// T_T I fully intended to write a scene from my TV show today… but I got an idea for Rakuten, instead. Gahhh. Why, brain? WHY? Anyway, I’ve started using http://750words.com. It’s a really great site, people should look into it. Anyhow, here was my dribble for today.
“Shitshitshitshitshit.”
Tatsumi paused at the low stream of curses issuing from behind the door she was passing, which was cracked slightly open.
“…Kaz?”
The demon jumped (a rather amusing sight, Tatsumi would’ve thought to herself, if she wasn’t preoccupied with the reason behind the uncharacteristic cursing) and spun to face her, stiffening at the sight of his tenant. For once, her soft, caring expression and calm lavender eyes did nothing to ease his anxiety.
“Tatsumi.”
Her brow wrinkled the tiniest bit in the beginnings of a frown. “What’s going on?”
“What do you mean?”
Now Tatsumi was frowning in full. “Don’t give me that. You were just cursing like a sailor. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say more than ‘fiddlesticks’ before, which, by the way, is very un-demon-like. But very Kazaku-like.” Her expression softened slightly, but there was a hard edge to her usually feather-like gaze. She wasn’t about to yield.
Think fast, Kazaku thought to himself.
“Oh, Saori just antagonized our new stove. Again. I think I’m going to have to get a new one.”
“Kazaku.” Tatsumi’s voice was sharp. “Last time, Saori nearly destroyed the whole kitchen, and you barely batted and eye. Don’t lie to me.”
Kazaku cringed at the fire that was building behind Tatsumi’s hot gaze. He started to melt.
But it was vitally important that he didn’t give in this time.
“I’m sorry,” he breathed, barely audible. He moved closer to Tatsumi and extended his arms towards her, a pained expression on his face. Tatsumi had a lot of trouble resisting that face. The fire burned itself out, and she gave in, sinking into his embrace. “I don’t want to trouble you. It may be nothing. Please don’t concern yourself.”
“Mmf,” Tatsumi mumbled into his shirt. “May be nothing, my ass.”
Kazaku chuckled softly. “There’s no getting anything by you, is there?” he whispered into her ear.
Most of Tatsumi’s mental faculties that made her capable of speech abandoned her at that point.
—
CRASH.
“Did you hear that?”
Tatsumi whirled around to face the direction that the sound had come from. It was distant — the castle was a huge place — but she’s been sure it sounded like something breaking.
Something big.
“Hmm?” Saori was at the stove — probably a mistake on Tatsumi’s part, but Saori should really learn to utilize the appliances without destroying them in the process, and this was the only way to learn — and the sound of the boiling water and the fan next to her probably drowned out the crash.
“I heard… something,” Tatsumi mumbled, almost to herself.
“I’m right here. How can I have broken something on the other side of the castle?” Saori wondered aloud.
“I’m not blaming you, Saori,” Tatsumi sighed, turning back to face her friend. She had long, way black hair. Tatsumi had always envied her hair very much — I was silkier than hers, and always seemed to curl just right.
“Well, it certainly wasn’t Kazaku. The man isn’t human. I mean, of course he isn’t human, but… You know what I mean!” Saori ended angrily.
“Yes, Saori, I know what you mean,” Tatsumi grinned at her before turning back to face the direction of the noise. “But that’s what worries me. If it wasn’t you or me, and it couldn’t be Kaz… what was it?”
“Maybe you imagined it,” Saori supplied, her lips twisted into a playful smirk.
“Maybe,” Tatsumi muttered, wholly unconvinced. But seeing as she hadn’t heard anything else, and everything had returned to being still, she concluded that it was safer to make sure the kitchen survived Saori’s occupancy before investigating the source of the sound.
—
After Saori had successfully prepared sound and sandwiches, the two girls wrapped them up to bring them to Kazaku’s room on the other side of the castle (he never allowed Saori to cook in the kitchen nearest to his rooms for fear that she’ll explode the whole area along with the kitchen). But they’d safely prepared food this time, with many frantic interventions on Tatsumi’s part, and were on their way to deliver Kazaku’s portion (not that he strictly needed it, but he seemed to rather enjoy eating).
Unfortunately, Kazaku seemed to be having problems with properly closing doors today. For the second time, Tatsumi found one that was opened just enough for the sound to travel through the opening into the hallway.
“Don’t you touch her, you monster!”
“Ouch. Aren’t you being kinda harsh, Kazzy? I haven’t seen you in years, after all. Not a very hospitable way to treat your–”
“Shut it. I know why you’re here, and you’re going to turn around and leave. Right now.” Kazaku’s voice was furious. Tatsumi didn’t recognize the voice of the person Kaz was arguing with.
“How could you possibly know why I’m here, br–”
“I KNOW. And I’m not going to let you anywhere NEAR a single inhabitant of my castle. I left for a *reason*. Now get out!”
Tatsumi decided she was going to be rather impulsive — and probably not very smart — today. Saori hissed a warning when she saw what Tatsumi was planning, but her hands were full with the tray of the lunch they’d prepared, so she was powerless to stop her.
“I’ve brought your lunch, Kazaku,” she called brightly, entering the room, Saori following a few steps behind her. She noticed glass all over the floor in front of a broken window. So she hadn’t imagined the crash after all.
“Is there something wrong with the front door?”
She finally noticed the other figure when he stepped out of the shadow cast by the window curtains.
He had the same silver hair as Kazaku, but his was a bit shorter except for one wrapped strand that hung to the side of his face. He had the same pointed ears and bright, abnormally colored eyes — but instead of Kazaku’s warm, honey-colored eyes, his were a harsh, fiery red-orange.
“So this is the human, is it?”
Kazaku was in front of Tatsumi in an instant, shielding her from the intruder’s direct line of vision.
Tatsumi had a bad feeling about this situation. There was something about his eyes… The way they seemed to see right through to her core, to pin her in place with their searing gaze. Maybe she shouldn’t have entered the room after all…