sticksandbones | 002 — So Meet Me By The Cut Through [LOG]

Entry tags:

red vs blue: agent texas

002 — So Meet Me By The Cut Through [LOG]

Who: Rengoku, Akaza, and You!
What: Kyojuro asks for “his” estate back Unfortunately, because the request is so woefully unspecific, what manifests is a dojo that is at least somewhat unfamiliar. But hey! At least you get lessons now!
When: A week or so after returning to the Grove.
Where: Soryu Dojo
Warnings: Honestly it’s probably going to get gay in here. I’m sorry.

[[u can ignore this and jump to the comments for prompts, this is all just flavor]]

[With any hopes of escape now thoroughly dashed, and taking Senjuro’s continued presence within the Grove, flickering or otherwise, into consideration, one thing is clear: they are both in dire need of a proper place to call home. If being trapped here for the long haul was the only option they had, then the least Kyojuro could do was make the most of it.

Really, he wouldn’t have thought the request would be such a difficult one. Sure, the words “my home” were relatively vague, but thus far Heimr seemed perfectly capable of making something from nothing. This shouldn’t have been such a difficult task.

But when all the magic had faded, and everything was said and done, it was not the Rengoku estate that stood before him. Not that it was entirely unfamiliar. The writing on the wall beside the entrance proudly displayed a name that Kyojuro had come to know.

Soryu.

His heart leapt at the sight of the name, spurring him inward. Really, he should have taken the time to consider what this implied, but he was far more concerned with seeking out the secrets within. Two buildings occupied most of the compound, with a koi pond and long decayed garden occupying the rest It was far from surprising to find a fully equipped dojo inside. A few punching bags were set up here and there, and a number of gi hung upon the wall, remarkably pristine despite the dust that had accumulated on every other surface.

Though the primary function of the dojo seemed to be for improving hand to hand, a wooden barrel containing four shinai was tucked into the corner. A number of practice pads and other gear were also squirreled away, not as an after thought, but simply to allow the most amount of room for the primary function of the dojo.

Dimly, Kyojuro couldn’t help but wonder how much this might resemble the dojo he apparently spent so much time in. His heart ticked up a beat at the idea of showing him, before the heat of the sun high above his head reminded him that it would be some time yet before it was safe for Akaza to emerge..

Ignoring the dojo itself for the time being, Kyojuro instead made his way to the other, detached building. Stepping up onto the engawa, he reached for the sliding door that opened into the genkan. His shoes were left in the entry way as he began to pad around.

Each room was carefully counted once, then twice. All told, there were eight tatami rooms within the home, on top of an altogether too large kitchen, living area, and bathhouse off to the side. Something about it didn’t feel right, considering the fact that Akaza mentioned having no other students at the dojo. But perhaps the proprietor had been overprepared?

More questions to ask Akaza, he supposed. For now, his first goal was to find a broom. It would probably take days to properly clean the place, but for now he could start airing it out as he cleaned the first few rooms enough to sleep in.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

i. Under a Canopy of Stars — Closed to Akaza

[The first rays of the sun had only just dipped below the horizon as Kyojuro began knocking on his door. It was too early for him to be anywhere else but here, a fact proven by that sixth sense of his always honed in on Akaza.

He did not wait for a greeting as the door opened. Instead, he reached out, taking Akaza by the wrist and gingerly pulling him forward. Unfortunately, ever since the events in Roseroot, he’s been willfully ignorant of the idea of personal space between the two of them.]

There is something I must show you. [A beat passes, before:] I know not if you will welcome the sight of it, but I can assure you there is no danger, at the very least.

ii. Where Thought and Truth Divorce — Around the Grove

[A few days later, Kyojuro rises exceptionally early. The sun is barely beginning to peek up as he emerges from the dojo. After lithely dancing across the stones of the river, he found a patch of grace to settle in. A few stretches were performed, reaching to his toes, stretching his arms high above his head, before being followed by a frankly obscene amount of pushups and sit ups.

By the time his routine finishes, probably an hour or so in, he’s thoroughly worked up a sweat. Both his haori and his uniform shirt are cast aside, leaving him shirtless as he begins to weave laps around the Grove once more.

You are welcome to interrupt him at any point and asking why the hell he’s torturing himself. Or join in. He’ll be glad to have the company.

Alternatively, you may find him gathering branches in the afternoon, securing only the thickest and sturdiest debris. A pile is quickly formed beside the stone path on the river, which Kyojuro eyes as he stands with his hands on his hips.

Mans doesn’t know the first thing about building a bridge and getting over it, apparently.]

iii-a. In That Latticework of Dreams — Netbook

[Not long after Kyojuro begins his new morning routine, some very excited handwriting appears in the netbook. Someone’s back to his big letters and shoutpoles, yippee.

TRAINING BEGINS TODAY. PLEASE STOP BY THE DOJO TO LEARN THE FUNDAMENTALS OF TOTAL CONCENTRATION BREATHING, BASIC SWORD SKILLS, AND ANY OTHER SELF-DEFENSE TECHNIQUES YOU MAY BE INTERSTED IN.

iii-b. We Are Shameless — At the Dojo

[True to his word, Kyojuro is waiting outside of the dojo for anyone that might be interested in joining him. Though he starts off with his arms crossed over his chest, simply patiently waiting, before long he’s picked up a shinai of his own and settled into performing the same swing.

Once.

Twice.

Ten times.

Then one hundred.

He repeats the same movement again and again, inviting anyone there to do the same. Even when his muscles burn from the repetitious action, he presses on. Should you waver, he will turn to you.]

Do not give up yet! A thousand strokes per day is the best way to build up the perfect swing!

iv. I Want to Run Away With You — Wildcard

[Blah blah blah, bother me however u want :3]

[if he didn't have the heightened senses that he does, akaza would have been horrifically startled by kyojuro. he'd already been on his way to the door when the man approaches and knocks, and even with kyojuro's forwardness, he doesn't expect to be grabbed so quickly. his face scrunches up as kyojuro speaks and he tries to discern what the hell that means.]

Alright...? What is this something?

I do not think I could put it into words, I am afraid.

[Much as he's certain that the home that bloomed forth was Akaza's at one point, he cannot be entirely sure. And he would hate to encourage his friend into hoping (or send him spiraling into dread) over nothing.

Kyojuro does pause by a window before exiting the building, confirming that the sun has well and truly sunk below the trees before pushing the door open. He marches onward, daring only to glance over his shoulder as they reach the center of the grove, and both the river and the dojo walls that have come into being swim into view.]

I asked the shopkeeper for something. With Senjuro having been here, I wanted to give him a proper place to call home. I asked for my home. But this is what I was given.

[most everything about kyojuro is a goddamn mystery to akaza, so he takes this in stride and follows along with him. in fact, akaza keeps his gaze trained mostly on kyojuro rather than where they're going. only when the man looks back at him and explains, does he catch sight of... a distressingly familiar gate and wall.

akaza stops mid-step and stares in shock. this he really can't wrap his head around. it looks nearly identical from this angle, but it was given to kyojuro?

it's a long time before he can speak, and still, it's hesitant.]

Have you...? [been inside, he wants to say, but his throat feels like it's closing up. he tries desperately to swallow the feeling down. he feels... sick.]

I have.

[Too late, he wonders if it was wrong of him to intrude. It was "his" home by definition, but the traces of Akaza's life had been the far more prominent features. He'd only wanted to help out, but perhaps that had been the wrong idea?]

When it came into being, it was as if it had been abandoned for some time. I wanted to attempt to clean some of it up. And to know if it truly was...

[Akaza's. Or perhaps Hakuji's was the better way of thinking about it. And from what he had seen, he couldn't be sure if that was the case.]

There are eight tatami rooms. Far more than I would have expected from the way you described things. I can show you, if you wish.

[the thought doesn't even cross his mind that kyojuro may have "intruded." whether or not it was a mistake on the shopkeeper's part, akaza is certain that if someone handed kyojuro something and told him it was for him, he would be trusting enough to take them at their word, if only because he holds to his own word.

he shakes his head, and begins the trek across the river without giving kyojuro a direct response.]

It looks -- just like it. It wasn't small, just -- mostly empty. He inherited it.

I see.

[Kyojuro follows after. His steps are careful as he crosses the stone path, mercifully avoiding plummeting into the water and adding more chaos to what is clearly already difficult for Akaza. By and large, though, he lingers behind the man, letting him set the pace.

Continuing the conversation is the more difficult part. He doesn't want to leave Akaza in silence, lest his own thoughts turn sinister. But anything he can think of seems like it would be prying, which also will not help matters.]

If you need to do this on your own, I understand. But until you say as much, I will be with you, Akaza.

That's... fine. He said it was yours, right?

[that doesn't mean akaza understands it. but still, he wants kyojuro around. the man has proven time and again to be a grounding force in the face of akaza's own thoughts as well as physical threats.

he doesn't stop until they reach the gate. akaza stares hard at the sign; there's absolutely zero doubt in his mind, this is keizo's brushwork.

as they pass through the gates, his breath quickens. he recognizes the koi pond, hurries past the flowerbeds, turns a corner, between the dojo and the home, practically hyperventilating --

and stops dead in his tracks. there's nothing there. where there was a well in his memories, there is only grass, here. his feet move again, dragging him closer to the place he knows it was. once he's standing in the exact spot, he turns around, studying the ground intently. only after it finally cements itself in his mind that it's really gone does akaza look back to kyojuro.]

He did. I asked to have my home back, and this is what came to fruition.

[Which makes less and less sense, the longer he studies Akaza's reaction. He might have thought that Heimr simply supplied what he needed as a home, given the vague nature of the request. But for it to be so intrinsically linked to both Hakuji and Akaza...

He swallows down his thoughts before they can begin to wander, instead following dutifully behind his companion. He doesn't understand the urgency in those movements, but ultimately concludes that he is not meant to. He is here for support and only that, after all.

Or rather, he's meant to be. But as Akaza approaches what is simply grass, turning about as if something was meant to be there, he cannot feel anything but confusion. There is something missing, something he's missing, and all he can do is wait for Akaza to elaborate.

That, and let him know that Kyojuro is listening.]

Akaza? What is it...?

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the is for me one <:}

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iv. There was an explanation promised

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