|
Post by leslie on Jul 10, 2007 4:17:34 GMT 1
Curled up against him, Mai continued to shake quietly with her sobs though even as he turned to hold her they were beginning to die down. It was then that she remembered a time when she had been so vulnerable – and it had been with her brother Koji. The knowledge of fighting he had passed on with his lessons but her instinctual want for companionship had come from her governess and from her brother, “You, *hic* you remind me of Koji. *hic* I thought he would *hic* write more. But he *hic* wants me to be *hic* Tomio’s daughter. Not *hic* his sister.”
While dwelling on her past would do her little in the long run, it was healing to finally be able to talk about it to a third party. To a person who had no vested interest in her ending or in where she ended up. What he did offer though – was more than she had ever asked of anyone else. Sliding out of his grasp for the briefest moment, she fumbled with her pillow then gingerly withdrew a sleeve from within the pillowcase, a set of bright eyes and an even brighter smile meeting her as she withdrew the picture from its protection, “Was she soft like she looks? Always smiling and laughing? She’s so beautiful.”
Mai’s voice softened as well, the harsh grief and bitterness melting away as she gazed into a mirror expression of her own. The mirror of her mother in so many ways with only her father’s high cheeks and fine nose to mar the image, “How did she smell? Did she sing softly like a bird at the window? What was she like Kyousuke-san, tell me.”
|
|
Kyousuke
Dreamer
Senior
Tell me when, and why, you give or take Karma from me. Otherwise it is meaningless.
Posts: 271
|
Post by Kyousuke on Jul 10, 2007 4:44:42 GMT 1
Kyousuke looked down on Mai for a long time while she had cried, and even after. Her sobs had had died down a bit, but she was still crying and still shaking. Although a bit more smoothly. He was wondering if she would actually come onto the problem itself, the actual heart of the matter, or continue to skirt along the edges. "Koji? H mm. I don't know if I like being compared to someone I don't know, but from what I gather from your statement, I'm more responsible. Not to mention I'd rather be a brother than a cousin."
His eyes closed for a moment, going over the words to make sure he didn't poke something sore too strongly, but then decided he was alright. Feeling her pulling away he loosened his arms, his eyes opening to see what she would do. He was surprised to see pictures of their mother in that moment, and he slowly shook his head. "No. From what I could remember she was very somber. But that is probably because of me and father." He said with a small sigh, one he intended to keep hidden.
Kyousuke took a small pause, placing his hand on the top of her head again, albeit more of a heavy pat to make her calm down a bit before he spoke. "Give me a moment to remember Mai." He took a long moment than, if she liked it or not, and then slowly responded. "She smelt like vanilla. My father retained some of her clothes until I was eight. It still smelt like it. She never sang. She was withdrawn with me. With father.. she was passionate before it all happened."
|
|
|
Post by leslie on Jul 13, 2007 3:21:56 GMT 1
Mai wasn’t about to actually venture onto the sore subject, her heart still aching with the thought of family and the closeness she had once had with them despite her father’s influence and disapproval. However, as Kyousuke stumbled onto the painful reminder, she stiffened and drew away – her face unreadable though her eyes were sharp, “He is my brother. You are my brother.”
Holding their mother’s picture tightly in her hand, settling only after he had patted her firmly, Mai gazed upward with a more warm expression – having forgotten Koji for the moment, “I always thought she would smell sweet. Like a flower. And would be quiet but not…” Quieting again as he seemed to pause in his explanation, after mentioning his father, she frowned then moved back against him to snuggle into his chest, “My brothers told me what they could but they didn’t remember the small things. She sang a special song for Koji – when he couldn’t sleep.”
|
|
Kyousuke
Dreamer
Senior
Tell me when, and why, you give or take Karma from me. Otherwise it is meaningless.
Posts: 271
|
Post by Kyousuke on Jul 13, 2007 4:44:19 GMT 1
Kyousuke simply nodded to her sharp response, not wanting to argue the point that despite their family connection he was different. It just didn't seem all that important a factor to deal with at the moment. As she finally calmed and looked back up to him, appearing warmer toward him now, Kyousuke looked down at the picture and sighed quietly. "I never heard her sing. I suppose your brothers will have more memories of her than I do.."
|
|
|
Post by leslie on Jul 18, 2007 18:21:19 GMT 1
"They say she was the most beautiful creature ever... more beautiful than all the creatures in the stories she told. But my father - he told me I made her go away." A certain expression slowly appeared in her eyes, a cloudiness and sullenness that were not her own. "I don't have any memories of her. Because she died."
Realizing she had gone into a subject that would cause her pain if she continued to speak about it, she quickly fell silent then stubbornly wiped her eyes and cheeks then drew in a deep, mostly even breath, "I wish I had seen her. Even once."
|
|
Kyousuke
Dreamer
Senior
Tell me when, and why, you give or take Karma from me. Otherwise it is meaningless.
Posts: 271
|
Post by Kyousuke on Jul 18, 2007 19:08:47 GMT 1
Kyousuke sighed a bit and brushed his hand over the top of her head. "You've seen her. That is what the pictures are for after all." He said with a small shrug, moving himself to the side a bit as he moved one arm up, and placed himself at a higher angle. "It sounds like both our fathers are 'assholes' then. I've been blamed for a death in my family as well."
He did not elaborate, instead he shifted off the bed slowly, and moved to stand. "We've dwelled enough for the day, don't you think? Lets spar a bit so I can make myself hungry." He said while picking the gloves out of his pockets. "Re-lace my gloves if you would, a bit lighter? You nearly cut off my circulation."
|
|
|
Post by leslie on Jul 18, 2007 20:48:09 GMT 1
"I suppose my father was... an 'asshole'. But he was a very honorable man. He just expected a third son, not a daughter. I was an unwelcome surprise." Her voice, while a bit depressed and low, still held a bit of rebellion - as though she were going to prove to her father that a daughter was just as good as a son. That she was just as good as her brothers.
Glancing upward at him as he stood, she nodded then held out her hands for his gloved ones - skillfully lacing the gloves tight but not uncomfortably so. Once it was done, she checked the edges by tugging on them... finding them tight enough to hold to his hands but loose enough to give his body the ability to circulate blood through his fingers, "I didn't check before. I apologize."
|
|
Kyousuke
Dreamer
Senior
Tell me when, and why, you give or take Karma from me. Otherwise it is meaningless.
Posts: 271
|
Post by Kyousuke on Jul 18, 2007 20:58:58 GMT 1
Kyousuke shook his head, before allowing her to lace the gloves he brought his left hand up and swapped her on the forehead rather firmly. "Fathers without love and respect for their offspring are not to be considered honorable int heir own home. They are weak." He then would bring his hands back, and give his wrists out to Mai to lace.
It seemed this time she wasn't so intent on hurting him with the lace because she did it a bit more loose, closer to his liking. "Don't apologize. It is unneeded. You were angry. No one is in their right mind during anger." He then brought the gloves up and stretched his fingers,testing the grip himself, and then tightened his fists. "What style have you been taught?"
|
|
|
Post by leslie on Jul 18, 2007 21:27:47 GMT 1
Mai was too intent on his hand when he brought the other around to hit her, her head dipped slightly and she gave a small - fiesty - growl. "Careful. I give as good as I get." Giving him a serious look, she allowed the ghost of a smile to creep across her face until it brightened her expression, "Even better in some cases."
"I apologize when needed. I did something that hurt you. Whether I'm angry or not..." She shrugged then rewrapped a bit of her own hand and tightened the laces on her gloves, "Everything. My uncle thought it best if I learned more Mixed Martial Arts than any formal teaching."
|
|
Kyousuke
Dreamer
Senior
Tell me when, and why, you give or take Karma from me. Otherwise it is meaningless.
Posts: 271
|
Post by Kyousuke on Jul 18, 2007 21:42:29 GMT 1
Kyousuke smiled faintly as she growled up at him, and then shrugged his shoulders. "I've taken a beating or two before. Good luck with giving better." He said in a serious tone, but it was not as much bragging as he had wanted to come across. It was a bit strong to say in this situation after all. "If that is your answer then." He said with a light shrug.
"Well then you aren't the master of any set style. We'll see how you do." Moving his head slowly to the side, looking back the doorway and nodded his head. "Lets see what you can do then. I'll just be defensive." He said with an offhanded tone as he turned and walked out of the room, curious as to how skillful she would be.
|
|