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.