3/28/2003
12:42
AM
Logfile
from Yuurin.
Royal
Elizabeth - Suite 501
The
apartment is in the midst of a fairly extensive renovation, although it appears
the bedroom, bathroom, and most of the kitchen are in working order. The living
area is left mostly open, a couple of chairs and couches covered in tarps
pushed to the far walls to leave that vast and empty area for the current
occupant's purpose.
Progress
has been made though. The wood floor is varnished and buffed to a fine shine
just as the walls are showing signs of being whole once more, the next step
only being a new coat of paint and some molding touches. Light fixtures are
nonexistent, but a couple of bare lightbulbs just as there are no doors hung
yet. But there are signs that someone is actually living here throughout all of
this.
Fresh
air is quite prevalent, as evidenced by the single window in the living area
always left open.
You see
Shen here.
Obvious
exits:
Out
Kieran
raps knuckles on the door, actually waiting outside for Toshie to let him in,
rather than letting himself in with his key.
And
open the door does. Toshie is standing there, looking somewhat bleary-eyed.
Guess who has been taking a nap. At the sight of Kieran though the girl bursts
into a bright and dimpled grin, and then waves him inside. "Come in. Come
in."
Kieran
slips inside and it becomes apparent he's barefooted. But clothed. Guess he
just needs to have some part of him naked at all times. "Hello there
beautiful. Did I wake you? I'm sorry." His warm fingers brush gently and briefly over one cheek by
way of physical greeting. Eyes scan the apartment, nodding appreciatively,
"It looks good in here." Of course Shen is not missed and he even
bows in her direction, glancing up at his hair. "Does she still want some
of this?" Said hair is pointed to.
Toshie
leans back against the door, closing it with a soft thump. The young woman
remains there for a moment, just as barefooted as he is, before pushing away.
"Oh, I was planning on waking up soon anyway, otherwise I'd never get to
bed later." Her gaze sweeps the area afterwards as well, shrugging her
shoulders. "They said the end of the month, and it nearly is that. So,
just a few more things and it'll be good as new." She looks to the bird before
glancing back at him, smiling rather plainly, "She thinks it is no fun if
you are just going to give it to her."
Kieran
eyes the bird again, "So she wants to be able to swoop down upon me one
day and yank it out herself? I can understand that. Is she hoping to make a
bald patch? Though, I suppose with my healing ability, it would grow back fast
enough, wouldn't it?" He makes his way to the couch, sitting down on it,
long legs stretched out in front of him.
Toshie
favors Shen a wry glance, to which the bird responds with an unblinking stare
and still managing to look somewhat put-out. She rolls her eyes, and then slips
over to perch upon the arm of a chair, one leg brought up as the other dangles
to touch toes to the flooring. "She'll do it when you aren't paying attention.
Finds hair fascinating, especially yours for some reason -although I can't
blame her. What have you been up to?"
Kieran
tugs on his own hair, "I suppose it's fascinating. I don't think about my
hair much to be honest. Thank you for the compliment, Toshie. You're also
welcome to play with my hair if you wish, though I would prefer if you didn't
yank it out. Unless you ask nicely." The grin he gives her is rakish, his
eyes already alight with mirth. "I've been working like a good little oni
actually. I had a shoot the other day. Must earn money to support you."
Toshie's
gaze naturally moves to Kier's hair as well, her smile warming at his words.
She waves a hand at him as she laughs lightly, "Could I even color it some
time? Maybe add in some lighter highlights just for fun, a little gel here and
there, and then I'll rough it up." With that last bit, she wriggles her
fingers at him and accompanies it with another flashing grin. "Ohhhhh. I'm
not a burden or anything, am I? I'll quit the gym and try to find a job? I'm
sure I can get something real quick."
Kieran
snatches teasingly at her hands before tapping the end of her nose with a
fingertip. "Oh yes, such a burden. And no, I'm not serious. You do not
need to get a job unless you wish one, Toshie and even then you could model.
I've told you this. I meant it. As for my hair, I will have to decline. Most of
the jobs I have are because of my body and my hair. I think my stylish would
disown me if I let you do that to it. As fun as it might be."
Toshie
is wrinkling her nose once more. "I'm too short and have too many bumps
and have tattoos." And she is immediately pushing up her sleeves to show
arms with actual tone and definition instead of complete flat slimness. Her
smile breaks out once more, "Oh? Not even once? Just for fun?" She
follows with a soft sigh, doing her best to look melancholy. "I
suppose."
Kieran
has a terrible time denying this young woman it seems. He sighs dramatically,
"Oh, perhaps once. In a month's time or something. After I earn my keep
for a bit. You're very unfair, Toshie. You look at me like that and I can't say
no. I can't even teasingly ask if you'll sleep with me for a return favor.
Damn. As for your bumps and tattoos, I think they would be lovely. Are lovely.
I'd like to see sometime.
Malachai
is going to try to tattoo something on me very soon."
Toshie
laughs softly, turns about and then simply flops onto her back on the couch,
moving to rest her head in his thigh. She smiles, looking up to him. "As
cute and sweet as you are Kier, you aren't really my type. I wouldn't want to
put you on a leash to keep you around." She reaches up to play with the
front of his shirt with her fingers, "Oh? What do you want a tattoo of?
Mine are tribal."
Kieran
laughs, kissing a finger and then placing it on her lips. "No, I'd not
want to be on a leash and I'm afraid only one person has my complete fidelity
and that is our goddess. I'd likely leave you lonely." His hand slips to
her hair, lightly stroking it. "I would like a firebird, a phoenix, upon
my back. All in flames. Rising from the ashes. What do you think of that?"
"On
your back," Tosh lightly responds, consideration in her voice. "A
very big one, or something smaller?" Her gaze slips up to the ceiling,
even if she isn't exactly focusing upon it and instead seeing something else in
her mind's eye. "I suppose that could work, although that would be much,
much more permanent than anything that I could do to your hair, you know?"
"I know and yes, something larger, spreading
over my back. The idea is to make it permanent and Malachai has to do that with
ink that uses my blood and his, else my body will reject the tattoo easily.
That's why my skin is never scarred," Kieran explains, though he's sure he
probably doesn't need to with this one. "What about your tattoos? When did
you get them and why?"
Toshie
is still picturing that tattoo possibility of his. "I think that actually
might look good on you." Both hands lift up as if drawing something in the
air, "With the wings... flames. I'd like that. Can I see it when you get
it done?" Her head rolls slightly to peer up to him once more. She frowns
just the slightest, lips twisting into an uneasy line, "Last year, I got
the one on my shoulder. I got the one on my back a few months ago. Back when I
was sort of running with a bad crowd, and into the drugs."
Kieran
frowns heavily at the mention of drugs, "Are you clean now? I don't touch
the damn things, Toshie and I would prefer you didn't either." Of course
this man who spent his teenage years involuntarily drugged up on sedatives and
non-hallucinogens would feel this way. "And yes, you can see it. Of course
I'd show it to you. Toshie, I am but your humble servant. Well, mostly."
Toshie
nods slowly, almost embarrassed, before deliberately looking away from him.
"Not for a couple of months. That sort of stuff is not good for you at
all." She remains quiet for a long moment, dropping her hands back down to
interlace fingers at her stomach. She continues to look at the wall, or at
least in its general direction. "Thank you for being here."
"No,
not good at all and you lectured me about my smoking. Honestly Toshie, my
dear." There is a note of teasing in Kieran's deep voice, his fingers
still stroking lazily over the young woman's hair. "You don't have to
thank me. I am here because I like to be. I've told you, you are special to
me."
Toshie
is finally allowing a smile to show once more, "Ai, I'm clean. I'm clean.
First thing coach checked. If you want a copy of the drug screening, I'll give
it to you to prove it." Her smile grows slightly, "I am happy that we
both belong to the same goddess."
Kieran
is asking, "Coach? What coach? I guess I should find out how you spend
your day, Toshie. You are my ward after all. Need to check up on you more
often, don't I?" He sighs slightly, pushing hair out of his eyes as he
glances down at her, smiling.
Toshie
offers him a soft smile. Fingers tap off. "Gymnastics coach. See, your
well earned money is going to more than just renovations and keeping me in
food. I applied at an academy and one of the coaches there decided to take me
on. He thinks I might be able to get toned up again in time for nationals, if I
qualify. Train every day." Next finger. "Every other day I'm at the
dojo as well, training too. I've been getting awfully rusty. See, I keep
busy."
Kieran
is duly impressed. "The nationals! Can I bring a banner with Nainokami's
name on it? Wave it around from the stands?" He's teasing of course, but
the idea has merits. Definitely. "The coach guy doesn't believe in
steriods I hope?" See, no drugs. None. Nada. "Dojo as well? We'll
have to spare then, my sweet."
Toshie
grins, "If I qualify. I'll have to place in at least one of the local
meets. I've been in and out of training for a couple of years now, so it'll be
awhile before I can get up to be able to compete with the others." She
shakes her head slowly, "No, no steroids. He even gave me a menu I'm
supposed to follow. No pizza for awhile." Fingers are tickling on his shirt
once more, "Oh, that might actually be fun. I'll have you on your butt so
fast."
Kieran
laughs down at her, "Don't be so sure, Toshie. I'm rather good at martial
arts myself. Not as good as I once was, but good enough. Besides, I know how to
make use of my height advantage rather well. It will be fun though. I'd enjoy
tossing you on your ass. I think it's the closest I'll get to getting you on
the ground beneath me." He winks.
Toshie
is immediately scrambling around, straddling his lap and peering at him right
in the eye, "The bigger they are, the harder they fall. I might be
small," finger pointed at his nose as she watches him with eyes sparked
with challenge, "but I don't go down easily. And you can take that meaning
any way you want to." The desire to stick her tongue out at him is great,
but she manages to restrain herself.
Kieran
nips his teeth at her suddenly, chuckling as his arms wrap around her tightly
and he leans forward with her, tipping her back onto the couch, putting his
weight into keeping her beneath him. He's bent only at the waist, using his
chest as a counterweight more or less. "You are a saucy thing, aren't you?
I almost feel sorry for the man who falls for you. He's doomed from the
start."
Toshie
bursts into laugher, nearly musical if she wasn't doing it so loudly. Hands are
immediately grabbing for his shoulders as she tries to keep some hold
somewhere. "I haven't got time for a man. And he wouldn't have a chance
anyway, you've ruined me for anyone else. No guy could simply measure up to
you, Kier." And she is offering him another broad grin.
"Give
me a kiss then, Toshie my love," Kieran responds, eyes flashing, his smile
mischievous. "I suspect you'll find someone and then you'll wonder what in
hell you saw in the likes of me. Besides, I might have to give up women myself
with you in my life. You've got me wrapped around your little finger."
Toshie
is laughing once more, her eyes dancing in mirth. "Awwwww, don't sell
yourself short, Kier. You're by far the nicest, most amazing person that I
know." She shifts, turning her head to the side to peer at her little
finger, and then she is reaching up to try to wrap it about a bit of his hair.
"I suppose so." Although the mention of a kiss gives her pause, a
moment of thought, and then a lilting grin. "But you've already kissed me
before. Isn't that enough for you?"
Kieran
leans closer, letting that finger do its bit of wrapping. "I was teasing.
I wouldn't force you to miss me ever, Toshie. I know you don't seem to like it
much when I do. Besides, I'm not that nice all the time and certainly not
amazing, but my ego thanks you greatly."
Toshie
quiets once more, watching him. There is a bit of consternation in her eyes
before she seems to finally make a decision. "You just caught me off guard
that one time. I wasn't expecting it. And yes, you are -to me. And if you just
now didn't admit to thinking that you aren't, I wouldn't believe you to be at
all human, or whatever we are." She offers him a soft smile, makes another
decision, and then lifts her head to brush her lips lightly against his.
Kieran
returns the kiss, his own equally light. He's really not going to push his luck
with this one. He'd come to her bed if she ever asked, but only then. As he
draws back, he smiles crookedly. "Not human anymore. Onisenshi, Toshie.
Demon warriors. That is what we are called. Do not belittle yourself by
considering yourself one of those wretched masses."
Toshie
isn't particularly sure she likes that, and frowns slightly, "I don't much
like being called a demon warrior. Makes me sound like some kind of evil
warmonger that should look like an ogre or something. And last time I checked,
I haven't green skin or a pot belly."
Kieran
grins, chuckling deeply, "Oni isn't always a bad term. Oni suggests
otherworldly as well and doesn't need to mean we're monsters. But we are the
demons because our gods remain in hell and not heaven. Not the Christian hell
or heaven though. It's not quite that bad. We are fighting to above the Yang gods.
Then we will become shichiseishi. Celestial guardians instead. That sounds
better to you?"
Toshie
quietly listens to Kieran, and then sighs, "There is quite a bit to this
onisenshi thing, isn't there? But, even if I knew all of this stuff when I was
offered Shen, I'd still have accepted her." Her finger releases from
around his hair, and instead she simply rests a hand on his shoulder.
"Either way is fine with me... although that last one does sound
better."
Kieran
sits up again, bring her with him, nodding, "Then that is what we'll
strive for, Toshie. A world where you don't have to be called an oni. Just
remember, you are only evil if you wish to be. Some of those seishi would have
you believe every one of us is evil. Many of us are amoral and there is a
difference."
Toshie
is drawn back up, but she is still watching him with something along the lines
of curiosity along with understanding. "As much as I have always liked
seeing the bad guys in the movies, I would really rather not want to be one of
them. Even if it is usually the bad guys that are the sexy ones." She
trails off in thought, and then watches him once more, "What are you
then?"
"Am
I evil or amoral you mean? Amoral, though I have done evil things for the sake
of amusing myself. I have killed on purpose before Toshie," Kieran answers
with honesty. "Do you think less of me for knowing that?"
Toshie
frowns just the slightest. "I don't know," she eases softly, reaching
a hand up to trace the lines of his face with the pads of her fingers. She
looks on to him with a touch of confusion once more, along with possibly
fright. "I'm not sure what to think anymore."
Kieran
turns to kiss her fingers before releasing her from his arms. "It's
alright, Toshie. I would never hurt you. I don't, however, feel regret for my
deeds. Humans don't matter much to me, Toshie. They are of little concern. They
have little regard for their world or their place in it. Selfish,
self-centered, boring."
Toshie
draws back upon the covered sofa, moving to draw her knees up and then wrap her
arms about them. She watches him with a critical gaze. Not so much in a
negative light, but a curious one. "I... I'm not sure what to believe. I
don't know if what you say is true or not. It could be... but again, I just don't
know."
Kieran
is tugging out his cigarette case and lighter, preparing to smoke. "It's
alright, Toshie. You don't have to believe me. I would prefer that you found
what if true for you. Not adopt what is true for me. We aren't the same kind of
people."
Toshie
drops her chin into the groove between her knees, still watching Kieran.
"No. Maybe when next I mediate, I will on what you have said. I'm still
not sure I agree with you, but I will consider your words, it is the least I
can do." If only to try to understand him a little more.
Kieran
reaches out to lightly skim warm fingers along her cheek. "You know you
can ask me anything and I'll answer it, Toshie. I have no secrets from you. If
you consider my words, then you do. If you don't, you don't. The goddess is
what matters and she'll guide us both. Now, I think I'm going to head on home.
I'll smoke up there. I miss my bowl anyway."
Toshie
unfolds from her position, sliding off the couch to pad over towards the door
softly. Curling fingers around the handle, she moves to open it for him.
"When I meditate, sometimes I go too deep into the darkness, and Shen is
there to help pull me back out. I will think about what you have said. I will
always consider what you say, Kieran. Good night."
"G'night,
my sweet. You and Shen take care. Call me if you need anything, okay?"
Kieran drops a kiss on her forehead and pads out into the hallway, aiming for
the elevator. He turns to give one last wave as he lights is cigarette and
pushes the up button.