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.]

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[good lord, how apt. Kaoru smiles a little at that, bringing one hand up to cover his mouth. it seems that even in this version of reality, he hasn't shaken that habit.]

Then I guess we should both go.

[and he'll hold his arm out!]

Mhm!

[She links arms with him, smiling faintly - and then she tilts her head to one side.] What was it that you forgot...? Where are we going to go to get it?

[NO HE HASN'T THOUGHT THAT FAR AHEAD... but he only pauses for a second before answering very smoothly:]

Dessert. [yes.] I've decided that we'll need some. It's a gift to celebrate such a nice night. So we can head to the night market, if that's fine...

[w o w how is he better at covering his tracks than she was when she lived his life... unfair!]

That's fine with me. I've hear that the night market in Edo is truly amazing. Um, what kind of dessert do you like, Kaoru? [She doesn't know which way to go - or at least, as far as he knows, she doesn't know - so she'll let him lead the way.

- she realizes a moment later that she's slipped up and used his given name; her cheeks flush and she looks off to the side.] ...that is... Yukimura-san, I mean.

[it might just be his personality type, gosh Chizuru!! but he'll start leading the way, yes, since clearly he's the only one here who knows the roads.

looking up and over at that, though!]

Ah— Well, you can call me whatever you'd like. [...which probably isn't very business-like, but something about Chizuru makes him feel like it's okay.] Anyway, the market really is nice. It's big and always full, and the lights they set out are so pretty... I like simple desserts, though. What does Nagumo-san enjoy?

Ah, um... if you'll allow me to call you "Kaoru," you don't have to... keep calling me "Nagumo-san".

[She keeps her gaze turned away from him, because her cheeks are still burning.] Because in that case, um... "Chizuru" would be just fine.

[It's a somewhat embarrassing topic to be broaching, though, and so she takes the opportunity to latch onto his question as a way of steering it away from it.] Recently I developed a taste for peaches... [The castle isn't recent, not really, but...] Strawberries are good, too...

[SHE'S MAKING THIS MORE EMBARRASSING THAN IT NEEDS TO BE!! he wouldn't be flustered at all if it weren't for her reaction, actually.]

If you don't mind it... I wouldn't mind it, either. Chizuru, then? [the name comes to him pretty easily, all things considered, and he smiles to himself.

AND THEN BACK TO THE LESS EMBARRASSING TOPIC. his expression lights up a little at the mention of peaches.] Oh, you have? There's a stand here that sells good peaches. They're refreshing without being too sweet, so I like them a lot.

Mm.

[Hearing him use her given name brings a smile to her face - one she really isn't able to hide. But he's talking about peaches, too (and she does like peaches!) so perhaps it can be chalked up to that.]

They're really delicious. I try and eat one whenever I get the chance to.

[BECAUSE THEY REMIND HER OF KAORU...]

[yes clearly chizuru is just REALLY HYPE ABOUT PEACHES. hey he can't blame her, he loves them too...]

I hope you like these ones, then. They'll be in season for a while so you can get as many as you want whenever you want.

[he has shady backwater dealings with the peach vendors apparently]

[do u trade ochimizu for peaches, cowroo...]

Ah, really...?

[As many as she wants whenever she wants during the time she's here, anyway. But she's not thinking about that! She's not! It doesn't matter that she'll have to return to Tosa soon; right now, all that matters is that she gets to spend time with her brother.

So onward they go to get some peaches.]

-Oh! Look, there they are! [And she's hurrying over a little excitedly so she can pick some out.]

[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.

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.]

[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.

[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.]

[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.

[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..!

[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.

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.

[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?

"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.

[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.

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!

[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...

[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.

[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.]

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