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]

I doubt that. It has something to do with being in this place. Just as they can bring people here without warning, they can also make you forget that you were here before. Which you were.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

... [That just makes it worse. What if people here know what he did? What he was? He gets up, turning to bow to Ayumu.]

I appreciate your kindness. I should leave.

[ayu_nee]

Why would you want to do that? You don't have anywhere else in mind to stay, and the tea is ready.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

...How much do you know about me?

[ayu_nee]

[She glances back over her shoulder at him, one brow raised slightly.]

You live here, Okita Soujirou, even if you've forgotten about it.

[And then she just turns back again, lifting the tea tray and heading for the table. You want some, kid? You'll have to come with her.]

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[What.

The hell.

She knows his full name and... he lived here? Yeah, he's following if only because what she said made no sense.]

What do you mean I've forgotten living here?

[ayu_nee]

It happens from time to time, apparently at the whim of the Malnosso. Sometimes people disappear for a while, then return with no memory of having been here before.

As a matter of fact, it happened to me a few months ago, though it was only a temporary thing. Give it some time and perhaps your memories will return as well.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

.... [He stops by the doorway, listening to her. So he's been here for awhile and just doesn't remember. Well...that's weird, but alright. It still doesn't make him feel any better.]

....

[He hangs back by the door, letting his facial expressions die away. This is a new house where he has to make them like him - or at least tolerate him. Just like the Kondou household, only this time they don't have the marriage tie to force their association.]

I'll help with laundry and the animals then.

[ayu_nee]

I would appreciate that. There isn't too much laundry to be done at the moment, with the house as empty as it is, but I won't refuse any help.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

... [Soujirou nods and stays by the door frame, halfway clinging to it for support. This place and these people scare him.]

[ayu_nee]

[Ayumu watches him silently for a moment with a hint of puzzlement, then suddenly smiles, careful to put warmth into the expression.]

We are friends, you know. Or were, and can be again if you'd like.

Though in the meantime you might like some tea. It was quite cold out there, wasn't it?

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[How easy it is to say 'friends' when Soujirou doesn't remember. He has no way to tell the difference, and only these strangers to rely upon. It makes him uneasy and even though he does want the tea, he isn't sure if accepting will make him indebted to them even more.]

.......

[From behind him, Saizou comes trotting out into the living room, wandering toward Ayumu in hopes of getting some of the tea sweets.]

...Maybe.

[ayu_nee]

Hmm. Well, I'll just leave it here for you to decide. I should get back to work, or else dinner will be late.

[She starts toward the kitchen but pauses again to frown down at the pig.]

You already had your food. Behave or you're going back outside.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[Saizou snorts and goes to sit at the table, waiting for something to magically appear and feed him.]

...No wonder your pig is fat. He eats too much.

[ayu_nee]

He certainly does. Unfortunately he doesn't belong to me, though, so I can't say much about it. All I can do is keep him out of my kitchen when he shouldn't be there.

[Like right now, her frown says, because she has to go do actual work and can't have a pig underfoot.]

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

....[Soujirou looks around and sees an empty laundry basket by the back door. Going over, he grabs it, hefts it up and waddles over to where Saizou is. Then he rather unceremoniously upturns it and drops it over the pig like a trap. Saizou can be heard squealing and thudding against the sides of the basket while Soujirou leans on it from above, trapping him.]

[ayu_nee]

[Ayumu watches the proceedings with a mildly bemused air that quickly turns to amusement, though she makes some pretense at attempting to hide it.]

Well. I suppose that's an effective solution.

[And with that she turns back toward the kitchen again, apparently satisfied that he can handle matters out here. He can drink the tea or not, if he wishes, but he'd certainly be missing out if he refuses.]

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[After Ayumu leaves, she'll probably keep hearing the pig squealing from under the basket and fighting. Then, perhaps five minutes later, things go mysteriously quiet in the living room. If she comes back anytime after that, she'll see Soujirou lying on the floor and peering under the basket - the tea sweets and tea consumed.]

[ayu_nee]

[Of course she's keeping an unobtrusive eye on him, she is a ninja. And she's also curious to see how the two of them are going to get along, if at all.

After a little while she reappears in the living room to retrieve the tray without a word, apparently not paying any mind to either boy or pig.]

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[Ack someone is coming back. Soujirou drops the basket and sits up to try and act normal, as well as to avoid being scolded for lying on the floor like that. He stares at the ground when she comes by, silent save for the sound of Saizou squealing under the basket again.]