[she shifts so her legs are to one side, more comfortable than seiza, and looks at the smoke curling up from the incense. the shopkeeper had prepared this after she had described her companion, and she wonders if it helps him at all. they had a knack for this.]

You're going to have to leave him alone for a while, Nishitani. Not forever, but long enough for him to calm down. He's not even letting me talk to him, and I seem to have a way with getting him to listen to reason most of the time. The best cure right now is giving him space, even if you long to fix it, to free him - you coming in will only give him what he sees as another roadblock. So, step back, and let this go through. Let him find his center again, and look at the world with a clear head, when he isn't lashing out at whatever is near.

It's not you. It's the entire world, right now, and he needs to be upset at it. I couldn't tell you why, but even if I knew, that's not my business to share. What matters is that we let him. If we don't, if we interfere, keep pushing, that anger will include us, and sink in like a scar.

[she shakes her head a little.]

I know you care about him. It's why I'm going to tell you that whatever passion this ignites in you, move it somewhere else. Work on the Celestial, follow your hobbies, find some new faces in the Lost Souls to spend time with. Turn your mind elsewhere, so you don't wear yourself into resentment over this and poison the well. [she shrugs.] It's what I've been doing. The clinic, a few new lessons, talking to friends...I know he'll come back, when he's ready.