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Post by Nagi-kun on Jul 25, 2010 0:03:45 GMT 1
He wasnt at all offended by her giggling, aware that he looked perfectly silly and the sort of person to allow others the freedom to express themselves. He finished wiping his face and hands with the dry towel and looked over at her with his typical polite smile. "No need to fuss so much. You're free to move at your own pace, Kaoru-chan. I was just curious." He started to make his way towards the table she was working at, oblivious to the fact she was covering up her work because it wasnt clothes. "You must have been concentrating really hard, being as quiet as you were." He seemed as if he were going to peek at her work, but instead reached over her and picked up the unopened album.
Opening it to a particular sets of pictures, he turned it to her and indicated the photos with his pointer. "These were some of the more popular pieces last year. The theme was 'death and rebirth'. You can see how each artist interpreted it in their paintings, drawings, and even the sculptures." He tilted the album so he could see it, looking at the photos that he really hadnt taken the time to look through in a while. His eyes lit up as he fell on a photo a few pages further and he held it back out to her. "That was my piece for the event. I only entered three pieces, but this abstract coupled figurine garnered the most attention of them."
He lightly lifted his shoulders in a shrug and left the open album in her hands, turning to move back to his canvas. "I didnt win a prize for any of them, but that really doesnt matter to me. I do art because I love to create, to express what I..." He lowered his gaze as he sought the words to describe his passion for art. Admitting his limitations wasnt something that came easy, those after teaching for a few years, he'd learned to open up quite a bit. "To convey what isnt in my words or my actions. For the introvert, art or a craft is an outlet for our minds and our hearts."
He looked back over to her with one of his small smiles and said, "I'm sure your sensei Yuki must some such person as well? Or am I wrong in my guess?"
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Post by Kamalia on Jul 25, 2010 0:24:51 GMT 1
Kapru shifted nervously as Rahmu came closer and kept her hand firmly on her notebook, afraid that he might see what she had been drawing. She knew the other well enough by now to know that he probably wouldn't be upset with the fact that she had drawn him, but they had only just met... and it would be awkward to explain a picture like that... She was supposed to be designing clothes after all.
The now opened album drew her attention and she looked curiously at the different pictures. They all looked so nice in her eyes! Of course, she didn't know much about art, only what Yuki had told her, but she could still appriciate it. "You did this?" Her eyes widened and she took the album from Rahmu's hands. She had never been able to do anything like this herself so she was always amazed when she met others who could. Compared to this, her clothing hardly seemed like art at all.
"Mhm, Yuki-san is just like that. I got to know him a lot better from watching him paint than I did from any of our conversations... He puts so much of himself in his work." She smiled faintly, her fingers trailing over the pictures in the album.
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Post by Nagi-kun on Jul 25, 2010 0:59:20 GMT 1
Rahmu's smile showed in his voice as he said, "Then he'll probably go far someday. I honestly dont think I would have made it as far as I have if it werent for my father. He's opened many doors for me in the art world." He paused, working to clean his paintbrush that had flown from his hand and select the next color for the layer he was working on. "Oh, this year's theme is 'Old World', so there's going to be pieces that depict antiquities of some sort, be it style, form, color, design, what have you. That's why the fact I randomly opted for browns for you was a fated suggestion."
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Post by Kamalia on Jul 25, 2010 1:19:06 GMT 1
Kaoru's eyes brightened when she heard what the theme was this year. She had been a bit worried that she might not be able to create a collection that would be appropriate but this was perfect. Absolutely perfect! There were so many different things she could do... She had studied Fashion History on her own for the last four years so she knew everything there was to know and loved to use that knowledge as inspiration when she created new designs. "Oh, I can't wait until I can start sewing! This is going to be so much fun!"
She was going to go back to sketching on her designs but then froze, her eyes wide. Quickly, she grabbed the small clock that hung from a chain around her neck and looked at it. "Oh no, Scruff!" She exclaimed and stood up hastily, dumping the album on the desk. She had completely lost track of time and her poor little dog was probably really hungry by now. "I'm so sorry, Rahmu-san, but I have to go!" Grabbing her bag she rushed over to her host and, suddenly feeling quite bold, she stood up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. Then she ran out the door without realizing that her notebook was still lying under the heavy album on the desk.
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Post by Nagi-kun on Jul 25, 2010 1:39:14 GMT 1
Rahmu had just turned around when she had become so shocked about something, but before he had a chance to inquire about it, Kaoru kissed his cheek and took off, leaving him in a daze in the middle of the room. He dropped down onto the painter's stool and blinked a few times, trying to make sense of what just happened. 'Scruff' was obviously some sort of pet she had, he figured, so he could understand her urgency. It must be several hours past the time she'd left home that afternoon.
He shook his head once more composed and rose to his feet to return to work. However, something on the desk caught his eye, and setting down his paintbrush that hadnt chosen it's next color, he moved the photo album aside and picked up Kaoru's sketchbook. "Oh. She forgot it. Hm, well I would take it to her except...I'm not really sure where she lives." He froze when his eyes fell on what she'd been sketching. It was a drawing of him. Seeing his likeness depicted in a girl's notebook brought a touch of heat to his cheeks and he carefully flipped the cover to close it.
Did that mean the whole time she'd been quietly working she'd been watching him and had sketched that picture? It was a strange new feeling to come across vivid proof of a person's interest in him, and he didnt really know what to make of it. He didnt hate it or really even dislike it, but somehow it didnt wholly feel like he deserved such admiration. Snapping his mind back to the matter at hand, he looked at the closed notebook in his hands and wondered what he should do about it. He lightly nipped his bottom lip, not really comfortable with going through her notebook in hopes of finding her address in it. Still, who knew if she would come back once she'd taken care of her pet? Had she kept his card with his phone number or was that stuffed in the notebook?
He decided to wait a bit before he would try and find her address, just in case she came back for her notebook. He set it back down on the desk and let out a sigh before turning to replace the cover over his painting. He'd have to get back to that later, but right now his mind just wasnt on work at the moment. Still, he wasnt a person to be idle, so instead of painting he decided to move on to the task of tidying up his studio.
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Post by Kamalia on Jul 25, 2010 1:55:18 GMT 1
Kaoru exited the building and took off running down the street. Her socks were sliding down her legs and her hair coming loose from from the rose hairclip but she paid it no mind. She had to get home before Scruff died of hunger!
Yes, she was a bit over dramatic when it came to her dog, but she loved that little furball so much that she couldn't help herself.
Panting slightly, she rushed down the steps that led to the subway station. She lived quite far from here, but she didn't usually mind the distance since her favorite café was located in this area. Now, however, when she new that Scruff was waiting for her at home, it felt like it way too far. She tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for the train. Not once did her mind stray to the notebook that she had left in Rahmu's studio by mistake.
Later, when she was at home, she would probably notice that it was missing. In it were all of her designs and all of her thoughts and dreams so it was very important to her. So important that she had made sure to write down her adress in it in case it would get lost. It was also there that she had put the card that she had recieved from Rahmu.
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Post by Nagi-kun on Jul 26, 2010 3:06:36 GMT 1
After waiting some fifteen minutes for Kaoru to return, he realized she must not have noticed her missing notebook and stopped his cleaning to head on back over to the desk. Picking it up, he held it in his hands for a moment, feeling awkward about peeking inside. Still, there was only way of getting the treasured item back to its owner and that was seeking contact information within it. Carefully opening the notebook, he made sure not to disturb the pages and found a phone number and address under Kaoru's name just inside the cover.
He inwardly breathed a sigh of relief that he didnt have to be nosy to find what he sought, and after transferring the information to a memo pad, he set her notebook aside once more and went to make the call. There was a phone sitting on a table out in the hall just outside the studio, and picking up the receiver, he dialed Kaoru's number and waited for her to answer. If she had caller ID, it would show up under the name of his studio services, Quidditas Riflessioni (Essence of Reflections).
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Post by Kamalia on Jul 26, 2010 19:27:50 GMT 1
Kaoru ran along the sidewalk and then up to the small apartment building that she lived in. She had been forced to wait for the stupid train a lot longer than she really wanted, but luckily the ride itself had been quick. It was only a matter of four stations after all. Still, she was anxious to get home to her poor little doggie and rushed in through the front door. Her heels made a lot of noise when she made her way up the stairs but she didn't care. Scruff was all that mattered.
"Oh my..." She panted when she finally got to the right door and fumbled slightly with the keys. "Huh?" She froze for a moment. There was a phone ringing somewhere... No, it was coming from her own apartment! Her eyes widened and she bit her lip as she tried to unlock the door as quickly as possible.
When she first moved to Tokyo her parents had given her enough money to buy a cellphone. But, being the girl that she was, Kaoru had spent it all on a new outfit that she could wear to her job interview at Victorian Maiden. Luckily, she had gotten the job and had an okay income... However, when she found out that she would be showing a collection at the school fashion show all her money went into fabric and ribbons and buttons... Besides, no one ever called her anyway, so why would she need a new phone?
She finally managed to get the door open and almost tripped over her dog as she tried to get to the phone before the person hung up. "I'm so sorry, Scruff, I'll get you something to eat in a minute!" She said and kicked the door shut behind her. Not bothering to take off her shoes, she ran into the kitchen and, slipping a bit on the hardwood floor, she came crashing into the counter where the phone was located. Wincing, she picked up the reciever. "Owie... Uhm... Hello?"
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Post by Nagi-kun on Jul 27, 2010 0:35:45 GMT 1
Hearing the exasperation in her voice, Rahmu suddenly felt more nervous than he already was. "Um...did I call at a bad time? This is Kaoru-chan, isnt it?" He had thought fifteen minutes was long enough of a wait, considering how fast she'd left. Did she live farther than he'd thought and was just now tending to her pet? He was glad she wasnt able to see him, because in that moment his cheeks were quite pink with embarrassment.
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Post by Kamalia on Jul 27, 2010 0:46:18 GMT 1
Kaoru's eyes widened in suprise when she recognized the voice and forgot all about the pain in her hip. "Rahmu-san?" She asked and then quickly shook her head, "Ah, no, not at all! I just... Well, I just got home, you see, and I didn't want you to hang up to I ran into the kitchen. Of course, I didn't know it was you at the time, I mean how could I know? Uhm... Anyway, I sort of slipped and... hit my hip against the counter in the kitchen...." Kaoru flushed slightly, she was so nervous over talking to Rahmu over the phone that she had started rambling... "Uhm... Was there something you wanted to talk to me about?"
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Post by Nagi-kun on Jul 27, 2010 0:57:58 GMT 1
Rahmu felt a wave of relief at her ability to alleviate his embarrassment and he smiled as he said, "I'm so sorry. I had no idea it took you so long to get home. You see, you rushed out of here so fast, you sort of...went off and left your notebook..." He felt nervous about admitting he'd had to look inside it to find her number, but with luck she'd bypass that fact completely. "I thought I should wait a bit for you to tend to your pet before calling you, though it seems I didnt wait nearly quite long enough." He let out a curt somewhat nervous laugh, trying to find a spot on his hallway wall to distract himself from his feelings so he could talk properly. Thankfully phone calls were easier when you were nervous, because you didnt have to fret over making proper eye contact with the person in question.
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Post by Kamalia on Jul 27, 2010 1:12:24 GMT 1
Kaoru rubbed her sore hip absently but as soon as Rahmu mentioned her notebook, her eyes widened and she immediately began rummaging through her bag to see if it wasn't really there. She had been so certain that she had brought it with her! But... She closed her eyes and tried to remember what she had done right before she left Rahmu's studio... She had looked at the time and then... Oh, she must have placed the album on top of the notebook! But if she had done that... That meant it would still have been open to the same page and... She blushed furiously. Rahmu must have seen her drawing of him! "Uhm... you have my notebook?" She asked hesitantly, her lower lip caught between her teeth. "I... Thank you... For calling and telling me, I mean... I'm sorry to be such a bother.. I can..." She shifted awkwardly from one foot to the other, her eyes fixed on the floor. "I would come get it right away, but I have to feed my dog... and it is already late..."
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Post by Nagi-kun on Jul 27, 2010 3:33:57 GMT 1
Rahmu hadnt thought of the time and checking the clock in his studio, he saw it was already half past five. Coming back on the line, he said, "Wow, I hadnt realized it was so late. I know how important your notebook must be to you, so uh....perhaps I could bring it to you?" He hesitantly offered, aware that being so close to suppertime and going over to a single female's house might be a suggestion taken with some suspicion. He'd never really dated anyone before, having always been focused on his studies and tutoring to have time for such relationships, so the thought didnt really cross his mind.
Without thinking about what he was saying, he said, "I dont mind, really. It's not trouble at all for me to bring it to you. And seeing as it's so close to supper, perhaps...afterwards...we could dine in together before I return home for the evening?" He hesitated, his face hot as he wondering why he was saying such things. He hardly knew her, but she seemed interesting and she was rather cute...he quickly shook those thoughts from his head before he deterred in an improper direction. "That is of course, if it's not too forward of me. I wouldnt suggest anything if I thought it might trouble you, Ms. Kaoru." He said somewhat fast and nervously, switching from Japanese formality to English in his awkwardness.
Father would just laugh if he saw him spluttering right now over a girl he'd just met. Never in all his life had he felt so uncertain in his approach to any situation or anyone before. But then, he hadnt had much contact with anyone like Kaoru either, outside of social functions and on a more personal level. Did it really matter that he was in his early twenties and feeling this way for the first real time in his life? Sure, Katsuya had teased him almost every day he went to tutor the boy, but it had been fairly easy to get past the embarrassment of the boy's jokes. This was another matter entirely. Who knew what would come of it.
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Post by Kamalia on Jul 27, 2010 10:57:35 GMT 1
"You would do that?" Kaoru asked softly and walked over to sit down on a chair by the kitchen table. The thought of Rahmu coming over... and having dinner with him... A silly little smile spread across her lips and her cheeks continued to have the same rosy red shade. She really did like the man, but she would never have thought that he'd want to spend more time with a silly and absentminded girl like her. "I... would love that. I mean, if it isn't too much trouble for you..." She said, her free hand absently tugging on a ruined curl of her red hair.
A low whine caught her attention and she looked down at the black dog that sat at her feet. Smiling apologetically, she bent down and scooped the animal up in her arms. The poor thing was probably starving to death! "Uhm..." She hesitated a little, not really wanting to cut this conversation short. But if Rahmu would be coming over they could talk more then, right? "I really need to get some food for Scruff now, but... I can tell you how to get here... or give you my adress! Or both... Both might be better..."
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Post by Nagi-kun on Jul 27, 2010 19:42:23 GMT 1
Rahmu smiled faintly on his end of the line, and shook his head. "No, that's alright. I sort of...already found it. I apologize...I had to look in your notebook to find your number and wrote down your address too in case you didnt answer....I closed it right afterwards, I swear I didnt look at your drawings." He stammered nervously, feeling like an utter ninconpoop.
"Um...I'll let you tend to Scruff then. I shouldnt take me too long to get there. If I have a hard time finding my way I'll....stop and use a payphone or something." He laughed a little, realizing he didnt have a cell phone either, though people constantly told him he needed to get one. He didnt think there was a need when he was typically at home or work and contacting him was fairly easy most of the time. He trusted Kaoru would understand, considering he speculated she didnt have a cell phone either.
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