Mayune and Kaoru at the Awayuki Mansion

[popular_sama]

Mayune wandered through the mansion, covering a yawn with her hand. Where is everyone? she thought with irratation. Even Tanaka was nowhere to be found.

With a sigh, she continued walking down the hall, hoping to find something interesting. But all that was there were the maids, scurrying around to get out of her way.

Well, she thought, this

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[kaorusensei]

Kaoru finished selecting which old dinner plates would become tiles for his mosaic - he had tried to take as many as possible that were already chipped, or that he was sure he had never seen used, but to get all the right colors, he'd had to delve into some of the nicer, newer plates. Ah well, Natsue won't mind. We have so many, after all.

He put the plates in a sack and slung it over his shoulder and, picking up his hammer, strode out of the kitchen whistling. After certain recent events, he felt simultaneously closer to his stepdaughters and not close enough. If only he'd gotten close enough to Mawata-chan to help her with her distress before it evolved into depression. He had failed as a father. He would not fail again. So, to commemorate his new resolve to become the world's greatest father to all three of his daughters, he was going to make a family portrait mosaic. The plates in the sack would do for starters, but he would need to buy some the color of Mawata-chan's hair and some of Natsue's favorite purple for her dress.

Still whistling, he turned the corner and headed toward the mansion's spacious back patio, where he intended to smash the plates into tiles. Distracted by his grand plans for the mosaic, he almost ran into someone. He stopped himself before he could bump into her, and exclaimed for joy. "Mayune-chan!" What luck! With everyone else out of the house, I have the perfect chance to bond with Mayune-chan! "Mayune-chan, I was just going to smash some plates. Would you come with me? We haven't had much of a chance to get to know each other. We could talk, and I'm sure I could find another hammer." He grinned hopefully at his oldest stepdaughter.

[popular_sama]

Of all the people to run into, Mayune thought, I would run into him. She didn't really dislike her stepfather, not really, even though he was low-class and just plain weird. But he wouldn't have been the person she'd pick to spend the day with.

Of course, he had saved her life when Mikage became evil and tried to destroy the world and Himeno died and...during the whole situation. And her mother was happy with him around, happier than she'd been in years. So maybe, just maybe it wouldn't kill her to spend some time with him. Besides, she was bored anyway. And whatever one said about Kaoru, he was never described as boring.

Shuddering slightly at the "Mayune-chan" - she was not some cute little kid - she looked over at her stepfather and the plates in his hand. She had to asked it, though she feared the answer.

"Why are you smashing the plates?"

[kaorusensei]

He laughed, thinking how his statement about plate-smashing must have sounded. "I'm going to experiment in the ancient art of the mosaic! I'm smashing the plates to make tiles. Once I have the tiles made, I can start work on our family portrait! It's going to be a great work of art celebrating the joy and unity of the Awayuki family!"

He was lost in the grandeur of his artistic vision for a moment, then stopped himself, unsure of how Mayune-chan would react to being referred to as an Awayuki. He calmed himself down and spoke seriously, "I do want us - all of us - to be a family, Mayune-chan." He smiled, and hoped she would return the expression. "So, will you smash plates with me?"

[popular_sama]

Mayune stared at him blankly for a few moments, trying to figure out if he was being serious. Finally, she decided that he in fact was.

"I...see."

Now with that question answered, only one remained. Was she bored enough to smash the plates with him. Well, since Tanaka doesn't seem to be here...I guess maybe...but...what the hell, I can always quit if I don't like it. And it is something to do.

She didn't smile back at him, but Mayune did relent and say, "Well, I could try it, just for a bit. I have other things to do though, so I probably won't stay long."

[kaorusensei]

His hopeful smile broadened to a grin. "Wonderful, Mayune-chan! You won't regret it! We're going to have so much fun."

He offered her his hammer. "I'm sure I left another lying around somewhere a few days ago." He spotted a large vase by the wall. "Aha!" He walked over to it dug in his arm, and - sure enough - pulled out the hammer he'd left there for safekeeping. He turned back to Mayune-chan and gestured towards the patio. "Shall we?"

[OOC: Sorry for the absence! My modem crapped out on me, but I’m pretty sure the problem is fixed now. Oh, and I left it up in the air whether Mayune took the hammer or not, so if she decides to refuse it, just assume he's carrying both.]

[popular_sama]

Mayune took the hammer with care, holding it by the handle with her thumb and index finger, and looked at it. Such an uncivilized tool and yet now she was supposed to use it? To smash plates no less.

I'm going to regret this.

Without saying a word, she followed Kaoru out towards the patio.

[OOC: That's fine...I was wondering where you had run off to. And Mayune can take the hammar, just for further info I'm really not too concerned about you making her do simple actions like that...just as long as it's only simple observation on Kaoru's part]

[kaorusensei]

Kaoru whistled as he walked to the patio. Once he got outside, he got right to work. He set down his sack of plates and emptied it, putting the plates in a neat stack. He sat down next to the stack; then he took the top plate, slid it into the sack, closed the sack up, and gave it a good smash with his hammer. He heard a pleasant cracking sound.

He waved Mayune-chan closer. "Come on, you try!" He took out the fragments of the plate he'd smashed and put in a fresh, whole one for his stepdaughter. "It's fun!" After a moment, he added, "By the way, Mayune-chan, what were those other things you were planning to do today?"

[popular_sama]

Mayune watched in dismay as Kaoru broke the plates. She had known it would be bad...but this...

And now there was one in front of her. And he was talking, asking her about her plans. Before answering, she sighed, and swung down on the plate with her hammer, hearing a resounding crack as fine china broke beneath her attack.

"I have so many things to do today, plans with friends, shopping, the usual," she replied, lying through her teeth. She hit the plate again. "So I...uh..." Crack. "I'm not sure..." CRACK. "How long I can..."

With one more smash down on the plate, Mayune stopped, staring at the fragments in surprise.

"Actually, I might be able to reschedule things. Maybe."

Despite herself, Mayune was actually having fun.

[OOC: D*mn...I hate when I post with the wrong journal >.<)

[kaorusensei]

Kaoru put all the plates-turned-tiles into a pile and kept the fresh ones coming. Mayune-chan seemed to be enjoying herself! "I understand if you have other places you have to be," he said. "But if you'd rather stay and help me, that would be great!"

I have her interest, more or less. Now how do I start bonding? Ah, perhaps I can get her more involved in the artitic process? He smashed another plate - a pink one. "I was afraid I might have trouble finding the proper colors for Himeno-chan's and your hair, but I think it worked out all right. I decided to use this color for yours," - he showed her a piece of the pale pink plate he'd just smashed - "and this one for Himeno-chan's." He reached for a darker, more orange-pink plate, and showed her. "What do you think? I'll need to do some shopping later, myself, to get some green and purple plates - the green for Mawata-chan's hair, of course, and the purple for your mother's dress."

[popular_sama]

Mayune pondered the plate that as supposed to be her hair. "I don't think the colour is quite lovely enough to truly capture my radiant hair...but it will do. Himeno's is fine, maybe actually a bit too nice."

"Perhaps...I could help you pick the perfect shades for Mawata and Mother. If I have time."

[kaorusensei]

Kaoru was so surprised that he almost dropped his hammer. The thought that she might help with the plate shopping had crossed his mind, but he hadn't dared to set his hopes so high. "I'd like that. If you have time, of course."

After smashing a plate for Himeno-chan's hair, he looked up at his stepdaughter. "Let's get to know each other, Mayune-chan. Let's see, I know you like to shop... ah, I know!" He gave her a teasing look. "Do you have a boyfriend? You and Mawata-chan are both as pretty as your mother - you probably have to beat the boys away with a stick, right?"

[popular_sama]

Mayune smiled for the first time, a rather smug expression but a smile nonetheless. "Oh, I just have so many boys swarming around me, it's impossible to make a decision. The poor things, so taken with my beauty."

Of course, she thought, those Knights, such incredible hunks, weren't taken in. But they like Himeno so I guess it's to be expected. Even if they are majorily hot.

[kaorusensei]

Kaoru smiled. He was about to compare the admirers Mayune-chan spoke of to Himeno-chan's knights, but before he could speak he swung his hammer directly into his left thumb. He promptly dropped the hammer and shook his left hand. "Damn, that hurt!" He felt the thumb over and tried to bend it - it bent a little, but it was sore and swollen. "Well, it doesn't look broken, at least."