get_medieval:

Hajime waits patiently for Kikuya's return. She's been gone... well, not that long, actually, but he's found that her absence left him feeling somewhat lost. Sure, he can get by, and she did her best to make sure he was provided for - which just makes him adore her that much more, but its not the same.
So when he heard she was returning, he made sure preparations were all made. Normally, one might assume that would mean having things ready for her so she could sit back, relax, and have tea - but he believes he knows her better than that. From what he's seen of the Americans, they might be alright, but they certainly don't appreciate her and her art properly. As such, he found a space out of the way, and set up a proper tea ceremony table and set with matcha and a tea set, and made sure a chef was free to prepare a full kaiseki meal for two, though the staff is forbidden to serve, just prepare.

That is timed with her arrival to give her enough time to wash and re-dress. It would not do to expect her to get a chance to serve while still looking like she just stepped off a plane.

That done, he waits in quiet contemplation

hotlittlehands:

Shortly after Misha brought her back, Amiko sought out Kikuya.

"I need to talk to you."

hotlittlehands:

"I should warn you," Amiko told her colleagues, "My brother can be... very American, despite his mixed heritage."

And then the receptionist announces the visitors, and Amiko is rather literally jumping off the walls getting over there. "MISHA!"

clawed_progeny:

Every once in awhile Keiji enjoyed going out in civilian garb and take in the local sights. At the moment he was sitting in his favorite tea shop. It wouldn't be long now. The Wolverine's son would arrive soon, and the cycle would finally end. Keiji wanted to take the time to enjoy the few pleasures he found in his life, the shop's exquisite tea being one of them. He would die or the Wolverine would die, either way it'd finally be over. He often thought about what kind of life he could have had if he were not bound by the oaths made before his very birth. Then he would berate himself that if not for those oaths he would not even exist. Perhaps that would have been better? Keiji shook his head, such thoughts never ceased. He decided, for at least the moment, not to think about it as he took another sip from his tea.

supergeisha:

When she spent time in private with Hajime there was no issue with his limited understanding of contemporary culture.  When they were alone Kikuya and Hajime understood each other perfectly as her very traditional training matched up with the world he knew.  It was when they were with the others or in public that things became ever so slightly more complicated.  There were simply things that Hajime had no frame of reference for.  Kikuya felt it was her duty to assist in helping him understand.  It would make his daily life easier.  That was important to her.  One afternoon Kikuya decides to correct this and she shows up at the offices with three large shopping bags in tow--dressed in street clothes.

hotlittlehands:

As they'd all suspected, Jushiro didn't let them get back to Tokyo. She spotted some of his thugs in the shadows.

"Good evening, Cousin. Come out like a big boy."

hotlittlehands:

Amiko looks at the cavern opening in the mountains. "My uncle said the first section of the cavern is trapped, even before one gets the opportunity to disabled the wards on the sword. So please, we must go in one at a time, and watch our step."
She looks at them. "I appreciate all of your being here."

hotlittlehands:

Amiko certainly didn't see eye to eye with her foster mother's brother. But they'd had a polite truce for years, ever since he and Logan had come to something resembling a truce of their own.  Which had involved her, and involved the Sword. That gave her an additional sense of responsibility to see such an important symbol of Clan Yashida restored to a branch of the clan that still had some concept of what honor was.

She was grateful that the others had come.

... She was grateful, but quite some ways away from the small cottage where Kenuicho was convalescing, she stopped.  "Asako, Grogg, I need to ask you something in particular."

get_medieval:

Hajime got up, and went about as close to his normal routine as he could. Work out til he was almost falling over, then draw the sword 1000 times, insisting upon perfect draws each time, just as the swordmasters had demanded.


The holiday doesn't change a thing - for a couple reasons.
1. in Japan, girls get gifts for the guys, the romance and expectations of the day are almost entirely one sided.
2. 1 is rendered moot by the fact he'd have no idea what a valentine, or a day dedicated to it were anyway.

That, of course, doesn't mean nothing is happening about BH6 HQ in the meanwhile, among those with slightly less self-abusive morning routines than Hajime.

hotlittlehands:

"Yes, Kenishi-san," Amiko said on the phone. "He seems to be settling in as best he can. No, I haven't had much chance to see him in action yet. We're going to work on that. Yes, Kenishi-san. Ryota's transfer has gone smoothly. Do not worry; I will not, as Logan-sama would not, hesitate to tell him to 'quit his bitchin' if necessary."  Amiko pauses to listen for a time after that. "...Yes, sir. Why do you ask?  No, I have left that, for the most part, to Kikuya-san.  Excellent. Then we are agreed, Kenishi-san.  Thank you.  I'm going to hang up now."
And she did. Amiko was grateful Mr. Kenishi hadn't used the video communication system. Her hair looked atrocious.  After working on that for a few minutes, getting it out of the way, Amiko went to round up the five members of the team available so far.