you say DEATH i say LET'S DO IT

[deontological]

[Sen hadn't thought that details of the arrangement she and Kazama had made had spread so far. Not far enough for his family members to reach out to her after his untimely death (he's such a fool - she can't believe he had actually left them after her rescue to "take care of some business" and had wound up with a sword to the heart).

Not far enough for her to be obligated to receive the condolences of the various attendees at Kazama Chikage's funeral.

But it has. The blasted man had mentioned to some family member of his or another that they'd made an arrangement, and word of it had spread to Yase, and though they were never betrothed - though all she agreed to do was perform her duty to demons everywhere for the preservation of their race - it's been agreed that it would be poor form for her to merely offer condolences to Kazama's family members; instead, she's... part of the family, much to her chagrin.

At least none of them expect her to honor the arrangement with any of the other members of the clan. They simply don't offer the same sort of power to a child that Kazama would have.

But here she is, at the conclusion of the ceremonies; the would-be father of her child has been laid to rest. Even the heads and high-ranking members of clans that hadn't really gotten along with him have come, for appearance's sake; that's how she comes face to face with Kaoru.

Her expression is carefully neutral. So far, nobody's really called her out on how she doesn't actually seen all that torn up about the death, but Kaoru, being a master of deception himself (and also kind of a shithead), just might realize that she's... really not all that heartbroken.

She waits for him to speak first, though; curious as she is to hear what Tosa's response to this so-called tragedy is, she's not curious enough to speak out of turn.]

Comments

BANGS HANDS ON TABLE our time

[souredsweet]

[Appearance's sake this, appearance's sake that - Kaoru is tired of having to do things for the sake of appearances, and yet, here he is! Dressed as a man at least, because he's shed that layer of deception (and it's not like it was a secret among the demons that the head of the Nagumo clan wasn't quite a perfectly delicate maiden, or much of a maiden at all), but having to plaster on a civil and presentable facade for a man he cared nothing for.

Well, at least he didn't really dislike Kazama any more than he dislikes everyone. That would make this even more difficult than it already is.]

Tosa extends our condolences, and we offer any support that's necessary during the grieving period.

[That's the official statement that he passes on to the family members of the bereaved; short and curt and to-the-point, but still polite, still fulfilling his duty to strengthen the network of demon support even though it's not like any of them had supported the Yukimura clan when it counted...!

Not that he's salty or anything.

And then, once he's done milling around and paying respects enough to be sick of it, he bumps into Sen, who certainly doesn't look grief-stricken. Solemn in a reserved sort of way that one might confuse for grief, but Kaoru knows better than that, of course.]

Ah— My condolences to you as well, Princess. I'd imagine this is a difficult period for you.