estoria | [closed] every path is nothing but pain and suffering

[GOOD, PUNK, because Kaoru didn't come here to talk to the nice ladies! Or to buy any thongs in this thong joint!!

The smile that Kaoru gives in return is equally polite and not fake outwardly, but there's something about it that seems a little - withheld. Very much like something else should be present in the expression that's being given, but isn't, even though it's hard to tell exactly what that might be. Kaoru's also totally heard that ma'am tone before good sir GOD, RUDIES EVERYWHERE.

But that's not the point of this conversation either, so:]

There is, actually. If Harada-san isn't too busy right now, I was hoping that we might be able to talk...? I promise that I won't take up too much of your time. Surely you're a busy man.

[Well, aren't you just in luck, Kaoru?]

Not too busy that I can't lend an ear to whatever fascinating things you have to say. I was about to leave anyway, so if you'll excuse me...

[He gives Kaoru a quick and short bow before heading to the back, where he clocks out and gathers up his weapons - because he just can't trust the city, you know - and then subtly makes his way back to the front. Or as subtly as one can while carrying a spear that is taller than oneself. But details.

Without another word, however, Sano leaves the shop, though he also holds the door open for Kaoru. Because while the other may not actually be a woman, Sano will keep up appearances so as not to attract any unwanted attention. He's had enough of that for a while.]

[The luck is just flooding in by the gallon...

But with a polite nod, Kaoru will watch as he goes off, and is still standing in the same spot by the time he comes back. Luckily, no one else has tried to step in and sell him things in the interim - in fact, it seems that any notice in general has passed Kaoru over for the time being. Being so small has its advantages when it comes to not attracting unwanted attention...

BUT OUT THE DOOR, what a fun party. It maybe difficult to notice, but Kaoru turns just a little and exits the building in such a way that everyone's favorite captain is never completely out of his line of sight. Only one person here has a weapon, okay!! (That is a lie.)

Once outside, Kaoru looks up ~~and up and up~~ at Sano. The air of pleasantness remains, but there's something a little more serious present now.]

It isn't very fascinating, I'm afraid. I only wanted to see if things between you and Chizuru have been well since your broadcast. She was very upset...

[Which sounds polite, but it's clear just from wording alone that Chizuru is the one Kaoru's concerned about here.]

[When they're out of the shop, Sano remembers all the more clearly what he had said to Shinpachi when the other had told him about Kaoru. He's pretty sure he said something along the lines of punching Kaoru in the face. Really hard. To put it lightly. And out here, there's a part of him that wants to do it, just to feel how satisfying it would be.

But then Kaoru mentions Chizuru and Sano's expression wavers for a second. Which is probably a mistake, but he can't help it. If someone mentions Chizuru, he's going to listen. ~~And it may not be out of just friendly concern.~~

But it's just for a second, and he leans on his spear, frowning.]

What do you mean, "upset"?

[Narrowly avoiding having his face neatly punched inside out (for now?!), aw yeah... Though Kaoru also absolutely notes that shift in expression, however minute or brief it may be, because stalking Chizuru and Chizuru's friends and fifty thousand love interests is a full time job and he has to be paying attention to every little detail.

That's actually a little distracting though, because defensiveness or denial or even playing dumb is what had been expected. What is this? Genuine concern or something...? Mannish obtuseness?? Kaoru's arms fold neatly across his stomach, head canting to the side and brow furrowing.]

I mean that she was upset over it - upset about the entire thing. She was so embarrassed that she didn't return my call for a day and a half because she's avoiding the network... [A small tutting noise! Why aren't people stalking Chizuru as well as he is, gosh.] It's only natural after something like that.

[Look, when your life has suddenly become twice as busy as normal, some things slip through the cracks. Also Sano is really good at being an idiot and ignoring things he probably shouldn't ignore at all when he wants to have his thinky thoughts, so uh...yeah.

But we'll go with being really busy for now.]

It is natural, but it's not her fault. You realize that wasn't actually us on the network, right?

[Though it's still understandable as to why she'd be embarrassed about it all, especially since Chizuru is so easily flustered. Hell, even Sano's embarrassed. But he also knows that they can't just hide forever and pretend it didn't happen. That won't make it magically disappear. They just have to keep facing forward and trudge on.]

[Stop being married to thinky thoughts, Sano...

That earns him a noise that sounds more frustrated than anything, though. These are the inept nerds whose company his sister keeps...]

Of course I do. [If that wasn't the case, this conversation sure would be going in a very different and much punchier direction.]

But even if it isn't her fault, she's going to feel humiliated. One can say "that's not me" as many times as they'd like, but it was still her face in that broadcast. [There's something deeply ironic about this coming from her actual evil facetwin...]

[But they actually pay attention to him...!

But, ah. If only they were speaking in punches. Sano would be able to communicate quite well in that regard. But for now, all he can do is sigh and rub a hand over his face. He cannot believe he is having this conversation right now. With Kaoru.]

It's not an excuse, it's the truth. And I know that's not gonna make anything better, but if everyone knows it wasn't her, then that's a start. People have been making fools of themselves since the dawn of time, but life still goes on. And yeah, it sucks, but I know Chizuru is tough enough to get through it.

[His hand returns to the haft of his spear, gripping it tightly as his own frustration grows. When next he speaks, his voice falls lower.]

But don't think for a second that if I had a chance to clap my hands and make it all go away, I wouldn't have done it. Not for my sake, but for hers.

Edited 2015-01-04 12:29 (UTC)

[DO THEY REALLY or does he pay attention to them instead!!

This sure is a conversation that's happening though, wow, yes. Lectures from the one person who is totally qualified to be giving lectures, Kaoru best sibling ever Nagumo...]

Have you even spoken to her about it in length yet? [Kaoru doesn't even know Sano and is already getting the feeling that the answer to that question is a big fat "nope". He knows Chizuru, at least, and her tendency to sidestep things that bother her... What kind of inept duo is this??]

What's done is done, but Chizuru is such a gentle girl that she would surely allow something like this to fester if it's left alone. That's what I came to find out. [...] And to make certain that whatever horrible thing was possessing you didn't act ungentlemanly toward her.

[KAORU'S WORRIED ABOUT THE WRONG GUMI FOR THAT...]

[It's mutual wow...

But Kaoru may, in fact, be right when it comes to pegging down Sano and his big fat communication failures, but like hell is he going to just up and admit that to someone he really doesn't like or trust.

Then again, when he answers, his lack of an answer will probably speak more than he'd like. And to both of Kaoru's concerns.]

...Why do you care?

[Of course, Sano knows why, but he wants to hear it from Kaoru's mouth. Even though that would probably end up being too easy, but he'll try.]

[Kaoru's answer comes without hesitation.]

She's my little sister. When she's put into such a compromising situation, how could I not care?

[EASILY, ACTUALLY, but no one needs to know that... Kaoru will also be a charming friend here and give Sano a hand by helpfully adding:]

Your lack of a direct answer isn't reassuring.

Edited (it's 5am and i cant english) 2015-01-04 13:11 (UTC)

[...Or he could just come out and say it. How 'bout that. But also note the complete lack of surprise on Sano's features at that little confession.

But he could lie and say nothing happened. It's not as if Sano hasn't kissed other women before and considered their virtue still intact, after all. Even if it wasn't actually him this time. But lying doesn't sit well with Sano, so instead he just goes...halfway.]

Some people don't kiss and tell.

[Was that a fucking pun.]

Edited (finish your sentences, dumbass) 2015-01-04 21:15 (UTC)

[See, Kaoru isn't a pain in the ass all the time...!! Or, more accurately, has just assumed that information has already spread among the members of the Shinsengumi and that denial at this point would be holding a sign saying I'M A BIG FAT HABITUAL LIAR.

This is it, though. The day someone gets shanked over puns. It has arrived.

KAORU SURE DOESN'T LOOK HAPPY but also came into this conversation well aware of the fact that tempers might be riled, at least, and makes a vague attempt to bite back the immediate urge to stab. The dangers of having a short fuse... The even bigger dangers of two people with short fuses having a conversation that intentionally exacerbates tempers.]

My, to think my sister is sharing a home with someone so crude...

[Just be grateful Sano's fuse has miraculously grown longer since his wayward teenage days, or else this conversation probably would have gone farther south a long time ago.]

But at least I'm an honest man. There are worse candidates in this city.

[Candidates such as overprotective crossdressing demon brothers yeah he's going there.]

Now, if you're done wasting my time, I'll just leave. Unless you really wanna see what I get like when I'm angry.

[Gosh so rude!! Kaoru bristles a little, but it isn't very outwardly visible.]

Asking after Chizuru's well-being is a waste of your time? [Look at that skill, twisting words like he's arranging flowers... At least there doesn't seem to be any outward intent to antagonize present judging by expression alone, even though that is exactly what's happening here.]

I had hoped to spare her further embarrassment by not pressing for details, but this hasn't done anything to ease my concerns.

It's a waste of my time when we end up talking in circles like this, getting nothing done.

[His frown deepens more and more as he speaks and he has to keep himself under control or else his voice will rise, too. And considering they're outside - still in front of the shop - where people can see them, that wouldn't look good on him for losing his temper at a supposed lady.]

But fine, I get it, you're upset. But what do you want from me? And why should I listen to you after everything you've done?

[VICTORY. Except not because Kaoru's stuck in the exact same sandpit of needing to exert an awful lot of self-control and restraint while in the eye of the public. Pretending to be a good person is so time-consuming...]

I want to ensure that Chizuru isn't left dealing with this on her own, that's all. [Which is maybe like 10% true... In reality, Kaoru just wanted to come prod at Sano's temper and, most importantly, gauge how angry to be. Who cares if it was just his possessed body okay no forgiveness for people who bang his sister. Looking at you, KAZAMA.

That said, playing dumb here is likely a poor choice, so instead Kaoru will pause for a second before shifting conversational gears a little. There's still nothing overtly antagonistic present, but there's an imperious, vaguely insulted air.]

Harada-san is close to Nagakura-san, correct? [Which Kaoru totally knows because of Chizuru and not by stalking...!!] Then I'll repeat what was said to him. Since I've done nothing here, I assume you must be speaking of something that was told to you, correct? So once more; I don't understand those unkind accusations. Nothing that was described to me has ever happened in my life, and I don't appreciate a stranger questioning whether or not my concern for my own sister should be listened to because of it.

She won't be, unless that's the choice she makes.

[Because she's an adult, Kaoru! Sano believes she can make her own decisions and that she knows her emotions better than anyone else could. But still, she lives with six Shinsengumi captains and Sano is sure that all of them would be willing to listen and help. She's not alone.

But, naturally, Kaoru has to keep talking and trying to keep his hind out of hot water, which gets on Sano's nerves. He doesn't like Kaoru for various reasons and the way he's distancing himself from this and trying to make Sano look like the bad guy is one of them.

He barks out a laugh, though there's no humor in it.]

Don't tell me you've forgotten the noticeboard incident so easily.

[Yeah he's...still kind of butthurt about that one.]

I don't know how much you know or even if you're telling the truth, but the fact is, I don't easily trust people who have wronged me or my friends. I question your concern because based on your past action and what I've heard from those I do trust, you're nothing but trouble.

[He takes a step forward, leaning down toward Kaoru, and lowers his voice so only the other man can hear.]

And so help me, if we were not out here in the open, you would have already met my fists very personally.

[It takes Kaoru maybe a second or two to mentally review all conversations with the Shinsengumi captains to date - not many, since a lot of care is taken to avoid people who may RUIN PLANS - and none of those conversations ever made mention of the noticeboard. So:]

What noticeboard incident? [Which UNLIKE THE REST is a big fat lie, but Kaoru sure delivers it as smoothly as any truth; confused and somewhat snappish like there's mild offense present at what is presumably yet another accusation that rings no bells... This is his AU backstory and he can put anything into it that he wants! If he doesn't want to be in Kyoto at that time, he doesn't have to be!!

There's also absolutely no move to back up or budge when Sano moves closer, though the look of mild agitation seems to grow. It's two parts embellished for the sake of painting Sano in a less savory light, one part genuine because Kaoru's easily irritated...]

Coming here with valid concerns only to be met with non-answers, doubts about their legitimacy and threats... I hardly feel pleased to leave my sister in the care of such brutes if this is what could be considered normal. [Because NATURALLY it's all about Chizuru!!]

[Oh, now this is just a steaming load of bullshit. Sano's hands clench tightly, one on his sword and one on his spear, because he really wants to launch Kaoru clear across the street right about now. But he has to behave. He's already caused enough trouble - or, well, his body did - and he can't afford to get noticed again.

But damn, he's pissed.]

Sanjo Ohashi, or did you seriously forget? I saw you there, unless you've got another twin no one knows about because it sure as hell wasn't Chizuru that night.

[She wouldn't betray them like that.]

And Chizuru? Chizuru chose to stay with us. She chose to. So don't you get all upset when things don't go your way, 'cause she's capable of making her own decisions. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm finished here.

[He turns on his heel and starts to walk away.]

[If Kaoru is enjoying Sano's attempts at containing his explosive rage (HE IS), it doesn't show. He's definitely playing his part as solidly as possible, standing his ground and looking offended.]

I can't forget something that never happened.

[Like wow, Sano! Maybe he's Hijikata-route Kaoru!! Maybe he just meandered back off to Tosa directly after appearing to be cryptic for five seconds! That's his story and he's sticking to it. He knows he doesn't have to say much more than that, either way, since there are only so many possibilities to laser-guided amnesia. LYING SURE IS ONE OF THEM but hey, it's not like anyone has proof that Kaoru's AU claims aren't true...

And it's because he feels secure with that that he doesn't feel the need to follow after Sano or continue needling him. A fine line needs to be upheld here, after all; reputation is all in the presentation, and Chizuru will always be a tipping point. So, to his departing back:]

Please try not to misunderstand again. I'm only making sure that she won't regret the decisions she's made.

[They're all bad decisions though, gosh Chizuru. BUT since Kaoru doesn't want to risk his temper flaring up, he'll be taking his leave after that, too.]

[closed] every path is nothing but pain and suffering

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