Fukusei Crystals -- Logs

Tara gets up at her usual time, slips into her leotard, and rolls out her mat for her morning exercises. It's going to be a strange day or two, but she wants to keep to schedule as much as she can, for personal comfort's sake if for nothing else. Soon she's warmed up and working out, lost in the simple pleasure of physical exercise.

Daichi wakes early, despite being up late, his body long since used to performing duties around the temple before school. Scooping up Tsuin, he stands, wearing his tank top and shorts. He makes his way out of the room quietly, so as not to wake the other boys.

Daichi pauses in the front room, trying to find somewhere to get at least a little bit of practice in before the days adventure. Hearing someone outside he peeks out a window. Spotting Tara in her leotard gives him a bit of a shock; at least he can compose himself before walking out, which is just what he does, making no attempt at being unobtrusive.

Tara is working on her gymnastics, her hair in a thick golden braid. She's doing a handstand, and she rolls smoothly down along her back to rise to her feet, arms out before her, before she notices Daichi. She beams at him, pausing to flip the braid back over her shoulder, "Good morning, Daichi-kun! I hope you slept well?"

Daichi returns the smile with one of his own. "Good morning, Tara-chan." He nods, "Well enough. At least once I got to sleep." He's doing his best to keep his gaze neutral but he can't help but follow a few of the curves her garment follows.

Tara nods, then grins impishly as she folds gracefully backwards into a slow back flip, her voice a bit breathless as a result, "So, do you think your uncle O-sama will forgive you since Nanna-san spoke with him?"

Daichi is glad she can't see him as he swallows, fighting down the color rising to his cheeks. "Maybe. I'm still getting at least one lecture for yesterday, and who knows what for the rest of this weekend." Reaching up a hand he runs it through his (more than normally) unkempt hair self-consciously.

Tara comes back to her bare feet, cartwheels easily back towards him, and gives him a curious look when she lands lightly in front of him, "What happened yesterday, that you deserve a lecture?" She thinks a moment, then says confusedly, "Wait... am I just missing something here? Does he... I don't know, not like you or something? Did you burn his dinner or something?"

Daichi shakes his head, "No, it's not that he doesn't like me. It's more that I'm not really living up to his expectations -- and I only said I was going out with friends, not what we were doing." Glancing up at the sky he sighs, "There are times I wish things were different -- that I was back in Tokyo with my parents and not out here with my uncle. That's not possible, though."

Tara folds down to put her hands flat on the mat, then lifts up into another graceful handstand, her braid falling forward to lie in a golden coil against the dark blue mat. She rolls back down again, ending up cross-legged this time, and looks up at him, "I'd wondered if your father was deceased when you said you were too much of a handful for your mother. Why can't you go to Tokyo?" There's the faintest inflection on 'you' -- as if it's an issue for her also.

Daichi nods slowly, "Hai, he's been gone a long time... since I was nine." Returning his gaze to Tara he smiles ruefully, "My mother doesn't make enough to support herself and two children. She has extra with just Hana around, and she doesn't have to worry about how I'm doing. Well, at least no more than she probably does."

Tara blinks -- then turns bright red and covers her mouth with one hand in shock, "Oh, no! Daichi-kun, I'm so sorry! That was really rude of me." She adds unhappily, "I didn't know. I thought you meant they were both... um... uh, I'll just hush now..."

Daichi shakes his head, "It wasn't your fault, Tara-chan; it's not something I discuss with most people. Domo arigato for your sympathy." He chuckles softly, "I don't think I've really told anyone at school, actually -- well, aside from you now."

Tara sighs, winding her braid absently around one hand as she looks around, "Well... it was extraordinarily graceless of me. I do apologize." She sighs again, looking up, and pats the mat, "You're welcome to work out if you'd like? I'm happy to get out of the way... I was pretty much done, really."

Daichi shrugs, "I feel a little better about it, actually, so don't feel bad." Eyes drifting to the mat, "I don't normally use one of those when I practice. It would get in the way of my footing, to be honest."

Tara nods, "All right." She waves a hand at the rest of the courtyard, "Help yourself, if you'd like. You might want to stay on the grass for the footing, but aside from that it's fine. The groundskeeper won't mind." She isn't quite so bright red in embarrassment now, but she is still a bit flushed, and Daichi gets a few guilty looks over her shoulder as she continues, this time systematically doing aikido rolls -- back and forth, first one side and then the other.

Daichi nods and draws in a slow breath, his gaze returning to the sky. His voice quiet, "The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world..."

Tara finishes and settles, cross-legged again, watching Daichi work out. The sun brings out sparks in her hair as she smiles, "How do you mean?"

Daichi blinks, "It's a partial quote from Lao-tzu." Taking a few paces he sets down the staff and begins to practice, his movements slow and controlled.

Tara slips the tie off the end of her braid and shakes out her hair, running her fingers through it to straighten it. It flows and pools like molten gold down her front and in her lap, "Hai, I know. I was wondering what you were thinking of when you said that, though. Um... if you don't mind my asking, that is." She grins mischievously, "Being a too-bold American girl and all..."

Daichi pauses in his routine after going through a throw to look back at Tara, drinking in the details of the sun glinting off her hair and the way it frames her face. "Are you certain you want the rebellious Japanese boy to answer that?"

Tara laughs! "Who better?" She grins, waving a hand to indicate the area around them, "No one else to do so, eh?" She adds curiously, "And... why so rebellious?"

Daichi drops his hands to his side, bowing to an invisible opponent before giving Tara his complete attention. "Who better? No-one, since they are my thoughts." He shrugs, "Well, according to everyone else I am, at least."

Tara smiles, tilting her head interestedly at him, "And according to you?"

Daichi says, "A bit hard headed and maybe a bit brash sometimes..."

Tara giggles, "I won't argue! Still..." she ponders a moment, then says slowly, "...still... it seems a bit extreme to me...? Their reactions, I mean." She looks up at him thoughtfully, "Is there something else I should know?"

Daichi says, "What? About me?"

Tara says, "Mmhmm. Why is everyone so sure you're so terrible... and yet all I've seen is, at worst, someone impetuous?"

Daichi shrugs, "It might be cultural differences. Fighting is a big deal here, even if you're doing it for the right reason. I just figured if they already think I'm a rebel, why bother showing up...."

Tara says, "Huh." She stretches her legs out in front of her, pointing her toes, and reaches to touch her feet with her fingertips, "Why show up..." She sits up again and grins, "Well, because there's no revenge so sweet as living well?" She cheerfully adds, "And what were you thinking, before?"

Daichi sighs, "With my transcript I'll be surprised if I get to attend a university." He was hoping she'd forgotten he hadn't answered that yet. "Before? Oh, with the quote. Nothing really, just silk and steel."

Tara smiles thoughtfully, "Well, you could always try really hard... or go to a non-Nipponese school?" She leans back on her elbows, stretching lazily and enjoying the sunlight on her face, "Mm... silk and steel. Sounds pretty. Did your father leave you a sword? Is that what you were thinking of?"

Daichi nods, "Hai, very pretty..." He keeps his attention on her face, trying hard to keep from giving away too much of what he was really referring to, and shakes his head, "No, he didn't leave me a sword. He didn't really leave much behind."

Tara sits back up, her expression contrite, "I'm sorry, Daichi-kun. If you'd rather work out and not talk, just say so, all right? I know I'm overly nosy for this culture, and I'd rather not be rude."

Daichi chuckles softly, "You're worried about offending me? Don't be; I'm not so formal as some of the other people you've probably dealt with." Drawing in another breath, he smiles softly. "You must never have heard the expression talking about women as being like silk and men being like steel..."

Tara tilts her head curiously, "No, I've not. Most of the men and women I know have both in them." She smiles, "Mother-san, for example, used to be a dancer. There's no one like a ballerina to show you steel in a woman!" She mentally counts, and winces internally as she realizes poor Daichi has had no father at all -- not even on the cell phone! -for almost half his life! No wonder he's considered rebellious, she thinks. She wonders about Daichi's uncle. Maybe he misses his brother or brother-in-law... that might be a strong reason why he's perennially disappointed in poor Daichi too. She knows herself it's incredibly hard to live up to the expectations of others sometimes.

Daichi nods slowly, "Well, yes, the hardest steel flows like silk in experienced hands, but gaining that experience takes time and effort..."

Tara looks interested, "You mean like forging a sword? I've never seen that; have you?" She grins, adding, "So does that mean the softest silk can be hard as steel as well?" She adds curiously, "Would you like to sit down, Daichi-kun? You're welcome to do so...?"

Daichi shakes his head, "I've never actually seen it in person, but yes, something like that." He smiles, "When worn by the right person, silk can prove more protection than the heaviest of armors." He steps over and sits down on the grass next to her.

Tara looks fascinated, turning to face him, "Really?! How so?"

Daichi says, "Courtiers wore no armor and carried no weapon, yet their words gained them safe passage into dangerous situations..."

Tara curls her long legs up so there's more room for him, and smiles. She's barefoot and close enough now he can see the slight curls of sweat-dampened golden hair framing her face as she absently brushes it back. "So that's more their diplomatic skills than silk. Or was that part of how they demonstrated they were unarmed? Seems a bit dangerous for the times. Was it just women who were courtiers?"

Daichi shakes his head, "No, men were as well. They wore no armor to prove they carried no weapons and had no hostile intentions." He shrugs, "I'm not much of a historian. I just know bits and pieces, really."

Tara says, "Huh, interesting. So if men were courtiers too, why are women seen as silk and men as steel?"

Daichi says, "Because men weren't supposed to display their emotions."

Tara says, "And women are?" She thinks about that, then says slowly, "How sad... for the poor men. Having to hide how you truly feel all the time... I'd think that'd be painful after a while." She looks up curiously at him, "Do you? Hide your emotions, I mean?"

Daichi blinks, slightly taken by surprise at the question. "I don't know if I hide them, but it's not like I have anyone to really share them with..."

Tara says, "Why not? Isn't there anyone you can talk to? Your mother, maybe?"

Daichi shakes his head, "I don't want to burden her with my problems any more than I already have."

Tara puzzledly asks, "But don't you have any good emotions to share too? Things you saw during the day that you thought were beautiful? A particularly tasty meal? Something you did that you're proud of and want to share with someone?" Then she flushes and laughs softly, looking away in a sudden attack of self-consciousness, "Eh, here I am poking at you constantly -- you don't have to answer, you know! I should hush -- if you wanted to tell me things you would, and no one should try to drag them out of you!"

Daichi nods, "Sometimes, yeah, but how does it look if she asks me about my friends or how school is going? I'm not exactly what you'd call a model son, and I'm supposed to be the man of my family..." His shoulders slump a bit as he looks at the ground, "Great first son indeed..."

Tara smiles, tilting her head to give him a shy sideways glance from her golden eyes, "What would you like to be?"

Daichi looks up at her, "What do you mean?"

Tara says, "Well, you seem to feel as if you should be a great first son, and the man of the family, and a model son, and I'm guessing those are all things other people have told you that you should be. So... what would you be if you could be anyone you wanted to be?"

Daichi says, "Anyone at all?"

Tara smiles, her eyes sparkling, "Sure! What would you be like?"

Daichi blinks, "You really sure you want me to answer this?"

Tara giggles, brushing her hair back again, and cheerfully says, "Why do you keep asking me that? I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to know, silly!"

Daichi says, "No reason, I guess. Just not used to getting these sorts of questions."

Tara pauses, looking concerned, "Um... well, don't answer if you'd rather not, all right?"

Daichi shakes his head yet again. "It's fine, really." Leaning back on his hands and looking up at the sky, he says, "If I could be anyone at all... I'd want to be someone special, but not like a movie star or musician or something. Just to a few people, really. Heck, one would be enough for me. Maybe doing repairs on cars or bikes or something... I don't know. Just not someone failing to be what everyone tells me I should be."

Tara smiles, studying his face as he turns it up to the sun, "Then why not be that person?"

Daichi draws a slightly shaky breath before answering. "I don't know how...."

Tara gives him a puzzled look, "Are there no vocational schools you might attend? Or is there something else stopping you?"

Daichi sighs, "I've spent so long trying to do what people expected of me... I'm not sure I can just stop on my own." Gaze returning to Tara, he adds, "Though this was probably the first week I've not missed a single day of school in a long time..."

Tara brightens, "Well, there you go then! See? You can do it -- you just have to decide what it is you really want, right?" She thinks a moment, then curiously asks, "Was there some degree or job your parents wanted you to get instead?"

Daichi nods slowly, "I guess, but it doesn't hurt to have some help." A brief pause for thought. "I'm not sure, really. Maybe my mom thought I'd make a good priest -- in addition to hoping the Old Man could keep me in line."

Tara grins cheerfully, "Aren't priests celibate? I'm going to guess that's not precisely what you want, hai?"

Daichi shakes his head, "No, they can get married and have children."

Tara says, "Ah, that's not so bad. Is it what you want, though? What kind of help do you need?"

Daichi says, "But, no, that's not really what I want." He hmms, "Support really...." There's something in his eyes hinting at the silent conflict going on in his head as he watches her.

Tara nods inquiringly, watching and waiting with interest. She's not sure what's going on in Daichi's head, although she can tell he's thinking hard about something. Should she just stop? Is she pushing too hard? Should she just keep asking questions? She hesitates, then says carefully, "Such as...?" She's starting to think maybe she should let the poor guy be. Hopefully he's comfortable enough to say he'd rather not talk about it, if that's what's going on here...?

Daichi closes his eyes and takes a moment to try and gather his thoughts. "Someone to talk to without worrying about my reputation or how they'll think of me afterwards. Or even just to kick back with." At least when he answers her questions it gives him an excuse to stay put for the moment.

Tara smiles, her tone gently teasing, "From the way you talk, though, you already don't worry about your reputation!"

Daichi chuckles, "Well, no, I don't, but other people do."

Tara smiles again, pulling up her long legs to wrap her arms around them, and leaning her chin thoughtfully on top of one knee, "Who?"

Daichi says, "My uncle, the teachers, pretty much everyone at school... you know, just a few folks."

Tara blinks, not expecting that answer, "You want to kick back with all of them?"

Daichi ohs, "Um, I thought you meant who worried about my reputation."

Tara laughs softly, "Um, I'd actually figured that one out."

Daichi nods, "As for who I'd like to kick back with... you, maybe the rest of the guys that are still asleep."

Tara smiles again, her golden eyes thoughtful, "Then... why not ask?"

Daichi blinks as he just blithely answers that one. He inwardly sighs with relief as some of the implications seem to have slipped past her notice. "Not something I've asked much, or ever for that matter."

Tara says, "Then how do you expect to get what you want, if you never ask?"

Daichi says, "I suppose I can't really..."

Tara grins, settling back into a cross-legged stance and leaning forward slightly, "Do you need an example, perhaps?" Her grin gets rather mischievous-looking, "Or are you rebellious enough that you already know?"

Daichi considers for a moment. "I think I might already know." He smiles a bit roguishly at her. "You know how I said I slept all right once I got to sleep?"

Tara leans back a bit again, looking interested, "Really? All right... hai, I do."

Daichi says, "Well, it was because I couldn't stop thinking. My mind kept wandering back to one particular thing..." Tara nods curiously. Daichi hesitates before continuing. "It wasn't going over yesterday, or school, or my uncle. It kept coming back to you, Tara-chan. I about got up and knocked on your door, but I fell asleep before I could convince myself."

Tara blinks, looking a bit startled. She opens her mouth -- then pauses, thinking. Finally she says, "Er... why did you want to knock on my door?"

Daichi figures he's already started -- he might as well keep going. "To talk, I guess. I'm not really sure, to be honest." Eyes looking into hers, he says, "Look, Tara-chan, I'm not trying to sound like a freak or anything, but maybe you'd like to go do something with me next weekend or something, without the rest of the group tagging along?"

Tara pauses a very long, considering moment... then says cautiously, "Daichi-kun... what is my reputation?"

Daichi says, "As far as I know it's that you're a cute, outgoing American. Why do you ask?" He quickly adds, "Not that I pay attention to that kind of thing anyway."

There is a hint of an edge to Tara's voice as she carefully replies, "Because I'm quite aware of how reputations can be assigned to you regardless of who you really are. I'm just wondering who or what you see when you look at me -- you or anyone else. Do you see me? Or the so-called classic 'easy' gaijin girl? Or a token 'exotic' to enhance one's reputation?" She sighs, trailing her slender fingers through the grass as she adds more quietly, "And... I was wondering how I'd know what the truth was. Not all of us have magic staffs."

Daichi winces a bit at that. "I guess I deserved that." His staff is still on the ground; he's not bothered to pick it up since he set it down. "You want to know what I see when I look at you? I see a girl who was willing to talk to me even though everyone else was avoiding me. I also see a girl who is concerned enough about others to lead a rescue party for a fish, even though it meant we were late getting back from lunch." He sits up and leans forward, placing his hands on hers. "But most of all I see a person worth knowing beyond the golden hair or physical beauty." A slight shrug, "I don't know how to convince you what I'm saying is the truth, aside from saying it is. Take it how you will."

Tara smiles and flushes slightly at mention of the Fish Rescue Squad -- then blinks, looking startledly down at her hand, then up at Daichi's face, when he touches her. She's silent for a moment, leaning back a little but still studying his face carefully... then smiles quietly, perhaps a bit uncertainly, "All right. That might be fun -- to go do something. What did you have in mind?"

Daichi flushes for a moment -- he wasn't expecting this. "Uh, I don't know. I hadn't even thought this far ahead." He seems to realize where his hands are and starts to move them slowly, almost as if he wants to be stopped. "Lunch, a movie, a walk on the beach. You pick something -- I'm sure you have more experience with this sort of thing than I do."

Tara gives him a puzzled look, "How would I have more experience?"

Daichi blinks, "You've never been asked out before? I find that hard to believe."

Tara tilts her head at him and grins, "Why? Last year I spent in outer Mongolia with my father. The three years before that we lived 20 miles out of town."

Daichi nods slowly, "Ah. Umm, well, probably not the beach. That would probably raise more eyebrows than dinner or a movie would."

Tara nods off towards the east, "Well, there's the cove, I suppose. Do you know how to sail a little catamaran? Mother-san has one in the boat house for when she's here. I understand the basic principles of sailing... but I wouldn't try it alone in any but the best weather." She grins, her eyes sparkling, "You're funny, Daichi-kun. Did you really think I was this terribly experienced person with my peers? I have lots of experience with people my parents' age -- they all think I'm a wonderfully nice girl -- but not that much with my own, I'm afraid. Is that a problem?"

Daichi chuckles, "I didn't know how to ride until earlier this week, but no, I don't know how to sail. That's Kazamora-san -- his family are fishermen." Another shrug, hands settling with his fingertips brushing hers. "You just seem to project this aura of belonging no matter what, when we're at school." He smiles shyly, "No, it's not a problem."

Tara laughs! -then leans to cheerfully confide, "It's a mask, you know -- acting like you belong. If you wear it well, everyone believes you!" She sits back, adding with a bit of relief, "Good, I'm glad that doesn't bother you. Um..." she looks up, shaking her head slightly to toss her hair back as she considers, "Well... gosh, I don't know. What do nice Nipponese boys and girls do?" Then she glances over at him, her sidelong golden gaze mischievous, "You should start wearing one too, you know... a mask of belonging! Right now you project an aura of 'stay away!' really too well."

Daichi smirks, "You're asking me what nice boys and girls do?" He nods, "Well, yeah, it fits me -- or it did."

Tara tilts her head at him amusedly, "Hai, I am. And yes, I do want to know, and no, I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know!" Teasingly she adds, "And if you don't know... maybe you should!"

Daichi smiles, "I don't think we do things that differently than in your country, except maybe we typically start later."

Tara gives Daichi a rueful smile, "But we're not in my country. We're in yours... in a rural town. Where everyone knows everyone else. And I don't know about you, but I think it's high time we let folks know you are a nice person." She thinks a moment, then smiles, turning her hand to gently squeeze his, "Ask your uncle. He'll know precisely what the proper thing to do is -- and I bet he'd be secretly very pleased that you asked him, too!"

Daichi nods slowly, "All right, I will, tomorrow after we get back." He responds to the squeeze by turning his hand over and squeezing back. "Speaking of that, you want to get some breakfast before folks get moving? I'll put something together for us. That is, if your Nanna-san doesn't mind?"

Tara beams, inordinately pleased Daichi seems to think it really is important to treat her like a 'nice' girl -- then chuckles, "The kitchen is Nanna-san's -- you'll have to ask her!" She grins, bouncing lightly to her feet, "Come on, I'll show you the way!"

Daichi grabs the staff as he gets to his feet, his workout forgotten for the moment. "Right, let's go see if I can't convince her to let me use the kitchen."

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Last modified: 2005-Aug-09 21:48:11

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