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For Haruto! Takes place in The Everviolet Garden

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❁

To the Empress' relief, a face from her old clan had appeared after many lifetimes -- and who could have guessed it would be her childhood friend on top of that? The crane bird was elated to see her companion again, and she continued to hold out hope that more would come. She had not seen her siblings since dissapearing a year ago, and a tinge of grief had stricken her at this fact. It felt like just yesterday that she was speaking to Aika alongside the shoreline, or jestering with her brother Taro . Chiharu was still nowhere to be found, either. Even to this day, even after the foul play that Hikari had dished out against her... she still missed her. Her cousins, her parents...

She missed all of her family, and the Empress wished one day, they would all be together again. Even after the many failed attempts in the past.

Though there was one member of her family who had blessed her with their presence. Izumi had nearly crumbled to her knees the first time she'd seen him in ages, and this morning, he was found sifting through the growths of the Clan's gardens.

"Haruto-kun," She called to her younger cousin, her tail swaying over her rump as she approached.

"何してるの？" (What are you doing?)

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Haruto had always found comfort in quiet work, the gardens had become a place of gentle routine since his arrival, somewhere his restless thoughts could settle while his paws busied themselves with tending herbs and carefully inspecting new shoots. He moved with practiced precision, nosing aside a broad leaf before delicately removing a cluster of weeds threatening to choke a young medicinal plant. A faint scent of damp earth clung to his fur, and despite the early hour there was already a small pile of unwanted growth gathered neatly beside him.

The familiar voice carried across the beds, warm as spring sunlight.

His ears flicked upright before he turned, bright icy eyes immediately softening at the sight of his cousin. It still felt strange that she was truly here, there had been so many years where she'd existed only in memories and prayers, another face he feared had been lost to the world's endless tides, a quiet smile spread across his muzzle. Izumi-neesan

He dipped his head respectfully before glancing back toward the herbs.

Chotto niwa no teire o shite imasu. Nakaniha, zassō ni eiyō o ubawa sete shimau ni wa oshī hodo kichōna shokubutsu mo aru node. (Just giving the garden a little attention. Some of these plants are too valuable to let the weeds steal their strength) his paw brushed gently against a stalk of lavender. Min'na ga isogashiku shite iru ma ni, jibun mo nanika yakunitatsu koto o shiyou to omoimashita. (I thought I'd make myself useful while everyone else was busy) Haruto's gaze drifted over the flourishing beds before returning to her, his expression growing softer still. Soshite shōjiki ni iu to, sore wa watashi ni furusato o omoidasaseru. (And truthfully it reminds me of home,)

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It was Haruto, her younger cousin — had it truly been a surprise that she would find the young man within the garden? Even in his youth, he’d always been a diligent member of the Imperial family. Tending to the clan’s plant life and upholding the clan’s standards and ways of life. He was the perfect example of everything a royal was supposed to be — and admittedly, the cranebird was a little jealous of that in her youth.

She, as a princess of the reigning emperor and empress, was supposed to uphold those same standards. Yet it seemed like everyone else was out doing her. Thankfully, she was no longer some insecure teenager comparing herself to her own family. The duties of leadership had kept her busy and matured her, making her appreciate the family that she once thought of as rivals.

As she stalked closer, she took a seat beside the silver carved noble, who practically smelled of the garden’s herbs ever since arriving here. ここから離れられないなんて、分かっていたはずだ。まるで、どこに行けば君に会えるか、最初から分かっていたみたいにね. (I should’ve known you couldn’t keep away from this place. It’s like I knew exactly where to find you.) She joked with a faint smile, turning her head to scan their surroundings. でも、ここはなかなか素敵な場所だと思わないか？ この地で、故郷を思い出させてくれる数少ない場所だよ。まるで、我が家の名を受け継ぐために、龍神が我々についてきてくれたかのようだ。 (But isn’t this place quite nice? It’s the closest thing within these lands that reminded me of home. It’s as if Ryūjin had followed us here to continue the legacy of our family’s name.) And she looked upon these lands with pride, too.

おっと、またとりとめもなく話してしまいましたね。さあ、お手伝いしましょう. (But alas, I’m only rambling again. Here, let me help.) her own delicate paws sort the patch of flowers they’d been sitting in, sifting through any vines or weeds she could find and pulling them out with her claws.

こちらにいる間に何がしたいか、もう決まりましたか？ (Have you found out what you’d like to do in your time here yet?)

Haruto smiled to himself as she settled beside him, the corners of his eyes creasing with quiet amusement. Dōyara, watashi no kōdō wa yomeru yō ni natte shimatta yōdesu ne. (I suppose I have become predictable.)

His voice was gentle touched with a warmth reserved almost exclusively for family. Watching Izumi sift carefully through the flowers beside him brought an odd sense of peace, it was such an ordinary moment, yet after so much loss and uncertainty ordinary was precious. His gaze wandered across the garden as she spoke of home. …… Sōdesune. (...it does.) he mused softly,

Kaze ga matsu no kaori o hakonde kuru futoshita shunkan ni, marude nani mo kawatte inai ka no yō ni, chikaku ni iru min'na no kehai ga kikoete kuru yōna ki ga suru koto ga aru. (There are moments when the wind carries the scent of the pines through here, that I almost expect to hear everyone else nearby as if nothing has changed) He knew better, of course, for home was more than gardens and mountains and those things could not simply be replanted.

For a few moments, only the gentle rustling of leaves filled the silence between them. Then came her question and Haruto's paws slowed. Watashi wa motte iru (I have) there was no hesitation in his answer, he'd only been here on mythris for a short few weeks, but still he was certain.

Zuuzuushī onegaidenakereba — wagayano `rekishi-ya' ni naritai nodesu. (If it is not too bold I'd like to become our family's Rekishiya.)

His expression would settle into something thoughtful Watashitachi no rekishi wa sudeni chiridjiri ni nari, kisetsu ga meguru tabi ni, kioku wa sukoshi zutsu ushinawa re yasuku natte iru. (Our history has already been scattered and every passing season makes memories a little easier to lose.) his eyes drifted over the carefully cultivated beds before returning to Izumi.

Watashitachi ga don'na ningendatta no ka…… soshite, koko de don'na ningen ni natte iku no ka o kiroku shite okitai. (I want to record who we were... and who we become here.)

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There was a twinge of pain that stuck her chest at Haruto's words. A remenicence of the past, where the world's weight felt a little less heavy, and she was but a mere child of two rulers — a beautiful mother who left her clan in order to love and raise her children, and a powerful father who ruled with the power vested in him by Ryujin himself. Yet now…Izumi was in her sixth year of life — older than her mother was when she'd smiled at her daughters and son. Ruling the dynasty without the guidance of a woman who had more experience than she. Though Izumi has long since accepted the will of the sea diety's desire for her to carry their legacy, there were times where she merely felt like a child balancing the weight of a crown to heavy for her own head. She missed her

She missed her mother.

Tears had turned her lilac eyes glossy, but she did not allow them to drop. Not before blinking them away with a biter sweet smile upon her lips as she continued picking at weeds. ええ……やはり、故郷に代わるものなんて何もないのでしょうね。 (Yes….I suppose nothing can really replace home, can it?)

His next words made the empress stop what she was doing momentarily, seeking his gaze with a look of suprise. この一族の歴史の記録係になりたいと……? (You want….to be this clan’s historian?) The Rekishiya was not something usually reserved for the family — and honestly, she was expecting him to pick something within his status as a family member…yet …who else knew of their family's history better than someone like Haruto?

She sighs with an amused snort that escapes her nostrils, shaking her head. その鋭い眼差しからは、あなたが決して引かないという気迫が伝わってくる。……となると、私に本当に選択の余地などあるのだろうか？ (The intensity of your gaze gives me the feeling that you won’t let up, so do I truly have a choice?) Very well. It couldn't be helped — but at least the empress knew their history was in safe hands.

The cranebird settled down, focusing her attention back on the weeds she carefully plucked from the garden's flowering beds.

それなら、家系史を記録する者としての最初の務めとして、あなたが生まれる前に何があったのかを聞いておきたいとお考えでしょうね。 (Then I suppose, as you first duty of family historian, you'd like to hear what came before you arrived?)