(no subject)

[toppedbyfishies.livejournal.com]

[Even after all these years, Jyuushiko rarely tires of the crowd of family that constantly haunts Ugendo. She's actually been even more grateful than usual for the presence, right now - the children are a welcome distraction from ruminating over everything she has had to put aside for the moment, for the duties she is neglecting in Seireitei.

Not that she had much choice - 'indefinite medical leave', and Retsu had that look in her eyes that said she was perfectly willing to do things by force, if necessary. Here at least, she could do some things - watch the children, help advice her brothers, assist the cooks with dinner preparations. Nothing too taxing, but it was enough. Even if she did miss the company of her friends in Seireitei - there were visits now and then, but there was work to be done there, too.]

Comments

[mantarayhealer.livejournal.com]

Good. [teasing gently] I think we can safely say that Kyouraku-san will approve of the kimono, as well.

[toppedbyfishies.livejournal.com]

[That gets a much brighter blush out of her]

No doubt he will.

[mantarayhealer.livejournal.com]

Ah, would you like to see the one I brought for myself?

[toppedbyfishies.livejournal.com]

Of course!

[mantarayhealer.livejournal.com]

[She pulls out a kimono--sea green with a river image on it. White cranes stood in the river and flew up around it, while fireflies and water lilies were delicately embroidered on the sleeves. It had a matching pink obi with it.]

I'm quite fond of the color--it reminds me of my dear Minazuki.

[toppedbyfishies.livejournal.com]

[She reaches over to run her fingers across the smooth silk gently]

I can see how it would - it's gorgeous.

[mantarayhealer.livejournal.com]

[smile] Shall we?

[toppedbyfishies.livejournal.com]

Of course.

[She carefully lays the kimono and obi down so they don't get crushed and wrinkled, and begins disrobing - they're in private quarters, and it's not as if it's something Retsu hasn't seen hundreds of times already. She's thinner than she was before the War, still - but not nearly as gaunt as she had been the first few weeks in Fourth, as her body burned all it could to stay alive. The scar was still there, pinkish and puckered edges against the lighter skin of her chest and back, but it's healed, slowly fading]

[mantarayhealer.livejournal.com]

[Retsu does the same, unbraiding her hair while she's at it. She too has her share of scars from years of service in the Gotei--the worst an old, long healed set of four parallel scars running from shoulderblade to hip from where a hollow clawed her during a fight when she was still quite young.]

[toppedbyfishies.livejournal.com]

[It's quick enough work to slip the kimono on, carefully folding the front of it closed. The obi, however, is another matter - she favors simple obi generally, practical and easy to tie. The more formal ones are an art she had never quite managed to master]

Ah...could you give me a hand with this?

[mantarayhealer.livejournal.com]

Retsu slips on her own kimono and then comes over to help Jyuushiko.]

Of course.

[She ties it expertly, and then does her own.]

[toppedbyfishies.livejournal.com]

Ah, thank you.

[She stands back, and gives Retsu a good look over, and then grins.]

You look amazing - as usual.

[mantarayhealer.livejournal.com]

So do you, Jyuushiko-san. [smile] Shall we begin with your hair?

[toppedbyfishies.livejournal.com]

Ah...if you think you can do anything with it.

[She's been leaving it uncut in the months of her recovery - Shunsui had been pestering her for the last few years to grow it long again, and maybe, with the war done, she won't have to worry so much about long hair getting in the way during a fight. So it's shaggy, barely chin-length in the front.]

[mantarayhealer.livejournal.com]

I think I can--but we should neaten it up a bit first.

[toppedbyfishies.livejournal.com]

...What did you have in mind, exactly?

[mantarayhealer.livejournal.com]

Just trimming the edges a bit--I probably should have done that before we put on the kimono--and then a couple of small braids near the front.

[toppedbyfishies.livejournal.com]

Ha, probably. As long as it's not too much off, though - I'm trying to get it long again.

[mantarayhealer.livejournal.com]

No, just a bit to tidy it up. [She finds a pair of scissors and something to put around Ukitake's neck, over the kimono to catch the hair.]

[toppedbyfishies.livejournal.com]

[She simply nods her assent and takes a seat, carefully tucking up the long kimono sleeves, and folding her hands on top of them. She trusts Retsu's work - in this, as in all things.]

[mantarayhealer.livejournal.com]

[She finds an old sheet and puts it around Jyuushiko's shoulders to catch the clippings and keep them off the new kimono. It's only the work of a few minutes to tidy up the ends of her hair and whisk the sheet away again.]

[toppedbyfishies.livejournal.com]

[Jyuushiko let her work in silence - it was actually a little relaxing, to have the sensation of fingers running through hair, even if it was only a quick trim.]

[mantarayhealer.livejournal.com]

[She finishes and then gently goes to rub Jyuushiko's shoulders a bit.] You should be careful about hunching over your desk, Jyuushiko-san.

[toppedbyfishies.livejournal.com]

[She relaxes a little into the touch]

I know. I get a bit lost in the records sometimes though.

[mantarayhealer.livejournal.com]

Understandable. [She finishes and gets a brush and a couple of ribbons.]

[toppedbyfishies.livejournal.com]

[Jyuushiko sits and lets Retsu do her work.]

It's a bit like being back at the division, really - paperwork and archives. More children around, though.

[mantarayhealer.livejournal.com]

[She pulls the hair at the front and sides into two slender braids and ties them together with an arrangement of ribbons and combs.] There we are.

[toppedbyfishies.livejournal.com]

[She rises, and goes to a mirror up against one wall, craning slightly to admire the work Retsu has done.]

It looks wonderful! Thank you!

[mantarayhealer.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. Now then...

[She takes out a small makeup case, selecting colors that will bring out Jyuushiko's eyes and give her some color.]