Fineshrine (young Shizune / Lilly)

Fineshrine

>please write a nice story about Lilly and Shizune's relationship when they lived together for that short period of time, as children. Include Jigoro please.



[Do I what?] I frown, cocking my head to one side and staring at the owner of the hand in mine inquisitively. But of course, that doesn't work, I should know that by now. I make a mental note to avoid such gestures in the future, but that's the third time today. I narrow my eyes--that's more for me than her anyway--and make a mental note harder. A harder note, like the ones in big, thick black letters littered across my father's desk at the house. I can make out the words, but what they actually say is beyond me. Getting there, though.

The girl sitting next to me at the table frowns in concentration, her fingers reflexively curling as she tries to remember the right signs to use. Being around my cousin is a strange experience, so much to remember, so much to keep track of. Smiling doesn't work, waving doesn't work, don't let her trip over things unless she deserves it. Being forced to rely on the deaf-blind sign language that neither of us quite have the hang of yet only adds to that, but I don't mind, I don't! It's a challenge. I wonder if she sees it that way too--oh, right. Sorry.

As troubling as it can be to even communicate with Lilly, I think I really do like her. She can be slow... and she worries too much about being prim and proper. But it must have taken her a long time to learn how to properly set a table when she can't see what she's doing. Plus, she has really good taste in ice cream, I really like--wait, that's it. Aha!

I take Lilly's hand and gently turn it over, signing into her palm. [Do I like it? Is that it?]

Even though her eyes are closed, her face lights up. She nods enthusiastically, before taking my hand and replying. [That's it!]

I can't help but smile, even though I know she won't see it. Lilly begins to think of either what she wants to say next or how to say it, so I take a moment to look over at the two adults who brought us here today. They're both standing a ways away from our table at the small outdoor cafe, their backs to us. They appear to be arguing about something, which probably isn't much of a surprise. Lilly's father is just as large as mine, and even though I can't hear their words, his exaggerated and angry hand motions get the point across. At least they aren't having it out at the table this time, when that happens even ice cream doesn't taste as good somehow.

Another mental note, this one a hard one too: when I am president of Japan, making ice cream taste  bad will be illegal.

Next to me, Lilly is frowning. She opens up her eyes, they're strange, cloudy, empty. Even though it's kind of weird, I've stood right in front of her just looking at them, just staring into them, trying to think about what it must be like to be her. She's said she doesn't mind, it's probably the same way when she touches my face. We're different of course, but we're kind of the same too. I like being who I am though, I like being me, and she's probably the same way.

[My... sister... was the one who... introduced! Me to this flavor.] Lilly signs, slowly and carefully and with some hesitation, but getting excited when she remembers a difficult sign. That's right, she has an older sister. I wonder if she knows her hair is up all weird, what did my mother call it? A “mow-hock?” I don't know, there wasn't a sign for that, that she knew at least. I can't imagine having hair like that. I wonder if Lilly would be able to, even if she touched it? How does Akira manage to make it stay up like that, anyway?

[I wish I had a sister.] I sign back. It's the truth, with just me and my mother, I often feel outnumbered in the house. Servants don't count, none of them know sign and they refuse to try, my father must have them scared.

[I... thought you did?] Lilly looks confused, and for a moment I mirror her expression. But she can't see that. My mental notes are as useless as my facial expressions, but it would be more useless to try to avoid them than to just do what's natural. The most efficient thing is to be inefficient? This is complicated, I take another bite of my ice cream before--it's melting!

I must have made some sort of sound--now that, it IS worth taking the effort to avoid--because Lilly's eyebrows shoot up in concern. [I'm sorry!] She signs. [I forgot, your brother just has such... feminine... hands.]

Oh, she's--melting, melting, emergency!--she's talking about Hideaki. That makes sense. He needs to stop stealing my clothes before he gets in trouble. And maybe if he took up kendo lessons like our father keeps badgering him to, he might not have such soft hands, either. But then again, he's only six, our father asks too much, like usual. I wish I could take kendo lessons, the president of Japan should know how to do things like that. And I'll make tsunamis and earthquakes illegal, and put all the scientists to good use making ice cream that never melts--I guide Lilly's hand to her own cone and she begins frantically licking at the dribbling streams--and, and...

I glance back over at our fathers, still in a heated argument. The good news is that it looks like they're too far away for Lilly to hear them. Should I tell her? Or would it only upset her? I don't like seeing them yell like that, or at least, they're probably yelling. I wouldn't know, I can't hear them at all.

But I can't let that get me down! Not if I'm going to be the president of Japan. It's going to be a long, hard road, but mom promises she'll be my campaign manager. And if Hideaki doesn't stop “borrowing” my dresses, he's going to be my maid. Father won't get a job in my admini... administration, though. He keeps saying that Japan doesn't have a president, we have a prime minister, and a woman will never get elected to be one anyway. Well. I'll show him, first I'll become the prime minister and then I'll CREATE the position of president. And then I'll make it so the first president is president for life, and then it's on to more important things, like ice cream that never melts, and moving sidewalks. That sounds efficient.

Lilly taps me on the shoulder to get my attention as she salvages the last of her ice cream cone. She looks a little upset, don't worry Lilly, you can be my chief of staff. That will be a for-life position too, and you'll get paid in the tea that you love so much. But for now though, back to the present. A glance over my shoulder tells me that our fathers still haven't stopped bickering. Maybe I should tell her?

Before I can though, she extends her hand and I give her mine. She begins to sign.

[I'm sorry, Shizune, but...] She frowns. [It appears that your father and mine are having a... disagreement.]

[You heard them?] I reply. I'm impressed, but I wish her hearing wasn't quite so good at times like this.

[Your father is very loud.] Lilly signs it as apologetically as possible, and I turn to look back at them. I've definitely gotten that impression over the years, if not just from his brazen choice of shirts. Now, his arms are crossed over his chest, while Lilly's own father is making pointing and waving motions.

[And your father moves a lot when he's mad.] I sign back to Lilly, who looks surprised. I guess she didn't know that, although I can't blame her.

I frown. [When I'm the president of Japan, fighting between brothers will be illegal.]

Lilly giggles, or at least looks like she does. [And what do cousins do?]

I flash her a bright smile, and I really, really wish she could see it. [Cousins are friends forever. It's the law.]

Lilly smiles back. [You have my vote, then.]

Before I can begin explaining my campaign strategy to her--handmade signs, handmade signs everywhere--our fathers storm back over, both grimacing angrily. I don't need to be able to talk to mine to know that it's time for me and Lilly to part ways.

Standing up, we exchange a hug. [I'll see you again soon, okay?]

I realize my mistake too late, but Lilly only smiles. [Looking forward to hearing from you.] She replies.

I grin, but she can't--no, that's just too much inefficient...cy. Gently taking her hand in mine, I place it on my face, so she can know. So she can see. She smiles wider, and we stay there like that for as long as we can, before our fathers and the rest of the world can pull us apart again.






“Fineshrine” is a song by Purity Ring.