaning forwards in his chair, preparing to get to his feet once more, guessing that this session would soon be coming to an end. "I'm free Wednesday and Friday afternoons. Mondays are strictly for studying." He added as an afterthought.
"Four o'clock, then," Takahashi nodded, ignoring the snicker and the comment that the younger man had made as he reached for his notes once more, jotting something down leisurely. "I will see you then, Kudou-kun," he murmured.