Ever since the introduction of the sea-acquired ointment at the shop, everything seemed to move in double time. New elixirs had to be made to replace the ones that were bought, but to also fulfill special requests, the consumers eager to get their hands on any fix for their slight ailment. Eien couldn't keep track of how many wrinkling moisturizer, or antacids he had made, a feat considering Sasori's reluctance of giving him free reign over alchemy in the workroom.

But with the new guest in the bathroom, Eien doubted that Sasori would have time to brew as many elixirs as before, so the burden fell, nearly reluctantly, to him once more, as well as managing the rest of the shop. Eien should have been ecstatic at the new opportunity, but it was bitter, feeling undeserved for once.

Before officially opening up the shop, he brewed the complimentary tea for customers to sample while they browsed the store. They didn't have a very large selection of brews but it was something that Sasori was trying while they had the large influx of customers. So far, many of them enjoyed the refreshments.

Not soon after had he flicked on the morning light crystals perched outside the shop doors, signifying that they were open, did the first costumer appear. The middle-aged man browsed for a moment, staring at the shelves with such intensity that Eien wondered if he was constipated, until the man stepped forward, expression still guarded.

"Does your shop sell something to… help with balding."

A quick unimpressed glance at the man's receding hairline gave Eien all the information he needed. "Yes, we have an oil for––" A crash from the bathroom stole Eien's words away as he tried to comprehend what he heard.

Was something thrown? The man also looked over Eien's shoulder to determine the source of the noise, brows drawn down even further.

"We have an oil for that," Eien finished quickly, moving around the counter to head to the appropriately labeled shelf for the cosmetic. He snagged a cylindrical vial, roughly two inches tall, and took it back to the counter. "Put a few drops of this onto a rag and apply it to the problem area after you bathe, preferably at night. Do not let the oil touch your hands or fingers. It should take about a week to see some results, but a month for the full result to manifest itself," Eien said, trying to keep his tone light but brisk.

The man's lips pursed but he nodded and asked for the price, his mind made up no matter the price. Eien gladly took his money.

Once the man left, Eien nearly bolted to the bathroom, wanting to know what the blazes was going on, and if Sasori needed help, but stopped himself mid-step. With Sasori's temperament as of late, Eien doubted that his godfather would appreciate him barging into the bathroom, especially if the situation was already delicate to begin with. Who knew what else that sea creature would do if he was outnumbered.

It's not like he can drown us if we're not near the tub. He's probably harmless outside of that––

Another crash interrupted Eien's line of thought, and his stomach began to twinge nervously. Sasori could handle it easily, he reminded himself, and if not, there was always that new drug he made. Eien remembered taking a dose of it and being out of it, sleeping for an entire day. Sasori had not been too happy with the results as he was left to manage the shop alone, but he made note of the dosage to use later.

He just has to give that thing––

Once more, Eien couldn't finish his thought as another customer walked in, and he turned around with a huff, wondering who else needed another cure-all. As he saw who it was, he froze, all of his downey hairs standing on end.

In the shops entrance stood a woman in her late sixties with frizzy gray hair pulled up into a bun, her hunched back mostly hidden by her large cloak, which did nothing to hide her imposing aura. Behind her was one of the towns authorities, a tall man with short cropped brown hair that somehow seemed dwarfed by the woman's presence.

Eien still hadn't moved from his spot as the old woman's sagacious eyes took in the clean and well-organized glass shelves. The wrinkles around her eyes became more prominent when they landed on the last jar of burn ointment on the shelf with a sign reading, "Temporarily out of stock," in Sasori's neat handwriting.

"Was this where you heard it, Madame Raissa?" the man asked, but Raissa began her steady walk to Eien who finally snapped out of his stupor to great the old woman.

The witch, he thought unsteadily.

"Hello," Eien began, managing to keep the stammer from his voice. "Is there some––"

"Where is your master, boy?" Raissa said, her tone smooth though demanding authority.

Eien near flubbed over his words. "My... master? He's– well, he's working in his... office. The shop has been very busy––"

"I did not ask how business was going, I asked you where your master was, " the woman interrupted, and although Eien was half a head taller, he felt diminutive in front of her. The confidence spewing from her made Eien was to shrivel away but he held his ground.

"My master is currently indisposed of in his office. If you need help filling out an order or finding an item I can––"

"That will not be necessary," Raissa said, holding up her slightly wrinkled, but well-manicured hand. "Your master."

Eien was near done being interrupted, and his cheeks were already turning red due to the indignity of it. Technically they could deny service to whoever they wanted, and although Eien had that power over rude customers, he couldn't enforce it over this woman, this witch, so influential that it would ruin the reputation of their shop.

"If you would wait just a moment while I fetch him," Eien said, trying not to grind his teeth. "Would you like some tea while you wait?"

Raissa offered nothing but a simple smile, conveying what she still wanted.

Eien nodded minutely and snuck a glance at the bored officer before going into the back and turned down the hall to the bathroom. No other thumps or crashes had sounded since before the witch came in, but Eien was still unsure if it was safe to disrupt Sasori while he was occupied.

Not willing to knock yet, Eien placed his ear near the opening of the door to catch any hint of noise. There was a conversation.

"I said, do not touch me, hn!" a deep voice hissed, and Eien was nearly taken aback by the harshness of it.

"You've undone your bandages, and you're bleeding again, I have to––"

"You have to let me go––" The voice cut up in a sharp gasp, followed by Sasori tutting his tongue.

"This is why you shouldn't throw things, or try to drown someone––"

"Then you shouldn't have blown me up––"

Eien quickly knocked as he heard the merman's voice raise in volume. "Th-there is someone here to see you, Sasori."

Silence followed for several long moments before Eien heard Sasori say almost gently, "For your own safety, stay here."

"Like I can even move, hn."

Eien shuffled away from the door as Sasori stepped out wiping his arms with a hand towel as he closed the door, not giving Eien a chance to see the merman. His godfather looked ready to give a lecture, but Eien spewed out, "The witch is here to see you." Before Sasori could get a word in.

A second passed and Sasori exhaled sharply, saying, "Fuck," under his breath before handing the towel to Eien so he could take care of their visitor. "Just watch over the bathroom for me."

A small flicker of ire popped up as Eien wanted to know what was going on, but he nodded, knowing Sasori would be more stressed if he disobeyed.

He stayed by the bathroom door, leaning against the plastered wall, trying to catch any hint of movement from inside, but also keeping an ear out for his godfathers voice.

"Hello, how can I help you today?" Sasori asked, tone even, but not welcoming.

Eien snorted, learning early on that Sasori nearly despised witches for everything they stood for. It even came as a lesson when Eien was seven, the same time as he was learning the fundamentals of alchemy, or just in general, science.

"You can repeat, step by step, how to make an elixir and make it correctly every time. There will be techniques to learn of course, those over time, but––"

"What about magic?"

Sasori gave a heavy sigh, and rubbed his brow. "Magic," he enunciated clearly. "Is inconsistent, connected to the mindset and emotional well-being of the user. Yes, it can be helped to increase the potency or efficiency of a potion, but that means it should be created like so every time. That doesn't happen with magic. It is hard to control, and those that wield it... Well, in town, stay close to me and there shouldn't be a problem."

Over the years, Sasori let his opinion be known about witches, how conniving and double-sided they could be, and though Eien didn't know his mentors reasons, he never doubted him.

Eien could barely hear what Raissa was saying to Sasori, so he huffed, listening to the bathroom instead, shocked to hear something rattling inside. Sasori had just left so what was the merman doing?! Hoping it was nothing, Eien didn't act, assuming the merman, Deidara, was just getting comfortable.

A loud thud echoed from the bathroom, and Eien jumped in place.

"I'm sorry, my apprentice is a bit of a klutz."

Eien scowled, and was about to stomp over to Sasori when something began dragging against the floor. Paling considerably, Eien opened the bathroom door swiftly, seeing Deidara trying to drag the knocked over table closer to him. He was sitting up in the tub, bandages loose and falling from the reddened half of his face, as well as his left arm which bore deeper burns. The merman stilled as he saw Eien, and a small snarl curled at his lip.

Swallowing thickly, Eien stepped in and closed the door, keeping his back pressed against it, before placing his finger to his lips in silence. "Someone is in the shop and they––"

"Get out," Deidara growled, and Eien had to stop himself from shuddering, but he took a deep breath, reminding himself that the merman couldn't hurt him from where he was.

Glancing at the fallen table, and the objects it held, Eien could see the fresh bandages from this morning and the ointment spilling from the pot. It didn't come as a shock to see the pain reliever from before on the ground as well, the tiny ball of compressed leaves having rolled away from the table. Eien held up his hands as he kneeled and went over to the pot to collect what had spilled and also picking up a ball. "Do you need some?"

Deidara regarded him with a look of loathing, puffing heavily in what appeared to be exertion before he slipped back into the tub with a small splash. Eien considered that a small blessing and started to clean up what had spilled so Sasori could use it later. The room was still in the same state as he saw earlier that morning, but there were red bandages by the tub, stretched, as if pulled off, with water splashed on the ground. He gave a sigh.

Realistically, Eien wanted nothing to do with the merman, but he knew that Sasori would have his hands full and they would have to deal with the repercussions.

The repercussions of my actions, Eien thought bitterly, wishing this was happening because Sasori had made a mistake instead. But if he told the truth then maybe... Eien grimaced, knowing that he had ignored Sasori's rule of following all the instructions, of repeating things step-by-step so the waterworks would turn out perfectly.

I may have been eager, but he could've been more truthful, Eien thought bitterly, feeling as though he shouldn't take all the blame.

It took Eien only a few minutes to tidy up and mop up the floor, but it took even longer for Sasori to return. The clock in the bathroom was typically used to keep track of how long the herbs needed to soak for, but it served it's function well of keeping time for Eien as he waited for his godfather's return.

He took to organizing the tools in the bathroom while waiting, trying his best to ignore the merman, who wouldn't stop fidgeting, the burn on his tail looking to be festering. Eien would just assume that the creature would pull his tail in as well, but it didn't take an idiot to see that the tub was rather small compared to the merman. It was dark when Eien first saw Deidara, but the teen never realized that he was so large until daylight hit.

If Deidara wanted to keep most of the burns in the water, that meant the part of his tail that was burned would have to stay out. Still, the fidgeting began to bother Eien, and he wasn't sure if it was from seeing the burn that did it, or even smelling it.

It was the fact that he had caused it. This wasn't someone grabbing the incorrect strength for their indigestion tabs, this was someone who got severely injured and could have ended up dead. The thought made a pit form in Eien's stomach, but his pride wouldn't allow him to voice these confessions of guilt to Sasori.

Though it seemed when Eien was in his deepest wallowing did his godfather finally walk back in with a long sigh, gesturing for him to follow him out of the bathroom.

"What did she want?" Eien asked, quickly at Sasori's heels.

His godfather grimaced. "She heard screaming last night apparently. Not human, she said."

Eien blanched and his mouth gaped lightly, but he closed it soon after Sasori sent him a small look that said, "Calm down."

"She doesn't have permission to look around the shop, so I denied hearing any such noise and sent her on her way. She may have some influence when it comes to how the town is run, but she isn't allowed to interfere with a business so directly." Sasori then scoffed, crossing his arms. "If she could, I'm sure she would monopolize alchemy for the greater good of everyone living–"

"Is she going to be coming back?" Eien asked, and Sasori's eyes narrowed in irritation.

"Hopefully not, but if our guest does not stay quiet, then that may not be an option."

Eien bit his lip in contemplation, and his godfather prompted him to talk with a raised brow. "What're we going to do to... to help him?"

Sasori's eyes became distant, like he was at a loss, before they hardened again, this time at Eien. "I'll figure something out. It's not something that you should concern yourself with."

Eien wanted to defy, but his head ducked instinctively, as if finally his scolding was catching up with him. "But I was the one who..." Still his pride wouldn't allow him to finish the sentence. Tears of frustration were about to form when Sasori ruffled his hair in a poor attempt at comfort. Eien tensed in shock, not expecting his godfather to mollify him, especially for such a large mistake.

"Manage the shop for me, and listen from now on. That will make up for it." The hand dropped away.

Eien frowned up at Sasori. "That doesn't seem like enough though." Never would he let guilt take over his actions so completely, but once again, he had never nearly killed someone.

This time a weary sigh passed through Sasori's lips, shoulders slumping. "There isn't anything else for you to do."

"But I–"

"As far as Deidara is concerned, I told him I made the waterwork, not you."

Eien tensed further, as he stammered, "Wh–why would you tell him that? You weren't the one––"

"I know, but it's best not to complicate things, Eien." Sasori rubbed at his brow, his frustration clear. "A customer may come in soon, please go manage the store."

Giving a small nod, Eien meandered his way back to the front counter, checking to see if the heat crystal under the tea needed to be recharged. He hadn't the slightest clue as to why Sasori would lie–– the excuse to not complicate things, just an excuse and not a reason.

When three middle-aged women traipsed in, Eien knew that he could no longer dwell on it and went to assist them. The morning had been too eventful and talking to someone who didn't have an ulterior motive was refreshing.

Wrote this at work (whoop whoop caregiving) and I'm sure there are many mistakes, but it's nearly midnight and I am tired.

Review?