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Post by Jesus, lol on Dec 21, 2006 21:33:00 GMT -5
It had been nearly two months since Kei had moved in with her mother. The move had gone as smoothly as possible, she assumed. Father had been disappointed, but had relented, and her sisters seemed very supportive. Well, all except Moki, it seemed. But Kei hadn't expected her to take it very well. And so, while her belongings had been packed away, the girl had made herself scarce, avoiding Moki. Moki had found her, of course, and had tried to question her. But Kei had turned to stone, and had just whispered a hoarse 'goodbye' before heading outside and disappearing into one of the family cars.
Her mother had smiled upon her arrival, helped Kei move in, and thankfully asking nothing about her broken arm. They had caught up, and watched movies and generally had a good time.
She had trouble adjusting, certainly. Her mother had been a brief affair during one of her fathers earlier marriages (making Kei entirely illegitimate), and though she was well off, she was certainly not living in luxury. But she adapted. She learned to do chores, even got a part time job at The Green Leaf just down the road. Her mother began teaching her how to drive and cook and all sorts of things the rich, sheltered Kei had never had to learn.
It was...nice. Kei didn't have to compete for attention with her sisters anymore, didn't have to pretend to be happy when she wasn't. Her mother was a happy, smiling woman, who loved Kei's sense of humor and shared the same, pacifistic, optimistic outlook as the young Yoshikawa.
Of course, she was Morimoto now, not Yoshikawa. It was a little hard to remember, but Kei liked the name. Morimoto Kei. It rolled off the tongue, and reminded her that she truly was her mother's daughter. Sure, it cut her out of her father's will, but that was okay. She liked this new life she was cultivating.
Still...she remembered Moki's face plainly, disappointed when Kei finally told her that she was transferring schools next week, and that she wouldn't see her very much anymore. But then mother had taken her to the doctor, and with the removal of her cast and a night out at Goto's with said parental unit cheered her up, and she had forgotten all about that hurt, that betrayal in Moki's eyes.
She started her new school tomorrow. Kogyoku High...it was a nice school, she supposed. She had toured the campus last weekend with Mother, and it was a fairly prestigious school. Second only to Takamoto. It'd suck having to adjust in the middle of the year, and make new friends, but no one there would have known her sisters, or been able to make the connection between her and them, and maybe... Maybe she could finally be acknowledged for herself, instead of them.
The thought made her smile a little, before she was interrupted by the tinkling of a bell. Kei turned, blinking as a couple entered the tea shoppe. They took a seat and she moved to their table, plastering a smile on her face.
"Good afternoon, and welcome to The Green Leaf! What can I get you today...?" Slipping into the familiar routine of taking orders and making small talk, she was grateful for the distraction from her thoughts, and hardly noticed the time flying until she was sweeping the floors and closing up. A tinkling of a bell behind her again heralded her attention. Peering over at the door, she made out a silhouette against the sun and bit her lip. "Um, hi...welcome to The Green Leaf...we're sort of closing up right now, but can I get you anything?"
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Post by Takamatsu Takeda on Dec 23, 2006 15:41:06 GMT -5
As the door shut with a small jingle, a gentle and calm voice echoed out into the room. "Oh... Sorry, I didnt know you were closing.... Ill just...." That was when he stopped dead in his words, his gaze seeming to narrow a bit at having recognized the voice from somewhere. Blinking a few times, he knew it was familiar, but he couldnt really place it to the correct body or person that it should've possibly belonged to. Taking off his jacket, he held it in his one arm as he approached the counter, continuing his words. "Ill just take... A quick Japanese Cherry..." He spoke slowly, as though cautioning the words from coming out of his mouth. Once he reached the counter, his face was clearly in view with the setting sun in the background. Taku, from an apparent earlier experience, had a rather thin white bandage wrapped a bit tightly around the width of his forehead. As he stood there at the counter in silence for a few moments, he let his head shift to one side as though that would somehow help in figuring out who this woman was. "I haaave.... Such a feeling... That we've.... Met somewhere.... I can't quite put my finger on it... Please excuse me if I seem rude... But could you tell me your name...?" His words were slow, cautious, yet gentle and almost tender in a serene way. He had been in intensive care for about 2 weeks, the doctors told him he had a minor case of amnesia, but it would subside in due time, in essence with this, he had obtained a rather small and insignificant benign tumor at the time, but it was nothing to be worried about. After having gotten out, he had tried to go what he called 'home', but his foster parents had moved while he was in the hospital and left no other address, seeming it intentional. So time went on like usual and he found his way to get by like he always had done, but this was perhaps a chance meeting like no other.
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Post by Jesus, lol on Dec 23, 2006 16:24:46 GMT -5
Kei had moved dutifully behind the counter, resting the broom against the wall as he approached, rinsing off her hands with a moist towelette and pulling the earbuds of her iPod out. He approached, and she was suddenly stricken with the fight or flight instinct. She jumped a bit, surprised for it to kick in–and then he cleared the glaring light of the sun, and she could see him. She was wordless for many moments, staring at him, trying to control her beating heart. Oh god, why is he here? Of all people!? When I'd finally gotten over it, he shows up, and oh my god I'm going to die here–She broke eye contact and moved to make his drink, heart racing, but hands surprisingly steady. Her voice was even, and she complimented herself on her recovery. "Coming right up sir," she chirped in response to his order, hands going through the familiar motions and giving her something to focus on. She nearly jumped as he asked for her name, and her pale hands nearly dropped the drink. Shîtfück! Phew–close one. Setting it on the counter, she wiped her hands on her apron compulsively, blinking at him. "Um...I'm Morimoto Kei." Even despite her mild terror, she said the name with a hint of pride. Not Yoshikawa anymore, bîtches! Fufufufufu... "Awesome name, I know. And you are...?" How do you like THAT, huh?! Oh yeah. Two can play at this game.
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Post by Takamatsu Takeda on Dec 23, 2006 19:48:07 GMT -5
He watched her motions for a bit, having never lost a bit of his focus and clear piercing perception. Her movements were stiff, but there were, small tremors here and there. His brow then had quirked as she almsot dropped the drink that which would be his. This girl apparently seemed to be on edge for a reason beyond his own comprehension at the moment. As he gracefully took the drink from her, he bowwed his head just a bit. "Thank you miss Kei... Mmmm?" He had already raised his tea to his mouth when she had asked his own name in a sort of response, he just closing his eyes and shaking his head as though it were unimportmant. In a sense, it was unimportant, but in another completely different way, he was the last of the legitimate sucessors to the ancient Takeda Clan of many years past."Its a very honorable name..." He nodded gently at the words she spoke before he continued on about himself "Takamatsu... Takeda.... Friends call... Well... Takamatsu works..." He just blinked a few times before shrugging and taking another small sip from his herbal tea. It seemed as though he didnt even know who this girl was, as though she was just another person on the streets, and he was surely getting along with her, having lost his earlier suspicions already.
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Post by Jesus, lol on Dec 24, 2006 11:07:08 GMT -5
Turning to begin cleaning up the bar, she closed her eyes, breathing in...out. Once, twice, thrice more. Calm down. He obviously doesn't want your blood, so don't be rude...just...be cautious. Right. Stay on guard. Moki would have been so proud of this paranoia. Kei could just vomit.
Beginning to wipe down the counters, she glanced up to catch his shake of the head. A small smile broke on her face at that gesture, at the tone of voice he spoke with. Honourable name? She knew how that was. Oh by the gods did she know. "Takamatsu then. Well, okay, no, that's way too many syllables for me to remember." She smiled and knocked on her head, mouth formed into an 'o' as to produce a hollow knock. She winked in jest. "So if I horribly mutilate your name, try not to kill me~"
Good. She had already slipped back into that cheerful, peppy facade she had always worn. Smiles that never reached her eyes and jokes that were only to divert attention from her. She didn't want to–this whole life had been forged so she could escape that. Escape pretending to be happy when she wasn't. But old habits die hard.
Flipping her hair over her shoulder as she resumed cleaning, she hummed idly to herself. Kei had never been one for quiet, and amidst the buzzing coming from her iPod (she was going to go deaf if she put the buds back in), and the strumming of her fingers on any available surface, there was enough noise for her. You could get lost in noise. Kei liked that. Losing herself and hiding away from prying eyes and the rest of the world.
She tossed the rag in a small basket on the ground and glanced at her watch. Nearly nine now. So close... "Holler is you need me~" Kei called over her shoulder, moving into the back room, tossing her apron aside. Sweet freedom...so...close!
[[Bad post is baaaaaaaaaaad]]
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Post by Takamatsu Takeda on Dec 24, 2006 21:27:59 GMT -5
He nodded gently at her words as he took another sip of his tea, turning to view the workings of the small shop around him. This place was rather interesting to him, it almost gave him a sense of happiness, something that was rare. Taku had always been one to honor the old ways, cherishing that which his ancestors helped to build. After a few moments of thought, he checked the time and blinked a few times, reaching up to scratch the side of his face gently and then take the last few sips that were left in his cup. Replacing his thoughts back into his mind of the akward way this girl had acted upon his sight, Takamatsu once again fell into thought again as he set the cup down gently on the counter. "It has to be it... There's no other reason..." Lifting his gaze upwards towards where she disappeared, the same tint coming back into his eyes as he left the money for his drink on the counter. "Hey miss Kei...." He called ever so lightly, but with such a hint of force to it, it almost didnt seem like it was there. He waited for her to reappear before speaking again so his words wouldnt be confused with something else. "We've met before haven't we...?" His question was blatant and stated the facts he wanted to know, a little more of that forceful demandingess to it.
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Post by Jesus, lol on Dec 25, 2006 17:34:25 GMT -5
Kei liked working here. Her boss was nice, her coworkers rocked, and she was allowed to snack on some of the pastries every now and then. Totally rockin! Plus, the pay wasn't half bad, and most of the customers in this place were the sort that never cause trouble. That was A-OK in Kei's book.
It was unnervingly close to her old school, and she kept seeing her sisters on the streets, but...well, she lived just down the road anyways, and without a car of her own, she was grateful for the walking distance factor.
Unfortunately, it was on the other side of the city from her new school. Suxxors! She grabbed her jacket, a heavily distressed thing, complete with fur round the edges, large patches, even duct tape. It was a thing of beauty in Kei's eyes, a creation she had laboured over, working the fabric with calloused hands and careful eyes. Mari-neesan would have gone round the twist had she seen it. And strangely, it suited the small, energetic girl. Shrugging it on and replacing her sandals for heavy boots, she decked herself out in all manner of accessory, twisting her hair up, and slinging her bag across her shoulder. Stuffing one of her earbuds in, she blinked. A voice? Ah well, she did tell him to holler...clocking out, she made her way to the front.
"Whatchya want?" She chirped, tilting her head. His next words made her blood run cold.
Eyes widening, they eventually softened, and she offered a sad smile. A quiet, hollow huff of laughter escaped her lips. She sucked at lying when it counted, didn't she? Okay, scratch that, she just sucked at lying. "Met...? It's not the perfect word for it...but yeah, I guess we have."
She bowed low then, her dark hair tumbling from the clip and brushing the floor, eyes lowered. "I...I'm sorry. For any problems I may have caused you. I...panicked." You were going to hurt my sister! She wanted to scream, but didn't. Because that wasn't any justification for her actions. Hadn't she always believed in nonviolence? Words over fists? And she had gone and violated her own code of honour. Like a coward.
Had she the strength, she would have pierced her own heart with the tanto she had mounted on her wall. As it was, she did not do the Yoshikawa family justice, uphold its honour. Maybe that was why she had run away from them so.
She looked up at him, biting her lip and attempting a smile. It was more of a pained grimace, and she let the expression fall. No point in lying any more.
"If there's anything I can do to make it up to you...anything, please, don't hesitate to ask! I...I would like to be friends...I know it's a little much of me to ask, but please! I...I can't stand the idea of someone hating me...! I mean, I know I deserve it, but..."
She straightened suddenly, eyes averted and dextrous fingers wiping her brown orbs. Hyper-sensitive wuss. That voice in her head, that damnable voice...! It just never shut up, did it?! She shut her eyes against it, clenching her hand till her nails broke the skin with crescent moons.
"I'm sorry!"
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Post by Takamatsu Takeda on Dec 27, 2006 22:25:39 GMT -5
Tadakatsu had always been one to keep away from societies prying eyes, leaving them to wonder what his true purpose was, though tonight seemed different than many of theo ther times. After watching her movements and staring rather confusedly, his brow quirked a bit in complete curiousity. Had she said that they had met before? He really couldnt be sure after the flood of words that followed. "Well hey hey... Listen missy... I really can't say I have much of an idea what you're talking about..." His eyes were narrowed and slightly closed but had a more understanding tone to them. "All I can really say is that I guess we've met before because of the way you acted when I walked in... That's all... As for hating you... I don't really know how that could be... You seem to be a pretty nice girl, who would hate you?" Shrugging as he closed his eyes, flipping his own jacket around and wrapping himself in it before pulling his head down to let the hair back behind him tug out of the strangling coat's grasp. "I figured we were friends already... I dont know... I just got a good feeling from you so... I just assumed..." His entire attitude was completely different from the day he had broken her arm, but he kept the same tone, usually only showing that defensive self in front of people that considered themselves stronger, smarter, more capable than others. Heading for the main door, he gently shoved it open into the cold bitter outside world. As he kept it held open for her, his eyes seemed to instantly squint a bit more in reaction to this new environment. Man he hated winter.
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Post by Jesus, lol on Dec 27, 2006 23:25:40 GMT -5
Kei bit her lip, awaiting a backlash of anger, eyes still shut tight, drawn in upon herself. She didn't expect confusion. Slowly, she opened her eyes, hand still clenched, and palm still stinging from where her nails had broken the skin. She surreptitiously wiped her hand on her jeans, drying the hand of a cold sweat and trickles of blood. She chanced a glance at him, trying to discern if he was lying or... Stop being so pessimistic. So...he didn't remember? Geh, she didn't get him that bad, did she...? She then chose that moment to flush. Goddåmn, this was awkward/confusing/embarrassing as all hell. Fidgeting with her jacket sleeves, she wanted the ground to swallow her whole and spare all this. She was still struggling for words when he opened the door. Snapping out of her reverie, she blinked when it remained open, mind racing. Wait...he wasn't leaving. Oh. As if jolted by electricity, she moved forward, stepping through the threshold and into the cold air.
Moments later, she was fumbling with a set of keys, locking up the shoppe behind her. Pale puffs blew out from her lips as she huddled into her jacket, the fur of the collar cushioning her neck. Stuffing her hands in her pockets, a steel toed boot kicked at the snow, an affable pout twisting her lips. BUMMER. Kei haets snow.
Her manners finally catching up with her, she looked over at Takumatsu and nodded, offering gratitude. "Thanks." So it wasn't heartfelt, teary eyed or anything. He held a door open for her. That doesn't deserve drama. The breeze tugged her hair into an intricate dance, leaving her ears victim to the biting chill, and she hunched her shoulders, trying to keep warm.
"Well...um, I should be going now...um, sorry for being, like, a total spaz. I didn't mean to. Um...err. Yeah. So, good night? And see you around I guess." Peering at him through the darkness, she tried to offer a friendly smile, but gave up half way through as it was just too smegging cold.
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Post by Takamatsu Takeda on Dec 28, 2006 23:44:20 GMT -5
He just smiled lightly at her words before watching her lockup, keeping his hands inside the sleeves of his jacket so they wouldnt freeze and possibly fall off. After she had finished, his gaze seemed to wander a bit, taking in the surroundings almost instantly out of instinct. Being amused by himself by blowing steam clouds from his mouth, he finally turned to her with a sort of curious look in his eyes. "Hm? Oh naaah... Dont worry about it... Believe me, there're people out there a lot more 'spazzier' than you... So... It's fine..." Taking in her last words, he just nodded and gave an ever so small smirk, before he tilted his head a bit, his brows quirking in an almost pleading way. "If you dont mind... I guess... I could walk you home... Its late out and there's certain types of 'people' out and about... Wouldnt want anything to happen right? Orrrr are you waiting for a ride...?" His head then swiveled backwards so he was looking upwards into the night sky for a bit, rolling it back the other way before he looked to her with a light stare.
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Post by Jesus, lol on Dec 29, 2006 0:07:36 GMT -5
Kei decided that she was smegging retarded to be wearing capris. 'Oh, it won't be that cold' she had told mum, 'I have to show off my pimpin boots!' she had said. Well now they were subject to the bitter cold, and snow was going to get in her boots. WHY GOD WHY? She blinked at his words, gazing at him blankly, and trying to decipher his intentions. He...surprisingly, seemed genuine. It wasn't like he was walking her home just to see one of her infinitely prettier sisters (jerks, Kei reminisced viciously) or have her do some woodshop project for them or anything. Plus, she was a total coward, she could use the company. "Ah...no, no ride...I um...sure? Uh...I mean..." What the hell? Stammering was so not her thing. A deep breath, a steeling of the self, and she smiled brightly, pep returning full force. "That'd be great! Thank you!"
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Post by Takamatsu Takeda on Dec 29, 2006 0:21:45 GMT -5
His brow quirked slightly at her actions for a bit. So this girl was in a sense bashful. Hah. He chuckled lightly at the thought before smirking in silence as she made up her mind. Going cross-eyed for a moment, he reached up and grabbed at a few strans of hair as though bored, immediately shoving them to the side when her voice rang out again. He was almost, in a sense, disturbed by her sudden act of emotion, it scaring him ever so slightly that he jumped and blinked in confusement. "Umm... alright... Well... Lead the way missy..." It was his first time having called her that in completence. It was a sure tell sign that he was comfortable with the person he was talking to or with. He just turned a bit here and there, looking around. "I mean I could lead... But... You know I dont think that would work out too well... Nope..."
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Post by Jesus, lol on Dec 29, 2006 0:33:02 GMT -5
She chose to ignore his chuckles and smirk, writing them off as...ah...endearing character traits? Yeah, sure, whatever. She giggled as he jumped, blinking at her. Floundering, as though her sudden mood swing had been terribly disturbing. Which, to be fair, it probably was. She rolled her eyes, but the grin on her face was impossible to miss as she offered an unladylike snort of amusement. Pfft, grace, who needs that? That's for BORING PEOPLE. Oh, and Rikai-neesan. But Rikai didn't count, because she wasn't boring. "Haha, I guess! Who knows where we would end up! It could be a totally awesome adventure though...but it shall be saved for a warmer day~" Brushing her hair out of her eyes, she suddenly twirled rapidly, scarf whipping out, before setting into a normal pace along the sidewalk. Looking over at Takumatsu, she tilted her head. "So, person I do not know! Tell me about yourself! Where do you go to school, what sort of things do you like, etc. etc. Can you tell I suck at small talk? Yeah, probably. ANYWAYS. You are free to speak, for Mistress Kei grants you permission, cretin." She wiggled her fingers at him, all 'spooky' like. ...Kei is a little bit strange when she gets comfortable with people, wouldn't you agree?
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Post by Takamatsu Takeda on Dec 29, 2006 0:54:19 GMT -5
Takamatsu had always been one to shy away from people and keep silent when they asked questions about who he was, why he did what he did, and so on and so forth. ALthough now it seemed as though being struck in the head caused him to have a complete retrofit of an attitude change. After nodding to her words of saving that adventure for another day, he smirked. "Yes this one agrees with you... It would be much better in the sun than it is now..." He used himself in the 3rd person rather rarely, though when he was, it was when he was trying to be funny or perhaps in a sense, happy. Letting his hands slip upwards to the back of his head as he walked, interlacing his fingers, he sighed a bit and shrugged as his eyes lifted upwards into the night sky. "I dont really know what to say actually... I dont ever talk about myself to anyone... School... Well... I dropped out of that just this last year... No point to it anymore..." It was true in his eyes of the way he viewed school, I mean its not like they were teaching him anything, and he was finally completely annoyed at the fact that everyone kept trying to find ways to use him for their jokes. After her next question, he basically shrugged, also asking himself that same thing. "I can't really say what I do... for 'fun'..." In secret, he actually did something that no one had ever noticed he did (bow chika bow wow- no not that you perverts). But he heard about himself over the news every now and then as mysterious crashes and hackings appeared in certain companies. "Soooo yea... I dont really like talking about myself miss... There's nothing to really talk about... What about you though missy...?"
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Post by Jesus, lol on Dec 29, 2006 1:14:03 GMT -5
"Haha, nice to meet someone who finally understands the suckiness of snow! My sisters are–" She trailed off suddenly then, growing pensive, before picking up where she left off, smile tighter than usual. "–my sisters are crazy. They love snow and cold and other icky things like that." Clasping her hands behind her back, she looked over at him, listening attentively. Dropped out...? Ah... She arched a brow, but giggled a bit, shaking her head. "Little Lord Enigma, aren't you?" He turned his questions back on her and she blinked, shrugging her shoulders. "Ah...um, well I'm transferring school tomorrow, so woo. But not woo, because I seriously fail hard at school. Boo for me. And um...fun? I do woodworking and metalworking. Go ahead. Laugh." Folding her arms, Kei pouted petulantly. Stupid people...making fun of her hobbies. Just cause she doesn't play sports or do ladylike or 'normal' things...grumble whine complain moan.
[Sorry it took so long. Gosh-darned disrtractions EVERYWHAR.]
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