After his meeting with Vidarr in the oaks, Akito figured it was time to travel north to visit Heidinn. It had been awhile since he had seen his brother, Erik, and his other... friends? Not that he would really call Delphi or Unagi his friend, but Maki he could, right? Even though their first interaction hadn't been the best (that was his fault, okay), he had tried to make up for it during the ball. Since then, she had crossed his mind a few times as if she were stuck like a sticker on a car window. Tying up his quick detour with a Raider, Akito made his way as quickly as he could to the Stone Steppe. Bamboo still strung over his back with a bucket on each side somewhat still full after trading with Jael. The supplies he brought would surely please Tenshi and hopefully others. Fragrant scents of herbs and spices filled his nostrils to the point of burning. Thankful to see the crumbling stones of the steppe ahead of him, he crosses the border and sets down his offering. Slumping against a rock, Akito catches his breath. Sides heaving, muscles aching, he closes his eyes a moment. Dang, carrying those buckets had been heavier than he'd expected.

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Something was wrong, no one had said as much but Maki felt it. Dad had run off and he seemed worried-he hadn't even tried to smile like Maki imagined he would. Just that look of panic in his eyes, sharp and cutting like his claws. Maki couldn't even think about her stories as she sat upon the Steppe, mismatched brows furrowed in obvious worry. She couldn't really think of much at all, which was obviously so out of character in and of itself. Her head wasn't in the clouds, it felt her head wasn't even anywhere.

It was only when she saw the dark shape of Akito wandering by, purpose in his steps did it snap her out of the fog that had enveloped her. Made her blink slowly, seemingly a little out of it.

"Huh? Akito." Why was he here? Was he even allowed to be here? Those questions didn't have answers, felt like she was reaching out for information that faded into smoke just before she grabbed it. She then noticed the load he was carrying, bamboo and spices, the exact types she didn't know the name of. It looked heavy, she would have been impressed by his strength if she'd had the mind to notice just how far he'd travelled. "What's all that?"

He hears her paws approaching and inhales her scent before she's even close. The mountain's summer wind is both dry and warm, a mixture that he's not quite used to. Still slumped against the rock, he peeks one eye open to watch the confused but also slightly distressed looking Maki walk over to him. Akito would be lying if he said his heart didn't pick up its pace ever so slightly at seeing her. She had not been the one he was expecting to see when first arriving at Heidinn. Not that he cared for appearances, but he did. A tingle of worry crossed his mind. Was his fur at least decent? His breath still too ragged? He was sure he didn't look all that great considering the splayed position he had sat himself down in. Well, there was no time to fix it. So instead, he kept his eyes closed until she was standing right in front of him. Thankful that she asks a question about his goods first, he looks down at the buckets he's brought. "They are from my father's homeland," Akito starts off, keeping his attention on the buckets instead of looking up at her. Scooting one of the buckets closer to him, he begins to pull a few out so he can show her. First, he pulls out a leafy green plant that closely resembles mint, but it has a different aromatic smell to it. "This is called Shiso. It is supposed to help prevent food poisoning and is an anti-inflammatory," he hands it in her direction in case she wants a closer look before grabbing out another item. The next is similar to the first, but red in color. "My father says they use this to dye pickled plums, not sure why they would, but I don't question my ancestors," for once, he lets out a little chuckle. He really thought he was funny, didn't he? "They also make gin with it or sauce, supposed to be flavorful," his shoulders shrug as he hands that one to her as well. "Do you want to see what else I brought?" Akito suddenly looks up at Maki, realizing all of a sudden that maybe she found this boring. The only one who he thought would care was Tenshi anyway.

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For once Maki sat quietly and listened, her miss matched gaze flitting between the items in question. There was just so much she didn't know, and though it would have helped flesh out the worlds in her stories, made them seem more grounded and realistic, she just-fiction seemed kinder. Easier to cope. She didn't need medicine or healers in her stories, because even if someone got hurt real bad, coughed up blood for dramatic effect, they were always okay in the end. But what if things didn't work out quite so neatly? She was naive, and her head was constantly stuck in the clouds, but she wasn't stupid. Trying to ignore that something was clearly wrong was maybe childish, but understandable.

Akito always seemed so calm, always had a sense of togetherness. Like a cool protagonist, she'd always emulate but forever fall short of.

She made a thoughtful noise in her throat, Oki had told her a lot about her Grandfathers homeland, but since he'd never been there himself his stories were always...not very grounded. And she'd loved that, the fantasy element to them, so mysterious and out there- but the way Akito spoke about the things he was transporting made it feel so much more real. Unsurprising really.

Keep talking, don't think so much. Don't worry. Easier said than done, certainly for her when her mind was always ticking away at something. Needling away like busy bees.

"Yeah, course. What's Tojo like? Dad don't really talk about Hattori much at all, said he was a real hard ass."

From Akito's experience, Maki was typically bubbly, air headed, in the clouds, wispy, ethereal, all things imaginative. He would have banked on her being in a good mood no matter what day of the year he would find her. But as he waits, listening to her answer, there's something about her that seems... off. She's not fidgeting, not talking, just... there. Existing. Unusual of the Maki he's met a few times previously. His eyes narrow slightly, assessing her for a moment as the silence settles around them. Does... he make a bold move? Potentially upset her? Or does he let it be for now and answer her question? His muzzle scrunches for a moment, hemming and hawing over the decision before he settles on ignoring the feeling that she's not okay.

Settling back, putting the materials he's brought with back in the buckets, he looks up to the sky. Taking another few moments of silence, Akito finally nods. Her dad wasn't wrong. Hattori was a hard ass from time to time, but that was just who he was, all he'd ever known. Considering his own father was never around. The guy could be dead for all he knew. "Tojo-kai is quiet. Not much going on," he wasn't going to mention the recent attack, that was much too sore of a topic even for himself. "We have the bay and the oaks, they have a lovely look about them in the fall," Akito pauses, eyes drawing back down to Maki. "Your dad isn't wrong, I'm sure you know that. Hattori can be difficult, but it's just his way," he shrugs his shoulders, eyes then casting downward to his paws. Was this a sign that he shouldn't mold his own self totally after the man?

"What about you? Do you enjoy Heidinn? What's it like here?" He questions, but doesn't press. If she doesn't want to answer, she doesn't have to. Really, if she didn't actually want company, he wouldn't keep bothering her. Or if she did, maybe she could accompany him to the store rooms to put away the supplies he'd brought.

"speech"

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Maki could imagine it, stoic and aloof, every bit as Kingly as the monarchs in her stories. She didn't think he'd like her much in reality though, her overly laid back nature tended to rub the serious folk the wrong way- even if she didn't intend to or even notice, for the most part. It sounded nice there, but honestly she was always quickly swayed by the idea of something different. A far off idea compared to what she had, the peaceful reality she knew and for the most part loved.

"Hm? Me?" She blinked at that, not entirely sure why the turn of question surprised her. Just felt so out of sorts that conversations that would have usually flowed felt...stilted on her end. The words and ideas not coming fast enough, the worst type of writer's block."It's home. We like to raid a lot, but in the mountains its cold and quiet. Like no one else exists but you and the clouds and snow."