April 5, 2002
Summary: Seiji and Nuriko talk. And then they make out.
The Story
Seiji: *studying the potential competition from other dojos, leafing through scouting reports... helps to have an assassin boyfriend sometimes*
Nuriko:*wanders in* Oh, hello, Seiji-san. *smiling*
Seiji: *looks up, taking his glasses off* Hello, Nuriko. How are you today?
Nuriko:*grins* Quite well, at least while I'm here. *has that glow about him*
Seiji: *amused* Yes, there are so many pleasant things to occupy one in the House...
Nuriko:It's good to be back, even temporarily... and I have to go back soon; things are still a bit messy with the estate.
Seiji: Mm. I understand. Clan business can be more complicated than politics.
Nuriko:*nods* My brother wasn't expecting to have to take on the job so soon. He's ... not exactly suited for it tempermentally, either. I'm doing what I can, but sooner or later, he's going to have to stand on his own.
Seiji: *nods* I sympathize. I have the opposite problem. *mouth quirking* I have all the expertise and contacts to run the clan, but now I'm something of a black sheep.
Nuriko:How so, if I may ask?
Seiji: Aa, that's right, you missed all the fun... *closes his notebooks* If you want to hear it, it's a long story.
Nuriko:*smiles* I have plenty of time.
Seiji: I guess you heard about my grandfather's passing?
Nuriko:*nods* Yes... it must have been very difficult for you.
Seiji: *nods shortly* He was my mentor in many ways... not a companionable man, but he was determined that I succeed him.
Nuriko:*listens intently* So, what happened?
Seiji: *smirks* In a word, I came out to the family. Yayoi-neesan already knew my preferences but no one else. *sighs* I really shouldn't have put it off for so long, but I'd always thought there was a faint chance I would actually meet a woman and get married and take over. Presenting that to Touma was one thing, but... it became unthinkable with Yohji.
Nuriko:*nods* And your family was ... not very accepting?
Seiji: Quite. And then my grandfather died, soon after I told them. My sisters, kami bless them, were quite instrumental in keeping everything together, but it was quite touchy for a while. Now, with Yayoi locking herself in as clan head, it's become more a case of... agreeing to disagree.
Nuriko:*sympathetic* It must have been dreadful for you. I'm glad your sisters were willing and able to help, and that there were those who love you to help you through such a time.
Seiji: It wasn't entirely unexpected. Though I'm still annoyed that 'Kaasan was cold to Cye and Aya when they came to pay their respects.
Nuriko:*quietly* I don't blame you. It must have been painful for Cye, at the least.
Seiji: It probably took him by surprise... Cye's terribly understanding.
Nuriko:*smiles a bit* Yes, he is. He's done a lot for Tasuki as well as for me. I think it might have hurt as well as surprised him, even if he did understand.
Seiji: *nods* In any case, one of our cousins will be running the Date dojo with Yayoi while she finishes medical school. That's why I have opened my own.
Nuriko:So in a way, you're in competition with your own family... which is always hard.
Seiji: In a way. These first competitions and belt tests will also be quite a story for the kendo community. Some of grandfather's top students migrated to my dojo. To the public and the larger clan it does mean something. *smirks* Yayoi and I just think it's funny. It's not as though either of us would do dishonor to the Date name by not .... kicking their asses.
Nuriko:*grins wickedly* Of course not! I'm sure all the students from both dojos will do their best. *sobers* I may be dealing with a similar situation before too long... my brother knows my preferences, but it didn't stop him from trying to arrange a match for me. *looks at his ring, the light glinting off the three shades of gold* I told him I'm already married.
Seiji: *laughs* If that doesn't work I don't know what will.
Nuriko:*laughs a little* But... now he wants to meet my spouses. He knows I like men, but... I'm not sure he quite understands what that means. He knows about my lovers, but not *about* them, if that makes sense?
Seiji: *grins* I understand. I had to repeat myself a few times as well...
Nuriko:*smiles* I've already been through being cast out of the family once. My parents were rather displeased when I started wearing girls' clothing and sent me to my uncle's home in a distant town, hoping I would be broken of the habit. They'd already tried everything they could think of.
Seiji: *nods* It's hard when relatives have a certain idea of who you are. Of course, I took great pains to cultivate that image.
Nuriko:*nods* I love Tasuki and Chichiri more than anything, and if I have to choose, I'll choose them every time. But... I don't want to lose my only brother for a second time, either. And Elder Brother can be such a fool sometimes!
Nuriko:*grins* I took pains to cultivate mine, too... I was good enough to fool everyone.
Seiji: The paradox, isn't it? We can't choose family.
Nuriko:*nods* Yeah... and even if we could, would we choose differently? For all the strangeness in mine, I might not be the person I am now without their influence.
Seiji: *nods* Oh yes. I love my family dearly. Though some days I do wish they weren't as stubborn as I am.
Nuriko:*smiles a bit* I could wish my brother was stronger and more self-reliant, but he's been this way since we were kids. He always did rely on his little brother to protect him from the neighborhood bullies.
Seiji: Hm, the neighborhood bullies were my sisters, so... *shakes his head*
Nuriko:*laughs a little* I was the one no one dared mess with in my neighborhood, even though I was the smallest kid. Of course, it didn't hurt that I could lift several times my own weight even then.
Seiji: Helpful, that. We all found our armors when we were thirteen, so it was a little too late. And being older, Yayoi could always beat me at kendo.
Nuriko:That must have been awful as a kid, to be beaten by your sister. *chuckles a bit* I was lucky; my sister was younger than I was.
Seiji: Satsuki-chan is worse. Though nowadays she torments us both, so we're even.
Nuriko:*grins* But isn't that a younger child's job? *winks, then turns a bit more serious* Ne, Seiji-san... I've been wondering why you dress in women's clothing? Another nosy question, I know.
Seiji: You know I think you may be the first, besides my significant others, to ask that. Not even Aya's inquired. *thoughtful* A lot of reasons. Part rebellion. Part kink. Partly... because I can. There's also a running theory that it's part of my early upbringing.
Nuriko:*listens quietly* How so?
Seiji: You see, I was a very sickly child. I was hospitalized several times, actually. My grandfather was terribly paranoid that the evil spirits would take a boy heir away from him, so I was dressed as a girl. And Yayoi told me just this year that she was also expected to play along... though that doesn't explain the hair curlers.... *shudders*
Nuriko:I can understand your grandfather's desire to protect you... although I suspect the hair curlers -were- intended to tease you. *sympathetic* I lived as a girl for eight years...
Seiji: We have.... rather different reasons for it. It's an escape for me... truly, the old samurai practiced bi-do, which was taking on younger male lovers, and it was part of the acceptable ways for a long time. But dressing as a woman was Not Done. It may sound silly, but it absolves me of societal responsibilities. And the people I love enjoy it as well.
Nuriko:*smiles* I'm glad for you then, that you have that escape. For me, it was a way of keeping someone I loved alive and close to me.
Seiji: *nods, sympathetic* To do anything for love is the highest honor.
Nuriko:*softly* I was told to forget her, but I could never do that. So I decided to become her.
Seiji: I am sure her spirit is honored and touched by your choices. *touches Nuri's shoulder lightly*
Nuriko:*smiles at him*Yeah... Everything is all right with her now. *hugs Seiji impulsively*
Seiji: *rubs Nuriko's back gently*
Nuriko:*rests his head on Seiji's chest for a moment* I hope you can make peace with your grandfather as I've made peace with my little sister.
Seiji: *brushes an errant strand of long hair* Aa, we already have. He was obstinate even after, but we came to an understanding.
Nuriko:*smiles* Good. I'm glad things are working out with your family.
Seiji: There is always hope with love. *smiles down at Nuriko*
Nuriko:*smiles* That's true... love can overcome any difficulty, and trial. And always, there's hope *kisses Seiji softly, before drawing back*
Seiji: *oho, Date Seiji can't let anyone get away with anything less than perfection when it comes to -that-, so he draws Nuriko back into a loose hold and bend down... hesitating just inches from his face to make sure he wants to follow through*
Nuriko:*smiles, teasing, silently giving consent*
Seiji: *kisses him sweetly, still stroking his back, his lips soft and giving even as it coaxes a blush on Nuriko's skin*
Nuriko:*challenged, he kisses back, sweet and tender and warm, arms around Seiji*
Seiji: *tasting deeper, quite intrigued by Nuriko's lavender scent, and the deceptive strength of his embrace*
Nuriko:*daring, slips his tongue into Seiji's mouth, the taste of lemons and mint enticing him*
Seiji: *moans softly, his own tongue stroking, his body shifting so they fit better and more comfortably*
Nuriko:*presses against Seiji, small and slender, still kissing, savoring the differences from other kisses in the past*
Seiji: *slips his fingers into Nuriko's hair at the base of the neck, supporting him as he tilts his head for a deeper kiss, pouring his whole self into it as he always does for anything of worth*
Nuriko:*offers Suzaku's crimson fire and light as the kiss deepens, allowing himself to be supported, limber and pliant as a willow sapling*
Seiji: *almost gasps, as drawn as he is to any form of elemental fire, and tightens his grip around Nuriko's waist, getting that spike of desperation under control before he too opens Korin's warm green light*
Nuriko:*shares his crimson brilliance, flames nourishing and sustaining rather than consuming, and the peaceful strength of Willow, alive and vibrant like a beautiful tree beside the lake*
Seiji: *slows a little, taking in the rush of energy, till he is only leaning close and brushing kisses*
Nuriko:*also slows, absorbing and enjoying the warm, green brilliance of Korin, just brushing Seiji's lips lightly with his own, soft as rose petals*
Seiji: *a small smile touches his lips as he kisses* Thank you...
Nuriko:*draws back a little, smiling a bit* I was just going to tell you that. Maybe we can do it again sometime?
Seiji: Of course. *kissing Nuriko's cheek* Whenever the mood takes you, Nuriko.
Nuriko:*touches Seiji's hand gently* Thank you.
Seiji: It was my pleasure. *clears his throat* I'm terribly sorry, but I've ... *gestures to the reports*
Nuriko:*smiles, understanding* No apology needed! I'm going to go find Tas and Chiri; we only have until tomorrow morning until I have to leave. Thank you... for everything. *smiles sweetly and wickedly*
Seiji: Safe journey. *tongue darts out to briefly wet his lazy smirk* Till later then. *finds his glasses and puts them back on*
Nuriko:*grins* Later! *gracefully turns and heads out to find his lovers, incidentally giving Seiji a fine view*
Seiji: *takes a good long moment to appreciate the view before returning to his work*
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