Welcome to Gaia! ::

Nathaniel proffered a sweet smile. He had been correct. The statue was indeed most important to the male and he would not see it harmed. He was seated in the carriage without incident and Nathaniel was satisfied he was safe for now. He seated himself in the carriage and he made sure he positioned himself so he could keep one hand on the statue. He was silent for the long carriage drive back to him small country estate. His house was inspired by Grecian architecture. There were the most beautiful statues everywhere as well as urns and moldings and carvings. It was more like a museum than a home. The gardens were filled with roses and more statues. There were vases of roses everywhere in the house. They pulled up outside and the carriage driver opened the door. Two servants hurried over and they unloaded the statue. "Be very careful indeed with that, it is a rare and priceless piece. Unique. Take it into the great hall. One of you remain beside it for now until I tell you where to place it. Seito, follow me. Don't worry, you will not be far from your beloved statue. Come." He followed the servants into the great hall. As instructed, one man remained standing beside it though he could not think for one moment why this was necessary. "You may stand by your statue for now, Seito. I just wish to show you something. A little...demonstration." He turned to the second servant. "Fetch me one of the broken statues from the garden. Stand it over there, in that corner." The man was puzzled but he didn't question his master. He went to the garden and returned lugging a heavy statue which had lost one arm and placed it in the corner of the room. "Good. Now, run to me and kiss me, kiss me on the cheek." The servant hesitated. He was more than puzzled now. He shrugged and did as instructed. He ran to Nathaniel. Before he could get close, Nathaniel immediately threw up both arms; he waved one hand in the direction of the servant, sending an icy blast that sent him hurtling across the room, he slammed into the wall and fell unconscious. His other hand had sent a bolt of lightening at the broken statue, which was struck and shattered. He turned to the servant standing by Seito's statue. "See to Carl" he told him and the man hurried to tend to his friend. Nathaniel proffered Seito another sweet smile. "So, are you hungry? I am. You will join me in the dining room for luncheon. Bring your stony lover with us."

"I am so glad that we understand one another," Nathaniel replied. He started to walk across the great hall toward the dining room, beckoning for Seito to follow. "I know he is not a mere statue, did I not just call him your lover? To eat or not is your choice but you will come and sit with me. I want your company at the table. We will talk. I know that you are not any mere human. I am sure that by now you must know that neither am I. Do you know what I am?" He walked into the dining hall, glancing back to make sure than Seito was following. He took his seat at the head of the table. "It's glazed grilled salmon with duchess potatoes. If you change your mind about eating just tell the waiter."

Nathaniel gestured for Seito to sit down on his right hand side. He instructed the waiter to bring two meals, Seito could eat it or leave it as he wished. The waiter also poured them both a glass of red wine. Nathaniel raised his glass to his slave companion before taking a sip. "You're quick. Yes, I'm a Kitsune. I took human form by choice when I was one hundred" he confirmed. "Of course I thought your late beloved was just a statue at first. I had actually got to the auction to by a replacement for the broken one. It was an afterthought to purchase a slave as well. When I saw your little spectacle, of course I knew." He paused as the meal was served. He took a mouthful of salmon and savoured it before continuing. "I can hazard a guess. Tell me how close I am to the truth. You angered one of the gods. I can imagine with your looks one had taken you as a lover and you irritated him or her somehow. You were cursed with the Medusa touch as a punishment. You didn't know that until you kissed your lover and...Ah! I was slow there. Of course. If this is your lover then that is how you angered one to them. Either you were the god's lover and you betrayed him with Stony there or the god merely wanted you but you wanted Stony. Either way, nasty fate. How did I do?"

The meal was served and Nathaniel ate a little of his salmon before answering, pondering on how much to tell the other. "I live with humans because they are fun. They are so easily manipulated. They treat me as a god once they know my powers, realise what I am. Amongst my own people I am no one particularly special - a diamond in a sea of diamonds is not rare or valuable. But here, now here I am someone powerful and revered! I can fly, become invisible, create fire and ice, take fox form... but so can all of my people. Here I am treated as a wonderful miracle. So yes, I choose to live amongst humans" he explained to him. "Perhaps that makes me a little shallow or narcissistic, I don't know, but it gives me a very good life. As for my home, it reminds me of my childhood. I used to play in ancient temples, when they were not so ancient, I used to be petted by the goddesses before they faded away to I know not where. It makes me feel...I don't know, young again perhaps, to be around such architecture and art. And I am hoping to find something. I may tell you what one day. Yes, your Kenshi was very beautiful but not beautiful enough to risk the anger of the gods. I will not say you deserved what happened to you but I will say that you brought it upon yourself, you should have remained faithful until you were no longer desired. To protect yourself and your loved one. The gods can be so capricious!" He sipped his drink, raked a hand through his dark hair. "But, hindsight can drive a man to madness. We do what we do. No one can be blamed for love. Now, when the meal is finished I will show you to your quarters. They are adjacent to my own, there's an interconnecting door. I promise you will be well cared for here."