Day 91 | log | [CLOSED]

[individuates]

Who: Kaoru Hitachiin (individuates ), Abe no Seimei (yinyangfox )
Open: Closed
When: Day 91
Where: Seimei's pad
What: Bribing Seimei with cake.
Format: Log
Warnings: None! Just two guys eating cake.


Kaoru had to admit it. As dubious as he had been in the beginning about Seimei’s little house, once all its walls were erected, and its insides (mostly) furnished… it actually hadn’t turned out so bad.

He could give himself a pat on the back for some of the work, too. Not that he had sourced all the wood himself. Or lacquered it. Or fit it together in a house-shape. But he had slaved away on the furnishings, which had definitely helped with the effort. He had managed to figure out how to quilt blankets from his scraps – they were easy – but he had no idea how to make a futon other than to sew together his blankets. Which was precisely what he did.

Well it was the best he could do, with the resources at his disposal. In hindsight, he could have just bought one with shards and saved himself the trouble, but never mind. He had delivered the futons the previous day – if Seimei had had a terrible night’s sleep on them, he could always run back to the Monument and buy real ones.

He had finally made his first purchase from the Monument with the shards he had been holding onto – a small strawberry shortcake and forks and plates to eat it with. Nothing as grand as they had eaten or used at the host club – and not antique either, or if they were, certainly not antiques he recognized. But they looked good and, really, they were fit for purpose. And the cake smelled simply heavenly.

So with the bag of cake in one hand and one hand resting on Tama-chan slung across his chest, he started down to Seimei’s. The egg had been rocking since a few days ago, tapping sounds coming from within. Perhaps it would hatch soon – until then, Kaoru was keeping a careful eye out.

He stepped into the small gardens around Seimei’s house, raising the bag and giving a bright, slightly teasing smile.

“Sei-chan~!”

Comments

[individuates]

For just a second, a look of surprise crossed Kaoru's face. It wasn't that he didn't already think there was more to Seimei than there appeared but... that didn't mean he couldn't be startled to see it.

Another gentle laugh, leaning forward for his tea-cup.

"I see, I see. So that's how it is? You're assuming I'm capable of playing rough..."

[yinyangfox]

"Oh? I suppose that is assuming a bit much. You are rather young," he drawled, finding much more ease and comfort in the playfully barbed banter, even if it was significantly more mature, loaded as it was with double entendre.

"I imagine your experience is limited and thereby your imagination."

[individuates]

"Younger and less experienced, I'll allow." Kaoru raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "But less imaginative, never."

And if Seimei thought for a second Kaoru hadn't... well, researched this area at all, he was certainly in for a shock.

[yinyangfox]

The universe was laughing at them there, with the child of a modern age being educated in such a manner while the adult of a bygone era was hopelessly naive. He had a good idea, certainly, but there was a difference from growing up where the most racy things were woodprints and paintings and a place where the most graphic acts were a few keystrokes away.

The look on Kaoru's face coupled with the words threw the onmyoji off his rails, and he found himself looking away first, eyes down as he finished his cake in silence, focusing on the last strawberries instead of the prickle on his spine.

[individuates]

He gave another light chuckle at Seimei's expression, and took a victory sip of tea.

"I win." He flashed an innocent smile. Gosh, he was going to need to un-prude Seimei a little, but at least he had all the time in the world to work on him. "Do I get a prize?"

[yinyangfox]

"You always will win," he complained, sighing and looking back up as he set his plate down and held out his cup expectantly. Earlier he had let it slide, but now he wasn't giving Kaoru slack on the proper form. He needed a bit of balance and etiquette tended to help.

"Why?" he asked, cocking a brow and leaning back slightly with a suspicious look. "What do you want?"

[individuates]

"You can win occasionally!" Perhaps not where Kaoru was involved, but occasionally. Kaoru made a mental note to let him, on occasion. Just in case.

Where did Seimei put the tea? Certainly not within Kaoru's reach - he set Tama-chan aside and slipped off his cushion to get it, kneeling by Seimei to fill his cup. Setting the pot down, he remained where he was, hands folded in his lap as he looked Seimei up and down for a moment.

"...may I see you with your hair down? Or would that be dreadfully forward of me?"

[yinyangfox]

"My...what? My hair? Why on earth would you..." he blinked, leaning to the side away from Kaoru slightly, head tilted down and eyes up in a dubious expression. After a moment of twitching jaw-muscles he finally turned away and cleared his throat.

"I suppose there is no harm in it. I cannot imagine why you want that, but you are entitled to it in your "winnings"," he admitted. "Do you want to do it, or should I?"

[individuates]

"Because! Just because!"

Because his hair was like a little mystery of its own, all wrapped up like that. It was hard to tell how long it was, or how thick, how soft and shiny. Kaoru was almost bouncing at the thought of almost having permission.

"Y-you're giving me the choice? I'd like to, but only if you feel comfortable with it..."

[yinyangfox]

Jaw tensing again, Seimei nodded slowly, head bobbing up and down once.

"Yes. I can handle someone taking down my hair, thank you," he grunted, shifting on his cushion and resting his hands against his knees. "Normally Mitsumushi would do my hair for me every day. It is considerably easier, due to the length, to have someone else manage it."

He didn't flinch or move a muscle as Kaoru worked, though his back was rigid and his chin completely straight as he stared out at the garden. His hair was pulled up, wrapped in intricate layers, one sheet of black silk woven over the next and twisted up into the total looped over length of the top-knot.
As the panels of liquid night came down, the light of the Bastion caught in them, highlighting shades more appropriate in the wings of ravens than on the heads of men. His hair was incredibly long as well, and despite being maintained in a slightly layered cut, much of it fell well past his waist to rest on the wood floor.
One the hair was unwound and freed of the tight leather wrap, it fell out on its own, slithering down around his shoulders and framing his face. With it down, Seimei looked much less authoritative, and much younger.

[individuates]

Kaoru gently combed his fingers through Seimei's hair to help it down - not that it was strictly necessary, as it seemed to fall perfectly into place, but it was a decent enough excuse to be able to run his fingers through the silk dark tresses a little enviously, leaving the bindings in his lap.

The urge to play with it was hard to resist, but Kaoru had to content himself with stroking it for the meantime.

"Doesn't your scalp ever feel tight and uncomfortable, having to keep it pulled back like this every day?"

[yinyangfox]

Still tense, but relaxing slowly with each stroke in much the same way an animal would, the onmyoji shook his head.

"No. Not really. It is considered unfashionable for most men of high station to have their hair down, so I have always kept it up. You never really think about something as particularly uncomfortable when it is a standard of everyday life. Besides that, it is easier to wear it up with the hat, you see? Just habit, and before long, you hardly notice."

[individuates]

It was like being nine again, the first time their mother had let them touch her fine fabrics. Of course, they had played hide and seek amid the rows and rows of fabric shelves and touched almost everything they could get hold of, but the highest shelves were well out of reach and that was where the best fabrics were kept. Touching Seimei's hair was like running his hands through the finest, coolest silk.

"Ah, but you've not been wearing the hat lately, have you?"

He gathered up the soft locks again, brushing them back from Seimei's temples with his fingertips and running his fingertips through the ends. How did it not tangle? How was it so perfectly undamaged? He would probably have to stop soon, but for now he was making good use of the opportunity he had to play.

[yinyangfox]

Fingers brushing his temples drew his head back slightly, eyes drifting to half-mast. It felt...He didn't have words for how it felt. Too intimate, but more comforting than anything in any of his days. Indulging for just a moment couldn't be all that indecent, could it? It seemed innocent enough.

"No. I have not. I rather would like to again. It feels strange without it, but I could get used to having my hair unbound. If only it weren't so troublesome to maintain."

[individuates]

He teased his fingers through again, this time running them just a little more along Seimei's scalp.

"It suits you better down, I think. It makes you look a lot less severe." He took care not to apply too much pressure as to seem overly intrusive, instead rubbing gently against Seimei's head. He had always been quite adept at massages. "Not to mention that it's in lovely condition - how is in such good condition?!" Kaoru missed being able to get hold of the products he usually used at home. He couldn't imagine Seimei used any that Kaoru was familiar with, but... he was always open to suggestions.

[yinyangfox]

Kaoru could see the tension easing out of Seimei's shoulders; the slight slump, the curve of his previously rigid spine and full closure of his eyes were blatant indicators. Sighing audibly the onmyoji tilted his head back into his companion's hand without realizing it.

"My mother had the same hair. I suppose I can attribute it to the kitsune in me. They are - if nothing else - the masters of appearing to be what others want. My mother was beautiful beyond words and my father fell for her instantly. I was always told I took after her the most. Though I do use flower oils for shine and scent when I have it. And brush it quite a bit when it is down."

He fell silent for several moments, simply enjoying the touches, body swaying slightly as he drifted in his thoughts.

"Then perhaps I will leave it down. If it is your preference."

[individuates]

Sitting behind Seimei, Kaoru wasn't quite able to see his reaction, but since he was practically melting into the touches, he was probably doing something right.

"...it is my preference, I won't lie," he admitted, combing Seimei's hair in and holding it in an approximation of a pony tail, leaning around for a moment to see how it looked. Simply irresistible, and he had to duck back behind Seimei again to hide his blush, releasing his handful of hair and running his fingers back though again. "We'll have to think of some other ways you can wear it, though. Would you like me to put it back up as it was, or...?"

[yinyangfox]

"This is fine. It would be too much trouble to put it up at this point anyways. Besides, if you enjoy it I would rather not end it too soon. Whatever small satisfaction I can offer, in lieu of the normal means of courting you, I am happy to give. If this is what you like, and you find it attractive, then I can only hope that wearing it thus will keep your eye lingering," the onmyoji remarked without any hint of sarcasm or implication of humor.

"I am forced to admit, whether it feels better down or not, what you are doing is extremely enjoyable."

[individuates]

"Really? I'm glad." He had the courage, then, to turn his strokes into a gentle massage, his fingertips raking carefully against Seimei's scalp and rubbing gently. He liked this side of him - this relaxed, practically purring side - and wanted to watch it for as long as possible. Though it was certainly more than Kaoru's eyes that were lingering.

He leaned a little closer to murmur shyly - "...I like you Seimei. However you choose to wear your hair."

[yinyangfox]

There was a long stretch of silence before the onmyoji huffed a soft, slightly embarrassed laugh and tilted his head down, aware of the heat rising to his face and ears.

"I like you as well, Kaoru," he murmured in reply, deliberately putting emphasis on a different word and hoping the implication was more direct. It felt odd, dancing around a subject, but the idea of being direct and forward was even more uncomfortable. He wanted to say more, do more, but the idea was frightening enough that the reality was no doubt enough to make him swoon, and Seimei certainly wanted no part of that humiliation.

It didn't stop him from leaning into Kaoru's hands, eyes drifting closed completely. By the Fortunes, he couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so incredible. He was grateful his sleeves concealed the gooseflesh on his arms, even if it did nothing to stop the tremor that briefly rattled his spine, eliciting a lazy smile of satisfaction. He didn't even care that the tea was cold and time was passing unchecked.

[individuates]

"...I like you, too." A soft, blushing whisper, made with his forehead almost resting against the back of Seimei's head, hands stilling at the ends of his hair for a moment, before leaning back so he could continue to work, gently massaging up from the nape of Seimei's neck, now that it was available to him.

He wouldn't be able to say it properly for a good while yet - not just because of his own tendency to be caution, but because part of him worried that if he did say it, it would mean giving up on home, on Hikaru, for good.

But he enjoyed this. He enjoyed Seimei's company, he enjoyed making Seimei feel good, he enjoyed the little blushes and shivers, and knowing that Seimei enjoyed it, too.

He would need to work on his shoulders next.

[yinyangfox]

The onmyoji might have replied verbally after his smile, but Kaoru's hands worked too many wonders to be disturbed. In a rare moment of vulnerability and trust, Seimei dozed, head drooping the last few inches forward and shoulders slumping.

He was so exhausted. Weeks of scavenging and laboring, weeks of hunting and then the emotional ups and downs of trying to be social, being rebuffed and coping with his difficult but growing feelings for the young Hitachiin. Now this, Kaoru's hands in his hair, touches toeing the lines of intimacy and friendship, soothing frayed nerves Seimei hadn't even realized he'd been harboring.

Small wonder when he swayed on the spot, held aloft by Kaoru's countering pressure, chest rising and falling in slow, steady breaths as thick sheets of black hair drifted to shroud his face.

[individuates]

A look of confusion crossed Kaoru's face as he felt Seimei listing beneath his hands, but it was replaced by a small smile as he realised why, gently reaching out to steady him.

"Lean back," he murmured softly, coaxing with his hands - one on Seimei's back, the other one resting lightly on his chest, carefully shifting his own position so that Seimei could rest his head on his lap. He wasn't going to stop, once he had him down, but he just didn't want him falling forward or getting hurt.

[yinyangfox]

It didn't take too much coaxing, in the end. He sniffed, started slightly and cracked his eyes open a moment before yawning and covering his mouth with a sleeve as he drifted obediently down, head nestled against Kaoru's lap. Ridiculous amounts of obscenely long hair spilled across the boy's legs and all over the floor and cushions, smooth and shining like black liquid. The top knot wasn't just for tradition, it seemed, but for convenience. Even so, it did wonders for the onmyoji's profile to have it all down. He looked considerably less severe.

Words briefly crossed his drowsy mind, like inappropriate, indecent, rude and forward, but Kaoru's tone didn't raise any red flags and a larger part of Seimei really, truly, didn't care about social niceties in that instant. He just wanted to pretend, for a little while, that tradition and culture weren't conspiring against him and that he wasn't too awkward to be more direct. For a few more minutes, he just wanted to enjoy this crossed line.

[individuates]

Perhaps in some ways he was taking advantage of the onmyoji's sleepy state, but he wasn't really resisting, and Kaoru wasn't doing any harm. He smiled softly as Seimei yielded, gently finger-combing his hair into something slightly more ordered before resuming the same paths as before, one hand cradling the back of Seimei's head, fingertips tracing lazy circles at the nape of his neck.

He had only ever been this close to one other human being in his life - though with Hikaru it was different, almost second nature, and they had come to guard their personal space almost jealously. This was completely new - a little strange, a little thrilling.

"Go to sleep, Seimei."