[ He cants his head, innocence brimming in the way he blinks at her once. Twice. Then she timidly asks if he prefers her to wear sleeveless dresses, and her reaction makes all the more sense now. And it's his turn to start blushing, breath clipping as he rubs the back of his neck.
It's hardly the most scandalous thing though! ]
T-That, wasn't what I was getting at.
[ If she didn't want to, she didn't have to. He liked anything she wore. But...then he remembers what she wore for their first date. And he almost forgot that they were in Nippon for a second. If he could loop time on laying eyes on her on that bridge, he very well may have a few times over and more. So as he shyly tucks his gaze to the corner of his collar...his eyes return to her once more despite the glow of red in his cheeks.
[ Even if that wasn't what Cloud meant, Ayaka pushes forth with the topic, determined to have her beau keep his eyes on her. That said, ]
Then... I shall invest in more of them.
[ If Cloud thinks she looks nice in those kinds of dresses. It is very different from her normal attire, but she's tried it before! It wasn't a bad experience! So it's not going to hurt her at all if she does wear more of those, especially on dates. 😳
Now then! Clearing her throat, she removes the armlet again so she can keep it. ]
Thank you for being so thoughtful, Cloud. You didn't have to get me anything, but everything that I have received from you today has been so precious.
[ With or without sleeves...when they were like this? His eyes never left. So far as he was concerned? They never would. It took him some time to adjust from always wearing his SOLDIER uniform, but he's become comfortable wearing Nipponese clothing. He wouldn't mind something that blended his experiences home and here, but that was a thought for another time. And for when the player makes Samurai Cloud icons finally S M F H. ]
Neither did you. [ But he's glad that she did. Now, if this world permits it, and he does see his next birthday here with her... He won't let it pass by. He'll look forward to it. In the same way he's been able to return his affections back on her today. Their lesson, for the time being, was finished now. ] But...
[ Save for Tsubaki, the omamori charm he keeps on his person even still...everything she's given him in turn, his cheeks redden a little despite his shy smile when he confesses, ]
Your letter to me is staying in my nightstand.
[ Where he can come home and read it every time by his bedside. ]
That is where I intend to keep the letter you wrote to me! Hehe. My nightstand, of course.
[ Not Cloud's! But ah... That puts a smile on her face. And now she's reminded. Earlier, she told Cloud that she would like to give him something. The sakura mochi she's made has been carefully placed in a box with the Kamisato's emblem on the cover. With it is yet another letter, so... ]
May I give you the sakura mochi now? I had written another letter for you along with it.
[ Words that she's already told him before, but feel the need to express everyday, or even write down into paper. Ayaka doesn't think she could ever grow tired of saying all these things to him, professing her love and admiration, thanking him for the friendship he has given her.
She owes him so much for the happiness he's provided. ]
[ He's past the point of modestly telling her that she didn't need to get him anything. Not when he knew how much it lit up her day knowing that she could gift him something. That, and just having her presence was more than enough; she's given him plenty of that in turn. So when she has sakura mochi and a new letter prepared for him? What else can he do but softly sigh through his nose, smile growing as he closes what little distance remains to steal away one more kiss?
Here within the confines of these walls (and no shrine or big bro to see sdakfjh), in the same way she's been able to express her true feelings, so too was he able to become a little braver. Kizuna instilling that courage furthermore also never hurt. Her lips, soft as the time he first got up out of his seat when she danced for him and took back the breath she stole from him, leave him wishing that he could just keep doing that. But he tempers himself, always for her, and draws back with a little nod. ]
[ There he goes again...! While the kiss is most certainly welcome, it gets Ayaka's heart skipping fast. Her breath trembles, as if she's swooning. For the next few seconds after Cloud pulls away, Ayaka's just staring, a small smile of disbelief on her face at how fortunate she truly is. ]
Y- Yes... [ u///u Her face is so red, and her cheeks are stinging. Back to reality, though! She clears her throat as she gets up to fetch the last box of sakura mochi she's prepared.
For Cloud? He gets double the pieces compared to Zack and the others. The letter is in between the box's cover and the ribbon, something for Cloud to read in his spare time. Ayaka comes back not too long after she's excused herself, already having calmed herself enough to give him his present without her freaking out too much. ]
Would you like these served to you now? [ Cloud can eat straight from the box, but it would only be proper to offer to plate it... ] I would suggest to keep it and eat at home, for when you want a snack, instead.
[ If his shyness and reservations taught him anything, it's that while he wasn't one for deep public displays of affection, Ayaka'd earned more than enough of his heart to get an honest response in private. Especially when she reacted the way she would. It was a confidence builder, making him want to do it with her even more. Seeing the smile gracing her lips when he does draw back earns her another little one right back. He shares in her disbelief, but embraces the moment that's before him nonetheless.
Hating to see her go but loving watching her leave, he huffs a little to himself when she's out of sight, taking the time to enjoy the serenity that's held strong within these walls. Sitting in her garden for the first time was a memory that he harbors surprisingly close; it's part of the reason why he absolutely needed space either out front or out back for a garden of his own once he acquired his own house. ]
Mm? [ As he graciously accepts the box, noticing the letter between the cover and the ribbon most importantly. The Snow on the Hearth was a delight, and he'd treasure the mochi she's prepared for him! But unless he wanted to sit down out here or go back inside and take a piece from it, perhaps it was best he waited after all. To her suggestion, he nods with a soft hum. Though his eyes drift from hers...back to what's slipped between the cover and ribbon. ] Mind if I read the letter?
O- Oh— [ He wants to read the letter now?! Goodness! Ayaka can't refuse Cloud though, and so, she nods slowly. ] Yes, of course.
[ Much like other letters Ayaka has written Cloud in the past, the handwriting is no different. Neat, practised, precise. Perfect in the Kamisato Clan's standards, and far above all else. It's content, soft and vulnerable, something for Cloud and Cloud alone.
It reads:
To my dearest Cloud,
The sky has been so beautiful at night, lately. The stars have looked brighter and bigger. I do not know what phenomena caused this, or it may even perhaps be the fact that I no longer feel that emptiness when I look at it at night. Before I rest, I think of you, and I think of how many stars are in the sky that separate us. Did the sky look the same way from Tokyo? Do the stars shine the same way in Gaia?
Whatever the answer may be, I know now that we share the same sky, the same sun, the same moon. It is so very romantic to think about, and on a more personal note, I feel much closer to you. Should I reach up and grab a twinkling star, I may end up holding on to you, in the end, because of how near you are. It is something I can never, ever lose appreciation for.
I never once thought that I would meet a friend who would understand me in full, would share in my interests, or let me be myself. Knowing you, being friends with you, and with my heart beating now for you... it feels too good to be true. I am truly blessed to have met you, and even more fortunate to date you, and to love you. I understand now why I always thought I could never find someone for me... it is because my world has been so small, my views so limited, until the day I met you.
On this day, I would like to give you a token of my love, affection, and appreciation. Snow on the Hearth is a dish I am confident in making, and it is my variation of a popular Inazuman treat. I pray that you will like it, and if you do, that you will let me make more of these for you in the future.
Thank you for making my life fuller, and for allowing me to celebrate an important day with you.
I love you very much, Cloud. I will always be yours.
Your Ayaka ]
...
[ Ayaka will give him all the time and space he needs, all the while she burns up as she waits because she's getting shy about what she had written. :( ]
[ If she insisted that he wait, he would have yielded as well. If they were in public, he may not have even brought it up at all. But here, where he feels safe and sound and no one else can see or share in this moment (except big bro) Cloud is grateful she's allowing him to do so. Even if it it embarrasses her doing so. ]
To my dearest Cloud...
[ ... Wait. Already, he can see just how much she's written down upon these pages. He stops for a moment, looking back up to Ayaka with her gift in hand. He hasn't even begun to read it yet and he already can feel butterflies fluttering in his stomach. So much so that he can't help the tickled huff of a laugh that leaves him as he smiles for her. Right. Tempted as he was to sit down with her for this, he also feels that if they do that, they just might get distracted all over again. The little smile he leaves for her before returning to the letter is one of reassurance.
He trusts her. The fact she even has a gift for him on her birthday was enough to catch him off guard. His gentle eyes continue to peruse the pristine handwriting, word for word. Sentence for sentence. Every one just as precious as the last. She poses a question to him in such a poetic fashion... Did the sky look the same for him in Tokyo as it did for her in Kyoto? Would it be the same back on Gaia? If they do share the same sky...and she's somewhere out there... ]
Hahah...
[ '-it is because my world has been so small, my views so limited, until the day I met you.'
There she goes again. Eloquent compared to him, yet it feels like she's reading his mind even in literature form. It's just like the stage. The movie that, as time goes on and the premier draws nearer, he wishes he could show to more and more people. No matter how big or little their role. Cloud and Ayaka may value their privacy, but she's the one responsible for breaking those barriers down. Piece by piece. Layer by layer. Until all that remains is a man who couldn't wait to tell anyone who marvels at the beautiful girl on the big screen,
"That's my girlfriend."
And when people who ask that spiky haired boy was that came from a countryside village and melted the heart of that beautiful girl,
"That's my beau."
As she lay dying in his arms and the audience's hearts are pulled by emotion,
"That'smylove."
]
I will always be yours...
[ Deja vu... She's filled him with this same feeling before. Back in Nara, beneath the ancient grand tree that safeguarded its many inhabitants. As flows of spiky hair gradually turn from golden blond to waves of icy blue, he lowers the pages to stare straight back at her once more. ]
Gonna feel like the longest wait of my life before I see you again tonight.
[ He's not moved to tears in the same way that she's been in the past. But his eyes remain soft still, his brow line lifted as the emotion in those mako-infused blues was clear as crystal. Like he damn well was about to cry. Even if he doesn't, what else was there to say? What can he say beyond telling her he loved her over and over again? Telling her Happy Birthday over and over again? That he would embrace this moment over and over again?
Well...telling by the way he finds himself hugging the box of sakura mochi and her letter closer to his chest as that tender smile of never left, ]
[ It doesn't seem like she's ever going to grow tired of professing her love to him. And there's nothing wrong with that, as long as Cloud loves her, too! Ayaka feels so very light today, and it's all thanks to him. ]
There is a saying, isn't there? That good things come to those who wait.
[ Today has been a good day! Today is a good birthday. And tonight? It will be an amazing date. ]
[ The "good thing" being her. He's had her all along. ]
Mm. Guess that just means I'm waiting on something sweeter.
[ An amazing date with her. Meaning that anything she wanted? She got. Just because she already got her gifts from him already this morning, didn't mean that pampering her stopped there. ]
[ There's nothing else to be said about that now. Ayaka smiles before she covers half of her face with her open fan. ]
I'm very excited for our date tonight.
[ Bats her eyelashes like a fair maiden would. She likes you, Cloud. Far too much. And she would like it if you stayed, but... alas. That's not part of today's schedule. ]
[ He can't help but softly sigh and shake her head, finding it hard to keep eye contact without feeling shy all over again. Especially when she'd bat her lashes at him like that from behind an open fan. Ever so elegant... Remembering the gift in his hands and the letter he would hold precious furthermore, Cloud nods as his smile wanes a little. Not because anything was wrong, but because they'd already spent the better part of the morning together now.
She'd received her gifts, the power to protect her family and loved ones, and he had another memory to harbor in his heart for it. And more importantly, the day wasn't even done. He'd go home, relax and let her enjoy her birthday, and get things ready for tonight. They didn't have any extravagant plans, nor did he plan on making any bigger ones after their dinner reservation. He'd deliberated between the teahouse back towards Gion or something a little more fancy. His only stipulation? Was that the restaurant served quality unagi.
Chazuke may be a favorite of hers, but...well. There's a reason he still has day-old rice left in his fridge. ]
Right. I'm gonna get going.
[ Before, it used to be with great reluctance that he'd ever dare to leave... But this time? He was two blocks down. Just that thought alone fills his heart and leaves him brimming with contentment. ]
[ Ayaka can't help but laugh at that! "Good", huh? The assurance that this date tonight is going to be amazing sends her heart aflutter. She is so very lucky to have him.
She gets up from her seat and waits for Cloud to follow suit, taking his hand so she can properly escort him to the door. Away from prying eyes and the overall presence of her family... On the tips of her toes now, she grabs him by the collar and gives him a kiss. ]
[ Just when Cloud is about to take his leave, she surprises him the moment he turns around to say goodbye. Uncharacteristically taken off balance, she pulls him by the collar for a kiss, and he's quick to comply. Feeling her soft lips against his, he can dish it out...but taking it? It flusters him despite the way it makes his heart skip. She was so beautiful...
She's making it very damn hard to want to leave. Especially when she so confidently takes hold of him. He belongs to her. Just the same way he's kept her soul and every part of her in kind. And...something about this side of her was nothing short of exciting to him. ]
Miss you more.
[ Saying that, he brushes his hand through her bangs, lending to it gliding down the side of her head affectionately before he finally nods and lets go. And so, with present in hand and a little extra bound in his step if one were to pay close enough attention, Cloud takes his leave of the Kamisato Estate once more. There's an entire afternoon ahead of him before he's to return here tonight. Yet even with all that time between now and then, as he sets foot inside his home, leaning against the sliding door frame with no one's eyes on him... ]
...
[ He sighs. More wistful than anything as he grips the box tighter. He can't believe it. He still hasn't woken up from this dream yet. ]
🍂🍂🍂
[ After spending the majority of his day between perusing the nearby marketplace to restock his fridge, training in his backyard, and fussing over the minute placings in his house for shelving and the knickknacks that gradually continue to accrue in his home, he eventually returns to the Kamisato Estate as the sun begins its slow descent beneath the horizon. A soft, warm, orange glow sets the scene for the sky above as he texts Ayaka five minutes before arriving, ]
Be there in 5.
[ It's still relatively warm out, which means that the dark-colored yukata set he received in Nara was his choice of attire for tonight's outing. If there's one thing he's thankful for in learning to wield a new weapon, it's that he no longer has to carry the Buster Sword everywhere he goes when wanting a less eye-drawing night out. The odachi sheathed at his side was far more suitable, Tsubaki becoming a familiar and reliable weight to him as he quickly approaches on her household. He decides to wait for her at the front gate this time, in case she was still visiting with her brother inside. Their time together was important, after all.
Family...
She helped him fill even that void with the gift that sits in his living room. A thought that brings his hand to his heart, smiling to himself as he awaits Ayaka's arrival, leaning against the inside of the gate's entryway as he observes the front door. ]
[ Cloud said he'd like to see her in more sleeveless dresses... It's not like she had to— Ayaka knows this!— but she feels the need to be even more presentable to her beau. She would like to make an effort so that when he keeps his eyes on her? He'd have a good reason for it and he would be rewarded for it.
A little bit before their appointed time, Ayaka is fixing her hair still, making sure the ribbons aren't out of place. She looks at herself in the mirror, then looks to the side, then the other. It feels so bare like this, and it is something she isn't used to! But just like their first date, she's put on a more Western-style of dress. Something that Cloud might be familiar with, even!
Rushing to her device when she hears it beep, she lets out a soft surprised sound when Cloud tells her that he'll be at home in five minutes. Is that enough time? Ah— one last look in the mirror and she decides to ditch her cardigan. A deep breath. Show your shoulders and your arms, Ayaka!!
There's an audible swallow before Ayaka decides that she's ready. As if she's read Cloud's mind, she decides to wait for him outside, only rushing towards the gate when she's able to see him from afar.
The sun's about to set. ]
Cloud! [ ^_^!! She's so very excited to see him, even though they only met earlier. She normally wouldn't be so loud, but she couldn't help that burst of joy upon seeing him. Ayaka wasn't kidding when she said she would miss him.
[ Color him surprised when she comes out wearing a familiar western-style dress. Cloud had thought she would have come out either in her usual state of wear or even a kimono! But remembering the conversation they had earlier when he was giving her her presents and teaching her how to use Materia for the first time, he supposes he should have seen this coming after all. Like he was seeing her for the very first time, his moment of being stunned doesn't last very long by the time she's already rushing towards the gate and bounding up to him. The way her hair frames her face...bouncing and swaying like little bells with no chime, Ayaka never fails to lift his spirits.
Even when they were already at their highest. How did she do it?
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ]
Yes ma'am.
[ Even though the sun would still be in their peripheral in the direction that they were walking, it only cast his girlfriend in an even warmer light in his eyes as he looks to her. Hand in hand. Public displays of affection like this were right up his alleyway now. Today, on her birthday especially, he really didn't want her to have to worry about a single thing. With a squeeze of her hand in his, he even moves to thread his fingers between hers. ]
How'd your day go with Ayato?
🌠🌠🌠
[ Her birthday dinner was a private and intimate affair this time around. Whilst they could have walked all the way down to the district of Gion for their usual teahouse, Cloud had found a locale closer to home this time. Thankfully? They had private rooms much like the ones found at the place Ayaka and Zack had taken him to for his birthday! Even though the table had room for a few more people, the two occupy their time and space here well! Drinking tea (that she still serves even on her birthday kahjfd), indulging in plenty of Unagi for the birthday girl as well as using the private room to their advantage as he swallows his nerves to...well, swallow any food she decides to feed to him.
The meal is entirely on Cloud, this time! It's surprisingly affordable while still maintaining a respectful quality of life. Though given how well-treated refugees were in this land, not to mention Miss Kamisato's connections with the government through her brother, their bill may have missed an item or three... On the house. Happy Birthday! With bellies full and a calm and relaxing night waiting for them as they decide to take the long way back home so that they can pass by his house first, the streets are well lit and the ambiance of the night is relaxing. It's beginning to get cooler at night.
Not enough to warrant sleeves yet, but enough to want to coax the couple to perhaps walk a touch closer down the street. ]
—anyway, Rufus was the one who gave me business blueprints for when I start up the delivery service.
[ For his birthday! Funny...he seemed to know an awful lot about this line of work. Not to mention giving him the name "Strife Delivery Service"? He has to wonder who really thought of all this... 🤔 ]
[ She's so very happy today, even moreso when she got to be with Cloud already. The moment they've got their hands joined, and they're about to leave the Kamisato Estate? Ayaka does it again. She pulls Cloud by the collar until she doesn't have to get on the tips of her toes. ]
I missed you so much. Hehe.
[ :)! Now, as for his question? Ayaka talks about it on their way to the restaurant! Ayato bought flowers for her, which she'll show so excitedly to him even as they walk! They're so pretty, and she placed them in a pot and by their parents' shrine. She then talks about the kinds of flowers she's received, their meanings and how she likes them very much. Ayato took a day off from work, and it was such a pleasant surprise!
Nothing went wrong today at all, and Ayaka is overjoyed at the fact that her birthday was spent with people whom she loves very much.
Her dinner with Cloud goes off without a hitch, too. The evening air after they leave the restaurant is crisp and cool, and she's got her arm around Cloud's while her hand that's farthest from him rests on his arm. Resting her head on him as they walk, she listens to Cloud's story this time around. His business! She's still so very excited about that, and she wishes for nothing more but his success.
If she could work for him too... she would like that very much. ]
Do you agree with it? The help is nice, but it should be something you like, too.
Seems to make sense to me. [ A beat. ] Sans the bike. I'll iron the kinks out with that later.
According to the plans, they project that I'll eventually be doing work across Nippon. Between Kingdoms...
[ It's not a bad thing! It just...sounds like a lot of work. How was he going to keep things affordable while also making a profit? That was also up for time to tell. But speaking of time, he pauses as they wait their turn to cross the street. A thoughtful hum leaves his lips... This is something he's never told anyone before. Let alone suspected of Rufus himself. ]
You think...this is something I ended up doing in the future?
I suppose... This Rufus fellow is someone supposedly from your future, isn't he? So he may have taken the idea from events in real life.
[ But... then she worries, because she doesn't know if the Cloud she's with likes the idea of something like that completely. Even though it seems to make sense and something Cloud is willing to do... knowing that someone, somewhere out there wrote this path for him feels a little... strange. There is destiny, and there is something that is foreordained.
[ But at the very least, he doesn't seem to be downtrodden about the idea. If only because... ]
Been making my own way here so far. If it's something a future version of myself ends up doing, doesn't mean I gotta follow everything to a T.
[ ... he hadn't meant to read her mind. Honest. But the thought that crosses his does leave him with a little smile on his face. ]
Like having a princess for an assistant.
[ Bet his future version of himself doesn't have that. ...he also bets the future version of himself didn't get whisked away to a different world that ran on ancient magic steampunk and sex so there's that. ]
Edited (WITH FEELING THIS TIME) 2022-10-19 03:57 (UTC)
[ That gets a soft laugh out of the white heron. It's a relatively serious topic, but because of everything they've done today and talked about today, her heart is lighter than ever. And because of this, she believes she can afford to be a little bit silly. ]
Perhaps the future version of you isn't a Prince.
[ That's enough of that, though. Hugging his arm a little tighter, she goes back to the topic at hand. ]
I agree. What you should do is something that the present you wants to do. Just Cloud of right now.
I think... that that version of Cloud is the most important one.
[ He laughs, short as it is to her little retort back. ]
Maybe not.
[ It's silly. He would have sighed and drooped his shoulders at being called someone's prince. Or being asked if his girlfriend was a princess. But, then...he didn't have the weight of the world on his shoulders anymore, did he. A lot has changed in half a year, and yet there were still some things that would remain the same. Even if...it's felt good to explore these changes. Embrace these changes. Keep on following down this path, just like they take this pathway home together as the streetlamps light their way. ]
'Something the present me wants to do...'
[ They're fast approaching his house on the corner of the street, as his eyes follow the listless sea of stars that hang so bright here in the Western Kingdom... ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ With her sleeves covering her arm and all.
... hang on just a minute. Ayaka's cheeks redden and she looks away, stammering before she finally asks: ]
Ah... Did- Did you want me to wear sleeveless dresses more often?
[ So much skin... o///o ]
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[ He cants his head, innocence brimming in the way he blinks at her once. Twice. Then she timidly asks if he prefers her to wear sleeveless dresses, and her reaction makes all the more sense now. And it's his turn to start blushing, breath clipping as he rubs the back of his neck.
It's hardly the most scandalous thing though! ]
T-That, wasn't what I was getting at.
[ If she didn't want to, she didn't have to. He liked anything she wore. But...then he remembers what she wore for their first date. And he almost forgot that they were in Nippon for a second. If he could loop time on laying eyes on her on that bridge, he very well may have a few times over and more. So as he shyly tucks his gaze to the corner of his collar...his eyes return to her once more despite the glow of red in his cheeks.
No. This wasn't some "just an example" moment. ]
But...you do look good in them.
no subject
Then... I shall invest in more of them.
[ If Cloud thinks she looks nice in those kinds of dresses. It is very different from her normal attire, but she's tried it before! It wasn't a bad experience! So it's not going to hurt her at all if she does wear more of those, especially on dates. 😳
Now then! Clearing her throat, she removes the armlet again so she can keep it. ]
Thank you for being so thoughtful, Cloud. You didn't have to get me anything, but everything that I have received from you today has been so precious.
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And for when the player makes Samurai Cloud icons finally S M F H.]Neither did you. [ But he's glad that she did. Now, if this world permits it, and he does see his next birthday here with her... He won't let it pass by. He'll look forward to it. In the same way he's been able to return his affections back on her today. Their lesson, for the time being, was finished now. ] But...
[ Save for Tsubaki, the omamori charm he keeps on his person even still...everything she's given him in turn, his cheeks redden a little despite his shy smile when he confesses, ]
Your letter to me is staying in my nightstand.
[ Where he can come home and read it every time by his bedside. ]
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[ Not Cloud's! But ah... That puts a smile on her face. And now she's reminded. Earlier, she told Cloud that she would like to give him something. The sakura mochi she's made has been carefully placed in a box with the Kamisato's emblem on the cover. With it is yet another letter, so... ]
May I give you the sakura mochi now? I had written another letter for you along with it.
[ Words that she's already told him before, but feel the need to express everyday, or even write down into paper. Ayaka doesn't think she could ever grow tired of saying all these things to him, professing her love and admiration, thanking him for the friendship he has given her.
She owes him so much for the happiness he's provided. ]
no subject
[ He's past the point of modestly telling her that she didn't need to get him anything. Not when he knew how much it lit up her day knowing that she could gift him something. That, and just having her presence was more than enough; she's given him plenty of that in turn. So when she has sakura mochi and a new letter prepared for him? What else can he do but softly sigh through his nose, smile growing as he closes what little distance remains to steal away one more kiss?
Here within the confines of these walls
(and no shrine or big bro to see sdakfjh), in the same way she's been able to express her true feelings, so too was he able to become a little braver. Kizuna instilling that courage furthermore also never hurt. Her lips, soft as the time he first got up out of his seat when she danced for him and took back the breath she stole from him, leave him wishing that he could just keep doing that. But he tempers himself, always for her, and draws back with a little nod. ]That concludes our lesson.
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Y- Yes... [ u///u Her face is so red, and her cheeks are stinging. Back to reality, though! She clears her throat as she gets up to fetch the last box of sakura mochi she's prepared.
For Cloud? He gets double the pieces compared to Zack and the others. The letter is in between the box's cover and the ribbon, something for Cloud to read in his spare time. Ayaka comes back not too long after she's excused herself, already having calmed herself enough to give him his present without her freaking out too much. ]
Would you like these served to you now? [ Cloud can eat straight from the box, but it would only be proper to offer to plate it... ] I would suggest to keep it and eat at home, for when you want a snack, instead.
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Hating to see her go
but loving watching her leave, he huffs a little to himself when she's out of sight, taking the time to enjoy the serenity that's held strong within these walls. Sitting in her garden for the first time was a memory that he harbors surprisingly close; it's part of the reason why he absolutely needed space either out front or out back for a garden of his own once he acquired his own house. ]Mm? [ As he graciously accepts the box, noticing the letter between the cover and the ribbon most importantly. The Snow on the Hearth was a delight, and he'd treasure the mochi she's prepared for him! But unless he wanted to sit down out here or go back inside and take a piece from it, perhaps it was best he waited after all. To her suggestion, he nods with a soft hum. Though his eyes drift from hers...back to what's slipped between the cover and ribbon. ] Mind if I read the letter?
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[ Much like other letters Ayaka has written Cloud in the past, the handwriting is no different. Neat, practised, precise. Perfect in the Kamisato Clan's standards, and far above all else. It's content, soft and vulnerable, something for Cloud and Cloud alone.
It reads:
To my dearest Cloud,
The sky has been so beautiful at night, lately. The stars have looked brighter and bigger. I do not know what phenomena caused this, or it may even perhaps be the fact that I no longer feel that emptiness when I look at it at night. Before I rest, I think of you, and I think of how many stars are in the sky that separate us. Did the sky look the same way from Tokyo? Do the stars shine the same way in Gaia?
Whatever the answer may be, I know now that we share the same sky, the same sun, the same moon. It is so very romantic to think about, and on a more personal note, I feel much closer to you. Should I reach up and grab a twinkling star, I may end up holding on to you, in the end, because of how near you are. It is something I can never, ever lose appreciation for.
I never once thought that I would meet a friend who would understand me in full, would share in my interests, or let me be myself. Knowing you, being friends with you, and with my heart beating now for you... it feels too good to be true. I am truly blessed to have met you, and even more fortunate to date you, and to love you. I understand now why I always thought I could never find someone for me... it is because my world has been so small, my views so limited, until the day I met you.
On this day, I would like to give you a token of my love, affection, and appreciation. Snow on the Hearth is a dish I am confident in making, and it is my variation of a popular Inazuman treat. I pray that you will like it, and if you do, that you will let me make more of these for you in the future.
Thank you for making my life fuller, and for allowing me to celebrate an important day with you.
I love you very much, Cloud. I will always be yours.
Your Ayaka ]
...
[ Ayaka will give him all the time and space he needs, all the while she burns up as she waits because she's getting shy about what she had written. :( ]
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(except big bro)Cloud is grateful she's allowing him to do so. Even if it it embarrasses her doing so. ]To my dearest Cloud...
[ ... Wait. Already, he can see just how much she's written down upon these pages. He stops for a moment, looking back up to Ayaka with her gift in hand. He hasn't even begun to read it yet and he already can feel butterflies fluttering in his stomach. So much so that he can't help the tickled huff of a laugh that leaves him as he smiles for her. Right. Tempted as he was to sit down with her for this, he also feels that if they do that, they just might get distracted all over again. The little smile he leaves for her before returning to the letter is one of reassurance.
He trusts her. The fact she even has a gift for him on her birthday was enough to catch him off guard. His gentle eyes continue to peruse the pristine handwriting, word for word. Sentence for sentence. Every one just as precious as the last. She poses a question to him in such a poetic fashion... Did the sky look the same for him in Tokyo as it did for her in Kyoto? Would it be the same back on Gaia? If they do share the same sky...and she's somewhere out there... ]
Hahah...
[ '-it is because my world has been so small, my views so limited, until the day I met you.'
There she goes again. Eloquent compared to him, yet it feels like she's reading his mind even in literature form. It's just like the stage. The movie that, as time goes on and the premier draws nearer, he wishes he could show to more and more people. No matter how big or little their role. Cloud and Ayaka may value their privacy, but she's the one responsible for breaking those barriers down. Piece by piece. Layer by layer. Until all that remains is a man who couldn't wait to tell anyone who marvels at the beautiful girl on the big screen,
"That's my girlfriend."
And when people who ask that spiky haired boy was that came from a countryside village and melted the heart of that beautiful girl,
"That's my beau."
As she lay dying in his arms and the audience's hearts are pulled by emotion,
I will always be yours...
[ Deja vu... She's filled him with this same feeling before. Back in Nara, beneath the ancient grand tree that safeguarded its many inhabitants. As flows of spiky hair gradually turn from golden blond to waves of icy blue, he lowers the pages to stare straight back at her once more. ]
Your Ayaka.
2/2
[ He's not moved to tears in the same way that she's been in the past. But his eyes remain soft still, his brow line lifted as the emotion in those mako-infused blues was clear as crystal. Like he damn well was about to cry. Even if he doesn't, what else was there to say? What can he say beyond telling her he loved her over and over again? Telling her Happy Birthday over and over again? That he would embrace this moment over and over again?
Well...telling by the way he finds himself hugging the box of sakura mochi and her letter closer to his chest as that tender smile of never left, ]
Thank you, Ayaka.
[ Powerful words, for saying so little. ]
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[ It doesn't seem like she's ever going to grow tired of professing her love to him. And there's nothing wrong with that, as long as Cloud loves her, too! Ayaka feels so very light today, and it's all thanks to him. ]
There is a saying, isn't there? That good things come to those who wait.
[ Today has been a good day! Today is a good birthday. And tonight? It will be an amazing date. ]
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[ The "good thing" being her. He's had her all along. ]
Mm. Guess that just means I'm waiting on something sweeter.
[ An amazing date with her. Meaning that anything she wanted? She got. Just because she already got her gifts from him already this morning, didn't mean that pampering her stopped there. ]
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I'm very excited for our date tonight.
[ Bats her eyelashes like a fair maiden would. She likes you, Cloud. Far too much. And she would like it if you stayed, but... alas. That's not part of today's schedule. ]
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[ He can't help but softly sigh and shake her head, finding it hard to keep eye contact without feeling shy all over again. Especially when she'd bat her lashes at him like that from behind an open fan. Ever so elegant... Remembering the gift in his hands and the letter he would hold precious furthermore, Cloud nods as his smile wanes a little. Not because anything was wrong, but because they'd already spent the better part of the morning together now.
She'd received her gifts, the power to protect her family and loved ones, and he had another memory to harbor in his heart for it. And more importantly, the day wasn't even done. He'd go home, relax and let her enjoy her birthday, and get things ready for tonight. They didn't have any extravagant plans, nor did he plan on making any bigger ones after their dinner reservation. He'd deliberated between the teahouse back towards Gion or something a little more fancy. His only stipulation? Was that the restaurant served quality unagi.
Chazuke may be a favorite of hers, but...well. There's a reason he still has day-old rice left in his fridge. ]
Right. I'm gonna get going.
[ Before, it used to be with great reluctance that he'd ever dare to leave... But this time? He was two blocks down. Just that thought alone fills his heart and leaves him brimming with contentment. ]
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[ Ayaka can't help but laugh at that! "Good", huh? The assurance that this date tonight is going to be amazing sends her heart aflutter. She is so very lucky to have him.
She gets up from her seat and waits for Cloud to follow suit, taking his hand so she can properly escort him to the door. Away from prying eyes and the overall presence of her family... On the tips of her toes now, she grabs him by the collar and gives him a kiss. ]
I'll miss you.
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She's making it very damn hard to want to leave. Especially when she so confidently takes hold of him. He belongs to her. Just the same way he's kept her soul and every part of her in kind. And...something about this side of her was nothing short of exciting to him. ]
Miss you more.
[ Saying that, he brushes his hand through her bangs, lending to it gliding down the side of her head affectionately before he finally nods and lets go. And so, with present in hand and a little extra bound in his step if one were to pay close enough attention, Cloud takes his leave of the Kamisato Estate once more. There's an entire afternoon ahead of him before he's to return here tonight. Yet even with all that time between now and then, as he sets foot inside his home, leaning against the sliding door frame with no one's eyes on him... ]
...
[ He sighs. More wistful than anything as he grips the box tighter. He can't believe it. He still hasn't woken up from this dream yet. ]
[ After spending the majority of his day between perusing the nearby marketplace to restock his fridge, training in his backyard, and fussing over the minute placings in his house for shelving and the knickknacks that gradually continue to accrue in his home, he eventually returns to the Kamisato Estate as the sun begins its slow descent beneath the horizon. A soft, warm, orange glow sets the scene for the sky above as he texts Ayaka five minutes before arriving, ]
Be there in 5.
[ It's still relatively warm out, which means that the dark-colored yukata set he received in Nara was his choice of attire for tonight's outing. If there's one thing he's thankful for in learning to wield a new weapon, it's that he no longer has to carry the Buster Sword everywhere he goes when wanting a less eye-drawing night out. The odachi sheathed at his side was far more suitable, Tsubaki becoming a familiar and reliable weight to him as he quickly approaches on her household. He decides to wait for her at the front gate this time, in case she was still visiting with her brother inside. Their time together was important, after all.
Family...
She helped him fill even that void with the gift that sits in his living room. A thought that brings his hand to his heart, smiling to himself as he awaits Ayaka's arrival, leaning against the inside of the gate's entryway as he observes the front door. ]
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A little bit before their appointed time, Ayaka is fixing her hair still, making sure the ribbons aren't out of place. She looks at herself in the mirror, then looks to the side, then the other. It feels so bare like this, and it is something she isn't used to! But just like their first date, she's put on a more Western-style of dress. Something that Cloud might be familiar with, even!
Rushing to her device when she hears it beep, she lets out a soft surprised sound when Cloud tells her that he'll be at home in five minutes. Is that enough time? Ah— one last look in the mirror and she decides to ditch her cardigan. A deep breath. Show your shoulders and your arms, Ayaka!!
There's an audible swallow before Ayaka decides that she's ready. As if she's read Cloud's mind, she decides to wait for him outside, only rushing towards the gate when she's able to see him from afar.
The sun's about to set. ]
Cloud! [ ^_^!! She's so very excited to see him, even though they only met earlier. She normally wouldn't be so loud, but she couldn't help that burst of joy upon seeing him. Ayaka wasn't kidding when she said she would miss him.
Now by his side, ] Shall we go?
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Even when they were already at their highest. How did she do it?
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ]
Yes ma'am.
[ Even though the sun would still be in their peripheral in the direction that they were walking, it only cast his girlfriend in an even warmer light in his eyes as he looks to her. Hand in hand. Public displays of affection like this were right up his alleyway now. Today, on her birthday especially, he really didn't want her to have to worry about a single thing. With a squeeze of her hand in his, he even moves to thread his fingers between hers. ]
How'd your day go with Ayato?
[ Her birthday dinner was a private and intimate affair this time around. Whilst they could have walked all the way down to the district of Gion for their usual teahouse, Cloud had found a locale closer to home this time. Thankfully? They had private rooms much like the ones found at the place Ayaka and Zack had taken him to for his birthday! Even though the table had room for a few more people, the two occupy their time and space here well! Drinking tea (that she still serves even on her birthday kahjfd), indulging in plenty of Unagi for the birthday girl as well as using the private room to their advantage as he swallows his nerves to...well, swallow any food she decides to feed to him.
The meal is entirely on Cloud, this time! It's surprisingly affordable while still maintaining a respectful quality of life. Though given how well-treated refugees were in this land, not to mention Miss Kamisato's connections with the government through her brother, their bill may have missed an item or three... On the house. Happy Birthday! With bellies full and a calm and relaxing night waiting for them as they decide to take the long way back home so that they can pass by his house first, the streets are well lit and the ambiance of the night is relaxing. It's beginning to get cooler at night.
Not enough to warrant sleeves yet, but enough to want to coax the couple to perhaps walk a touch closer down the street. ]
—anyway, Rufus was the one who gave me business blueprints for when I start up the delivery service.
[ For his birthday! Funny...he seemed to know an awful lot about this line of work. Not to mention giving him the name "Strife Delivery Service"? He has to wonder who really thought of all this... 🤔 ]
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I missed you so much. Hehe.
[ :)! Now, as for his question? Ayaka talks about it on their way to the restaurant! Ayato bought flowers for her, which she'll show so excitedly to him even as they walk! They're so pretty, and she placed them in a pot and by their parents' shrine. She then talks about the kinds of flowers she's received, their meanings and how she likes them very much. Ayato took a day off from work, and it was such a pleasant surprise!
Nothing went wrong today at all, and Ayaka is overjoyed at the fact that her birthday was spent with people whom she loves very much.
Her dinner with Cloud goes off without a hitch, too. The evening air after they leave the restaurant is crisp and cool, and she's got her arm around Cloud's while her hand that's farthest from him rests on his arm. Resting her head on him as they walk, she listens to Cloud's story this time around. His business! She's still so very excited about that, and she wishes for nothing more but his success.
If she could work for him too... she would like that very much. ]
Do you agree with it? The help is nice, but it should be something you like, too.
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According to the plans, they project that I'll eventually be doing work across Nippon. Between Kingdoms...
[ It's not a bad thing! It just...sounds like a lot of work. How was he going to keep things affordable while also making a profit? That was also up for time to tell. But speaking of time, he pauses as they wait their turn to cross the street. A thoughtful hum leaves his lips... This is something he's never told anyone before. Let alone suspected of Rufus himself. ]
You think...this is something I ended up doing in the future?
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[ But... then she worries, because she doesn't know if the Cloud she's with likes the idea of something like that completely. Even though it seems to make sense and something Cloud is willing to do... knowing that someone, somewhere out there wrote this path for him feels a little... strange. There is destiny, and there is something that is foreordained.
It doesn't seem like the former. ]
What do you think?
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[ But at the very least, he doesn't seem to be downtrodden about the idea. If only because... ]
Been making my own way here so far. If it's something a future version of myself ends up doing, doesn't mean I gotta follow everything to a T.
[ ... he hadn't meant to read her mind. Honest. But the thought that crosses his does leave him with a little smile on his face. ]
Like having a princess for an assistant.
[ Bet his future version of himself doesn't have that. ...he also bets the future version of himself didn't get whisked away to a different world that ran on ancient magic steampunk
and sexso there's that. ]no subject
Perhaps the future version of you isn't a Prince.
[ That's enough of that, though. Hugging his arm a little tighter, she goes back to the topic at hand. ]
I agree. What you should do is something that the present you wants to do. Just Cloud of right now.
I think... that that version of Cloud is the most important one.
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Maybe not.
[ It's silly. He would have sighed and drooped his shoulders at being called someone's prince. Or being asked if his girlfriend was a princess. But, then...he didn't have the weight of the world on his shoulders anymore, did he. A lot has changed in half a year, and yet there were still some things that would remain the same. Even if...it's felt good to explore these changes. Embrace these changes. Keep on following down this path, just like they take this pathway home together as the streetlamps light their way. ]
'Something the present me wants to do...'
[ They're fast approaching his house on the corner of the street, as his eyes follow the listless sea of stars that hang so bright here in the Western Kingdom... ]
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