InsaneJournal

Sunday: October 28, 2007
Who: Midori and Mitsuko
When: Afternoon
Where: Mitsuko and Logan's Cottage
What: Midori is going on her first date ever. She needs help from her daughter getting ready

Japanese folks speak Japanese, so all dialogue is translated


Midori hesitated outside of the cottage Mitsuko shared with her half-brother. She and Mitsuko had not been terribly friendly since she had arrived in Elysium. Their meetings had been fraught by arguments and disapproval.

Her daughter was precious to her. No matter what Mitsuko did or had done, she was still Midori's only heir. When Midori looked into her daughter's eyes, she could see a good soul and untapped potential. Yet they were unable to find any common ground. They might never truly get along.

But today, Midori needed her daughter. Tonight was the date she had agreed to with Giles. She had also agreed to wear a dress, something she did not own herself. As Mitsuko was the most fashionable person she knew, she would seek her help. But she wasn't much looking forward to actually asking. Mitsuko would take far too much pleasure in it.

Finally, she knocked on the door. She regretted it almost the instant she did it, but the door was quickly opened and she was face to face with Mitsuko.

"What did I do now?" Mitsuko asked, a touch of irritation in her voice. "I really don't think I've done anything in the past few weeks that could have bothered you. Unless you don't like me working as a waitress."

"That is not why I--" Midori paused, cocking her head. "You're working as a waitress?" She could not hide the distain in her voice.

"Isn't it a step up from robbing people?" Mitsuko asked, placing her hands on her hips and glaring at her mother. "Just tell me what I've done so I can roll my eyes and ignore your disapproval."

Midori took a deep breath. "I need your help."

Mitsuko blinked. Once. Twice. Three times. She looked Midori over carefully. "Now, this is strange... Because you look like my mother. But there's no way she would ever say that to me."

"It's me, Little Girl." Midori's voice had a dangerous edge to it. "Now are you going to help me or not?"

Mitsuko stepped out of the way to allow her mother to enter her domicile. She gave a sweep of her arm, indicating that Midori should come in. She couldn't help but look puzzled and also just a tad untrusting. "It depends on what it is. What do you need?"

Midori paused, gritting her teeth. She really didn't want to reveal her plans for the evening. But with the look if distrust Mitsuko was giving her, she was certain she would not get away with anything less than full disclosure.

"I need help... Getting an outfit prepared... For a social engagement I have tonight." Midori finally managed out with great difficulty, laboring each word.

Mitsuko stared for a long moment. She shook her head. "Okay, now you're just messing with me."

Midori let out a soft growl. She should have expected as much. "I assure you I'm not."

Mitsuko ran her tongue over her upper lip, considering this. She tucked a lock of long, dark hair over her ear. "By 'social engagement'... You mean a... Date."

Midori nodded. "Yes. I suppose that is the proper definition."

Mitsuko's eyes widened in shock. She thought she had interpreted her mother's awkward request wrong. She never really believed Midori was going on a date, until she confirmed it. She shook her head slowly. "But... Who would you..." She then let out a groan. "Shigeru's grandfather is in the Haven, isn't he? That's why I haven't seen him lately."

"What?" Midori let out a shocked yelp. The idea of her and Takemoto Goro ever socializing together was repellant. She may have had her biases against humans, but she would prefer the company of a human male to that Genko bastard. "No. You've jumped to an utterly ridiculous conclusion."

Mitsuko frowned slightly, shaking her head fractionally. "It's just, I'm trying to think of Kitsune you might...." She trailed off, her jaw dropping. "He's not a Kitsune, is he?" It was a ludicrous notion, giving what she knew of her mother. But with Midori's uncomfortable shifting... It made a perverse sort of sense.

"His name is Doctor Giles Audley. He is a physician at the Medical Pavilion. Agreeing to go out with him was the only way I could get him to leave me alone." Midori spoke quickly, slightly flustered under Mitsuko's gaze.

"You're Kamiyama Midori!" Mitsuko cried incredulously. "The Light of Hokkaido, leader of the Tenko, descendant of Akomachi the Byako. You don't do thing just so people will leave you alone. You...." She paused for a moment. "You like him. You... Like him."

"Don't be stupid," Midori snapped waspishly, annoying at the suggestion she was doing this for anything more than getting Giles off her back. "Now are you going to help me dress? Giles wants me to wear a dress."

Mitsuko eyed Midori as if it were the first time she'd ever seen her. "All right..." Mitsuko said carefully. "But you're not allowed to give me shit about dating Loki anymore."

She gestured for Midori to follow her up the stairs to her bedroom. Once in her room, Mitsuko began rooting through her closet and pulling out dresses. She glanced over her shoulder for a brief moment. "You caught me on a good day for this. I was already helping Logan get ready for a date. Well, he SAYS it's not a date, but I know he likes the girl a lot and he's really nervous about it."

"How are things going with Logan?" Midori asked, picking up a dress Mitsuko had pulled out an examining it critically.

"Eh?" Mitsuko looked up again. "It's great. He's my brother."

"Half-brother," Midori reminded her.

"He's my brother and I love him," Mitsuko said firmly. "He's all I've got."

"You have me," Midori said quietly.

Mitsuko stopped going through the closet and fully turned around. She looked over her mother. "I'm not sure I want that."

Midori swallowed hard, looking over Mitsuko. "Oh really?"

"You've done things to me I can never forgive," Mitsuko said, her voice even and serious. "You're my mother. I love you..." She shook her head. "But I don't like you all that much. I'll help you because you asked me and frankly, I'm amused you're going against all of your backwards and dated beliefs and going out a human..." She shook her head. "But that's it. You're not a part of my life anymore, mother. You haven't been for seven years. And I think we're both better off." She took a deep breath and turned back to the closet. "Now tell me what you want to wear."