A game of Chess [Open]

[Cielle Blanche]

Seeing her step-papa act in this way was expected, of course, as this was in issue that had always been present but never spoken about. Mama had never quite felt comfortable discussing this with Ren for two reasons: firstly, he was never really around for her to talk to about this, and secondly she fears his apathetic response. Mama hated talking about things without getting something accomplished with the words, because then it was a waste.

She stopped dancing completely again, her ears lending themselves in the way of Ren, who then began to speak about how Mama deserved happiness and that she should leave him if that was what she really wanted, and then Cielle got angry.

She narrowed her eyes, and her nails became just a little longer, more pointed. "Listen, Ren-kohai," she said the condensending suffix with a frown, "you're being petty. Mama knows who that guy is to her, and she knows who you are. She already made it clear that she's staying with you. She had her chance with him, and she threw it away for his safety. She had her chance with you, and she took it. Do you really think that she would have married you if she wanted to go off and just be with someone else. She's having your child. I don't know if you're messed up because you're an old Angel and all, but in the Human world, having someone's child means something important, especially when it was planned. If she didn't want to be with you, then she wouldn't be with you. She's the King of Hell, Ren--do you know how easily she could replace you if she really wanted? She could go back to the old days, Ren, and I know that you know what I'm talking about.

"She just wants this one wish. So suck it up and let her have it. My mama deserves whatever you can spare to give her. Apparently, even though you're back home, you're still not spending time with her. I know how mama gets when you spend time with her, and I haven't seen a modicum of that since I arrived. Even now, for the past few minutes you've been sitting next to her, but what have you done lately? When was the last time you kissed her, Ren--was it when you conceived the child in her stomach? When was the last time you took her out somewhere in the Mortal Realm--or even around here? When was the last time you took the initiative to feel her belly--not because you asked her to, but because you wanted to? Really, Ren, you need to step up and be the man that you're supposed to be, because I won't sit by idly while my mother is being treated like crap. She's lost three children, and having you isn't of much consulation, because having you is almost the same as having no one! And no, before you use this as an excuse to beat up on yourself again, she did not tell me any of this--I was with her when you first got together. I know how you behave. And I was hoping that I could trust you with my mama, but now I see that I'll have to step in again."

She had given up using even the title of Step-papa for this man who was married to her mother. Turning to Tomoyo, she said, "I'm sorry, mama. It's not my place to say any of this, and you might even fee differently about it than I do, but I had to say something. He's been getting on my nerves every since you two got together and even though I told you to marry him because you love him, he's not really meeting my standards."

Then she turned abruptly to Arashi. "You've been here since I've been gone. Have you seen any improvement in Ren's behavior...?"

Cielle knew that it was unfair that he get involved, but she was willing--part of her even wished--that he had improved and that he was just going through a small relapse of character. She hoped that the boy would say yes, because if he didn't...

[Sanada Tomo]

Tomoyo couldn't believe the tirade of feelings that her daughter had kept quiet for quite some time. Why had she not said anything about this. They could have sat down and talked about this as a family.

"Arashi, dear, please don't answer that question," she said weakly. "And Cielle, don't call him -kohai. He is your step-papa, if you would be so kind. I know that this may be a difficult time for you as it pertains to me right now, Cielle, but I can fight my own battles. I'm sorry that you feel this way about Ren, but..." While her daughter had voice some of the concerns that she actually had about Ren, her feelings toward them weren't are severe.

She sighed, and she wasn't sure what to say. "To agree with part of what Cielle said, dear, I love you and I wouldn't be with you if I wanted to be with someone else. You must remember that I only remember part of my past life myself--I don't have the liberty to scan through to be childhood memories of my past life. I only remember a few moments--and those moments are only anguish and death. I would like a chance to talk to the soul of a man that I tossed my life away for--it is not simply the fact of seeing him because I love him more than you, or anything like that. Being with him won't make me happier than I am now. I have four beautiful children who are still alive and one on the way. Why would I give this up for a few moments? And I appreciate your suggestions on how to do these things...but we'll have to go to the Spirit Realm itself, considering that the new King of Heaven in our truce has made me agree to not have any infernal beings in Heaven--including myself--else they be forfeit to their laws. It is a good thing, I think. It gives me joy that Heaven is beginning to support itself.

"But I digress. Ren, I wouldn't be with anyone but you, and I'm not sure what I have to do to make you see that...although I would like you to spend a little more time with me while I'm carrying the baby..." she smiled weakly. She couldn't say what she wanted to say--that she didn't really expect him to spend time with her outside of having their child--but the words were too harsh on her tongue and the atmosphere too thick with resentment from Cielle. If she wanted to bring that up as an issue, she would have to do it later and while Cielle wasn't there to make things...angry...

[Mishiranu Arashi]

Arashi felt oddly out of place in the room now. Ren had become very much the man Arashi thought he couldn't possibly be. Ren had stood and actually spoke about something in his own kind of sincerity, and that alone caused arashi to feel a slight bit of respect for the man. It was obvious that he would be upset, what man wouldn't? He could have been as trusting and calm as any sage but this wasn't something so easily ignored. To be honest it wasn't very fair for her to have voiced the wish here, at least not so directly in front of her. Tomoyo could easily have said she'd get back to him about it.

The response given by Tomoyo gave him a brief feeling tat she wanted a lot more then she was letting off. He had a bit of skill in detecting desire in those around him, and she was literally flooding over with what she really wanted. Ren wasn't very much of a support for a woman of Tomoyo's position and it was obvious that they had a bit of problems even if they weren't voiced. Cielle asked him to tell if Ren had become any closer to Tomoyo, and all he could think of was the day he first ran into Ren. He really didn't think it wise to push the guy any farther into a corner at the moment. Both his wife and step daughter were crushing him and it wasn't pretty.

Women are scary creatures.

Says the guy who leveled the kings residence of the second layer

Tomoyo told him not to answer, and it was a good thing. Arashi wouldn't have been right to have offered his opinion of Ren. His dance with Cielle was long dead, and the joyous moments of this party were in tatters. He would rather have just done without ren's appearance. It was bad enough he only showed up because he was called for. Arashi was sure he knew exactly why Ranmyaku went into him, because this was an obvious problem.

"I don't belong in this discussion. I'm sorry but I feel it wise to leave you all to your words. I'll be in my room my room if anyone would wish..erm..want to join me. Sorry to have aroused such a topic."

Arashi flashed an inviting glance to Cielle at the moment as well. He didn't like to see her pretty face in a cross way. It would be nice if she would join him, maybe she could teach him to play chess.

[Cielle Blanche]

[You know, you're going to have to start another thread for these two ^^ Sorry about the direction this thred went in; Ren makes everything droopy XP]

"Wait," Cielle said. She couldn't just let him do this--he was a guest here, and while this was a serious conversation between mama and step-papa, he didn't deserve to be thrown out on the street or sent to his room.

"You came here for a reason, didn't you? I'll keep you company while they talk. It was rude of me to pull you into the conversation. I'm sorry. I'll make it up by completing whatever task mama was trying to complete in seeing you. Your friend...she can come back to play, too. What was he doing, mama?"

[Yamazaki Ren]

[It's not my fault. And you were the one who imposed the droppyness this time around]

Logically, Ren knew that all of that was true. Knew that he was taking things about of proportion, but he really didn't think he should get all the blame for sort of...flipping out when one of his biggest insecurities was picked at like a scab.

He stared levely at Cielle throughout the duration of her tirade, not taking the intended insult for anything more than a petty jibe and raising an eyebrown when she finished with the threat.

The eyebrow decended again and turned into a deeper frown when Tomo picked up the convorsation. When she had finished and the convorsation turned to whether or not Arashi should stay or go, he stood up to pace the hill briefly, the kinetic motion helping his thought processes to straighten themselves out. For his emotions to settle and for his rational mind to take control of the situation and extracte him out of the whole he'd dug with as little pain on all sides as possible.

"I know you say that...but like I said, you're obviously unhappy. Would you be happier choosing another alternative? I'm not saying that I want you to, because I really and truly don't but..."He crossed back to Tomo and knelt beside her, taking her hands in his, "But Cielle is right. You have alternatives. That might not have been the case or what you wanted when you married me but now that you see what it's like, what this situation with my family is like and what's it's doing to me...Are you sure you want to stick it out? Or would you rather quit while you're ahead and not so deep in." He let go of her hands and sat back on his haunches, meeting he eye level. "You're the love of my life, don't dobut that, but if you're not happy in that position then something has to give"

[Sanada Tomo]

The thing that annoyed Tomoyo the most was that she had just assured him that she was happy where she was. They had had this conversation before, in Ren's dungeon while Mizuki was imprisoned for breaching the grounds and attempting to murder her. He had made it clear that there were going to be a lot of rough patches ahead, because of his family, and she had told him that she would do what he wished to make the confrontation easier for him with his family, whether that meant that she traveled to meet them or that she stayed at home.

However, she smiled in spite of that. At least he was talking to her about how he felt. She had been worried at first, when he had begun to pace, but this was an improvement. An improvement that she thought was worth sticking with. She didn't want to leave Ren. He was one of the few people that she loved in that way, and she didn't want to give him up. She had already contributed to the birth of four other children beside the one in her belly, and since the moment that she had fallen in love with Ren she had wanted to have a family with him. She had told him that.

"I know that I have options," Tomoyo said. "I've had options my whole life, Ren--and that's a very long time. I don't want options anymore. I just want to settle down and have a family, as strange as that sounds coming from me. I have four children and one on the way and I've only been married once--and that's to you. Don't you think that there's something wrong with that? And I'm not staying with you just so I have something permanent. It just so happens that I love you and that I've already married you."

She paused. "But I will admit, Ren, you frustrate me sometimes. But I'm not considering leaving you. I'm not unhappy with you. I would just..." she sighed. "I would like to see some change, Ren. I would like to see you involved with me and the baby more, and I would like assurance myself that such a thing will last longer than the remainder of my pregnancy..."

[Mishiranu Arashi]

Arashi paused when Cielle offered her company and he wondered if he was too nervous about the whole thing. He would have really enjoyed her company after all. He really had come to learn to play chess and talk with Tomoyo, though he felt it would be just as nice to speak with Cielle. Arashi found himself glad now that she offered to accompany him on the trip to his room that would have been lonely without her. He smiled and nodded, offering his arm for Cielle to take. the scene in the room was growing a bit more serious as he waited so her wanted to leave quickly. He could always talk to Tomoyo in a few days, after he'd returned from heaven. Arashi needed one last day to find himself, as he knew he would fall. then he was sure he would be more fit to grant her wish.

"Thank you Cielle. I would surely love your company. My friend is not far away, it's not like I can get rid of her."

Arashi laughed a little and started to walk, hopefully with Cielle beside him. "do you know anything about chess?"

[Arashi will leave this thread. I'll leave it open though if you guy's want to RP out the rest of your... um... discussion.]

[Cielle Blanche]

[Thanks. I'll make sure that I close it when we're finished. ^^]

Arashi thanked her and held out his arm for her, which made Cielle feel really appreciated. When he said that his friend wasn't far away, she briefly remembered her assimilating herself into his blood, so she supposed that he couldn't indeed get rid of her at all, which made her giggle.

He also asked if she knew how to play chess, and her eyes grew brighter. "Yes. Mama taught me how to play. She's great at it! I'll teach you--I can't show you how to win against Mama, though--she wins every time..."

She gracefully took his hand, not bothering to look back at her mother and step-father. They would work things out on their own, and then they would join them, perhaps?

Despite her plans for the baby shower going awry, she hadn't planned on coming home to see her mother and Ren's situation being this grave. She was still glad that she had allowed herself to bring up those issues--Ren had a habit of not speaking, and Tomoyo always made excuses for him, or brought a subject up and didn't make demands about what she wanted. Cielle, however, was confident even as she left them in their room together that they would work things out. Mama did love him, after all.

[Yamazaki Ren]

Somewhat more relaxed after hearing the answers he wanted and not the ones he'd dreaded in the situation, Ren resumed his original seat with a breath that released the stress that had been suddenly brought about in the situation.

He waited until Cielle and Arashi had left the room to respond to her inquiry

"I realize that I haven't been spending the time I should. We've discussed that before. Things are starting to move, however, to the point where that should no longer be an issue. I've rented out a villa in the mortal realm and the major players in my family will conveane there by the end of the week, hopefully to reach some sort of consensus about the leadership of the family. Aside from Rei, you said that Chikara was pretty much a sure thing. Rei got to Seki who in turn got to the rest of the Kiryuus. The Arima's are on my side and so are a great number of the branch Yamazaki. The only opposition we have are the Tsubasa and the Mikages, Mimiko and the Katashima's and my parents and the few Yamazaki that support them. The odds are looking good. Though, this does mean that if I get souke in the end, the Byakko no Ichizoku will likely be banished from Heaven, I'm not sure how everyone will feel about that. That may affect some peoples decisions..." He added, smiling ruefully "Though there are at least a few people I can count on regardless. It doesn't hurt that all of them are either fallen or choirless either."

[Sanada Tomo]

Tomoyo wasn't too much happier with her husband's new-and-supposed-to-be-improved answer, and she wasn't going to pretend that she was. She was still frowning, and nothing that Ren had said in the last one and a half minutes of talking was enough to satisfy her.

She stood, pulling at her hair. "I don't need this now. I come to you in all honesty about wanting to fix our marriage and all that you can give me is about two sentences of reassurance before launching into your own problems! We haven't even settled ours yet, Ren. 'We've discussed that before'? Is that all that I get? Is that really all that I get?"

There were tears in her eyes now, even though she was more angry than sad, and she figured that it was her mood swings kicking in.

She buried her face in her hands, and she said in a muffled voice, "Just get out. Just...just leave and don't come back into my castle until you're ready to give me the time that I deserve. Go stay with your sister for a while. My daughter is here, and she'll help me take care of myself. Do your stupid family thing. I'll make sure that Chikara gives you her precious vote," she finished through gritted teeth. She didn't even look up, watching as her tears fell onto the grass.

Without meaning to, waves of darkness began to wave from her, and she wasn't the least bit concerned about reigning it in. Cielle's magic was melting from the walls, from her bed, and the room was slowly restoring to normal in a strange way. Tomoyo watched the grass beneath her face become a mattress covered by black cotton sheets, and she turned away from Ren.

[Yamazaki Ren]

Seeing that his response wasn't what Tomo wanted to hear (and he knew it wasn't), Ren sighed and ran a distracted hand through his hair, standing despite Tomo's order to leave and her subsequent breakdown.

"This is something I have to accomplish to be able to spend more time with you, Tomo. I told you it would be like this when we first decided to have a child together. Like I said, I'm sorry if this isn't what you signed up for but this is the current reality. I promised you when we talked at Rei's a few weeks ago that I was going to make an effort to spend time with you when I was able to. There just hasn't been any time aside from right now. It takes work to smooth over a thousand years of bad relations with family members that I despise so they can vote me into a position that I don't necessarily even want.

By telling you what was going on, I hoped that it smooth over some of your anxiety about the way things were going at the moment. It wasn't my intention to make light of how you were feeling or ignoring the fact that you were upset. What I meant by it was to say that it's almost over and that we'll be able to resume life as normal as possible afterwards."

[Sanada Tomo]

Tomoyo wasn't for hearing any of what her husband had to say at all. She still refused to turn around and she wasn't about to back away from her argument. She still felt that regardless of any obligation to Family Problems, Ren had a duty as a Husband and a Father to spend time with their unborn child. And it didn't matter at all to him, it seemed. She couldn't believe that he was still making excuses for himself. Yes, she knew that the issues with his family would take up a lot of time, but she didn't think that such a fact also dictated that he wouldn't be around at all!

Tomoyo was just not a logical person at the moment, and Ren's revision of his words went unheard. "Get out. Of my. Castle. Now," she said, the waves of magic coming from her lashing out with an actually force to push Ren back. Tomoyo was not only telling Ren to leave because she was angry at him, but also for his safety--ever since her fourth month or so she had not been in full control over her emotions, and despite how angry she was she didn't want her husband to get hurt. After all, she killed Chiyo right after the twins were born, and that didn't bode well...