From Sailor Moon Flash!
| Featuring: | Kenrou, Binshou |
| IC Date: | September 2002 |
| Status: | Completed |
| Summary: | You know the feeling you get when you watch a horror movie alone at night? That's what discussing ghost stories with Kenrou over tea is like. |
"...and when they saw the snake slithering out of the man's empty eye socket, they knew it was the reincarnation of the woman he had scorned, come to rejoice in her revenge."
Kenrou raised the chawan to his lips and calmly sipped his tea, signaling the end of the story. His placid and dignified manner remained completely intact, and it could have just as easily been one of Basho's haiku that he'd just related to Binshou, instead of a gruesome and violent ghost story. Binshou's own chawan was stuck in transit as he sat frozen in equal parts awe and horror. His mouth hung open and his eyes looked wider than the leaves on his kimono. The serenity of tea was buried under a pile of corpses, left there by vengeful spirits.
"This is the first time Susuki-kun has heard this story?"
Reality send a jolt through his body and Binshou returned to the present with a most undignified snap. It was only by virtue of being born with a chawan in hand that he did not spill any tea. "Uh, I've never heard the full story. Just... less-detailed versions."
Kenrou's Zen smile changed almost imperceptibly to an indulgent "perhaps you could find some less distressing terrain for our conversation" smile. "Does Susuki-kun have a favorite kaidan?"
"Hmm..." Binshou relaxed slightly as he pondered the question. "My favorite seems to change every time I find a new story." He grinned sheepishly, as if embarrassed to have such capricious tastes. "I think Gaki are especially interesting, though."
"Ah, yes. Ravenous ghosts punished with an insatiable hunger for the crime of living a gluttonous and avaricious life. They are said to be ghastly, emaciated beings that feed on the waste of our society, though they prefer the taste of human flesh."
"Yes, exactly!" Binshou smiled, delighted, though not surprised, that Amakusa-san knew what he was talking about. "It's interesting that a creature so lowly and pathetic can also be so frightening. I think they'd work quite well in a modern story, and yet popular culture has practically ignored them in favor of other kinds of ghosts and folklore."
Nodding slightly, Kenrou pondered Susuki-kun's statement. Gaki may indeed have a thing or two to teach the modern world about gluttony and excess, but he doubted that today's youth would be perceptive enough to appreciate the lesson. "Perhaps they are better left on the Gakizoushi."
"Mmm," was Binshou's thoughtful response. They finished the tea in comfortable silence, but just as Binshou was about to signal the end of the impromptu ceremony, he noticed something odd. "Amakusa-san, you finished all the higashi!" Kenrou was not known for his stomach capacity, or if he was, it was because there was scarcely enough room in there for a slice of cucumber.
"Of course. After such a discussion, leaving Susuki-kun alone in a room with unfinished food would be rather inauspicious."
"Oh!" He laughed nervously and waved his hand. "That's very thoughtful, but, uh, I don't actually believe in Gaki." It was the truth. Binshou didn't believe in ghosts or spirits. He didn't really believe that any of them roamed the earth eating human flesh, and he certainly didn't believe that they might be drawn into the tearoom by the scent of leftovers and decide to eat him instead.
Kenrou merely smiled, just as he had been smiling, with only the slightest change to his expression that would be best measured in millimeters. He bowed to Binshou. "Teishu-san is a most skilled and gracious host, as always. We thank you for sharing your tea with us."
Blushing, Binshou returned the bow and followed him as he rose and went to the door. Kenrou bowed again, this time to exit through the low nijiriguchi, and Binshou took his place sitting in the doorway to watch his guest leave. Informal ceremony or not, he was still a proper teishu. Of course, propriety did not keep him from sneaking glances over his shoulder at the inside of the room. Binshou would have to clean that room. Alone. It wouldn't do to leave it a mess.
When Kenrou was finally out of sight, he darted back in like a frightened mouse.
The car was exactly where Kenrou had expected it to be. He had kindly allowed Giou-kun to run a few errands with it out of consideration for the driver, who might not be comfortable sitting in a hot car for over an hour. It was an efficient and generous gesture, and he was pleased at having thought of it.
Kenrou bent down and reached for the door handle, then paused as his ears picked up the sound of zoori clopping across a stone walkway at running-speed. Dishes rattled on a tray, but there was no tell-tale sound of broken glass or earthenware. Toshiro noticed the movement, and mentioned it as Kenrou opened the door and sat down. "What's up, Boss?"
Not much.
"Susuki-kun has impeccable balance."
