Real World [Rukia/open]

[Hakumei Kino]

^{Sitting in a window three stories above the street, the Japanese immigrant played a soft melody on his violin while enjoying the warmer weather they were having. There seemed to be an abundance of aristocrats in the area lately so his street preforming was going better than usual and he could afford the time at home now. His thoughts roamed back to the lakes and blossom trees back home in Japan but avoided the memories that left his back and soul scarred. As he played the last chord Haku slowly lowered the violin from his shoulder before looking around for his sisters. They were around somewhere, he just wanted to figure out where. Moving away from the window he leaned the instrument against the wall and walked toward his sisters' room. Haku listened for a moment before knocking on the door to see if they were in there or if he had to search the apartment building for them.}

[Rukia Kino]

There were only a few pages of her precious origami paper left; that meant that every fold, every crease and angle and rare cut, was made with extraordinary concentration. The wrong motion or angle and the page would be ruined, unusable except for writing a note or Aisa's practice for her own origami if she took an interest in it. A true artist couldn't let something as crass as a visible mistake sully her work. That would be insulting to the artist, as well as the creation. Perfection was its own reward.

So wrapped up in her work was Rukia that she scarcely heard the knock on her door, then looked over at her younger sister, dozing after finishing her homework, and rose smoothly. She'd changed into one of her kimonos and it made a soft sound against the floor as she moved to the door and opened it to see Haku. Nodding respectfully she smiled to see him, then opened the door wider and moved out of the way to let him in. "Good to see you, taking a day off?" she asked curiously, sitting by her work again. "Was getting ready to dance if you need me to."

[Hakumei Kino]

He watched as his sister opened the door and he gave her a smile before stepping in the room. He glanced at the younger of the three, she was sound asleep and still in her school uniform. He nodded at Rukia's question, "Got enough coins from the last few days to stay home today." he explained. He noticed there was only a few pieces of Rukia's paper left, he would have to go get her some more soon. "are just practicing your art?" he asked. If that was all she was doing he would suggest them all go down to one of the abandoned docks and play some games. It had been a few weeks since they all did something together because of school work and trying to keep up on the bills and such so maybe getting out would help Rukia's condition a bit. He couldn't just keep her cooped up when they had time that just wasn't right.

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[Rukia Kino]

So, he'd had some good days playing, and she'd had a bit of luck in her dancing as well- but there was no such thing as too much money at this point. If he thought it was good to take a day off though she couldn't argue with it. It would be good for them to find some games a play, and so long as it didn't cost them the precious few coins they'd earned they could even relax a little as they went on their way. Lately it had seemed their father's efforts to find them had ended and there wasn't even any threatening competition in their trades. Haku couldn't have picked a better time to have a day off.

Smiling slightly even as her eyes narrowed in irritation she picked up the frog she was working on and looked it over. "Yes, am working on it, but cannot rush. Have to do it right, or will end up looking bad. Takes patience." With one skillful fold she started on the back legs and was one step closer to being done. "What's at docks that's so important? Don't usually take Aisa places like that, because of rough people."

[Hakumei Kino]

He watched as his sister skillfully folded the paper. "Well was thinking of starting Aisa's training, is a lot of old wood can be used for targets and making fake surriken she can use." As Haku explained he leaned against the door jam "unless you know of another place we can go." He wondered if the school taught the layout of the town if they did that she would know where another spot they could practice would be. If not, he would have to go hunt one down, it's not like they could train in the open where everyone could see, they could get arrested especially if the people thought that they could be put in danger, and if Haku was arrested who would take care of his sisters? That was one thing he wouldn't risk, he couldn't. Not with Aisa so young and Rukia ill.

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[Rukia Kino]

He was asking for her opinion, but in all honesty she couldn't think of anything better to do, or a better place to do it in. "Can probably find secluded part of docks but will be dangerous there- cutthroats like those places," she said cautiously, creasing another fold and then bending the paper into position around it neatly. "Say at school docks isn't safe for girls at night, too many wild drunks, but can take care of ourselves if really want to go. Or could try using old warehouse, may be some of those a little closer."

Pushing her hair behind her ears she considered the figure she had before her, then started on the smaller finishing folds, the ones that made a shape look like the animal it was supposed to be. A quick glance up at Haku told her that he was still worried about something; could they truly go and play without their elder brother able to relax? "Want to wait for Aisa to wake up or go soon? If are waiting can make tea."

[Hakumei Kino]

<sup>"Cutthroats are no match for me." he said, very confidant in his fighting skills. "But are right, should find somewhere closer than the docks." As he thought about where they should go instead of the docks, he nodded slightly "Can let Aisa nap." he said before moving away from the doorway. There were a few warehouses in the area, he wasn't sure if they were abandoned or not though, the only way to find out was to check it out but they could do that after the youngest sibling woke.

He moved back into the main room of the apartment "Can make tea if you want." he said as he retrieved his violin and sat at the low table. He took out an old cloth and started to polish the stained wood instrument, seeing as how warn it was he had to keep it clean or it would fall apart on him. "Saving up to get you a piano, like the one you have in class." He looked over the instrument, he liked the idea that they were teaching music in school, but wished they would teach her a bit more acidemic things.</sup>

[Rukia Kino]

"Can fight cutthroats too, but don't want to," she replied nonchalantly though her eyes were narrowed a bit in irritation; after all, she wasn't exactly defenseless herself, and she enjoyed that bit of independence she was able to maintain. Then he went out into the small kitchen that their apartment contained, if one could call it that- there was only a dilapidated old table and cabinet by the smoky old wood stove, but Rukia prided herself on being able to at least keep them sustained with these things. Why the English insisted on such foolish food preparation practices she'd never understand; so much prim disguising of filth rather than just clean open space.

Nodding in understanding she quietly closed the door to her bedroom as she stepped out and went over to the teapot, filling it with a bit of water from a bucket on the countertop and then setting it on one side of the stove top. A chipped old cup was soon retrieved from a cabinet and she set it on the chair, then pulled out the box of loose tea leaves. The odd people here put their tea in muslin bags- but everyone with sense and taste buds knew that only loose leaf tea could bloom properly.

Now simply waiting for the water to heat Rukia looked up as Haku mentioned the piano and smiled slightly. "Like piano," admitted quietly, even as she felt bad for doing so. They were so expensive. "Is one good thing they teach. Am tired of learning odd English manners. Don't like themselves so change rules to hide, rather than making things clean and healthy. Think have read all of the good books in the library too."