048 [Voice | Action]

[ahappylie]

...oh. They really did leave me in the woods.

...

I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

[Souji's back from his mallynap as a kid; a kid totally opposite of what he's usually like. He vaguely remembers Luceti and is wandering around in the woods on the edge of town, confused and dragging his journal around.]

Comments

[ayu_nee]

You know, that's a good question. Tammy is outside in her pen, as she should be, but Saizou— hopefully he isn't getting into mischief.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

... [Weird names for animals. He shifts and stares at the back door.] So you want me to find them for you.

[ayu_nee]

[Says you, chibi.

Ayumu purses her lips for a moment as though thinking, then shakes her head and steps into the kitchen proper.]

I think they're all right for the moment. But Tammy will need to be fed in just a bit. Saizou will almost certainly show up when he wants to be.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[Rude. He is not chibi - he is totes normal sized for...his age...kind of... orz

He goes to the back door and opens it, trying to see who this Tammy thing is. And in the process, Saizou comes charging his way inside. Souji gasps and ducks, hiding his head between his hands. Not stopping, Saizou runs into the kitchen after Ayumu.]

[ayu_nee]

[See, she knows the way of the pig. Ayumu glances down at Saizou when he makes his appearance and just sighs, apparently unconcerned about the boy's reaction.]

I thought so.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

What is that thing?!

[Because wow, that was a holy terror. He follows after it, clinging to the door frame and staring, afraid to get much closer. Saizou huffs, turns, and...stares. It seems they're both confused now.]

[ayu_nee]

This is Saizou. He's the pet of one of my housemates.

[Hey, look, pig. There's food in a bowl for you. Being set on the floor. Maybe it'll distract you from the strangeness that is the miniature version of your owner.]

He can be a bit of a handful, especially when he isn't exercised regularly.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[Food is a welcome distraction and Saizou edges toward it, keeping one eye on the miniature owner thing as he eats. Weird days are weird for a pig.]

....He looks fat. Are you going to eat him?

[ayu_nee]

Oh, no. His owner would be terribly upset if we even considered it.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[Saizou is also a bit miffed that tiny!owner just suggested that. He huffs and spits food toward him. Souji finds this action not endearing in the least.]

...What weird person keeps a fat, rude pig as a pet?

[ayu_nee]

Saizou!

[Ayumu frowns down at him and steps closer to the dish. Keep that up and you're losing your food, pig.]

Hm. Some very weird person indeed, I'm sure.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[Saizou bites the edge of the dish as if that would keep Ayumu from taking it and slowly drags it further away.]

It reminds me of someone else I know - rude, ill-tempered, insufferable.

[ayu_nee]

[At least he isn't making a mess, but Ayumu frowns at the pig a moment longer before turning back to start heating water for tea.]

Oh? Who might that be?

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

.......Some brat who's friends with Kondou-san. I dislike him. He calls me names.

[Souji goes over and crouches in front of Saizou's dish, staring at him. The pig eats and stares back, less than amused.]

He spends all day chasing after women and then gets angry at me just because I was born in a samurai house. It's not like I asked to be born that way.

[ayu_nee]

Hm, that doesn't sound very nice at all.

[...oh, the things she will have to say when Okita is back to normal.]

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

He's not. I dislike him, but he's Kondou-san's friend so I can't say anything. He just comes over and freeloads. It's annoying.

[ayu_nee]

What do you do at Kondou-san's house?

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

....

[Get yelled at.]

...Chores. Clean the yard, wash the laundry, wash the dishes, put things away when needed.

[ayu_nee]

Oh, really? Perhaps I shouldn't have been so quick to tell you that you didn't have to help.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

........

[He looks up at her, then back down at the eating pig, shrugging. It isn't as if it's any different from what he's been doing lately. ...Even if doing that is what got him sent away. Thinking on that makes him frown and he settles his chin on top of his knees, staring at the pig to keep himself distracted.]

...if that's what you want.

[ayu_nee]

And what is it that you want?

[Don't mind her, she's ever so busy with making the tea. She isn't even watching. Really.]

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[Pig eating is v. distracting. He isn't going to answer for awhile and it might even seem like he's ignoring her question since he's quiet for nearly a minute.]

....It doesn't matter.

[ayu_nee]

Perhaps not. But I'm still curious.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

For someone so curious, you don't answer others' curiosity very well.

There has to be a reason you're being nice to some kid you just picked up on the road. Most would leave them alone, despite the snow.

[ayu_nee]

Hm, I suppose I don't, do I?

[She'll just be busily setting out some sweets to go with the tea — she made them for Okita, after all, even if he's a lot smaller now. But after a pause timed to make him doubt whether she'll actually answer, she does continue.]

Truth to be told, we've met before. Though you wouldn't remember it.