Patchwork !!DkZ2EyAJHl 2008/09/18 (Thu) 14:20 No. 10866 ▼ File 122174761390.png - (383.60KB, 600x500 , siki077.png)
An important scene, the outcome of which was somewhat softened by your actions.
***
[X] Answer the door. It's heaven to lay around, but the day is dying.
***
As much as you want to stay like this, there's a time and place for everything. You sigh and nod to Yuyuko, and she gives you a smile. The two of you sit up, Yuyuko gathering the sheets around you and leaning back to lay herself against your body. You wrap your arms about her waist loosely, resting your head against hers as she settles into your lap; at least you can savor this for just a little while longer.
"Come in, Youmu."
Yuyuko's invitation is so quiet that you're almost unsure that Youmu can hear it. Nonetheless, the door slides open without so much as a noise, and Youmu peeks into the room. She spares a concerned look for you before she enters, but steps into the room and kneels down on the floor across from you without saying a word. She fidgets a bit, clearly uncomfortable.
"Hey, Youmu, you look uneasy. Why don't you join us? It's cozy!"
Yuyuko smiles happily and snuggles up to you, then shifts the blankets that swath the two of you to make an opening for Youmu, patting your lap all the while for emphasis. The gardener just blushes a bit and turns her gaze to the apparently fascinating floor.
"Ah, I am sorry, Miss Yuyuko. We have guests who wish to see you - both of you in fact, and they have been waiting for some time. So, I thought if you were awake, you might want to meet with them..."
"Thank you, Youmu." Surprisingly, Yuyuko doesn't take the opportunity to tease Youmu any, despite the girl's slight embarrassment. But then, Yuyuko does seem more relaxed and satisfied than usual. She slides out of your lap and floats to her feet, the blanket whirling around her and reshaping to form into a looser, less frilled form of her usual robes.
"Shall we?"
She holds out a hand, which you accept happily. You float into the air after her, not wanting to expend the effort to walk. Once you're floating beside her, she links her arm with yours, resting against you once again. Youmu stands and bows, then turns and strides out of the room, you and Yuyuko floating lazily after her.
---
Predictably, you meet with the guests in dining room. Somewhat less predictably, you find that Komachi and Siki are the ones calling on you. Yukari is seated at the table as well, apparently entertaining the pair for the moment; though, to be honest, none of the women present looks particularly happy.
"Hello, Machi-Machi, Siki!" Yuyuko, at least, is still upbeat. "It's rare for you to come to play so soon after a party! Did you think of something fun to do?"
As the two of you take your usual seats at the table, you can already tell that something is wrong. Yukari's lips are pursed in a thin line, her expression perturbed. Komachi looks uncharacteristically troubled, her normally jovial face frozen in a pensive frown. Even Siki's emerald eyes lack their usual warmth, instead taking on the icy glare that she employed in her capacity as a judge yesterday. Yuyuko remains oblivious, but Youmu appears to have noticed the frigid air, looking almost as though she's ready to pounce on the others, even as she kneels at Yuyuko's other side.
"We're here on business, Saigyouji."
Siki's cold tone sends a shiver through you. The air begins to feel heavy... this is too much like when she spoke to you on behalf of the court. You don't like this at all.
"Oh my, did something come up?"
"You might say that, Saigyouji."
"Siki," Yuyuko frowns, evidently thrown by her friend's demeanor, "is something wrong?"
"Yesterday, your guest confronted us at our noon appointment, and his words we found to be greatly disturbing." Siki... no, Higan is speaking about you without so much as giving you a glance. You twitch a little, agitation keeping you from sitting still. "He lacked any care or worry for his own soul, and refused to facilitate our investigation. He suggested that he was perfectly alright with being dead. He suggested that all those he knew in life would have to move on. This is not normal human behavior."
"What are you saying?"
"We are implying that you may have influenced his decision."
Yuyuko freezes completely, shocked. The aggressive air of Youmu intensifies, and you could swear that you hear a low growling from her. Yukari taps her shut fan against the side of the table, her face neutral, but her golden eyes flashing. Even Komachi seems put off by the statement, her expression pained.
But more than all that, you can feel the indignation boiling up inside you. This is appalling. You decide you don't want to help Higan, and their response is an accusation of your hostess? And not a light one, at that.
"My decisions are my own."
There's no hesitation in your voice, just the same flat and unquestionable tone used by the accuser. You suppress the building anger as best you can, but you can hardly contain it when Higan responds with a steel tone.
"Are they?"
"How dare you?"
Youmu is on her feet in an instant, her hands slamming down on the table with such force that you can feel the room shake in response. She's absolutely livid, crystal blue eyes shining with white-hot rage. Her hands clench and unclench as she seethes, but she doesn't reach for her swords. Komachi's expression turns dark, and though she doesn't say anything, you can see her tighten her grip on her scythe.
"Siki." Yuyuko's words, though spoken with less force than those of Youmu, still command all the attention in the room. "I do not care what the court happens to think of me, but I will not accept a slight such as this in my own home. Do as you will, but our discussion is over."
Yuyuko rises from her seat and chooses to walk from the room rather than float, displaying a degree of poise and elegance, and conveying rather clearly her displeasure. Youmu, still struggling to contain her outrage, follows quickly after her mistress.
"So, that's their game. How unpalatable."
Yukari looks far more irritated than you've ever seen her. Preoccupied with her thoughts, she drops into a gap and out of sight.
As soon as the gap youkai vanishes, Siki takes a deep and shuddering breath. Hiding her face behind her hands, she rests her elbows on the table and goes mostly slack. She doesn't look merely tired now, but rather miserable, her breathing still unsteady no matter how much she tries to get it under control. Komachi, visibly torn, reaches over and massages her superior's back sympathetically.
Your mood from earlier is shot. What the hell just happened, and what the hell are you supposed to do?
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