For a moment, the golden-eyed Lord of Ueda simply watched the otherās reaction. Even in the darkness, he could appreciate the otherās facial expression. The pale page had confusion, as well as amazement, in his ruby eyes. He could barely see it in the semi-darkness. But he could say that he was thrilledā¦ to see it.
He had managed at least a little bit. Heād managed to surprise the other, which wasā¦ part of what heād been aiming to do in their crazy little game. The other didnāt look upset, he didnāt look frustrated, he just looked confusedā¦ So that meant he was doing pretty good, right?
He would say that that was right.
However, he sat where he was. Watching the other, gauging his response to his behaviorsā¦ and then, upon finally seeing the otherās lips twitch into a smile, he allows himself to smile a little more himself. Good. Heād earned himself a smile. And from his ruby-eyed pageā¦ that was quite a prize. The other was known for his calm demeanor, remaining quite, and remaining impartial. He rarely showed smilesā¦ and was more quick to anger, then to happy responses. So? Good. Heād succeeded in somethingā¦
And, as the other starts talking, Yukimura couldnāt help but laugh just a little bit.Ā It was true, he could only imagineā¦ that he would be quite hard to work for. He couldnāt do most of what other lords couldā¦ at least, he would refuse to. He could do it, it was just a matter of him usually choosing not to. However, he doesnāt comment about the otherās list of his traits until he was done. āNone of what you say is wrong. Iām quite a handfulā¦ and you must have saintly patience to put up with me.ā He comments, before laughing a little more. āButā¦ my dear saint, Iām glad that you enjoy working for me. Despite all my flaws, and despite the headaches I can cause.ā
However, it was very sweet to hear the otherās words. He thought of the other as considerate, intelligent, and talented? If heād added handsome to the list, Yukimura would have almost thought he was flirting with him. That didnāt stop the Lord of Ueda from smiling at the other, though. And it definitely didnāt keep him from looking amusedā¦ it was nice to hear the other had some very pleasant opinions about him as well.
The otherās laugh, however. Airy and light in sound, made the other feel a little warm in the face. Why? He rarely, very rarely, got to hear it. It was a charming soundā¦ soft, almost musical, to him. It was such a rare soundā¦ And the other had such a pleasant voice, despite the fact that he rarely used it for such things.
āā¦ and I couldnāt imagine a better companion or page.ā Yukimura responds, a warm smile on his lips, as his topaz eyes shine endearingly in the darkness. He knew the other wouldnāt catch of the emotion in his eyes, he knew the other, despite being a great observer, wouldnāt be able to see every emotion in his eyes. Butā¦ that didnāt stop him from smiling. That didnāt stop him from almost wishing the other could see it. āYou are my dearest friend, and my oldest time companion. I could not ask for someone better for the jobā¦ nor would I care to ever have someone try to fill your shoes. You areā¦ very muchā¦ one of a kind for me.ā
And no. He didnāt care that the other had a twin brother. They were nothing alikeā¦ andā¦ the Lord of Ueda knew that if heād been with the younger Unno twin, heād have never had a friend as dear to him as Rokurou was. He justā¦ sort of knew that he and Nanakuma would have never bonded the same way that he and Rokurou did.
āI suppose it is a little late in the day to offer you a day off, hmm?ā Yukimura says with a laugh and a smile. It wasnāt horrible, butā¦ it was silly that heād worked so hard to make sure the other didnāt have work so late into the night. There were limited possibilities to give the other at this time of night.
There were a few things he could think of for them to do. He knew they could play a game together, as they often spoke about doing. They could talkā¦ they could chat.
Or Rokurou could help him make paper cranes. There was that too, butā¦ the amber-eyed Lord of Ueda wasnāt about to suggest such a silly pass-time to his page, when heād worked so hard to give him the day off.
āDo I still seem sad to you?ā He comments then, sounding a little airy himself, now. Almost as though he was sighing as he spoke. He didnātā¦ intend to appear sad, butā¦ Despite the fact that they were in the middle of their challenge, he wasnāt sure, entirely how to achieve his goal. How to talk to the other completelyā¦ how to get the other to understand what he understood.
He wasnāt going to push him. Even if he wanted, more than anything, for the other to understandā¦ And he wanted the other to accept it. Even ifā¦ it was impossible.
Yukimura laughs a little, smiling. āI supposeā¦ Iām just a little disappointed. I wanted to do a few thingsā¦ I wantedā¦ to show you more then what I couldā¦ butā¦ Iām human. And I have limitations, as well as time-limits.ā He laughs a little again, looking off to the side then. Almost as though daydreamingā¦ He wantedā¦ the other to understand what was behind his words. His gestures. Butā¦ Yukimura also knew that he wasnāt one for talking very straightforwardly. He couldnāt do itā¦ it wasnāt who he was.
And if he did, the other probably would be concerned for him anyways. Or think that he was sick. Yukimura danced around answersā¦ he didnāt give them in completion.
āAfter allā¦ I am a little older, soā¦ a bit slower than I would like to admit. Also..? Iāmā¦ terrible with communication. Soā¦ even if I wanted to communicate something to youā¦ I justā¦ I wouldnāt know how to. Aside from showing you. Again and again. Until you understand what Iām saying, without saying it.ā He says, shrugging little, before closing his eyes. He knew, from personal experience, that people understood actions better than words. And? Yukimura, being a man who was so used to lying to others from time to timeā¦ wasnāt willing to use his words to convey this. Words could be dishonest. Ā āSoā¦ donāt mind me. Iām a little disappointedā¦ a little sad, becauseā¦ despite wanting to show you the impossible, I can only twist words. I can onlyā¦ do what is within my limits. And? I can only work so fast with a limited amount of time. After allā¦ I only had until supper that I would see you again.ā
With that, however, he smiles at the other again. Topaz eyes meeting ruby, before laughing a little. āBut, if you really want to spend time with this tired old man,ā He laughs a little as he says most of the Braveās nickname for him, āā¦ if thatās how you want to use your new found free-time? I would welcome your company, all the same.ā
