<@Akemi> [Date: April 30, 2004. It's been two years since Kaede's grandfather passed away. Nanami had broken that news, as he has been busy facing down the Reversed and then the Oni.] <@Akemi> [Tokyo cemetaries are densely packed with gravemarkers, as a result, it is not until Kaede and Akemi round the corner that they see Nanami kneeling down by the marker. The air is crisp and chilly and there's a slight smell of incense from largely depleted sticks left burning at a nearby marker.] <@Akemi> [Start!] * @Akemi is dressed for the occassion, a black blouse and skirt combination with black lace trim and sleeves. She notices Nanami and her expression goes cloudy. * Kaede has been distracted. Mostly. Looking about at the graveyard, wearing a thick coat and jeans as he glances at the various trees and flowers, hands in his pockets. "You know. Cemetaries are always unu--" He notices Akemi has gone quiet and then follows her gaze, settling on Nanami and he, too, draws quiet. <@Ardweden> [Nanami is dressed in all black, the only spot of color being her hat, which is brown. She's murmuring something, but Kaede and Akemi are too far away to make out whatever it is. Kaede is struck, again, by how mature his sister looks these days - and she's not even out of high school yet. Then again, his time at high school...] * @Akemi looks to Kaede. Your move, sir. * Kaede nods, in calm satisfaction, then hooks his hand around Akemi's elbow, drawing her forward with a light tug as he comes to look at her. "Well? Come on then..." * @Akemi comes along, she's also carrying a small bouquet of flowers that she had suggested picking up on the way here. <@Ardweden> [Nanami stops talking as Kaede and Akemi approach, and she glances over her shoulder before she stands, turning to face them. Her face is flushed, and she sniffs noisily before saying, "Hi."] * @Akemi bows with a quiet "Herro." She looks to see if there are flowers in place already. * Kaede's voice is soft, but there's a bit of a smile there. "Hey..." He glances, now, at the gravesite. "It's been a while.... I've been meaning to come over." <@Ardweden> [A handful of flowers are in place; they look fresh and are probably Nanami's. Speaking of, she steps aside. "I bet. Dont let me stop you."] * @Akemi glances again to Kaede, following his lead. * Kaede frowns, then responds, a little concerned. "This isn't like y--" Then he glances at Akemi and sighs, hand reaching for the back of his head, speaking awkwardly. "I suppose I lost the right to say that, didn't I? I'm sorry...." <@Ardweden> [Nanami folds her arms. "I bet you're that, too."] * @Akemi comments, largely to the air, "Those are lovely flowers you chose!" She slips her hand free and slips past Nanami and kneels down to work on an integrated arrangment, leaving the two of you to face off. * Kaede flinches. Not *too* noticeably. He tries to hide it as best as he can. But it's there. He responds, carefully, but with a slight sounded quality to his voice. "Can we...not? You know. Fight? In front of..." His head gestures. Not towards Akemi at all. Towards Grandpa Shiro. The gravesite. <@Ardweden> [Nanami sighs. "Yeah, okay. Fine." She waves for Kaede to go ahead.] * Kaede frowns, almost disappointed, but then he takes in a small breath, then looks for a spot at his grandfather's marker to kneel and clap his hands together for a small, traditional prayer. <@Ardweden> [He finds one, easily! It's the same place Nanami was using.] * @Akemi finishes her work and kneels adjacent. * Kaede responds with his prayer, silent for this first part, keeping his eyes closed. Then after a moment, he does speak up. "Grandfather? I hope you're doing well..." * @Akemi listens. * Kaede continues, "I wish you could see me...see *us* now. I know you always worried about us. Even though there was nothing you could do. Nanami's grown up so well..." "I know I haven't been the best brother by her. The best I could have been. I wasn't always there when she needed me. I didn't always know what to do... I still worry about her though. Because who else would? We had to look out for each other and I...well...." "I don't think she really needs me anymore..." <@Ardweden> [Kaede can hear Nanami shift her weight behind him. She doesn't interrupt, though.] * Kaede does continue, as if he hadn't heard it. Maybe he didn't. He's pretty focused. "That's not necessarily a bad thing. I mean...I thought I needed you. Thought we were continuing things at the shop, just to hope you would come around. When you didn't, it kind of makes me wonder what other people will think of *me* when all of this is done. Whether any of this will be worth it? Or will I just be an unmarked grave where only the people that matter even remember? I should have been there in those final moments. But I wasn't...and well..." "I guess now I'm okay with that. I wasn't before. But I do want to say: Thank you for raising me. Us. And I hope you forgive your fool of a grandson...." * Kaede bows his head. Quietly. Then slowly gets up to stand, hands going back in his pockets before he turns and glances at Nanami. "Well then. Sorry to disturb you. We'll let you continue on in peace..." And he starts to walk away. * @Akemi looks at the flowers and makes a final adjustment to one that had been slowly drooping during the prayer before standing up herself. <@Ardweden> [Kaede gets maybe five feet away before Nanami calls out, "Hey." And he can hear her footfalls behind. "Wait for me."] * Kaede stops, glancing back at Nanami. "Are you sure? I mean..." He purses his lips and looks at his feet. Or Nanami's feet. Either way. She has nice shoes. <@Ardweden> [She does! She put on her nicest pair of flats for this. "Yeah." The shoes shift, scuffing the ground. "I mean, if- if you don't mind."] * @Akemi smiles, "Come with us, we'll go somewhere happier." <@Ardweden> [Nanami looks sideways at Akemi, but she doesn't respond. Her eyes land on her brother again.] * @Akemi starts heading out. The decision is made. * Kaede snorts, then looks up into the sky, shoulders relaxing. "'If you don't mind?' That's not the Nanami *I* know..." He glances at Akemi for a moment, but hesitates, not walking with her, but speaking to Nanami. "Should I walk with you? I think Akemi will be fine if we walk together. She's not super jealous or anything..." <@Ardweden> ["My brother turned into some sort of distant alien and he's saying that *I'm* the weirdo?" Nanami looks at Akemi again, then shrugs. "I guess she can come with."] * @Akemi backhandedly waves with a cheery, "Thank you!" * Kaede only grins for a brief *second*, as if to say '*That's* the Nanami I know' but then loses it and goes into a walk. "Alien, huh? That's a first. Usually I'm referred to as a robot." <@Ardweden> [Nanami walks along. "Congratulations, you got an upgrade. Who's saying you're a robot?"] * @Akemi does set a brisk pace, scooting by a crow that lands on a nearby gravemarker. Cemeteries aren't really her scene. * Kaede walks quietly and responds calmly. "Me, mostly. And a bit of Katie. Since when have I *not* been a robot?" * Kaede doesn't mentioned the several cemetary shoots that he's considered lately for Akemi then. Zombie chic is all the rage these days for modelling. <@Akemi> He can be quite the machine. * Kaede *looks* at Akemi. Why does everything you say have the potential for innuendo? And it's not like *this* one he can even call you on... <@Ardweden> [Nanami slaps her hand to her face. Even she got the innuendo, and it's her brother! "Ew."] * @Akemi smiles to herself and doesn't further comment or look back. * Kaede then gives Nanami a nudge. "You're surprised? You *worked* with her...." <@Ardweden> ["Ew!"] * Kaede holds up his hands. "Alright. Ew. What are we, now? In grade school?" He sighs, then puts his hand in his hair. "...didn't know you still visited...." <@Ardweden> ["You're my *brother*!" Now Kaede gets nudged. "I don't want to have to imagine you... I mean, even if I ended up with a niece or a nephew, that's fine, but not *that*."] * @Akemi sets off to the left once she leaves the cemetery gates, apparently she knows a place around here. * @Akemi may be having thoughts or feelings about what the idea of children mean to her right now. They're probably clearly showig on her face. But she's a few paces ahead of you, so... * Kaede snorts. "Then *don't!* I mean. It's not like I go along thinking of you and..." He makes a sour face, stopping in his tracks. "*Great." Now *you've* got me thinking of it...." <@Ardweden> [Nanami puts her hands over her face and laughs, mortified.] <@Akemi> Children?! * Kaede slaps his palm over his face, face beet red as he slumps. "Please. We both know I should never breed. I mean...*Nanami's* children...ugh..." That's enough foot, thanks. It's not very well prepared. * @Akemi just "Hmmms..." at that. <@Ardweden> ["My children," Nanami says with her nose suddenly in the air, "will be *awesome*."] * Kaede nods and nudges her. "They *will*. Because they're raised by a strong mother..." He sighs, then adds, a little quieter. "...I'd just not like to think too much on the process, please..." * @Akemi glances back, excited. "Do you know who the father will be yet?" <@Ardweden> ["What?" Nanami asks, startled. "No!"] * @Akemi nods, slightly disappointed. * Kaede snorts, then goes over to Nanami's head, hand going on the top of her hat and ruffling a bit while his fingers play with her hair. "Not that you need to..." She nods to Akemi to keep going, then turns his attention back to Nanami "....were you there last time too? I didn't see you...." * @Akemi keeps going. <@Ardweden> [Nanami bats Kaede's hand away. "The last time what?"] * Kaede glances back towards the cemetary. "Last time we came to visit...." <@Ardweden> ["Oh." Nanami chews her lip, but she doesn't answer.] * Kaede sighs, putting his hand on her back this time. "Not important..." He frowns, then looks slightly away. "...you're right though." <@Akemi> [The buildings on your way are two to three story, a mix of houses and shops. Most modern, a few with more traditional facades. Further away there are some mid-rises. Akemi seems confident in her leading, Kaede does remember that they went to a coffehouse she liked after the last visit. <@Ardweden> [Nanami glances at Kaede. "About?"] Saying sorry doesn't really *mean* anything, does it? I mean....not without any actions to back it up....I really ought to quit saying it..... <@Ardweden> [Nanami sorts. "Don't be like Mom. She never said sorry. But yeah. It would be nice. The actions, I mean."] * @Akemi giggles at Kaede's comment but stops after Nanamis. A moment later she adds, "Oh, I see it." She points out a two-story tall cornershop. The wooden building is in good repair, but looks like it could be a century old townhouse. <@Akemi> [The place: http://wijapan.com/tokyo-cafe-corner-001-kayaba-coffee- yanakatokyo/ ] * Kaede nods, then puts his arm around his sister's shoulders if she'll let him. But he's mostly looking at the coffee shop over there. He doesn't flinch. He's gotten better at that. But he does wait to choke it down before following with "...I'll never be like her. *You* know that..." <@Ardweden> [Nanami hums softly. But she doesn't shake Kaede off, and even steps into his warmth a little bit.] <@Akemi> [The proceed in relative quiet for a bit. Once they arrive at the door, Akemi waits expectantly for Kaede.] * Kaede sits down along with her and then eventually lets Nanami go to sit down with the rest of them. He does look at Akemi though, for the first time in a while, then comments "You've been quiet..." <@Akemi> [The place isn't too crowded today, so you have a second floor window table to yourselves.] <@Ardweden> [Nanami sits across from Kaede (and Akemi), adjusting her hat.] * Akemi looks over the menu. "It's a sad day. You two deserve some space." * Kaede smiles a quiet and soft Thank you to Akemi before going back more neutral, then pulling up the menu. "Sometimes I wonder really..." <@Akemi> Often you wonder. You spend a lot of time thinking about things. <@Ardweden> ["What's he think about?" Nanami asks. Because that's not dangerous.] * @Akemi puts a finger to her lip and ponders. * Kaede throws his hands up. "Right. I'd forgotten what it's like to have the two of you double team me. Silly of me to forget...." * @Akemi laughs, "Let's see, often it's the people or things he's neglecting to be with whoever he's with right then." She glances over to Nanami, her eyes bright. <@Ardweden> ["Oh god, he is *so good* at that," Nanami says, rolling her eyes.] * Kaede just grumbles and shuts up here, leaning his elbows on the table. He's not being a part of this. He'll just take his coffee and go. Grumpy Kaede. * @Akemi makes a grumpy Kaede face, it's adorable. She goes slightly gruff in voice, "So, they'll tease me for two minutes, and then if I order wisely, we'll be here another half hour to forty five. After that, I should probably check in with how Katie is doing." * Kaede pulls up the menu, holding it in front of his face, but not before failing his resistance roll on commenting with "I *wasn't* thinking about Katie....at *all*. Until you mentioned it..." * @Akemi giggles again, "That keeps happening to you today." People mentioning things that I'd rather not talk about? Of course. <@Ardweden> ["Bet he wasn't thinking about me until he saw me," Nanami says, barely joking, to Akemi.] * Kaede doesn't *quite* frown, but that definitely deflates his mood from grumpy to distant. He quietly buries his head in menu, looking intently on the listings. * @Akemi shakes her head. "You're forgetting how the multitasking trick works Nanami." <@Ardweden> ["Hmm. Then why doesn't he *do* anything about it?"] * Kaede takes the menu in his hands and tosses it casually on the table, standing up suddenly. "Think I will. You two enjoy your coffee together..." And he starts to walk off. He's getting good at that. * @Akemi twists her hair. "Not all of the things he does for us are things we see." * @Akemi boggles to see Kaede walking away. "Wait..." <@Ardweden> [Nanami starts, and she looks over. But Kaede's walking away, so he can't see what happens with Nanami after that.] * @Akemi's tone switches suddenly. "This isn't fair." * Kaede whirls around, his hand going out. "No. It's *not* fair, is it? Yes, I haven't been perfect. Yes, I get distracted by other things. Does that mean I have to sit here and get needled for it and just stay silent as you talk about how awful I am?" * Kaede sighs, then adds "I *want* to do something about it. But it's hard to get the chance when all I get to hear is..." He grows quiet, hanging his head. "...I don't think my grandfather would be proud of me at all right now...." Am I really that scary, brother? * Akemi folds her arms. If he doesn't want to be needled, she can do that. * Kaede frowns, rubbing his fingers through his hair. "Not *scary*..." He lets out a light sigh. "I'm just ashamed...with Grandpa Shiro gone, you needed me *more*. Not less..." He sucks in his breath. "But then high school ended and I got a new job and the business...." He stops there. * @Akemi keeps watching. Let's hear where this is going. <@Ardweden> ["And you were busy." Nanami's voice and expression isn't unkind, but it's not kind, either. It's just kind of flat. Neutral.] * Kaede pauses. Just for a moment. Before responding. "*Do* you want to live with us, Nanami? I mean. Not because I feel guilty. Or because I think you need it. It's just...I want my sister back. And I'd do anything to make that happen..." <@Ardweden> [Nanami blinks, startled. "What?" She looks at Kaede, then across the table at Akemi, then at Kaede again.] * @Akemi doesn't look back at Nanami just yet. She probably looks a little less surprised than Nanami would expect. She just asks, "Anything?" * Kaede rubs the back of his head, looking at Akemi for *her* reaction. "We've been...I mean...I've been thinking about it. And I know it's just..." He sighs. "You shouldn't have been left alone like that. And you can hate me for being a terrible brother. But I want to make it up to you..." <@Ardweden> ["But... you moved out for a reason. With Akemi." Nanami nods to Akemi, because Akemi is there, then turns back to Kaede. "I thought you wanted to get away."] * Kaede waits to respond to that, glancing to Akemi, hoping she'd give him some hint on where she stands on this. * @Akemi herself is just listening here and is so close to glaring at the moment that her expression is only sort of cute. But come to think of it, Kaede can remember that Akemi earlier expressed her preference on how Kaede handle this matter. Namely to work out what his sister wanted and what her terms were before Akemi had to agree to do anything. * @Akemi is also generally trusting and open, but she is not entirely ignorant in the way of bargains. Given that Kaede is her manager, lover, and roommate, she's afraid that if anything is sacrificed, it will be her interests. * @Akemi would like you to make a clear show to your sister that her needs also matter. * Kaede shakes his head now, in response to Nanami. "Get away? That's ridiculous. If anything, I'd want to get away from the memories of Grandpa Shiro. But not..." He sighs. "Not you...that...that'd be silly..." He glances at Akemi again. * @Akemi turns away, looking at Nanami instead. A waiter comes up the stairs, examines the scene, and then nopes out of there. "So, Nanami, do you want to move in with us?" <@Ardweden> [Nanami worries her lip in response to Akemi's question. "I don't..." She pushes up her hat, scratching at her hair. "I haven't been thinking about it."] * Kaede sighs. "That's fair..." He takes in a breath. "It was...you know..." He walks over to Nanami and reaches to squeeze her hand softly. "Things were a lot simpler when it was just the two of us...I...I didn't mean for it to get so complicated..." * @Akemi watches this touching display of sibling affection. <@Ardweden> [Nanami shakes her head. "It's always been complicated." But she doesn't shake free. "I... I'm sorry. I miss you, too."] * Kaede nods, then glances at Akemi. "As long as you realize just cause there's other important people around doesn't make you any less important either...alright?" Which of the two that's for is up for debate. <@Ardweden> [Nanami winces, slightly.] <@Ardweden> [She turns her head away so she's looking out the window instead of at either of them, and one hand goes to curl around and clutch her napkin, which she hadn't touched until now.] * @Akemi unfolds her arms, expression softening. "Think about it. Like Kaede said earlier, we've worked well together before." <@Ardweden> [Nanami doesn't say anything, and the way she's sitting makes it hard to see her face.] * Kaede frowns a bit. Maybe he pushed too hard. He does reach out again to try and make sure he's still got her hand.... "Sis..." <@Ardweden> [This time, Nanami does shake away Kaede's hand. "Why do *I* have to be the one who moves?" She doesn't sound like she's crying, but she doesn't sound happy, either.] * @Akemi smiles. "Well, we do have important things to do in the apartment." She bounces in her chair. "It's good to have some extra room." * Kaede frowns. "There's not enough room for all of us there and you know it..." He leans forward as he says, softly... "It's hard, I know....just..." He frowns. "I mean I know it's familiar...we've lived there a long time and it's hard to let go..." <@Ardweden> [Nanami whirls on Kaede, turning in place to glare at him. "I'm the only one left! I'm the only one... isn't that *important* to you?"] * @Akemi tilts her head and then processes that for a moment. * Kaede pauses. "....is this about the shop...?" <@Ardweden> ["No! It's about our- it's about our home! It's about us! We were in this together, and then you were gone, and *fine*, I can adjust, I *did adjust*, but now you want me back, but you don't want me back, you want me to leave and it's..." Nanami deflates, suddenly. "That's our home, Kaede. That's all we had. It was- it was you, me, and a place."] <@Ardweden> [Nanami looks like she might say more, but she chokes up, suddenly, and brings the napkin to her face.] * @Akemi bites her lip. * Kaede frowns at that. That's.... "I don't..." He doesn't know what to say to that. So he just goes back to the chair, looking aside. And ashamed. Then he gets out, but not to walk away this time. This time, it's to go up behind Nanami and hug her. "That's not exactly true, you know. I don't want you back. That'd mean that you'd left in the first place. You never became less important just because I moved away...." <@Ardweden> [Nanami hiccups. And melts into the hug, crying a little on Kaede's shoulder. She doesn't say anything.] * Kaede does put his head on her shoulder though. "I'm sorry, though, that you felt that it meant that....and I don't know how to make that up...." <@Ardweden> [Nanami shakes her head.] * Kaede doesn't respond to Nanami for a while, just holding his sister for a while before he looks up at Akemi, looking pretty worn himself. "Shiraishi- san. Could you go get us some water? Maybe?" * @Akemi nods and gets up from the table, headed down to the first floor and the bar. * Kaede, meanwhile, slowly and gradually lets go of Nanami, turning the chair a bit and maneuvering so he's to the front before backing up a little ways on his knees, ending up with his hands forward in a very japanese posture, forehead against the floor. "Please forgive your brother's selfishness. I understand I am pushing too fast..." <@Ardweden> [Nanami doesn't respond, at least yet, and Kaede can't see her, with his face to the floor and all.] * Kaede does try to peek up. After a moment. Still on the floor though. * @Akemi figures Kaede might need a little time to manage this one, so she picks out soda floats and hot appetizers for the group. <@Ardweden> [Nanami is sitting there, twisting the napkin between her hands. When Kaede looks up, she says, "I'm... it's okay, please get up."] * Kaede looks up, but doesn't fully *get* up, content to stay on his knees. He waits for more. <@Ardweden> [Nanami fidgets some more. She looks around, but the floor is still mostly deserted, and Akemi hasn't returned. One hand goes up to rub at her eyes and adjust her hat. "I, um. I haven't been thinking about it? Moving in with you guys, I mean. But I- I think I'd like that. I don't want to be alone. But- but I'd miss our apartment, and Saori would have to get used to coming to the new place, and we'd have to move all the *stuff*, and... and I know you'll just think of me as a kid again, because you already do, so..."] * Kaede frowns at that. "I do?" <@Ardweden> ["Yes!" Because obviously!] * Kaede looks confused at that, just kind of looking at the bottom legs of the chairs now. "But...you're my *sister*...." as if that explains everything. <@Ardweden> ["Yeah." And Nanami points at Kaede. "Exactly."] * Kaede frowns, then slowly gets off his knees. "No. You're my *sister*. Which makes you a Takeuchi. Which makes you the strongest woman I *know*..." He pauses for a moment before he sits across from her. "I mean that..." <@Ardweden> [Nanami watches Kaede. "Okay..."] * Kaede leans forward and then breathes, glancing to see if Akemi is there. "...I think I need to spend more time around at the very least. I mean. I've got *classes* but...before you make a decision, I mean..." * @Akemi returns up the stairs, satisified with the choices she's made. <@Ardweden> ["Yeah?" Nanami tries not to sound too eager, but well... she's eager. "That'd be cool. Although Saori might be over sometimes... and I've been taking self-defense classes. But maybe you can come with sometime?" She grins. "I can show you just how strong your little sister's gotten."] * Kaede does grin a little at that, turning to Akemi curiously. "Would you like to come?" * @Akemi smiles but looks a little confused, "Come to what?" * Kaede looks confused too, pointing to Nanami. "Self defense classes...uh...I think it'd be good..." Now he looks down, sounding unsure.... <@Akemi> Like, to watch matches? * @Akemi sits down and shares the three waters she brought up with everyone. * Kaede blinks. "I *think* so..." He glances at Nanami. "Are you in matches?" He sounds unsure. <@Ardweden> [Nanami nods! "But you don't have to be."] <@Akemi> Sure, always up to see a good grappling session. * Kaede stops at that, then glances at Akemi, then looks back at Nanami. "Should we eww again? I think we should eww." <@Ardweden> ["Ewwww," Nanami ews obligingly. She makes a face, too, but her eyes are laughing.] <@Akemi> [And a waiter brings up three soda floats, one chocolate, one vanilla, one strawberry, each with an appropraite pair. Along with it comes a plate of finger sandwiches.] * @Akemi gently punches Kaede's shoulder, "Don't harsh on your sister's extracurricular ativities." * Kaede gets nudged with the punch and takes a glance at Akemi but doesn't reach for her cause they're in *public* for kami's sake. "Well I can't do that until I see it, right?" And now he glances at Nanami again for response. <@Ardweden> ["Y'darn right," Nanami says with a grin, and reaches for the strawberry float because that one's *obviously* for her.] * Kaede's clearly vanilla. And not for the obvious reasons someone might consider him vanilla. It's because no one gets between Akemi and chocolate. * @Akemi leans against Kaede and drinks her chocolate. <@Akemi> [End!]