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Post by Mirumoto Noboru on Feb 8, 2018 9:58:09 GMT -5
He shook his head no, "There was someone calling themselves the Flower Detective. I was meditating and Kakita Uetani-san had come to dojo to practice. The Flower Detective insulted our culture, including iaijutsu, stating it was an easy way for the guilty to flee prosecution. So..."
A deep breath. "So she and I sparred to illustrate how wrong the Flower Detective was."
He closes his own eyes as he relieves the thrill he felt in that moment, relieves the excitement and the trepidation and obsession that came after. "I've seen duelist who were clearly my superior but clouded in doubt or overconfidence. I've seen promising duelists who just need proper guidance. But I'd never seen anyone who was my equal until that day. I saw..."
A sigh as his eyes open, shame starting to creep on his face. "I saw something in her that she also saw in me: pain over losing someone and how we focused that pain. I saw someone who was my equal. Had that been a real duel, kharma would have seen to it that she and I would both be dead right now."
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Post by Doji Hoshiko on Feb 8, 2018 10:03:29 GMT -5
Oh Kami...he's breaking up with me
Hoshiko's expression became neutral instead of worried.
"Oh...Ok. A-ano...who is she?"
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Post by Mirumoto Noboru on Feb 8, 2018 10:41:52 GMT -5
"I'm... still not sure. Yesterday was the first time we'd met. She..."
A sigh.
"I've never seen anyone's soul so clearly before. It was like looking into a mirror. And I couldn't get her out of my head yesterday. The entire thing was so intense. So..."
You're only making this worse. And she's probably going to dump you, so just get to the point.
His head hung lowas he began to admit something else. "After the party, I went to the dojo to clear my head. To try to stop thinking about her every time I thought about Hikari. She showed up and we sparred again..." A sigh as his heart sank, "And then the tension. The passion of the duel... We both did something stupid and kissed each other."
He looked away from Hoshiko, about ready to vomit because he felt so bad. "We... We talked after. I told her about Hikari since she'd already seen her in my soul. But... we stopped ourselves before things got out of hand."
As ashamed as he was he looked up to the Doji girl, a few tears in his eyes that he held back. "I... I think she and I would be lesser duelists without each other. But we resolved to never be alone together..." He blinked out the tears, smiling sadly at Hoshiko as he can only imagine how much this is hurting her. "Because I couldn't bring myself to do anything more to hurt you. And I know this has to hurt hearing it, but... but if we decide to be more some day, I don't want any secrets between us."
He stood and bowed, "If you can't forgive me, or don't wish to see me anymore it will hurt... but I'll understand."
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Post by Doji Hoshiko on Feb 8, 2018 10:55:15 GMT -5
...
She was speechless, literally stunned silent. Even her mind went blank. Eventually, after a few moments;
"Oh."
She blinked.
"I see. Ok." Hoshiko rose, giving Noboru a smile "it's ok. Really. I understand. You found a kindred spirit! That's really...really great!"
And it's not me
"I wish you two all the happiness. I do, honestly!" She bowed "A-ano, I need to..." she didn't even finish her sentence, just saying "sorry!" as she turned and ran for the door, out of the cafeteria, heading for the doorway outside to the courtyard and back to the dorms...
Leaving her guitar with Noboru.
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Post by Mirumoto Noboru on Feb 8, 2018 11:26:46 GMT -5
Noboru watches for a moment in stunned silence as Hoshiko begins running off in response to what he said. That was the one reaction he absolutely wasn't prepared for. As she ran, however, the Mirumoto was about to take off after her when he noticed her guitar being left behind. It was going to cost him some time, but he picked up the instrument and properly strapped it to his back, making damn sure it wasn't going to get damaged or fall off when he started his pursuit.
"Hoshiko-chan!" he called out as he began running after her! "Hoshi-chan! Wait!"
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Post by Doji Hoshiko on Feb 8, 2018 11:33:55 GMT -5
Hoshiko shoved the door open, almost hitting someone with it, the tears already starting to build in her eyes.
You baka! How could you...
She barely made it halfway across the courtyard before she came to a stop, doubled over, tears falling from her eyes onto the floor.
"How could you..." she whispered, both panting for breath and crying at the same time.
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Post by Mirumoto Noboru on Feb 8, 2018 11:56:52 GMT -5
Noboru stopped as he watched her double over onto the ground of the courtyard, eyes closed as he took the reaction from her like a boxer absorbing body blow after body blow. Each more painful than the last.
Etiquette and social graces were never his thing, so the Dragon just walked over to Hoshiko as a small crowd watched then kept walking to help the Crane girl keep her face. That's when she'd feel his uniform jacket going around her shoulders after he removed her guitar, set it down, then restrapped it to himself while leaving the Mirumoto in a white collared shirt and tie.
"Because I was stupid," he offered honestly as he leaned down and whispered to the Doji. "Because I gave in to Desire for a moment and nearly threw away the best thing to happen to me in two years." His hand started to stroke her back lightly, expecting a very poor reaction but his path was already decided. "But there's someone else who completes me in a far different way. Someone who challenges me to be a better musician and is trying her best to help me find a happier path. Someone who gave me a second chance..." A sigh, "that I completely screwed up."
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Post by Doji Hoshiko on Feb 8, 2018 12:37:16 GMT -5
Hoshiko felt weak. She felt shame. She, the great Black Swan, the brilliant musician...she wasn't good enough. Simple as that. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve, standing up, her light makeup having run already.
"She...completes you, better than I can. Doesn't she?"
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Post by Mirumoto Noboru on Feb 8, 2018 13:05:27 GMT -5
"No," came an honest answer that he whispered softly into Hoshiko's ear. His hand lightly tried to brush away her tears as he looked down into her eyes with a sad, remorseful smile.
"You both complete me in different ways... and while I felt a different kind of passion from her, I'd rather be with you, to see if this can grow into more. And if it doesn't?"
He smiles, "You may be the only Crane I'll ever be friends with, and I'd still enjoy that, too."
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Post by Doji Hoshiko on Feb 8, 2018 14:30:44 GMT -5
Hoshiko almost caved at that. Almost.
"Noboru..." she whispered, resting her head on his hand for a few moments before she blinked a few times, and slapped his hand down.
"Then why did you kiss another girl?!"
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