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Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Jan 22, 2017 21:39:05 GMT -6
"An Invitation":After a long sleep, probably brought on by all her crying and rage from the night before, Yumiko woke feeling refreshed. And after breakfast, she did something she hadn't done since his death. She joined the children in Ukitake's garden. Armed with a basket, gloves, sheers, and a bell in case she got stuck, she wandered around the bends and niches, looking for things that needed tending to. Some of the roses were escaping their poles and weeds had crept in a few places where the old trees had stood. Tying her sleeves back, she got to work. One of Ukitake's sisters found her wrestling with a weed in the middle of some lilies before lunch time. She had a letter addressed to her. Thanking her, not recognizing the print, she opened it up. It was a short but polite request for her to join the head of the Ozaki clan for lunch. There weren't any other details in the message. She saw no reason to refuse. She told the eldest sister where she was headed, left one of the children with a flower crown, and went to prepare herself. Now dressed in a lavender kimono adorned with flower blossoms tied loosely with a silver obi, and a pale blue haori with fish swimming stitched into the sleeves, she knocked on the gate.
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Post by Tenshin Ozaki on Jan 23, 2017 8:38:18 GMT -6
Tenshin appeared at the gate sans his usual attire. Dressed in a green and blue kimono, stared at the women on the other side of the gate. He bowed. "Yumiko Ryouma. Forgive me. I understand this is not the usual greeting of a noble. My brother, disapproves of any outside persons working for our family." Tenshin opened the gate and extended his hand to the noble women.
"Please, follow me. I will take you to my brother. Have you ever met him?"
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Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Jan 23, 2017 11:13:00 GMT -6
Yumiko shook her head as she accepted his hand. "That is quite alright, Ozaki-san. It is your family's right and privilege to run the house as you wish. The Ukitake manor, where I have been spending most of my time, is not a traditional household either." She looked around the garden as they walked. "And no, I don't believe I have met Takuro Ozaki, unless it was when I was younger. My memories of that time are hazy, so I apologize if I have forgotten him."
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Post by Tenshin Ozaki on Jan 23, 2017 16:59:31 GMT -6
"Please, don't apologize." begged Tenshin. "My brother is not well known. He can be very ill at times. And, therefore, does not travel outside of the home often. I had hoped that, on the rare occasion that he does get out, you may have met him." Tenshin walked Ryouma into his home, until they stopped in front of a closed door. "Forgive me. But, my brother does not like me entering his quarters. He claims that I am too loud." He chuckled. "A master of stealth, too loud."
Tenshin shook his head as he slid the door open. "Please."
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Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Jan 23, 2017 18:11:54 GMT -6
Yumiko nodded, paused, but was unsure how to comfort someone in this situation. Finally she offered the a simple truth. “I wish I had. It seems like it would have been a good meeting.” She offered Tenshin a smile and entered the room. Tenshin closed the door. It took her a moment for her eyes to adjust to the light but the dimmer light filtered in and she came to notice someone sitting in a windowsill to one side. Much like a captain dear to her heart would.
“Lord Takuro Ozaki?” she asked.
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Post by Takuro Ozaki on Jan 25, 2017 10:20:33 GMT -6
Takuro glanced over his shoulder at the young lady standing by the door. "Lady Ryouma." He slid from the windowsill and walked over to the noble woman. He gave a slight bow as he extended a hand to her. "It is a pleasure to have you in my home. Thank you for accepting my invitation." As the young woman placed her hand in his, he rose his hand placing a gentle kiss to the back of her hand.
Smiling brightly, Takuro released the woman's hand and walked over to the table at the center of the room. "Please. Join me for tea." He waited until she walked over to the table and set down, before taking his own seat.
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Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Jan 25, 2017 11:07:56 GMT -6
Yumiko folded her hands in her lap, her own smile growing at the friendly welcome from both members of the Ozaki family. “Thank you for the invitation, Lord Ozaki. It is not often I receive such pleasant letters, and it is highly appreciated. I hope your health is better today."
"Like the late Captain Ukitake, I have days where my health is not in question." Takuro poured them both a cup of tea. "Then, there are days where I simply can not remove myself from the warmth of bed for fear death's cold hand would take me. Today, I am fine. I thank you for your concern."
For the first time, the mention of her late father figure didn't pain her acutely, and Yumiko nodded. "I'm glad for it. I would cut my invitation short rather than inconvenience you when your health takes a turn for the worse." She took her cup, savored the floral scent, and took a slow sip. "Your brother said you rarely venture outside. Does that mean the garden is tended by someone other than you?"
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Post by Takuro Ozaki on Jan 25, 2017 11:31:54 GMT -6
Takuro gave a nod before taking a sip of his own tea. "My brother speaks an impartial truth. I do not venture outside the home too often because of the threats against my family. The Ozaki clan is proficient at what we do. And, there have been many a threat against us because of it. After the passing of our parents, I became the head of this clan. Because of my health, I do not hold a fully realized zanpakuto. So, I can not defend myself as my brothers can."
Setting his cup to the table, Takuro sighed. "It is by their request that I stay inside. It is also because of them, that I have invited you here."
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Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Jan 25, 2017 11:40:27 GMT -6
Yumiko lowered her own cup to the table at his words, but stayed silent for a minute or two. “It is brave of you to assume the head of the clan yet listen to your brothers. Even if you could be in danger, if I were in your position, I am not sure I would do so in the matter of staying inside. It would feel too confining."
She looked back at him. “May ask why they wish for us to meet?”
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Post by Takuro Ozaki on Jan 25, 2017 11:56:02 GMT -6
"I have no children, lady Ryouma." Takuro looked away from the young woman. He focused on the buzzing of the outside world. "Without them, if I should pass, the next of the eldest would take my place. However, they don't wish to lead our clan. So, it has fallen on me to provide an heir."
"What...What do you ask of me Lord Takuro?"
"You are one of only a few noble women left unmarried. And, I must seek a wife..." Takuro continued to looked away from the woman. He brought a hand to his chest.
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Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Jan 25, 2017 12:03:06 GMT -6
Yumiko’s hands returned to her lap. “Is your chest hurting you?”
Takuro raised his hand as he shook his head. "No. I've merely been overcome by a sense of nervousness. Worry not, Lady Ryouma. And, please forgive me if I am too forward. But, I care nothing about your past. I do find you to be quite lovely. And, the fact that the late Ukitake considered you to be part of his family, that means quite a bit."
Yumiko smiled in spite of the situation this invitation has put her in with his words. "If you're nervous, that would make two of us." She paused and looked back up again. "Did you know Ukitake well?"
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Post by Takuro Ozaki on Jan 25, 2017 12:34:41 GMT -6
"No." said Takuro, taking his cup in his hand. "I'm afraid I did not. He and I spoke at meetings between noble clans. But, nothing more. I..understand..." Takuro coughed. "I understand if my proposal seems...I don't know. But, I do not require an answer at this very moment. In fact, I fully expect you to say no." Takuro looked to the Lady Ryouma with a smile. "So, I will wait patiently for your answer.
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Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Jan 25, 2017 12:46:01 GMT -6
Yumiko chuckled. “I think you’ve been nothing but a gentleman considering the matter and the pressure you’re under, Lord Takuro.” She lifted her cup to take a sip. “If it abrupt, it’s because I haven’t thought of such inevitability because of the past you don’t care about, which I am grateful for. And after losing the kindly captains who protected me, I have focused on one thing.” She set a hand on her stomach.
Her smile grew as she looked back at him. “I won’t say no to you, Lord Takuro, not yet anyways. I have two months where I will be devoted to my growing child. Perhaps, during that time, we can get to know each other.”
“I apologize but I don’t get out much.”
Yumiko nodded. “I know that, but I could come here again and we could talk, share a meal, or take a walk in your gardens. If you’re not alone, maybe you could leave the house more often.” She offered him her hand. “There’s no reason to hurry.”
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Post by Takuro Ozaki on Jan 25, 2017 12:52:03 GMT -6
Takuro smiled. "Forgive me. I am going to be a bit more forward with you." Takuro sighed as he ran his finger around the rim of his cup. "I ask that you not see anyone else during this time. As a noble woman, you should not anyway. But, I must ask..."
Yumiko picked up her cup again, considering the request. It wasn't an unusual one, but she wasn't sure she could do so. Yet.
She set her cup down again. "The festival is this week — unless something happens to disturb it. Please allow me that time to consider that choice." She paused. "I have someone who has helped settle my grief that I wish to thank properly. That would not be proper in accordance with your wishes."
"So, there is someone else?" Takuro considered the woman's situation. "Then, I rescind my proposal. I do not wish to cause you any of amount of discomfort in regards to your future."
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Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Jan 25, 2017 13:56:31 GMT -6
Yumiko took a daring step of her own and reached over to take Takuro's hand. "I do not know if there is anyone or if there isn't anyone. I have been focusing on recovering from my loss and readying myself to be a good mother to this child. I hadn't even considered my future afterwards." She paused, her mind going to Misao's words to her. To open her heart. And then to the words of Kouen Masanobu. To come home.
She continued on. "I don't see your proposal as a burden or a discomfort. You have given me time to consider it, and I will. I don't even know if this man who helped with my grief deems me special or if he, like you, was being a gentleman, a kind person when I needed it. I also need to consider whether I wish to return to the school when my child is grown. If I wish to support you, I probably shouldn't go so far. That is why I asked for two months. Two months to truly look at who I want to become."
She released his hand and lowered her head. "The war with Aizen has returned to us, too. I need to consider that, as well. What I can do to ward against the threat from him and his own."
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