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The Walls We Build WIP
She was wind racing through the garden, leaping on the carefully distanced stones, and Ragnarok relished the challenge of meeting her skill. She landed effortlessly and silently on the stones, pausing before vaulting forward as a silver beam in the moonlight, the silk of her kimono shining and leaving trails of light behind her. These were the moves of Shinobi, not of Samurai. Had he been of more noble standing in the ranks of the Samurai, he might have been more disgusted than awestruck with her discipline, but he found himself doing his utter best to mimic it. They scaled the red tiled wall that surrounded the garden, sitting atop it for a moment to catch their breath, each smiling at the other as the continued fireworks and festivities of the night illuminated their forms.
"It's been too long since I was able to do something like this," admitted Okari as she raised the front of her kimono to just above her knees, allowing her blue and white legs to feel the cool night air, kicking them over the side of the wall in a manner too naive for someone of her years. "It felt good to experience movement and freedom unfettered by posture and social confirmation."
The black wolf smiled at her and replied, "Maybe it is I who should be asking YOU how many secrets you have." That earned a tricky grin from her as she slid off of the wall, straightening her kimono as she landed. He dropped down behind her, taking it upon himself to help her readjust her obi before they walked back out into the lighted area where all could see them again. It was hard this time to stay the proper distance from her. He longed for more blossoms in her hair, more moonlight to shroud them, but these were confessions he kept to himself and whatever god was watching that night.
Okari stopped at a small stand that was selling peach buns, fetching coins from a purse safely tucked away in her obi. The merchant tried to give them to her at no cost, but she insisted politely that she pay. Turning with hers in her mouth, she handed the other to Ragnarok who happily took a bite.
"I'm growing tired of this social outing," she said in between bites. "Do you feel like going back home?"
Home. His heart was filled with warmth as that danced in his ears. "If that is what you wish, my Lady, that is what we will do," he replied, unable to hide his smile. "May I ask you a question?"
She folded her arms behind her back, licking her lips from the last bite of peach bun, "Sure."
"Everyone here seems to feel as though they owe you something. A simple merchant refusing payment for his service is a big deal to one who has so little. What position do you really hold here? And don't tell me that you're just a member of a noble house that grows crops and trains artisans," his eyebrows were slightly furrowed, scrutinizing the beautiful face.
She turned to him, her smile calm and unhindered. "That is an answer you will have to earn, Young Samurai. It's not one I hand out."
He grinned and laughed under his breath. The path home was lit up by fireflies and will o wisps, the servants of fox spirits. The flames of purple and red danced in the bushes on the sides of the path, and Ragnarok eagerly watched them, the fur on his neck standing on end. "I've never seen them this close before," he said as he stopped, watching what he believed to be the silhouette of Inari herself staring back.
Okari turned around and approached him, holding his shoulder somewhat firmly. "The veil between all worlds is very thin here near Kyoto. It's a magical place, my friend. And all things good come to appreciate and celebrate hanami," she managed to get him to look her in the eye. "Beware though, good and well meaning as she is, she is a trickster." With that statement, Okari turned to the white edged shadow and nodded curtly. To Ragnarok's surprise, the spectre bowed on its four legs and lept away.
When they arrived back at the Tsukino house, Okari retired the night guards to their posts nearest to the house. Jade came out to greet them, a little tipsy from the servants' own celebrations, but she informed the two wolves that the bath house was prepared for them, should they choose to use it before bed. Okari thanked her and kindly reminded her to clean up before she and the other servants of the house went to bed that night.
Okari turned on the porch surrounding the house like a walkway and made her way towards the bath house. Ragnarok was just entering the house when he heard Okari call his name. Stepping back out, looking around the corner, he tilted his head inquisitively.
"I think we both need a bath after our garden adventure, don't you?" she asked, tilting her head to match his and giggling softly.
His cheeks instantly heated up. "Uh, I'll wait until you are done, Okari-san."
She nodded and backed away while bowing slightly, pushing the issue no further. He wondered if she had been inviting him to come with her. Normally, it would have been of little concern. Japanese custom was very open with public baths, but in a steamy bath alone with her...something felt different about the idea.
He talked amongst the servants, gladly taking bites of the dishes they had cooked for their own celebration, enjoying the time to just talk amicably with others. An hour passed before he went out into the bath house. It was full of misty, scented steam. Jade had certainly outdone herself. Unceremoniously, he removed the silk kimono, cotton hakama, and other trappings from his body, absentmindedly tracing his new scar with the black pads of his hand before melting into the water. He allowed himself to relax before seeing another shadow standing on the other side of the bath. He tensed, remembering the spectre of Inari before, his lips curled, ears pinned as the steam slowly dissipated as if by his command. There she stood, wrapping her simple thin, white cotton kimono around her lithe frame. Her wet hair clung to her shoulders and to the fabric, as she turned, her cheeks were red with heat. He watched with bated breath as she picked up the strange leather bracers that she always wore, almost always barely hidden under her kimono. As she was about to fasten them onto her forearms, her eyes met his, questioning and still.
Sensing the tension in the air, she spoke in a jovial voice, "A little late to come join me, isn't it, Ragnarok?"
He could barely nod, feeling terrible that he had unwittingly crossed what he believed to be a barrier. She gathered her things and began to move to the front of the bath, where he was. Bending over, allowing some of her wet hair to cascade like water near his face, she reassured him, "Worry not, Samurai. I know it is not in your character to be disrespectful." She kneeled beside him, buttoning the strange leather armor onto her arms. He watched curiously as she gritted her teeth and looked at them when they were firmly on her arms.
"Those are strange bracers...never seen anything like them," he said as he reached out to touch the odd ring that came from the top of them.
A sad smile crossed her muzzle, her eyes became clouded with past memories. "They aren't bracers...they are restraints."
His head turned towards hers sharply. "These were never a part of my defense. They have never been of any help." There was a deep sadness in her tone. She didn't offer further information, but he could tell something deeply troubling had happened, and these objects were the last visible remnants of it.
"Then why wear them?" he asked, tracing his fingers around the end of one of them, where leather and metal met fur and skin.
She stood up, gathered her things and replied, "Why wear scars?"
He contemplated the nature of this creature that had become his interim Master. So much he had been willing to overlook before was tantalizing to him now. But he knew he would not get something for nothing from Tsukino Okari. If he was to break down her walls, he would have to allow her to break down his.
He left the bath in only his hakama, the gorgeous kimono she had given him folded in his arms. Normally, he would have been more modest and worn a top into the house, but he knew that the servants would all be in bed by now, save the night guards posted around the perimeter of the house itself. His feet where silent on the maple boards of the hallway as he walked towards his room. Lost in thought he barely noticed someone else in the hallway with him, when he turned to acknowledge them, he stood transfixed.
Now, in the light of the dimly lit hallway, he could see how her thin kimono clung to her body, revealing her form with soft curves of fabric. Her hair was wrapped up in a bun loosely, the damp tendrils still stubbornly falling onto the back of her neck. She looked back at him, her eyes following his and occasionally drifting to his topless body in return.
The distance was unbearable. Okari had to admit that. Her responsibilities to her family name and house did not allow her the kind of contact he had given her in a matter of minutes in their secret garden. The heat of the bath house was still on the both of them, and she wanted desperately to close the feet and inches between them, one hand tentatively on the door to her room, the other clinging to the fabric of her kimono, pulling it up over her beating heart.
Her expression became sad as she offered him a gentle smile and nodded goodnight as she entered her bedroom, dropping slowly to the floor to close her door. He watched with regret as her shadow laid down upon her futon alone. Damn these walls that were between them...not just the ones of paper and wood. He would start trading his for hers soon. Then, maybe if he did it in time, there would be nothing to maintain their distance for.
More of the drabbles about Okari and Ragnarok.
Ragnarok is skyler-ragnarok's.
Okari is mine.
<<< PREV | FIRST | NEXT >>>
"It's been too long since I was able to do something like this," admitted Okari as she raised the front of her kimono to just above her knees, allowing her blue and white legs to feel the cool night air, kicking them over the side of the wall in a manner too naive for someone of her years. "It felt good to experience movement and freedom unfettered by posture and social confirmation."
The black wolf smiled at her and replied, "Maybe it is I who should be asking YOU how many secrets you have." That earned a tricky grin from her as she slid off of the wall, straightening her kimono as she landed. He dropped down behind her, taking it upon himself to help her readjust her obi before they walked back out into the lighted area where all could see them again. It was hard this time to stay the proper distance from her. He longed for more blossoms in her hair, more moonlight to shroud them, but these were confessions he kept to himself and whatever god was watching that night.
Okari stopped at a small stand that was selling peach buns, fetching coins from a purse safely tucked away in her obi. The merchant tried to give them to her at no cost, but she insisted politely that she pay. Turning with hers in her mouth, she handed the other to Ragnarok who happily took a bite.
"I'm growing tired of this social outing," she said in between bites. "Do you feel like going back home?"
Home. His heart was filled with warmth as that danced in his ears. "If that is what you wish, my Lady, that is what we will do," he replied, unable to hide his smile. "May I ask you a question?"
She folded her arms behind her back, licking her lips from the last bite of peach bun, "Sure."
"Everyone here seems to feel as though they owe you something. A simple merchant refusing payment for his service is a big deal to one who has so little. What position do you really hold here? And don't tell me that you're just a member of a noble house that grows crops and trains artisans," his eyebrows were slightly furrowed, scrutinizing the beautiful face.
She turned to him, her smile calm and unhindered. "That is an answer you will have to earn, Young Samurai. It's not one I hand out."
He grinned and laughed under his breath. The path home was lit up by fireflies and will o wisps, the servants of fox spirits. The flames of purple and red danced in the bushes on the sides of the path, and Ragnarok eagerly watched them, the fur on his neck standing on end. "I've never seen them this close before," he said as he stopped, watching what he believed to be the silhouette of Inari herself staring back.
Okari turned around and approached him, holding his shoulder somewhat firmly. "The veil between all worlds is very thin here near Kyoto. It's a magical place, my friend. And all things good come to appreciate and celebrate hanami," she managed to get him to look her in the eye. "Beware though, good and well meaning as she is, she is a trickster." With that statement, Okari turned to the white edged shadow and nodded curtly. To Ragnarok's surprise, the spectre bowed on its four legs and lept away.
When they arrived back at the Tsukino house, Okari retired the night guards to their posts nearest to the house. Jade came out to greet them, a little tipsy from the servants' own celebrations, but she informed the two wolves that the bath house was prepared for them, should they choose to use it before bed. Okari thanked her and kindly reminded her to clean up before she and the other servants of the house went to bed that night.
Okari turned on the porch surrounding the house like a walkway and made her way towards the bath house. Ragnarok was just entering the house when he heard Okari call his name. Stepping back out, looking around the corner, he tilted his head inquisitively.
"I think we both need a bath after our garden adventure, don't you?" she asked, tilting her head to match his and giggling softly.
His cheeks instantly heated up. "Uh, I'll wait until you are done, Okari-san."
She nodded and backed away while bowing slightly, pushing the issue no further. He wondered if she had been inviting him to come with her. Normally, it would have been of little concern. Japanese custom was very open with public baths, but in a steamy bath alone with her...something felt different about the idea.
He talked amongst the servants, gladly taking bites of the dishes they had cooked for their own celebration, enjoying the time to just talk amicably with others. An hour passed before he went out into the bath house. It was full of misty, scented steam. Jade had certainly outdone herself. Unceremoniously, he removed the silk kimono, cotton hakama, and other trappings from his body, absentmindedly tracing his new scar with the black pads of his hand before melting into the water. He allowed himself to relax before seeing another shadow standing on the other side of the bath. He tensed, remembering the spectre of Inari before, his lips curled, ears pinned as the steam slowly dissipated as if by his command. There she stood, wrapping her simple thin, white cotton kimono around her lithe frame. Her wet hair clung to her shoulders and to the fabric, as she turned, her cheeks were red with heat. He watched with bated breath as she picked up the strange leather bracers that she always wore, almost always barely hidden under her kimono. As she was about to fasten them onto her forearms, her eyes met his, questioning and still.
Sensing the tension in the air, she spoke in a jovial voice, "A little late to come join me, isn't it, Ragnarok?"
He could barely nod, feeling terrible that he had unwittingly crossed what he believed to be a barrier. She gathered her things and began to move to the front of the bath, where he was. Bending over, allowing some of her wet hair to cascade like water near his face, she reassured him, "Worry not, Samurai. I know it is not in your character to be disrespectful." She kneeled beside him, buttoning the strange leather armor onto her arms. He watched curiously as she gritted her teeth and looked at them when they were firmly on her arms.
"Those are strange bracers...never seen anything like them," he said as he reached out to touch the odd ring that came from the top of them.
A sad smile crossed her muzzle, her eyes became clouded with past memories. "They aren't bracers...they are restraints."
His head turned towards hers sharply. "These were never a part of my defense. They have never been of any help." There was a deep sadness in her tone. She didn't offer further information, but he could tell something deeply troubling had happened, and these objects were the last visible remnants of it.
"Then why wear them?" he asked, tracing his fingers around the end of one of them, where leather and metal met fur and skin.
She stood up, gathered her things and replied, "Why wear scars?"
He contemplated the nature of this creature that had become his interim Master. So much he had been willing to overlook before was tantalizing to him now. But he knew he would not get something for nothing from Tsukino Okari. If he was to break down her walls, he would have to allow her to break down his.
He left the bath in only his hakama, the gorgeous kimono she had given him folded in his arms. Normally, he would have been more modest and worn a top into the house, but he knew that the servants would all be in bed by now, save the night guards posted around the perimeter of the house itself. His feet where silent on the maple boards of the hallway as he walked towards his room. Lost in thought he barely noticed someone else in the hallway with him, when he turned to acknowledge them, he stood transfixed.
Now, in the light of the dimly lit hallway, he could see how her thin kimono clung to her body, revealing her form with soft curves of fabric. Her hair was wrapped up in a bun loosely, the damp tendrils still stubbornly falling onto the back of her neck. She looked back at him, her eyes following his and occasionally drifting to his topless body in return.
The distance was unbearable. Okari had to admit that. Her responsibilities to her family name and house did not allow her the kind of contact he had given her in a matter of minutes in their secret garden. The heat of the bath house was still on the both of them, and she wanted desperately to close the feet and inches between them, one hand tentatively on the door to her room, the other clinging to the fabric of her kimono, pulling it up over her beating heart.
Her expression became sad as she offered him a gentle smile and nodded goodnight as she entered her bedroom, dropping slowly to the floor to close her door. He watched with regret as her shadow laid down upon her futon alone. Damn these walls that were between them...not just the ones of paper and wood. He would start trading his for hers soon. Then, maybe if he did it in time, there would be nothing to maintain their distance for.
More of the drabbles about Okari and Ragnarok.
Ragnarok is skyler-ragnarok's.
Okari is mine.
<<< PREV | FIRST | NEXT >>>
Category Artwork (Traditional) / General Furry Art
Species Wolf
Size 895 x 669px
File Size 60.9 kB
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