synflux | ( OPEN ) MAY CATCH ALL

They're sacred places. It takes someone bold, or stupid.

[ Or both.

Aki watches Tsurumaru for a moment, and he wonders, absently. He had tried to find the sword before, in the Imperial Palace, but he hadn't found anything at all, and the idea of someone stealing this man, even in his other form... It makes him angry.

Just angry enough.

Carefully, his hand squeezes back, with careful tenderness. ]

Do you want to keep moving? We don't have to stay in here.

Someone greedy.

(Not just selfish. It's natural to be selfish, he's learned. What happened to him was an act of greed.

He looks down at their hands for just a moment... and he nods. There's no need to linger on dark thoughts. There's no need to go to such a dark place. Yes, he'd like to keep going. It's a small hall, there isn't much to really see when it's so empty inside. There's only one other room and that's the entrance hall.

Still, as they walk, back towards the entrance, he chatters,)

I used to stay here. Not here, exactly. But here.

(Not in this treasure hall. Outside.)

Mm.

[ Aki walks with him, content to be lead, to move together, to simply take in the pleasure of the shrine and the beauty of it all. It's nice to be able to just spend some time together, and he feels a little bit of warmth spread through him at the simplicity of it.

The silence is broken by Tsurumaru's words, and he tilts his head, listening.

Prepared to hear it. To take it in. To learn. ]

Did you like it here?

I was completely and totally bored here!

(Despite what he says, there's a warmth to his tone. It's like a family member calling another silly or foolish with affection or a partner complaining about an only slightly annoying quirk that they still find endearing. His time at this shrine was boring... but he seems to be fond.

It's easier leaving the treasure hall than it is to enter it. They just have to unlock the main doors from the inside and head outside.)

But new people came all of the time. I saw a lot of cute kids. And there were some fun festivals, too.

... Bored.

[ Why does Aki think that's some kind of positive? He doesn't get it, but... A boring life wouldn't be too bad a thing. Chores, cooking, taking care of the home, the people around him that he loves... He could've enjoyed that sort of thing, if he had really been able to justify retirement.

Looking around the shrine, drinking it in... Aki can imagine being happy here too. ]

What kind of festival do you like best?

The Tango Festival.

(Tango no Sekku, the old name for Children's Day which... was recent, wasn't it? Maybe this explains some things such as why he was so insisted Aki spend the day with Denji or how he'd been excitedly helping to decorate the base and pass out sweets in the time leading to and after the holiday.)

The old samurai families would bring their sons here every year and they'd pray for them to grow big and strong. They'd buy charms to protect them from evil... and the big event was the horseback archery show.

(Which might explain some of the horse motifs at the shrine.)

... But the best part was the children. They were so small and cute.

(And he's always been fond of children.)

It was once just a day for the samurai sons, but it seems it's become a day for all children now.

[ It does explain a lot.

Aki had been a little sour at first, at the idea of a day that meant so much to Tsuru being one where they didn't see each other much at all, but given the context it makes sense now. There's also something endearing about the idea of Tsurumaru enjoying seeing the children have fun, thinking they're small and cute, and it brings a smile to his own face.

Adorable.

Slowly, not able to help himself, he slips a little closer, leaning down from behind him to kiss his cheek, pressing his mouth there, sweet. It's not as if there's anyone else around, so... ]

It sounds like you had a lot of fun.

[ He likes seeing the echo of it on his features, the gentle joy it seems to bring him. ]

(Ah, he isn't expecting that. Maybe he should have when he felt Aki come closer but as usual, if he expects nothing... he'll always be surprised. He smiles and turns to kiss him in turn, quick and playful on the cheek, a little skip in his step to make sure he can reach.)

Sometimes it was fun. It really was boring most of the time, though.

(Wrapping his arms around Aki's, leaning against him as they walk even if it means slowing their steps to just a leisurely stroll,)

Did you have fun?

(With Denji?)

[ Cute...

Aki watches him with a fondness he can't disguise for a moment before he shoves it away, focusing forward instead. It still feels nice, being this wrapped up with him, the world their own and no one else's. ]

I don't think I can imagine that.

[ Boring.

Aki wishes -

Shaking his head, he glances down with a nod. ]

We had dinner together. It was good.

Good.

(That's exactly what he wanted for both of them and he holds his head up high, clearly as proud of his work as he is pleased for both of them. )

It wasn't so hard, was it?

(He's teasing... he remembers how Aki had sulked.)

It wasn't hard to begin with.

[ He just wanted to spend a day seeing Tsurumaru that happy. ]

Don't look at me like that.

Oh? Really?

(Leaning in and... well, he doesn't know how he's looking at him but he's going to keep doing it. He's innocent.)

[ It's that soft, almost teasing expression, and all Aki can do is lift his hand and smoosh it into Tsurumaru's face. ]

(THIS IS NOT HOW YOU TREAT A TREASURE AND HE SPUTTERS AND STAMMERS AGAINST HIM,

letting go of Aki, he tries to brush his hand away.)

Oi!

Oi yourself!

[ He's teasing, really, and he shifts his fingers so he can peer at Tsurumaru, lips twitching. ]

Are you done?

(He sure is making a face right now.)

Done with what? I haven't done anything.

Making that cute, pleased face.

[ Tapping his nose. ]

(Gonna boop his nose right back,)

I wasn't doing anything.

(He was just being himself! And he's going to skip ahead making his way over to the main shrine,)

Let's go pay our respects. We can apologize for the window.

Edited 2024-05-15 16:02 (UTC)

[ You were looking cute, bb... ]

Lead the way. We need to do our prayers properly, too.

(Don't tease him. He is a proud kami.

Approaching the main shrine, he puts both of his hands on his waist and leans over the offering box. Hm... they don't really have coins anymore, huh? So all he can do is reach into his sleeve and pull out a few pieces of candy at the edge of the box,)

Sorry, sorry. It's my first time back and I have nothing to offer.

(He sounds... genuine and he claps his hands and bows before bringing his hands together in prayer. When he's finished,)

I'll be back with a proper offering next time.

[ Aki doesn't carry them either, and he realises that... He doesn't have much to offer. Just his cigarettes, and he hesitates before he steps up, clapping his hands together and offering a little bow. ]

Me too. I didn't think about it.

[ He glances over at Tsurumaru awkwardly. ]

Tell me what would be best to offer and I'll do it.

(Oh... he smiles,)

These gods don't ask for much. You'd be surprised what most would do for just five yen.

(Five yen... the standard offering for shrines but with how money is in this world, are there even five yen coins left to offer?)

Maybe some sake.

(And very carefully, he steps around the offering box to try and peers into the shrine. The doors have long since been closed so people can't see into the altar but he wonders if he can make anything out through the lattice woodwork.)

I wonder what was last left behind... (Through the small gaps, there is a large open room that people would have been allowed to worship in for special occasions. There are glimpses of gold, faded paper streamers, a porcelain sake bottle, some small statues... Looking up at the sky, where the sun is still shining bright,) A little fresh air won't hurt. We'll seal it before we leave.

(It's normal enough to open the first doors. The ones beyond the entrance doors would always be sealed off...)

I'll come back with that.

[ Some sake is easy enough to get, after all. That's something for him to add to the mental shopping list he keeps in the back of his mind, like the awkward mother that he is. He wants to make sure he can bring something for Tsurumaru, and if they bring Denji then he'll need something to offer in prayer as well...

Following after Tsurumaru, Aki crosses his arms. ]

We'll keep being careful. Lead the way, show me everything here, especially things you want to take pictures of.

(Carefully, he reaches over to slide the doors open. The wood has warped, the sliding grooves are filled with debris, and it takes some jiggling and a little more force than one would really expect just to open a door... but inside, there is plenty of old regalia for them to see.)

Eh, how nostalgic.

(Some of the items have fallen over onto the floor through the years. Probably due to the yama-kujira's earthquakes.)

Let's clean up.

(And he's stepping over the thin barrier that would usually keep guests out.)

And then we can go explore some more.

[ Aki has been to shrines before, has visited his family shrine enough in the late winter months that being around one doesn't have that haze of discomfort that he's familiar with, but there's something special about this one. It feels as though he's being invited into a family home, and the bundle of nerves in him is silly. ]

If only we had a good brush.

[ No stranger to cleaning, Aki shifts around, shrugging off his suit jacket and placing it aside. He's content to be put to work for now, so he'll allow Tsurumaru to guide him in this. ]

Shall I start this side, and you the other?

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