~ ★ Christmas Drabble for Vodka @honourquinx ♡ ~
♤ How long has it been? Time had flown by so mercilessly. Ruthlessly. And still, in a sense, he had never looked back [ was that true? ]. With all these little flashes and pieces of information trickling in as if to hammer it inside his mind that - in a sense - had forgotten 'something' [ someone? ] and was not let off anytime soon from that very phantasm haunting dreams. Tokyo was a cesspool for however long Jura had been able to remember and with his father's decision to remove his children from the tumultuous rage and war that was going on against an enemy neither ghoul nor human was truly able to understand, he had been made to watch and consider. Had been pushed to survey the offered data that media would be able to cover [ how much had it truly been? ].
♤ It went all over the world like a shadow. Engulfing whatever security would dangle in front of mortal minds within a few hours that Tokyo itself would need to recover. Was it real? Was it an illusion dragged out by those that didn't want to believe? Had peace finally come?
♤ Whatever it may be, time that had passed was enough for the doctor to entertain a trip back. For his sire to permit it even though indulgence of said cause would be rather short-lived, humorous as the leader was, he would wave it off the moment something could cross minds. So , he shall leave his oldest be. After all: for the second at least, he would be fine in that cacophony of silent screams and toneless blight. It was a journey meant to perceive what all had come undone [ and, perchance, if anything could be used by getting there ]. Favourable still, that something was waiting for him.
♤ Something he did not think he had so sorely missed.
♤ Seeing those formerly hating one another to be in 'harmony' with not an ounce of hate to be found [ it was a lie, and he knew it ] was an entertaining realisation to rely upon those waiting later. Wandering into the former headquarters of those that would loathe and long to kill him, now to be invited in and greeted so politely still [ it was a lie as well. they didn't know who he was ]. Honey-sweet would a requested name drip from his tongue in waiting for the officer to regard and redirect him---
♤ ---Just for expression to frown. For confusion to rise. He had to call another one, the mentioned name of 'Washuu' being to his surprise. Another was then given, a call had been made [ oh, he had so much to ask after, didn't he? ], before Jura would be brought along and deeper into the headquarters that had been so shortly ago - how long? how long? - the bane of his kind's existence in this beautiful and yet rotten city's core.
♤ Waiting with legs crossed over one another, the papers he had been offered to get to know what had gone over missed only regarded with minor glances. Unfurling before his eyes was a story untold yet by media and mind.
♤ How quaint, he thinks, with hot coffee to touch his lips, his tongue, his throat---
♤ The sound was near foggy to reach his occupied mind. The name that falls in those very delightful tones of unexpected cadence was enough to have him raise his head, tilt it marginally to the side and regard the man now staring at him with unbridled surprise with a mild smile that would be so rarely seen. So barely perceived [ not even for his family would he do it that often ]. " It has been a while, Mister Suzuki~ " And thus he announces his awareness of the changes. The realisations. The questioning tones formerly having fallen from new co-workers and corrections made for the doctor to proceed, oh---
♤ ---Maybe it was all too much? Judging by the still haunted expression that drops gaze down the ground at the moment his teasing greeting had left lips with that slightest of curls. Oh, how long ago had it been [ how many years had passed? ], and before long his slender form shifts and moves. Unfurls from his place of waiting to meticulously wander closer and closer, each step resonating with the drumming of one's heart. Slower and slower before the stop of Jura's solicitous grace would nearly still Matsuri's heart whole. How long had it been? [ and why, indeed, had he returned? ].
♤ Thus lithe hands would reach up, bridge that distance between them that was nearly daunting [ oh so haunting ] until soft fingertips trace along worrisome tired lines. How much older he appeared since Jura had left and how they had grown 'apart' still able to cross that gap like it was nought. Oh, he had forgotten something. Had left someone behind [ on his father's request, for the other man would not want to hide ], so thus, before anything could be said, a smile as bright as sunshine blooms upon his face. Years, truly had it been years already? Why not offer something that seemed so far out of reach and yet could be touched and chased like the fine built of bones explored and tenderly grasped moving inside his wrist.
♤ What to do with this moment of misery? While ignoring all the echoes around them, the questions that arise and the discussions that might result? Never once in his life had he bothered or pondered with these thoughts to be answered by the desires whirling around his mind and the subtlety of a claim that they were for---
♤ ---One another? " My father requested I report back to him with the answer how this part of the world is turning out to be~ " A subtle singing chime in fluency of the Japanese spoken so long ago. Knowing well enough that his voice had always soothed him. Always - broken - him. Thus, he laughs, a mere raise of his shoulders with a stark gentleness so barely perceived. " And report back from you, that is. " So rarely would the leader permit for others to know and comprehend how much he does covet this or that being in existence. Why not now? Thus, when Matsuri's eyes reach his own and lips do part to question, silenced he finds himself with the tenderness of a kiss. " And will take you home with me. " Because he has been told to - and he wants to as well.