#chronoalogical

   They respond with a small, bashful smile. He motions with his arm up to the foliage, nodding, continuing.

   “Each tree represents a galaxy in our universe. Each branch, a star system. The buds, and even sometimes leaves–their planets.”

   He looks back to them, smiling himself.

   “Every planet is but a bud with the potential to bloom. However–” He points a finger with a small but firm wag, accentuating his point. “Not every bud will bloom. Some may even...” As if on cue, a small, meek pop can be heard--the sound of a browned, curling leaf falling from its branch and drifting powerlessly to the ground. Urumisu makes a small, somber sigh, holding their hands together at their chin. Next to them, Supreme Kai Kuru--Master Kuru--extends his arm and lets it slip into his palm with a pensive gaze. 

   After a brief silence, he continues, turning his eyes back to them, “It is simply our duty to ensure–to the best of our ability–that they thrive, for as long as possible.”

   Urumisu takes a slow but deliberate breath, as if caught up and mystified by the thought–their hands curl together in front of their chest, and they return a nod.

   Kuru offers his hand out to them now, providing a closer look of the wilted leaf--the edged are frayed, and the pigment is long gone. One of Urumisu’s own hands gingerly reaches toward it, fearful it will crumble under their touch--but Kuru takes it in the free of his two, and moves it more deliberately to the withered plant.

   “Sometimes,” He begins, gently, firmly pressing their hands together, the leaf between them. “However, it is not--Good-bye.”

   As he speaks, the foliage grows warm--Urumisu’s eyes flick down to their hands, uncertain of what to expect. Kuru pulls away. The leaf is bright green, once again. Urumisu gasps--looks up in surprise at Kuru, who seems content, and nods with a small smile.

   “Planets are born, grown, destroyed--As is the life on them. But sometimes, though life comes to an end--the planet itself need not suffer the same fate..

   “Of course,” He continues, a dash of worry trailing along the back of his throat--his eyes flick past Urumisu’s head, and they toss a glance over their shoulder, following his gaze. There, they catch a branch of leaves with--holes and rot chewing away at their edges. Urumisu blinks, free hand pressing knuckles to their lips. Kuru releases their other hand with a sigh, “We... Can not save every planet. Such is balance.” 

   The taller Shin-jin pauses, turns around, melancholy lining their mind. Still, though, they nod.

   “I--I see, sir.”

   “Good.” He states plainly, but his sincerity is evident. He takes their hands again, both this time in his own, and his eyes fall on their palms. The leaf, still in one hand, he nods to.

   “Now; See if you can replace it.”

   “--M--Me?” They blink in surprise, almost dumbly at the thought--and immediately swell in excitement, doubt, apprehension, the mohawk laid to its side on their head fluttering ever so delicately upward for a moment--and they quickly take a breath, nodding--and Kuru chuckles, smiling. Soon, though, does he furrow his brows, speaking firmly.

   “Focus your mind, and replace this leaf where it came from. Do you remember?”

   They frown themself, but in thought--looking upward, it takes just a moment, and they point.

   “Like--There, right?”

    Kuru smiles again. “Yes. Exactly.”

   Urumisu smiles themself, and nod, tilting their head back down to close their eyes and do as their told--focusing, pulling the leaf gently, slowly, deliberately into the air with just a small, but dedicated, thought. 

   “When you become Supreme Kai, you will aid me in monitoring the North of the Universe. You will need to know Every bloom, of Every branch, of Every tree.”

   They inhale slowly, giving one nod.

   “Are you ready for that?”

   Kuru watches carefully as the leaf itself twirls gingerly higher, and begins to sway more confidently. Soon, it flutters around its original branch, and lightly settles back into its place.. He makes a satisfied hum.

   “Exuberant work, Urumisu.”

   They finally open their eyes, casting their gaze up with a big smile--! Hopping excitedly, they swing Kuru’s arms back and forth with a happy giggle, much to his surprise!

   “Thank you, Master Kuru, darling! Thank you, Thank you! I totally couldn’t’ve done that without your help, you know?!”

   He--stutters, laughing more now out of that surprise, and clears his throat as his arms are swung--

   “W--Well, I am simply a teacher, after all--You--Could certainly always achieve this power on youuu--rumisu!”

   He finds himself quickly spun around by the very excited, young Kai--then pulled into a hug, and sighs in a playful exasperation as long, lanky arms are around his shoulders and a happy hum reaches his ears. He surrenders, patting their back with a chuckle, and states simply;

   “Tomorrow--I will show you how to plant a new tree.”