Natsume Yuujinchou - Natsume Takashi; 01. Beginnings
“Well, Takashi-kun, welcome home. Hopefully you’ll enjoy living here, ne?”
Blonde-brown locks tousle in the warm early-summer breeze, running swiftly over golden-brown eyes as they calmly survey the entryway and hall beyond. A pair of scuffed, worn loafers lay next to a pair of discarded blue sandals, the sweat-stained imprint of toes and heels obvious on weathered soles. The frayed, dull-yellow patterned rug placed on the raised wooden floor to welcome bared feet, the simple corner table by the stairs with a pale green vase containing a freshly-picked daisy, the salty tang of soy sauce with a hint of the sharp sweet of ginger wafting lazily from the kitchen, the gently smiling and ever-so-slightly wrinkled face of Fujiwara Touko-Natsume felt his lips upturn in a careful, guarded smile as he observed.
“Yes, Fujiwara-san. Thank you.”
Fujiwara-san frowned, crossing her arms and regarding him at his spot against the still-cracked door, his sneakers still on and his back still rigid. “Now, now, Takashi-kun,” she scolded gently, shaking a finger in mock-anger. “That won’t do. Touko-san, it’s Touko-san!”
“H-hai...Touko-san.”
A thump sounded from upstairs, where Fujiwara Shigeru had disappeared toting Natsume’s two suitcases and one duffel bag. Some cursing, and then another thud.
“Mou,” Touko-san chided again playfully, in that gentle voice of hers. Everything about her seemed so gentle. “What is that man doing up there?”
Natsume gave another little smile, this time more real.
"Come, then, Takashi-kun, take off your shoes. The udon is cooled and the men-tsuyu is almost ready...”
Touko-san’s voice lingered in the hallway even as she vanished around the corner into the kitchen. It was then Natsume finally breathed out the breath he had been discreetly holding, stepped away from the door, and kicked out at the shadow that had been trying to worm its way in through the crack. His foot connected solidly.
“Wait! R-Reiko-samaaaaaaa!”
The small cry faded into the night as Natsume huffed and slid the fusama door closed with a harsh snap. Staring at the door for a moment longer, Natsume finally turned around, stepped out of his shoes and onto that raised wooden floor, and then stood there in this strange and new-yet somehow comfortably nostalgic-house for an uncertain, nervous moment.
“Takashi-kun! Come help me set the table!”
Again, that small but real smile.
“...Hai!”
END
Notes - (just in case)
men-tsuyu: sauce served with cold udon (made from various spices + soy :D)
fusama: the sliding doors/walls in traditional Japanese houses
Edited because LJ cut was a bitch. xP
Blonde-brown locks tousle in the warm early-summer breeze, running swiftly over golden-brown eyes as they calmly survey the entryway and hall beyond. A pair of scuffed, worn loafers lay next to a pair of discarded blue sandals, the sweat-stained imprint of toes and heels obvious on weathered soles. The frayed, dull-yellow patterned rug placed on the raised wooden floor to welcome bared feet, the simple corner table by the stairs with a pale green vase containing a freshly-picked daisy, the salty tang of soy sauce with a hint of the sharp sweet of ginger wafting lazily from the kitchen, the gently smiling and ever-so-slightly wrinkled face of Fujiwara Touko-Natsume felt his lips upturn in a careful, guarded smile as he observed.
“Yes, Fujiwara-san. Thank you.”
Fujiwara-san frowned, crossing her arms and regarding him at his spot against the still-cracked door, his sneakers still on and his back still rigid. “Now, now, Takashi-kun,” she scolded gently, shaking a finger in mock-anger. “That won’t do. Touko-san, it’s Touko-san!”
“H-hai...Touko-san.”
A thump sounded from upstairs, where Fujiwara Shigeru had disappeared toting Natsume’s two suitcases and one duffel bag. Some cursing, and then another thud.
“Mou,” Touko-san chided again playfully, in that gentle voice of hers. Everything about her seemed so gentle. “What is that man doing up there?”
Natsume gave another little smile, this time more real.
"Come, then, Takashi-kun, take off your shoes. The udon is cooled and the men-tsuyu is almost ready...”
Touko-san’s voice lingered in the hallway even as she vanished around the corner into the kitchen. It was then Natsume finally breathed out the breath he had been discreetly holding, stepped away from the door, and kicked out at the shadow that had been trying to worm its way in through the crack. His foot connected solidly.
“Wait! R-Reiko-samaaaaaaa!”
The small cry faded into the night as Natsume huffed and slid the fusama door closed with a harsh snap. Staring at the door for a moment longer, Natsume finally turned around, stepped out of his shoes and onto that raised wooden floor, and then stood there in this strange and new-yet somehow comfortably nostalgic-house for an uncertain, nervous moment.
“Takashi-kun! Come help me set the table!”
Again, that small but real smile.
“...Hai!”
END
Notes - (just in case)
men-tsuyu: sauce served with cold udon (made from various spices + soy :D)
fusama: the sliding doors/walls in traditional Japanese houses
Edited because LJ cut was a bitch. xP