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 Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 5:18 pm
She opened her mouth to reply, but shut it again. Her lips tugged down in a frown as she stared at her 'onii-san' quietly, face creased with concern as she finally noticed that he was acting completely differently from when they first met.
"I still have chores to do - I'll just get dirty again if I take a bath now." She answered, turning her head to watch as another man suddenly approached Reizei. Unaware of how rude she was being, the girl tilted her head, attempting to listen to the conversation. However, she gave up moments later, unfamiliar with the Chinese language.
Deciding that it wasn't the best of times to have demanded to see Reizei, and that she had been acting childish, Atsuko cleared her throat. "I'm sorry, onii-san. You seem to be busy right now - I'll visit another time."
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Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 7:25 pm
The emperor turned back to Atsuko as the aristocrat left, his face still creased with worry; lines that could someday be permanently etched in his usually-smooth face. "..Of course." He replied very absently, raising a hand to fidget with a piece of his hair, torturing it by twisting it this way and that. Of course, he was barely aware that he was doing this and only looked caught in a deep oblivion of thought. It was probably very clear that he had no time for play.
He nodded slowly as she announced her intentions to leave, nodding slowly. "Yes, of course... come back later.." He mumbled, perhaps somewhat incoherently as he turned back to Mikado to bark a few commands in Chinese. Mikado looked displeased with the commands, but walked out of the room, dragging Atsuko behind him, forced to cede something pretty(whatever she wanted) to her. "The emperor says you can have anything you want, Nezumi-chan, but the truth is that he just doesn't want you!" The attendant smirked, for once triumphant.
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 5:23 pm
The girl bowed her head in reply to Reizei - or what she could make out of his muttering - turning to leave. However, before she could, she found herself getting dragged along by someone she was - lets be frank - not fond of at all.
His comment didn't make her like him any better. She scowled a little before suddenly smiling. Oh no, she wasn't smiling because she was happy or anything. She just wanted to disorient Mikado. She was hoping that it would work.
"How very kind of Onii-sama," She chirped, pretending that she didn't hear his jab. She would not let him get to her, darnit! "Why, I could spend hours here. I have no idea what to choose." That, was actually the truth. To be honest, she was grateful that Reizei was offering her something nice, but she had to admit that she was kind of concerned about him. He certainly wasn't acting like his usual...well, dorky self.
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 5:35 pm
Reizei let a gusty sigh escape his lips as he watched Mikado drag Atsuko out of the room, following at a slight distance. He may well have been stressed out, but that didn't mean he wasn't curious as to just what Atsuko was going to choose. There were indeed many articles from which to choose from, spanning from gorgeously painted fans to ornate scrolls of calligraphy.
Mikado himself was beginning to appear extremely disconcerted by the girl's behavior. He'd always irritated her before, so why not now? The attendant shot a dark glare at her as she spoke, looking perfectly unruffled. "You should hurry up." He snapped moodily, glancing up only to find Reizei glaring stormily at him. The emperor was usually too happy-go-lucky to notice his taunts, but today he was far from his usual dumb demeanor. It was like a show he put on just to make people take their guards down.
"Mikado-san, I am sure Atsuko-chan would be glad to inform me if you somehow found it in yourself to be at all unkind. That would be a shame." The emperor uttered, his tone full of foreboding before he strode off to his study, leaving a gobsmacked Mikado behind.
"I hate when he does that." The attendant muttered disdainfully, turning his eyes onto Atsuko. "Just pick." He didn't sound happy to be obeying Reizei's orders at all, but the emperor's rare temper was nothing to fool with.
[[ : D Timelapse~ ]]
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 5:50 pm
Finally done with all her chores today, Atsuko stepped back, pleased. It took a single glance up at the sun to let her know that it was still early. Feeling rather cheerful, for once, she walked to her room. Today, she decided, she would visit Reizei.
The moment she stepped into her room however, Atsuko couldn't help but shake her head, a wry smile on her face. Months ago, her room had been plain and barren. Now it was filled with ornate, and likely quite expensive, decorations. Even her little drawer of clothing was filled with elaborate kimonos and articles of clothing.
Despite what some people probably thought, the reason Atsuko visited Reizei was never because he spoiled her. On the contrary, she never even asked to be spoiled - the emperor just did it of his own account. To be honest, she wasn't completely sure why she visited Reizei so often. He was usually so eccentric and...well, not how she imagined how an emperor would act. Still, she was kind of flattered when he adopted her as a younger sister, and she was, despite her occasional irritation with him, somewhat fond of him.
Somewhat.
Donning one of the new, lovely kimonos she had been given as a gift (thank goodness her chores today were clean and simple enough! No weeding today!), she left her room, walking up the path that was now very familiar to her.
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 6:01 pm
"Why, look. A rat dressed as a lady." Mikado was already on the footpath, looking deeply irritated. It was getting harder to stop Atsuko from visiting Reizei as they grew closer; he treated her like the little sister he'd never had, and it was grating on the attendant's nerves. What would the empress say if she knew of this ridiculous behavior? Reizei was known for his eccentricities, but taking in a filthy little girl was going a little too far.
"And doesn't it suit you, too, Nezumi-chan. You just eat it up, don't you?" The man approached the girl, his expression cold and hard. "Taking advantage of the emperor. I must say, His Majesty is quite fooled by you. He spoils you, and you take such advantage of it." Mikado shook his head in mock-sympathy.
"I'm sure the empress wouldn't appreciate knowing he has a pet rat. It's really rather disgusting, you know, Nezumi-chan? Such filthy creatures should stray nowhere near the emperor." Of course, the empress could have cared less, Mikado was sure, but it was always good to use threats that seemed plausible. After all, Atsuko was only a weak little girl.
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 6:10 pm
Atsuko's good mood immediately diminished as a familiar voice reached her ears. She bit back a scowl, bracing herself for his usual insults.
Something about his taunting words were different today, however. They were certainly more serious accuses than they usually were, and Atsuko had to freeze when he mentioned the empress. Would she really dislike her spending time with the emperor, just because she was a lower class and a maid? Reizei never seemed to mind, but then again, she had learned that he was different from most nobles.
Instead of responding with a snappish remark, or ignoring him altogether, Atsuko's response was one entirely unexpected. A small tear slid down her cheek, followed by another. Instead of answering the attendant, she ran, dodging past him as she ran towards Reizei's apartments.
Atsuko didn't even bother to knock when she reached the emperor's room. She burst in, sobbing. "Am I really that much trouble?"
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 6:20 pm
Reizei had been concentrating on calligraphy, but he dropped the brush, splattering the paint as Atsuko burst in. Her forced entry had given him a momentary shock and he gazed to her for a moment or two, his dark eyes drinking in the situation.
"What's wrong, Astuko-chan?" Reizei stood and strode over to the young girl with an expression of evident concern. He stared at the girl for a moment and then enveloped her in his arms out of pure instinct. Who had done this to his Imouto-chan? He could feel anger slowly welling up within him as he stared at the little girl he was attempting to comfort. He'd never really seen Atsuko upset and she seemed to firmly believe she was in trouble.
He hesitated before speaking, reigning in his battered emotions. "When did anyone say you were in trouble?" He asked in a soothing tone. He was genuinely worried about his adopted little sister.
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 6:30 pm
She was a little ashamed to be crying like this. Never had she thought that anyone's words would have such an impact on her, and for some reason, it never crossed her mind that she would go crying to Reizei about something. After all, he was the emperor. He couldn't be troubled by the tears of some little girl...right?
The concern she heard in his voice only made her cry more. Was she really that much trouble for him? Wasn't she just proving Mikado's point by bothering him with her tears?
Still, when he hugged her, she sniffed, hugging her adoptive brother back. She didn't answer his question right away, waiting until her sobs died down enough so that she could speak. Atsuko whimpered, telling herself that she could be embarrassed for her pitiful state later.
"M-Mikado-san, he..." She trailed off for a moment, before telling Reizei what he had said to her. Then, she pulled away, turning her attention to the floor. "If the empress would really be upset, then..."
"...Should I stop visiting, Onii-sama?"
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 6:51 pm
Reizei tensed as Atsuko began to explain the situation to him. He let her pull away, feeling numb with a feeling very near outrage. Mikado had taken it much too far this time; Reizei's attendant was always throwing insults about, but that had be a straight out threat.
"The empress could hardly be concerned by a little girl." Reizei replied calmly, fixing his dark eyes on Atsuko. He placed a hand under her chin, lightly urging her to look up. She should feel no misery in the first place; Mikado had been cruel in fooling the little girl that now should before him.
His gaze was gentle as he observed her, trying to reassure her. "Don't worry, Imouto-chan."
The emperor winced at Atsuko's next statement, looking quite displeased with the idea. Certainly, that was what Mikado had intended. "Atsuko-chan, if you were to stop visiting me I would not be very happy." He murmured gently, giving the maid his full attention. Reizei had grown quite attached to the Shirabyoshi-to-be, after all. If Mikado were to cause her to leave his side he would certainly have punishment in store.
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 7:00 pm
Her head still lowered, she rubbed at her eyes, not caring if they became red. At the same time, she tried to suppress her soft whimpers and hiccups. She was still ashamed to be in this state in front of Reizei. She had been in a good mood before too - had just finished her chores, put on one of the kimonos he had given her - and now...
She let her head be tilted back so that she and her adoptive brother were looking eye to eye. "But I'm a maid," She protested softly, "And I'm of a lower class. Much lower than yours. That nickname of Mikado-san's really does suit me..."
She hesitated at his words, looking doubtful. "Are you sure...? Would I really not be trouble for you, or anyone else? But Mikad - " She stopped. She had never cared about the attendant's words before - why now? Maybe because she really did believe he held at least a grain of truth in them?
Frowning, she hugged Reizei again, curling up and burrowing her tear-strained fact against his clothing.
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 6:20 am
Reizei watched the young girl gravely, his thoughts touching far away from her lack of grace. It was true that he hardly noticed it in his concern; it wasn't something he really minded. Atsuko was his adopted little sister, and as such he felt it was his duty to comfort the girl.
Reizei listened to her speak, his expression tender as he assessed the girl. "But I thought you were going to become a shirabyoshi." He chided softly, a half-smile unfolding on his face. Certainly there was no problem with associating with the court dancers; it didn't matter what rank you'd come from if you were a shirabyoshi. The emperor certainly didn't see Atsuko remaining a maid all her life, after all. She generally acted much too determined for that.
"I'm sure." Reizei replied firmly, his dark eyes flashing at the mention of Mikado. He would have to speak to his attendant later.
The emperor's expression lit up with a warm smile when Atsuko hugged him and he freely embraced her in return; she was his imouto-chan, after all. He could have cared less about staining his robes.
He did spoil Atsuko, but it was only because he adored his adopted little sister.
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 1:46 pm
The girl looked up in surprise, confusion flickering over her face. "I am going to become a shirabyoshi," She murmured, "But what does that have to do with...oh." It was true. If she become a shirabyoshi, it really wouldn't matter, would it?
A look of determination came over Atsuko's face as she swiped away the last few tears. Her gray eyes seemed a lot brighter now - and very, very stubborn. "Okay!" She declared suddenly, "I'm going to work extra hard from now on, so that I can become a shirabyoshi. Then...then it won't matter anymore, right, onii-sama?" She grew a little meeker, looking at the emperor for confirmation.
The girl sat there, pondering for a moment. "But well. I won't stop visiting you right now." She added, as an afterthought, "I'll be sure to stay away when you're busy or in a meeting of some kind, but I'll still come and see you frequently, onii-sama. Is that okay?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:12 am
Reizei nodded as Atsuko seemed to realize his meaning and smiled ruefully. Sure, maybe it was a bit odd for an emperor to be associating so freely with a young maid -- one he referred to as his imouto-chan -- but when she became a shirabyoshi the only reflections people would have on that scrawny maid were that he had been her benefactor. Thoughts changed along with success; it was only natural.
The emperor gifted his adoptive little sister with a charming smile as she declared her intentions, nodding. "No, it won't matter when you become a shirabyoshi." The man replied, his mood lightened by Atsuko's apparent desire to stay around him. There had been times where he hadn't been so sure of his adoptive little sister's affections.
Reizei laughed quietly at her thoughtful demeanor, nodding yet again. "Of course it is, imouto-chan. Come all you like."
He needed this; he wanted this to last. Reizei adored the little girl, after all. There was no real threat that should keep Atsuko away, after all.
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 7:26 pm
Seeming far more lighthearted, Atsuko beamed up at Reizei - a rare, bright smile. "Thank you, Onii-sama," She reached out to give her brother another hug, "I...well, I really appreciate the fact that you let me hang around. Sometimes I miss my real older brothers - I have two back home. Did I ever tell you about them? - but I'm always happy to know that I have an onii-sama here too."
Considering that this was Atsuko, and the girl hated anything overly cheesy, her words were obviously sincere. Still, after realizing how corny she just sounded, colored flooded into her cheeks. "I mean, well," She said hastily, trying to come up with something, "It's just pleasant to have someone older to talk to, you know?"
"So uh, how are you today?" She asked quickly, trying to veer the topic away.
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