#takeritsuweek2017

Hopelessly, Ritsu looked up at the sky, but the trees blocked both moon and stars, and he wasn’t about to risk drawing down the wrath of some forest sprite by trying to climb one. It wasn’t a good thing to be wandering the forest at night, especially not alone; you never knew what might take an interest.

A bramble caught on his cloak, and he pulled roughly away, hearing the fabric rip as he did so. A small curse slipped past Ritsu’s lips, and he swore he heard something titter behind him. He grit his teeth and determinedly did not look back, continuing to pick his way along the path of least resistance, hoping and praying that he wasn’t being lead to somewhere—

The forest opened up into a clearing, a small cottage sitting at its center. Ritsu froze in surprise.

It could be a trap; there were plenty of fae and creatures like them who delighted in trickery like this. The weak firelight flickering behind the shutters was just their kind of tempting, a promise of safety sure to be rescinded as soon as he got comfortable.

On the other hand… a fat drop of rain landed on Ritsu’s cheek, and a ruble of thunder passed in the distance. The timing was suspiciously convenient, but it very clearly told him he couldn’t stay out here. Taking a deep breath to brace himself, Ritsu strode across the clearing to knock on the door.

“Hello? Is anyone home?” Another raindrop, this one on the back of his neck. Ritsu knocked harder. “If you are human, I need shelter for the night! If not, I request this hounding cease immediately!” The tittering came again, this time from a little further back. Through the shutters, Ritsu could just make out the shadow of movement.

“I’m coming, I’m coming…” A man’s voice called, sleep-rough and bleary-sounding. Ritsu heard several bolts slide on the inside of the door— “Sweet mercy, you’re loud,” —and then it was yanked open under his hand.

Ritsu knew that he was tall for sixteen; this man was taller, even slouched against the doorway as he was. His nightshirt seemed a little too big, hanging well past his knees and swallowing his frame like a wire doll. His long, brown hair was a mess, his mouth set in an unwelcoming grimace. One hand was tucked out of sight, likely reaching for some sort of weapon in case Ritsu proved to be hostile; the other was clasped tightly over his eyes. Despite that, Ritsu had the distinct impression he was being glared at.

“Wadda you want?”

Ritsu bowed. “I apologize for interrupting your sleep just now. I’m afraid I’m a little lost, and it’s beginning to rain.” Three raindrops in quick succession drummed down on his back. Another hit his hair. “If you’re not responsible for this, and are, in fact, human, I would request a place to stay for the night.”

“Yeah?” He sounded a little more awake now. “How do I know you aren’t some trickster, trying to get a free invitation in to my home? It would hardly be the first time one of your ilk showed up like this.”

Ritsu considered. “My belt buckle is iron, and I know I have a ring that is silver; you could examine them if you like. If you have milk in the house, I’d be happy to handle it and show that it doesn’t curdle.”

“What about salt?”

Ritsu scoffed. “I don’t make a habit of carrying any on me, and I doubt you have the purified kind anywhere around this house. But if you do, I could handle that too; it won’t burn.”

The man paused for a moment, before lower the hand from his face. His eyes remained scrunched shut. “Let’s see this ring.”

Ritsu considered his hands. Each of his rings denoted a different aspect of himself, of his station in life. Each one would reveal something different if he handed them over, and each would be a different scar if it wasn’t given back. Finally, he decided on the thin band around his littlest finger, twisted silver with a small black pearl set in it; the second son of a noble household. Unless this man could identify the type of silver or pearl from a quick analysis, it wouldn’t tell him anything about which household it was.

Ritsu slid the ring off and handed it over. The man rolled it around in his hand, feeling out the shape of the ring and the pearl, before raising it to his lips and settling it between his teeth. He bit, doubtless feeling for the degree of give in the metal, and likely tasting it for good measure. Ritsu’s heart rose in his throat, and he hoped the ring wouldn’t be damaged.

The man opened his mouth, dropping the ring back into his hand and offered it back to Ritsu, who took it with relief. “Alright, you’ve got silver. I’m not going to invite you in, but if you can cross the threshold on your own, you’re free to spend the night.” He turned and walked away, and Ritsu hopped quickly across the threshold, closing the door behind him as the rain began to pick up.

It was a simple, one-room cottage. Herbs and dried meats hung from the rafters, pots, pans, and kettles decorated the mantle over the fire, and the bed was shoved off the corner farthest from the source of heat. On one side of the door, a beautifully crafted sword sheath leaned against the wall, likely the weapon the man had been reaching for earlier. On the other, a wide-brimmed hat and shapeless coat hung on hooks set in the wall.

Ritsu pulled off his own cloak and set it under them. “Thank you, sir.”

“Don’t. Only a fool would leave you out for the fae to get at.” The man fished through a pile of blankets by the fire. “I don’t need a changeling nobleman causing trouble around here.” He returned to Ritsu, dumping the bundle of selected blankets into his arms. “Make yourself comfortable, my lord. Try not to lay on any peas when you put them on the floor. I’m going back to sleep.”

He returned to the bed, still not having actually looked at Ritsu once, or apparently even considered offering the softer surface to his guest. Not knowing what to make of that, and too tired to make much of a fuss, Ritsu set about spreading the blankets on the floor.

.

When Ritsu woke, he was at first very confused. His back hurt, someone was humming, and he could smell food… burning? Had he been sleepwalking? Or was Shou pranking him agai—

“My lord, breakfast is ready. Or are you just going to lay there all day?”

Everything from the day before came crashing back, and suddenly, Ritsu was very much awake. He sat up and scanned the room, and yes, it was definitely still the cabin from the night before. The owner sat by the fire, dressed in simple pants and a green tunic, hair pulled back with a piece twine. In the morning light, he seemed much farther from manhood; he couldn’t be that much older than Shigeo, really. Still, there was something bordering on cruelty in his smile.

“I didn’t realize my floor was so comfortable.”

“It’s not,” Ritsu told him, feeling his bruises pull as he stretched out his arms. “but it’s better than outside. Thank you.”

“I told you, don’t bother.” He turned back to the fire, and stirred the pot sitting there. “I hope you like pork stew, because that’s what you’re getting.”

It was probably leftovers from whatever he’d had the previous night; still, Ritsu’s stomach rumbled. He folded his arms across it, embarrassed, as the man let off a surprised laugh.

“It’ll do,” Ritsu muttered.

“I guess it will.” The maliciousness seemed to have temporarily fled his expression, though he quickly suppressed his smile and turned back to his pot. “Shall I ladle you a bowl, my lord, or do you wish to do that yourself?”

“I can handle a ladle,” Ritsu replied, trying not to feel offended.

The man shrugged and pulled a bowl and spoon out of one of the pans on the mantle. “Suit yourself.” Ritsu watched as he filled it and retreated back to the bed to eat his breakfast alone, and bit the inside of his cheek.

It would be terribly rude, after all, to ask why the woodsman wore a blindfold tied around his eyes.

Instead, he asked for his name.

“What does it matter?” the man asked, wiping his mouth on his sleeve. “It’s not like you’re sticking around, are you?

Ritsu shrugged. “Maybe I just want to be able to tell the other nobles how rude you were. In which case, keep it up; you’re just adding to a great story.”

He snorted, then broke down in a sudden coughing fit, as apparently the last bite of soup managed to go down the wrong way. Ritsu scrambled to his feet and tried to go to his side, only to find himself waved off.

“I’m fine, I’m fine! Don’t—” More coughing. “Don’t worry about it.” The man wiped his hand down his face. “I’ve lived through worse.”

There was a pause, and then the man straightened, setting his bowl to the side. He offered one hand in the same stiff, mechanical manner Shigeo did when someone reminded him it was necessary for some sort of ceremony. “Takenaka Momozou. And your name, my lord?”

Something caught in Ritsu’s chest as he realized the corner he’d just walked himself into. Not allowing himself to show any hesitation, he quickly clasped the hand in his own and plastered on his best diplomatic smile.

“Asagiri Taro,” he lied.

“I’m sure it’s an honor,” Takenaka said with the air of a man with neither knowledge nor interest in the name-value of the nobility. Which… was probably good, seeing how there was no such person right now. Still, the smile hurt Ritsu’s face and the name stuck uncomfortably to his tongue.

“Likewise.”

“You’d better get that soup,” Takenaka advised, picking his own bowl back up and emptying the remains in a single gulp. He got to his feet. “or I’m going eat it all, and you’ll never get to experience peasant cooking.”

Ritsu’s stomach growled in response, and the woodsman grinned.

.

About mid-morning, Takenaka lifted the longsword left by the door and hitched it to his belt. “Well, my lord, I need to go get some shopping done. If you wanted to be heading back to town, now’s as good a time as any.”

Ritsu wrapped himself in his torn, stained cloak, and hurried after him.

Takenaka walked the path with confidence, not seeming bothered by his lack of sight as he explained how to find it, should Ritsu ever get lost again (“Shouldn’t be out in these woods if you can’t tell the difference between a real path and a faerie trail,” he said,) but eventually they fell into a companionable silence. Ritsu kept his eyes mostly on the path, aside from the occasional glance at the man walking by his side. The light falling through the leaves edged Takenaka’s hair in gold and highlighted the soft curve of his smile.

Ritsu swallowed and refocused on the path.  Tiny faerie lights sparked at the corners of his eyes.

.

When they reached town, Takenaka made good on his claim of shopping, heading first for a bakery with apparently little thought for the noble at his heels. He chatted with the woman behind the counter, purchased two loaves of bread and some fruit tarts before stepping out again, and heading for a vegetable stall. Ritsu trailed along behind him, fully aware of the odd looks he was drawing.

He wondered how many people actually recognized him, versus how many simply noticed the style of his clothing.

Almost two hours after arriving, Ritsu noticed a handful of guards at the edge of the crowd. When he pointed them out, Takenaka shrugged.

“Probably looking for you. I doubt you really blend in.” The woodsman paused. “If you want to get back to your fancy mansion, you should probably just go introduce yourself.”

Ritsu shifted. “That… makes sense. My family would be worried about me.”

“So what’s the matter?”

“I…” I still haven’t thanked you properly; you won’t let me. How do I even say something like that?

Takenaka waited for a long moment before reaching into his basket of groceries and pulling out one of the loaves of bread. With a single, strong twist, he ripped it in half, scattering crumbs across the cobblestones. He held out one of the halves towards Ritsu. “Here. In case you decide you want some more peasant cooking on your way back, my lord. It’s probably more filling than whatever they feed you up in the castle, or wherever.”

Ritsu accepted it with a quiet “Thank you.”

Takenaka grinned and fished a peach out of the basket and took a bite out of it. “Eh, don’t mention it. I’m sure you’ll forget all about this as soon as you get done complaining to your noble-friends about how much it sucked.”