Of Princesses, Dragons, and Conquest

[classifidol]

[ she's no stranger to the idea. In times of war and strife, the heads of factions would most certainly not remain idle. Takane had known, and yet, she would have expected someone responsible for Oshu's well-being not to go about making idiotically reckless moves. And perhaps any other girl would be able to set it aside, realizing that for all of his bravado and skill and experience, Masamune was only nineteen.

But for someone who behaved far more responsibly than people twice her age, that wasn't an acceptable excuse. Any opposition wouldn't have seen it as one.

And truthfully, Takane's not fond of how it felt, knowing he'd risked himself to the point of being bed-bound for days, that he should have known better, that her chest squeezed - aching and sharp - whenever she went in to change bandages and exchange cool cloths, that she'd felt so helpless. Kojuro has probably already lectured him, but she's not the type to remain silent when she has things of her own to say.

Masamune should be mobile today. She's carrying a bucket of water to one of the vegetable gardens before she abruptly changes her course to seek him out.

At which point she will oh so subtly block his path. ]

Comments

[dragonizing]

[ the dragon's been sleeping for what seemed to be a century. perhaps it would be more accurate to say that it had been forced to rest for a century, and a century was perhaps nothing more than a couple of days--maybe a week. he lost track of things when the days seemed so long, and his only comfort was that he'd managed to win the battle in exchange for some panic and a couple of lectures. kojuro always gave some good ones--they always made masamune think and feel something other than immense pride, even if that was the majority of what he felt, most of the time.

for once, though, masamune felt the slightest bit of something between guilt and actually feeling... well, something not guilt. the men of the army were quick to worry but also quick to celebrate, and that was how it was, most of the time; kojuro injected the logic and maturity, but there was an addition of something in recent days that made him think of things a bit more than kojuro had. rather, think of different things.

... she had changed his bandages and cared for him, and though he hadn't caught sight of anything past that it seemed to hit him in a rather awkward way. and she was now in his way quite physically: right in the middle of his path from his room to the front field. the swords at his waist seemed rather heavy, at this point. ]

. . . Yo, Shijou. [ he says this slowly, right after staring at the bucket of water and her face for a couple of seconds. ] Need something?

[classifidol]

[ Takane's face remains impassive. Her voice, after a few additional seconds of silence, is equally calm and quiet. ]

Date Masamune. You seem to have regained your mobility. How do you fare?

[ well, niceties first. ]

[dragonizing]

[ ... somehow, he had and had not been expecting that. certainly, that was how most conversations with takane went. it seemed strangely consistent, despite the events of a few days prior.

well. enough dwelling on that. she had asked a question and he looks rather cocky as he answers, stretching his neck from shoulder to shoulder. ]

Seem fine, don't I? Couldn't keep me down for too long. [ again, a few days was rather long. details, though, as he looks back down to her bucket. ] Gardens are the other way, you know.

[ it was a statement that he thought fitting to slot in. takane was whimsical. one of many things she was, actually--so he doubted she was lost. ]

[classifidol]

[ time was relative, long or short to whoever gazed upon it. Only a few days, but it had worn on her more than she would have liked-- she, who was supposed to have patience in abundance, hadn't slept well. Not for the sake of her nightly moon-gazing, and that's the most troubling thing. Even staring at it hadn't given her the slightest bit of comfort.

Even now as she stands there, taking in the sight of that cocky, self-assured smile, relief is warring rather violently with anger. The frustration swells abruptly and, with a simple shake of her head and a swift, clean movement - she trembles in that brief second, lips tightening -

She raises the bucket and upends it over her head. It's freezing as it cascades down her hair, soaking her upper half immediately and splashing onto the floor.

Takane carefully sets the bucket down and straightens, looking him in the eye. ]

I am well aware of where I ought to be right now.

[dragonizing]

[ ah, so there it was.

dumping water on herself was one thing he couldn't even pretend to expect; in fact, he's pretty sure that was for the vegetables, not takane, which is why he's not even quite sure how to respond to that little act, especially in combination with her stare.

that, at least, manages to knock the cocky smile off his face pretty quickly. kojuro would've been proud, really. ]

Ah, well. Good. [ . . . ] You're wet.

[ and this was a deep and amazing comment from your Lord of Oshu, ladies and gentlemen. ]

[classifidol]

[ the look she gives him would be DUH if it were given by anyone else. But Takane tends to be a little more subtle than that. ]

I would rather begin this with a cool head.

[ which is as good an admission to anger as she will give. ]

Date Masamune, what worth do you think your life possesses?

[dragonizing]

[ that question makes him pause, but it's a different one than the water bucket--in fact, this is the silence that fills when the one-eyed dragon is thinking. it's not hesitation, because he knows what to say--it's not the wording, either, because he knows how to say it.

maybe it's the fact takane's asking it, or maybe it's the fact that she just admitted that she's angry so he's sheepish in the way he is around kojuro. as much as he didn't act like it sometimes, it wasn't as if he set out to make them angry. the complete opposite, actually, but sometimes he just had to do the things he did. there was just... no other way to do it, in his eyes. ]

I'm not going to die, Shijou.

[classifidol]

[ But you nearly did, she doesn't-- refuses to say, nor does she say that yes, one day he will, just like she will. Her mind is ten steps ahead, deciding what to say and what to keep to herself and how to say it. ]

... Foolhardy decisions cannot always be rectified. While you still live, it takes but a single reckless action such as your last to strip away your efforts and those of the ones who would want to see you soar. If you are able to, I would suggest considering Oshu before your pride.

[ but it's not ten steps this time. It's hardly five steps, would have been a mere one or two if she hadn't forced herself to suppress as much emotion as she could. Right now, she gazes at him and her eyes are unusually dark and narrowed. Yes, Takane is more than capable of staying composed.

But loss, or the near-occurrence of it, will set anyone off-balance, and finally she tucks a long strand of damp hair behind her ear. She doesn't know how to stress this to him. She's not his Right Eye, she hasn't known him as long as those who loyally follow him, most of whom wouldn't dare to glare at him like this. Scolding him to this extent would almost be pushing it. It would be easier to look down.

She doesn't. ]

Dragons are not invulnerable, Masamune.

[ Oshu needed him. His people needed him.

Maybe Takane did, too. ]

1/2.. LET'S TRY THAT AGAIN BOO ITALICS

[dragonizing]

[ he's surprised, almost, to see her lecture her like kojuro did. she was usually of cryptic words; sometimes little words, but sometimes a sufficient amount of words with what seemed to be little meaning, yet... quite deep. but this was obvious, this speech--everything had been laid out in front of him and his first thought would maybe be something along the lines of look at her. kojuro would be proud if he wasn't so incredibly focused on the way she seemed to be-- well, affected.

he wasn't silly, or stupid. he wasn't oblivious to some things like yukimura was--and for all his hot-headedness and recklessness he seemed to know the effect it had. kojuro wouldn't let him leave without his acknowledgement of it. he had mentioned takane, and masamune had some semblance of what she was feeling, though at the end it could only be a guess (she really was so hard to pin down, yet at the same time not at all, perhaps because of their similarities--).

seeing it first hand was something else. ]

... Hah. You really know how to--

[dragonizing]

[ -- and then something hits him. ]









Masamune? [ oh, now she was really laying it on thick. ]

[classifidol]

[ of all the things to focus on-- she briefly laments being herself, where someone like Makoto or Iori would have been able to be much louder and much more succinct about it, not at all afraid to display their emotions.

And she isn't afraid, she's just been raised to suppress such things, for propriety, because the Shijou name needed to be respected. So with him, why--

Well, no. Takane understands why. But she's not entirely certain she wants to dwell on it. ]

If you have graciously extended a listening ear, then I have nothing more to say.

[ except so much more, but none of it is useful. ]

[dragonizing]

[ so maybe zoning in on that wasn't the best thing, but it was at least a window into takane's thoughts. the she would move to first name at all was one thing he didn't expect--she was always so prim, and never had he actually thought she would shift to such a casual way of referencing him.

he had never doubted they were comrades--to hear the first name crop up somehow, however, brought him some positive feelings that he couldn't quite place.

maybe hearing that is why he's not quite prepared when she abruptly ceases her train of thought. he had expected more; kojuro had always said more, drove the point home until it was in his thoughts, said everything he had been thinking and left his thoughts bare on the table for masamune to understand.

takane had gotten there, approached it, resisted and stopped, and somehow something about this entire exchange felt restrained, incomplete, hidden--as she usually was. but he can understand some things; they had that prior connection. yet there were some things he could always only make vague guesses at... things he could only infer and never completely be certain of.

maybe hearing that is why he's not so inclined to let it continue on as usual. ]

First time've heard you get to that point. [ and he looks at her for a moment. ] Sure you've got nothing else, Takane?

[classifidol]

[ she pauses in the process of reaching down for the bucket, fingers closing over air. She's quick to straighten up, leaving the bucket for now, but that leaves her standing before his gaze with her thoughts conflicting and clashing with each other. Kojuro had been quite the influence on her, from what she'd observed, the way he handled Masamune and his temper, how he looked out for him but refused to coddle him. And while Takane has had her fair share of experience in dealing with the tempers and personalities of others and getting her point across-- she can't be as straightforward.

She would excuse herself - he's given her that opening, she's still angry and concerned and upset - but in the same way she'd caught his attention, the sound of her name is what stills her. To catch her off-guard? To hold her there for a little longer?

... No. To her, it's Masamune's way of understanding, the way he's entirely too blunt at times, and yet he understands her far more than she would have originally expected. He knows she's guarding the rest of her words. And he's inviting it, as difficult as it is for her to continue. ]

It may be of little use to you.

Embracing 101

[classifidol]

[ perhaps she had thoroughly intimidated the men of Oshu when they'd first laid eyes on her, the frail ghost of a girl with the piercing gaze and the imposing aura, but they'd soon warmed to her and had grown more comfortable speaking with her like she was one of their own. Less roughly, maybe.

This meant she was privy to some of the topics they didn't dare bring up to their leader, which occasionally included things like how the man needed to relax every now and then, that sometimes he didn't indulge in the finer joys of life like the rest of his men (barring Kojuro) did. And a few other things that had made her expression turn reproving until they'd realized who it was they were talking to.

But among the talks, the suggestion had been brought up. It would have been strange for them, but Takane surely possessed the gentleness of her gender and was therefore the one most qualified to offer comfort to Masamune. Nothing fancy, nothing difficult.

Just a hug.

The thought still rests heavily in her mind as she sits now, catching her breath after a quick training session. Her eyes flick towards the dragon sitting nonchalantly beside her, and she ponders. He does look tired at times, when he doesn't have to keep his shoulders straight and his head high. Would it really help...? ]

[dragonizing]

[ masamune had found there wasn't much to comment about on takane's techniques this time. initially he had thought that perhaps he wasn't paying enough attention, but now he genuinely thought she was getting better. of course, she always had--that's just how it ended up.

... that, and maybe his mind was on other things sometimes, which only came around the time before or after a battle. not good, he'd like to admit, because splitting your mind between the current task and another task was never good, but takane had seen as much of his pensive side as kojuro had.

now, though, he's just sitting. quietly. there's no thought about the future, as he'd already thought about that--instead there's the silence and takane's breathing, one of his swords on the ground beside him.

he looks at her, and hardly misses a beat when she catches her stare. ]

Got something to say?

[classifidol]

[ there would be a bevy of girls who might have trouble fumbling for a coherent reply under the Dragon's stare, but Takane is a bit of an anomaly among females. Rather than flush or fluster, she remains silent for an additional thirty seconds as she studies him. Nineteen or not, there's not a thing boyish about him. The producer looks younger than him, and she wonders fleetingly, how quickly he had to grow up. Most of it she knows, revealed on the pages of history. But there was a difference between the Masamune of old and the Masamune who barked out a laugh during practice, who spouted English at the oddest of moments, and who had earned her loyalty perhaps without even trying.

Finally-- ]

I have nothing worth remarking on.

[dragonizing]

[ . . . masamune would like to say that he knew takane well enough to instinctually know what was going through her mind at some moments, but takane was also takane, and he knew her well enough to know that there were moments where he just Wouldn't Get it.

This moment under her analyzing stare is one of them. He can do nothing more than meet her eyes and guess at what she's thinking, what she's going to say.

none of those guesses are close to what she says, though. he had known takane long enough not to be surprised but amused in these cases. the curiosity kept him on his toes, he'd like to think, but this time he's solely curious. ]

Huh. You've got nothing, or is it... [ what was that she used. ah, right. ] Classified?

1/2

[classifidol]

[ that earns him one of her smaller, but fonder smiles. ]

To differentiate between the two would be classified, indeed. [ but she's reached her conclusion, and maybe it won't accomplish anything, but Takane rarely lets a possibility or a suggestion pass by untried, unless she deems it idiotic. No matter how awkward it might be. So suddenly, she moves forward, oddly intent, to-- ]

[classifidol]

[ ... WHACK HER HEAD ON HIS HELMET OW.

Don't mind her, Masamune. She'll just recoil with an unusually tiny pained squeak and just barely refrain from doubling over. Not that this stops her from gingerly cradling her head. ]

[dragonizing]

[ you'll find it's hard to talk to someone when they bump into you, and the impact of takane's head on his helmet makes retaining his train of thought difficult, considering his head bounces backward at the impact. takane really was too good at surprising him sometimes, considering he had never ever expected something like that.

he's too confused to even laugh, at this point, so he'll just stare. after a moment of discerning whether or not that little stunt earned her some permanent damage--

--before bringing a hand up to the point of impact on his helmet. ]




That classified too?

[classifidol]

[ she failed. She failed, and now her head hurts, and Takane retains at least enough sense to prevent herself from answering rather stupidly. She's experiencing some strange reticence at the thought of moving her fingers just yet. A soft, somewhat strained murmur-- ]

... Please inquire no further.

[dragonizing]

[ ... he leans forward the slightest bit, if only because her reaction seems strange and she still seems rather dazed. the doesn't do much of anything, though, so instead he's not getting up to stand beside her, arms crossed and his presence a mixture of what the heck is going on and...

what the heck is going on. ]

Not open for questions, I won't ask them. [ despite his curiosity he was sure takane had her reasons for hiding her motivation behind such an act. ] Think that's the first time someone's ever hit me like that, though.

[ one more count to takane's firsts. ]

[classifidol]

[ she's honestly not sure whether that's affection or dizziness accompanying her thoughts of Masamune at the moment. She's grateful that, like her, he isn't nosy or demanding when it comes to other people's reasons or motivations. But the dizziness goes with the increased respect towards his helmet.

Ow. ]

Admittedly, that... was not my intention.

[dragonizing]

Can't think of a reason for why you'd intend to do something like that. [ but again, takane was quite capable of proving him wrong on several occasions, so perhaps an intentional concussion off date masamune's helmet was something that had been on her bucket list.

either way, it had been striked off. ] How's that turning out for you?

[classifidol]

...

[ poorly, if she had to admit it, and she'd prefer simply excusing herself and leaving instead of trying to salvage the situation.

But that was running, and Shijou Takane did not run from anything. Even this. It's what prompts her to rise to her feet, finally lowering her hands and turning to face him squarely. ]

Date Masamune... [ oh she's going to have a bump. ] You lose your troubled self in the heat of battle, do you not?

[ yes, Takane, that is answering the question. ]