reunion;;

[derepressed]

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.]

Comments

[souredsweet]

[wow he's not bought that easily

BUT YES HE'LL WALK AFTER HER oh boy oh boy peaches. he trails behind her at a slight distance, holding his hands behind his back and peering over her shoulder.]

These ones look ripe. [pointing over to a section of the biggest ones!] We could take a few of those.

[derepressed]

Ah, yes..! [She'll just casually pick up a few of those, then...] Um, is there anything else you wanted to pick up, aside from the peaches..?

[She's going to get some money together to pay for these.]

[souredsweet]

[WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE FRIEND he immediately holds a hand out!!]

I'll pay for these. And, um... strawberries - we can get some of those, too. Anything you'd like, really. You can consider it a thank you for cooking dinner.

[derepressed]

[When he holds his hand out, she pouts!]

...but, Kaoru... Dinner was a thank you for letting me stay with you, and for helping me with my medicine. [Are they just going to spend this entire week thanking each other. Are they.]

[souredsweet]

[yes. the circle of thanks has begun and now it will never end.]

Then consider this my thanks for your thanks. [kaoru?!] It was a really good meal... The best I've had in a long time.

[derepressed]

[The compliment flusters her into blushing! And also hesitating just enough that she won't go ahead try and pay for the peaches while he's somewhat distracted, because she's even more distracted now. Success, Kaoru.]

Ah, um..! I'm so glad you liked it. I was really hoping you would. [That sounds odd.] ..um..!

[souredsweet]

[he will PAY FOR THOSE PEACHES WHILE SHE'S MORE DISTRACTED THAN HE IS. yes, a success for Kaoru.]

Oh? [it does sound a little odd, but he just writes it off as... a person who loves to cook really wanting their cooking being appreciated?! or something like that, he assumes. he smiles!] Whoever gets to eat your cooking more regularly is really lucky, I think.

[derepressed]

Ah...

[She looks down. She's not sure about lucky, but...] I really don't get to cook regularly. My husband says it's - beneath him, to have his wife cook when we have others to do it for us.

[Of course, she's expected to know how to keep house... she just never has any opportunity to do it. There are other things the Nagumo family expects of her that take precedence.]

...but I truly enjoy it, so I'm grateful to have the chance to cook for you.

[souredsweet]

[that has his brow furrowing a little. huh. he's definitely heard of those types of families before, and something about that particular attitude seems uncomfortably familiar to him, but he shakes that off quickly.]

Then if they're going to turn down the opportunity, no one can complain if I get to appreciate all of your cooking in their stead. [SO THERE, NAGUMO. he takes the bagged peaches into his arms, offering a fleeting smile.]

But I don't want you to feel like you need to cook for me, either. We can switch off or cook together, all right?

[derepressed]

"Their loss is your gain"... isn't that right? [Her lips twitch into a smile and she hides a giggle behind one hand - allowing Kaoru to be the one to eat her cooking is something she truly doesn't mind. Even if the Nagumo allowed her to cook, she's not sure she would want to prepare food for them, anyway.

Cooking relaxes her - it's not something she wants to come to associate with them.

His offer brings a pleased expression to her face, and she nods.] Being able to cook together with you... I wouldn't mind that at all. In fact, I think I would like that a lot.

[souredsweet]

[part of him had actually expected that he would need to fight harder to get her to agree to share a kitchen with him, and he blinks once, somewhat owlishly.]

Ah— really? [HE DID NOT PLAN FOR THIS. he suddenly feels quite self-conscious about his skills (or lack thereof) in the kitchen.] ...I'm not sure that anything I prepare will be up to par, but if you wouldn't mind, then I wouldn't either.

[derepressed]

Prepare what you feel like you can prepare. [She smiles gently - the prospect of cooking with someone who doesn't cook much doesn't seem to bother her at all.

In fact, it's almost a little exciting.] If there's anything you want to learn to make, I can teach you... It will be fun!

[souredsweet]

[well, he seems encouraged by the fact that she isn't put off with the idea of teaching someone who doesn't really cook a whole lot! though his expression had become a little nervous, that brings a smile to his face again.]

Thank you. I'll do my best to prepare what I can, in that case. I wouldn't mind learning anything that you might want to teach me either, so...

[derepressed]

[She claps her hands together, looking more than a little excited. Apparently she really likes having the chance people to cook.

(Actually, it's just that she likes having the chance to teach Kaoru to cook.)]

Then, I'll look forward to it..! Um, I don't want to take up too much of your time, though... so please, just tell me whenever you're ready to learn.

[souredsweet]

[WHAT A NERD. no he seems pretty excited by the prospect too, though it also causes a stir of confusion and unease in him. the whole "treating this familiar-looking stranger like I've known her my whole life" thing doesn't fly over his head, perceptive as he is even in this version of their reality.]

I should have the free time this weekend. [he won't pretend his weeks can get pretty busy, considering he's the only person running the clinic now.] Would that be all right?

[while talking, he turns back toward the path leading away from the market.]

[derepressed]

I think so...

[They may not have as many chances to cook together as she would like, if that's the case; she's aware she can't linger here for too long lest the Nagumo come looking and find Kaoru. But waiting until the weekend... what could be the harm?

She starts down the path after him.]

So long as you aren't busy. [She's not the one with the job here, after all, though she may or may not end up trying to help out around the clinic if he doesn't keep a close eye on her.]

[souredsweet]

[luckily for him, he's used to keeping an eye on people, so he will definitely do his best to intercept her when he can because she! is a guest!! and he's failing at everything if she does so much work!!!

that said, unaware of the somewhat distant threat in the form of the clan that was once his, he seems to be in good spirits now. he keeps his gaze on the path before them, but it's a confident sort of thing rather than one borne from nervousness.]

I'm not. Or rather, working through an entire weekend... Well - with the work I do, I can't guarantee that it won't happen, but I can guarantee that I'll have the time to cook with you. Business isn't as busy as it was in the earlier months, anyway.

[derepressed]

[she's also his family!! family helps out!!!]

Is that so..? [Well - with the primary doctor out and about doing god knows what, it makes sense. She smiles faintly.] I'm sorry business has been slower for you, but... I'm glad we'll have the chance to cook together.

[souredsweet]

[nOT IF THEY ARE VISITORS sit down chizuru]

It's fine. I don't really mind it, since it gives me time to work on other things. [like arranging flowers!! in vases in the kitchen...! also not improving his cooking skills at all because he's the lamest bachelor and lives on the bare minimum!]

What sort of thing would you want to start with? We'll have to go shopping again.

[derepressed]

[CHIZURU REFUSES TO SIT

wow kaoru at this rate sen's going to come looking for a husband and she's just going to take one look at you and shake her head and gallivant off to find kazama. work on that cooking...]

Um... [She pauses, thinking it over, before her lips curve up into a small smile as something occurs to her.] ...do you like odamaki-mushi?

[souredsweet]

[WHY DON'T YOU EVER LISTEN TO HIM CHIZURUUUU.

it's true, though, even Kazama is a better bachelor than him when he's actually being charming. HOW SAD... it's a good thing he isn't aware of that or how horrible it truly is. he's too focused on the food she suggests, which has his expression lighting up.]

Odamaki-mushi? It's one of my favorite foods. I haven't been able to make it in a while, though...

[derepressed]

[LISTENING TO KAORU IS NEVER A GOOD IDEA LIKE EVER...

The way his expression lights up is such a great sight to see. To think that something so simple could make him that happy - well, it's not like it's much of a surprise. Good food has always had a way of cheering her up; the fact that it makes him happy too... well. It means he's had a good enough life in this re-imagined world that he can afford to take happiness from such a thing.]

Let's make it together, then.

[souredsweet]

[THIS KAORU IS FINE TO LISTEN TO!!

but the idea of making his old favorite dish once again seems to suit him perfectly well. he tugs at the bottom of one sleeve in what appears to be a habitual gesture of excitement.]

Ah, I almost don't want to wait for the weekend. [antsypants kaoru...] Could we make it tomorrow?

[derepressed]

[put up or shut up...

She doesn't mind the impatience. She doesn't mind it at all - because she's impatient too, and the thought of making odamaki-mushi the very next day is much better than the thought of making odamaki-mushi at the end of the week. She claps her hands together excitedly.]

If that's okay with you, it's okay with me! [A pause.] Ah, I want to go to sleep so tomorrow will come faster...

[souredsweet]

[rude as hell...

BUT HER EXCITEMENT IS CONTAGIOUS they're in a soundchamber of Too Happy About Odamaki-Mushi and no one can stop them.]

We'll have to get ingredients in the morning, so we should sleep quickly. [are they even back at the house yet, i forgot... WE'LL SAY THEY ARE NOW.]