Hopefully LJ will let me post...
Jan. 2nd, 2013 06:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bloodsong1"For the sixth course, I have brought rice, fish, plum pickles, nori and corn. The chef suggests you mix the various items into your rice as you eat it. The fish is sardine and it has been pan fried with soy sauce and rice wine," Green Nakai-san said as she laid out several serving bowls, a pot of rice and clean eating bowls. Zoicite tossed back the last of his shochu and made himself more comfortable. Nee-san gave him a look as Green Nakai-san served the rice and filled the liquor cups.
"Nakai-san, have you heard back from the front desk regarding our staying an additional night?" Nee-san asked. Green Nakai-san bowed deeply.
"I have not, I will consult with them and have an answer for you by the last course. Please enjoy." Green Nakai-san bowed herself out of the room. Zoicite got busy with his rice; adding two sardines and several plum pickles. Nee-san sighed softly as she took half of the nori and crushed it into her rice.
"What burdens you, Nee-san?" Zoicite asked gently. Nee-san looked up and shrugged slightly, adding a little pickle juice to her rice.
"Giri."
"Giri?" Zoicite ate a mouthful of rice and sardine, pondering her response. Giri was the essence of duty, the obligation of the one to the service of the many. As much as Nee-san had been adopted by the Lunar and the Earth Courts, she still was an alien, a human from a far distant dimension. Tales were often told of the lone stranger being summoned to a land not their own for a duty not of their making. Often the tales ended well, some tragically, but none spoke to how the protagonist felt about what was happening. He doubted many of her own Earth would be so willing to accept the charge of a Goddess with a smile, especially a young mother.
"Is it so surprising?" She asked, breaking his thoughts. He ate another bite.
"I was thinking you are a rare creature indeed," He answered and sipped his shochu. Nee-san shrugged, tucking into her rice.
"Haul water, chop wood."
"Philosophical."
"Truth."
"Death poem?"
"Gods, I hope not." Nee-san put down her bowl and stabbed her chopsticks briefly into her rice before laying them on the table. "When my husband died, friends and co-workers alike marveled at how I kept my head up and kept moving. I took a week off of work to arrange for the funeral, but then I reestablished our routine. Every time someone said 'You are so strong!', I looked at them strangely. Was it strength to not crumple into a sobbing heap? Was it strength to do what was needed? I did not see any other viable option. My children needed their mother, not a broken shell of a woman. My job required my skills and my attention. To grieve to the exclusion of all else was a luxury I could not afford. One friend summed it up best. 'Haul water, chop wood. There are things to be done, so you do them. This is why you are strong.'"
"Your bracelet quest has become equal to losing your husband?"
"My bracelet quest started out as a gift!" Nee-san shrieked, flinging her arms wide. "I was trying to thank Usagi-imoto and the Senshi for being so kind to me in their native tradition! It wasn't until I summoned Amaterasu-sama that I realized it had evolved into a quest and to Do My Part for This World, I had to travel the length and breadth of Japan gathering elemental blessings! And now I have you four wanting to regain your humanity and I have NO IDEA HOW TO DO THAT! I just want to GO HOME!" Nee-san's voice broke and she buried her face in her sleeves, sobbing hard. Zoicite abandoned propriety and jumped over the table to gather her into his arms. He held her gently, neither rocking nor speaking, simply being a shoulder for her to cry on. Nee-san cried into her sleeves even as she leaned against his chest, accepting the support. After a few minutes, the storm passed and she hiccuped twice.
"What is it about you four and cuddling me?" She whispered, reaching for her napkin to dry her face.
"You are very cuddly, Nee-san," Zoicite sing-songed, giving her a squeeze. She blew her nose and dug two fingers into his ribcage. Zoicite yelped and scrabbled back, dumping her back into her seat.
"And you're ticklish. Good to know." Nee-san stood and went to the bathroom. Zoicite composed himself and went back to his dinner. Nee-san returned, face washed, and added a sardine to her rice. "Thank you, Zoicite."
"If you cannot return mortal bodies to us, then that is our karma and we will remain stones. Please do not add our selfish wishes to your giri, Lady Sarah."
"I might not have a choice, General."
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Sarah stretched her arms over her head and groaned softly. The last two courses of the kaiseki meal; miso soup with clams and a platter of fresh lychees, oranges, mochi and those incredibly delicious jam buns, had been hard to finish. As it was, she had smuggled the mochi and the buns into the complimentary take home cloth bag along with the ohagi. Zoicite had insisted on keeping the fruit to snack on before bed, much to Green Nakai-san's amusement. The amazing room maid had also informed them that there was a larger room available tomorrow at their current rate if it was needed. She had even left the shochu bottle and the liquor cups. The fruit and liquor was now on the balcony table, with the screen doors shut to discourage any cheeky birds.
"Are you ready to face Wakamiya-sama?" Zoicite called from the bathroom. Sarah groaned again and pushed herself to her feet.
"Is anyone ever ready?" She retorted. Zoicite came out with a clean towel and handed it to her with a flourish.
"I will stay nearby and I will have my brothers with me. If she becomes a problem, call for us. I swear we will hear you," He said solemnly, bowing. Sarah nodded.
"Once more into the breach, go I."
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Date: 2013-01-03 12:33 am (UTC)*hugs*
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Date: 2013-01-03 04:17 am (UTC)From the pictures, it looks like the portion sizes are equal to what you find in Michelin star restaurants, enough food for about three bites per course, which over eight courses really adds up! I'm not sure about the fish portions, those may be bigger, depending.