Jono's chest scar wasn't only part of him that Jack witnessed until a moment in private happened. During a night together in Jono's new dwelling when he relocated from Tentōchū. Waters of a hidden hotspring with herbs mixed into the waters for relaxing effects. A body that had experienced battle was shown to eyes that won many with his blade. Patches of skin that were rough to the touch and odd coloring. Came in different shapes on a sculptured torso and broad shoulders belonging to Jono.
Which drew deepest worry from Jack when he was allowed to touch them within those moment. Learn the stories behind them and how Jono came closer to death with each one. Stopped when the necklace was the only thing Jono wore around his neck. Caught Jack's fingers and was traced to the three pendants he knew VERY well. Each one presented the three deities the two sought out as guides in their lives. Not noticing the closeness he shared when splashing of water filled the quiet.
"How can you still be alive?" Jack asked when Jono removed his hair pin.
"My unwavering devotion," Jono put the hair pin aside, "I only exist to serve you, remember?"
Jack withdrew his hand from Jono when he felt the other run his hand through his hair. Way those fingers moved through his hand was careful to not get caught up. As if Jono knew how to comb through those blackened strands belonging to Jack.
"Care to share what you use to get your soft?" Jono asked, taking in the texture and scent.
"You need to ask my mother." Jack whispered.
"Empress has taste." Jono fondles the back of Jack's head.
Jack couldn't bring up,away from that touch when he was quite angry with Jono and his answer. One that had him wanting to ask the gods that have protected and shown him. Why did they keep someone like Jono alive just long enough for them to meet? Was an answer he didn't want to find out since he feared for Jono's life.
"What's wrong?" Jono asked him, "I don't like it when you're quiet."
"You would not like it." Jack pulled his head from Jono's hand.
"Jack," Jono knew when not to push, "Bath is yours."
Out of the water Jono went with his back to Jack when he stepped out as he flexed his back. Needing to get back work on a Two-pronged kanzashi for kamuros from a prominent pleasure house. Order came in through a messenger and straight from the manager around that morning.
"Jono," Jack tried stopping him, "Wait."
"If you're not being honest with me," Jono further walked away, "I am not sticking around."
He didn't get a chance to exit the area and dry off away from Jack with disappointment within. He ended up settling next to Jack when other had the answer he wanted.
"I wish for yourself," Jack looked at him, "I do not want you to live solely cos me."
"I have lived for myself and look where that got me." Jono smiled, understanding him.
Jack laid a head on Jono's shoulder with a small smile on his face when he felt a hand. Pushing wet hair out of the way of his face so that Jono could see his face without any obstacle. Gave a settle calm that Jack welcomed after the week he was through. They stayed this way for a few more minutes before Yuri walked in. She wished that she had a daguerréotype of camera to capture the moment between them.
"You two done?" She loudly asked them, "An escort for his highness is here and brother you have work."
"Mother must have sent Hideyoshi to come retrieve me." Jack figured.
"She isn't going to be around forever to put up with you," Jono reminds him, "This can't last."
"Then agree to relocate to the Palace." Jack requests him.
This was where the two came to another standstill about where they were to live when relations started. One at made his sisters laugh when he and then Bara explained the situation. Jono wasn't one for the pampered lifestyle of servants and court officials. Jack couldn't keep sneaking off to meet him within early or late hours. Left Yuri to assist Jack with who was waiting as her brother could handle himself. Separation allowed Jono to go at his own pace when he dried and dressed. He took hold of the hair pin he had removed from Jack's hair when he exited. Knowing on the other side of the wall a sad Jack was being handled by Yuri. After the last fastening and not able to take the quiet when he finished his hair.
"Gods," He cursed under his breath, "Yuri I'll take over with Jack."
He flipped the hairpin between his fingers when he made his way to the other side of the wall. Took over for his sister by placing the hairpin back where he pulled out. Yuri stayed back with Jack's sword in hand to see her brother whisper to Jack.
"Are you sure?" Jack asked him.
"One negative comment about my father or what we share," Jono explained, "I am out."
Jack didn't care either way since he would wear a smile long after he left with Hideyoshi. Knowing he needed to make arrangements for Jono that would catch his father's eyes. He started by having Sakura and Bara meet him in his chambers for a meeting. One that was mostly by Jono as he was in his new workshop about to work. Ended up sneezing when he placed his glass cutter down on a bench. He was careful cutting out pieces of his own colored glass for the works.
8*8
Jono was placed in a corner of the Imperial Palace when Jack happily moved into his home. The place was quiet and allowed him to work in private from the public's eyes. Allowed Jack to privately visit him when he wanted to along with one of his sisters. Didn't mean a noble or visiting dignitaries try to find the prince's hidden companion. What they found was a workbench filled with handcrafted accessories. All down in a stained glass or stained metallic style of unique shapes. Others that were more coiled wire wrapped around unpolished stones or colored glass. Sometimes the ones in the shape of plants or insects were sold for a few coins.
Just the inspiration that came for these had Jono sometimes visiting parts of Imperial Palace. Needing to study the plants in the garden or the branches of the trees. Sometimes for hours on end by sitting on the nearest bench and just staring without moving. Came to an end when someone who heard about Jono found him. Greetings were exchanged just when a pair of cooing swallows settled.
"Would you like me to move?" Jono asked the Emperor.
"No," the Emperor looked toward the swallows, "They look very natural together."
"I may make an interacting set inspired by them." Jono shrugged.
"My wife wears a lotus flower similar to the one I gave here." The Emperor spoke of his wife's newest hair pin.
"Just a token to return the favor,of the one meant for me," Jono pulled the comb from his pocket, "Bara gave it to me to carry around when she doesn't wear it."
Quietness settled down them when Jono put the hair comb down on empty space on the bench. Getting up with an excuse he got what he needed and had work to do. Bowed to the Emperor and was gone before the tension built any further up. Leaving the Emperor to sigh as he made his way to where his wife's hair comb sat down. He picked up when unspoken words quickly settled within his mind. Ones he was holding back since he found out his son wouldn't remarry to father an heir.
Made the Emperor placed within his sleeve when he made his way to where Jono was tucked away. Quite a walk within the grounds and away from ANY public footpath. Until he came upon Jono heating up his forge to melt down scrap metal. Had Jono put the poker he was using aside and shut the forge's outside the door. He made sure was secure before he offered a seat to the Emperor.
"I do not wish to be unwelcoming to you," Emperor pulled the hair comb from his sleeve, "I am still coming to terms with choices my son made."
"Once you find a woman you love eternally," Jono spoke of Jack's love for Ashi, "Hard to love another woman like that."
"Which I am glad you came into his life," Emperor was glad Jack was smiling again, "Please give me time."
The Emperor ended up reaching out with the hair comb that Jono took back from him without hesitation. They bowed to one another and went their separate way with the Emperor leaving. No questions came from the living commendations from Jono during their discussion. When Emperor was walking down the footpath he stopped when he saw his son.
"Oto-san!" Jack was quite shocked.
He was quieted when his father lifted a hand to his shoulder in an assuring manner. A small smile appeared on the Emperor's face followed by a pat on his son's shoulder. Ended as soon as it began when they pulled away from each other with odd understanding. One that stayed with Jack when he made his way to Jono.
"Something wrong?" Jono asked, noting Jack.
"My Oto-san," Jack tried to ask what happened, "Is everything ok?"
"Just a father being a father." Jono assured Jack.
He then took advantage of their closeness to simply kiss him and seek to place the hair comb. Which made Jack blush when he noticed his hair being let down and arranged. The hair comb was put into place by Jono before he pulled away to check his forge.
"Jono?" Jack stepped after him.
"This about me training with your father's imperial guard man," Jono sighed, "Answer is still no."
"Actually?" Jack grasped Jono's hand.
"Didn't you just have this place blessed for me?" Jono reminded Jack.
"I rather we did a bit of blessing of our own." Jack hinted.
Jono ended up allowing Jack to pull him over his empty workbench with obit being pulled loose.