2024-03-03 - Familial Revelations, Part 2
| Title: Familial Revelations, Part 2 | |
|---|---|
| Summary: Yumi and Tama arrive to observe the progress being made on the ritual to empower Shiori as a familiar. A new difficulty is discovered, and eventually the choice is made to reveal a truth about Raiko's family to her. | |
| Who: | |
| Where: Chofu Suburban District (Tama Outer City) | |
| OOC - IC Date: 3/3/2024 - Friday, May 20, 2016 | |
.****************************** Tama Outer City *******************************.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+* Chofu Suburban District +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Chofu was built on a vast natural terrace that reinforces the town against
the slope down to the sea. It has its own town limits, and it is large
enough that you can get anything you need without leaving them. It has
lovely houses and apartments, well-appointed town centers, and beautiful
green fields around it. But the Tama River that flows through and past Chofu
feeds into the main city, and the great splay-legged power lines that follow
its course at a safe distance link town to metropolis. This is and is not
Tokyo.
Just fifteen minutes (and a scant 230 yen) by high-speed rail from Shinjuku
Station, Chofu is one of the largest "bed towns" for central Tokyo. Most of
the people who live here work in the Special Wards, the short commute buying
them vastly cheaper, less cramped lodgings, though some maintain local
businesses. While this makes Chofu a suburb of inner Tokyo, it is certainly
still Tokyo, and the expansive lawns and sprawling development one envisions
when thinking of a suburb are not to be found here. Still, there are no
skyscrapers here, and freestanding houses replace the massive apartment
buildings of Tokyo.
Chofu's river banks host old-fashioned festivals that draw many from
surrounding areas at the proper times of year. In contrast, Chofu is also
home to the headquarters of JAXA, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency.
Though Japan is not yet involved in manned space travel, those interested in
Japan's satellite or other space-related technology can find ample materiel
for research or wrongdoing.
<Pose Tracker> Raiko Takashima [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Raiko had greeted Yumi and Tama when they had eventually shown up after school, invited them in, offered snacks and refreshments, and then invited everybody up to Kenji's study to try a few more attempts at the empowerment ritual. Kenji's office was largely as it always was: a desk, bookshelves, and some filing cabinets stuffed full of books, papers, and various magical trinkets, and then a space carved out on the other side for workings and rituals. Raiko had done some additional work to try and straighten things up from when they had cleaned up the room to reinforce the wards, but it was still largely the same.
The desk had the only chair, so Raiko had brought up another one for Yumi to sit in. Raiko then transformed into Wise Levin, sitting down on the ground with Shiori once more, and the Staff laid down on the ground between them. Witch and familiar put their hands and paws on the staff, closed their eyes, and got to work.
It's slow, delicate work, and although they've made great strides, it always seems to fail at one of the later stages, when the workijng is at its most delicate and thus most prone to being disrupted. To hear them describe their previous attempts, it had been Levin fumbling most of their previous tries. However, now, with Yumi and Shiori watching, Levin doesn't seem to be making any clear errors now.
But by the third attempt, it might be clear that Shiori is the one struggling. It was slight, at first, attributable to an accident or a stray magic fluctuation. But on this third attempt, as Levin gets closer and closer... her body language tells it all. Her tail is flicking intermittently, her ears laying back, and her breathing isn't quite as steady as Levin's.
The spell falls apart a third time and Raiko lets out a groan as she opens her eyes. Her henshin vanishes and she lets herself flop back on the floor. "Uggggh. Not again. What did I mess up this time?"
Shiori opens her eyes, but cannot quite meet Raiko's gaze.
<Pose Tracker> Yumi Ohzora [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.
Yumi and Tama are doing well enough. Yumi is still frazzled over everything, but she is caught up on her schoolwork at least, and recovered from the fight. The office is as it was, and Yumi... Well, at first, Yumi was going to stay untransformed, because it wasn't necessary for both of them to.
But eventually, she decided that making the right Environment for the local mana was best, so she transformed too.
Slow, delicate work... But Yumi does notice. So does Tama. Refreshments are long ago now.
Tama and Yumi look at each other as Raiko flops back onnto the floor. Lost Ivy, thus, lets go her own transformation for now too, and says, "Don't be so hard on yourself; maybe you should get some water?"
Tama, on the other hand, pads over towards Shiori.
"...Yes," she agrees, "That's a good idea. And you, Shiori..."
Her tail flicks, seemingly lazily, but there is a message in it. She Knows.
<Pose Tracker> Raiko Takashima [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Raiko appreciates that Yumi transformed! This is Official Witch Business and it helps to have Yumi transformed into Ivy. It helps the local mana out, certainly, but it also helps put Raiko in the right frame of mind, as well.
She's dressed in light blue overalls and a t-shirt outside of her henshin. The younger of the two girls doesn't respond for several moments as Yumi suggests she get some water. Raiko seems a little exhausted, if not physically at least mentally. They've tried it numerous times already this day, and the strain of such delicate casting is exhausting. Add on the sting of repeated failures...
Eventually she nods and rolls over onto her side to pick herself up. She quickly taps the staff to magically put it away, and then stands up with a slow stretch. "Yeah, that's a good idea, Yumi-chan. Think I'll get a snack, too." She looks to the room, seemingly not having noticed what Yumi and Tama have, or the way that Tama flicks her tail. "Anybody wanna come with me?"
"You go along, dear," says Shiori quietly. She's sitting upright, trying to maintain her compsure for her witch, but it is a little forced. "I will... confer, with Tama."
Raiko might be too tired to notice it. "Alright."
Raiko leaves to go downstairs, and Shiori looks to Yumi. "Would you be so kind as to keep her company?" Read: 'distract her while we talk.'
Once the other witch has left the room, Shiori's ears fold back and she hangs her head. She falls silent and waits for Tama to speak first.
<Pose Tracker> Yumi Ohzora [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.
Yumi's in green and gray, outside her henshin. And she can tell Raiko's kind of exhausted. She would be, too. But as she rolls over, picks herelf up, Yumi smiles with a nod. "Good," Yumi answers, and then when Shiori asks her to keep Raiko company...
"You know," Yumi says, "I'm a little hungry myself, Shiori." She smiles, and pushes herself up; she leaves the Staff of Lost Ivy, for now. It's safe with the familiars.
But then, of course...
"You are holding back," Tama says. It is not gentle, because she is not gentle. But it is not unkind, at least. "Your hesitation prevents the bond from settling. This is no mere secret; this is a secret about your relationship to your Witch. ...And you will have to resolve it, to complete the ritual."
<Pose Tracker> Raiko Takashima [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Raiko has cookies! (Even though she promised to get some granola or trail mix, or fruit, she hasn't had time to go to the store yet since they had that conversation. But she does still have the cookies.) She will happily share cookies and water with Yumi.
Shiori, meanwhile, can't quite bring herself to look at Tama. "I know," she admits quietly. "I do not intend to let her labor under the assumption that it was her error, but..." She falls silent as she considers. It is not her place to reveal to Tama how Raiko feels about her, but she has to say something, to explain...
Her gaze shifts over a little bit, looking down in the direction of the kitchen. At long length she says, "... she deserves to know the truth about her relationship with Kenji Takashima. She has impressed upon me that she regards me as... family, a revelation she stated I would have learned eventually, once we finished the ritual."
Shiori looks to Tama now, though she's drawn back a little, making herself look a little smaller in front of the sterner, elder familiar. "I am afraid she will realize, eventually, that I am holding something back from her."
<Pose Tracker> Yumi Ohzora [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.
Yumi likes cookies. She'll share, too!
But Tama keeps her deep green eyes on Shiori, in the meantime. She doesn't try to maintain eye contact very hard--that would be actively aggressive, after all. But neither does she look away, studying the younger familiar as she does.
"...Mm."
Tama lets her tail continue to shift back and forth, and eventually inclines her head. "Yes," Tama says. "I concur."
"Particularly because you're right. It took me a long time to learn how to hide feelings like that in the bond. I couldn't do it at all, with my first mistress."
"I know that it is not easy to find a way to say that you have held back, however. ...Mm."
She considers, and then, "You..."
"You have my support, in doing so, Shiori."
<Pose Tracker> Raiko Takashima [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
There is a lightening of the tension within Shori's body as Tama says she concurs, a slight lifting of the ears, a release of tension. "I am full glad to hear that. By all rights it is Kenji Takashima's secret to tell, but given the circumstances..."
Shiori's eyes widen, and she draws back slightly in surprise as Tama admits that she can, in fact, hide some things from the bond. "So you can..." She tries to compose herself and then nod solemnly. "... I see." So perhaps that is something she might learn, in time, as well...
She takes a deep, steadying breath as Tama gives her support. "Thank you, Tama. It is much appreciated." She rises to all fours and stretches for a moment. "Then I see no reason to delay." She strides out of the room and down the stairs.
Raiko and Yumi are on the small couch in the living room, which is far more comfty than the kitchen chairs. Raiko's set up a TV tray for each of them, just off to their respective sides, each with a glass of water and a small plate of cookies on it. She's got her laptop open, showing Yumi a 3D model that turns and pulls apart as she taps and drags her finger across the screen. It's a sleek design, made of high-tech materials. She quickly closes the laptop and sets it aside as Shiori and Tama come down the stares, though.
"Hey, Shiori. Hey, Tama," she says with a smile. The smile fades a moment later. "... everything okay?" Perhaps she's picked up on a little of the mood after all.
Shiori strides over to stand before Raiko and Yumi both. "Not quite, dear..." She has recomposed herself, but her tail is still twitching with nervous energy. "The reason our most recent attempts failed is not due to your error. It... was mine. Raiko, there is something I must tell you."
<Pose Tracker> Yumi Ohzora [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.
Given the circumstances--Tama agrees. "Yes."
But Shiori is surprised, and well, "It took a very, very long time; it is mostly a matter of controlling one's emotions to begin with. ...We can discuss it later."
Tama has been around, after all, for a very long time indeed.
"You are welcome," she says. "...And good. Let u see this ritual to its completion.
Tama follows, padding along at a short distance, but not so far that she isn't obviously with her.
Yumi watches the model thoughtfully--until the cats come down.
"Hi," Yumi says too. And then--
Hmm.
"Do you want to do it alone?" Yumi offers.
"...I think it best that we remain," Tama decides, given that she just said Shiori would have her support in this matter.
"Okay. Lips zipped, then. Talk whatever you need to."
<Pose Tracker> Raiko Takashima [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Shiori nods as Tama says they can discuss it later. There will be, perhaps, many things they will need to discuss, once she finally becomes a fully empowered familiar.
Yumi offers to give them some privacy, and Tama voices a vote to stay. Raiko pipes up too. "I want you to stay, too. If it's super important, you both should hear it, too." She says that, and then looks at Tama curiously. Does she already know?
(Yes, in fact, she does.)
Raiko sets her laptop aside on the couch cushion beside her, and moves to sit upright a little bit more.
"Very well," says Shiori. She takes another deep breath and sits, upright, again. "Please understand, Raiko, that it was never our intention to... deceive you. This was a matter Kenji had always meant to address with you when you were old enough. By all rights, it is his to share, but given our current circumstance... I could not keep this from you, while also binding myself to share my emotions with you."
More secrets... but Raiko slowly nods. "Okay... it's... not anything bad, is it...?"
Shiori doesn't quite have an answer for that. "... Let me just explain." She takes one last breath to steady herself. "There is no delicate way to say this, so I will just begin. Raiko, Kenji Takashima is not your grandfather, not by birth." She pauses a moment to let that settle in. "... Your mother and father were Asami Yakumo and Takeshi Yakumo. Kenji Takashima was a friend of your mother's family, who knew their lineage, and he was a friend to your parents, as well."
"We all were aware of the signs and portents that indicated their only child would one day become the next Inheritor in their line. However, through some means, so was The Hungry Queen." Though they might well be able to guess, now, how The Hungry Queen might have been able to come across this information. "It was decided, that..."
It is here that Shiori falters, and it takes her several moments to find her word again. She continues, but her voice is much quieter and softer than before. "... Please understand, Raiko, that your parents loved you dearly. They... they made a very difficult decision, to protect... to protect that which they held most dear. Kenji and I were to keep you safe, keep you hidden, to protect and prepare you for the day you could accept your destiny."
The normally calm and reserved familiar is slowly losing more and more of her composure as she watches Raiko's stunned reaction. "They loved you so much, Raiko. They only wnted you to be happy, to--to thrive, and you have, and... and... they would be so proud of you..."
<Pose Tracker> Yumi Ohzora [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.
There are many things Tama knows, some of which others know as well. It's just her way; she's the keeper of the Staff, but also the keeper of all the Staves' history.
But as usual, she doesn't answer that unspoken question.
Shiori starts to explain... and Yumi listens, carefully. Very carefully. There have been a lot of secrets of late. Not all of them have been good at all.
But....
That's who her parents were, and...
Yumi can guess how the Hungry Queen came across it, too. She grimaces. It's hard to tell if it's guilt or just worry, though.
Yumi... doesn't say anything. Instead, she reaches out for Raiko's hand. "...I'm with you," she says quietly. "Like you've been with me."
Tama says nothing, but if Shiori happens to look back at her, she is resolute as well. Certain. And she is a quiet pillar of support.
<Pose Tracker> Raiko Takashima [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Raiko is attentive when Shiori begins to explains. Kenji Takashima... is not her real grandfather. She blinks, surprise clearly evident on her face, but not quite shock. The names of her parents, however, draw a shocked breath from her. She mouths the names silently to herself, as if committing them to memory.
She looks like she so desperately wants to ask questions, but she can't quite bring herself to do it as Shiori continues her explanation.
And a sharper breath as Shiori mentions The Hungry Queen. It may take Shiori some long moments to continue the tale, Raiko seems to have gotten ahead of her. She's staring at her lap, eyes wide, with hot, heavy tears starting to slide down her cheeks to drip off of her chin. "Th-they..." comes a shaky whisper. "... for me..."
Yumi's hand on hers gets a firm squeeze from Raiko, who leans heavily against Yumi for a moment letting her head rest against her arm as she takes a moment to process the new revelation. But Raiko can see Shiori struggling too, and after a moment of taking Yumi's support she sits back up, lets that hand go...
And holds both arms out to Shiori, wordlessly. Shiori runs forward and jumps into her lap, and Raiko hugs her tight to her chest. The tears are streaming freely down her face now, but she hasn't broken out into sobs yet. Maybe she's still processing the information, or maybe it's simply too much in the moment.
But Raiko is hugging and petting Shiori gently, her voice quivering as she says, "It... i-it's okay, Shiori."
"... I already knew."
<Pose Tracker> Yumi Ohzora [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.
Those names should be remembered. Yumi will, too. Not just because it's her mother who's responsible, though that is a factor now. It does matter.
Shiori speaks, and Yumi and Tama both listen. When Raiko leans against her, Yumi gives her a brief side-hug, to support her--but it's not her that Raiko decides to support. not heself, but...
"Raiko-chan... Shiori..."
She already knew. Tama looks thoughtfully at Raiko at that. "You are a smart girl. ...I suppose I'm not surprised that you would have figured that much out."
"...All the same, it was difficult for her to say. But she has performed her duty, in sharing it with you."
Tama nods. That's as close as she's likely to get today of saying something soft, but she says it all the same.
<Pose Tracker> Raiko Takashima [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Tama may be nonplussed, but Shiori draws back, blinking widely as Raiko says she knew. "... You did...?"
Raiko lets Shiori sit back up, and has a soft smile that is a little bit sheepish. "W-well... k-kinda..." She takes a few moments to collect herself, going for a napkin to dab at her face until her cheeks are at least a little dry.
"... I... w-well, when I first found out about the inheritors, that I was one, I... I got curious about the witches in my line. I realized I didn't really know anything about my parents, and I thought Grandpa might know, but I didn't know if you'd know, so I looked up their names on my birth certificate, and then tried to look them up in the chronicles at the Magic Association, to trace my family tree, but..."
Raiko looks to Tama and Yumi. "I couldn't find anything about them. Like... like they didn't exist. And the more I kept looking, the more I realized... Grandpa never talked about my parents. We never went to visit their grave, we didn't have their pictures up anywhere, I've never heard about... any cousins, or aunts, or uncles, or anything... They only thing you and grandpa ever wanted to say was..."
"... they had been in an accident," says Shiori softly.
Raiko nods. "So I kinda figured... well, the people on my birth certificate might not be real, and if they weren't then... Grandpa wasn't really my grandfather. It just... made sense, once I thought of it."
Shiori frowned softly. "Raiko, why didn't you say something...?"
Raiko shrugged. "I dunno, because... I thought he'd tell me when he was ready. And even though he wasn't really my grandfather... well, I decided that he was. He took care of me when I was sick, taught me magic, encouraged me to learn about how machines worked, helped me study, did everything he could for me, so... even if he wasn't 'really' my grandfather, even if we're not technically family..."
Raiko glances to Yumi. "He chose to be my family," she says softly.
"I, um... didn't know about the stuff with The Hungry Queen, not exactly, but... it does kinda make sense, too..."
Raiko smiles and pulls Shiori close into another hug. The familiar nuzzles her back, gently. "I know this was hard, but... thank you, for telling me. For being there for me just like he was." And then she reaches out to take Yumi's hand again and give it a squeeze. "I don't blame you for this, either."
Shiori is grateful for Tama's words, but will have to find the time later to properly express that gratitude, sharing a moment with Raiko as she is.
<Pose Tracker> Yumi Ohzora [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.
Tama is rarely put on the back foot in a conversation. It usually takes something like an Ogre chasing her to harm her composure. But that's fine; it means she doesn't have to take attention away from Shiori in this.
But Raiko explains why she knows, and Shiori answers, and...
"I see," says Tama first. "Yes. The deception was not complete... which of course. He would not have wished to lie to you more than necessary."
But Raiko and Shiori...
Yumi is quiet. "Chose to be your family, huh? ...He certainly acted like it."
The rest makes sense. Yumi can't smile at nnot being blamed, but...
"Thanks," she says. "...It looks like you two really needed to talk about this, huh?"
<Pose Tracker> Raiko Takashima [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.
Shiori is normally much better at keeping her composure. But considering the things that Raiko had said to hear earlier... she was very concerned with how this revelation might impact her relationship with Raiko. She may have been surprsied to learn that Raiko thought of her as a mother figure, but she had to admit... Raiko meant a lot to her, as well.
Raiko looks to Tama. "I didn't question it all these years, not until I had a reason to, so... it did work..."
She looks up to Yumi next. "Just like I chose to be yours. Your coven sister, I mean." He definitely acted like it, and Raiko nods firmly to Yumi.
She gives Yumi's hand another firm squeeze for the thanks. "You're welcome," she says quietly. Raiko looks to Shiori and nods, smiling a little bit more. "Sorry I didn't tell you I figured it out sooner, Shiori. If I'd know this would be troubling you, I would've."
Shiori is slowly getting her composure back. "Yes, well... we haev cleared the air, as it were. I do wish Kenji could have told you himself. But I am relieved that you are taking the news so well..."
Raiko grins, "So, ready for another shot?"
The familar blinks in surprise. "Are you certain? You do not wish to collect yourself further?"
"Nope! No time like the present, isn't that what you've always said?"
Shiori sighs, "That was regarding homework, dear, but if you insist..." Shiori jumps down from Raiko's lap as she stands up, and Raiko turns back to flash Yumi a grin.
"C'mon! I got a good feeling about this one!"
