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bonnefoisTitle: tea & sympathy
Day/Theme: August 11th / Recalling a house and a lady, dismount where the winds cross.
Series: HanaKimi
Character/Pairing: Akiha, Seira
Rating: at least in the PG-13 region
Akiha’s car rockets in. The muffler is broken, there’s so many assorted parts in need of repair that they rattle when he brings it to a stop in front of the traditional house, delicate gardens framing a stone path leading to the house.
He (carefully) extracts himself from the car five minutes too early. The meeting is set for 2PM, he got up at 5AM, cancelled all appointments and spent the next hours choosing one outfit after another – pacing, picking up things only to set them back down again. (and taking time to call Senpai several times asking do you think she’ll like me?)
By noon Akiha grabbed his camera and went to the park to soothe his mind. An hour later and half a roll of film later he was back home, picking through the correct flowers to choose for the table. (“Did Senpai tell me what flowers she liked?” ) eventually settling on asking her, and sending flowers later.
But now, five minutes early and thinking he really should’ve taken his car in for a tune up first. Seira is already at the door, without a hint of apprehension. She smiles up at him and reaches for his hand, which he takes and shakes, the last hint of awkwardness leaving him.
They make a comical sight, her hair the same tone as his, Seira comes to about his chest, if that.
“You must be Hokuto’s boyfriend” she says – without waiting for him to reply, she continues. “I’m just so glad that Hokuto finally settled down and got himself a good boyfriend, and not some shifty-looking punk like some of the last ones”
Their conversation is interrupted by long whistle from inside. “Oh, it’s finished!” she says, running, her long hair swishing with each movement, skirts swirling around her calves.
Akiha takes this time to look around, drinking in all the details even though he just saw them a week ago. The table is still just the same as he left it, the floors still the same light pine, he can hear Seira humming and talking to herself “oh, where did I put the sugar, oh, there”
She weaves in and out balancing the teacups – looking more like a girl playing dress up than a mother, grandmother – a woman over fifty.
“Do you always drink tea like this” Akiha asks, and grasps the delicate porcelain in his fingers, it feels frail and unstable, but smooth to the touch.
“Oh no, Azu-papa always drinks his tea traditionally, but I thought you might enjoy English tea better”
Akiha doesn’t bother to correct her, just smiles and blows on the tea. It smells fresh – of peaches and unfamiliar but pleasant smelling herbs. He doesn’t recognize the brand, she must have gotten it specially for the occasion, he thinks.
“Hokuto must really like you~ He brought you to dinner and everything, and he told me all about you after Io repeatedly called him”
“One sugar cube or two?” Seira asks.
“I usually put in at least five” Akiha replies.
From there it’s the history of the Umeda family, Akiha listens raptly to the stories of all these different branches of Senpai’s family, from aunts to uncles and great grandchildren, she tells all their life histories, condensed and often intermingled with snippets of other family members.
(Next time, she’ll get the photo albums up, she says.)
Afternoon tea turns into midday tea, and then evening tea. It’s nearly dark before either realize just how much time has passed. Akiha offers to help clean up, but Seira shoos him away.
“Some day you must invite your mother, she must be very proud of you.”
“I don’t have a mother” he says.
barely a second of silence passes, she fills it with just the words he needed, needs.
“Honestly” she says, and purses her lips “you’re lying. Of course you have a mother. When Hokuto and you marry, you’ll be one of the family” she says, flippant as if this detail should be obvious “Feel free to come for tea anytime” she says, her petite form dwarfed in the doorframe.
Akiha waves, with one last look at the house, now framed in dusk. I need to ask to photograph the grounds at least. Next time, surely, he thinks.
He can’t wait to call Senpai and tell him all about it.
Day/Theme: August 11th / Recalling a house and a lady, dismount where the winds cross.
Series: HanaKimi
Character/Pairing: Akiha, Seira
Rating: at least in the PG-13 region
Akiha’s car rockets in. The muffler is broken, there’s so many assorted parts in need of repair that they rattle when he brings it to a stop in front of the traditional house, delicate gardens framing a stone path leading to the house.
He (carefully) extracts himself from the car five minutes too early. The meeting is set for 2PM, he got up at 5AM, cancelled all appointments and spent the next hours choosing one outfit after another – pacing, picking up things only to set them back down again. (and taking time to call Senpai several times asking do you think she’ll like me?)
By noon Akiha grabbed his camera and went to the park to soothe his mind. An hour later and half a roll of film later he was back home, picking through the correct flowers to choose for the table. (“Did Senpai tell me what flowers she liked?” ) eventually settling on asking her, and sending flowers later.
But now, five minutes early and thinking he really should’ve taken his car in for a tune up first. Seira is already at the door, without a hint of apprehension. She smiles up at him and reaches for his hand, which he takes and shakes, the last hint of awkwardness leaving him.
They make a comical sight, her hair the same tone as his, Seira comes to about his chest, if that.
“You must be Hokuto’s boyfriend” she says – without waiting for him to reply, she continues. “I’m just so glad that Hokuto finally settled down and got himself a good boyfriend, and not some shifty-looking punk like some of the last ones”
Their conversation is interrupted by long whistle from inside. “Oh, it’s finished!” she says, running, her long hair swishing with each movement, skirts swirling around her calves.
Akiha takes this time to look around, drinking in all the details even though he just saw them a week ago. The table is still just the same as he left it, the floors still the same light pine, he can hear Seira humming and talking to herself “oh, where did I put the sugar, oh, there”
She weaves in and out balancing the teacups – looking more like a girl playing dress up than a mother, grandmother – a woman over fifty.
“Do you always drink tea like this” Akiha asks, and grasps the delicate porcelain in his fingers, it feels frail and unstable, but smooth to the touch.
“Oh no, Azu-papa always drinks his tea traditionally, but I thought you might enjoy English tea better”
Akiha doesn’t bother to correct her, just smiles and blows on the tea. It smells fresh – of peaches and unfamiliar but pleasant smelling herbs. He doesn’t recognize the brand, she must have gotten it specially for the occasion, he thinks.
“Hokuto must really like you~ He brought you to dinner and everything, and he told me all about you after Io repeatedly called him”
“One sugar cube or two?” Seira asks.
“I usually put in at least five” Akiha replies.
From there it’s the history of the Umeda family, Akiha listens raptly to the stories of all these different branches of Senpai’s family, from aunts to uncles and great grandchildren, she tells all their life histories, condensed and often intermingled with snippets of other family members.
(Next time, she’ll get the photo albums up, she says.)
Afternoon tea turns into midday tea, and then evening tea. It’s nearly dark before either realize just how much time has passed. Akiha offers to help clean up, but Seira shoos him away.
“Some day you must invite your mother, she must be very proud of you.”
“I don’t have a mother” he says.
barely a second of silence passes, she fills it with just the words he needed, needs.
“Honestly” she says, and purses her lips “you’re lying. Of course you have a mother. When Hokuto and you marry, you’ll be one of the family” she says, flippant as if this detail should be obvious “Feel free to come for tea anytime” she says, her petite form dwarfed in the doorframe.
Akiha waves, with one last look at the house, now framed in dusk. I need to ask to photograph the grounds at least. Next time, surely, he thinks.
He can’t wait to call Senpai and tell him all about it.
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Date: 2006-08-12 03:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-12 04:22 pm (UTC)asdfl;kjasdfl;kjasdlfkjasdlfalks, I love you. ;__;
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Date: 2006-08-12 10:30 pm (UTC)