Into The Rose Garden (Seidou x Kanae/Karren)

Chapter Twenty-three - Meeting master Mirumo

Kanae clears his throat, walking side-by-side with the slightly older male. "So, you do remember what we went through, right?" Seidou nods, scoffing softly. "I'm not a goldfish, I have a pretty good memory. Too good at times, actually."

Kanae sighs. "Right, and prepared you all day yesterday, correct?" "Yes! Please, don't point at the obvious!" Kanae shrugs, crossing his arms as they continued their walking. "Alright, just testing you. Remember, both of you bow, he speaks first, then you answer. Politely!" 

Seidou grunts harshly. "Alright! God, I feel a little insulted right now. I'm not a barbarian!" Kanae scoffs with great frustration. "Ugh, I'm sorry, OK?! I'm just a little nervous. I know Mirumo is very kind-hearted and welcoming, it's my nitpicks that get in the way. Good luck, I'll be with you as long as I can."

Seidou lowers one of his eyebrows, in a very condescending way. "Umm...I don't remember asking you to, nor do I remember worrying about it." "Ugh, borg just let me do what I must do!" 

Seidou lifts his hands up in a defensive way, looking within the other direction. "Fine, fine! You do you..."

And soon enough, Seidou witnesses as Kanae runs up ahead, bowing at the presumed master Mirumo. 

"Kanae...what do I look like, a complete stranger?! Get over here!" Suddenly the elder male wrapped his arms around the young man, and Seidou tilts his head slightly as he watches. Kanae returns the hug, but only a little before pushing him away gently. 

"M-Master Mirumo, can we please not do this?" The middle-aged male then began to laugh. "Typical Kanae, always cautious when it went down to physical affection, ever since you were so young!" Kanae blushes immensely, hiding half of his face. 

"M-Mirumo...! Not here!" The older male tilted his head. "Why, is someone...with you...?" The older male finds his sights caught on the other male, and Seidou freezes up out of shock. Kanae moves alongside Seidou, with Seidou slowly moving behind the younger male.

Kanae clears his throat. "Um, master Mirumo, this is-! Uh, well, the one-eye from-!" "Yes yes Kanae, I know him. But maybe it wouldn't hurt for a quick introduction between each other?"

Kanae turns his head to said male, seeing Seidou looking down, upset and holding his chest tightly. 'Is he...nervous...?' Kanae felt bad for the male, yet very confused. Just a moment a ago, he seemed well enough to talk with the head of the house. 

Kanae turned to Mirumo, smiling nervously, holding his index finger up. "Um, if you'll excuse me for a moment, we need to...work something out..." "Oh, ok! Got it, got it, totally! I'll be over there when you're ready." The male points at the direction of a coffee table and some chairs. He walks over to the area.

Kanae sighs and turns back to Seidou. "Hey borg, is something wrong, are you okay? You look like you've been attacked by a bear." Kanae clears his throat and thinks to himself. 'Great, how would Matsumae handle this situation?!'

Seidou begins to breathe heavily. "I-I...I... My chest and head f-feel heavy. Thoughts and memories that aren't relevant anymore are just...just...I don't know! I-I feel...I feel-!" Kanae gently pats the male's shoulder, calming his shaking self a little.

"Hey, it's alright. You know I didn't mean to make Mirumo sound at all mortifying, I was just-!" "N-No, it's not about that! Why am I doing this, why am I shaking?! My head feels really messed up, I don't want to act up like this! I need to get out of here!"

Suddenly Kanae groans harshly, clearly frustrated. "Listen, I don't know what to do, but I can't just let you leave! We made it this far, and we're not giving up already! You just need a minute, and think things over. I apologize for being harsh, but right now we need to work with it."