Day 127 | Open | Enjoy the Gardens!

[yinyangfox]

Who: Seimei and everyone/anyone
Open: Open
When: Day 127
Where: The new and improved Hitachiin-Abe Estate
What: Kaoru wanted Seimei to have a house-warming party ages ago and he declined. Now he intends to because its not just his home anymore.
Format: Prose
Warnings: SHOULD be safe...


Yesterday the southern Bastion was suddenly dominated by the rise of a beautiful, elegant Japanese estate. Trees, two ponds, a deck reaching out and resting atop the river; a work of historical art nestled away from the noise and bustle.

Having sent Kaoru out for food and to talk with people about the home being open to others for use of the garden, Seimei himself was reclining on the deck over the river, stretched out and dozing while Taisan sat nearby, eyes closed as his hands moved fluidly over the strings of a plain koto, the music rising and falling in harmony with the rush of water beneath the deck.

The doors in the home were open, front and back, leaving a clear line from the entrance to the gardens where the music drifted on the breeze. At Seimei's request, there was a little sign at the door illustrating taking off one's shoes. Not a demand, simply a request. It was a garish thing he didn't want to keep, but he wanted to at least initially indicate it was polite to do, for those without knowledge of the preference.

The home was now open, and Seimei himself was open as well. He had brooded and been bitetr long enough. With recent revelations between himself and Kaoru, and the sudden influx of newcomers, it was simply unreasonable to remain a hermit.

The onmyoji was back in service, socially and professionally.

Comments

[blackblooded]

He might be back in service, but it's unlikely that Seimei wants to see Crona. Still, the young meister is curious about the new building. The music drifting through the open door is enough of an invitation, and Crona pulls off tall boots and cautiously enters.

Crona is going to remain silent while heading over to the porch. It would be rude to startle the person, wouldn't it?

[yinyangfox]

Seimei himself was silent, head propped in one hand. While he wore his usual tall hat, his hair was down underneath it, the greater part of the long black mass tied in a simple binding low on his back. Some was allowed to frame his face, however, and the look made him appear significantly younger and less severe, particularly when reclining, eyes closed.

Taisan looked up from where he was playing and nodded at Crona, tilting his head to the side as though inviting the meister to come onto the river deck if inclined.

[blackblooded]

The meister sits, cautious and wary as always, kneeling on the wood of the deck and quietly listening.

Compared to the complete newness of the house, Crona's clothing looks even more worn than usual, and the teen tugs nervously on threadbare cuffs and wonders if maybe it would have been right to try and make new clothes to come and visit. This old robe doesn't look right at all, and that (combined with how Crona needs a haircut, pink-purple bangs falling raggedly over dark eyes) makes Crona even more uncomfortable.

But the music is nice, and the nod had been an invitation. So Crona sits and watches and listens.

[yinyangfox]

For a time Crona and Seimei sat listening in respectful silence while Taisan played. The shikigami did not grow tired of his work, but the instrument occasionally needed to be cleaned and tuned, so after a few songs he let the notes die naturally and sat to work on the strings with a bit of cloth, leaving the onmyoji to push himself into a sitting position and gesture to the inner desk and the cushions there without turning around.

"You may come in closer, if you like. There are refreshments you are welcome to. Please," the dark-haired man murmured, his tone relaxed and pleasant.

[blackblooded]

The 'please' gets Crona to stand and step forward, cautious.

"Th-thank you."

[yinyangfox]

Seimei waited, pouring three cups of tea - in the even Ragnarok felt inclined to appear - and setting one across from himself for Crona. Reaching out to pick up his own cup, he settled comfortably to drink and look out across the water or the river, waiting.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked without preamble, not turning his head to look at the meister. It was obvious he was asking in regards to the events in the swamp, which he himself had to recover from for several days. Taisan only looked up for a moment, glancing between the two of them but remaining wisely silent as he cleaned and tuned.

[blackblooded]

The third cup of tea is incredibly welcoming, and reminds Crona of Miss Marie. Someone who remembers Ragnarok can't be a bad person. Crona carefully picks up the cup. It's warm, and the meister sips cautiously. At Seimei's question, Crona looks up, confused. Lots of things have happened since the swamp.

"Yes?" It's a hesitant question.

[hellpyre]

As soon as Rin heard that Seimei was up and about again, it was all she could do to not drop everything she was working on at that exact moment and rush over there. But she behaved and finished her work for the day, heading over closer to evening, holding a few wrapped up items under her arm all the while looking quite cheerful and happy for once.

She paused at the door to kick her shoes off, padding in to the home and admiring all of the details as she walked. It was beautiful! It reminded her so much of the amazing homes and temples in Kyoto, and it was a nice, if not somewhat distance slice of her own world.

"Seimei-san!"

[yinyangfox]

Dark eyes widened, blinking rapidly as the onmyoji looked up from his most recent cut of tea, lips curling into one of the pleasant, enigmatic smiles.

"Ah, the guest I almost thought would never arrive," he mused, bowing his head slowly to Rin before gesturing she seat herself on one of the cushions set about the deck. He reached over, pouring another cup of tea while Taisan quietly busied himself running a cloth over the strings of his instrument.

"And how is the Lady?"

[hellpyre]

"I'm sorry! I was workin' and I didn't wanna just ditch the kitchen!" Rin explained as she entered, a bit out of breath from running all over the Bastion before coming there. She had to get changed, after all, and scrub her face a little, make her messy hair presentable oh and of course get things from the monument as gifts.

She took a seat with an eager, excited expression, setting the wrapped packages down next to her.

"I'm good. Y'look like you're feelin' better, too."

[yinyangfox]

"I am, in fact. Quite a bit, really."

Enough so that he was in a forgive and forget mood and willing to accept that perhaps things he perceived as slights were simply too minuscule for others to comprehend. It occurred to him that held much too hard to useless grudges and in thinking on it while abed, had realized the difficulties of being in this place coupled with his concerns over Kaoru had driven him to a bitterness he had never intended to express.

If he was willing to move on, he wasn't going to force himself to apologize. It was enough that he behave amiably.

Reaching over, he sat the filled teacup before Rin, smiling as always.

"Welcome to our home. I will trust you to make yourself comfortable within reason."

"Haha, yeah, no explosions or fires, sweetcheeks. This place would light up like Christmas."

"I have no idea what Christmas is, though fires would certainly be a damper on the fine day. Even so, I imagine Lady Rin is in quite fine condition. You look lovely," he added the last, arching a dark brow to indicate he had certainly noticed the effort she took to tidy up, and appreciated it.

Ah Seimei, ever able to insult and compliment in a single sitting.

[hellpyre]

Taisan's comment would earn an ever-mature "nyeeh!" in his direction, complete with stuck out tongue. Stay classy, Rin.

"I ain't gonna do anythin' like that, geez..."

Naturally all of her irritation was at Taisan's insinuation that she would ever intentionally (or even unintentionally) burn down such a beautiful place. She may have been lacking control as of late but she wasn't that far gone.

Huffing, she turned away from him and focused on Seimei, tucking a loose strand of hair behind one pointed ear. His compliment, however underhanded it might have been, made her smile cheerfully as her tail wagged like a happy dog's behind her back.

"Thanks. I figured I shouldn't come in here smellin' like a kitchen. Didn't have time for a trip to the onsen but clean clothes do help."

She took the tea up and sipped it with a smile, finding it warm and pleasant after such a long day.

"Oh! That reminds me, I got presents for you, Karou-kun and Alucard-san."

[yinyangfox]

Ignoring Taisan and gesturing dismissively at the shikigami, Seimei focused on Rin with a tilt of his head.

"Either way, you look lovely and I find myself pleased that you have chosen to visit. I am grateful, of course. So, what is this about 'presents'? You know you weren't required to bring anything? I do not fully understand Kaoru's notions of opening a home to others in expectation of anything. I simply wanted people to feel welcome, where I have been particularly isolated of late."

[superdrowningskills]

Being one of the tenants the party was meant to celebrate, Alucard feels a certain obligation to attend the party. Of course, direct sunlight is never a good mix with any with vampire blood; being half human may stop it from being deadly, but sunburn is still very much an issue for him. Thus he's keeping more to himself on the deck.

[yinyangfox]

Seimei and Alucard proved to get along very well in regards to avoiding sunlight and promoting a quiet environment. When they wanted to talk, they could. When they didn't, they were equally content to be left to their thoughts. Unfortunately neither of them were blessed with quiet companions.

"So you like your room?"

Sigh. "If he did not, I imagine he would have been disinclined to stay. Keep playing."

"But I didn't sto--"

"In silence."

Sigh. "Stuffy, high-hatted, fox-faced..."

"Taisan, why don't you go check on Tama-chan, then take a break, hm?"

The shikigami licked his lips, looking at Alucard briefly before sighing and setting his koto aside, getting up to walk off in silent obedience. Once he was gone, Seimei pushed himself up to a sitting position, choosing to take advantage of the privacy between himself and the dhampire. Withdrawing a thin paper strip from his sleeve, the onmyoji sat it on the floor, whispered an incantation and looked up, gesturing vaguely.

"Taisan cannot hear us now. I believe this is a good time to discuss your relationship or lack thereof and whether or not I should forbid him from interacting with you. If he troubles you, I need to know."

[superdrowningskills]

"...He is kind to me," the dhampire replies after a moment of thought, as if it were an adequate answer. To him, and perhaps to any who is born with the stigma of being half something others cannot stand, it may well be enough.

[yinyangfox]

"Kind?" Seimei repeated, arching a brow slowly before turning his head to look out across the shore and gardens beyond.

Indeed, Seimei and Alucard shard similar lives in that regard, and the onmyoji knew precisely how much weight that one word could carry.

Kind.

"An invaluable arrangement, I imagine. Hm." Closing his dark eyes and giving himself a silent moment of thought, Seimei eventually reached over and picked up a plate of onigiri, setting it closer to Alucard. Pouring two cups of tea, he leaned back to regard the pale man.

"He's is becoming too independent," he hedged, sipping his own tea and letting Alucard think on his words and respond, if he wished.

[superdrowningskills]

He will take on of those onigiri, thank you. He'll even eat it slowly and use actual table manners instead of just wolfing (ha) it down.

"He will consume you if ever you lose control, correct?"

[yinyangfox]

"There is that, yes. But moreover it is my concern that he is absorbed with understanding his individuality now. He asks questions I can hardly answer sometimes, has taken a name for himself, chooses his own form and rarely remains incorporeal any longer," the onmyoji mused, sipping his tea after a moment.

"I do not think I am exactly losing control of him, but his new found interest in mortal life - so far as we understand the term - is becoming something of a nuisance. I was considering discarding him as a summoned shikigami, but his presence has become so unexpectedly enormous I am at a loss for what I should actually do. I was going to ask your advice, and present suggestions of my own once I had heard any of yours. While our professions and the geography of our lives are vastly different, I defer to you in regards to age and wisdom. Lovely and alien though you are, I respect your seniority and would have your opinion before making these decisions."

[individuates]

He had never thought he would end up living like this. To be more precise, he had never thought he could live like this and be perfectly content with it.

It was rather a big deal. The Hitachiins were a stylish, fast-moving, high-tech family, and Kaoru had worried in the beginning that he wouldn't be able to survive without the Hitachiin fleet of staff and endless supply of modern conveniences - not to mention his family, Hikaru, to support him. He'd never pictured himself being comfortable - never mind happy - with the situation. The adjustment had come slowly, yes, and there were still times he missed home, and especially his twin, terribly. But there were other people he loved here.

Although it had taken a while, he had finally stopped feeling that niggling guilt over his happiness, and had found new delight in things he had one considered beneath him. Today alone he had gathered his own fruit and set out food and drinks for visitors to help themselves to.

There was one last thing Kaoru had to pick up from his apartment before relinquishing it completely. He had bought the kimono some weeks ago - the outer layer a rich scarlet furisode that had a spray of soft white sakura petals starting at the left shoulder and sleeve, gathering at the bottom hem - but he hadn't managed to find someone to help him assemble the whole thing. He had left it, thinking he could perhaps ask someone later, but that was before the house had come along. He had wanted to keep it a surprise but since it would be hard to keep hidden properly with them under the same roof... why not today?

It wasn't that he couldn't manage - with a good deal of twisting and stretching (and a couple of compromises), he could manage. It was just that he was used to putting them on with help. And really, kimono were supposed to be, precisely to prevent the kinds of compromises he had had to resort to. The obi was the hardest part. The knot should have been draped and padded, to better show off the fabric and keep it out of the way. But he had to make do with a simple bow-like knot instead.

Vanity kept him longer than he would have liked, and it was more than just his own pickiness and his Hitachiin eye for clothes - he knew how it should be worn, but he felt like a child playing dress-up, and every time he checked he felt like he saw something slightly off. And he didn't want to look "off" in this kimono. He had chosen it carefully and he had to look just so.

It took him a good deal of fixing before he was satisfied and all ready to clop off in his geta to the house by the river. He had left Tama-chan to man the door - to ensure the Shoe Rule was enforced, if only by an anklegator who was more likely to roll over for belly rubs than care whether peoples shoes were removed or not. She lifted her head to watch him as he slipped off his geta, letting him rub her horn before settling down again to guard her post. From the kitchen, he picked up a tray containing two tokkuri, four small choko cups, and a small plate of Japanese sweets, before making his way outside.

If Seimei's eyes were closed - and if Taisan kept his mouth shut and fingers going - perhaps he wouldn't notice Kaoru coming down the walkway to the viewing platform - because if his eyes were open, even if looking elsewhere, there was no way Seimei wouldn't notice him in all his redness. Either way, Kaoru wouldn't say a word until he was kneeling near Seimei, the tray set delicately on the floor with barely a sound, smiling the kind of smile that lit up a whole face.

((My computer wanted to mangle all the Japanese words))

[yinyangfox]

Taisan watched, blue eyes glittering with mirth though his fingers never stopped moving. He only bobbed his his head in a nod of acknowledgement and smiled. When Kaoru was close enough to appreciate the gesture the shikigami winked appreciatively, then closed his eyes as though to give a semblance of privacy.

For his part, Seimei remained still and quiet, drifting on the notes or asleep, one couldn't readily tell. The muffled whisper of feet on wood and the soft rattle of dishes on the tray created an alert tension in his ears, dark lashes raising to unveil darker eyes as his head swiveled to see who was there - then it was all he could do not to look utterly flummoxed, scramble to his feet and bark his appreciation like an excited dog.

He managed to push himself up into a rigid sitting position and keep his eyes from falling out of his head at least, but it was too obvious that the change of clothes had gotten a reaction from the man, color creeping into his face and heat rising making him clear his throat and nearly go for his fan. That would have been even more telling, so he avoided it. He couldn't stop himself from staring, however.

Eventually he found his voice, the back of his neck burning, fists pressing against his lap.

"Kaoru you...you look very lovely," he murmured, wondering precisely where he words had fled to.

[individuates]

"Thank you." Not without a slight blush of his own as Kaoru sat still and tried not to fidget. He was fine. He'd checked himself in the mirror nearly a hundred times before leaving so there was no need to adjust or check anything... but he knew precisely why he wanted to.

"I know you already have tea, but I brought something a little stronger, if you want it?" He gestured to the bottles, one containing sake, and the other sweet plum wine. He knew hosting parties could be hard work, especially on Seimei, who didn't really like to. "And sweets as well, if you want them. I thought you could use a break..."

He tried not to speak too much. He had this terrible habit of shooting his mouth off when he was nervous, though the fact that Seimei liked how he looked in the kimono certainly served to set him at ease a little bit.

[yinyangfox]

Seimei might have noticed anything out of place on someone he didn't care for - any reason to turn his nose up - but in Kaoru's case, the boy could have showed up with everything tied in the front and a turtle on his head and the onmyoji would have thought he was trying to make an artistic statement.

"Stronger? Why yes, I would love some!" came the enthusiastic reply. Perhaps too enthusiastic, but at least he didn't choke or have his voice crack. Since admitting their feelings it had been something of a rushed decision on Seimei's part to invite Kaoru to live with him. He had always been against communal living, but he shared a great deal with Alucard in terms of their former lives, and Kaoru...well, he wanted to boy close, if he had to admit the truth. He was courteous enough, not at all demanding and made sure the red-head had space of his own in case - heaven forbid - things changed.

Since then, however, Seimei had seemed even more nervous and careful than usual - which was saying something, considering to some degree he could come off as the biggest prude in the Bastion. Outdoing himself was a talent in itself.

He was never rude, never avoided the boy. He simply seemed afraid of the progress they were suddenly making when silence alone had previously kept them at a polite distance. With the words out between them, the sky was barely a limit. Anything was open to them and that knowledge unnerved the reserved magician.

Snacks and alcohol seemed like the perfect answer and he could have kissed the boy for his thoughtfulness. If the idea of that didn't horrify him as much as anything else. At least on the outside he was largely the picture of calm, aside from poor eye contact and the occasional creeping blush.

"Have you had time to explore the home fully? I plan to continue my outings into the Skyway, of course. Its a very empty home, yet, but I hope to fill it with bits of curio from other worlds and any creature comfort you might wish for. And, please, don't hesitate to add things you enjoy as well. Ah...paintings? Or...perhaps...plants?" he asked, arching a brow and reaching for a treat to distract himself.

Plants? Really, Seimei? Blast it all.

[individuates]

If anything, Kaoru's smile widened a little more, eyes lowered as he turned his attention to the cups as he poured, gently sweeping his sleeve out of the way with his left hand.

"...I take it you approve? I'm glad." He poured one cup of each - the umeshu Kaoru favoured for himself, but wanted Seimei to try. The sake, Kaoru wasn't much a fan of - he preferred it clear rather than cloudy, but he knew Seimei liked it. And the sweets? Who didn't like sweets?

He unloaded the tray an item at a time to keep from knocking anything over, and tried to ignore the way his elbow brushed against the knot of the obi behind him. He would definitely get help next time.

"It's still... a little weird." He admitted carefully. "Not in a bad way, just... weird."

He had never dreamed they'd end up with as beautiful a home as this - he had to remind himself, sometimes, which was strange in itself - he was a Hitachiin, he wasn't supposed to settle for anything less than the best in life. What had the Bastion done to him?!

"You know, the apartments were so cramped and dingy I thought I was never going to get used to them. But I must have done because now having the light and space and knowing I have people I care about very nearby... I feel very lucky." Tama-chan, on the other hand, had taken the whole thing in her stride. She had vetted the place on the first day, giving all the the rooms a good looking-over, before settling down contentedly by the cookfire, as if to express her approval.

"I think maybe it will seem more real to me once we've both had a chance to put our own marks on the place. Not that I'm not perfectly content with waking up in the morning and realising everything all over again. There are worse ways to start the day."

[yinyangfox]

Seimei listened toughtfully, a small smile playing about his lips that was somehow very different from his usual fox-like curl. This looked more content and happy than taunting or knowing. It actually reached his eyes, for once not squinted in amusement.

Anyone else could have seen it for precisely what it was - a man looking on in adoration of the thing he loved. Even Seimei didn't realize he'd started doing it, lost as he was listening to the cadence of Kaoru's voice and pleased that things had come together without terrible boundary issues getting in the way. If anyone was having a hard time with it all, it was probably the onmyoji, who had willingly allowed people to invade his privacy in a sudden attempt to force himself off balance and into a place closer to something the red-head could understand in terms of social interaction.

He found himself oddly comfortable now. with enough space to get away if he needed to, and Alucard being such quiet company, it had turned out far better in the end. He hadn't realized how much he needed space and freedom. Now he had that and Kaoru? He could have been the Mikado and he wouldn't have been so pleased.

"I approve," he remarked with a soft snort of amusement. As if he wouldn't have? Well, then again, even he had his limits as to what kind of fashion faux pas he could tolerate. Sipping the umeshu, dark brows flicked up in surprised pleasure. The sweetness was unexpected and the scent was rather nice. Nodding his head to indicate he liked it, the onmyoji game himself a moment with closed eyes to just enjoy all that had transpired and what it had gained him.

Taisan, on the other hand, opened one eye and hissed softly for Kaoru's attention.

"Psst. Psst. Kid. Hey...next time just holler for me, yeah?" he nodded, indicating Kaoru's obi, then the house, before closing his eyes again. Seimei might gush over Kaoru and ignore the finer details, but this shikigami had been helping the onmyoji dress most of his life and could spot details without trying. He was a servant God, after all. He knew what he was doing and knew Kaoru could be just as obsessive.