Long Conversations - Houchou/Kokin
Houchou likes listening to Kokindenjunotachi recite poems.
Houchou isn’t the most cultured of her brothers, and she knows it. It’s hard to be, when all the culture comes from crummy old men and nuns. It’s like she always tells Ichi-nii, when he tries to coax her to join in with poetry recitations or flower arrangements or whatever: she’ll listen when it’s a pretty married woman telling her what to do. Ichigo had sighed in exasperation when she’s said that, but here she is, hanging onto Kokindenjunotachi’s every word, despite her older brother’s disappointed sighs.
The fact that she hasn’t absorbed a single thing Kokindenjunotachi has said this entire time is immaterial.
She knows what the other sword is reading, at least. It’s a collection of poetry from the master’s collection, Kokindenjunotachi’s pale, soft lips reading out the foreign words, practicing the poems until she knows them by heart. Until she can recite them before their master. That’s what Houchou is here for, has volunteered for - to be Kokindenjunotachi’s audience so she can practice these new songs.
They aren’t love poems, at least. Houchou would know if they were, because even if she doesn’t understand the words, she knows a love poem when she hears one, and she can’t sit still if she’s listening to a love poem from the lips of a married woman. Much less love poems from one married woman, destined to another. No, these poems are probably the same-old same-old, boring old men going on about the same boring old things. The only thing that makes them lovely, in Houchou’s mind, is the one reading them.
The one reading them, and the beautiful way her mouth moves as she speaks.
Until those beautiful lips and flowing words are interrupted by a decidedly un-beautiful rattling sound, and the door to the room is pushed open a hand’s width or so.
“Excuse me, Kokindenjunotachi-sama?” a small voice says.
Houchou is conflicted. Kyunosuke is adorable, it’s true, and it’s cute how excited he gets to see Houchou’s sword, but also, he’s interrupting them. Still, Kokindenjunotachi turns to him, smiling.
“Yes, Kyunosuke-san?” she says, her voice teasing.
It’s not aimed at her, but Houchou shivers at her tone anyway.
“The master has a new mission,” Kyunosuke replies. “She’s sending Sui Unit, and would like for you to lead them.”
Houchou’s heart sinks. It isn’t like she’d ever want to get in the way of their master’s orders, but she was enjoying herself, and this long conversation in a single voice she and Kokindenjunotachi had been sharing.
Kokindenjunotachi sets down the book she had been reading from, tucking it away and turning her shaded gaze back to the little fox.
“Tell her I will be there in just a moment,” she says. And, as Kyunosuke pushes the door closed, she turns to Houchou and smiles. “Houchou-chan. Will you help me dress?”
Houchou’s chest lifts, and her body with it.
“Yes,” she says, almost breathless as she gets to her feet.
Houchou is probably more of a hindrance than a help, and it’s not like Kokindenjunotachi can’t dress herself. But the tachi has invited her to it, so Houchou swallows against the pounding of her heart as she helps Kokindenjunotachi out of her day clothes. Houchou folds them, but badly, distracted as she is by Kokindenjunotachi’s lithe form, the black marks on her skin. Houchou can’t believe Jizou’s luck, their master’s luck, that they get to see this any time they want. When she’s dressed, Kokindenjunotachi even lets Houchou brush her hair, her finger’s coming so close to the tachi’s neck that she shivers, wanting to kiss it.
She doesn’t, though, because now is no time to be distracted. Or distracting. Their master has given an order, after all. So Houchou brushes Kokindenjunotachi’s hair, then braids it, and ties the ribbon into place.
She places a hand on Kokindenjunotachi’s shoulder, intending to smooth out her collar.
Kokindenjunotachi’s fingers catch hers, and she raises them to her lips.
Her touch and kiss are cool, almost the same temperature as a blade.
Her golden eyes flick to Houchou’s, and she offers a smile that’s almost mischievous.
“When we return,” Kokindenjunotachi says. “Will you join me once again, Houchou-chan? I should like to finish my recitation for you.”
“Please,” Houchou breathes. Then, remembering her manners, she adds, “I would like that very much as well.”
Kokindenjunotachi’s smile is just for her, all for her. In this moment, at least.
“Good,” she says, rising to her feet. “I look forward to it,”
Houchou does to. It won’t be long, she knows, but it will be long enough, and she can’t wait to continue the long conversation they share between them.