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

[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."

[yinyangfox]

"Do not tell me what to do," he mumbled, not at all cross. In fact it sounded reflexive. "I am not a child...hm...I sleep when I want..."

"Same thing every night," drawled a familiar voice near Kaoru's ear, barely above a whisper. Hands rested on the boy's shoulder's as Taisan leaned forward and peeked over at Seimei. Snorting a soft laugh, the shikigami slipped away and crept soundlessly around the two, picking up dishes and clearing the area.

"Don't worry kid, I'm not sticking around and ruining you're little 'moment' over here. I'm just cleaning up real quick. I don't wanna hang around more than I have to. I got my own agenda. There's a smokin' hot not-quite-dead guy I gotta check on. And maybe harass. If he's awake. Plus Boss Foxface has me cataloging all the little plants and crap around this place. Its tedious but he's pretty particular about his garden. Gotta have the right vibe and all. Wants to impress ya."

Carrying the dishes into the back, Taisan eventually returned, sitting a folded blanket and additional cushion beside Kaoru.

"If you need anything else, find it yourself. If you two get frisky, take it to the bedroom so no one has to see that shit. You're cute and all, but no one wants to watch you two playing grab-ass. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got people to annoy."

Hopping off the porch and walking through the garden out into the Bastion, the shikigami turned and shot double finger guns at Kaoru before miming open-mouthed kissing, tugging the collar of his own robe and tousling his hair as he turned the corner and disappeared.

[individuates]

"Mmm. Like now. Now is a very good time."

...there were certain others who could have chosen their moment more carefully. He continued stroking Seimei's hair, all the while watching Taisan from the corner of his eyes, biting his tongue to prevent all manner of responses escaping.

Though in response to Taisain's little display at the gate, he pulled the sourest face he could and raised his middle finger, before letting it all drop and turning his attention back to Seimei again, gently stroking back the curtain of dark hair with his fingertips.

[yinyangfox]

Taisan was gone, in and out and not acknowledged, just doing his work and taking advantage of the free time. Seimei was taking advantage of the comfortable warmth of Kaoru's lap. While normally he would sleep stiff on his back, propped as he was he was urged to shift and turn, eventually resting partially curled on his side, nose nuzzled against Kaoru's thigh.

Inhaling deeply in a comfortable sigh, the onmyoji stilled, eyes cracking open and sliding sidelong to rest on the red-head's face. He tried to compute it all, tensed briefly, then his eyes drifted closed again, hands curling in that relaxed manner of one sinking deeper into sleep.

[individuates]

"Everything's fine," Kaoru smiled down at him, not pausing the soothing movements of his hands, the one not-buried in Seimei's hair running gently down his arm and back up again, "Absolutely fine."

He continued stroking, even after the onmyoji's eyes fell closed again. He paused only for a moment, lifting his hand to kiss his own fingertips and press them against Seimei's temple with another fond smile.