recountal | reunion;;

reunion;;

Yukimura Residence.
Edo, Japan, January 1864.

[The years have stretched on and on, agonizingly slowly. Part of it is because Chizuru lacks the child-like lack of perspective that makes time fly by so quickly in the earliest years; mostly, it's because the Nagumo are so very cruel. Time flies when one is having fun, but among that clan...

This is the first opportunity she's had in years to even consider a visit to Edo, and though she might pay for it later, she doesn't care. There's something she has to do here, and so here she is, dressed in the finery one would expect of the wife of the young master of the Nagumo. Perhaps it's strange, to see such a finely-dressed young lady in front of the humble Yukimura clinic.

She doesn't care. She just doesn't care.

She is stopped, outside the house, because it's both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. The house looks mostly the same, but the subtle differences, are they there because it's not her that's living there? All the touches of a young woman are gone. Chizuru has never lived here, but Kaoru has, and -

The differences are Kaoru's touch. That eases the knot of tension in her gut the slightest bit and gives her the courage to move forward, to call into the house as though she's a patient and this is a perfectly normal visit.]

Excuse me? I was wondering if perhaps I might speak with Yukimura-sensei...

[He won't be here. She's sure he won't, sure she's remembered the timing because her memories are all that's gotten her through the years at the hands of those horrible people, but that's okay. He isn't the one she is here to see.

She's depending on the fact that it will be Kaoru who will answer her call.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[just smiling right back! and mentally apologizes for being a moron who doesn't keep the guest room clean...]

Please, it's the least that I can do. I apologize that we don't have accommodations that are more suitable...

[high-ranking ladies having to stay in an undecorated, kinda dusty room with a futon that is a little lacking... THINGS COULD BE WORSE but they could also definitely be better. at least everything is clean, with the exception of the light dust. he is kind of neurotic about cleanliness and it shows in every room of the house (with the apparent exception of the kitchen).]

Anyway, please arrange things to your liking. The futon is in the closet and if you need anything else, please let me know.

[and with a polite bow, he's setting off for said disaster zone.]

[Her rank literally comes from her status as a demonic broodmare so really she's quite alright without having rooms befitting her status. THAT SAID...

Once he leaves, she immediately rolls up the sleeves of her fancy kimono (were she in Tosa, she would most certainly be getting some lecture about how such behavior is unseemly and how she needs to take better care of her clothing and let the servants do such menial tasks themselves) and gets to work. It's been years since she's had to do such a thing and so it takes a little more time than she would like to pull out the futon and rearrange what's in the room already into a small, pale imitation of what her room had been when she had lived here; some things she can't reproduce, but when she's done - well, she's happy with the result. It feels good, to have gone through the motions on her own like this... like she's really, truly come home.

After dusting off her kimono (because even with how clean Kaoru was, some dust did permeate the air as she was working, she makes her way to the kitchen. Once she reaches it, she pauses outside and calls out, because Kaoru really hadn't wanted her to see it, so she supposes she should give him the chance to let her know if it's okay for her to enter or not.]

Yukimura-san? I've finished. Is it alright for me to come in..?

[while she's working away at arranging the room to suit her tastes, she'll likely be able to hear him banging and crashing around in the kitchen like a giraffe... apparently there is QUITE A MESS in there. it mostly sounds like pots and pans and other common items used for cooking. there's also the sound of running water as he scrubs down the counters and makes sure that everything is in its rightful order.

however, at around the time that she's heading down the hall in the direction of the kitchen, she might hear something a little strange. it's a very light noise, a soft clink of some sort - something that sounds too light to be a pot or pan or any sort of pottery. but that's the last sound that comes from the area, and by the time she asks, Kaoru pops his head out from around the door with a smile.]

It's all right. Please come in; I apologize for the wait.

[wow that had better not be vials of ochimizu she's hearing clinking in there...

The notes she glimpsed so very briefly make her a little suspicious, but she supposes if she's to be here for a week or so she'll have ample opportunity to look into it. But it's not really something she wants to do - if she can, she'd like to pretend that everything is normal and nothing is wrong, and enjoy these few precious days that she has with her brother.

She returns his smile when he appears.]

There is nothing to apologize for, Yukimura-san. [INTO THE KITCHEN SHE GOES... how different will it be from how she remembers it, she wonders.]

[THE WORLD WILL NEVER KNOW...

or maybe Chizuru will if she snoops but gosh who would ever be that rude!!

either way, the kitchen itself reflects the general pattern of the rest of the house. it seems spartan in decor, though it isn't empty or unpleasant to be it. it just seems like not a whole lot of personal touches have been added. everything is put away neatly and there isn't dust or grime anywhere, so it's clear that this area sees much more use than the guest bedroom.

on the window ledge, there's a small vase that's filled with wildflowers. outside of that, nothing in particular stands out as being strange, out of place, or for use in creating vats of ochimizu. he steps to the side as Chizuru walks in, hands folded together again.]

I need to go to the market now, anyway. Is there anything that you'd like for me to pick up?

[If this were any other Chizuru she would most certainly never be so rude but... this is a Chizuru who's been trapped in a murderous castle and then managed to go back in time and grew up with the Nagumo family, so yeah, she's totally that rude. BUT LUCKILY FOR KAORU she will refrain from snooping until he's not around.

She can work with a spartan kitchen. It's reminiscent of the Shinsengumi and since her memories are all she has of them, anything that brings them to mind is okay in her book. She looks over the kitchen with a smile.]

...so long as you already have rice, fish, and vegetables, I think I can make do for now. [Then a light giggle -] I'll be sure to have something delicious ready by the time you get back.

[you can't grow up with the Nagumo and not become a snoop, apparently. IT'S A CURSE...

that said, this version of Kaoru is also much more trusting, so he apparently sees nothing wrong with leaving a stranger in the kitchen to cook while he moseys out to do whatever. good job Kaoru, those self-preservation instincts are strong.]

Mm, we have all of those things. The fish is out there- [pointing!] -with the vegetables, and the rice is in the lower cabinet. If that's all, I'll be going now... I'll try to make it a quick trip.

[and then he dips his head briefly in a polite gesture and backs on up to mosey out!]

I'll look forward to your return... Yukimura-san.

[She smiles and bows to him as he backs up, only rising from the bow once he's out of the room. Then she immediately sets to getting things together to cook - rice, vegetables, fish, cooking knives, seasonings... She keeps herself busy, looking for all the world like someone whose only intentions are to prepare a meal.

Once enough time has passed for him to be well on his way to the market, though, she sets some of the food down to simmer and crosses over to the flowers. They're beautiful, but in a room with no other decoration they also feel a little out of place, and so she leans down to smell them but takes a close, careful look to see if anything is being hidden nearby.

...at least it will be easy enough to explain away as her simply enjoying the scent of the flowers, should Kaoru forget something and return suddenly.]

Edited (leaving a letter off sure changed the meaning of that sentence) 2014-06-11 22:34 (UTC)

[it seems like being keenly observant is also a trait that those raised by the Nagumo obtain...! unfortunately.

that said, Chizuru seems to have a decent stroke of luck going on right now. not only does Kaoru not suddenly bust a move back through the door claiming to have forgotten his wallet or something, but if she leans in close enough, she may notice that the flowers in the vase seem a little uneven. the side that's facing the window is risen just a little higher than the side facing the kitchen.]

...

[She does, in fact, notice the uneven heights. And so, she purses her lips a little and slips her fingers into the vase to feel around the side that's facing the window - she sincerely hopes it's just a matter of uneven stems, but...]

...Kaoru-kun, what are you hiding...? [The words come out murmured, anyway.]

[it's just uneven stems!

no of course she's not going to be that lucky, wow. there seems to be a slip of paper underneath the stems facing the window. it's small and folded in half. will she take it out like a true snoop?? it's like craven castle all over again but with less blood and murder (presumably).]

[She does, in fact, fish out the slip of paper, because if Craven Castle taught her anything it's find as much evidence as possible or someone she cares about will get their ass executed. Once it's out, she opens it and smooths it over to look.

Maybe it's just... a love letter... from one of Kaoru's many admirers...]

[yes that is exactly what it is, it's a long scrawling note confessing deep admiration for the 5'2" squirrely loser that runs a podunk medical clinic while his dad is gone.

actually, the only things written on it appear to be a time and a place. the script is tidy; Chizuru will likely recognize it from when Kaoru had to write his own alibi. penmanship is apparently still a talent that he possesses...]

Edited 2014-06-13 05:33 (UTC)

...

[She commits the time and place to memory, before folding it back up just as it was and sliding it back into the vase. Hopefully it's nothing - but if it's something clandestine enough that he hadn't wanted anyone to see it... she worries it has to do with the ochimizu.

For now, she'll get back to cooking - but she has every intention of going to that place at that time, if circumstances allow it.]

[SHE'S IN LUCK since it's later at night - 11 PM - and the location is very near, too.

and about forty-five minutes later, Kaoru trundles back into the house. he has several bags in his arms which rustle loudly, likely heralding his arrival before he even opens his mouth.]

I'm back. Please excuse me for making you wait, Nagumo-san.

[the sound of the door closing follows soon after, and his shoes noisily clattering to the floor as he takes them off and brushes them to the side with a foot.]

[45 minutes later, Chizuru has already laid out a delicious and nutritious meal of fish, pickled vegetables, and of course rice... There's tea ready, too! In fact, she's just setting down the last cup as Kaoru enters the house.]

Yukimura-san!

[She beams.] No, you didn't make me wait at all. Let me help you with the groceries...

[And she'll pad on out to take some of those bags from him!]

Was it a good trip?

Oh, thank you— [he shifts his hold on the bags so that the lighter ones are being held out. it certainly wouldn't do to overwork a guest, okay...! even though just... having her clear out her own room and cook is probably already overworking. HE'S SORRY.

but he'll wander in after her to put the rest of the bags down, distracted once he sees the meal that's been set out. almost as soon a that happens, his stomach growls in a seemingly reflexive measure. EMBARRASSING. his cheeks flush...]

...My apologies.

[this is probably literally the best meal he's had in like years okay, these losers can't fend for themselves at all...]

You don't have anything to apologize for.

[She smiles and gestures at the table.] Please, take a seat. You must have been hard at work before I arrived... isn't that the case?

[Yes, no, maybe so - it doesn't really matter. Regardless of what his answer is, she's going to urge him to sit and eat. Once he's taken a seat, she'll sit down as well, across from him.] I hope the food is to your liking. It's been some time since I cooked...

Ah— Well... there haven't been many patients here lately.

[despite the fact that his tone sounds uncertain, the look on his face is strangely difficult to read. nothing about it seems off, exactly... it just appears to be placid to the point of being hard to see through.

either way, he doesn't linger on that for long. instead, he tucks himself up at the table - which she likely would have also been able to tell has been left unused for quite a while - and surveys the food with a look of quiet appreciation.]

I'm sure that it will be, Nagumo-san. I'm very grateful that you were kind enough to do this in the first place. [folding his hands together, he dips his head a little in a polite bow.] Thank you.

Edited 2014-06-13 07:19 (UTC)

Ah?

[She tilts her head to one side. Well - if Kaoru's father is in Kyoto as he was when he was pretending to be Chizuru's father, of course there woudn't be. The influx of patients had slowed to a trickle then, too. But still, it does seem as though Kaoru is much more involved with the business than she ever was, so she wouldn't be surprised if a patient came to see him every so often.]

Mm. You're welcome. Um... [She hides a smile behind one hand.] ...it feels nice... to be able to make something like this for someone who appreciates it.

So, thank you, too. You've done me a favor.

[he seems keen on leaving that particular line of discussion behind, moving on to the next part seamlessly and with a polite but genuinely pleased-looking smile.]

Then it looks like we've helped each other out, right? [but he'll clasp his hands together after that, dip his head and give the proper thanks, and then reach over to pick up some of the pickled vegetables. after that, it's a small piece of fish. he's taking polite portions even though he is VERY HUNGRY so as not to disturb his poor guest...]

—These are very good... I almost can't believe that this is the first time you've cooked in a while, Nagumo-san.

Edited 2014-06-13 08:45 (UTC)

[SUSPICIOUS... but she is easily distracted by that smile because wow, that sure is her brother looking genuinely happy, she doesn't see that every day. She sure doesn't want to ruin that, so she'll just smile in return!]

It seems that we have. I hope we can go on helping each other, Yukimura-san.

[And her cheeks flush a little at the compliment.]

Oh no, um... It's simply a skill that you never really forget once you've picked it up... I think.

Mm, I hope so, too.

[wow, all of this genuine sentiment!! granted, it was pretty difficult for most people to tell that he wasn't being genuine back in the life he had lived before... but there does seem to be a warmth present now that Kaoru was never fully capable of capturing before, no matter how perfect his mimicries were.

he delicately picks another piece of fish out, but pauses before he takes a bite, looking curious.]

Is that so? I guess something like that could come in handy, at least... Never forgetting how to cook once you learn, I mean.

When you do certain things often enough, they just... stay with you!

[She beams, obviously delighted; the truth of the matter is, cooking is one of the other ways she can feel connected to the Shinsengumi even though chances are she'll never see any of them again. When she prepares a meal, it brings back so many memories of preparing meals for those men.

But that, too, is part of the bargain. Her brother's safety in exchange for the life she used to lead.]

I'm sure it's the same with Yukimura-san. Maybe not cooking, but even so... everyone has at least one skill like that.

[that actually has him lapsing into a thoughtful silence for a second, though he's still smiling. he picks up his bowl of rice, but doesn't actually eat anything from it yet.]

Hm... Do you think so? A skill like that? [...honestly, he can't... actually think of one. not that he's ever particularly excelled at any one thing - he hasn't, not really. he's all right with housework and he can at least cook decently enough so that he doesn't give himself food poisoning. his medical skills are fine enough to treat things that aren't too complex... but these aren't things that really take a lot of thought to begin with, medicine aside. even that's just a bunch of memorization.]

I wonder what mine is. Maybe I just haven't found it yet? [learning a skill in the future and having it become something that he never forgets again wouldn't be too bad, he thinks.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject