[ D. Gray-man ] Gardens
Mar. 9th, 2008 06:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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cemetery_things+ Title: Gardens
+ Fandom: D. Gray-man
+ Characters: Rhode Kamelot, Tiki Mick, the Millennium Earl
+ Rating: E
+ Word Count: 1066
+ Fandom: D. Gray-man
+ Characters: Rhode Kamelot, Tiki Mick, the Millennium Earl
+ Rating: E
+ Word Count: 1066
The weather became strangely warmer in the late days of winter, melting the snow away to make a stark, mysterious wonderland of the Ark’s outdoors. Tiki had been home to report on his assignment when Rhode had come from some dark corner of the entry hall, catching his large, calloused fingers in her tiny, soft hands, drawing him through the door and out into the brisk air.
Each area of the gardens was different from the next, some strange concoction of international fare in a single world of plant life that never quite ended. In the summers there would be akuma amidst every green branch, pruning and perfecting every aspect of the Earl’s treasured place, but in the winter the world past the archway was a sleeping winter kingdom.
The black branches stood stark against the grey-white sky, creating patterns suitable for some sort of abstract painting as they moved among the pathways, feet clicking on the stones with chilled awe. Each path had been laid by hand, stone paths shifting from red to black to gold to green to grey and every other color imaginable in a rock, noting the different styles with subtle hues.
They didn’t want to watch the way they walked upon, though. Sometimes they were just holding hands and walking along, enjoying their shared company and the sound of silence; sometimes they would run, Rhode squealing as Tiki would win a game of silent chase, picking her up and tossing her into the air with a smile and a laugh.
She sat on his shoulders as they passed the Asian gardens, ducking low over his head as they passed through the circular gate and into the only green area of the gardens. The grass was gone, but the firs were formed like oversized bonsai, branches shaped into floating clouds around the serene lake. They made a strange pair walking over the bridge, a tall lanky man with the extra height of a little girl perched about his neck.
Her fingers wove their way into his slick, clean hair, gently gripping the strands and gathering the soft scent of peach. She would be able to smell it on her hands and clothing, watching him close the front door and walk away without bothering to look back- Sit in the window with her fingers to her cheek as she wished the scent would linger until he returned. There were hours to enjoy now, though, and Rhode tilted her head back to look at the sky. It was a lot closer so far in the air.
She spread her arms wide, closing her eyes and feeling the wind pick up to blow the leaves around the faraway ground. Tiki’s grip tightened as she leaned back, a dangerous tip of balance bringing her back as she caught hold of him once more. No falling and getting hurt today. She had enough time to get in trouble with the twins when they came home the next day.
There was a hill in the gardens, a world away from a world, with sparse grey grass spread about in clumps before fading to a sickly green at the top of the hill. A giant tree claimed its kingdom above it all, overlooking the massive spread of the gardens with thick, bare branches spread to embrace the sky. Rhode ran up the slope as fast as she could, gasping the cold air when she finally reached the top and waiting for Tiki to catch up with his steady pace.
They lay back in the grass side by side, watching the tree move in a breeze they could not feel on the ground. It was only when Rhode spoke that they realized how long it had been since they had used words, aware that this winter sanctuary was a sacred space before they even entered. She rolled onto her side, though, looking to Tiki for some response.
Tiki didn’t answer at first, eyes shut. She thought he was falling asleep, but before she could reach out to paw at him his dark lips parted, breathing a slow, white cloud into the air as a prelude to sound.
Rhode whispered a fear, a question-
What would happen if they lost this war? If they failed, and everything went horribly wrong?
A doubt that didn’t seem to take Tiki by surprise, despite its heresy. He paused before answering, savoring the reply with careful thought.
They would live in a house next to a blue-green canal, and wake up everyday to the sun on their face; he seemed to be dreaming as he spoke the words, voice weaving a story that stopped before it began.
She didn’t understand, watching him in the silence that followed with a strange expression. Couldn’t they stay here for a while longer, to enjoy this place? The snow was beginning to fall, though, and the sky was growing dark above their tree.
He waited until the flakes began to dampen his skin before sitting up, picking up Rhode like a tiny doll and starting off down the hill at a brisk pace. She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him tightly enough to make it hard to breathe, but he didn’t tell her to loosen her grip.
When they finally reached the entrance to the garden, she was asleep in his arms. Tiki paused when he saw the Earl waiting on the steps of the house, but there was no menace in the man’s expression.
The Noah walked forward with careful steps, gently detaching Rhode from his neck as he passed her to the rotund man’s arms. She barely stirred at the change in protectors, though as soft sound escaped her as Tiki brushed a gentle kiss across her cheek and his fingers over her forehead. He looked at her lovingly, seeming to hesitate before finally turning away. His steps were long and fast, as they always were when Rhode was the last person he saw at home.
The Earl waited until the black coat was at the end of the drive before retreating indoors, and Tiki only reacted when he heard the door shut behind the man. A glance backward, a faltering step, but there was no one to see it occur.
Tiki just kept walking until Eaze was running to greet him, and the smell of winter air had been replaced by harsh coal dust.
Each area of the gardens was different from the next, some strange concoction of international fare in a single world of plant life that never quite ended. In the summers there would be akuma amidst every green branch, pruning and perfecting every aspect of the Earl’s treasured place, but in the winter the world past the archway was a sleeping winter kingdom.
The black branches stood stark against the grey-white sky, creating patterns suitable for some sort of abstract painting as they moved among the pathways, feet clicking on the stones with chilled awe. Each path had been laid by hand, stone paths shifting from red to black to gold to green to grey and every other color imaginable in a rock, noting the different styles with subtle hues.
They didn’t want to watch the way they walked upon, though. Sometimes they were just holding hands and walking along, enjoying their shared company and the sound of silence; sometimes they would run, Rhode squealing as Tiki would win a game of silent chase, picking her up and tossing her into the air with a smile and a laugh.
She sat on his shoulders as they passed the Asian gardens, ducking low over his head as they passed through the circular gate and into the only green area of the gardens. The grass was gone, but the firs were formed like oversized bonsai, branches shaped into floating clouds around the serene lake. They made a strange pair walking over the bridge, a tall lanky man with the extra height of a little girl perched about his neck.
Her fingers wove their way into his slick, clean hair, gently gripping the strands and gathering the soft scent of peach. She would be able to smell it on her hands and clothing, watching him close the front door and walk away without bothering to look back- Sit in the window with her fingers to her cheek as she wished the scent would linger until he returned. There were hours to enjoy now, though, and Rhode tilted her head back to look at the sky. It was a lot closer so far in the air.
She spread her arms wide, closing her eyes and feeling the wind pick up to blow the leaves around the faraway ground. Tiki’s grip tightened as she leaned back, a dangerous tip of balance bringing her back as she caught hold of him once more. No falling and getting hurt today. She had enough time to get in trouble with the twins when they came home the next day.
There was a hill in the gardens, a world away from a world, with sparse grey grass spread about in clumps before fading to a sickly green at the top of the hill. A giant tree claimed its kingdom above it all, overlooking the massive spread of the gardens with thick, bare branches spread to embrace the sky. Rhode ran up the slope as fast as she could, gasping the cold air when she finally reached the top and waiting for Tiki to catch up with his steady pace.
They lay back in the grass side by side, watching the tree move in a breeze they could not feel on the ground. It was only when Rhode spoke that they realized how long it had been since they had used words, aware that this winter sanctuary was a sacred space before they even entered. She rolled onto her side, though, looking to Tiki for some response.
Tiki didn’t answer at first, eyes shut. She thought he was falling asleep, but before she could reach out to paw at him his dark lips parted, breathing a slow, white cloud into the air as a prelude to sound.
Rhode whispered a fear, a question-
What would happen if they lost this war? If they failed, and everything went horribly wrong?
A doubt that didn’t seem to take Tiki by surprise, despite its heresy. He paused before answering, savoring the reply with careful thought.
They would live in a house next to a blue-green canal, and wake up everyday to the sun on their face; he seemed to be dreaming as he spoke the words, voice weaving a story that stopped before it began.
She didn’t understand, watching him in the silence that followed with a strange expression. Couldn’t they stay here for a while longer, to enjoy this place? The snow was beginning to fall, though, and the sky was growing dark above their tree.
He waited until the flakes began to dampen his skin before sitting up, picking up Rhode like a tiny doll and starting off down the hill at a brisk pace. She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him tightly enough to make it hard to breathe, but he didn’t tell her to loosen her grip.
When they finally reached the entrance to the garden, she was asleep in his arms. Tiki paused when he saw the Earl waiting on the steps of the house, but there was no menace in the man’s expression.
The Noah walked forward with careful steps, gently detaching Rhode from his neck as he passed her to the rotund man’s arms. She barely stirred at the change in protectors, though as soft sound escaped her as Tiki brushed a gentle kiss across her cheek and his fingers over her forehead. He looked at her lovingly, seeming to hesitate before finally turning away. His steps were long and fast, as they always were when Rhode was the last person he saw at home.
The Earl waited until the black coat was at the end of the drive before retreating indoors, and Tiki only reacted when he heard the door shut behind the man. A glance backward, a faltering step, but there was no one to see it occur.
Tiki just kept walking until Eaze was running to greet him, and the smell of winter air had been replaced by harsh coal dust.
