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

[hellpyre]

"Tama-chan was raised here, though. That's different."

Granted Rin couldn't really argue WHY it was different (a nature versus nurture argument that she did not have the intelligence to make properly) but she said it anyway.

Still... Seimei also had a point. She knew he did. There was more in favor of his own argument than against.

Hell, she had brought back a Squirt that was friendly, completely on accident.

She opened her mouth to speak, but snapped it shut a second later. He was right, and he would be doing more to further their survival than anything she had been providing.

[yinyangfox]

"She was only raised here because we brought her here. Others have not had that chance and I intend to give it, if I can. Not all the creatures out there are lost causes, surely, just as not all demons are evil?" he asked, smirking faintly and giving Rin a meaningful look.

"I do think, however, that you might be misunderstanding my purpose. I do not want to go out and gather every creature along the way. I merely intend to spread the word among those who will hear me that the Bastion is a haven for those willing to go. Those creatures too violent to listen will of course not even be capable of understanding what I offer - which is really little more than an extended invitation and guidance should one need it.

The only reasons I insist on going alone are that if I need to flee I can do so without worrying about someone else, and because my presence alone will be infinitely less threatening. Additionally, I can speak, and they can understand."

[hellpyre]

She shifted again, glancing away from his gaze. There really wasn't anything more she could say to all of this.

"I just don't think it's very safe... but I know that's not gonna change your mind. So just... come back in one piece, okay? That's all I want."

[yinyangfox]

"That is my intention, Lady Rin. I want to come home. I have a reason to come back. But in light of that, I can't allow myself to become sedate and selfish. Just because I have reason to stay does not mean I should abandon good work."

He sighed softly, smiling faintly and tilting his head.

"It is little more than a sort of missionary work. But if I don't go beyond where we've already been clearing the areas than I cannot speak with those as yet largely unaffected by our presence. If I find them unwilling to communicate, I will run, Lady Rin. There is not cowardice in fleeing here, only good sense."

[hellpyre]

She had reason enough to worry. She had mentioned those lost before, but just recently Night had been missing for over a week. And as far as they were all concerned, being gone that long usually meant they weren't coming back. Just like Kuro before her, Night had been one of the few full demons Rin had any sort of connection with, and she was something that filled the emptiness left by being separated from her twin sister.

In short, Rin was already suffering painfully from one recent loss, and she selfishly wanted to hold on to the ones that were still there.

Quietly, she nodded, hands curled in to fists on her lap.

[yinyangfox]

Normally one not predisposed towards physical contact, Seimei eventually sighed and reached out, resting a hand over Rin's gently, his smile as reassuring as he could muster.

"Lady Rin, I will be taking Taisan with me. He is my most powerful shikigami, and not without his own investments in my safety. I am not going completely alone. Not in the strictest sense. And as I promised, I will not take unnecessary chances. I have good reasons to return. I should not wish to squander my life."

[hellpyre]

Rin looked up, nodding again. When she spoke again, though, it was to Taisan.

"You bring him back. Okay?"

[yinyangfox]

Taisan looked up slowly, blinking those eerie eyes the color of Rin's flames before nodding once, uncharacteristically serious.

"You got it, sugar tits. If I don't, I go poof too, so its kinda important he makes it back. I'm expendable, y'know. Foxface ain't."

[hellpyre]

"Yeah, well..." Rin muttered, shifting uncomfortably in her seat and looking away. It wasn't easy for her to admit that for as difficult as they could be towards one another, she actually did enjoy Taisan's presence.

She let out a breath, looking back finally with the same serious look as before.

"... it'd be nice if you make it back, too."

[yinyangfox]

The onmyoji smiled behind his teacup while Taisan tilted his head slowly, blinking at Rin owlishly.

"Me? Don't worry about me. I'm just paper and a little bit of wind. If something happens to me, Foxface can fix me right up. No problem. But uh...thanks, either way," he remarked, offering a toothy grin and leaning back to test the strings of his instrument.

Seimei chuckled softly, leaning forward and murmured to Rin.

"I believe you just 'made his day' as the saying goes."

[hellpyre]

Rin couldn't help but laugh at that, but laughing was better than tears any day. She nodded to Seimei, smiling back at Taisan with an actual fond expression.

"I'll miss you guys while you're gone..."

[yinyangfox]

"Aw, I'll miss you, too, babycakes," the shikigami drawled, prompting a raised brow from Seimei. The onmyoji eventually just shook his head and smiled.

"We will return, one way or another. I have said it before, but I have no intention of putting myself at greater risk than absolutely necessary. I have no compunctions about fleeing, if that is the only course of action."

[hellpyre]

"Good. And the sooner you get back, the sooner I can make you more good food, okay?"

[yinyangfox]

"I will of course hold you to that, Lady Rin. My cooking is still terrible, I don't mind admitting. I suspect Kaoru will either take up some of the cooking from Taisan or buy food with shards over and over. He insists on including himself in house duties unnecessarily."

[hellpyre]

"Do I need to keep an eye on him, too?" Rin asked with a tiny smirk, glancing at Taisan again.

[yinyangfox]

Taisan shrugged, grinning brightly and looking off innocently as Seimei chuckled and shook his head.

"Lady Rin will do what Lady Rin will do," was all he said on the matter, dark eyes twinkling with mirth. He seemed much happier than Rin had seen him before, cheeks colored, hair down, himself still tidy but not so crisp and severe as usual. Despite the losses, Seimei obviously considered his gains far greater after the calamity.

"I would appreciate you being there for him, however. He will likely fret while I am away, and I would not have him making himself ill with worry."

[hellpyre]

It was good to see him like that. She had been suffering under the weight of her recent mistakes and losses lately, but knowing at least one of her friends was doing better helped bolster some of the confidence she'd lost recently. It wasn't all bad, even if the situation was bleak from time to time. She could still give a genuine smile, and not one that hid just how badly she was hurting.

"I will. As much as I can be, anyway. I know Nathaniel wants to us to head out again soon, but I doubt we'll be away as long as you're plannin'."

[yinyangfox]

"There are others as well, but I know him to be fond of a select few, and you are included there. Please, Lady Rin, make yourself welcome in my home whenever it please you to do so. I only ask that my chambers, at the least, are respectfully off limits at all times to everyone. Beyond that, welcome, enjoy yourself, enjoy the gardens and library. Make yourself...at home."

[hellpyre]

"Really?"

She didn't know why she was surprised. Maybe it was because he was leaving for a while, and it seemed odd to her to have such an invitation when he wouldn't be present.

"Alright... well, thank you for that. I'll try to visit when I can."

[yinyangfox]

"I hope you will remember that when I return. I would be disappointed to find you interest in the house was solely to visit Kaoru," he remarked, smiling faintly and twitching a brow up.

"More tea?" he asked without preamble, leaning over to pour himself more, watching Taisan thoughtfully. So much to do, so much on his mind. Perhaps next time he should choose a less...curious shikigami.

"You've hardly touched anything, Lady Rin."

[hellpyre]

"Of course not! I'd want to see all of you!"

His question brought her attention back to the tea and snacks.

"Oh! Sorry, sorry, I was distracted by all that... yes. More tea, please."

[yinyangfox]

He chuckled softly, amused by her darting responses, and leaned to one side, a soft twang of a missed note in the music the only sign that Taisan had moved to lift and fling a pillow. It flopped neatly to the floor and slid just under the onmyoji's elbow, the music carrying on steadily while Seimei smirked slyly, obviously enjoying troubling the mouthy shikigami.

"Of course, of course," the fox-faced man drawled, reaching over and rearranging cups and snacks with one hand, the other propping his head up.

"How are you and your...companion?" he asked offhandedly, arching a brow and smiling in that way.

[hellpyre]

Okay, that got a good laugh out of Rin. Hidden behind a hand, but still.

"Bon?" she asked after a moment, a faint pink coming to her cheeks. "We're good. Not much different there..."

They hadn't even kissed yet. Silly teenagers.

[yinyangfox]

"Hm. Truly?" he asked, tilting his head slowly and frowning faintly in thought. "Have you two not known one another for many years?" he asked after a moment, picking up his teacup to sip casually.

"Is there too much between you both? Sometimes too much history becomes as much of a hurdle as too little."

[hellpyre]

"Many years? Uhm... no, just a year... ish. I didn't have any real friends before I started at the academy," Rin admitted quietly, sipping at her tea.

"I don't think there's too much history. But... I was a guy in his world. Maybe that's still awkward for him?"