The Household of the Steward [Momo|Sou]

[Michi]

OC: Sorry for the lackluster post, the hour I thought I had last night was commandeered by Admin for matters. I have only 10 min to write this and sorry to say I know it looks like I did as well. =(

IC:

Sousuke's home, known to several, Shiori included as their temporary residence. Shiori's apartment was actually intact and functional, unlike many Sunan structures. She moved into Sousuke's home shortly aster he reemerged at the tail-end of the Cabal invasion. It was her desire to learn the secrets of Takahashi-Steel, a specialized forging technique used yo create one of the most durable metal alloys in Wind COuntry. The inherent strength of the steel was not a concern for Shiori, rather the god-slayer properties of the weaponry. She has always assumed as the fables had suggested that the blade that fell her broithers was forged by these early clansmen. It was of course a fallacy, the reality-altering sword that ultimately destroyed the strongest among them was relegated only to lore and mystery even to her kind. But that would be a tale for another day.

The Steward Kazekage Takahashi Sousuke the III's tenure as the defacto leader of Sunagakure has been... eventful. His sanity.... questionable at times and his personal inconsistent in most ways, less one. His inconsistency was his constant perhaps, but so was his affections for his fellow man. Being an adoptive member of his family perhpa s garnered her greater affections than she deserved but despite change and happenstance, never once did it seem his kindness for her faltered. It was an aspect of humanity she wished to emulate, she was a constant, harsh and unyielding force. Cognizant, covetagious, and mournful but incapable of harnessing this emotion in a meaningful manner.

"Sousuke! Sousuke, are you home!" Shiori called into the household as she unlocked the door. Bringing home complete strangers was not a common thing for Shiori, for Sousuke on the other hand, a bit more frequent. Perhaps he would not even notice another house-guest. She did not know if the Kage-Steward was even home. Despite sharing an address with Sousuke, she was rarely home. At night she caroused the bars seeking Cabal supporters and during the day she often slept at the Toraono Dojo because despite the dojo serving as a temporary gateway to the village and the home to a great many refugees, it was still quieter than Sousuke's home. Sousuke's household was home to all forms of man or beast and was perhaps not the sprawling estate that one might have expected. Still impossibly large in comparison to a middle-class household, but housed within the same district and it did not drip with wealth and style. The household was nice enough, it had walls and floors and furniture, but the Steward-Kage was an eccentric man with eclectic tastes and variable desires. Tangental desires and impulsive decisions. Housed side-by-side in the same space: armor, bits of technology, homemaker-crafts and furnishings of all ages.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Sousuke sat at the dining room table surrounded by books, and phones off the hooks and hooked up to several gaudy brown looking boxes. He was in a conference meeting of sorts. He sat leaning back in his chair slightly as several books were opened with several numbers on them and several dates. Each telephone had a name presented in front of it. 'Corporate Lord Akamichi Nobu' was a golden telephone with frills. There was a red phone with the name Tag 'High Guard Nara Kazuki'. There was a blue phone that read 'Affairs Lady Haku Tomoko III with a sub-note written by Sousuke 'currently sleeping with Lord Nobu again as they have been thrice divorced', there was a green phone that read 'Master of Coin Santaru Nori' which too had a subnote to it 'broke, probably stealing money'. The Steward apparently had a colour group of nobles to contend with. These nobles were loyal to him by right, but really it was Akamichi Nobu who was probably the most considerate of them. Was this the insanity? Yes. No person of sound mind would normally deal with this. The Steward was not criminally insane, he was insane in the concept that he kept order. He kept order in insanity, with the exception of the Cabal attack. Even then he was one of the many who re-asserted order. What was inconsistent of him as of late was his emotions, which he was growing used to. He was still very tired from having to deal with them.

"Sousuke-lad. Thank-you for the recap of numbers. We seem to be back on track, and I am happier to know that my third in line to be heir, is doing well. Rumors of your death were unfounded. I was going to have to draw up my will again. Lady Tomoko and I are ...." Lord Nobu spoke.

"Together again."<i></i> Sousuke finished his sentence for him. It would probably be another six months until one of them was cheating on the other. "You would have to anyways. That would move my position from third heir to fourth. It doesn't matter to me, but ... best to have your affairs in order."<i></i> Sousuke wondered if Katuso, some day, would be up to the task of having to deal with the nobles like he had to. He heard Shiori call out if he was home, the Steward paused for a moment. "Yes, yes I'm home. I'm in a meeting."<i></i>

"Sousuke lad. You should speak to Shiori about dating my nephew I'm sure he'd---" Dial toned followed as Sousuke ended the meeting. He held his head in his hands. He had often thought about setting Shiori up with a man, maybe Roku or Harupia, or even Katuso. Not one of Nobu's nephews. Shiori was small, and they were quite large ... and loud.

 

[Momochi]

Water. How soft and gentle its cleanly caress touched his lips. Maybe it was just spring water, but as thirsty as Momochi was? It could have been holy water forged in the super cosmos of only the purest of virgin tears shed by the mighty snow giants from ancient aeons past.

Seriously, that water was delicious.

Once Momochi emptied a canteen, the constant thought of how desperately he needed water abated, only to be replaced by a feeling of disquiet. The stillness throughout the housing district had been unsettling. Momochi sensed a kind of hate in the air as though there were eyes glued to them as they turned every corner. His joints and bones still ached and although the refreshing glow of watery goodness seemed to flow through him, he knew himself to be in no good fighting shape.

You have come at a bad time...

She appeared to have been absolutely correct. How fun. Also terrible. Momochi was a great lover of adventure. But less so when he was just finally recuperating from walking a desert. Momochi was not one to play up the drama of difficult life experiences. But deserts sucked.

On the brightside of things, his scarlet-haired angel had not yet murdered him. He had sensed no malice in her, no suspicions or sneakery. If they were in fact ambushed, it was most likely not of her making. Though Momochi had been tricked before. Beautiful strange women though... you always let your guard down around them. You laugh, you smile, and then you make awful(wonderful), terrible(fantastic), heinous(glorious) mistakes. And then they try to stab you. They passed through a few normal apartment complexes, and up to a very normal looking door. She produced a key and unlocked the door. Was this her home? Her own personal apartment? Was this about to take a romantic turn? Momochi felt an awkward combination of being honored and being wary.


"Sousuke! Sousuke, are you home!"

Whats a Sousuke? Some kinda pet?

"Together again... You would have to anyways. That would move my position from third heir to fourth. It doesn't matter to me, but ... best to have your affairs in order."Yes, yes I'm home. I'm in a meeting."

There sat a man... yes, yes, an odd man, but a man nonetheless. Books heaped up around him, phones off their hooks and chaos abounding. Momochi was not OCD, but Momochi was very fond of organization. If a special circle of hell had been built and catered to him, this would be it. Phones all over the place with people begging words, an angry din of voices crowding you. Books of information that would gather dust in their vile time sucking delirium of boredom. Nightmare fuel. Looking at the man Sousuke... he seemed to see the whole affair much the same as Momochi did. With his face in his palms, he looked as spent as Momochi felt. Unfortunate. Introductions were probably in order... probably. Momochi was tired. This Sousuke guy was tired. And miss... What was her name? Well whatever the case, she was tired too. Momochi set down his pack by the door and retrieved a small silken bag from within it.

"Do you have a kettle?" he said, holding up his bag of jasmine tea leaves.


[MFT]
[Entered]
[OOC: No worries. ^^ Just post when you can. Don't stress over it.]

 

[Michi]

OC: I am off work for awhile, I do all my hours for 2 weeks in a row... meaning I am gone for 5 days then here for 2 weeks. Short post, sorry.

IC:
"Yes, yes I'm home. I'm in a meeting."

Sousuke was home, that was a good thing. Her form, less than preferable of course. These red locks and color-coordinated choices far from what her cousin recognized. She placed a shawl over her head and wrapped the tail once around her neck. Her heels made up for the three inch height disparity and her features were not that far distant from the over-made blind-woman's face he always knew. Azure rather than verdant, the only transformation necessary. "I have a new... visitor for you." She had no idea what to call the foreigner, Sousuke had a strange habit of taking on new house-guests, pets, family members, etc. She never really knew what kinds of attachments he would make, usually they were positive. Less the Cabal, she had yet to learn of someone Sousuke reviled.

She followed the sound of his voice to Sousuke's conference area. One of many multi-purpose spaces, serving also as a study of sorts. Shiori gestured for him to follow her to where Sousuke was. "I'd like you to meet The Kazekage Steward Takahashi Sousuke," Shiori announced as she tried to make introductions. Shiori took a seat near one Sousuke's telephones, she was playing with the coiled cord, twisting it around her finger. Wind Country nobles, she wondered who they were. She was not much for the political scene, they were just rich people who smelled like money. She was not going to start dating anyone, she already had concrete plans for her love-life. "Not dating some noble," Shiori warned Sousuke.

"Do you have a kettle?"

Shiori furrowed her brow. Tea? Strange thing to bring with you through the maelstrom. "Are you a merchant?" Shiori inquired as pointed towards the kitchen.

 

[Momochi]

"I have a new... visitor for you."

Momochi felt neat. He had official visitor status. Which was probably a special thing. Probably. Momochi smiled wide and goofy.

"I'd like you to meet The Kazekage Steward Takahashi Sousuke,"

"A pleasure I'm sure. I'm Momochi. I'm traveling to do medical research." he said, walking over to Sousuke's side of the table, outstretching his hand in a friendly gesture.

Technically that was all true, and people were much more interested in helping you when you used fancy words that legitimate occupations used. Momochi was not fond of hiding the truth, but he also didn't make a lot of friends by sharing excessive details. As they finished their introductions, he noted a fun idea that crossed his mind.

I still don't know her name.

The entrance to the kitchen was just on the otherside of Sousuke. Momochi strode past the hall and made his way in. He spotted the kettle, old and probably used on occasion. But not an every day kettle. He produced his tea, and began scouring for mugs. Eventually he found a few mismatched sizes and shapes, but they would do. He turned the pilot on a burner and placed the kettle over the flame. Nothing was quite as calming for lost souls as tea. Radiating warmth from within, plus steam and fancy smells always helped. And of course the most critical aspect...

Caffeine... he thought, deeply inhaling the sweet scent of jasmine and ashwaganda root as he sniffed.

An old song trickled into his thoughts and he hummed the tune, its lyrics soft under his breath.

"I'm lookin' for a land thats far away beside the crystal fountains...
...so come with me and we'll go and see, the big rock candy mountains." he hummed just a little too quiet to understand.

It was the tune he used to sing back in the mines. It reminded him of how far he'd come and what he'd survived to get here, in this comfortable place, in this warm kitchen with sweet smelling jasmine and a kettle soon to boil. The stillness... the absence of screams. The ability to be stressed over the future itself seemed like a gift.

"Not dating some noble," said the angel-lady.

He smiled as he returned to the dining room. Not dating some noble huh?

"How did you two come to be friends? Forgive me if I'm wrong you don't seem like a couple..."

<i></i>

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Sousuke began to close up his books and began stacking them. Minutes of Business. Minutes of the Shareholders. Minutes of the Reserve Fund. Minutes of the Emergency Fund. Sousuke didn't block out her comment, rather he addressed it. "I know. Lord Nobu has for a very long time been trying to set me up... but now he knows there are more horses to be bred with the bears. Figuratively speaking."[/b] The Takahashi Sigil was that of a Horse. Lord Akamichi Nobu's sigil was that of a Bear. Marriages were a powerful thing. Sousuke loved his cousin. "Shiori. I'm not selling you out to some noble. You're free to chase whomever you wish, within limits."<i></i> Sousuke was blind to his cousin's ... great romantic affections for him. Sousuke had yet to fully grasp it, and the ... more unusual side to Shiori's truest of natures. To him Shiori was still very much Shiori prior to the Cabal incident. From time to time she surprised him.

Their guest was here, but then he wasn't. He went into the kitchen to gather the aforementioned kettle. Sousuke frowned slightly. He picked the old one. Not the one he had improved that if plugged in, or zapped with an electrical technique would heat itself. Sousuke stared at the hand presented to him. He analyzed it. "You have steady hands. No cuts or scrapes or fumbles with your instruments. If that was the case then maybe medicine or surgery isn't a field for you."<i></i> It could also be that Momochi healed up quickly, and scarring was not something permanent. Sousuke blinked. Oh. Right. People did this to have their hands shook. Sousuke extended his own hand and shook Momochi's.

He then inquired if they were a couple. Sousuke perplexed by this raised an eyebrow. "She's my cousin. Adopted cousin technically. These days more akin to an older sister really."<i></i> Thankfully Sousuke was not raised by Shiori. Otherwise he may have been dropped on his head like someone in another alternate universe dating back years ago now. Sousuke's eyes would narrow as he looked skyward and scowled as the thought of this being put in his head was most annoying and unwanted. His gaze would shift down as he returned to the present company.

 

[Michi]

"A pleasure I'm sure. I'm Momochi. I'm traveling to do medical research."

There was a routine pleasantry. Hand shaking rather than bowing, something Sousuke did on occasion himself for whatever reason. She never understood it, but she was never one for bowing and scraping either. He ran off to make leaf-flavored hot water. It smelled nice, whatever he was making. She had been partaking more fire-water than actual water as of late, a way of self-medicating these days as she tried to pretend Gehenna was Canaan.

"I know. Lord Nobu has for a very long time been trying to set me up... but now he knows there are more horses to be bred with the bears. Figuratively speaking."

That was a point of contention for Shiori, she was the jealous sort in a way. It was a portion of her petty nature she had only recently realized. Humans, even their kin were trading stock. Mingle of blood and name to unify a house through their progeny, the will of the heart an afterthought. Beneath a placid surface she seethed over the thought of seeing Sousuke set-up with some painted and corseted strumpet. It would be his type too she was sure, one of those delicate flowers that would break in response to a stern word. She frowned outwardly, "may as well add water to the children's blood." She grumbled, her mood turning sour at the prospect of romance. Before, as in months earlier she probably would have bottled this sentiment inside not saying a word. Her sense of worth was diminished then, she played the role of fool well knowing no other station. Still a happenstance of habit and a consequence of new perspective.

"Shiori. I'm not selling you out to some noble. You're free to chase whomever you wish, within limits."</B><i></i>

Shiori's arched brow raised as he made that comment. She had made her choice a long time ago, her will was obvious. She had as much stated it on several occasions, but not once was it requited. In recompense for what she could only identify as 'love' was seeming insouciance coupled with nothing more than familial sympathy. She forced a half smile, "I already know what I want." It was not a 'what' but rather a 'who.' She was still blissfully unaware that his inamorata was none other than Yume, a mongrel medic who treated her once in the Omni Prime Medical Center. It was a good thing, for Yume of course. Her beguin for Soususke was the only thing that tethered her to humanity. Without him, she had no reason to be Shiori. What the tomes claimed of her was utter nonsense, she was never an avatar of benevolence and peace - it was always about sacrifice, survival and endurance.

"How did you two come to be friends? Forgive me if I'm wrong you don't seem like a couple..."

What did he mean they did not look like a couple? Of course they looked like a couple. I mean look at her, she could totally...

<B>"She's my cousin. Adopted cousin technically. These days more akin to an older sister really."<i></i>

...old

OLD

OLD!

She was not old, she was in the prime of her... human youth. "I am not that much older than you, Sou." Shiori reminded him. Actually, she was centuries older than him, but he did not know that. There was a long list of things she would never be able to tell him, like the fact that she murdered his aunt and uncle years ago and infiltrated his family. It did not make her sentiments less towards him, but rather an unexpected consequence of her life-choices and proximity perhaps. She was about to debate semantics with Sousuke when she remembered that there was a stranger here, she brought him. Composure was not her strong suit when unruffled, her face was flushed as she exhaled and her shoulders dropped slightly, a non-verbal of temporary defeat. "Yes, cousins..." ...for now. In another universe he would have married the woman that killed her true love and been blind to the source of her wrath.

Onto a better subject, one that had nothing to do with the love-life Sousuke would not have a choice in. "So you are... not from around here." Shiori announced, stating the obvious, more in a poor attempt to transition the conversation back to the stranger. "What kind of medical research do you do? I used to be a Medic." Shiori admitted. She was a terrible medic, she really did not try very hard. Perhaps she could have been something exceptional if she had placed any effort into it, but humans had so many organs and most of them were 'vital.' Humans had multiples of some, but only one of the really important ones, it seemed a bit backwards in design to the ancient. "I could never really master the art I am afraid," Shiori only partly lied. Keeping people alive was troublesome but recovering them from death was a sophomoric task, but a taboo to people with moral limitations such as the Kazekage. "What brought you to Sunagakure?" Shiori finally inquired, accepting at any point the hot drink if she was offered one and taking a sip.

WC: 863
MFT

 

[Momochi]

The steward Kazekage paid little attention to his attendant, whose face seemed to slip through shades of violet and cherry. He divulged their familial relation with little investment in the whole notion. Where the woman Shiori hung on Sousuke's every word and even seemed angered by some of them.

"You have steady hands. No cuts or scrapes or fumbles with your instruments. If that was the case then maybe medicine or surgery isn't a field for you."

"I'm afraid I'm not much of a healer." he said rubbing the back of his neck shyly. He was always the worst with first impressions. The kettle in the kitchen began to scream its moist howl of climax. Momochi did a brisk little jaunt right in, and returned moments later with a tray on which sat three mugs and a kettle. He sat it down on the table and poured himself a cup. The jasmine smell reminded him of home. He sipped from his mug lightly, testing its ability to scald him. Luckily he got off scot-free.

"So you are... not from around here."

"Well no indeed ma'am, I am not. I'm actually from a village in Rain country."

"What kind of medical research do you do? I used to be a Medic. I could never really master the art I am afraid,"

"Unfortunately my work isn't nearly as glamorous as real medicine. I'm a shinobi mortuary. My work is mostly with transporting dead people. When great shinobi are slain, its often times not in their homeland. My service is to return the bodies to their loved ones."

In truth, a mortuary was the best kind of cover for someone who was looking to acquire bodies with as little suspicion as possible. Actually, even as a mortuary, nobody trusted you. In fact, it was probably time to consider a new cover. Momochi didn't even like pretending to be a mortuary, successful or not.

"What brought you to Sunagakure?"

"I must admit, I came here seeking some old knowledge. I was led to believe there were persons here who might know about a lot about sealings." he said warily. "...I don't mean to pry but..." Momochi began, looking down into his tea cup uneasily. "...what happened outside? The buildings... the damage...? I had thought Sand was currently at peace."

Outside he had seen reparations all over, but the scale of the damage was huge. As though hundreds of bombs and small scale attacks had occurred over a period of time. There was a great deal unsaid on the topic. In fact, almost nothing had been said at all. Momochi watched for their reactions, gauging them and their responses.


[OOC: I'm sooooo sorry, work has been nuts! D:]

 

[Takahashi Aki]

(I'm told that ... reading orange on the new theme is hard, so... let's try a new colour.)

Shiori spoke of how she wasn't that much older than Sousuke was. His brow raised. "You are a full three years older than I am. You will be thirty before I will be. You will be forty before I will be. Therefore, by default you will be older than I, and hit the age milestones before I do. Thus you are older than me. Katuso is older than me. Kuro is older than I am. I repeat, you're older than I am. I'm the one who looks after all of you, be it ... financially, physically, or emotionally. Not that it is a problem, but the young usually looks after the old."<i></i> Shiori was twenty-five. Katuso was twenty-eight. Kuro was ... well to be honest Sousuke never asked how old Kuro was. He was simply referred to as little brother, and that was that.

Momochi spoke of his occupation. He travelled with corpses and delivered them accordingly. "Have you ever considered being an Undertaker or a coffin-maker as a side job?"<i></i> He asked with a deadpanned expression. Given his line of work... it would only make sense to deliver the remains of an individual in a wood box, or in an urn. There once was a famous on in Suna. Kodama was his first name. He was ... probably still in business given the Cabal, and ... he was most likely continuing to sell his wares, and making quite a bit of profit.

The conversation changed hands to what was going on with Sungakure at this moment. The Steward gave Momochi a neutral look. He looked upwards for a moment. Oddly he didn't do so with a look of disdain. "Outside? That's the natural state of things with the diamond sands. That is why we're underground."<i></i> He answered. He paused for a moment. "You're not referring to the outside proper of course. You're referring to the underground... outside... which in itself is a bit of a ... mmm ... contradiction."<i></i> He scratched his nose next. The smell of jasmine was something he was not used to. The last time he encountered jasmine was when Roku and his brother took him to that ... Stripclub. The seats when you sat on them had jasmine fill the air. It was a very strange thing. "We're at peace with the known parts of the world... and the civilized parts. That being said we were attacked by terrorists... which is of course the antithesis of the aforementioned parties. We have reached the end of their campaign, and they are being dealt with accordingly."<i></i> Strangely ... Katuso had a wait with Kaito. Having their leader work for the ... uncrowned-naturally-born-king-who-refused-to-take-his-crown-because-he-didn't-want-it made things exceedingly difficult. By default Kaito had no loyalties to Sousuke. Neither did any of his companions ... agree to this either. That was all still being worked on, and of course their punishments should it come to that... which it would to in some form. What mattered most is that they were stopped and apprehended. Their machinations put to rest.

 

[Michi]

OC: I actually had no idea that it was my turn. Sousuke just poked me. >_< Poke me sooner! also, I did not have much to say. =( Darn embarassing

IC:

"You are a full three years older than I am. You will be thirty before I will be. You will be forty before I will be. Therefore, by default you will be older than I, and hit the age milestones before I do. Thus you are older than me. Katuso is older than me. Kuro is older than I am. I repeat, you're older than I am. I'm the one who looks after all of you, be it ... financially, physically, or emotionally. Not that it is a problem, but the young usually looks after the old."

Physically... ha! Sou has never... Wish he would, but he has never... He was far from clueless, he knew how she felt. How cruel of him. Her mind echoed, discontent and desire swelling still. She did not know that Sousuke had found someone, a women worthy of his time, love and trust but thankfully so. Why her? Why was she so special? Why did he love her best? She had a feeling, however, that someone was stirring his passions. He had changed so much since she had taken ill. She loved him despite this, but he was not the same man he used to be.

"I must admit, I came here seeking some old knowledge. I was led to believe there were persons here who might know about a lot about sealings."

"I do not know much about sealings,"</B><i></i> Shiori replied, "but Sousuke might know something. He considers himself quite the scholar."<i></i> Little did Shiori know that she actually possessed the very skills the foreigner was asking about. She knew them by a different name and even history called them by something different entirely in regards to herself. She had tried to slay Homura not long ago by instilling the taint that should have taken his life but rather infused him with great strength. A risk of such a thing, where a curse can become a blessing if the host proved strong enough to survive.

"...I don't mean to pry but..."

Such a statement is always preceded by something terrible or offensive. Shiori stopped and gazed at the man's uneasy yet polite expression.

<B>"...what happened outside? The buildings... the damage...? I had thought Sand was currently at peace."

It was true, Sunagakure was in a terrible state. So many men, women and children died these past few months. Shiori had no reason to miss them, she felt nothing really regarding their departure and their painful end. They had nothing to do with her. This was how she used to feel about her brothers' passing. She was alone, but could not feel lonesome despite the unrelenting solitude. She did not require them to survive, but in time the pangs of loneliness were the only thing she could feel coupled with regret over her lack of intervention. Could she have changed the course of history had she intervened or would she have taken a grave alongside her brother ancients? She did not know, they were each powerful in their own way but also limited. She could not take sides. She thought herself numb to the sentiments attached, but she was rather racked with emotion and a yearning to undo what has been done despite the forces that limit her. Every ancient has a limit, one thing that they must abide by for an ancient could never choose. The desert takes no sides. She thought it was that the desert did not feel and that was why she stayed out of the conflict. But she felt, she felt such pain when she thought Sousuke was dead. He would never die, he just does not know it yet. She did not understand her nature, if she had she could have found a way to circumvent the unspoken pact of her base element.

"Outside? That's the natural state of things with the diamond sands. That is why we're underground."

The storm was a product of the progeny of Primus, forever 'blessed' with the power over the storm. The biting winds and the horrible wail, she could hear the Sunahoshi cry out. It was her intent to cause the clan pain. She did not know why he called out as he had or who among the terminated Sunahoshi line could possibly be behind the chaos. She did not care, this was the reckoning the Sunahoshi well-deserved. As for living in a hole rather than under the sky, she found it less painful here in the deep. "I do not think he meant..."<i></i>

"You're not referring to the outside proper of course. You're referring to the underground... outside... which in itself is a bit of a ... mmm ... contradiction."

"We're at peace with the known parts of the world... and the civilized parts. That being said we were attacked by terrorists... which is of course the antithesis of the aforementioned parties. We have reached the end of their campaign, and they are being dealt with accordingly."

 

[Michi]

[Leaving Topic Due to Inactivity]