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"Your hands protect the flames from the wild winds around you" |
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
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Post by TORU AIHARA on Mar 15, 2017 23:55:49 GMT -5
| Toru didn’t struggle to climb out of his bed and dress himself in the green-and-merlot uniform of Mugen Academy with the rising sun. To leave the academy’s residential building with the intent of travelling to the Azabu District, meaning to take care of some business and to grab breakfast too before returning for his morning English class.
It was a lot to demand of a high-school student at such early of an hour. Toru did not feel strained though. He hadn’t actually made it into his bed the night before. Making a detour to the Hikawa Shrine from the wrapping-up of set was more like a simple task than a chore.
His uniform stood out. As far as Toru knew, no Mugen student ever had any common reason to spend their time in the Azabu-Juuban region of the city, usually he didn’t either. Bronzed fingertips restlessly tapped the Styrofoam surface of the Royal Milk Tea, freshly purchased, as he waited beneath the towering pale form of an outside torii. He’d gotten to Hikawa Shrine earlier than its opening hours. Amber hues switched between watching passer-byes on the street and scrolling through the screen on his cellphone.
He hated being made to wait. His expression was set sullenly, even when he made to sip at his beverage.
It left him reconsidering his decision not to manipulate the advantages afforded by his fame. A white lie – alluding that a pending Okaruto episode would incorporate Hikawa somehow would have seen Toru being welcomed into those sacred grounds, regardless of business hours. Might even have afforded him a good portion of its grounds to indulge in his interests, undisturbed. Only, Toru hadn’t wanted to involve his career when his interests in the shrine were personal.
Amber hues glanced down, focusing on the golden bracelet that graced a sculptured wrist. On the crimson gemstone, cradled by the symbol of Mars.
Toru sighed, heavily, an aggrieved sound. He really should have invited Takeo along.
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#TEAMSAUSAGE
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Soldier of Beauty & Love ! |
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Kozy
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Post by UME KOZAKURA on Mar 16, 2017 10:58:06 GMT -5
She needed a charm for good luck. Ume had heard the rumors surrounding the Hikawa Shrine, but hearsay meant very little to her versus first hand experience. There were rumors that the shrine was haunted, and that the people that trained there.. their priests and priestesses were often regarded as special. So much mythlogical history surrounded the establishment and yet this was the first day that Ume actually had the desire to come and receive a blessing and to pay her respect. She had chosen to take a sick day from school when she woke up to the realization that she felt sad, and alone. Her mother had died a few years prior in a tragic car accident, and her father didn't stop for one moment to make sure his daughter was okay. From the time that she was fourteen, she was virtually alone because the man was diplomatic liason for Japan. This meant that he was almost always gone to bridge the gap between Japan and other countries. Regardless, Ume had needs and desires herself. She was up before the crack of dawn and by the time that the sun had risen over the horizon she was already out of the door with the straps of a small backpack thrown over her shoulders. The only pitstop she'd made in conjunction to her only stop for the day was getting herself a cup of hot chocolate togo, the sweet and warm liquid revitalizing her body and serving to add a small pep in her step as the bus had let her out in the Azabu District of Japan. This area of town was not completely unfamiliar to her as she attended the Mato Azabu High School, but what was utterly unfamiliar to her was the boy dressed in the Mugen Academy uniform sitting on a bench with his drink. As she neared the shrine and the area that the young male was sitting, her jade green eyes lifted to the gold bracelet he'd been wearing and and the maner in which he was sitting. She felt like she'd seen him on television before. Is he famous? Came the immediate thought. She cursed herself for not remembering, and quietly she settled for letting her stride slow just a bit. Curiosity killed the cat, but she wanted to know. Glancing down at herself in simple jeans and a bland, unfashionable gray sweater and her sneakers, you wouldn't have guessed she attended what could have been regarded as a rival high school to Mugen. But regardless, she took pride in her academics and how far she'd come alone. With a father in such a presitigous position of power, he would have her head if she didn't at least perform somewhat in her academics. This in turn allowed her to have some sense of pride in Mato Azuba High School. Like Mugen, not just anyone could apply and get in. But regardless, the male's uniform was enough of an opening conversation starter for her to at least prod about why he might have been in this area and if it had anything to do with receiving a blessing as she had. "Mugen Academy, eh? I-i-i mean.. you're a long ways away from home, hm?" She stumbled over her words, voice light with jest as she stopped in her stride, head craning to the side in partial curiosity. At the end of the day, it was no secret to anyone -- she was not good at being social. So instead she settled of dusting a strand of curly blonde hair out of her face to allow the sun to reflect off of her green eyes as she peered down at the male that was sitting and mind his business... a business that she chose to cut into for the sake of simply biding the time. ---- ooc: tag: TORU AIHARA ; hope you don't mind my joining!
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"Your hands protect the flames from the wild winds around you" |
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Domino
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Post by TORU AIHARA on Mar 16, 2017 22:38:17 GMT -5
| Toru loved milk tea, he’d drink any sort of tea, so long as it wasn’t served black. But had Mars?
A trivial question. Answered or left unanswered, it would not change his tastes. Neither would it improve or sabotage his efforts in protecting Tokyo, in finding his princess or his fellow knights and prince. It did not and would not make accepting that the world that he had once known was gone, any easier. Yet still, Toru kept dwelling upon the trivial.
Jigsaw pieces, belonging to the more pressing memories of the past; his core memories, had begun to be recovered, only many still lingered just beyond his reach. The puzzle was incomplete, the bigger picture unreconstructed. Only, Toru wanted to see it.
Maybe then his memories might just allow him to see the faces of all of his friends clearly through the sunshine-like haze. Jupiter and Mercury, their prince too. Maybe then he and Takeo would be able to find them.
And make sense of their rebirth.
Trivial memories to form the core. Little jigsaw pieces. Toru only had to find the pieces that fitted together.
Brooding in deep thought, Toru failed to notice that his behavior had attracted company. Not until an unfamiliar voice spoke out-loud, shattering his reverie. Blinking, flame-scorched hues turned away from the screen of his phone, focusing upon a vividly green gaze instead. Cropped blonde hair flattered an inquisitive expression.
”Ah, yes. I am.” Sepia-toned lips lifted into a soft, effortless smile, whist his responding tone of voice was warm, friendly. Implying that either he was used to being engaged in small-talk with strangers, or that he was, at the least, not bothered by such friendliness. In Toru’s case, the truth was a bit of both. ”Do I stick out that much?” He laughed, a short but warm-natured sound, as a corner of his smile curled, teasingly.
”I was hoping to pay my respects at the shrine,” said Toru. Although the other hadn’t directly asked about his motives, he suspected that to be the trigger to her curiosity. Taking a glance at her casual attire, he added, ”maybe you’re here to do the same?" | |
#TEAMSAUSAGE
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Soldier of Beauty & Love ! |
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Kozy
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Post by UME KOZAKURA on Mar 16, 2017 23:14:06 GMT -5
Despite his brooding disposition, his reaction to her interrupting his silence said something different. Ume managed to mask her shock rather well on her face, but there was something about her eyes that seemed to lighten up at his tone of voice. Perhaps there was relief in the fact that she had managed to skate around a conflict with a student from another school.. but then again, she wasn't wearing the Mato Azabu girl's uniform. She was in normal clothing. Would his disposition towards her change had he known what school it was that she attended? It was a trivial question. A foolish one. So self concious about how others perceived her, and oblivious all the same to outside judgement, she shook her head as if to shake the thought completely away from her mind so as to not drive herself nuts with worry. What was happening now was that she had managed to strike up a full blown conversation with the Mugen Academy student sitting on the bench. To her, there was no such thing as fame.. she didn't watch anything other than the news. Glancing towards the direction of the Hikawa Shrine, she assumed that they were still closed and so since the male was so inviting with his next question of sticking out, she moved to lower herself on the opposite side of the bench across from him. She didn't want to invade his personal space, but she wanted to show him that she was engaged because she was genuinely interested now that his tone seemed to convey the same genuine air she seemed to be showing. Side glancing at him a moment, she quickly turned her eyes to travel down to the lidded cup of hot chocolate in her hands. She wrapped her fingers around it for warmth and she laughed lightly. "..m-maybe it's just the way that you carry yourself in the uniform you're wearing." She managed to say casually, eyes dancing to the ground a moment before she turned herself on the bench to face him a little more. The way that she spoke to him was like someone who didn't know of his status as a celebrity. Because she didn't watch television, it was hard for her to place him as someone other than another student. Someone like herself. Her parents didn't allow her to watch much television as a kid growing up. Her nose was to be buried in her studies. Bringing home the best scores in her courses meant that she wasn't brainwashed by entertainment industry that seemed to dominate everything that Tokyo had come to be. When the young male spoke on the Hikawa Shrine, she let her jaded eyes leave him and travel to the shrine. From her disposition she could clearly see where some of the priests and priestesses were already stirring about on their sacred grounds, going about their day to day life as if this was pure routine for the. It was a life that she figured boring in some instances.. how did they educate themselves? With a slight nod of her head in agreeing to his words, she let the corner of her soft lips curl into a half-hearted smile. "Hai! Or.. something like that.." She managed to say rather casually, her fingers drumming along the side of her cups in a rhythmic, slow thump. It was a nervous habit. She was not very good at talking about herself, but something about the male made her want to keep the conversation going. "Its become something of a tradition I've started for myself. On the anniversary of my mother's death, I come here to receive a good luck charm, a blessing, and to pay my respects to the grandeur life she lived." The smile that had painted itself along the corner of her lips had began to slowly fade. It didn't fade into sadness, angst, or anything that would elude to that. Instead, her expression was blank.Hidden. All of the emotion was in her eyes that she had long since turned away from him. She wanted to shift the gears of the conversation. She couldn't speak on her past without becoming a little sad. "Has a good luck charm from the Hikawa Shrine ever brought you good luck?" Did the male next to her even believe in something such as luck? Ume was trying to re-establish her faith in its existence. She was hoping that the day would allow for that... she hoped that it would be the same for this stranger sitting next to her as well. ---- tag: TORU AIHARA ooc: their vibe is adorable already.. adorable strangers. xD
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"Your hands protect the flames from the wild winds around you" |
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Domino
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Post by TORU AIHARA on Mar 17, 2017 22:05:30 GMT -5
| She was distracting. Hues, bright as simmering flame, observed more than just her expression. Trying to conceal the brunt of his intrigue behind a warm smile, even as she chose to sit down beside him.
She seemed a bit hesitant in her every action. Not as if she were forcing herself to commit to the interaction that she had begun, but more like she were searching for an easy rhythm, stumbling, a little, in her uncertainty until then. Toru might have assumed that she was just another shy fan, wanting his acknowledgement, his attention, his acceptance, but afraid of failing in her attempt.
Only, her behavior didn’t quite match that of being star-struck. No spark of recognition had flared within the emerald depths of her gaze, in the brief moment where she had allowed herself to meet his own stare. In fact, Toru suspected that she truly did only recognize his uniform. Not his face.
”Hm.” Titling his head slightly, as if considering her words with deep thought, Toru dropped his gaze. Moving a hand, he toyed, idly, with the end of his plaid tie. A brief moment, before his bright gaze was once again admiring her face. ”You might be right.” Simple. Neutral. Softened only by his continuous smile, and the warmth behind his gaze.
His smile faltered, however, upon her answering response, and her mentioning of her late mother. ”Your mother?” By the way that she turned her gaze away, her expression shifting to impassiveness, Toru knew that it was an old pain that she meant to guard. Holding it close even as it weighed heavily upon her heart.
He felt his own throat tighten, thickening, in response. He knew that same hurt intimately.
”I haven’t been back here since I was twelve,” Toru admitted, only his confession came as the retelling of a memory. His body turning, slightly, from where he sat, so that he could spare a glance at the shrine’s grounds behind them both. ”It was my mother’s idea. She thought that I could draw upon some power nurtured by the place. Maybe become my own luck charm.” He laughed. A soft sound, purposely, to blunt the sting that the memory meant to pinch him with. And ember hues returned back to an emerald gaze. ”Silly, right? I was just a kid …”
”I didn’t even thank the maiden who handed me one of her charms. I wanted to believe that I was above such nonsense.” Toru didn’t usually confide his personal memories in others, let alone complete strangers. He wasn’t even certain why he was making an exception, other than perhaps wanting to emphasize with another who knew the pain of losing a parent. Perhaps, that was why he chose to curtail his retelling’s length. ”But I did believe, the next day. I held my charm tightly when I thought that my nerves would overwhelm me, during my first interview with Mugen Academy.”
His smile deepened, even as it twisted, crookedly. ”It worked. Maybe a little too well.”
The screen of Toru’s cellphone lit up, and a bronzed finger struck the screen, silencing the alarm, which he had set, to alert him to the exact moment of the shrine’s opening hour. ”Toru Aihara.” It seemed as good a time to finally introduce himself as any other. ”Should we go in, together?” His smile still warm and inviting, and maintained with hardly any effort at all, he added, ”I don’t mind the company.” | |
#TEAMSAUSAGE
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Soldier of Beauty & Love ! |
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Kozy
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Post by UME KOZAKURA on Mar 17, 2017 23:21:59 GMT -5
There was something about this interaction that seemed utterly smooth. Ume didn't pick up on anything remotely confrontational about the man across from her, and she was at a loss what to think in regards to this. A part of her wanted to bask in the serenity that came from the conversation that they were having, but being so untrusting of individuals that she didn't know, she was expecting for something to go wrong. Something always went wrong. It was rare that she was able to hold a conversation without starting to feel some kind of way. She didn't feel this way as a result of bullying, there was a backbone to her when pushed, but she was so socially awkward that others couldn't help but jest about her. However, she thoroughly believed in pouring her time and energy into the right dynamics with people. The most negativity she faced came from other students her age hence the reasoning she composed herself with reservation in regards to her new companion. As he looked at himself, the very moment that he pulled his eyes away from her, she took the time to shyly glance in his direction now. To really take in his features. She supposed he fit the ideal description that most upper classmen fit that were boys. Especially the ones from Mugen Academy. They were generally handsome, and this appealed to the side of her that did notice a handsome face in her presence. Of course, she was far too shy to act on any impulses. She knew of girls who were very direct.. very forward in their pursuit in promiscuity. The most that Ume could do was look, perhaps stare, and like clockwork -- like now -- when he turned his attention to her again her eyes were averting in a different direction. There was some heat that threatened to rise to her cheeks but she swallowed it down and dismissed it altogether when he mentioned something of her mother. The cold reality check of what they were speaking about. Of course, when he mentioned something about coming to the shrine since he was twelve.. she let her jade green jewels level with the back of his head the moment that he turned his attention to the Hikawa Shrine. The story didn't exactly take the kind of tone she was expecting it to take with her. Instead, when he spoke there was warmth to his words. From what she could gather he loved his mother, enough to appreciate all that she had taught him in his youth to this very day. Here he was, ready to visit the shrine after all. But the story, the story of drawing power fromt he sacred place and becoming his own good luck charm. The thought made her laught in a light and appreciative manner, her head shaking back and forth as if to disagree with him calling it "silly". She didn't think it was silly at all. Once upon a time, she believed in such a thing as luck. She just didn't feel as if she had any on her side as of late. As he continued to speak, she lifted a hand to tuck a few wisps of curly blonde hair behind her ear and out of her line of sight. When he turned his attention to her again she didn't pull away this time with her look. She allowed herself to acknowledge his handsome features for once. Whe she looked at him, and the color of his skin, his eyes, and his hair.. she was reminded of fire. Flames. She wasn't a spiritual person by any means what so ever, but his look reminded her of greek mythology. The god of war. She was a person who favored history, and so her mind had broken down his physical aesthetic in this light. It was an attractive quality that not many boys bore here in Tokyo. The boy before her looked rather unique and it caused a small smile to return to her lips. One that matched his the moment that his cell phone went off and he offered her his name. Standing quickly as he invited her to join him, she did feel a slight blush rise to her cheek and she bowed the upper half of her body in respects while keeping both hands clasped around her hot chocolate. "H-hai, Toru-san." She closed her eyes and gave a slight nod of her head, managing to cool the heat that rose to her cheeks. "Kozakura.." She'd said her last name first because most knew of her father, if they followed politics enough. "Ume Kozakura." She finally said, lifting her upper body again to stand tall in her short height of 5'3". She let a soft laugh escape her lips for a moment to make light of her nervous behavior, and without thinking she took a step passed him and then turned on her heels so that her back was not to him. "I don't mind joining you. Perhaps some of your luck will rub off on me today." She'd said with genuine meaning, her smile finally reaching her vibrant green eyes. ---- tag: TORU AIHARA ooc: i agree, these are the dynamics i adore. <3
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"Your hands protect the flames from the wild winds around you" |
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Domino
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Post by TORU AIHARA on Mar 21, 2017 7:02:27 GMT -5
| The name Kozakura tugged at Toru’s memory. Vaguely familiar, even as it eluded his reach. Likely, it was not a name that he overheard on a daily, or even weekly, basis. Associated with work, or some part of the entertainment industry or –
- Or, Toru wasn’t sure. Truthfully, his attention didn’t stray far from warm emerald hues, as he got to his feet. It was the first time, since their conversation had begun, that Ume had smiled and meant it. And hers was a truly beautiful smile.
”I’ll try my best, Ume,” he replied, as hues of ember turned downwards, meeting her own brightly-green stare as he moved to stand beside her. Being almost a whole head taller than her. He winked, impishly, almost teasingly, before setting a pace into the shrine’s grounds. Following the skeletal-white stone pavement.
Toru shortened the length of his strides, so that Ume wouldn’t have to rush her own so as to keep pace with him. ”Kozakura.” Having taken his final drink from his tea, Toru thought to steer their talk himself, now that she seemed somewhat comfortable. ”That name sounds a little familiar. Has your family had a chance to speak on TV?” It didn’t seem to be a weighted question. Toru wanted to avoid those. Conscious of the suspicion that Ume was so rarely comfortable in the presence of strangers. To push too hard, too hastily, might cause her to flinch and distance herself.
Hues of ember admired both his and Ume’s surroundings as they walked and continued their talk. At first, there was little else but the ordered lining of sentinel-like trees. Towering, an assortment of living greenery, sheltering birds whose calls Toru could hear even as he could not see them. Backing away from intricately carved stone steps. The frozen glowers of Komainu statues perceived them both from their elevated seating, guarding where the steps led.
Ignoring the aid of a railing, Toru climbed quickly, effortlessly. Yet, he gave pause after climbing the final step.
There was power contained within the place. A sort that rivaled but defied the sickening pulsing power of chaos, felt recently by the awakened knight. It was such evil’s opposite. A resonance that felt at once familiar to him, nostalgic. A power, painfully similar, had been ever present throughout Phobos-and-Deimos Castle. To an outsider, the shrine’s presence might have felt watchful, the well-meaning severity of an ever-alert guardian. Yet, to Toru, the serenity held a purpose. Welcoming him amidst duty, one guardian to another.
Only then did Toru realize that his behavior might have left Ume concerned, having stopped so as to stand still as he sudden had. Eyes shut, deep in counsel with something that she neither saw nor overheard. He spared her an abashed smile, one hand reaching up, kneading the back of his neck, restlessly.
”It’s … serene here,” he said, adding, ”only the birds seem to have any worries.” | |
#TEAMSAUSAGE
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Soldier of Beauty & Love ! |
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Kozy
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Post by UME KOZAKURA on Mar 21, 2017 10:23:42 GMT -5
Ume could visibly see contemplation and thought upon his exotic features. He was trying to process something about her, but she didn't immediately shrink into her self concious to hide behind a wall at the realization of this. Toru held a presence that she would never admit to admiring, but the reality of it was that she did. How could see not? When he finally spoke, however, it was to reassure her that he was going to try his best and she related it to the fact that he meant being her "good luck" charm. In response came an immediate nod of her head as he finally rose to his height. He was tall, but that much she had concluded the moment that she approached him. It was evident in the fact that his head seemed to reach a certain part of her body just sitting, and his legs were long. These were usually to tell tale signs if she wanted to gauge someone's height. Looking up at him, in a jestful manner she lifted her left hand to act as cover from the morning sun that started to rise higher into the air. "That's some height.." She managed to say rather passively, but it was followed up with a melodic laugh as she turned herself on her heels to walk in stride with him towards the Hikawa Shrine. Finally, he allowed what he was thinking to fall to his lips. He took a sip of his tea and then uttered her last name, and while he spoke she took the time to politely drink from her now lukewarm hot cocoa. With a trash bin in passing, she reached out with her left hand and dropped the cup into it and dusted her hands as if she'd been wiping away any remnants of ever having it. He spoke of television, and for a moment Ume thought it odd. She couldn't fathom why he would correlate her last name to televsion. Fame. But then again it didn't surprise her given the backstory of her mother and father. "Ano... my father yes.. If you follow politics, then you'll have heard the name often." She managed to say modestly. She wasn't proud of course. "My mother was a fashion designer and stylist in her day." She managed to say with just enough of a smile at the latter to remind her of what today was. She masked it, and let her green eyes pull away from his ember ones to the path that they were on. The Hikawa Shrine was coming closer and and the amount of birds chirping seemed to aid her in reminder. Deciding that she would fall silent with her conversation the moment that the steps of the shrine came into place, Ume cast her eyes towards the large guardians that were elevated to look down upon them the moment they entered. It could have been regarded as intimidating for someone who wasn't so used to their presence. However, Ume said a silent prayer anyways and continued on a few paces behind Toru. She didn't have much of a need to grab the railing as she managed to scale the steps at a moderately decent pace. There was something about the amount of black birds that were hidden within the trees and perched along the steps that gave the place an almost haunting vibe. This was furthermore fueled by the fact that the feel of it was almost senescent in nature. However, the shinto priests and priestesses did well with its upkeep. They'd likely been up before the crack of dawn ensuring that they preserved everything that the shrine had been known for. Rumor had it that there was a clan that ruled its inner dwellings and called this Hikawa Shrine home.. there was an allurement all its own in wanting to discover if that was true or not. Pulled from her thoughts only by the way that Toru seemed to make much haste heading up the last bit of hte stairs, Ume cast an inquisitve look at him.. one that she didn't have time to hide by the time that he reached the final step and turned around to look at her after taking in the glory of the Hikawa Shrine. The look she gave the place when she looked at it wasn't one that was so much filled with the admiration that he harbored for it. However, to downplay the fact that she was staring and analyzing him, she laughed a little, quietly at that. They were the first two to arrive this morning it would seem, which meant that they would likely have the undivided attention of those that were working. Ume quietly took to the last stap and gave a nod of her head to his Toru's words in agreement. "Hmm.." She managed to say rather softly, fingers rising to tug at cropped curly blonde hair. She pulled it behind her to allow the cool morning gust to rush across her face. Curiously, she stepped ahead of Toru for a moment, this time not bothering to look back at him. Staring was rude, so she felt a little embarrassed about having done so to him. "Serene yes... a lack of worries.. yes.." She placed a slender hand on the curve of her hip, "..and full of secrets all at the same time." Those words were almost matter-of-fact. "There's a clan of priest and priestesses that live here, but I'm sure its roots are far deeper.. spanning time even." Ume finally allowed herself to look over her shoulder in the direction that Toru had been in. She wasn't exactly sure what he wanted to do first, so she would allow him to make the call. The way that he had been so taken with the place suggested to her that he might want to be alone for this afterall. There was no use in someone like herself being with him if it had the potential to be a lot deeper than what he told her. If there was one thing that Ume understood, it was privacy. She could, for the most part, openly speak about some things in her life. But there were others who couldn't, and that was okay. Memories were meant to be cherished and oftentimes not shared. But Ume generally liked to hear about the most beautiful memories that someone had.. everyone had a story to tell, this much she was certain. ---- tag: TORU AIHARA ooc: it's ok! yay mars knight ~ (:
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
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Post by TORU AIHARA on Mar 22, 2017 7:19:35 GMT -5
| ”Wow.” Spoken with a smile, yet Toru was sincere in his praise. ”A Politician and a stylist.” From the way that Ume spoke, it was clear that many years had passed since a fashion-collection had been rolled out baring the name Kozakura, and what was also implied by that meaning. What familiarity had been invoked by the sound of Ume’s name must have been her father’s reputation.
”My father was a university literature professor.” Once more, Toru couldn’t truly explain why he was confiding more personal information to the other. Ordinarily, walking in silence wouldn’t have disturbed him, yet, with the shift in focus started, Toru felt compelled to continue the conversation, despite the topic being of his own parentage. A subject he usually judged to be painful and best forgotten. ”And my mother was a talent manager – is still a manager. I think.” The discomfort was there, but Toru was well-practiced in concealing his ghosts behind a smile.
Just as he pretended to be unaware of Ume frequently staring, scrutinizingly, at him. Perhaps he truly had confused her with his behavior.
”You’re suddenly so very serious, Ume,” Toru chuckled, his expression was set amused, as his bright gaze looked pointedly on how she stood, hand set upon her hip. ”I’m getting the impression that you don’t care much for secrets.”
”Neither do I.” he admitted. His ember-bright gaze shifted from her visage, turning towards one of the komainu statues instead. He reached out, tracing bronzed fingertips along rough stone, cool to the touch. ”It’s what we don’t know, don’t understand, that tends to do harm when we least expect danger,” he added, quietly. His voice dropped almost to a murmur.
”1730.” Returning the volume of his voice to his normal warmly amiable tone, Toru turned away from the lion-dog statue, offering Ume a crooked grin. ”That was the year in which much of the shrine was constructed. But, I’m pretty sure that that’s the start of a history lesson and I am not nearly caffeinated enough to take part in that. So how about we find the souvenirs shop so that you can get your charm?”
| UME KOZAKURA (sorry, my next post will be much better than whatever this is) |
#TEAMSAUSAGE
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Soldier of Beauty & Love ! |
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Kozy
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Post by UME KOZAKURA on Mar 22, 2017 10:16:03 GMT -5
Ume could hear the sincerity and shock in Toru's voice about what her parents occupational designations had been. That was usually the reaction that she got when she was faced with people who learned what it was that her parents had done. Of course, no one saw what went on behind closed doors, so she wasn't nearly as enthusiastic to relive those memories. Her mother, while a tough love, loved her none the less. Her father was never allowed to determine how she would be raised outside of her education. Traditional they were, but no in regards to a young girl. No man would ever be able to raise a girl, at least successfully so was what her mother often told her. A girl needed the loving touch of a woman, she needed to be tempered and refined into her beauty, and a boy needed to be toughened harder by the love that only a man could give. To say that there was a dividing line was an understatement, but the reality of it was that Ume was never close to her father.. the "good" politician. It was one reason why the man only spent his every waking day simply providing for her financially. When he wasn't on business in another country, he was simply someone who chose to spend his resting days anywhere other than Tokyo. He only returned to make sure his daughter was okay and hadn't gotten herself killed. He was old-fashioned, so any sort of independence she was gaining from raising herself he had an issue with. "Ohhh, Literature.. I love Literature." She managed to say in response to what his father did. Ume loved reading from the creative mind of others, and it was one of the reasons that her parents granted her a miniature "library" of sorts within their large home. Its been some time since she's added to her collection, but she was okay with Literature. It followed in closely behind History, Art, and Science. Ume loved her education, and it was one of the reasons that she was capable of getting through her schooling without a parent present. Usually whe there were documents that needed parental signatures, she was the type to simply forge her father's signature.. or her mother's even. She didn't believe that Mato Azuba High School had even known that her parents were not living with her. Or at least her mother. They knew little of her dying, because when the woman had passed Ume made sure to skip nearly an entire week or two before she had finally made the decision to return. Toru had finally spoke on his mother, the Talent Agent, but the way that he spoke on her indicated that there was some amount of pain there that he hadn't fully dealt with. Of course, that didn't stop her from tearing her green eyes away from him ot suspect their surroundings for a moment. Her eyes had already settled on the gift shop that she needed to go and visit. The fair-haired Ume said nothing about his mother's occupation.Instead she took a few steps forward and stopped, turning her attention towards him when he spoke of her suddenly getting so serious. This caused her to laugh light heartedly, almost dismissing the fact that he was analyzing her all the same. "Well can you blame me, Toru-san?" She couldn't blame him either, but she didn't exactly know what it was that he was going through. What it was that he was thinking. Secrets.. secrets were interesting. Everyone had their secrets, she had her own. She was a little too secretive at times, but Toru was reading her absolutely wrong. "Serious because... I don't believe Tokyo to be as safe as it's advertised." She laughed again, but it wasn't in jest. It was in all seriousness. "I mean... look at what my school and Mugen Academy are catching attention for." A casual statement as she knelt to pick up a leaf on the ground to busy her hands. "Three missing girls.. but eh, who am I to really involve myself. I can only express caution." She stated rather casually and then cast her eyes towards Toru again. This time, they were normal. Serious, but normal. She was still the light hearted girl he met, but there was just something about the shrine that made her feel a little uncertainty. It always did. Toru then began to give her a history lesson of sorts on the shrine, one that she appreciated. To show that she was paying attention, she observed the senescent structures and welcomed their allurement. If anything, Ume was mostly curious. She wanted to uncover the secrets and the hearsay, add a little excitement to her life. It was one of the things that she was trying to change about herself, adventuring outside of the box and what was considered to be normal. "I've had no caffeine at all, so that's fine. Missing girls, shrines built during Feudal Japan.. definitely a lesson for another time." But what she wanted to say was 'Can you really blame me? Creepy shrine, missing girls.. they could be here.' Of course, that was the immature voice speaking at the back of her mind. Instead she acted with composure and bravery. She started to move in the direction of the gift shop, and turned her head to glance in the direction that Toru had been in. She was walking backwards, motioning for him to join her. The serious expression on her face had all but melted away, a small smile at the corner of her lips that managed to reach her eyes. She craned her head to the side and then with the thumb of her right hand she motioned in the direction that she was preparing herself to head in. "The gift shop is this way, but if you need some alone time.. I can handle what I need to handle alone.." A way out, this was a way for him to escape her. She was certain that she caused enough awkwardness for the day. ---- tag: TORU AIHARA ooc: no worries, a post is a post. (:
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Domino
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Post by TORU AIHARA on Apr 19, 2017 3:38:31 GMT -5
[attr="class","susurrus"] [attr="class","jikan"] [attr="class","hiraeth"]山雨欲来风满楼 | [attr="class","achee"] [attr="class","castleonthehill"] ❝ Unintentionally, Toru’s own laughter joined in with Ume’s own, louder of volume and deeper of pitch but just as dry, humorless. Ume had no idea just how right that she was. Monsters, those called “Youma,” prowled Minato-ku’s streets in the guises of ordinary people, until provoked by – well, Toru was still not entirely certain. Was it the ancient and incorporeal being that was Chaos who was orchestrating such monstrous transformations, or a yet-to-be unmasked servant of such evil? In any case, Toru hoped that Ume would never come to know the accuracy of her intuitiveness. That no youma would ever cross her path. ”The Kawashima triplets. Ayana, Ayaka and … Yuka – I think it was.” Every news-station had reported the story in detail, more than half at least a couple of times. A story about three missing sixteen-year-olds made for a compelling headliner in itself, but they were also the triplet daughters of a popular music producer. A connection to fame which added mystery and intrigue to the direness of their circumstances. And yet, despite all three girls now recognized by every last Minato citizen, no new evidence concerning their possible whereabouts had emerged. ”You’re a Mato-Azabu student as well, Ume?” The petite brunette didn’t look any older or younger than Toru, but she wasn’t dressed in a highschooler’s uniform. He had assumed that rather than studying she had taken to working for a living, it wasn’t that rare of an occurrence. Not every family could afford to support a child to the later stages of their education. As for Azabu, Toru knew that it was thought to be as prestigious as Mugen. That both institutions bore a fierce competitiveness for one another – and it was that rivalry that was damaging both of their reputations. Painting suspicion over the Kawashima Triplets’ abduction. ”Wow. I’ve pretty much been associating with ‘the enemy’ all this time. I wonder if that’s grounds for me to be kicked out of the academy?” Moving away from the komainu statue, the tall youth stepped closer, offering the brunette a playful wink. ”I know that I said that I didn’t like secrets but … let’s keep our newly-formed friendship our own little secret, yeah?”Another step, then two more, and it was fairly simple for Toru to match Ume’s own. ”We can be friends?” He arched a dark eyebrow, inquisitively. Still playful, jovial. ”You’re easy to talk to and I like that. Not many people are.”Reaching Hikawa’s Shinto-shrine, Toru found that Hikawa’s grounds weren’t as empty as he had expected. Shrine maidens, garbed in their scarlet-and-white robes, were completing the routine morning tidying and upkeep of the shrine, but a cluster of four were already standing before the shrine’s prayer-bells, heads bowed in silence as they offered up their wishful prayers. All four looked visibly tired, strained. From them, Toru felt the sorrow, the anxiousness, which tormented their beings, tainting their auras. ”They’re praying for those missing girls.” Spoken softly to Ume, ember hues regarded the four, sympathetically. ”I’ll wait until they’re finished. Their prayers are probably more important than mine.”To the right was the gift-shop, and Toru moved to follow Ume towards the counter, where she could purchase the charm that she wanted. ”The Kawashima triplets are your underclassmen, aren’t they, Ume? Were you friends of theirs?” The shop offered various different charms, amulets and talismans, displayed so that visitors to the shrine could peruse and examine each souvenir in detail. Toru held up one such amulet, the cloth-bag, with a thin strip of wood, a prayer carved upon its surface, contained inside, was of pearl-white silk, patterned with crossing diamonds of canary-yellow and gold, “Hikawa” was stitched vertically down its center. Hints of angelica and bloodroot teased at Toru’s nostrils, though he hadn’t held the amulet close to his face. Compelled, by what Toru could only assume was more of his psychic learning from back when he had been a knight, he also caught the scent of ash, sprinkled into the mixture. Each had been chosen so as to weave a heady charm of protection, by someone with a similar knowledge over such things as the Knight of Mars possessed. “Ah!” At the dramatic gasp of surprise, Toru looked up from his browsing to find that the woman standing behind the gift-shop’s counter, garbed in a priestess’s robes, was regarding him wide-eyed, but her mouth was set into a delighted grin. “You’re him!” she breathed. “Aihara Toru!” ”Ah. Yes, I am.” Bronzed lips returned her smile, warmly, before he dipped his head. ”Nice to meet you.”“Wow! I can’t believe that you’re here – I mean, I have always hoped that you might one day have come here. I’ve watched both seasons of your show, and our shrine has a myth or two, which would perfectly –“ she paused on a second gasp. “ Are you here because of Okaruto?” ”Sorry, but this is strictly pleasure, not business,” Toru quirked a corner of his smile, apologetically. Before ember hues glanced over at Ume. ”My friend is here for one of your charms, right, Ume?”✉ UME KOZAKURA ✎ 843 words ※this took me forever to get too – sorry kozy D: |
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