Paper Flowers

[Ayaka Nanakorobi]

The black lace that trimmed the bow was scalloped, but with the way the greens, blues, and garden patterns of the fabric bunched and ruched, it was nearly impossible to tell. Very natural-looking dark rain-blue eyes looked around, scanning each of the store windows as Ayaka walked past, a sky blue violin purse in her hands. It was a nice afternoon in Kyoto, and the teenager had only spent half the day at work, the other half of the day off reserved for her friends. Shopping and window-browsing were always on the agenda with this bunch, and maybe a movie or stopping for something sweet. That had been the plan. Ayaka worked all that morning cheerily, looking forward to riding home and changing clothes, out of plain things that hid her like a background object and into something with lace and frills. Into a warm brown wig with spiraling curls - a favourite of hers while her hair had been growing back - and a dress that looked like Monet's Water Lillies . Black lace, beatiful flowers, and a bright white blouse came together and made the teenager underneath the layers seem very much like an exhibited doll come to life.

It wouldn't be just her dressed this way. That was the beauty of spending today with Kyoko and Yuki. They dressed this way, too, and even had a clib in school that met weekly to discuss the costumes and making of them and all the special little details. Ayaka faithfully attended every meeting, and outings like this were always a great way to get inspiration for something new, cute, and ultimately pretty. Three doll-like girls, laughing mindlessly about nothing as they flitted between the shops like sugar-drunk humming birds. Ayaka would laugh with them, even if the jokes were never that funny; Kyoko was in charge of the club and highly-regarded in class, so spending time with her looked good. Even though she'd been here in Kyoto for almost two years, that need was still there. The need to keep popular friends and always look good, just in case. Her father would find out somehow if she didn't; he always did. And at least here her company wasn't so bad, even if they were a little bland.

She couldn't help but wonder if secretly Kyoko and Yuki were like her, and only projecting the images of cuteness and squealing girllishness. Maybe there was something more to them that she hadn't seen yet, despite the time she'd spent with them. Maybe everyone was like this, outward one way and in another. The teenager's thoughts were didstant and entirely apart from the conversation, not noticing that her companions had stopped ahead of her until Ayaka walked right into Yuki, and bounced back a few steps, laughing nervously as they both adjusted their dresses. "You are such a klutz, Ayaka," Yuki laughed. Ayaka fidgeted, cheeks dusting the faintest colour pink. "I swear, sometimes it's a wonder you can walk and chew gum." Sighing inwardly, Ayaka reminded herself that deeper-thinking and window-shopping didn't really mix. Less thinky more walky. Oh well. At least she was still out with two girls she almost would maybe call friend-like, even if it really was only ribbons and hairbows that held them together.

Yuki and Kyoko scurried to the front of a shop's window, pressing against the glass as they sighed and fawned over the dresses showcased there. Glittering satin, decked out with rhinestones, lace, and sequins. Wedding dresses, prom dresses, wedding kimono.... All the things in there were for special occasions, and cost more for a dress than all three girls could have put together with their allowances for months. Ayaka glanced up at the dresses; she had no use for anything like that. Even if she were invited to a fancy party, there would already be a dress waiting for her, and a boy she was supposed to be sweet and charming to at someone else's request. Like hell she'd ever get married, though. She watched what marriage was liek all her life, so that was something to avoid at all costs. So... pretty as it all was, there was nothing in there for her. The light behind the three of them shadowed, two taller reflections coming up from behind, one suddenly grappling around Yuki's waist and making her squeal, the other reaching out to take Kyoko's hand and kiss it, somewhere between teasing and sincere. Oh. Boyfriends. Goody. And here she'd just broke up with Tatsuya last week.

"Three pretty princesses all in a row," Kano teased, his arms tight around Yuki's waist, even as she protested the wrinkling of the yellow daisy dress. "But here we are to steal them!" With a playful roar and nip, Yuki squealed again, Seiji shaking his head, still holding onto Kyoko's hand as he bowed in a gentlemanly way.

"Tch, and that just shows you're a barbarian through and through, Kano. You don't steal princesses, you charm and woo them." Seiji flashed a smile that could have melted chocolate, kissing Kyoko's knuckles in the sweetest fashion. "And then they come to your castle willingly." Over the years, Ayaka had gotten quite good at suppressing things; presently the urges to roll her eyes or gag came to mind. The smile that was painted onto her face was soft and remained in place, as perfectly preserved as the spiraling curls in her hair as what to do next came up. The boys wouldn't really want to go shopping for fabric, lace, and cupcakes. What about a movie and dinner together as a group date? Oh, but Ayaka was single now, wouldn't that be weird? Maybe another time, then? There were four pressed looks all shot Ayaka's way, silently half-telling, half-begging her to give the right answer. Of course. She'd be fine, she insisted. They should go on and have a good time; she knew the area and could walk home just fine.

Right answer. Three frilly princesses became one, the girls laughing and hanging onto their boyfriends as they walked off, the four of them now sharing a united taste in bad jokes and bright squeals that were much too young for them. Ayaka was still as she watched, still standing in front of the dress shop untiol they'd all gone and left her alone in the crowd, manicured fingers holding onto the violin-shaped purse. The teen sighed, walking away from that window to the next store, the scent of flowers permeating everything. Her friends were as real as the flowers that prainted on her dress and the silk flower that adorned the center of the ribbon in her hair, the scent of the real flowers so thick and striking it was like walking into a wall. This was one of her favourite streets to shop on, stores with dresses, fabrics, boutiques, and flowers. And of all the things in this area to shop for, apart from the store that sold teas and pet things, the store that sold flowers was her favourite, if for no other reason than they were real. Lost and alone among the flowers, Ayaka could stop and breathe, and let herself be while nobody was there watching her and maybe, just maybe, enjoy herself for the moment while she browsed and wondered if maybe she should get some new seeds to take back and plant at the temple.

[Guest]

Kumero had been shadowing this group of three, strange doll-like girls all day. It wasn't for any way to get them in a...experiment, they just held her attention in the strangest way. So flitty, so...feminine; it kind of freaked her out. But held her interest long enough to follow them around their route this long. Window shopping was an activity she so rarely enjoyed, but these three apparently loved it. The one with the curly brown tresses of hair held her attention especially, she seemed...distant. Like she didn't exactly fit in here, but it seemed she was well liked among the others. Kumero was wearing her regular black silk kimono, in all its provacative glory with open front and shortened skirt, her sandals shuffling against the ground with every step, though she had been unnoticed for some time.

Then two guys appeared, perhaps college boys and they seemed to be flirting with the other two. Upon further easdropp-listening, it was obvious they were their boyfriends, though Kumero could care less. She brushed a stand of wheat colored hair behind her ear with a perfectly bronze hand as she watched the four saunter off, leaving the other behind. Now that was just rude, they didn't even invite her along! Or maybe she didn't want to go...still, it was rude. Kumero brought her angered eyes to the girl, Ayaka by what she had heard. She seemed so relaxed now, like she had been putting up an act all day. Well, Kumero had a specialty for breaking down walls, so time to make a new friend.

She started by perusing the window she was, getting closer and closer with every step. She could tell when someone was looking for something, so it was easy to tell she was looking for some sort of flower, so she cleared her throat and began to speak, almost shoulder to shoulder with the doll-like child. "Lotus flowers are excellent this time of year, but cherry seeds should be in soon once they get them in. A cherry tree looks wonderful when it blooms. My name's Kumero, a pleasure to meet you, Ayaka." Nearby was a potted lotus plant, which she deftly plucked and handed it to the girl, eyes upon the white petals. She turned her golden eyes to the girl, warm and smiling, just observing the absolute sight before her, beautiful as it was.

[Ayaka Nanakorobi]

The walls of flowers that surrounded the living doll was incredible, the thick perfume like a blanket that could smother her in the most beautiful way. That would be a nice way to die, Ayaka thought, pale fingers delicately brushing a rose's petals as she closed her eyes. Even being smothered, if it was something as nice as this, I don't think I'd mind. The dank morbidity of her own thoughts rolled off her shoulders without care, the teenager far too used to such things drifting through her head. She was in a place that brought momentary peace, and the flowers melded together more with every breath like a living painting, just like her dress. Opening her eyes again, Ayaka sighed gently, browsing through the flowers.

Most of the ones in this shop were cut and meant to be wrapped as bouquets, but a fair number were potted and fresh, still thriving in their containers. Cut flowers were nice, and Ayaka liked to hang them in her room to dry them out and keep them, or take the pretty ones she picked and press them between pages of her books. But for the temple, cut flowers she just didn't feel right; those flowers were lovely, but being cut, they were dead. The riffles of her skirt floofed as she knelt down, looking at a pot of begonias, the waxy leaves and flowers seeming exotic in how almost unreal they looked. She knew this flower, and that generally it was a pretty tough plant to kill and could withstand a lot of abuse. Not that it'd have a bad life at the temple, but it never hurt to have things that could stand to be neglected for a day or two just to be on the safe side.

It didn't register at first that anyone was beside her and nearly brushing shoulders until the other person cleared their throat, getting Ayaka's attention. At first she thought the other woman was trying to get a clerk's attention, but the shop's attendant was over on the other side of the room, and it was very much just Ayaka here to speak with. Surely she didn't think Ayaka worked here? Turning slowly, she looked up at Kumero as she reached over and plucked a lotus and handed it to her. The woman was pretty, and her dress was cute, but the way she was smiling was holding the teen in place. "Lotus flowers are excellent this time of year, but cherry seeds should be in soon once they get them in. A cherry tree looks wonderful when it blooms. My name's Kumero, a pleasure to meet you, Ayaka." The whitening powder on Ayaka's face did nothing to hide the bright pink blush that rose to her cheeks as she took the flower.

The 'thank you' that passed her glossed lips was almost inaudible, her eyes shooting down to fixate on the flower. She was right, it was beautiful. But who was she? "Kumero? It's..." The bright pink tinge was still present in her cheeks, rain-blue eyes tracing the flower's soft white petals as a gentle and rather innocent smile pushed up to her lips. Slowly, she finally looked back up. "It's nice to meet you. But, how did you know my name?" She looked her over again. Ayaka had never seen this woman before, and she certainly didn't look like anyone picked and sent by her father to be her friend. She took a tiny step back, putting just a little more space between them. "It's beautiful in here, isn't it?"

[Guest]

Already was it time for questions. She was a bewildered looking thing, that blush unmistakable on her cheeks. She smiled, though in a way to stifle a low chuckle in her throat as she mouthed what looked like 'thank you', though reading lips wasn't something Kumero was talented with. She seemed very interested in the flower, staring at it before looking back up, asking the obvious question. So, should she tell her the truth...Naaaaaah. "Well, I was meditating in back with the lavender, and this unruly...disturbance snapped me out of it. Those...guys came up, loud enough to wake the dead, one of them referred to you as Ayaka, so I just assumed..." He sentence trailed off as she examined her blush and got a bit closer, reaching the other end of her hand towards the girls forehead. "Are you sick, Ayaka? You look a bit red..." A harmless little tease, she thought, just a bit of fun.

She listened to her second question as she looked around the store, the shades of color, the beautiful scents mingling together into a melting pot of euphoric sensation, though this girl...held her attention more than the flowers did. She smiled to her, letting her head tilt as she responded, "It certainly is..." She thought over something in her head....this girl seemed to have had a day planned, something fun to do. Perhaps Kumero would make a good substitute for her friends. "It's a shame that they left, they don't know what they're missing. Y'know, we could do something, have a good day out, have a little fun. Any ideas?"

[Ayaka Nanakorobi]

It was one of those moments where for a brief flash, Ayaka questioned breaking up with her latest boyfriend. Tatsuya wasn't horrid at least, and was funny... and with Yuki and Kyoko running off and ditching the doll-like teenager, she was left alone in the flower shop in a whirlwind by a woman ho had overheard the other two dolls squealing her name as they galloped off without her. Hn. She would text and say that one of them owed her ice cream later, but it didn't really matter. They were just having fun, and deep down, the girls and their boyfriends probably knew that Ayaka wasn't half as much fun as she pretended to be. A slender hand reached out, pressing lightly against Ayaka's forehead. The girl flinched only slightly, deep blue eyes widening in the surprise of sudden contact "Are you sick, Ayaka? You look a bit red..."

...Oh, ha ha. The pink tinge still present on her cheeks, the teen did her best to swallow down how embarrassed she was at the moment. Her friends bailed and were loud enough that a stranger knew her hand and was teasing her. And touching her. Ayaka tried to not pull away instinctively from the sudden touch, instead forcing up a shy, nervous laugh. "It's a shame that they left, they don't know what they're missing. Y'know, we could do something, have a good day out, have a little fun. Any ideas?" Ayaka blinked, still a little shocked by the forwardness and friendliness of the stranger. For having just come out of meditation due to noisy teenagers, Kume certainly was receptive. The wheels turned briefly in Ayaka's head as she made her smile warm up, forcing the shyness down. Oh. She got it. This woman was being paid to come be her friend, wasn't she. Why else would she be so interested? Maybe she was a university student whose father was rubbing elbows with her own and getting them to be friends would be good. It seemed like a stretch, but at the same time, it wouldn't be the first time it had been the case with people wanting to be her friend so enthusiastically.

Hm, so ideas of what to do now that Yuki and Kyoko frolicked off and their plans of scouting new things for the club were shot. A manicured hand raised up, gently brushing a thick curl out from where it was trying to fall in front of her face. "I didn't have any plans really," Ayaka replied quietly, smiling but still not meeting Kumero's eyes. "We were here finding things for club after school. But other than go with them I didn't have anything planned. There's... some nice shops in the area, and a few good places for lunch, um... Did you have anything in mind?" As if trying to plan events with friends you knew wasn't hard enough, trying to plan activities with someone you knew nothing about was even harder.

[Guest]

God, Ayaka was cute. So shy, it made Kumero's inner thoughts smile in child-like amusement, something she hadn't felt in a while since the change in power in Aerugo. It was strange how this girl seemed to be something not of this world, like she belonged in a child's room, but...she seemed so nice, so innocent, but...something absolutely did not feel right. She had felt something like this many a time. Was it apprehension, sadness,...distrust? Or a combination of three rather. Kumero shook off the thoughts in her head, this was promising to be a fun day, and she would be damned to let wandering doubt cloud the large, mostly dominating fun zone of her brain.

"I didn't have any plans really," Kumero noticed the girl was not looking directly at her, so she crouched a bit, hands on her knees, bent slightly as to come to her head height so she could see those amazing rain blue eyes, all this with a wide grin on the right corner of her mouth, but eyes sincere and ears open. "We were here finding things for club after school. But other than go with them I didn't have anything planned. There's... some nice shops in the area, and a few good places for lunch, um... Did you have anything in mind?"

Indeed, Kumero could invent a good day from what seemed like knowledge, but she lived here and knew this area well, as did this girl. So, the greatest challenge was today was to make her as comfortable as possible so that it could be easier to get her to open up, tell a bit about herself, so on so forth. Her eyes drifted towards the sky, tapping her chin with a dainty finger, balancing the same arm on her other one crossed across her chest. She slowly stood back to her full height, then made a small Ah-ha sound as the light bulb went off. "Well, I know of a little cafe not too far from here, and there's a movie I've been dying to see, but movies are always more fun with friends. How about we get some food in you at the cafe then hit up the movies, then go from there?" She smiled, almost like her mother used to when she used to be happy, and offered a hand to Ayaka before starting to walk, beckoning her along. Time to start asking questions. "So, you said they're in a club with you, huh? What club would this be?""

[Ayaka Nanakorobi]

So here was a very enthusiastic young woman in the flower shop trying to help come up with makeshift plans for the day. Ayaka's eyes drifted away from the lotus in her hands and away from Kumero, back into the blurs and dabs of colour that painted the shop. There were cut flowers, flowers still alive and growing, seeds, and things to care for them. Mostly flowers to cut into bouquets, but the diversity and variety... Couldn't she just stay here? This was like the temple. The smell was sweet and natural, and blocked out the rest of the world that sped along noisily without her. Ayaka inhaled deeply, the scent of lavender and roses from some bouquet on the wall mingling and wrapping around her. This was comfort food for her soul and ear plugs that had the power to make the rest of the world and everyone in it go away. Maybe she'd get some lavender to bring back to the temple, add some colour and such a nice smell, and---

Oh yeah, she was still out in town and talking to someone.

Kumero tapped her chin in thought, slender arms folded as she tried to improvise a fun day. If the girl was really that determined to hang out with her and someone had gone to so much trouble, Ayaka wouldn't stop her. It was kind of nice that someone was there when her friends ditched, though it still struck her as a little odd that whoever coordinated this seemed to have an innate sense of timing. Maybe her father's lackies were watching her again and knew what her friends were like. Not that it would matter, really; all of them were like that to some degree. The popular people hung out together because that's what they did, and if they scattered to do their own thing it was just the same; they were like butterflies. Mindless, fluttering...

"Well, I know of a little cafe not too far from here, Kumero offered up with a smile, standing back to her full height. At least of all the people that had been picked for her, so far this girl seemed nice enough. "And there's a movie I've been dying to see, but movies are always more fun with friends. How about we get some food in you at the cafe then hit up the movies, then go from there?" Food didn't sound too bad. Padding always made the pills go down a little easier, and if there were movies involved, odds were that she'd need those pills. She'd sit through them for her friends, but movie theaters were always so loud; surround sound had a habit of doing that. But movies where things exploded made her want to curl up and die until her head stopped hurting, and movies with lots of screaming were just as bad. And dramas, while good, had a bad habit of shading into things she'd rather not think about sometimes. But... maybe with company whatever it was Kumero had been eyeing wouldn't be so bad.

Slowly Ayaka nodded, working to try and ease herself into the older girl's enthusiasm. Her thoughts kept wandering, and it was going to be one of those days. Some days her head was fine and she could think straight, and others it was just cloudy, distant, and hard to remember things for more than a few minutes. But before she left, while it was still fresh. Flowers. Seeds. The temple. "That sounds like a nice way to spend the afternoon," she replied softly, turning away to move to a tiny turning rack of seed packets. Lavender and its intoxicating smell would find a place in the gardens. Quickly she paid for the little paper packet and shoved it into her bag for later. As long as she emptied her bag as soon as she got home she'd remember to put the seeds where she could take them to work. She glanced to Kumero as a hand was held out for her to take.

Eeto.... And there was one of those things that everyone else paid little mind to. Most of her friends didn't hold her hands, except for some of the more overtly affectionate ones. Even Umeko only did sometimes, and boyfriends had to work up to holding her hand. Her smile remained, distant and gentle, Ayaka's hands instead clasping each other in front of her as they left the shop and began to walk. "So, you said they're in a club with you, huh? What club would this be?" Ayaka nodded again, the long curls bouncing softly.

"Mhmm. Lolita and fashion club... It's not a big club, or even that popular, but we spend a lot of time studying dress patterns and sewing." She looked over at Kumero. The girl didn't seem that much older than her, and might have either been in her last year of high school or early in university. "So what about you? You seem really familiar with this area... are you a student around here?"

[Guest]

Kumero, to say the least, was...off the ball with this one, so to speak. Her regular forwardness was incredibly deterred...but why? Kumero's usual tactic was to be as straightforward as possible to catch prey off guard, but to reiterate, this was not normal prey. She was alot like the secondary type Kume went for: shy, reserved, and cute (not sexy, CUTE by damn!). This one was all of the above, but there was something between them that just...felt like common ground. They were alike, in some strange way...she'd figure it out. She always did.

They walked on, Ayaka keeping her hands close to herself, not taking Kumero's smooth and tanned hand of friendship so Kumero wove her fingers together and hoisted them behind her head, her little kimono skirt flitting in the coming breeze. This girl looked pretty enough to be a doll, and hell, with the miracles of soul-binding, she could be. But then she remembered the blush. Plastic couldn't blush, silly Kume. She didn't look directly at Ayaka, but her periphrial vision certainly could. Those bobbing curls, that dress...mmmmmmmmMMMM! It made her want to just hold her like a little girl and her doll and just have her. But now was not the time.

"So what about you? You seem really familiar with this area...are you a student around here?" Kumero couldn't help but laugh. Nothing big but a light hearted but hearty laugh. She shook her head slowly as she did so, her face aglow in the setting sunlight and her smile. "Me? A student? Believe me, my education days are long behind me. I work around, mostly in the government actually. And military, if you wanna get specific." Kumero looked up to a nearby open-air group of tables, shaded by red and white parasols...the cafe. She put her arms down and did a little jog to the door, then swung it open, catching it with her foot to keep it open. She made a beckoning motion with her arm like a doorman. "After you, Ayaka~" Her voice going up into an excited and cool tone it usually did when she was on the cusp of a date.

[Ayaka Nanakorobi]

Airy and disconnected, the living doll dressed in Monet's Water Lilies, wide, dark curls bounced in time with ruffled petticoats. Light cotton and lacy prints that reflected the lingering warmth of the season, it wouldn't be long until Ayaka's dresses took on heavier fabrics and faux fur lining, making the living doll look like characters that lived in the works of Dickens and Andersen. Even if she didn't care for the effort as much as she pretended to, Ayaka did like the resulting effect and the toy-like qualities they gave her. She wasn't anything important or seen as an adult or even anything real, so why try so hard to be something she wasn't even good at pretending to be? Hands clasped, Ayaka walked alongside Kumero,her eyes and face as blank and distant as the windows of the buildings that towered above them.

Ayaka was a girl disconnected, only still tethered to the girl she walked beside by curiosity and conversation, questions of obligation still nagging her deep inside. But in a way, it was exciting, Ayaka reasoned. How often did a stranger introduce themselves, know your name already, and then eagerly sweep you off your normal path for a snack and an unplanned afternoon in a world where so much was planned and decided far in advance? So many of Ayaka's secret stash of manga started like this,despite most of them starring boys together in this sort of situation. So even if it was prearranged by one of their parents, the girl could at least pretend it was a sort of adventure and let herself enjoy it a little.

"Me? A student? Believe me, my education days are long behind me. I work around, mostly in the government actually. And military, if you wanna get specific." Ayaka's blood froze beneath her distant smile, cold paranoia knotting into the pit of her stomach. So Kumero really wasn't a student there trying to rub elbows or forced to be her friend. She looked so young, though. Kumero really did look like she could easily have been a classmate of Yakumo's at university. But... military? Ayaka hadn't expected that answer at all, by a long shot. Why was someone from the military suddenly wanting to spend time with a girl she'd never met byt already known the name of? The immediate worry was that someone was wanting information on the shadier side of Ayaka's father's business dealings. ”Don't embarrass me.” Ayaka shuddered inwardly, despite the meek smile, knowing very well to watch her tongue and anything she might say; image was everything, and saying anything to someone from the military could cause trouble for him. And trouble for Ikuto Nanakorobi meant trouble for Ayaka, and it wouldn't matter where she ran to to hide.

With a warm and genuine-looking smile, Kumero dashed forward, opening the door to the cafe as her name hung on the syllables of Ayaka's name. ”After you, Ayaka~” Nervousness fluttered inside of her as though a swarm of butterflies had been loosed, Ayaka giving Kume a shy smile as she passed, walking inside. She knew she'd mind herself. Ayaka entered and waited for Kumero to follow in. Her own voice was quiet inside, more quiet than it had been outside, rain-blue eyes only glancing up to Kume in small bursts between looking down as she walked, the hostess seating them.

”So you're in the military? That must be exciting.” Ayaka knew it probably wasn't. Terrifying most likely, but she watched the knews, saw what happened to soldiers, knew how they were only just now returning from Xing under the new Shogun's rule. Soldiers left in droves and came back in such small numbers, and always seemed to be in the throes of battle or planning. Well, according to the news, at least. Ayaka glanced around the cafe. It was a nice little place, and the food smelled good from what she could tell. [color=royalblue]”You get to see new places.”[//color] Her own statement caught her attention, Ayaka suddenly seeing the appeal. Kumero was free, and could fly away if she wanted. A life of danger and adventure in exchange for being able to leave the constricting boundaries of Aerugo. It also reminded the girl of just how little she'd planned for her own life. ”I almost wish I could do soemthing like that.”

[Csilla Angelis]

[BUMP]

[Sponsored content]