lamentingdevilkaltz:

“Somehow, there seems as though there’s… something more to you.” Kaltz looked over the other. As observant as Kaltz was, he couldn’t place the nostalgic feeling. However, rather than lingering on it, he picked back up on what the other had previously said. “…running out of time?” he questioned.

[Shui nods.]

I have made many mistakes—and I don’t have very long to fix them.

[The truth is that his time ran out long ago, but he was fortunate enough to get a second chance and he’s not letting it go to waste — even if he’s not quite sure what to do with it. His attempts at talking to Leaks have ended miserably, and Konoe barely seems able to understand him. Shui refuses to give up hope just because he’s stubborn like that, but sometimes he does wonder if Leaks is right and his existence as a soul is simply useless.]

Ah. And isn’t there more to everyone? [Shui’s expression, bleak for a moment, returns to a small smile.] You haven’t told me your name.

(Source: uta-utai)

[Konoe’s partner…! …without Konoe.

Shui watches him, curious.]

lamentingdevilkaltz:

Kaltz watched as the other moved closer—nothing malicious came from him so the blade at his waist remained sheathed. 

The Devil closed his eyes. “It’s nothing.” he said simply, his voice soft and perhaps a little quieter than one would expect. ”Have we… met before?” he asked, looking back to the other again, falling dead silent again soon after. 

If you say so… [Shui doesn’t look convinced, but he’s not going to press.]

I don’t believe we have. [His tone is light, but he is not relaxed at all. Shui knows of the devils, of course, following Konoe — and occasionally Leaks — around as he usually does, and perhaps Kaltz may have felt his presence before. But they’ve never actually met. Shui kind of wishes they didn’t have a reason to.] I am only a wandering minstrel, running out of time. It’s nice to meet you.

(Source: uta-utai)

lamentingdevilkaltz:

uta-utai:

[Devil…? Well, as long as he’s nowhere near Konoe or Leaks…]

[Tentative smile and wave. Hello!]

Kaltz seemed to watch quietly from the distance. Even from afar there seemed to be a vaguely familiar air about the man before him. He felt a little curious, but still he remained silent—a simple saddened expression the only thing showing on his face.

[The stare makes Shui feel somewhat uncomfortable; he fidgets a little, picking at the strings of his lute, not really playing anything. It doesn’t look like Kaltz wants to approach him, so Shui decides to take matters into his own hands. He stops a few feet before the devil. 

Shui hopes he can be heard — his words don’t seem to reach all that many people these days.]

Hello! I was— [he breaks off, seeming to finally notice Kaltz’s expression] …what’s the matter? Are you feeling unwell?

[Devil…? Well, as long as he’s nowhere near Konoe or Leaks…]

[Tentative smile and wave. Hello!]

Feel the ice is melting

askleaks:

Leaks didn’t expect Shui to think too much of his reply.. But apparently, he was wrong. He watches Shui’s reaction in silence, just slightly raising his brows as the red cat eventually figures it out.

“…Think what you will,” he says. He has noticed Shui pretty much always catches the meaning of whenever he replies with something like this, but he doesn’t really have any reason to try to deny it, either.

Leaks keeps his eyes concentrated on Shui, taking in the sight of the other’s surprised face. It’s somehow.. rather adorable. He does get the urge to turn away, since this way Shui can easily observe his expressions as well, but decides to not act upon it.

“We shouldn’t just stand around like this, or we’ll get cold” he eventually states.

Oh. Really…? The reaction makes Shui smile. That Leaks should go out of his way for him like that… Perhaps he’s not giving his words enough credit. It seems they managed to change more than he would have dared to expect.

Shui had nearly forgotten the cold — there’s plenty of warmth bubbling up inside of his chest —, but he nods at Leaks’ warning.

“True… Ah, here!” After a few false starts, he succeeds at unwinding one of his scarves, which he then wraps snugly around Leaks’ neck. “This should help,” Shui says, his hands patting the dark fabric, not in a hurry to leave Leaks’ personal space just yet. Considering how close they are, if he’d just lean in a little…

…Shui steps back after one last tug at the scarf to make sure it’s secure. “Where do you want to go?” 

Feel the ice is melting

askleaks:

Leaks knows to expect this type of greeting from Shui, and lightly leans in against the other. He’s gotten quite used to this, but doesn’t fail to notice that this time Shui doesn’t hurry with pulling away.

He nods knowingly at Shui’s reply, which was the one he expected and hoped to hear.

“…I know.”

Leaks focuses his gaze on Shui again, and wrinkles his brow just slightly at the inquiry about his plans. He really has no excuse as to why he is out here, but he can’t bring himself to just state out the truth. Who knows what kind of over-enthusiastic reaction that would get out of Shui.

“You could.. But I wasn’t really going anywhere in particular,” Leaks finally admits, even though by his vague answer Shui might realize what he was here for.. Or not, the red cat’s train of thought might be somewhere else already, as he could be somewhat unpredictable at times.

Leaks gets a head tilt for that answer. Is he just walking around without a purpose…? That’s a little odd. Perhaps Leaks likes the cold a lot more than Shui thought. He’s about to put it down to that and move on when it finally clicks. Right here, of all places…

Shui runs the idea through his mind once. Twice. It’s not likely, true, but… It still makes some sense after the third time, so he ends up voicing it.

“You were… waiting for me?” Shui’s tone is not teasing, just slightly disbelieving. That would be a first, and a big surprise—but by no means a bad one. 

Feel the ice is melting

askleaks:

Before long, he does see a very familiar figure walking along the supposed road, and continues walking onwards. Leaks stops in front of the other, and bluntly returns the stare. He was hoping for Shui to visit, but it actually happening surprises him, anyway.

He lifts up the hood he is wearing, and nods as a greeting.

“I don’t mind it. I find it to be somewhat refreshing, and the athmosphere of the forest in winter quite calming,” he states, glancing at the distance, at all the trees slowly but surely getting covered in snow. The nature is rather beautiful in winter as well, it’s like everything is peacefully sleeping.. But he decides to keep these thoughts to himself rather than voicing them out just like that.

“And what are you doing here, when you could be ejoying the warmth of your home?” he asks, though the answer to that is quite obvious.

Shui is a lot more effusive with his greetings, and as soon as he’s within range, he presses his head to Leaks’ shoulder. Routine, maybe, but today he decides to change it a little bit; instead of pulling back right away, he lets his head rest there for just a moment longer.

“My home is not the only warm place I know,” he says, quietly, and then adds, a little louder, “I wanted to see you.”

Shui finally moves away, clasping his hands behind his back. He is somewhat curious about meeting Leaks out here rather than at the end of the path, truth to be told. “What about you? Where are you going? Can I come along?”

After all, Shui does make Leaks go outside with him, from time to time. It’s only fair that he should accompany his friend… wherever he might be going.

Feel the ice is melting

askleaks:

The season is changing, the weather slowly turning colder and colder. The trees have lost their leaves a while ago.

The ground, covered in pure white snow, is untouched with the exception of footprints left behind by a certain black cat.
Leaks is  walking in the forest, along a path that currently can’t be seen. He’s crushing the snow beneath his feet as he walks, resulting in a slight scrunching sound. It was’t very cold yet, so the snow was still wet and soft, but it’s still cold enough to make one’s breath fog.

The path Leaks is walking along is the one Shui uses to visit, and the time of the day is the one around which the red cat usually comes by, when he does. This is in no way a coincidence. Leaks wonders if Shui will be surprised to see him along the way, obviously out here on purpose.. If the other happens to be coming over today, that is.

Waking up that morning, Shui’s first thought was that he hadn’t seen Leaks in a few days — and ‘a few days’ was starting to feel like a lot more time than it should —, so a visit was in order.

With that in mind, off into the white forest he goes.

Shui never would have guessed he’d run into Leaks on the way. For a second he just stands there, staring. Eh…? The surprise wears off quickly, though; he doesn’t really care where he meets Leaks, as long as he does.

“Why, Leaks,” Shui says, approaching his friend, “you don’t want to leave the house when it’s warm, but decide to walk around in this weather? Do you like the cold?”