T/M.1

"Well, spoiled isn't quite the word I would use. Entitled. He was raised an entitled child and as such is an entitled adult. He is used to his home life being completely about him, about the people around him being concerned solely for him. It ruffled him more than say, us, when others put themselves before him because this is not what he is used to," Ming explained, glad that her mother had moved them from the village with its sprawling mansions and stifling nobility. She would not give up her childhood for anything; so much better was it to be a wild flower grown from the sands of the strands than a cultivated garden rose. "I think he seems childish to use because he was never forced into the mold of an adult whose world will not always go right. This could very likely explain his trust issues on one plain as well; he glides around like a silly child and cries when someone trips him like they have committed a heinous crime."

All these were habits she would break him of when they were married and when the time came for them to have children she would not allow them this spoiled life. If her children were to be great nobility they would live amongst the people and be one with the people; they would not lose touch or be unaware of the world. She owed as much to all the people Hasegawa employed and to those of the future her children would one day guide.

Though, if they were half as cute as she thought Ren had been as a baby she would have a hard time not doting!

"Oh, I understood you just fine." Ming answered, smiling broadly at her own train of though," but I don't think that's true. Ki... Kiyo-chan would often comment that the flowers were singing. She is- was of the Hashigaki so perhaps you are not listening hard enough? They're so small, most of them, maybe they just have little voices." Her smile turned inward and sort of sad and it had to have been the mention of her 'aunt'. It still made her queasy to think that the woman who had visited her as a child, saved her from a dark part of her life and given her and Yuii a new life was gone from the world. The idea was unreal, near impossible to accept. As such, she regarded anything she remembered of the elder woman as fact and truth; even if it had been nonsensical blabbering before.

"She said the saddest songs of all came in fall, when all the flowers began to die from frost. Something like; A wilting rose has the sweetest voice, Ming-chan, but it fills me with such sorrow, it knows its death is near." Ming's brow creased, the only tell of a well of emotions pushing at her chest, but it only lasted for a moment.

Well good, she'd won, and she knew she had.

Ming pulled on of her hair pins loose, turning it round to show it off. It looked fairly ordinary until she pressed the center of a flower and then everything got sharper. "Women like to come up with something a little more subtle and perhaps multi-use, neh?"

The brunette watched with mild curiosity as Tatsuya fetched his jacket and spread it across the table. The dagger, too long for the pocket was removed and Ming made a small sound that could only mean she was impressed. In reality it was all she could do to keep from snatching the coat and stripping it apart to understand -how-. just imagine if she could do that with waist lines! The perfect disguise! A jacket that made you any shape and weight because you could choose to have it illusion part of you away. No, not illusion, other space you.

Oh god she hoped she wasn't drooling.

"That... well that's something," She finally managed, trying her hardest not to sound like a smitten school girl, "I think, if this is the case, we might be able to arrange something... anything for your comfort really... but you MUST teach me that trick." There was no getting around it, Ming had to know how it was done.

Making a small noise of disapproval she left the matter of the jacket and weapon concealing alone. How did he not know types of vines? She knew at least ten within a ten minute walk, their properties and what they helped cure. Boys, once you put a blade in their hand it was purely impossible to put anything else in their heads. Never mind that Tatsu's form was an assault on her reasoning.

"I'll just choose something appropriate," she sighed out, exasperated, "and if you have an issue with it we will cross that bridge. If you feel the need to input on food that is fine, I am not very good with such things. I live and breath colour and patten but I eat for my health, not for pleasure. A good cup of tea is better than any meal." She finished by eying her empty tea cup mournfully; it didn't do to be greedy and she felt they were wrapping things up here.

"You're right, of course," She sighed, hoping everything would be fine as he said.

Her smile grew, or perhaps it was the trick of the light and Ming nodded, "Yes, measurements. You can't possibly expect me to make anything without those can you?" Something told her this would be fun. Maybe it was the way Tatsu squirmed, maybe it was the way her brain supplied bad intentions or maybe she just enjoyed her work a little too much. "Come on, stand up, I swear this wont hurt a bit. Just a bit of harmless measuring tape."