[TB/X/CCD] Spring
Feb. 3rd, 2005 09:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eirenical*coughs* Not the point. The point: More Seishirou/Nokoru fic! Still Nokoru's first spring (he's ~10 months old at this point) and he gets his first POV in the fic! *cheers* Most babies can't do some of the things he does (and they certainly can't think as rationally), but he's an Imonoyama and he's Nokoru. So really, does this surprise anyone? *eg*
Nokoru picked up his sippy-cup and lifted it to his mouth to take a drink. 'Kaasan smiled encouragement at him. If it weren't for the fact that sippy-cups and laughing didn't mix -- he'd learned that the hard way -- he would have laughed at her. She was so proud of these little achievements of his and they made her so happy. Really, he didn't understand why. He'd been drinking on his own for months and had even made successful forays into solid foods. He understood what his 'kaasan wanted from him more often than not, and was getting far more successful in making himself understood, as well.
He was well aware that he was advanced for his age, but his poor deluded 'kaasan had no experience with babies and just figured that this was normal. Oh well. He wasn't going to enlighten her. At least not yet. Not until he had the words just right. He'd been practicing, but he wasn't up to sentences just yet.
'Kaasan abruptly looked away, her eyes intensely focused and turned to the courtyard. Moments later the smell of blood hit Nokoru like a runaway train. He abruptly gagged and dropped the apple juice he was drinking. Clumsy, clumsy, clumsy! he berated himself. His 'kaasan, however, took no notice of the mess. She continued staring out at the courtyard. Nokoru didn't dare make a sound. His 'kaasan scared him when she was like this. It reminded him that there was something wrong with her -- like the Other who lived in their house. More often lately, he was the source of the blood-smell. In the beginning, that smell had belonged almost wholly to his 'kaasan. Not so, anymore. Only rarely would that smell emanate from her, now, but on those nights, he was inconsolable. He didn't want the Other to come near him and he was too afraid of the smell on his 'kaasan to be comforted by her nearness. But it happened less and less nowadays. He was glad of the change. But now...
The Other swept in through the door, an eerie light in his amber eyes. Nokoru wondered what poor creature had given his life to put it there. And his 'kaasan, rather than scolding him, ran to him and allowed herself to be pulled into a tight embrace and kissed soundly on the cheek. He didn't understand all of what she said, but he understood that she was pleased, even more so than when he drank from his own cup. The Other made her happy in a way that Nokoru never could. Sometimes it made him a little jealous. But mostly... mostly he was just happy that she was happy.
The Other released his 'kaasan and approached the high chair. Nokoru squirmed, trapped in the confines of said chair, frightened by more than the light in the Other's eyes. The Other was dangerous. Nokoru would have known that even if it weren't for his 'kaasan's reaction every time the Other approached him. She was tense, wary, upset when she had shown only joy a moment before. And Nokoru knew well enough that if something scared his 'kaasan -- who was frightened by nothing -- then he should be terrified indeed. But the Other merely picked up his sippy-cup from where it had fallen on the ground, dusted it off and offered it to Nokoru. Nokoru hesitantly took it. The Other smiled -- such a congenial expression that should have been reassuring, but somehow was anything but -- and said, "Good boy." He then backed off and left the room.
Nokoru and his 'kaasan let out the breaths the were holding at nearly the same time. Then before he was even aware that she was moving closer, his 'kaasan had him out of the chair and into a crushing embrace. She was shaking. Nokoru ran his free hand through his 'kaasan long ebony hair, more scared than he could express that his 'kaasan was so terrified. He wished that he could comfort his 'kaasan. He hated to see her like this, hated to see her so distressed, and it was happening more and more often. His tiny hands could do so very little to protect her, to make her smile. But maybe... just maybe...
He'd been practicing something new, something that he knew was more advanced than he should be aiming for now, something that discouraged and frustrated him every time he failed. But he thought that maybe now, now that he really needed to, he might succeed. He leaned back, removing his free hand from his 'kaasan's hair and using it to touch her cheek, instead. He'd seen the Other do this to her and it always made her happy. Startled out of her shaking, his 'kaasan met his intensely focused gaze. She whispered, "Nokoru?"
Haltingly, his voice unpolished and full of lisp, Nokoru spoke as clearly as he could, "It's OK, 'kaasan. I'll keep you safe. Promise."
His 'kaasan's eyes flew wide open and her jaw dropped. Apparently, though she didn't know much about what a 10 month old child's abilities should be, she knew that they shouldn't include clear speech. Nokoru smiled, a smile brighter than any he'd managed before, willing his 'kaasan to take that brightness into herself and relax. He'd meant every word of what his lips had spoken. He would find a way to protect his 'kaasan. Somehow, he would. He never wanted to see her unhappy again. Ever.
Slowly the fear melted out of her eyes. Slowly the tension seeped out of her body. Slowly the warmth in Nokoru's smile spread to her lips. She cuddled him close and he could feel her pride in him like a softly glowing ember, "Nokoru... I love you and I'll protect you, as well. It's a promise."
Nokoru cuddled close to his 'kaasan, reassured by her words and the deep thrum of her heartbeat. He didn't notice or care when the Other reappeared at the door, scowling at the picture of a mother and child.
Nokoru: *shudder*
Teenage!Seishirou: *rae* *innocently* What?
Nokoru: *twitch* You! That's what!
Teenage!Seishirou: *snorts* Oh please, I'm not that bad. I even went out of my way to be nice to you.
Nokoru: *more twitching* That isn't the point.
Subaru: *puts a hand on Nokoru's arm* Really, Nokoru-san, he isn't that bad. Believe me when I say... he gets worse with age.
Nokoru: I suppose you would know...
Adult!Seishirou: *smirk* Yes... he would.
Suoh: *bristles*
R-chan: That's enough, boys! You'll have plenty of time to play when you all get older.
Suoh, Nokoru, Adult!Seishirou, Subaru: Play??? *group twitch*
R-chan: *sweatdrop* Well what would you call it?
Suoh, Nokoru, Adult!Seishirou, Subaru: *facefault*
Teenage!Seishirou: *snickers*
R-chan: *links her arm with Teenage!Seishirou* Since you and I seem to be the only sane ones... as unlikely as that seems...
Teenage!Seishirou: Ice cream?
R-chan: *slow smile* Delighted.
*Teenage!Seishirou and R-chan wander off towards Call Hall*
Questions, comments, papaya?
Nokoru: *twitch* What is it with you and fruit lately?
Teenage!Seishirou: *snickers*
Nokoru: *throws hands up* I give up.
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much further squeeage!
Date: 2005-02-03 06:56 pm (UTC)But have no fear, for I still love you best Nokoru. And you make an adorable baby. You don't have to worry about being sacrificed to the tree. I can find oh so many suitable substitutes to keep the tree fed. *nods firmly* No worries. Baby Nokoru & sippy cup = brain explosion of cute!
*hands off the papayas to Akira who makes a lovely papaya desert, she's heard*
That said, while Nokoru's mind is rather advanced for such a small child (he always thinks so very clearly *admire admire*) it is not that stunning for him to be able to talk at 10 months. -_- My brother and I could both talk and walk at that age, and neither of us holds even a tiny candle to Imonoyama-san! *nods firmly*