Samurai skills and mystical arts(Natsume thread)

[Anastasia]

OOC: Midnight, we'll clarify the extent of your energy skill on IRC. Don't worry about them too much right now.

IC:

Natsume.

Natsume Kusanagi.

Natsume Kusanagi of the family school of sword fighting arts.

Natsume Kusanagi, mage?

Even as the months have rolled by and by, it can be hard to believe. But as you gain more and more control over it, it's hard to deny. Your feats of energy control, guided by Usagi, are becoming stronger and stronger. Why, just last week, that annoying tree stump in the back yard was dispatched of with one concentrated burst of chi - beats several hours of shovel and crowbar work.

And thus, even with this, life goes on. It's a snowy day in late November - with a steady, wet snow today and a blizzard widely expected for tomorrow. It's something of a news story, being on the anniversary of last year's great blizzard. Several feet of snow fell in that now legendary snowstorm, leaving Tokyo shut down for a week.

So it comes as no surprise when Juuban cancels just before 10 AM for the day, as a inch or so of snow is already on the ground. As many students, including Ann, didn't even bother to show, it's not a big deal anyway. On heading home and doing a nice early afternoon practice and a bath, coming into the living room leads you to this. Kurumi and your Grandfather are staring down at a heavy overcoat - your grandfather's winter jacket. A huge tear is in it, both starting at it. "Oh man...I'm so sorry, Grandfather," Kurumi blurts out, blushing. "I know that was your favorite jacket and..."

To his credit, he just shakes his head. "No, it's fine, Kurumi. Just purchase me a new one today before the storm sets in." Glancing back over his shoulder, "Oh, Natsume. Why don't the two of you go to the mall together?"

Kurumi smiles a bit at that, perking up. "That's a good idea...you've been so into your training I haven't gotten a chance to talk to you much in the past week, Natsume-chan."

[Midnight Sun]

"Huh...have I really been that busy?" Natsume thinks. In hindsight, most of her time WAS either being spent in the dojo, or with Usagi. "Sorry about that, I guess it just slipped my mind."

It does not take long for her to change into some slightly warmer clothing. She thought it a bit odd that Kurumi would want to go out in such wintry conditions, but she did not want to deny her younger sister a chance at sibling bonding, something she now admits they've been lacking as of late.

"Alright, let's go," Natsume says as she throws on her own heavy jacket. "But try not to spend a better part of the day trying on 100 different pairs of the same shoes, you know how much I hate that."

[Anastasia]

Putting on her own puffy and pale blue jacket, Kurumi smiles. "I promise, Natsume-chan," she vows. "Though, maybe you should look into some new shoes, or maybe a nice new dress?"

As she banters with you, you step out into the snowstorm. It's a nasty one with three to four inches already falling, and the grey sky is showing no signs of ceasing. With a bit of a wind, it's really not fun to be outside at all. At least it's not a far walk, as even conversation is a bit strained in this weather.

[Midnight Sun]

Silence eventually settles between them as they continue to trek through the thick layer of snow. After spending a few minutes admiring her own milky white breath, Natsume gazes up at the dull, ash gray sky, and watches the snowflakes slowly flutter down.....

"It was such a long time ago...the last time we played in the snow...," Natsume muses outloud. "I think...I think it was the last winter we spent with Mom and Dad...."

[Anastasia]

"Mmmm," Kurumi says, sending her head and gaze heaven ward as well. "I always think about snow with them because of that," she murmurs, thoughtful. "And with last winter...I did a lot of thinking."

Turning to you, "Grandfather told me once that snowflakes were the crystalline tears of those who miss us." Kurumi smiles, sadness tinging it strongly, as she holds out her hand to catch a snowflake. "I wonder if it's snowing where Mom and Dad are now?"

[Midnight Sun]

"Hmm, I would hope so," Natsume says. "Its probably snowing all year around where they are..."

She could still remember their faces clearly in her mind, but as the years passed she found the picture growing just a little more fuzzy. Maybe one day she would forget what they looked like...but for now she was content to know that that day was a long way away.

"We never did know how they died," Natsume says softly. "I wish I could've been there to say goodbye."

[Anastasia]

Kurumi sniffles a bit, wiping away a tear from her upturned face. "Yeah. I...still can't believe they'd have left us alone if they could have helped it at all, though."

Taking a shuddery breath to compose herself,

Oh, Natsume...You at least remember them...That's one up on me.

"At least we still have Grandfather," Kurumi notes, trying to look up. "We'd have been left alone to wander if it wasn't for him." A smile there, brightening her melancholy face. "Kami only know what would have been our fate then, Natsume."

[Midnight Sun]

"Oh I'm sure we'd come up with something," Natsume says, amused. "We'd probably become a pair of wandering gypsies traveling from one end of Japan to the other, living by whatever means we could."

Hm, I guess that would make for a pretty interesting life.

"Well, that probably sounds a bit too farfetched," Natsume smiles. "What do you think?"

[Anastasia]

"Realistically?" So asking, Kurumi again glances at the sky that is gracing you with millions of snowflakes. "We'd probably have ended up being taken to an orphanage, or being adopted sooner or later." Now slipping into a thoughtful lull as she speaks, Kurumi smiles.

"When you look at it that way, we're even luckier to have Grandfather around. Kami only know what you'd do if you hadn't been taught swordfighting, Natsume."

Probably...hell, maybe she'd be the giggling sister I always kind of wished for, to buy clothes with and laugh about boys....

[Midnight Sun]

That's a good question....what would I be doing now if I didn't have the sword....

Natsume's face turns contemplative. She had never really thought about it really. The art of swordfighting had been a fascination for her ever since she first met her grandfather, so many years ago....

The sword has been nearly my entire life. I just can't imagine what I would be doing without it...

"Hm...I don't know if I should be worried by that or not..."

[Anastasia]

"Yeah," Natsume replies after a moment. "Probably just as well, sis."

At that, Natsume falls quiet. With the snows falling and silence between the two of you settling in, it's ripe for contemplation as you approach Tokyo Mall. This seems to be what takes Kurumi, who goes silent and has her gaze fall on the sidewalk you transverse.

Would Natsume be like that? I can't help but think that even without sword fighting that she'd still be the way she is. Still so quiet and dedicated to whatever she does, still interested in those Senshi? Still so damned focused?

Would I be the same, though? If I only had Natsume...would I be Natsume II?

Glancing up at Natsume, Kurumi smiles slightly as you enter the walkway to Tokyo Mall, through the path between parking lots. "Hey, Natsume.

Are you happy with what you do?"

[Midnight Sun]

"Of course," Natsume answers, as if it were the easiest question in the world. "Anything worth doing just should be worth enjoying. That's what I believe anyway."

[Anastasia]

"Guess so," Natsume murmurs with a smile, as you approach the entrance you desire. It's a little side door that you've used before, that leads you right into the mall, near the 1st floor clothing shop Kurumi has always been fond of.

As you enter, you note it's not really all that much warmer inside as outside...brr. On entering, the same familiar details catch your eye.

The floor setup is pretty simple - underneath the shadow of the upper walkways are the stores, each advertising great deals and bargains in glittering glass windows. Past that is the guts of the floor area, the open areas with benches, trees, and such, leading to the center area with the fountain and exhibit. Esclators dot here and there, leading to higher floors.

The roof of the fourth floor is a giant skyroof. Gray light comes down from it, but not enough. Due to the snowy weather, it leaves a certain lack of light in the majority of the mall. A special, almost dusk like shadowness, only banished in small pools of yellow light in intervals.

Some people are about, all dressed in warm sweaters, scarves, coats, trench jackets - the familiar wear of the winter months. A high number of school uniforms are hidden underneath the jackets, showing that Juuban wasn't the only school with no attendance today. Everyone seems cheery and relaxed despite the gloominess as you head to the ice scuptures. It's a strange contrast.

Past all this, Kurumi heads right to the shop she wants to - Naomi's Clothing. Nothing unusual to this, really. "Come on...and if you hurry, we'll have time to get you some shoes after all, too," Kurumi says with a playful smile, her mood boosting in anticipation of a shopping fix. The normal dummies with clothes are in the windows, the same blue sign above the open entrance as always. Just another day in the mall...right? Just the same as Kurumi heads into the front racks of advertised winter clothes...?

[Midnight Sun]

Natsume walks in right behind Kurumi. The store seemed to be having a winter sale of some kind, judging by the unusual number of customers packed into the place. Kurumi had quickly headed over to the winter clothing racks, leaving Natsume to her own devices...

"I'll never understand that girl," she sighs. She could never understand the allure of shopping, but nonetheless she went to work finding something...anything...she might need. "No way will Kurumi let me leave without getting something..."

[Anastasia]

Glancing about, you walk around a bit. Damn, it's chilly in here...don't they have the heat on? Almost like an icebox, as a matter of fact. But, your contemplations about the cold are cut off by something catching your eye. A rack of scarves, with one near the front getting your attention. It's the palest gold, long and woolly. Nice and all...and yet, a patch of ice is forming on it, spreading across the scarf there to all the others in the rack.