Angles of Vision
This is what a child sees; adults as pairs of legs, topped by bodies, topped by heads, a different species, a different race, with their own priorities and incomprehensible thoughts.
"I still can't see Nataku? He's been 'not seeing people' forever. Is he really that sick?"
"Yes -- sort of. In any case you can't see him now. I'm sorry you've had to come here every day --"
This is what a child sees; two of his friends talking together, and they sound worried, but he doesn't understand why.
"Of course he doesn't like me! I tried to choke him, why the fuck should he like me?"
"Anh. You could explain that it was all part of a way to introduce yourself without getting noticed by Litouten?"
"Tenpou, you were the one who said we were going to try to keep him out of Litouten's way for the moment."
"Yes. And?"
"Has it escaped your notice that your protege's getting big ideas and might just do something stupid?"
"It's only been one day so far. I don't anticipate anything really drastic for at least a -- Oh! What are you doing there, Gokuu?"
This is what a child sees; the sun clouded.
He sits there with his head resting on his hands, elbows planted firmly on his desk, looking at the papers in front of him but not really seeing them, dark eyes distracted and vague.
He's thinking about something. It must be something very important.
This is what a child sees; the Bodhisattva smiling.
"Well now, Konzen. You have been busy."
"More than you have."
"And what about the child?"
"Since when have you concerned yourself with him?"
This is what a child sees; two men talking, gowns and bound hair and girdles so like the rest of heaven. One man has his eyes closed. How can you see with your eyes closed?
"I don't believe it. Sir, it can't be --"
"If the Emperor has ordered it so, then it is so, and we can hardly dispute it."
"But . . . sir!"
"You have your orders."
"But sir, with the Toushin Taishi Nataku still wounded, then you might have to serve under this, this . . ."
"It is not our place to dispute our orders. Be about your business."
This is what a child sees; a stranger with strange eyes. Does this mean he's one of a kind? Nataku told the child that to be unique is a wonderful thing.
"Who are you?"
"Toushin Taishi. But you may call me Homura. What are you?"
"Gokuu! Come away now. Stupid monkey."
A pause.
"Fetch me some more flowers, Gokuu. The ones on my desk are wilting."
This is what a child sees; passage in a storm of white silk cloak and silver hair, scarlet eyes like jewels, roiling with disturbance. It might be fury at another, or fury at self, or fury at another for having done something that he really wanted doing but couldn't say he wanted done. The child knows all about that.
"Fetch me Tenpou Gensui now."
This is what a child sees; a tall man in white, with long fingers that can pry, and sharp eyes like hidden needles, and a smile that twists at a private joke. And then he sidles away, because children know some strangers are dangerous.
"Yes, I know I wasn't expected. I rarely am."
This is what a child sees; Ten-chan preoccupied and Ken-nichan frowning and papers everywhere and Konzen wanting him to stay in his rooms and a stranger lounging and watching him and the Bodhisattva smiling and people walking to and fro, to and fro, to and fro.
"I've had word that -- no, it's not official word yet, it was passed to me through another source. As I was saying, I've had word that there's more trouble from the youkai. You're going to have to go Down There."
This is what a child sees; the servant still standing there at the door of the place where Nataku lives, still not letting him inside.
"I see... Well, if he's sick there's nothing I can do . . ."
A pause.
"Oh -- that reminds me. Here. Will you give this to Nataku? Ten-chan said you should bring flowers or melons when you go see someone who's sick."
"Yes, certainly."
"Ahh -- thanks! Oh, and by the way -- my name is 'Gokuu.' Remember to tell him that!"
This is what a child sees.
---
This is what a child sees; adults as pairs of legs, topped by bodies, topped by heads, a different species, a different race, with their own priorities and incomprehensible thoughts.
"I still can't see Nataku? He's been 'not seeing people' forever. Is he really that sick?"
"Yes -- sort of. In any case you can't see him now. I'm sorry you've had to come here every day --"
This is what a child sees; two of his friends talking together, and they sound worried, but he doesn't understand why.
"Of course he doesn't like me! I tried to choke him, why the fuck should he like me?"
"Anh. You could explain that it was all part of a way to introduce yourself without getting noticed by Litouten?"
"Tenpou, you were the one who said we were going to try to keep him out of Litouten's way for the moment."
"Yes. And?"
"Has it escaped your notice that your protege's getting big ideas and might just do something stupid?"
"It's only been one day so far. I don't anticipate anything really drastic for at least a -- Oh! What are you doing there, Gokuu?"
This is what a child sees; the sun clouded.
He sits there with his head resting on his hands, elbows planted firmly on his desk, looking at the papers in front of him but not really seeing them, dark eyes distracted and vague.
He's thinking about something. It must be something very important.
This is what a child sees; the Bodhisattva smiling.
"Well now, Konzen. You have been busy."
"More than you have."
"And what about the child?"
"Since when have you concerned yourself with him?"
This is what a child sees; two men talking, gowns and bound hair and girdles so like the rest of heaven. One man has his eyes closed. How can you see with your eyes closed?
"I don't believe it. Sir, it can't be --"
"If the Emperor has ordered it so, then it is so, and we can hardly dispute it."
"But . . . sir!"
"You have your orders."
"But sir, with the Toushin Taishi Nataku still wounded, then you might have to serve under this, this . . ."
"It is not our place to dispute our orders. Be about your business."
This is what a child sees; a stranger with strange eyes. Does this mean he's one of a kind? Nataku told the child that to be unique is a wonderful thing.
"Who are you?"
"Toushin Taishi. But you may call me Homura. What are you?"
"Gokuu! Come away now. Stupid monkey."
A pause.
"Fetch me some more flowers, Gokuu. The ones on my desk are wilting."
This is what a child sees; passage in a storm of white silk cloak and silver hair, scarlet eyes like jewels, roiling with disturbance. It might be fury at another, or fury at self, or fury at another for having done something that he really wanted doing but couldn't say he wanted done. The child knows all about that.
"Fetch me Tenpou Gensui now."
This is what a child sees; a tall man in white, with long fingers that can pry, and sharp eyes like hidden needles, and a smile that twists at a private joke. And then he sidles away, because children know some strangers are dangerous.
"Yes, I know I wasn't expected. I rarely am."
This is what a child sees; Ten-chan preoccupied and Ken-nichan frowning and papers everywhere and Konzen wanting him to stay in his rooms and a stranger lounging and watching him and the Bodhisattva smiling and people walking to and fro, to and fro, to and fro.
"I've had word that -- no, it's not official word yet, it was passed to me through another source. As I was saying, I've had word that there's more trouble from the youkai. You're going to have to go Down There."
This is what a child sees; the servant still standing there at the door of the place where Nataku lives, still not letting him inside.
"I see... Well, if he's sick there's nothing I can do . . ."
A pause.
"Oh -- that reminds me. Here. Will you give this to Nataku? Ten-chan said you should bring flowers or melons when you go see someone who's sick."
"Yes, certainly."
"Ahh -- thanks! Oh, and by the way -- my name is 'Gokuu.' Remember to tell him that!"
This is what a child sees.
---
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