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Nagumo clan estate.
Tosa, Japan, June of Bunkyū 1.

["I come as a messenger of the Princess of Yase. My mistress wishes for me to see the face of the child under your care with my own eyes."

Technically, it isn't a lie. She does wish to see the ward of the Nagumo clan, and she is acting as a messenger - on her own behalf, perhaps, but on the behalf of the Princess of Yase nonetheless.

Sen is well aware that after so many attempts have gone horribly awry - her messengers being turned away or being entertained within the house but never actually being allowed to see Kaoru for themselves - that this isn't going to be easy. She is prepared to be stubborn with the men who have received her, and so she does. It's a fact that the servants have orders to placate her and send her on her way, but that is something she won't allow.

She had arrived the day before, just after noon. Now it is noon again, and she still isn't gone. Currently she is kneeling on a cushion in the room for receiving visitors, and she thinks that perhaps she has finally succeeded - a servant is dispatched to go and fetch Kaoru. She would prefer a private conversation, but that same servant will most likely be instructed to monitor them as they speak.

That's fine. Now that she's here, she's sure she can figure out a way. Things have been quiet enough lately that she has a little more freedom to act on her own (and she is acting on her own - for once, Kimigiku has no idea where she's gone, though she's left instructions with a child in the village to tell her that she saw the princess going to Tosa if she hasn't returned within two weeks), and she is sure she's up to the task of bringing Yukimura Kaoru home.

She looks up when she hears the sound of a sliding door, and smiles.]

Ah... are you Kaoru-san?

[She swears to god if they've brought some random girl to try and trick her, the Nagumo clan will become very well acquainted with just how much damage Yase can do when she's been offended.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[IT'S SOME RANDOM GIRL, PREPARE FOR A SEN RAMPAGE...

No, actually, it's seems like Sen's incredible refusal to budge has actually paid off this time!! In the battle of Nagumo shittery versus Yase stubbornness, the winner is clear... The person that enters the room is indeed Kaoru and not some randomer that they've decided looks close enough to pass off as him. He enters the room quietly and with a stilted sort of grace, trying to make himself small as he tucks the fabric beneath his knees to take a seat across from her.

As far as first impressions go, he seems to be pretty well taken care of, honestly. The kimono that he's wearing looks like it's made from a very fine silk, and the cloths and ornaments that bind and decorate his hair are expensive - elegantly-crafted and set with pretty stones. It's clearly been styled by someone else, cleaned and combed through until it shines healthily and looks soft to the touch. He even carries himself with something close to confidence, but the stilted air that plagued his movements is present when he finally speaks, voice girlish and gentle.]

You are... a messenger of Yase's Princess, correct? Please forgive me for keeping you waiting this long. Honored father and mother also send their most humble apologies. [His hands come together, set against the wood floor as he lowers his head politely. In contrast with the youthful roundness of his face, the bit of wrists and arms that peek out from his kimono sleeves seem unusually thin. It's quickly obscured as he rights his posture again, setting his hands daintily against his lap instead.]

May I offer you anything? Tea or snacks, perhaps?

Yes. My name is Kimigiku.

[This, on the other hand, is a bald-faced lie, but it's part of Sen's gambit to keep from being turned away. While she and Kimigiku have never dealt directly with the Nagumo clan just yet, it's no secret that Kimigiku is the Princess of Yase's loyal agent and bodyguard and won't be easily dissuaded from whatever task she has been set. She is fairly convinced that this, in tandem with her own stubbornness, is what she has to thank for the fact that Kaoru is in front of her right now.

She watches carefully as he enters the room and takes his place in front of her. Her gaze lingers on his wrists when they become visible, but although she doesn't miss much of anything, her expression doesn't change - she can't allow it to with a witness to the conversation. If they think she's noticed much of anything, she's sure they'll come up with some pretext to hurry her out of her.

She dips into a low bow - as is befitting for a messenger to the "daughter" of a noble family - before straightening up and reaching into her obi to pull out a small silk pouch.] No apology is necessary. I and my lady understand very well that such things take time.

[Then she holds the pouch out to him.]

Refreshments are also unnecessary, but my lady sends this with her regards. [It's a small pouch of a rare medicinal tea from Yase. She's well aware that it will likely be searched before Kaoru is allowed to take it to his room, but that's what the other pouch she has tucked into her obi - identical, save for the contents - is for.] I was hoping to spend some time talking with you, Kaoru-san. But I hope I'm not taking up too much of your time...

[It's probably more telling than anything else that will happen in this very closely monitored conversation - Kaoru's reaction to the outward-held pouch, that is. He's never been allowed a visitor before and he's hardly been the recipient of any sort of gift, so there's very strong and plain surprise present. Kaoru's gaze darts briefly toward the door that the servant is most certainly still waiting on the other side of, like he's expecting something; for the bag to be snatched away, perhaps, or for instructions on how to accept it since he's floundering on his own.

But even without direct instructions on how to gracefully receive a gift - the Nagumos apparently weren't expecting it, either - he tries his best to make do with what he does know about manners. Both hands extend outward to so that the pouch can be placed into his cupped palms, and his head lowers again.]

Oh— Thank you, Kimigiku. Please send my thanks to the Princess for her kindness. [It's then set in front of the cushion he's kneeling on, and his attention turns back to SEN THE SNEAKY SNEAK (even though he actually wants to look inside rIGHT NOW because he's 12 13? 14?? and what is this).]

I'm afraid that I have a prior engagement shortly, so I can't stay for long... But please consider my time yours until then. [A smile!] May I ask what you wish to speak about?

You are most welcome. I hope you enjoy it... [She folds her hands and rests them daintily on her lap once Kaoru has taken his present.] I'm certain that is what my lady would say if she were here right now.

[hAH.

She certainly wouldn't mind if he opened it right now - really, she'd like to see some genuine happiness out of him, though she isn't sure how possible that will be as long as he remains within these four walls. Her gaze drifts briefly to the door he had been looking at before returning to him, and when she smiles, it's kind and gentle.]

I am here with an... offer, of sorts. [She shifts her hands so that she can interlace her fingers together, and lowers her gaze ever so slightly to rest on the floor between them.] There are very few demons of my lady's age, and she would very much like to be friends. She has asked me to see how you would feel about paying a visit to Yase... of course she would have to go through your family's channels in order to bring it about, but she doesn't wish to impose on you by forcing a visit if such a thing is not to your liking.

[In truth, Sen doesn't really think the Nagumo clan would ever allow it. But she has conducted enough negotiations by now to know that if they turn down an extravagant request, people in general are much more likely to accept a less troublesome one. In the best case, Kaoru will be allowed to visit Yase and she simply won't return him. But if things don't work out ideally, she has other contingencies in place as well.]

The Princess of Yase would very much like to be your friend. ["Friend and ally," more like, but she can't exactly say that when it's very likely that there are listening ears.]

[WHOOPS, NOPE, the gift is temporarily forgotten despite Kaoru's itching curiosity to see what it is. (His fingers are still resting against the side of the bag, that's how much he wants to open it.)

But that request takes precedence first and foremost, because it's a shock and a delight and absolutely horrible all at once. He knows that he's had friends before, even if it's getting harder and harder to recall any details about them or what they had spent their days doing, but it's been such a long time since he's had one that he can hardly remember how to act around them. People you spend time with, who you actually want to spend time with, who you have fun spending time with - people that you want to see over and over again... He can't really remember what it feels like anymore, with the exception of the little sister that he still misses fiercely.

So he's pleased, then - it's a wonderful thing to hear. Even though he stumbles so badly over the idea of having a friend again, he wants one. It feels like all he ever does is reach his hand out only to have no one there to hold it, but this seems so promising that he can't help but want to grasp it immediately. Even if the Princess decides that his company is awful, worthless as he's so often told - and that's another fear, that she'll recant the offer as soon as she meets him - he'll at least be given the opportunity to leave this compound without judgmental, prying eyes watching him, making sure that he stays in line.

But it's horrible at the same time, because he doesn't know how he'll word this request to the family head without it being turned down. Now that the opportunity has been set out before him, he's terrified of it being taken away, and he knows well how easily that could happen. Just a word from the people that he hates so much and he'd be forced back to his room as this or that excuse is sent to Yase in his stead.

...He's just been sitting here gaping like a dumb fish for way too long though, so he snaps his mouth shut with a little click of his teeth, trying to keep his excitement under control and his hopes from ballooning too much.]

If— I would have to speak with honored mother and father, but if it's something that the Princess of Yase wishes for, it would be a grave dishonor to say no... [And then, even though he knows it's a risk to say such a thing, because it would make denial more difficult for the clan:] I wouldn't view it as an imposition at all.

If you desire to come to Yase, then my lady will do her utmost to ensure that it happens.

[If the clan turns him down, Sen will be right there with a request from her side. If they say he is ill and can't travel, she'll show up on their doorstep to wish him well. If they say he is busy with work to prepare for taking his place in the clan when he becomes an adult, she'll insist upon a visit so that he can benefit from her experience.

It's hard to say exactly what her intentions are, but they don't include abandoning him to his fate here.

Honestly, she'd like to take him by the hand and lead him out of this house right now - the brief glimpse of his wrists and how surprised he'd seemed by something as simple as a small gift have only solidified her suspicions that something isn't quite right here - and those suspicions had already been fed by how difficult it had been to obtain any information on his whereabouts in the first place, and how insistent the Nagumo had been on turning her messengers away. Clearly, there is something here that they want to hide.]

Mm... I'm aware that there has been some animosity between your clan and Yase in the past. [Well, that's putting it mildly... Tokis...] But my lady believes that the time for change is soon coming. [Her gaze flicks briefly to the door again.] Perhaps your friendship could pave the way for that.

[Translation: Make nice with the princess and maybe you won't be on the fringes anymore, dickheads. And while you're at it, stop being a jerk to Kaoru. If nothing else, she's doing her best to provide Kaoru with a reasoning to include with his request that may stand a chance of convincing them.]

[Young as Kaoru is, he's still smart, and he's definitely filing this all away to add to his reasoning arsenal later. He knows he'll sure as hell need a lot of firepower to face those people down, after all; they're very intent on keeping him well-hidden, despite the fact that they view him as burdensome garbage. It's a restrictive, oppressive way to live.]

You may have a very good point. That is - I would also like to do my best to extend a hand forward. In this day, it's best to make as many connections as possible, I believe.

[He's stumbling over the logic despite the smoothness of his speech, trying to piece together a reasonable-sounding response as he goes, but he's quite good at working on the fly as well. All it takes is a little bit of the political knowledge he's gleaned from watching and listening, and the ability to string it together coherently. He found very quickly that he has a talent for lying well, for bluffing, for making what he says sound like immovable fact when it's only a weak suggestion, and is polishing a silver tongue now that will become a formidable weapon in the future. It's only self-defense for the time being, but the skills are forming.]

The Princess is very kind to even consider such a thing.

It is the Princess' hope that the two of you will be able to work together in the near future. If such a thing is agreeable to you, then I am sure she will be overjoyed to hear it.

[She says, like she isn't sitting right here hearing it for herself. God. Here's hoping Kaoru doesn't mind little deceptions like this - necessary, she thinks, because the Nagumo clan quite frankly has an awful reputation and even she can't trust them not to do whatever they can to keep her here should they discover that a real female demon has come wandering into their midst - because once he does come to Yase, she's going to have to explain that her name isn't actually Kimigiku.

There is something about the way he says that, though - "The Princess is very kind" - that gets under her skin, and though she keeps smiling, her fingers clench into the fabric of her kimono.]

Everyone should have a chance to make friends if they wish to... that is something that she firmly believes. [That Kaoru has spent so long here but it's been so difficult to get any information about him - it can only be because he isn't free to live his life as he wishes, she's sure of it. She doesn't know exactly what the Nagumo clan is doing to him, but she doesn't imagine it can be anything good.

Particularly because she's well aware that he isn't the young girl the clan is presenting him as; she knows better than to bring that up where they could hear it, though.

Before she can say much else, there is a bit of a commotion from the hallway - Sen looks toward the door again and her brows furrow. There are people out there talking in hushed tones, and she can't quite make out what they're saying, but she doesn't like that it's happening so close to where she is meeting with Kaoru.]

...what on earth...?

[It doesn't occur to her that her deception may have been discovered already, but she is worried nonetheless. For all she knows, something else might have happened.]

[There's a little bit of... something close to dissonance? He's not entirely sure what it is - a strange gap existing within himself that seems to expand when he doesn't keep an eye on it. "Everyone should have a chance to make friends" echoes in that gap hollowly, bringing a bitter taste to his mouth. It would be nice if that were true.

Though that bitterness shows briefly on his face, he gives his best attempt at a smile soon after. Sourness isn't a good quality in the person he needs to be.]

Then I hope that I will be an adequate acquaintance for her.

[It's the most he can hope for.

But then there's the noise of a shoji door opening in a hurry on the other side of the hall, and his attention is drawn toward the still-closed doors. Considering Kaoru isn't even aware of the fact that there's deception to discover here, he seems pretty taken off guard when he hears the sound of voices and feet on the floor. The only thing that he can think of is that the servant standing guard was far more opposed to the idea than Kaoru had been able to guess, and had already run off to alert the other members of what was being discussed. His hands pull away from the pouch, curling anxiously into his kimono instead.]

Mm... I'll go take a look. Will you be all right waiting here? I'll try not to take too long.

[He's already easing back up as he speaks, carefully untucking his legs and smoothing his kimono out as he rises from the floor.]

I'm sure that you will be.

[It's an easy assurance to make, seeing as she is the princess, but to someone not in the know it might sound more than a little hollow. Still, she doesn't see why Kaoru wouldn't make a good friend. If she can only get him out of the shadow of the Nagumo, it should be just fine...

But that may be easier said than done, in the end. Sen is prepared for a long and involved effort, though she is sure it would be advised against if others from Yase knew.

She bites her lip.]

I'll be fine, but... ["Be careful" isn't something she can say in this house without revealing that she - and Yase, by proxy - is suspicious of how the clan is treating him. If they thinks he won't be fooled by this simple visit, they'll make it all the more difficult to get in touch with him again, she's sure.] If there is trouble of some kind... please be on your guard. ["Trouble of some kind" at least encompasses any number of problems - humans, some sort of wild animal...]

[If Kaoru understands the nuance there, it doesn't show on his face. He only offers up a polite smile and a nod.]

I'll take care. If you'll excuse me for a moment, then...

[Kaoru's head dips in an apologetic gesture, and he's turning on his heel to gracefully sweep back toward the door. He'll slide it open politely, turning to offer one last smile, and then close it behind him.

She'll definitely hear how everything seems to go dead quiet as soon as he's out in the hall.

As for Kaoru, the hall itself is... surprisingly vacant when he exits the meeting area, which has him furrowing his brow in confusion. The servant that had led him to the room in the first place is still standing guard.]

...Is something wrong? [It's directed to said servant, who only shakes his head in reply. Kaoru is used to getting nonverbal responses though, so that hardly gets a second thought from him.

Just a shake of the head isn't really enough to dissuade Kaoru's concern entirely, even so, so he makes a backward gesture toward the room.]

Please ensure that our guest remains safe. I'll be back in a moment.

[AND OFF DOWN THE HALL Kaoru will traipse, trying to see if he can catch sight of anyone who might have been the source of the earlier noise.]

[Sen does notice the rather suspicious lack of sound once he steps outside, and it leaves her ill at ease - it certainly drives home how utterly strange Kaoru's circumstances are, if the way he is dressed doesn't do enough of that as it is. That she hears the soft tones of Kaoru's voice but no verbal reply from the servant before his footsteps proceed down the hall concerns her, as well.

Even she can't go freely exploring this compound, though; she'll have to stay where she is. And so as Kaoru makes his way down the hall in search of anyone who might have so rudely interrupted their conversation, she stays right where she is.

He won't see anyone right away as he walks, but as he nears a corner to turn he'll hear voices. In contrast to the ones that were loud enough to hear before, these are somewhat hushed - he'll have to get much closer before he can make out any of the words.

"—fishy about that messenger."
"Would she really come in person, though?"

WHAT WILL YOU DO, KAORU...]

[GET CLOSER, OF COURSE. WOOOAH WE'RE HALFWAY THERE WOAAAH LIVIN ON A PRAYER...

Really though, as soon as he hears the voices, he's pretty much immediately making his way as quietly and quickly over in that direction as possible. He knows it's dangerous to move about the compound like this and more dangerous still to eavesdrop. It shows in his hesitation. Still - if the voices are coming from behind a door, he'll crouch outside of it with his ear to the screen. If they're actually in the hall, he'll stop shy and listen from around the corner. After that, he holds his breath subconsciously, straining his hearing.

...Ah. So they are fussing over the messenger, though it's not exactly what Kaoru had expected to hear. He's not exactly sure what they mean by that, since nothing about her seems fishy to him, but "would she really come in person"...

It couldn't possibly be what he thinks most immediately, so he shakes his head and sorely regrets it since his hair ornaments chime gently in the process. It's enough to have him freezing up, easing backwards slowly in the hopes that they're too wrapped up in their conversation to notice. He'll have to get back to Sen either way, though; hearing something like that is definitely an ill omen. Turning on his heel, he'll attempt to quickly make his way back down the hall.

"Kimigiku", in the meanwhile, will be able to hear the servant getting up from his post and slowly make his way from the room. Either he's the rudest shit ever who doesn't care about the family guests being mauled by bears, or he's the rudest shit ever who doesn't care about the family guests being kidnapped by the family...]

Edited (I MISREAD i just woke up dont look at me) 2014-12-30 12:12 (UTC)

[Kaoru may not often have good luck, but his luck holds this time; the people he's eavesdropping on are so engrossed in their discussion that the chiming of his hair ornaments goes unnoticed. Either that or they want him to hear what they have to say next -

"If it is her, she won't be leaving here."

Well, that's ominous as all hell.

They don't bother with pursuing him, either, so maybe he really did just get lucky enough for them not to notice the noise. Either he'll pass the servant who's walking away or he won't (if the servant went in the opposite direction when he left), but Sen hears the sound of that servant leaving and her curiosity overcomes her. She gets up, walks daintily to the door, and slides it open just enough to peek outside.

Not here... how strange. She does see Kaoru coming down the hall, though, and she leans out just enough to smile and give him a little wave.

The next thing she knows, she's being forcibly dragged back into the room and she lets out a muffled yelp of surprise.

Even if Kaoru hurries down the hall, he won't be able to make it inside. By the time he reaches the entrance, there will already be someone on the other side holding the sliding door shut with a firm demonic strength. Though he won't be able to see what's going on, he'll certainly be able to hear - and boy, does Sen sound offended.]

Unhand me at once! How dare you manhandle a guest so? My lady will hear of this!

[A sneering laugh, followed by:

"Undoubtedly, 'your lady' already knows... isn't that right, Princess of Yase?"

Sen's blood runs cold.

And now Kaoru will hear footsteps coming behind him. It doesn't sound like just one servant, either; if he turns to look, there will be at least three. They all seem intent on keeping him from interfering, too.]

[KAORU DOES INDEED PASS THE SERVANT and the servant is one of the closest people to him when Sen gets nabbed, which sure isn't a coincidence. The hand that had been rising up in a wave - one filled with nervous tension, because yep, that statement back then sure had been ominous - is snatched up by the wrist before he understands what's happening. Sen disappears behind the shoji screens and then there's Sen's voice - someone else's voice, an unpleasant voice, a voice he dislikes saying such strange things, but...

Oh.

If he looks at it like that, it does make sense, doesn't it? But he doesn't even have time to be mortified over the fact that he had been talking to the Princess of Yase the entire time, that he had been trying to relay messages to her through... herself.

He doesn't have time for it because he's only been here for half of the years that he'll eventually end up trapped, but he already knows the ins and outs of this clan. He understands exactly why they're so disdainful of his body, why they force him into pretty kimonos and brush his hair until it's soft. It's something that he wouldn't - couldn't - wish on anyone else. Especially not someone who risked her life to extend an olive branch, because surely Sen of all people would understand what it meant to enter this compound unguarded.

Kaoru has been trained over the years by way of habit to keep his head low when the family starts acting up. It's better for someone else to be the target of their ire; that's the lesson that he's begun to learn. But now... turning his back on the woman who had tried to extend a hand to him touches at the gentleness he's beginning to shed, and he finds his body moving before his mind has a say.

He may be small and somewhat weak as far as demons go, but he's still quite fast. Pivoting on his heel, he reels his fist back and whops the servant straight in the jaw in a very unladylike-manner, dashing off toward the shoji as soon as he's freed. He can hear the sound of footsteps behind him rushing to catch up, but it only fuels his desperation so that he all but bowls through the doors once he reaches them. His fingers scramble desperately for the seam, to try prying the wood apart, but whoever is holding it on the other side is much too strong and he's reduced to slamming his hands against it. He succeeds in puncturing the paper, but his grasping hand is easily avoided and only there for a few seconds before vanishing as he's roughly pulled away by the waist. The servants are enough to act as a barrier he can't get around, though he's striking out at them wildly and with perhaps a little too much anger than what would be required for the situation.]

Princess— Princess Sen!! [In his panic, his voice loses its grace and softness.] I'm so sorry - I'm sorry! I didn't mean for this to happen—!

[Because she came all this way to speak to him, so he must be the one at fault.

Before he can say anything else, new sets of footsteps are joining the first and Kaoru's mouth goes dry before he even turns to look. Of course a ruckus like this would be enough to draw them out - those people - those awful people that he hates—

And his conscious thought ends there, briefly, because he doesn't even manage to turn all the way before a fist solidly connects with his stomach. The hit is hard enough to send him into the next wall over with a short scream, and he drops to the floor, arms wrapping instinctively around his middle.

Shut up, you miserable brat! And you two - don't stand around so uselessly!

There's the clan head himself, though he doesn't spare much time for either Kaoru or Sen, barking out precise orders instead.

You - take this useless kid back to the room. We have a more important guest to attend to.

There's an unpleasant wheezing noise and a wet-sounding cough. Kaoru can't speak up well just yet, but still struggles.]

Wait— You can't - that's— [YOU GUYS CAN'T JUST KIDNAP A PRINCESS WHAT THE HECK except that's apparently exactly what they plan on doing... Beyond her own struggle, Sen might hear as someone beyond the door strikes Kaoru again, as he hits the floor, and then silence with the exception of the soft sound of cloth dragging against wood that grows quieter and quieter as its source moves away.]

[She can hear a scuffle from outside - and that worries her more than her own situation, because she knows Kaoru was right there. She has her suspicions about the Nagumo clan and the way they treat him, and if those suspicions are correct, then it can only be a bad thing if he's trying to help her.

She wants to yell, "Don't." She wants to tell him to stay where he is, to take care and get himself to safety, but he's already at the shoji screen. She can see the frame rattle as he tries to force it open and she hears the ripping of paper as he punctures it, sees his hand, and then it's gone as he's pulled away. She can hear him fighting the servants who are restraining them and she can hear him call out to her.

He knows who she is; he must have overheard. But - to apologize...]

It's not your fault! It isn't your fault at all!

[Because who knows what this clan has done to him to make him believe he needs to apologize, and who knows what else they'll do to him once this is all over.

Then there's a thud and a scream, and that voice, and Sen's panic at her own situation - she's restrained as well, her arms caught firmly behind her back in a grip much too strong for her to break - pales in comparison to what must be happening to Kaoru outside.]

You! [Her voice is sharp as she addresses the clan head.] Don't you dare lay a finger on Kaoru—

[Only there's another thud and then the dragging of cloth. She struggles. Where are they taking him? What is "the room"? His room? He's in trouble now and this situation has been brought about because she came to visit under a pretense and it was discovered, and now he is going to suffer for it.

It isn't his fault, it's hers.]

Nagumo! [He doesn't deserve the honor of using his full name; she spits the surname out like it's a curse.] You won't get away with this. When Yase hears of this, they'll have me and that child out of here quickly, and you and your clan will be punished for your cruelty!

[There aren't many who can stoke Sen's ire the way this situation has, but the Nagumo clan head has shot right up to the top of her shit list.

Before she can make any other threats (or promises, really; this is no idle threat to her), she feels a sharp blow at the back of her head. She sags and only doesn't hit the ground because of the firm hold of the person restraining her, and her vision blurs into darkness.

That probably could have gone a little more smoothly.

When she wakes, it will be many hours later. She can't see outside because she is in a small, windowless room, but she can hear the chirping of cicadas and there is a slight evening chill that permeates the walls. Feeling groggy and a little sore, the first thing she does is take stock of her surroundings.]

[The room that she's in, windowless as it is, still seems to be guarded. Footsteps pass by outside frequently on the side of the room that seems less drafty; the side that's either facing or part of the rest of the house. The door here is much heftier than any within the main house as well, ensuring that it would be quite hard to break through indeed, even for someone with demonic strength. No hands sticking through shoji screens here... It probably says a lot that they have a room like this at all, but Sen may not be surprised at this point.

Hushed voices speak from the outside of the room, but it's difficult to tell what they're saying. They also seem congregated solely on one side of the room, presumably because unlike others that have two doors, this one only has one. Just one entrance and exit to watch certainly makes things easier on them.

The interior itself doesn't seem to have anything interesting in it. A low-lying table with nothing inside, no decorations on the walls or floors, a dusty old futon rolled up and stowed away near the farthest corner. The room in general gives off an air of disuse in a way, but at the same time, there isn't enough dust in other areas to imply that it hasn't been used in a long time.

It's gonna be a lITTLE BORING FOR HER, probably, but after about twenty minutes that will change when the smallest tapping sound comes from the side of her room that's presumably facing the outdoors. She may even mistake it for a bird or some sort of small animal at first, but after a pause, the tapping starts up again, rhythmic. Then:]

...Princess?

[The voice is small - very, very small - but unmistakeably Kaoru's. The din on the other side of the wall doesn't grow any quieter, so it's clear that no one has either spotted or heard him just yet.]

[Sen has a few different ideas as to why this room exists, and she doesn't like a single one of them. It is no secret in demonic society that the Nagumo clan is more than a little twisted and has been for generations - so really, she can't say she's surprised. She ignores the pounding in her head and looks toward the lone door.

So this is it, then. She really has made a spectacular mess of things... It will be a few weeks before she can return to Yase. The princess has no doubt at all in Kimigiku's willingness and ability to come and save her, though she really isn't looking forward to the inevitable lecture.

She has nothing she wishes to say to whoever the voices beyond the door belong to. In fact, she would greatly prefer it if they didn't realize that she's woken up at all, so she stays quiet as she shifts herself into a kneeling position at the side of the low table and tries to think of what she can do to occupy herself in the days until Kimigiku arrives. Since she's in the middle of the lion's den, she might as well try and get some useful information, but she just has to figure out how...

That gentle tapping draws her out of her thoughts, and her brow furrows as she looks in the direction of the sound. Her imagination, perhaps? But there it is again, and this time it's accompanied by a voice -

Kaoru.

She glances warily at the door, but they don't seem to have noticed, so she carefully and quietly makes her way to the outer wall. When she calls back to him, her voice is also low, and it's accompanied by a light tapping of her knuckles on wood.]

Please... Just "Sen" is fine.

[She doesn't want him calling her "Princess" when she's the reason he's been injured.]

First of all - [She can't ask him if he's okay. He's clearly not, after what they did to him.] Are you sure speaking with me is... safe? I don't wish to cause more trouble for you than I already have.

[There's a pause before he speaks again, either because he's carefully weighing his words or because he really needs to be on the lookout for anyone wandering too close - or maybe a little of both. He's also a little hesitant when she asks him to leave off the more respectful term of address, since it doesn't seem right to him. If it wasn't for his inability to do anything for himself, she wouldn't even be here. This friendship is certainly something that he doesn't deserve.

His palms rest flat against the wood after that, and though he's already close to the ground, he eases himself down until his knees are resting against the dirt. He knows he needs to be ready to run at a moment's notice, but he also gets tired easily. Malnutrition, blood loss and a very admirable shining punch to someone's face during an adrenaline rush can take a lot out of a person.]

Please... don't worry about something like that.

[His punishment may be harsher later, when there isn't an outside witness around, but for the time being it's been very manageable. He isn't concerned about being caught.]

Though it means little, I wished to apologize again. Even now, I can't do anything for you...

[If he was strong, then perhaps he'd be able to break his way in through the outside and set her free, but he can't. If he was smart, maybe he could devise a way of contacting Yase without getting caught. If he was brave, he'd be able to stand toe to toe against the Nagumo clan head without shirking away and covering his face. Maybe that enviable version of himself would even best that man.

But he can't do any of that, because he isn't any of that. All he can do is sit in the dirt and whisper apologies for things he can't fix.]

You have nothing to apologize for.

[If anyone's going to apologize, she wants it to be the clan head. She wants to drag an apology out of him for the way she's been treated in the short time she has been here and the way Kaoru has been treated in the years that he's been here. Of course... the chances of that happening are slim to none, and she doesn't want an apology from someone that he has convinced to be a willing scapegoat.

She won't ever accept that Kaoru is in even the smallest way responsible for what has happened here.]

I ought to be the one apologizing to you. [She sighs, frustrated.] I came here in the hopes of making things better for you, but in the end I only made them worse.

[The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry and all, and this was hardly one of the "best-laid plans" - Sen has, perhaps, taken more risks than she ought to have, because she's always felt badly about the Yukimura tragedy and Yase's inability to stop it from happening. After learning that one of the survivors was in the hands of the Nagumo clan, she simply couldn't leave the situation alone... though she was advised to.]

I hope you can forgive me...

[In the same way that Kaoru didn't know exactly how to deal with the gift that Sen had given earlier, he doesn't know how to handle an apology, either. It's been years and years since he's heard a genuine one, an apology with actual meaning behind it instead of mockery, and he doesn't know how to take it at all. He's trying not to stay silent for too long to keep Sen from worrying, but it lasts for a while this time - at least half a minute - as Kaoru tries to fight back the strange tightness of his throat that prevents him from speaking.

When he does, there's a gentle waver to his voice that she might have difficulty picking up on if only for the low volume he continues to speak at. Denial is at the tip of his tongue, or perhaps the less offensive "I don't understand"...

In the end, the topic is simply too uncomfortable for him to face down for any solid chunk of time. His fingers knit anxiously into his kimono again and he shakes his head even though it can't be seen.]

Asking for forgiveness is not necessary at all, I promise you that. You risked yourself for a person like me, and now... Now you've been given misfortune for your troubles.

[The days when Kaoru cries are dwindling, but not yet buried. She may hear a pitiful little sniffle before he continues.]

I went back to see if I could fetch your bag, too, but it was already gone...

[The first gift he'd been given in years and he couldn't even protect it.

Still, a part of him wonders if it's better this way. Sen seems like such a kind and warm person, going out of her way for a problem that had nothing to do with her, but he can't shake the consuming fear that if he did still have the bag, she would demand it back. No one wants a troublesome friend. If he does find it again, he thinks he may simply forget to tell her.]

I've been given misfortune for my own mistakes. [The correction is gentle.] I always knew it would end badly if they discovered I had lied to them... and I underestimated how quickly that discovery would come.

[And didn't bother bringing her bodyguard with her. And didn't even tell her bodyguard she was coming... well, maybe she will just be very careful not to mention that part to Kaoru yet, because how is he supposed to have faith in a rescue from someone who's managed to get themselves locked up during the rescue attempt? She does, after all, intend to take him with her once Kimigiku come to spring her loose.]

But it was necessary, I think. It was a gamble that allowed me to meet you... I don't regret it.

[Her hand comes to dip into her obi and her fingers brush against soft silk. They haven't discovered that, at least - a small blessing. Sen will have to do her best to ensure they don't discover it at all while she's here. More importantly for right now, though, she wants to banish that waver from Kaoru's voice.]

It's alright. I... brought two. [Her voice is still low, and she glances briefly toward the door again.] Once I'm free of here, I'll give you the second one.

Two?

[Beneath the waver, there's something almost incredulous in Kaoru's tone. Not only had she bothered to get him anything at all, but as far as he can tell, she had anticipated that something might happen and had brought a second bag along just in case. It seems like so much effort for a person to go through for his sake that he thinks for a moment this might all be some bizarrely elaborate ploy. He doesn't know what the ploy would be for, exactly, but this kindness makes no sense otherwise. Not unless she was expecting something out of it.

His fingers twist further into the fabric, manifesting the anxiety that he tries keeping out of his voice. People find that sort of thing annoying, too. He doesn't want to accidentally chase her off by appearing too pathetic.]

I'm not certain that I could accept it in good conscience. You've already done so much for me...

[It means a lot, and it's also something that Kaoru's been looking for for a long time, but now that he actually has it... it's kind of scary.

He thinks it is, at least. It's so far out of his comfort zone that it really does dance the line between discomfort and fear.]

...the contents are a little different, but the outside is the same.

[She's not sure how feasible using what she has to give him in the second one is going to be, without the first bag to cover his tracks, but she wants to at least make it available to him should he need it. Going into detail about what's in the second one would be a very bad idea, though, considering that there may be people listening in.]

But I can't -

[She hears a scraping noise from the other side of the door, and falls silent. A beat passes, and then another; voices pick up a conversation from outside again, and she sighs.]

It may not be as useful without the first one. So I won't force you to take it, if you'd rather not have it. [She is quiet for another few moments, straining to make out what is being said on the other side of the door, but she gives it up soon enough.] ...thank you for coming to check on me. And for trying to help me before... I truly appreciate it.

Useful?

[It's spoken in a curious way, but the curiosity itself is very pale and quiet, like Kaoru doesn't intend to actually ask for an answer. If it really is something that's useful, it would be a poor idea to talk about it around the rest of the clan - they're absolutely on the same page thought-wise there.

He's distracted soon enough by the thanks, at least, even though it sends him right back into a mildly tailspin. Why is she being so nice? Giving so much? It's something he truly can't understand.]

It was only right... You wouldn't be in this situation if it wasn't for me. [So it's his duty, then, to make sure that the situation doesn't worsen any further.

...The hard part is going to be figuring out how to avoid that.]

But... even though I haven't been able to help you yet, I hope that you'll believe me when I say that I wish I could. I'll try my best.