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Description
"There was a time," Kirin said slowly, "when I was filled with great anger. Anger makes you weak to the darkness in the world."

Ariana leaned against his arm. "You're being obscure."

"Those years I spent between leaving Ishimura and joining the Tengu are years that I prefer to stay forgotten. I was not as I am now -- I did things that, while at the time were very necessary, they are things that are best lost to the past." He paused and his eyes grew distant. "I chose to leave the darkness, bishoujo, and follow the way of Buddha to enlightment. This is my life now, here with you, and I have chosen wisely."

There was more there than Kirin was willing to say but Ariana curbed her natural curiosity. She could tell by the contemplative way he was staring out at the garden that he was deeply disturbed. Gently, she wormed her fingers into his hand and simply let him be.

============

Yes, there's eight years that Kirin spent in Tokyo that he absolutely will not talk about. It is true that he did hang around universities and he did visit a lot of temples but he also fell into bad company through a human acquaintance that he knew from Ishimura. Because this particular human had once been a student of his, Kirin felt obliged to help him out with a small matter that led to another and then another until Kirin was trapped in a world he did not belong.

But that... is another story.

Artist's note:
This is a younger Kirin and his hair was redder 30 years ago. By the time Tengu rolls around, his hair has started to fade and get lighter.

Description
"There was a time," Kirin said slowly, "when I was filled with great anger. Anger makes you weak to the darkness in the world."

Ariana leaned against his arm. "You're being obscure."

"Those years I spent between leaving Ishimura and joining the Tengu are years that I prefer to stay forgotten. I was not as I am now -- I did things that, while at the time were very necessary, they are things that are best lost to the past." He paused and his eyes grew distant. "I chose to leave the darkness, bishoujo, and follow the way of Buddha to enlightment. This is my life now, here with you, and I have chosen wisely."

There was more there than Kirin was willing to say but Ariana curbed her natural curiosity. She could tell by the contemplative way he was staring out at the garden that he was deeply disturbed. Gently, she wormed her fingers into his hand and simply let him be.

============

Yes, there's eight years that Kirin spent in Tokyo that he absolutely will not talk about. It is true that he did hang around universities and he did visit a lot of temples but he also fell into bad company through a human acquaintance that he knew from Ishimura. Because this particular human had once been a student of his, Kirin felt obliged to help him out with a small matter that led to another and then another until Kirin was trapped in a world he did not belong.

But that... is another story.

Artist's note:
This is a younger Kirin and his hair was redder 30 years ago. By the time Tengu rolls around, his hair has started to fade and get lighter.