Chapter Text
His mind is trapped within a moment passed, a looping remembrance. The sight of the Raphael and a growing anticipation to meet the preforming beauty. He pays little attention to their lead to the theaters second level, cigarette fumes dilute into a thinned whisped aroma.
Leonardo doesn't notice until his Onee-san voices her displeasure, the halls they roam line with room some eliciting the faint muffling of sensual moans. A blush powders his cheeks, he has been introduced to sexuality many times during his entertaining of guest while attending along side his daiyamo. Yet, the outright act of sex itself remained a conundrum to him, a mystery, an unacted curiosity.
A peek to his equally blushing Onee-san, she holds an air of angering disgust, her face reflecting as such. They continue through the echoing risqué halls slowing as they approach the door. His nerves rattle, the owner allows them entry and while he seats at the centered chabudai his Onee-san converses with the owner.
An opened shoji from the rooms farthest wall allows for a cooling breeze of fresh air and the setting sun brightened the room considerably. He evaluates the room in search of personifications but there is much to notice. Say for the chabudai and accompanying zabutons there are shelves of valuable jewelry, headdresses, and expensive clothing.
Added with the rooms excessive design it gives the assumption of high-class. He's always been at odds with bold showings of status, preferring a subtler approach. But he's grown accustomed after years of tea ceramonies attended with his daiyamo.
The few paintings grasped his attention, hung, they opposed the gaudy complexity of the room and showful opulence. Standing out as works of simplicity, opposing colors spun together yet separate. Gaze wandering he looks to the double sized futon, its covers prepped and clean and atop it sits a familiar case.
Flashes of the others performance followed by reasonings for his arrival. Leonardo couldn't help the speckeling anticipation and a dissipation of his earlier suspicions of the others skill level.
Her voice shakes him from his wandering
"We will not stay for long."
He doesn't respond verbally but offers a nod of acceptance. The owner evaluates with lasting remarks of Raphael's show ending and of the performers speedy arrival.
"Tea will be sent as well."
The shoji is closed and a silence sweeps the room, He's surprised of the thicker walls providing a soundproofing and thusly leaving the room in an isolated silence. Thinking of the happenings in other rooms he peeks to the futon, a blush feathering his features as he imagined.
"His performance was.. unexpected. If our visit were involved in that merit alone I'd be intrigued."
She sweeps the room with a gaze before responding.
"The kagema's person must be held in high favor."
Leonardo again looked through the rooms hoard of expensives, questioning his Onee-sans backhanded compliment. They were gifts and upon closer they were unscathed, unpacked. The door behind slides open.
The voice is young and boyish, Leo's heart doubles in anticipation.
"Your visitation is earlier than scheduled-"
Theres a hint of accent in the youths vocals, he's not from here.
"-the daiyamo you serve has told of your dilemma."
"Yes. Your talent seems to have caught his attention."
"He is a regular. Request are always expected but it came as a surprise to me when the request strayed from the usual."
The imaginings of his Daiyamo's daily happenings being to visit a kagema is disheartening. He knew the man to be widowed but to gain comfort in such a place. Leonardo is unspoken as his Onee-san responds in kind, himself only half listening to the dialogue shared.
"Playing the shamisen is but a hobby of mine and nothing else. My playing, as he mentioned, soothes his spirits."
The shuffling from behind is closer, the beginnings of a deep crimson kimono passes his peripheral. He bows his head as a blush passes. Flashes of the play and the beautiful actor who now seated in front of them. The untouched tea cups he peeks up to see a darker complexion than his own, deep and rich in color, small.
They are quaint in lifting and pouring the tea in one of the cups. Calm and practiced, expected from an actor who actively plays female roles.
"I am sure you know of the rumors."
"Rumors indeed."
It continues to pour the semi steaming liquid until it threatens to over flow. Its lifted and Leonardo follows the cups path, a traditional kimono much like his own but contrasted strongly from his pristine and properly worn to Raphael's loosened and messier presentation.
His plastron slightly seen, its color vibrant and pattern detailed.
A thick neck follows and muscled arms catch his gaze.
Shown from the sliding and gathering of sleeves from lifted arms. All further Raphael's boyish appearance, features hidden during his showings. Giving notice to only the feminine element of the boy, his face.
The cup is halted before cleansed lips. The liquid balancing itself in the sudden stop of motion.
"Rumors indeed."
Then the cup rises and its contents devoured, flowing through unpainted lips. His gaze rises, those golden sights looking at him. Cup lowered and returned to the chabudai Raphael addresses him.
"Are you Leonardo?"
Onee-san nods.
"He is young and a quick learner-"
She is cut from an angering glance from the youth. A biting remark of his talking to him and not her. Leonardo is shocked, to over speak an elder and one of such status, the disrespect. Again the question is asked and directed towards himself.
"Are you Leonardo?"
He nods but is unspoken. Lips sealed as he stares at the others rounded features. His sights set slightly on the darkened mole under Raphael's foreign eyes.
His Onee-san is slow to start-up again. Attempting to gain control of the situation after being startled from the confrontation. Her tone strict, authoritative and dripping with distaste she speaks.
"The lessons should last no longer than two months time. Any longer and it will prove your involvement as time wasted."
"Agreed."
"The teachings will be set during morning hours as Leonardo has attendance during the day."
He agrees as they stand, Leonardo following after his departing Onee-san. Raphael doesn't see them to the shoji nor to assist in their leaving.
A lasting look behind to the boy before the shoji is slid closed. Leonardo sees Raphael finish his tea then stand, the loosened kimono sliding off and falling to the tatami mats. It reveals molded muscles and familiar scars, ones well aged but he knows are gained only from fighting, survival, and abuse.