He stood there

The same dull eyes

One of his hands

Buried in a coat pocket

The other

Cradling a cigarette

Between two fingers.

Scent of tobacco

As the smoke

Wafted in the cold air.

But

How strange

A smile?

Startling

Even surprising

Before him

Though his eyes

Tired

The cynic could see

Glimpse

Behind the tattered mask

Who he was

Before he became

A cynic.

"I know you heard us."

"Pardon me. I did."

Shaking his head lightly

Brush off his little eavesdropping

Take a drag

Wisps of smoke

And the ash

From the tip

Floating down

Like powdery snow.

"You've seen her before, haven't you? At that reception."

"Yes, I did."

The man looked at him

But not a trace

Of vexation.

"I've been trying to keep away Miura-sama for a long time now. And now, you show up and bring her here."

He chuckled a bit

At the humor

Of this predicament.

How ironic.

Imagine

The boy

Your daughter

Spoke so highly of

Was the one

To stir

The proverbial dust

And pit him

Once more

Against the bane

To his existence.

"I... apologize."

"No. It was bound to happen. One way or another."

But now

It seemed

The climax

Unfinished conflicts

Like a plunged knife

Either pulled out

Or thrust

Deeper.

And way down

He was sunk

Increasingly

Treacherous affairs

Those he wished not

Involve himself in.

But now

Deal with it.

Strength

Fortitude

It was not just about him

After all

There was still

A certain fire queen

On the line.

"She says that she loves Yumiko. But that is not true."

The cynic was silent

But inwardly

He pondered

Carefully.

"She disowned me. Us."

"Disown?"

"Four years ago. Miura-sama couldn't get what she wanted. I would not allow it."

He took another draw

The grey smoke

Dancing

In the soft breeze.

"Because of business."

"Damn right."

"Miyako-sama told me that this family used to rival the Yukinoshita and the Hayama."

"Just how far is your relationship with my mother?"

He laughed

In mirth

And see

Before a recluse

Just another

Optimist.

The doctor

Whose medicine

Was laughter.

Alas

Long gone

Were those days.

"I haven't heard those names in a long time."

He sighed.

"I'll be honest with you kid. You don't look like the the kind of guy Yumi-chan would be into. But I guess it's better than that blonde son of a bitch."

The man chuckled once more

And the cynic

Tentatively let out a cough

To excuse himself.

He would not know

But she

The fire queen

Had similar attitudes

A side he rarely saw

With her father.

"I told Ma, that I wasn't going to marry my little girl to a Hayama, just so she can finally overpower another goddamn aristocrat."

The man smiled wryly

And turned to him

Sharp dark eyes

Penetrating.

"I just hope that you wouldn't fuck her over. God forgive me, what I'll do to you if she gets hurt."

The cynic stepped backwards

Raising his hands a bit

Humble gesture

He meant no harm.

Indeed

It was certain

If that blonde woman

Had a mother hen complex

Expect no less

From this

Alpha wolf.

"I know. You would not approve of a relationship between me and her."

He shook his head.

"No, no. You don't get it, do you?"

"I know. That's what fathers do. What you do."

"You don't know shit about me."

The man in the white coat

Let out a dry laugh

Rubbing a shoe

On the tiled porch.

"You have a good ear for listening, son. But you think too much."

Think too much?

"I would say, you and I are alike. But only because you are coming down the wrong road, as I have."

Listen.

Here is another tale

Of a man

A father

The origins

Of a cynic.