recountal | reunion;;

[there is only silence for a few moments, and it may seem like no one is actually around... the clinic hasn't gotten many visitors in the past month, after all, and Kaoru doesn't do much upkeep besides sweeping and dusting, or shoveling away snow if it builds up too much. luckily the path has been cleared this morning, indicating that someone is around - and soon enough, from the interior of the building, there's a clattering noise. something that may or may not be a stack of papers falling over in a grand whoosh follows soon after, and then the muffled sound of someone yelping in surprise behind a closed door somewhere. not more than a few seconds after that, her assumptions will be proven correct.

Kaoru slides around the corner, in a rush but still somewhat graceful. he's holding a pen in one hand, dressed in comfortable clothing in shades of muted blues and greys. his hair is cut short, but frames his face in a way similar to hers.

in comparison, he's a much plainer person to look at. he seems aware of it, too, immediately spouting off an apology. kimonos like that are expensive! disappointing a wealthy customer would be a pretty terrible thing to do.]

I apologize! He isn't available at the moment, but—

[...and then he actually has time to stop and look at her.

in the castle and even before then, Chizuru may have noticed that no matter what sort of expression Kaoru ever made, there always seemed to be some measure of distance in his eyes. that seems to be gone now; his expressions seem genuine, as does the quiet shock present now. after all, unlike aPPARENTLY EVERYONE ELSE SANS OKITA, he's a perceptive person. coming face to face with someone who looks exactly like you is definitely a surprise; it stirs silenced memories tucked away in the back of his mind, leaving him gaping for a few seconds.

he speaks up again eventually, in a much more subdued tone, but in a way that makes it clear he's trying to present a good business front while attempting to work out exactly what's going on here.]

...He isn't available. If you need a prescription though, I could check the files...

Edited 2014-06-10 03:43 (UTC)

Ah...

[Chizuru had believed she was prepared to see him again. But in the moment when he comes into view, she finds that she really isn't - her heart clenches uncomfortably and she has to work to disguise the expression of pain as an expression of shock. It's close enough, not quite a mirror of his (because she knew to expect the way they look alike, what she was hoping for but not really expecting was to see him looking so genuine).

He's alright. He's living a happy life, here in Edo, away from the Nagumo clan. He probably has a close relationship with his adoptive father and if he can be spared the madness that is to come in the next couple of years, if he manages to avoid becoming involved with the ochimizu at all -

If he stays safely away from it...

She drags her gaze away from his face and looks down demurely, one hand resting delicately at her chest.]

You have my most sincere apologies... This is an inconveniently-timed visit. I don't have a prescription, I'm afraid. But I was hoping Yukimura-sensei would be able to do something for me. [She worries at her lip, then, after a moment, looks up as though something has just occurred to her.] ...you're Yukimura-sensei's son, yes? Has he been teaching you his trade?

[the way that Kaoru watches her is very careful, but it's also much more open than his expressions used to be. over the years, he had gotten very accustomed to keeping his guard up. he watched others sharply but kept them at arms length, allowing very little of what he felt or thought to show.

now, though, his curiosity is something he wears openly. who wouldn't be curious about something like this? a stranger with his face... a girl who can't be much older than himself, who carries herself in such an elegant, refined way - it takes him a second to redirect his thoughts, but that question is enough to prompt it.]

Oh— Yes, I am. [a nod! he reaches out to place the brush on a nearby table so that his hands are free. in a gesture that she might find familiar, he clasps both of his hands in front of himself. however, there's no air of anxiety or nervousness present as had always been the case when he had used it before (because he had always used it when he was wearing his facade).] Please don't consider it ill-timed. I'll do the best that I can to help you, even though I'm only an apprentice... What is it that you need?

[That's a loaded question if Chizuru has ever heard one. What is it she needs - well, in a way, she's already gotten it. What she needed was confirmation that Kaoru is safe and happy, living a much better life than he had been when he was the one taken in by the Nagumo.

What she wants is to come home, to live here in this house with him, to study medicine so that by the time Okita is diagnosed with tuberculosis it won't be an "incurable disease" after all, to be able to cure him so that both her family and the man she's cared for (it's unrequited and will continue to be unrequited, she knows it, she's always known that part of the bargain when it came to ensuring that Kaoru wouldn't go to the Nagumo was giving up the friendship of the Shinsengumi) will be able to leave in peace and happiness and maybe, maybe someday she could introduce Kaoru to him as her brother without it ending terribly.

It's an impossible dream. The impossible has already happened once; there's no way she's lucky enough for it to happen again.]

It's... a bit of a delicate matter. But perhaps you will be able to help me... [She furrows her brow and glances to her right and to her left.] ...I'm sorry. Could we possibly discuss this inside? It's not something I want anyone to overhear.

[the strange circumstances of this visit just a few seconds in had been enough to thoroughly distract him from the things that he should by all means know by now. simple things like "oh, hey, this is a private practice that protects the information of its patients"! which obviously can't be done if they're just standing outside.

he jolts a little, as though struck by that remembrance, and quickly gestures her in. it seems like the mystery of their similar looks has been forgotten momentarily in the fluster of committing such an amateur mistake.]

Ah— I'm so sorry! Of course, please come this way.

[and Kaoru will quietly grant her passage into the building - the place that she had once called home before giving up her life of comfort for his sake. the main areas that can be seen from the hallway aren't actually all that different from what she remembers, most likely. it's her room that's changed the most, considering it no longer belongs to her.

she'll be able to get a look into it on the way to the room used for business, since it had been the room he had tumbled out of earlier and he had left the screen open. the room itself is neat and tidy, but it doesn't have the air that his room in the castle did - barren, empty, sparse... like no one was staying there at all.]

[It's a little strange, to be stepping over this threshold but not be coming home. She is a visitor here, and she has to remind herself of that. (That she has to remind herself of that at all is more painful than she was expecting, and she brings up a hand to her mouth to keep herself from sighing as she looks at the familiar sights.)

It still feels like home, even after the years in Kyoto and the brief interlude in that terrible castle and the half a year she had before ensuring she was the one left behind in that burning building and then the years in the clutches of the Nagumo. But, as far as Kaoru knows, she is a stranger and this is her first time here. She can't bat an eye at any of it.

...she isn't able to resist a quick glance in the direction of her old room - his room, now - though, and she's glad her hand is already at her mouth because if it weren't she definitely wouldn't have been able to keep quiet at that.

It's a good thing that they don't linger, and soon enough they arrive in the room for business. Chizuru recognizes it, and immediately goes to stand where she remembers customers lingering when they've visited her father.

There is a pause (admittedly, a bit of an awkward one) before she speaks up.]

Mm, where to start..? [Introducing herself would be a good idea. She slowly lowers her hand from her mouth before bowing to him.] I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Nagumo Chizuru; your father is acquainted with my husband's family... But, I don't believe you and I have had the opportunity to meet, Yukimura-san.

[as soon as he enters the room, he's busy cleaning papers off of tables. it seems like he uses this area as a study of sorts - or it at least sees more use than his own room does when it comes to actual work-related things. she might notice that some of the documents look very familiar in a very unfortunate way, but Kaoru is quick to put them all aside and turn back to face her with a smile on his face.]

Ah— Right, I've heard him mention that... The Nagumo clan before. [something in his expression seems to shift a little at that. maybe it's the combination of hearing those two names together - Chizuru and Nagumo - that sparks some dormant thing inside of his mind. he tries to shake the brief daze away, and it's easy enough. almost too easy. he doesn't linger on it at all, offering a polite smile.]

My name is Yukimura Kaoru. [likewise, he offers a bow. it, too, still retains elegance in the way that his movements seem to.] It's a pleasure to meet you, Nagumo-san.

[Her eyes linger on some of those unfortunately familiar papers and it nearly makes her heart stop. That, sadly, is something she hadn't considered; she herself had been spared any knowledge of the ochimizu, but... she had thought it because she was raised as his child, not because she was raised as his daughter.

She has fully believed that his son would have been spared involvement with the ochimizu in the same way.

Still, when Kaoru turns his attention to her, she tries to mask her discomfort with a polite smile. She's become practiced at it, and perhaps the distance that had been in Kaoru's eyes when he had been a Nagumo is present in her eyes now.]

The pleasure is all mine, Yukimura-san. [Her expression flickers, then, and she casts her eyes downward.] ...I fear the request that has brought me here today may put you in a bit of an awkward position. Please, if you feel it isn't something you are comfortable assisting me with, feel free to refuse it.

[Here it is, the secondary reason for her visit - the one that, if she can't get help with here, she'll most certainly be stopping at another doctor's for assistance with before returning to the Nagumo.]

My husband's family has become quite... insistent, that he and I continue the family line. [She keeps her gaze low.] The Yukimura-sensei I remember was a very kind man. I had hoped that he might assist me in procuring a medicine that would... prevent me from bearing a child for such an unkind family.

[She's never met the man who had pretended to be her father, not in this timeline... but if the timing is right, Kaoru won't be in contact with him to ever discover otherwise.]

[it's... sad. looking this woman directly in the eyes makes him feel strangely sad, and he isn't sure why, but it bothers him and that reflects on his face.

however, any distraction immediately seems to fade away as soon as she states her problem and reason for visiting. his brow furrows upward in an expression of sympathetic concern - and it's all real, because this Kaoru, the Kaoru that Chizuru had protected, has been able to grow up without his kindness being twisted to the point that it became unrecognizable, thorny and broken and a far cry from anything actually kind.]

I won't refuse it, but... I've never had to make anything like that, either. I'll see what I can do, but it may take me a while...

[he trails off, glancing to the side at the stacks of papers there. he seems to be considering something, but after a few seconds, he fixes his attention on Chizuru again with a determined look.]

How far have you traveled to get here, out of curiosity?

[She bows to him deeply when he says he won't refuse her request - and while there are many things about her that may not seem entirely sincere now, after so many years with the Nagumo, the sheer amount of gratitude and relief in her voice when she thanks him is entirely genuine.]

That you're willing to help me at all, Yukimura-san... I truly appreciate it. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

[She starts to raise herself from the bow gracefully, but is actually caught by surprise when he returns his attention to her, and can't hide an expression of slight confusion when she answers.]

Ah? From... From Tosa Domain. [It's a long trip, to be sure - but she would have made it regardless, because seeing her brother again is worth it. Also worth it is avoiding the ninja that are at the disposal of the demons who are assisting them. She's sure that, once she's missed, they'll be sent to discover her whereabouts, but being so far away now means she has a little bit more freedom to do as she pleases without people keeping tabs on her.]

[at the genuine thanks, Kaoru offers an equally genuine smile. it doesn't seem like it would be doing a whole lot and he still isn't even sure he can manage it, but he'll surely do his best.]

It's the job of an apprentice to help, isn't it?

[upon having his assumption confirmed, he nods to himself once.]

Right... That's a trip. If you don't have an inn room booked yet, you can stay here. I can't say how long it might take me to finish this, but it would be inconvenient for you to have come all the way here just to pay boarding fees, right? I'll try not to take longer than a week, but it depends on how quickly I can get into contact with the right people...

[When he makes the offer, Chizuru's eyes go wide.

It's more than she could ever have hoped for. The chance to stay here again - in the house that feels like home, alongside the brother she worked so hard to save... even if it's only temporary, she wants it. She's far enough away from Tosa and the Nagumo clan is so busy that, perhaps, her absence won't be noticed for a few days; the ninja in the Tosa domain's employ aren't demons... even if it were to take Kaoru a week, that should be enough time for her to spend some time here and get to know Kaoru, before it could be reported back.

But if the Nagumo clan were to ever discover where she is, who she was spending her time with, and what Kaoru was doing for her... her stomach churns at the thought of them turning their wrath upon him, just because she was selfish and wanted to see him again.]

Yukimura-san is a very kind person, to make such an offer... But, I... [It's true she hasn't made her arrangements at an inn yet, but she did bring money to do so. And it's much, much safer for Kaoru if he has no reason to wind up on the radar of the Nagumo.] ...I don't wish to impose. I'm already asking you to go out of your way for me, as it is.

[IT'S CLEARLY HIS DESTINY TO WIND UP ON THE RADAR OF THE NAGUMO

that is, he simply shakes his head once in response to her polite decline - or semi-decline, really. it doesn't have nearly enough spirit in it for him to believe that she really wants to find herself an inn. he assumes it's because she doesn't want to spend the extra money if she can avoid it, which he thinks is sensible. something anyone would do, surely.]

It isn't imposing. I really don't mind it. Besides, if you stay here, then we won't have to worry about accidentally missing each other if anything important comes up, right? By working closely together, we can get this finished faster. ...Most likely, anyway.

[the last part is spoken as a gentle jest. an attempt to lighten the mood a little, maybe.]

[Selflessness and selfishness are at war with each other within Chizuru, and in the end, selfishness wins out. She's had so little happiness over the years - surely it isn't asking too much to allow herself this, however fleeting it might be. It's been so many years since she's had any sort of happiness at all that didn't come from the memories she's clung to so tightly.

She'll never have the chance to see Okita and the Shinsengumi again, but she has the opportunity to spend a few days with Kaoru. She can't pass that up.

One hand comes up to her mouth to hide the twitch of her lips into a smile at his joke.]

If you truly don't mind... Then I will accept your offer, Yukimura-san. Please, allow me to pay you what I would have spent to stay at an inn.

[seemingly satisfied with the fact that she's taken up his offer, Kaoru's smile grows just a little.]

That isn't necessary. Please consider it an apology for forcing you to wait for so long... [even if a week is rushing it in medical terms, he knows well that it's a pretty long wait. even patient people start running out of their patience after a while of dealing with "not yet, not yet" from a doctor - he's seen it enough to know that it's very true.]

Ah... Well, I'll need to clean the room a little, first. But you're welcome to it, and to any food in the kitchen. Please consider my home your own for the week, Nagumo-san.

Oh, no..! A week really... [Her voice falters, and she looks down.] ...isn't that long at all...

[It's such a short time. A single week - if that, because if the medicine is finished more quickly, she'll have no reason to stay - and then it's back to the Nagumo, back to false smiles and niceties and pressure and she knows she probably has it easier than Kaoru ever did, but it's still difficult to bear, and having experienced it herself... she's proud of him for having been so strong. There have been times when she's wanted to give up, and only the thought that her brother is safe has been enough to keep her going.

At please consider my home your own she can't help it; her eyes fill with tears. To disguise it, she looks down demurely and puts a hand over her chest.] Mm. While I'm here, I'll... help with the chores. And, I can cook...! [Which is probably strange for the wife of "nobility," bet eh.] Since Yukimura-san will be working so hard to help me... I would consider it an honor to be able to cook for you.

[he seems to be watching her with some amount of care. he can imagine that she's in a situation that could easily be considered overwhelming if it's gotten to the point that she needs to ask for such a favor from a medical professor, and even though he doesn't know her, his heart aches for her. he tries his best to make his smile a reassuring one.]

If Nagumo-san would want to trouble herself with something like that, I won't say no... I can cook if you get tired of doing so. [and his smile freezes for a second, because... that isn't right at all. he had never really learned how to cook well even with his father gone on business trips - never had much of a need to, beyond simple basic foods that wouldn't be fit to serve to a guest. he doesn't know why he offered... he quickly adds, embarrassed:]

I'm not much of a cook, though. I apologize... But I can fetch whatever you might need from the markets if you want.

It's no trouble at all, Yukimura-san... I like to cook.

[And cooking for the pair of them would certainly be easier than cooking for the Shinsengumi - though that, too, is something she hasn't done in many years. It's possible she's out of practice, given that her status had been somewhat... different, in the Nagumo family, than her status ever had been as a Yukimura and as a "guest" of the Shinsengumi.]

What sorts of foods do you like to eat...?

If that's the case, then I don't mind it...

[he's been living off of his own mediocre cooking for quite a while now. even he has his limits when it comes to how many days in a row he can just eat rice with an egg cracked into it...]

Ah... I don't really have much of a preference. [so that much hasn't changed, apparently.] Whatever you make is fine, so please feel free to make anything that you would like.

[Just rice and egg... what a sad existence, Kaoru. Geeze, boys just can't be left alone to cook for themselves, can they.]

Then..!

[She's managed to keep the tears from spilling over, and when she looks up, her eyes are bright and her smile somewhat excited. Getting to cook for Kaoru, in their home, no less... she's really very happy.]

If you haven't eaten yet... shall I prepare something?

[HE HASN'T KEELED OVER YET, HAS HE??

that said, her expression seems to take him by surprise, just a little. she must... really be enthusiastic about cooking! wow. maybe she's not allowed to cook much, being nobility-ish and all.

except then his expression becomes ABRUPTLY STRICKEN.]

Oh—! I haven't, but, ah... um— the kitchen... It really isn't in a presentable state at all right now. Please let me clean it, first!

[well he's probably about to MAYBE THAT'S WHY SHIT GOT KNOCKED OVER WHEN SHE SURPRISED HIM... because he was keeling over...]

...eh?

[The kitchen isn't presentable... what does that even mean. You're so clean everywhere else, Kaoru, what sort of culinary monstrosities have you even been dreaming up in there...

But Chizuru smiles faintly and tries to suppress a giggle.]

No, no, I'm sure I can handle the kitchen... you said for me to consider this house my own while I was here, no? [SMILING...] I'm sure I can handle a bit of a mess.

[She better not find vats of ochimizu in there.]

[it's true... WHAT IF SHE DID FIND VATS OF OCHIMIZU HUH what if she found bodies!! what if he's actually just as insane but in a different way or something, huh, what then!

or maybe it really is just a large cookery-related mess. he's apparently going to try his damndest to keep Chizuru from finding out...]

I did, but that would be asking far too much of a guest! So... ah, I can show you to your room, instead! And you can get comfortable, and by the time you're done I should be finished in the kitchen. Is that fine?

[then she'll just have to turn him loose on the nagumo clan to kill them all so she'll be free to protect him from himself, duh

...at any rate, she decides to let him have this victory, and raises a hand to her mouth to hide a smile.]

Very well. If Yukimura-san insists... I would be much obliged if you would show me where I am to stay.

[that is a foolproof plan and surely nothing will go wrong with it.

that said, his shoulders slump with some measure of relief.]

Right— Right, it's this way. [and he's off, sweeping out of the clinic to head down the hall! he walks lightly - so lightly that his feet barely make a sound, in comparison to the dumb loser crashing that was going on before. eventually he gets to the spare room and slides the door open. it's clearly been in disuse, but it isn't too dusty. just... empty. without Chizuru around, apparently neither himself nor Kodo have really done much by way of decorating.]

Will this work?

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