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 Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 7:58 am
Taking the all too familiar treks that led her to Setsushi's small home, Tsubei carried but a single thing with her this day. Cradled so carefully in her arms was a rectangular-shaped object wrapped in red satin. She did not dare to let go of it, not wanting to ruin it after all of her hard work.
The young Porcelain had only one thing set in her mind. This was to be delivered as promptly as possible and, hopefully, today would be that day. Tsubei had just received news that she would be leaving for a while. She knew that if she left before this was done, she might forget entirely.
Carefully she pushed open the door. She checked for immediate signs of life, looking about as she did so. There were none she could see, so she sent out a gentle mental probe to get someone's attention. She had hoped that Kouyo was still here.
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Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 8:07 am
From within the house, Kouyo responded with a mental greeting of his own. A moment later, there was the soft padding of his footsteps on the wooden floor as he walked up to push the door open gently.
"Hello," he said as he let her in, appearing outwardly calm but with the faint feeling of conflict somewhere within him. It was not Tsubei's fault; the feelings with which the High Priest regarded here were ones of thankfulness for the company. What brought her here today?
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Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 8:28 am
Tsubei waited patiently for the High Priest after she had felt his mental greeting. Still, there was an anxiety about her she couldn't truly contain, but somehow managed to keep within reasonable control. When he opened the door, she smiled kindly up to him with his verbal greeting.
She entered, still clutching the wrapped object to her chest securely as she looked up to Kouyo.
Tsubei came here to see that Kouyo was feeling better. She knows that it has been hard for him since he came to Gaia so suddenly and.......well......she hopes that this might make it better.
She held out the wrapped object for him to take, still smiling up to him sweetly. Despite the outward calm, she was slightly worried.
Tsubei would also like to apologize for not being able to fully understand him before. Many things in her life have changed....many things forgotten. Her thoughts stopped short as she pondered quite how to explain it. For now, she watched to see if he would open the simply knotted fabric.
If he did, beneath it he would find a good-sized leather-bound three ring notebook filled with blank, non-lined paper, save for the first page and the inside of the cover. The cover was altered, however; sewn upon its surface was the piece she had been working on when they had met the second time, only now it was finished. Framed around the edges by creeping ivy, a cherry blossom branch with many beautiful blooms hung in the middle. It appeared that a wind was blowing through the branch, setting a few petals astray. Little light blue ribbons symbolized a light rain.
On the inside cover, carefully written in the Porcelain script that she knew, was a small note that said: May the glass break away so the rain will find your heart. The first page of the book seemed to have a small poem carefully written in Porcelain script.
If Kouyo doesn't like it, he can remove the first page. He can just pull open the rings. She mentioned quietly.
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Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 1:10 am
Kouyo slowly turned the book over and over in his hands after he unwrapped it, examining every inch. He felt a bunch of different things, but he smiled when he looked back up at Tsubei. He gently explained to her that was a very difficult person to fully understand, but that was part of why he was chosen to be the lonely and mysterious High Priest. Maybe he did not have to be physically lonely anymore, but there were other was in which he probably would always be alone.
Still, Kouyo found himself touched by the Lady Tsubei's sincere efforts. It had also been a while since he had received a hand-made gift such as her embroidery. He was not sure how to fully thank her for it. He will use the pages for calligraphy, perhaps and give her any ones she likes. Would Tsubei like that?
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Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 3:57 am
Tsubei watched him, a bit apprehensively to make sure he really liked it. The moments of silence built a tension in her that she hoped would be relieved. She, at first, thought that perhaps he did not like it. Though, his smile helped ease her by many measures. She paid close attention as he explained himself to her, nodding a bit in perhaps more understanding than most could offer him. In some small way of her own, she did understand him......at least the part about being alone.
Tsubei would like that if that is what High Priest Kouyo wishes to do. She would be happy to see him use it however he wished, whether for calligraphy or his poetry should he be lacking in writing surface. She smiled sweetly to him, feeling proud of her work. Kouyo does not need to think of a way to thank her. She is more happy to see it be used. Seeing her work being enjoyed brings her joy.
If he did read the poem on the first page, it was a rather simple one with carefully chosen words;
The leaf that sits upon the highest branch,
alone against the wind
which threatens to carry it so far away.
It hangs by one last thread,
sure to fall with the next hopeless whisper.
The branches below
reach as high as they can,
so close and yet to far to protect.
If that leaf should fall,
and the Earth be unforgiving,
let there be a gentle hand waiting
to cradle and caress.
Let that hand hold the leaf
to the warm and loving heart.
As the tears of hope shall fall,
warm rain upon the soul,
may life be restored and allowed to grow,
to reach the highest Heaven
and touch the loving sun.
It was her first attempt at a poem. Perhaps it was more of a note than a poem, but she had tried her best. Still, she knew that a poet of his callibur was sure to ignore it. She knew that she was no poet...and that was alright. As long as he knew that these pages would always be there to catch his tears and the words that poured from his soul.....that was enough for her.
Tsubei held her hands together, her fingers twiddling nervously at times. She seemed rather pensive, looking to the floor and off to the side every so often as she pondered and fretted.
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Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 7:41 am
It was just like in his birdcage, with people claiming to understand, to have figured him out. And Kouyo still had no way to tell them how far off they were. Whatever they thought was far kinder than the truth. And it pained him, to have to repay what was sometimes very genuine sentiments with lies that yes, they did make it better.
He did not let a shred of this leave his own mind to risk reaching Tsubei's, though; the Lucid was far too skilled at guarding his thoughts. The High Priest simply responded with a small smile as he closed the book after scanning the poem. He then held it to his chest with both hands.
Is that Lady Tsubei's first poem? It took great courage to pour one's heart onto paper. Kouyo imagined it even more difficult for a woman, if the High Priest could be so bold to assume.
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Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 2:36 pm
It seemed that she had withdrawn deep into her own thoughts for a moment. Her face lacked any sort of expression one could possibly decipher and her eyes......her eyes were blank amethyst pools, glancing towards the floor but completely unfocused. The only thing to hint as to her current state of mind was a small wavering feeling of uncertainty. What in the world was going on in this young Porcelain's mind?
Tsubei only seemed to respond when his question was directed right to her, which snapped her to awareness once more with a fluttering blink of her eyes. She looked up to him, taking in the question and the statement with a small shrug of her shoulders.
Tsubei has never tried to write poetry before. In the past, Tsubei has let flowers speak for her......for her heart. "It is......difficult." Her quiet voice expressed a statement that was more than simply about the poem. Tsubei is not a poet, just a girl who does not know entirely who she is.
She glanced up towards a window, watching the movement of the sun as her own way of telling time. She wished she could stay longer, but knew that it would soon be time for her to leave. A different sort of journey was in store for her.
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Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 12:17 am
Lady Tsubei is not the only one who does not know who she is, so that should not trouble her. She still has much growing to do. She should be ready to enjoy whatever journey it was she needed to travel, and to see if anything along the way could teach her more about who the Lady Tsubei is.
Kouyo will pray for her safety while she is gone.
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Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 2:00 am
She looked up to Kouyo with a nod and a small smile. Indeed, she knew she had a lot of growing to do. She hoped that this journey would help her there.
Glancing again out the window, she saw Yaruka standing outside waiting. She nodded a bit in understanding and turned back to Kouyo.
Tsubei must go, but she will return soon enough. She thanks Kouyo for his prayers and she will pray for him, as wel. She bowed to him and turned for the door. Upon opening it, she turned back to him with great concern in her eyes.
"Take care of yourself."
And with those last soft spoken words, she was gone......off to unknown things in a world she had yet even begun to imagine.
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