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Tweak says, "Nooooooooooooooooooo!0(0"

orange_tail (orange_tail) wrote in nosuchplace,
@ 2009-01-05 15:51:00

Entry tags:

kayo miyafuku, midori kamiyama

Saturday: November 3, 2007
Who: Kayo and Open!
When: Evening
Where: Around the marketplace area
What: Exploring the Marketplace after settling into one of the cottages in Helicharis

After spending much time brooding and recuperating in the northern forests, Kayo decided to move into Helicharis and create a fresh start. The girl did not regret her decision as she looked around her. Albeit it was not her homeland, the atmosphere, the lights, and the citizens walking through the streets comforted her. What she was unused to the most was how it wasn't all humans and she did not need to expend the extra energy to hide her fox like features (although she still did it out of trained habit). Slowly she lifted her illusion to reveal a soft long tail, wagging slowly back and forth.

However a fleeting feeling of loneliness swept into her mind as she wished Nagi was able to experience this hopeful town with her. She closed her eyes and let the feeling pass. When she opened again, reminding herself that this was a second chance and she'll need to have double the fun in absence of her little brother.

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lightofhokkaido
2009-01-05 07:32 pm UTC (link)

Since coming to Elysium, Midori had done her best to stay out of the heavily populated areas. With the exception of getting food and her date with Giles, she had remained in her home. She had never been much for large groups of people, especially non-Kitsune. However, now that she was in the running for Vice Council, she supposed she needed to get to know the citizens, in order to garner their votes.

She went over the list of people she knew in her head. Giles... Mitsuko... Idehr... Raidon's half-breed... It was a rather sad number. There was once a time where everyone she met knew her name, knew her reputation. But in this settlement, she was a specter. Someone briefly glimpse and never spoken to. The longer she lived like this, the lonelier she became. She never sought the company of others but now that it was gone... She realized how important those who had been around her-- who had died in the war-- had been to her.

As she went through the marketplace, she scented another Kitsune. Mitsuko. She felt her heart speed up. She had not seen her daughter since their heated conversation.

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 turned to face her daughter, but found her not there. Instead, it was another Kitsune girl. One she had not seen before. She cocked her head curiously. "Strange... I thought I knew all of the Kitsune in Elysium."

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orange_tail
2009-01-06 12:50 am UTC (link)

Kayo noticed an elegant woman looking at her. She didn't know her, but she felt familiarity wash over her. "I just moved here from the northern forest," was all she could say. Kayo didn't think it'd be so easy to see another of her kind. She felt a bit flustered, but tried to keep her calm. Catching her thoughts, she remembered that she needed to introduce herself. "Miyafuku, Miyafuku Kayo desu," she introduced herself, bowing to the other in deep respect. Although the younger Kitsune did not recognize her, she could sense very well that this person carried great wisdom and power.

When possible she tried to catch a glimpse or two at the other Kitsune as politely as possible. Kayo noted the beautiful kimono that she wore; if her hunch was correct, the material used to make it was no mere fabric but hand woven silk from a rare breed of silk worms. In addition, she also noted the posture that the older Kitsune stood in, strong and dignified. Even without knowing who she was, it was not a challenge to deduct that this woman was a leader and someone of great importance. Down to the way she spoke, Kayo knew that tone exemplified authority. However, she could not place her finger on who the woman before her really was.

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lightofhokkaido
2009-01-06 03:31 am UTC (link)

Midori narrowed her gazed on the pretty young Kitsune woman. This was certainly not what she had been expecting when she left her home for the marketplace. But it was not an unwelcomed sight. That more Kitsune were in Elysium was something to be celebrated. This girl also seemed to be well bred and respectful, recognizing her authority. Of course, everything Midori did, her very presence spoke of authority. It was bred into her. But recognition of that authority was nothing to scoff at.

Midori bowed, thought not as deeply as Kayo did. "Kamiyama Midori desu." This was all she said regarding her identity. She included no mention of her former title or nickname. It was almost a test for the girl. Seeing if she knew the Light of Hokkaido by reputation. She stayed quiet and waited for the response. It would set the tone of Midori's treatment of her.

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orange_tail
2009-01-06 06:39 pm UTC (link)

Kamiyama...Kamiyama....Midori Kayo thought to herself. She heard this name when she was younger. Oh how it was on the tip of her tongue! Her eyes widened as the epiphany finally came forth, "Hokkaido no hikari!!!" Suddenly realizing her outburst she immediately clasped her mouth with her hands. She bowed once again to apologize, "I'm sorry for the rude gesture Kamiyama-sama." Yes, she remembered. Kayo had heard about Midori and how she was the pride of their kind from the elders in her clan. However never in her life would she have expected to be able to meet this legend.

How embarassing... In her mind, Kayo was already rolling her eyes. Was that all she could say? Of all the things to say to the Light of Hokkaido. As far as first impressions go, Kayo just threw hers out in a mere two seconds ago. She slowly lifted her head and elaborated, "I am from the Oochi Kitsune Clan down in Kyoto. We are a clan that resided by Lake Biwa. It is an honor to meet Kamiyama-sama."

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lightofhokkaido
2009-01-06 07:57 pm UTC (link)

Midori's eyes widened slightly as the outburst from the young woman. She was not expecting such a loud reaction. She couldn't say she really supported such a reaction, but the fact she not only recognized her name but spoke with such enthusiasm pleased her. It brought a smile on her face. At least the girl had the good nature to be embarrassed by outburst. She was a respectful girl and she had been taken by surprise. Midori often took people by surprise. She had worked for a century on her reputation and it seemed it was a job well done. "It is all right, Child," Midori said calmly. She couldn't help but smile at the girl's contrition. It was almost... Cute. Oh, she liked this girl.

Keeping a smile on her face, one so uncharacteristic of her, Midori pulled herself up straight. She was shorter than the girl, but she felt her presence (and illusionary magic) was enough to make her seem imposing. Of course, the girl was nervous enough in front of her as it was. She hardly needed to use the tricks she used with the other clan heads she met.

She had not seen the Hoshi no Tama around the girl's neck and thus had not been able to recognize her clan. Had she been outcast or was there another reason for the lack of the necklace? It mattered not to Midori. While in times passed it would have, the lack of Kitsune companionship made her a little less judgmental. "Oochi. Yes." She nodded in recognition. "I have known many Oochi over the years. I have always found your clan to be..." She paused, searching for a word. She was not really used to complimenting other clans. "Pleasant," she finished. "I am glad to meet you, Miyafuku-san. There is by far too few of our kind here in Elysium." She paused once again. "Unless... Are others of your clan here?"

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orange_tail
2009-01-06 09:43 pm UTC (link)

"Thank you for your praise of the Oochi Clan. As for the other clan members I am not sure if they were able to reach Elysium. I was separated," Kayo replied. She felt disappointed when she could not tell Midori, "Thank you for your praise of our clan." But the girl was careful to choose her words. Although she had not been officially labeled as a 'Nogitsune', she knew the implication when her clan had left for the haven without any notice for her. Kayo stayed quiet about the matter; it would be horrible to be shunned by the first Kitsune she met, even worse since it would be the Light of Hokkaido.

"How...how many of us are there here in Elysium?" she asked curiously. On that note, Kayo was excited that there were more Kitsune. Although the girl was confident in her social skills, it wasn't the same when it came to those of her own kind. Knowing that there are more of your own present was a comforting thought. But her thoughts eventually trailed back to her exiled status; Kayo could not hide about this forever. To other Kitsunes' eyes she would be a rogue. Would they be as forgiving as her brother was? The girl shook away those thoughts and smiled warmly towards Midori.

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lightofhokkaido
2009-01-07 12:37 am UTC (link)

Midori was adept at reading people. It was something that came in handy when negotiating with other clan leaders. Kayo's exclusion of herself from the Oochi did no go unnoticed. There was also the lack of the Hoshi no Tama around Kayo's neck. That would explain why she had been separated from her people. But there were only a handful of Kitsune in Elysium. Even if the girl had been Nogitsune back before the war, exclusion was not an option now. Besides, the girl was young. She could not have done anything to truly warrant exile. She was respectful towards Midori. That was all that mattered in her mind at the moment. "I hope greatly for their safe arrival." She truly meant it. It was not a comment the Light of Hokkaido would usually make with sincerity. But to have more Kitsune in Elysium would be a blessing.

"I only know of a few of us," Midori admitted. "There was a boy of the Spirit Clan, but he's made himself annoyingly scarce. There is also..." She paused for a moment, slightly chagrinned. "My daughter. She is living with her half-brother here in town. Their father was a victim of the war." There was no sign of emotion over the death of Nagamori Raidon. While they had a child together, there relationship had been nothing more than professional. He had simply been the strongest Kitsune she had known when she desired to bear a child. Any affection she might have had faded when she discovered Raidon fathered a halfbreed. Kitsune numbers were small enough without diluting the blood. "I should warn you... If you wish for the company of our kind, my daughter tends to prefer human companions."

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orange_tail
2009-01-08 02:42 am UTC (link)

Kayo immediately wanted to ask, "What's wrong with that?" But she remembered that it was because of her fondness for human companions that led to where she was today and once again did not comment about it. Instead she opted for a more proper answer, "Thank you again for your kind wishes Kamiyama-sama." None the less, she grew interest in the other Kitsune that Midori had introduced. If Mitsuko was Midori's daughter, then they would be around the same age. Was she as strict and dignified as the Light of Hokkaido? Kayo wondered. But what really lured her in was that Mitsuko seemed to enjoy human companionship, something in common that they would have. Not to mention, there was a half breed! Unlike her elders, Kayo did not see why they were so looked down upon.

On another note, the girl noticed the different tone Midori used when she talked about the other Kitsune, more specifically they were her family. She was especially surprised to hear how nonchalantly she talked about her late husband, in fact calling him the father instead. Although Kayo's nature would certainly want to pry into this matter more, she was smart enough to not pull anything over the Light of Hokkaido. "I think it'd be wonderful to meet with them," she replied. "Since there are so few of us, it's important to stick together right?" What ever the reason may be that Midori seemed distant about the others, she thought that now is the time more than ever to watch out for each other. Like a family....she thought.

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lightofhokkaido
2009-01-08 05:29 pm UTC (link)

Midori's feelings on humans were personal. She still held it against them that her mother had been mortally wounded in one of their traps. Humans had no respect for their world. Most had been willfully ignorant to magical species. What puzzled her about young ones like Mitsuko and Kayo was that most humans would shun them-- maybe even kill them-- if they knew the truth. Why would they want to be around such people?

Midori and Raidon have never been married. He had been her advisor. That had been the extent of things between them. Midori had been raised from an early age to believe that attachment led to weakness. The hurt she had felt at her mother's premature death was just proof of that.

She couldn't say she was upset about the idea of Mitsuko associating with other Kitsune. Maybe if Mitsuko had more interactions with Kitsune, she would become more open to their ways again. "My daughter works at the cafe in town, if you wish to see her." She smiled and nodded at Kayo. "You are very right. We do need to stick together. I have... Missed the company of other Kitsune."

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orange_tail
2009-01-09 02:22 am UTC (link)

Kayo returned the gesture warmly, feeling very lucky to have had such an encounter. Life alone in the human world was certainly fun at first, however as time passed it was only a matter of time before she realized how being apart from a clan felt. They had raised her and trained her. A few months of fleeting friendships was nothing compared to the ties of a clan. They had raised her and raised her. Kayo was also the same as them; she would have always been accepted. She knew she could not say the same with any of her human friends.

She took Midori's words to heart and wished the same, that the other clan members made it safely. Perhaps they are recuperating in the forests like she did for the past few months. Even if they would not recognize her anymore, she wanted to tell them herself how sorry she was for ultimately choosing superficial human companionship over the strong ties of a clan. "I look forward to meeting Kamiyama-sama's daughter," Kayo replied. "Ah, the time passed by so quickly...I will be retiring to my cottage." She bowed deeply before making her leave, "Oyasumi nasai Kamiyama-sama."

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~FIN~

lightofhokkaido
2009-01-12 10:15 pm UTC (link)

It had been a good long while before Midori had met a Kitsune she felt was being respectful of her. Shigeru had been insolent, even as he feigned esteem. Mitsuko showed her nothing but outright impudence. While Giles was kind to her, he was more interested in what was in her kimono than anything else. It was nice to have someone who seemed to show her both kindness and respect.

"I am living in the forest cottages. I have built a shrine to Inari within my home. If you wish to visit, I would enjoy the company," Midori said, still struggling with such honest emotion. She bowed to Kayo. "I'm sure my daughter will be interested in meeting you. And I hope I will see you again."

Taking a moment to watch the girl leave, Midori smiled. Things were certainly looking up now.

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