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Post by Asai Yuudai on Sept 27, 2006 21:10:37 GMT -5
Today was a calm day, nothing too hectic - giving Yuudai the chance to freely roam around. However, he was mostly stuck back at the house watching over Nakamura Omi. Seeing that all the man did was sleep, he started to wander around the household until he decided reporting Omi's status would waste some time. First, I need to find him.. he thought, suddenly coming to a halt in his steps. On days like this he figured his cousin would be off within solitude, somewhere like the field.
Yuudai turned with a slight smile brimming on his lips, heading off in the direction of the field. He had enjoyed the path to the secluded area, considering it was shadowed under a bridge of trees - blocking the sunlight. When he arrived to edge of the field he noticed someone had already beat him there. A girl, no doubt - no, Kohana. Quietly, without a noise he approached the perched figure while his eyes lingered to Yuuto training in the field. With a curve of his wrist and his fingers out stretched he reached around the girl's form to slowly gesture her jaw up, closing her mouth. He figured the movement would say enough.
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Asai Kohana
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Post by Asai Kohana on Sept 28, 2006 1:44:37 GMT -5
Asai Yuuto was a sight to behold even by normal standards, and in battle-form, Kohana often found herself unable to look away. The clan-leader was beautiful with a sword, all sleek muscles and flowing movement. Admittedly, she was probably biased on the subject of Yuuto, but in the face of such graceful, deadly skill, Kohana was sure that anyone who argued otherwise was a liar.
When the day-to-day stress became unbearable, or Yuuto's emotional turmoil threatened to overflow, he could be found in the empty fields with his blades drawn. Kohana rarely missed these private demonstrations, and today was no different. Even in the chilled fall weather, Yuuto had stripped down to a bare chest, sweat arcing with each flick and bend of his body.
But however poetic the view might be, Kohana couldn't ignore the twinge in her chest that Yuuto's features brought on. He seemed more upset than usual, his eyes following unseen opponents and straight, white teeth digging into his lower lip until it might bleed.
A credit to her training, Kohana managed to only flinch at Yuudai's quiet approach, and not squawk indignantly. Her slight body teetered precariously atop the wooden fencing, and Kohana's thin fingers clutched at the post between her knees to keep from toppling. Completely unamused, the girl leveled Yuudai with her usual, bland stare.
"Dai-niisan," her voice was soft in the breeze. "I was only admiring Asai-sama's form." She had known before she tilted her head that it would be Yuudai. Herself included, they were the only two people in Chiba that Yuuto would allow to see him in such a state.
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Post by Asai Yuudai on Sept 28, 2006 10:02:51 GMT -5
The girl's gaze almost floored him. Immediately, as if the gaze was deadly enough, his hand shifted away from Kohana's face. He wondered why the girl was so engrossed with this training session more than others. To see why, he allowed some space as he approached the fence and slowly moved his arms out to rest his weight on it, pupils dilating, lids narrowed. Yuudai only saw a strong man training but the longer he watched he saw something else.. something, not so secure.
"I see," he finally answered the girl, moving his head down to slowly rest his chin on the top of his forearm. Knowing he did not share the same ideas with the girl, he didn't ask if she saw what he was seeing. For a moment he wanted to argue to Kohana that she shouldn't admire his form but his entire being, though he refused to admit that much credit to Yuuto - at least not to anyone but himself.
"How long have you been here?"
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Asai Kohana
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Post by Asai Kohana on Sept 28, 2006 16:18:50 GMT -5
There was something so... pretty about Yuudai. Oftentimes his presence made Kohana a little nervous, her speech somewhat awkward. Of everyone in Chiba, she was surely closest with the Asai cousins- Yuuto and Yuudai, but their relationship with her made them no less intimidating.
Fidgeting, Kohana concentrated on the post she sat atop, her agile fingers picking at the wooden flakes. "A while," she answered, embarrassed to admit it had actually been the entire time.
Yuudai really looked nothing like his cousin. In fact, he more resembled Kohana herself, if she hadn't been an orphan. She was fascinated with his poise, and inexplicably drawn to his catlike grace or quiet confidence. It was private moments like this, where there were no distracting factors, that the entirety of his presence became hard to deflect.
"Asai-sama is..." she hesitated to say 'upset,' feeling it really wasn't her place. Instead she turned back to Yuudai, hoping for some answers.
"Has there been no news about Koyada-sama?" Her voice was hushed. Then, realizing what she said, her tone got even softer. "No good news?"
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Post by Asai Yuudai on Sept 28, 2006 19:29:25 GMT -5
Yuudai suddenly tensed when the girl brought up Akihito, the lids of his eyes lowering - he did this when he was upset, acting like he was calm. Breathing in he stood straight, eyes focusing on his cousin. "Asai-sama," he started, hating to use that title because it made him feel indifferent, "he doesn't smile as often as he used to when Koyada-sama was around. And when he does - I think he only means it when he's around someone else." Anyone could assume his tone was neutral, but it had more in it - perhaps envy? Someone else, meaning not us..
He didn't want Kohana to worry, so he shifted to lean his head in the opposite direction - away from her sight. Yuudai wasn't so sure why Kohana was easier to talk to about problems, like she had an intuition or it was because his cousin held so much responsibility that anymore weight would be a burden. "It's a nice day," he tried to change the subject.
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Asai Kohana
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Post by Asai Kohana on Sept 28, 2006 19:57:49 GMT -5
"Someone-" she started to ask, but just as the words were forming, across the field Yuuto let out a savage yell. Birds scattered into the air at his voice, and Kohana did let a tiny squeek pass her lips this time. Her hand automatically grasped Yuudai's upper arm, fingers squeezing a little tightly in her surprise.
Having thrusted his blades into the soil, Yuuto had crouched down among the wild grasses, resting his elbows atop straining thighs. Perspiration dripped from his hair and rolled off his nose, and the muscles of his back appeared taught with tension.
Kohana's grip loosened after the initial shock passed, but her hand only slid down to hold Yuudai's wrist. They both knew Yuuto wasn't one for unnecessary displays of violence or aggression. Wasteful, he called it. There had been very few times in her life that Kohana had heard her leader make such a sound- not even in battle. He couldn't have heard what Yuudai had been discussing with her, but somehow she knew Yuuto's thoughts weren't that far from the subject at hand.
The smallest frown graced her normally expressionless face. "Should we leave him alone?"
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Post by Asai Yuudai on Sept 28, 2006 21:32:09 GMT -5
Just like Kohana braced his arm, he had braced the fence and turned his head in the direction of the Asai leader. His eyes were wide and alert, taking in almost every lighting of the field. Yuudai's heart was racing, his breathing slow and heavy. Of course he had wanted to protect his cousin and if the yell had blood curdling he would've went into a flight or flight mode and set off to Yuuto's side. The only thing keeping him in place was Kohana's grasp.
Yuudai didn't answer the girl, instead he moved swiftly over the fence - from the motion and the girl's hold, she would go with him. His fingers lifted and inclined to reach back to hold onto Kohana's wrist. "No," he answered, "we'll go to him." If he's fighting anyone, it's himself .. being alone any longer could mean self-destruction.. Now that he had a secure tight on the girl after forcing her off the fence, he picked up his pace in means to reach his cousin's side faster.
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Asai Kohana
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Post by Asai Kohana on Sept 28, 2006 22:32:57 GMT -5
Treading silently with Yuudai, Kohana attempted to shadow herself behind his larger body. There was no way Yuuto hadn't known they were watching all along, but he remained bent and heaving even as they approached. Once stopped, Kohana's fingers threaded with Yuudai's, her body partly hidden by his sturdy frame.
Up close it was clear that the elder Asai was taking in shaky gulps of air, and his head was drooped low between limp arms. One golden eye slitted open to peer at them between a fall of hair, and Kohana couldn't restrain the tiny sigh that escaped her lips.
"Yuu-niisan," she trailed off, unsure what the situation dictated she say or do. Kohana was positive that if anyone at all had ever seen Yuuto in such disarray, it could've only been Yuudai.
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Post by Asai Yuudai on Sept 28, 2006 22:56:15 GMT -5
Freezing in place he watched his cousin's shaken form, worried of detriment. When Kohana grasped onto his hand, he squeezed it lightly and kept her ushered behind him. Yuudai had seen mothers do this often with their children when strangers approached, and in a sense the situation was a stranger to Kohana.
It was hard to tell if his cousin was suffering from exhaustion or by a nervous break down. Whatever the reason, it worried him. Yuudai got a little closer, loosening his hold on Kohana's hand so he could kneel down next to Yuuto. "Yuu-san," he said very clearly and softly. If his cousin's mind was else where he had wanted to give a verbal warning to his next gesture - out of care, he lifted his right hand to slowly place his finger tips to Yuuto's face, brushing aside the hair with the back of his hand. He noticed Yuuto's flesh was warm and oiled in sweat, hoping the cool contact from his hand would bring him out of it.
Sure, he was ever so close to asking what is wrong but something held him back. "I miss you, Yuu-san, you should really come back home."
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Sept 29, 2006 0:15:11 GMT -5
Snorting with wry humor, the general grinned morbidly at his cousin's choice of words.
Miss you...
Yuuto lifted his head and propped his chin inside cupped palms. Looking out over the serenity of Chiba's fields, it was easier to fool himself into believing that everything was as it should be- that his world wasn't imploding all around him.
"I am afraid," he admitted openly, his voice steady and resolute, "that I can't do it without him." Sweat trickled down his neck, and Yuuto gently smiled as the fall winds cooled his skin.
"Is there any point now that Aki-sama is d- gone?" He stumbled over the word, knowing it would take much more time before he could even consider Akihito's certain demise.
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Asai Kohana
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Post by Asai Kohana on Sept 29, 2006 1:00:17 GMT -5
"What about children like me," Kohana volunteered hesitantly, her tone just above a whisper. As Yuudai stood straight again, she clutched his hand tighter against her chest, looping her other arm around his elbow.
"Yuu-niisan goes on because he knows it's the right thing to do." She explained, the words becoming sturdier, more confident. "Other children won't be so lucky to find kindness like the Asai have shown me."
With a heavy heart, she looked from Yuuto's crouching form and up to Yuudai's clear, gray eyes. It was true, and they all knew it. Kohana had been fortunate. The Shogun's reign would surely create more orphans like herself, and it was doubtful they would survive the ordeal as she had.
Yuuto's eyes slowly slid closed in thought, and before Kohana could lose the gumption, she added, "Koyada-sama wouldn't want you to give up."
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Post by Asai Yuudai on Sept 29, 2006 8:48:00 GMT -5
"You know," Yuudai started off, feeling his temper rise. There was no point to holding back what he thought at the moment, considering that it hurt to see his cousin like this. Kohana could probably feel the muscles in his arm contract, opting to keep her close because she was the only restraint at the moment. "You know," he started again, "don't you dare leave the responsibility to me.. don't make me go on wishing you were here, saying the things you say now because you couldn't stay."
Feeling the flesh on his face slightly burn, he closed his eyes steadily - mimicking the thoughtful gesture his cousin had done. Yet underneath it all, hearing his cousin say things like this, well it hurt too much. I guess his family was the latter in it all. Now his lids raised and he stared down at Yuuto, before turning to slowly remove Kohana from his arm. "Well, fine, let him go. He can be a selfish inconsiderate idiot." Yuudai said bluntly, his back facing the two - showing that he would leave. There was no reason to tolerate a family member in this state, even if Yuuto did need help. "Ah, lets not let his family guilt him into staying." Yuudai started in slow strides to head towards home, but he made it painfully slow so maybe perhaps his cousin would come to his senses.
"I'm sure Koyada-sama would be happy to know you gave up on him so easily, Asai-sama!" Yuudai said loudly.
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Post by Asai Yuuto on Sept 29, 2006 14:13:50 GMT -5
A pinched noise bubbled out Kohana's throat, and Yuuto had to remind himself that she'd most likely never seen the Asai cousins argue so heatedly. Turning his head to regard her lost expression, the general was suddenly reminded of the frightened, weak girl she had been when the Asai adopted her into their household. She looked torn between collapsing at Yuuto's side and scrambling after Yuudai's leisurely retreat.
"Dai-kun," he interjected, and watched as his cousin stopped in his tracks, yet not turning face to face.
"I am too... too tired," he growled, more than a little irate with the events of the day, "and too frustrated for tact. There is much more at stake here than filial duty or the honor of Bushido. I don't have the luxury of thinking only of myself, or of you, or even of just the inhabitants of this single village."
Yuuto rose then, hips tilting forward as he rolled his head upon a long neck. His muscles were tight, burning- a sure sign that he had overtaxed himself.
"There is great potential to do much more damage than good without Aki-sama's guidance. I am a warrior, not an emperor."
Taking a deep breath and planting his hands on his waist, Yuuto's gaze fell to his family blades protruding from the ground.
"Yet I am also a just a man, and there is only so much I can take before my life starts to feel too... heavy."
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Asai Kohana
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Post by Asai Kohana on Sept 29, 2006 14:37:00 GMT -5
Completely frozen, Kohana merely stood still between the two men that had become everything to her. She had always been aware of her own shortcomings, and now more than ever she realized that 'sheltered' was at the top of the list. Yuuto had taken every precaution imaginable to protect her growing up, and Yuudai had been no less of a guardian. Seeing them this way was a deep insight into just how far they had gone- that they had even protected her from themselves.
There was really nothing Kohana could do to smooth over the tension, and she was far too inexperienced in life or love to understand what either of the two cousins might be feeling. Yuuto looked calm enough, but underneath it all she could see an animal bearing its fangs, struggling to be released from a cage. Yuudai's anger was much easier to read as he openly displayed it on his usually placid face, but seeing it made it no less intimidating.
Wringing her hands and knowing she was out of her element, Kohana could only stare at Yuudai and wait for his ire to subside. They both knew Yuuto's concerns were justified. Her usually expressionless features were twisted with worry while she hoped for the air to clear.
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Post by Asai Yuudai on Sept 29, 2006 15:11:51 GMT -5
There was a muffled chuckle coming from Yuudai while his right hand gestured to rest over his mouth. He wouldn't laugh too loudly, considering he felt the opposite from amused. Yuudai usually did this to keep from feeling bad, or even from crying. Taking a sharp breath in he slowly turned to face Kohana and Yuuto, his expression blank. "Yuu-san, as much as I care for you I don't expect the world from you. I just want you to be yourself and know that at times like this - when things are too heavy - we're here to lift the crushing weight from your shoulders."
A small smile appeared on his lips while his hair flowed in the direction of the wind. His shoulders shrugged, like it was no big deal. "Then don't do anything until you have Koyada-sama's word," the statement optimistic, referring that Akihito was still alive. However, his smile faded and his eyes focused on the blades as well. He had felt sorry for Kohana, knowing the girl admired their leader and to see them argue must've shook her faith.
"For a warrior, you gave up quite quickly," he said, pressing the matter at hand.
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