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 Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:50 pm
Kenji's frown turned serious. "No, Kue, we need to get you back home with mom and dad. It's too dangerous for you to be out here." Ignoring any further argument, he left Takani behind and sought out Shigeru, who had just finished setting up a small cooking fire.
The elder samurai gave a casual glance as his student approached, then took a longer look when he spotted Kue in his arms. "Well, then," he said sternly, "how did this little one get way out here?"
"I don't know," Kenji answered with a sigh and a shake of his head. "She says she came by herself, without mom or dad. I don't know how she could've come so far alone, though."
Shigeru gestured for Kenji to put her down, and he did. Then the old swordsman knelt and gave Kue a look that seemed to pierce right down to her soul. "So, Kue," he asked gently, "care to tell Shigeru-jisan what's going on?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:25 pm
"Shigeru-jiisama," she said in a squeaky voice. Her little body twisted back and forth and her hands toyed with her little yukata.
"Erm...daddy was letting me play outside and I wanted to see nii-sama so I followed my nose."
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Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 5:15 am
"Is that so," Shigeru replied dryly, "and how long have you been following your nose?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:31 am
((OOC gonk ever so sorry! Life got out of hand for a while there and this had completely left my mind, but I am back now.))
"Um....just a little while, Shigeru-Jiisama," she replied, ears flicking back and forth.
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Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 3:21 am
(Soooooooo left out... So! *plays with time*)
Some time later, Takani returned. She had 5 fish on a line slung over her back. The poll was in her other hand as she walked into the camp. She didn't look too happy, but the others looked to busy with Kue, so Takani said nothing as she laid the poll against a tree and set the fish near the fire, then walked away from the camp a little and sat, looking off into the distance.
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:04 pm
The elder samurai shook his head and sighed. "Kue-chan, let me tell you a story . . ."
As Shigeru began recounting the tale of a young child who wandered away from home and fell into all manner of peril, Kenji went to sit by Takani. "He told me this story once," he said conversationally, then chuckled. "I made sure never to wander afterward."
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Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:43 pm
She didn't look at him when he sat beside her, but she did smile a little. "So you were scarred for life?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 1:47 am
He laughed. "I guess you could say that. But it probably kept me out of a lot of real trouble as I grew up." Leaning forward a bit, Kenji rested his elbows on his knees and folded his hands in front of his mouth, a gesture of deep thoughtfulness that he had picked up from his father. He had hesitated to reveal too much of his background to Takani at first, afraid that she would treat him differently if she knew.
After a while, he said, "It . . . wasn't always safe for me. Even at home." Glancing over, he reached out a hand and gently squeezed her arm. "It was never like what you went through, I know. And I'm glad I had Shigeru-sensei, and my parents, to look after me." He shook his head and sighed, staring into the distance again.
"As a kid, I never could have understood why someone would hate me, or want to hurt me just because of who I was. Sometimes I think that by scaring me, Shigeru-sensei saved my life."
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Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 3:48 am
"Why are you telling me this? Why bring this up to me now?" She asked softly. "If there's something you need to say, you should just tell me." Takani turned her head and smiled at him a little. It was a sad smile. "Because I'd never hurt you." She moved her hand over his when he squeezed her arm. "What are you?" her voice was quiet, non invasive. "I'll understand if you don't wish to tell me. We all have secrets. But..." Takani gave his hand a squeeze. She was getting strength back in the hand that had been broken. "but if you ever need someone to save you, I'll be here for you." Takani didn't mean in the physical sense. She knew that she was far weaker then Kenji was- physically. But maybe...
Takani's thoughts trailed off. They were a jumbled mess now. So she just waited to hear what more Kenji would say.
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Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:06 pm
"Shigeru-ojisama, Kue-chan is not afraid," she said unblinkingly. "Kue-chan knows onee-sama, Okaa-sama and Oto-sama and Shigeru-ojisama will be there!"
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:07 am
Kenji sighed and shook his head. "It's not . . . I know you won't hurt me, Takani. I'm just afraid of hurting you. Or getting you hurt. Or something." He looked away, nervously running a hand through his hair. "My father . . . my father is half youkai. And he's a daimyo. So . . . there are people who hate me for my blood . . . and people who hate me for my position." He swallowed. "I'm supposed to be the next daimyo. My father's been a great leader, but I don't think I can live up to his example. And I'm afraid. Afraid that I'll make a mistake, and that not only I, but everyone around me will suffer.
~~~~~
Shigeru shook his head sadly. "Ah, but that's not always going to be the case, little one. What if something had happened during your trip through the Misty Woods to find us? We didn't even know you were coming, so we would never have gone to look for you."
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:10 pm
"So you are like me..." She said. She had a feeling from the moment they met that they were alike. "I bet your father had the same doubts." She said, looking up to the sky. "Great rulers are not the ones who do everything confidently. Great rulers think things over. They make sure that what they are doing is right. Don't they?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:44 pm
"I . . . I guess I wouldn't know," he answered ruefully. "You're probably right. And . . . father tells me to think things over before I act, but even when I do I can't always figure out what the best choice is."
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Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:53 am
"Mistakes are a part necessary part of life. They help you learn and grow. You would be a very one dimensional person." She smiled a little more warmly. "You will be a great leader- when you're older. You're still learning about life right now, you can't expect to be perfect." She put a hand to his cheek.
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:57 pm
He remained silent for a moment, then smiled genuinely and leaned his cheek against her hand. "You're right. Thanks, Takani."
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