❀ Yukio Okumura

[cranelike]

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intro week, saturday

[cranelike]

(cont. from here)

(Poor creature. Tsurumaru is sorry for her but he can also understand Yukio right now. At least, he thinks he can understand. Both Tsurumaru and the crane watch quietly, patiently,)

If humans never pushed their limits, they would never grow. You might even be surprised by how far you can go.

But be careful not to push too far, too hard. You might break yourself instead of your boundaries.

(Another glance to the poor dog Daemon,)

If you break, someone will be left with the pieces.

[reflash]

[Yukio doesn't move, doesn't turn around. He laughs. Not for very long, not very loud. But it's enough of a sound to be heard.]

Is that so?

[cranelike]

(I n t e r e s t i n g)

You didn't know?

[reflash]

[He's done it before, forced himself past the point where self-preservation would have forced him to stop. He's doing it right now, and it's making it hard to think.]

Someone always has to pick up the pieces.

[cranelike]

(Of course. Tsurumaru has seen it plenty of times in his existence.)

And who will do that here? You've only just arrived.

(And he lets out a very loud, dramatic laugh. He's amused,)

To trust people so much, you would leave them with your pieces in the future but not with yourself in the present! I wonder, I wonder... what does it mean?

Week 0, Friday

[cranelike]

(Yukio can mind his own business but a magpie is going to swoop at him and loop to get his attention. Not very far is Tsurumaru who will give a two-finger salute!

Hello.

It's time for perception.)

[reflash]

[Yukio's daemon was an alligator but now she's an owl. Startled by bird into becoming bird.

Yukio dodges the swoop, and turns to see who's bothering him.

Oh.]

Hello. How are you today?

[cranelike]

Fine, thank you.

(What a polite boy.)

And you and your friend?

(I am assuming her leg is fine now but still!! He Remembers.)

[reflash]

[She's not limping anymore, thankfully. But both Yukio and his daemon have been moving a little more carefully and stiffly as the week goes on. It's subtle, but Tsuru might have noticed it.]

As well as can be expected, under the circumstances.

[cranelike]

(Good. He's happy for her.)

You seem to be handling it well.

(Folding his arms into the sleeves of his kimono,)

How did you sleep last night?

Week 2, Monday

[cranelike]

(Tsurumaru is at the market, checking out the different stands. As he walks by one of the stalls selling jewelry, the chain of his robe catches on one stand and knocks over a little tray of rings and trinkets. He tries to catch it and in the process, touches a piece of glass fitted in some sort of charm. )

Darkness covers you like a cold, heavy blanket. You don't know how long you've been resting but you think that after all of this time, you can finally sleep once and for all. You are in a tomb, buried with treasures like silk, embroidered balls, and other decorated blades. You linger close to the marker for your master, one center with the main family but smaller than the rest.

Something catches your attention and you look around, alert for the first time in what feels like an eternity. Suddenly, there is moonlight where there had only been darkness. A small group of men enters and begin to rummage through the boxes and urns, taking whatever strikes their fancy.

But one man cuts directly towards you, his decision already made. You are filled with anxiety and desperation as you realize what is happening. You recognize the crest he bears as the same one that put your family in this grave. Even in death, they can't be left in peace. He grabs you firmly, makes his claim, and takes you from your grave. Your spirit cries, you yearn to return to the one you were meant to be with, and you feel like a piece of you is left behind and lost in the earth.

(The tray falls with a loud clatter.)

i think im alive and recovered from my week

[reflash]

[He wasn't meant to see that.]

I'm sorry. [He says, and he's fairly sure Tsurumaru didn't even know he was here before.]

I didn't mean to see that.

welcome back to the living

[cranelike]

But you did.

(He doesn't seem bothered by it and he just kneels down to pick up the tray. Kiku also kneels down and picks at the offending piece which he takes in his hand.)

You look like a young scholar. Are you familiar with the history of Japan?

[reflash]

A bit. [Yukio says, but doesn't press for information.]

[cranelike]

In the late Kamakura era, the ruling family was the Hojo Clan.

Following the death of the Hojo regent, his heir, still a child, was left in the care of their loyal vassals, the Adachi and Taira. They were both rivals and the Taira, in particular, always opposed the Adachi. Eventually, the Taira spread a rumor that the Adachi planned to overthrow the Hojo.

The Taira attacked the Adachi head and his retainers when they were on their way to court. The ones that fled to safety were pursued and killed. The ones that stayed behind were forced to take their own lives. In total, over five hundred members died and the clan was practically exterminated. Among them, was my first master. When he was buried, I was laid to rest with him.

(Most of these names are not popular but Yukio might recognize the Kamakura era as a very, very long time ago. It is the period that gave Japan it's first shogun and a period that ended in total civil war. )

week 3, wednesday

[reflash]

I didn't answer your question last week. [Yukio?? That's not how you start a conversation?

He also looks... like he's obligated to be here? Or something.]

[cranelike]

Hm?

(Tilting? His head?)

[reflash]

About... what happened.

[cranelike]

Ah, you intend to speak to me, then.

(Are they? Friends?)

Very well. I'll listen.

[reflash]

Has my older brother told you who our demonic parent is?

week 6, friday

[reflash]

[Yukio isn't planning to run into Tsurumaru. He isn't really planning on running into anyone, he's been doing a fairly good job of sticking to his own company aside from group meetings.

Right now, he's looking at the paper and pens and considering what to write. If anything.]

[cranelike]

(Tsurumaru is just going to casually lean over Yukio's shoulder,)

Are you writing to Rin-kun? Or maybe a poem?

[reflash]

I was considering writing to my brother. [but....]

[cranelike]

(Still leaning,)

And now?

[reflash]

And now I'm talking to you.