The Taisho fire

Chocolate

I'm on the roll, so here's the next chapter ! If you want to know what Gwen was playing on the piano, there it is.

The delicious smell of chocolate drifted in the air, tantalising. Jolyne's grumbling and Gwen's carefree laugh, fleeting around the cooking area, sold the culprits; just one last report, and he might allow the treat to coax him out of his office. The women wouldn't deny him whatever they were cooking, especially if he offered one of his charming smiles.

In the meantime, he returned to his last absence sheets, allowing the sweet smell to lull his senses. Tōga always possessed a keen nose; he could detect a fire five miles away, and determine sicknesses and pregnancies with just a whiff. Of course, his dreams offered the perfect explanation for it, but he had yet to determine whether he was just plain crazy.

His ex-wife's judgement had crushed his self esteem more efficiently than the dozens of people and battles he'd lost during the war.

But somehow, as he tackled the most boring task of his life – administration – he could almost view himself with a brush, filing up feudal paperwork and peace treaties. Now that he was putting words upon the dreams, they became more vivid. As if, by knowing that someone was interested to know about it, the full story begged to be told. The idea that another would be soon reading such an intimate part of his past life – or his thoughts was refreshing and terrifying at the same time.

In his bottom drawer slept the first few chapters of the life of the Inu No Taishō. And even though he kept adding on the pile, he had not dared giving them away ... yet. To think people trembled in their boots when he sneezed. But the great Captain, veteran of the Afghanistan war, feared to have his thoughts exposed. And, to be honest, he knew he wasn't a great writer. His own words made him cringe often, hopefully Gwen would catch the meaning, and set aside the poor form.

Would she ever look at him the same way? With this admiration that every young recruit blessed him with? Would he suffer through the pity Izayoi had directed at him, refusing to believe that karma had reunited them?

Tōga sighed, fisting a bunch of his silvery hair. Such a difficult choice; to bare himself to the scrutiny or protect what remained of his held together persona. But his soul howled inside; he wanted to be known. To be seen. And somehow, he thought Gwen was the safest person to be exposed to. Ever since he'd jumped to her aid, the past year, he was adamant that her piercing grey eyes had seen something. Her gaze always tore through his defences so easily.

She reminded him of the seers he'd crossed paths with in his old life.

Her laugh, tinkling bells rising to the heavens, effectively called him out of his den. She was such a quiet nature that the sound should be treasured. Leaning on the frame of his open door, Tōga took in the scene with a gentle smile.

Jolyne was cutting fruits in tiny pieces; kiwis, bananas, strawberries were laid down in mismatched bowls. Ignoring her grumblings, Gwen stood at the stove, her expression of concentration akin to a child's building its newest toy. Unlike the unit leader, the young woman wore a sundress that flared at her hips and stopped below her knees. Elegant, but without any poshness, the polka dot fabric clung to her in a way that caused him to realise how deliciously curvy she was.

"I could have done that by myself, ya know," Jolyne grumpily said.

"Tut tut," Gwen responded. "You always mess up the chocolate."

"You and your chocolate..."

Intrigued, Tōga strode into the common room. Towering over Gwen, he peeked at the saucepan she was using, finding luxurious, vibrant dark chocolate being swirled with a hypnotic move. The young woman was so concentrated on her task that she didn't acknowledge him. Given she wasn't in service, he just watched until she pivoted and gasped. Her eyes caught his, and he addressed her with one of his non-flirty smiles.