FIFTY-TWO

Cold, crisp air fills her lungs and bites at her cheeks; tugging her scarf higher, she idly wishes that spring and summer would return.

A plume of vapor marks a deep sigh of resignation.

Her plants huddle together to ward off the oncoming cold snap, for they, too, dislike winter's icy grip. They tremble even under the day's noon sunlight.

Winter has truly arrived.

But a breeze rustles through the flowers, and red tulips tell her that no, the arrival of winter is not an event to be disdained. Winter is their friend, they say.

She pauses.

The flowers' vivid colors amongst the forest greens and neutral palate of the season and the clear chirping of those birds that have stayed tell her that winter is not without life.

Winter is not barren.

Look, the flowers whisper, urging her gaze further up, to Maria and Elfnein.

Maria kneels a few feet ahead, delighting over burgeoning buds—Maria, who always finds kindred spirits in the underestimated, in the overlooked.

Elfnein runs even further ahead, arms spread wide and laughter echoing off the land—Elfnein, who so readily accepts the soul and life of the land and the estate as her own.

Perhaps it is a metaphor.

She gazes out to her field of swaying tulips, bright red and in harmony with the sun's cold rays and the chilly winter breeze.

Perhaps it is a metaphor. Perhaps she has spent too many hours in front of the fire with old books of poetry.

"Daydreaming? Or are you talking with the plants again?"

"If I am?" she rejoins, taking Maria's mittened hand into her own. "The tulips are quite wise, you know. I value their counsel."

"I'm sure they are." Maria rolls her eyes—a touch of disbelief, but there is curiosity in Maria's glance to the tulips.

"C'mon," Maria tugs at their joined hands, "Elfnein is wandering farther away; she'll leave us behind if we don't hurry up, so I'm afraid tulip visiting hours are over."

In a not-so-quiet aside, she reassures the flowers, "Maria meant no offense," to which Maria huffs.

They catch up to Elfnein a few minutes later, where the tulips give way to pansies. Elfnein is crouched on the path, tracing over one pansy's petals and saying animatedly, "—thinking of starting my own stamp collection, but maybe I should start over with a bug collection? There are lots of bugs here—oh, h-hi, Mrs. Maria and Mrs. Tsubasa." Elfnein pats the flower she had been speaking to.

"Another flower-whisperer in the family," Maria sighs, though her lips quirk up and she swings their hands cheerfully.

"Flowers have feelings, a-and they're good listeners," Elfnein protests as she stands up. Her cheeks are pink and her hands are red when Elfnein tugs her mittens back on.

She intervenes, "It is a Kazanari custom to have a connection with nature. I am glad that Elfnein has taken so well to those under our care." She is, however, a touch concerned at the point Elfnein's words bring up.

Nature might be a good companion, but when all is said and done, it is not human. Nature is not a flesh-and-blood, hopes-and-fears companion.

And with a lack of friends in early childhood undoubtedly comes a malaise in forming such bonds later on in life—she would know.

There is much she wishes to discuss with Elfnein that it is almost… frustrating.

Who would have thought that she would come to know impatience once again?

"Hello, Earth to Tsubasa."

Blinking, she finds herself staring into Maria's concerned eyes; she takes a step back and finds Elfnein also looking on worriedly.

"Pardon, I was lost in thought," she explains, though it does little to reassure them. Well, considering certain recent incidents, she cannot fault them for taking a few more moments to assuage their concerns.

"They must be very interesting thoughts," Maria notes with an arched eyebrow.

She chuckles and replies, "I was marveling at my own impatience—I have rarely been so averse to waiting, for patience is one of my virtues, if I do say so myself."

"W-what are y-you impatient about, Mrs. Tsubasa?" Elfnein asks with that boundless curiosity that will surely put Tsubasa in a tight corner one of these days.

For now, however, it gives her a decent opportunity to address at least one of her concerns. Out here, without walls to constrict them, but with Maria's constant presence to protect them, she senses that the time is appropriate—though perhaps it is better to say that her resolve is at its highest here.

"I was thinking," she begins, slowing their pace to a stroll and briefly touching Elfnein's shoulder, "that I should tell you about my side of the family."

Maria glances at her sharply, but Elfnein says, "Oh. L-like Miss Chris, you mean?"

"No… not quite like that."

Indeed, nothing at all like Chris Yukine—not even her uncle, who has been the commander in her mind far longer than he was Uncle Genjuurou.

Weaving their arms together in classic escort style, somehow managing to pull Tsubasa even closer, Maria elaborates for her, "Tsubasa's relationship with the rest of her family isn't as… friendly; they don't really see eye-to-eye on a lot of things."

"It is partially why you have not met any of the Kazanari," she admits, "I would rather leave them waiting than subject you to their petty games. However, as my—as your guardian, that is, I am expected to present you to them after the requisite warming period has passed."

She pauses, watching Elfnein's expression for any reaction.

Elfnein notices, and nods slowly, saying, "O-okay…."

"Ah, well, it is expected that I do so because I am the family head and they are still quite adamantly invested in their feudal, hierarchical traditions."

Maria squeezes her arm; it is a sore point for them, after all.

"Due to various decisions I have made during my tenure—my marriage to Maria, first and foremost—I have garnered… something of an unflattering reputation. By association, I regret to say that they are unlikely to welcome you with open arms."

Once again, she pauses, but this is to take a deep breath: it hurts her more that they would dismiss Elfnein, who is a person in her own right, simply because Tsubasa is her guardian.

Genjuurou had not faced such blatant disapproval when he had announced his guardianship of Chris.

Then again, her uncle had not been in their line of interest.

"T-that's u-unfair of t-them," Elfnein mumbles, biting her lip and glancing away.

"It is," she whispers.

"But that doesn't mean that they're right," Maria cuts in. "Their line of thinking is completely backwards and unfounded. You and Tsubasa shouldn't take their scorn to heart."

Gently taking Elfnein's hand into her own free one, Tsubasa reaffirms, "It is as Maria says. The clan refuses to look beyond their interests; it is no fault of our own. And if they will not stand our company, it is no loss for us, for we have Maria and all our friends as our chosen family."

Elfnein finally smiles—the melancholy and dejection leave. She wills them to never, ever return.

Unfortunately, she has more to say.

So she stays silent for a few moments, letting herself savor the solid presence of Maria on one side and the earnest contentment of Elfnein on her other side.

Yes: she does not need the clan's approval.

But there are some who have been more receptive to her changes than others; it is not yet time to renounce them.

"First," she breaks the silence—mildly and softly, to indicate the shift in their conversation—"I will introduce you to my father and uncle, who are the closest of my family. They have been most eager to make your acquaintance, if you will permit them."

"Okay," Elfnein readily accepts in that concise manner of hers.

She supposes there is not much to say to the proposal, after all.

"I am glad. Father and Uncle have been constants in my life for as long as I have been alive—I must say that I believe I inherited my penchant for awkwardness from them," she jokes (as best as she can, hoping it does not fall flat).

To her relief, Elfnein and Maria both laugh.

And on the fringes of their laughter, her flowers sway in winter's loving breeze, echoing their joy.


a/n:

Why is the connection so slow here?

Anyway. I apologize for the late update; my life and my head aren't in very good places at the moment, so I'm afraid chapters will continue to be sporadic for this week and the next.

Please review!