L: Created page with "'''Cutscene: ''' Set the Pot to Boil '''Cast:''' Yua Ooshiro and her new fiance, Kimitake Ijuuin '''Where:''' Aoba - Penthouse '''OOC Date:''' 2025-11-13 '''IC Date:''' Fri, Aug 10 2012 '''Summary''': ''Kimitake comes to visit Yua and have a more low-key conversation with her, the day after their arranged engagement. He offers her reassurance on Miho's primacy in her life and the details of the role she'll inhabit, including around his own desire for sons and..."

2025-11-13T19:48:23Z

Created page with "*'''Cutscene: ''' Set the Pot to Boil *'''Cast:''' Yua Ooshiro and her new fiance, Kimitake Ijuuin *'''Where:''' Aoba - Penthouse *'''OOC Date:''' 2025-11-13 *'''IC Date:''' Fri, Aug 10 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Kimitake comes to visit Yua and have a more low-key conversation with her, the day after their arranged engagement. He offers her reassurance on Miho's primacy in her life and the details of the role she'll inhabit, including around his own desire for sons and..."

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*'''Cutscene: ''' Set the Pot to Boil
*'''Cast:''' [[Yua Ooshiro]] and her new fiance, Kimitake Ijuuin
*'''Where:''' Aoba - Penthouse
*'''OOC Date:''' 2025-11-13
*'''IC Date:''' Fri, Aug 10 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Kimitake comes to visit Yua and have a more low-key conversation with her, the day after their arranged engagement. He offers her reassurance on Miho's primacy in her life and the details of the role she'll inhabit, including around his own desire for sons and the children he alrady has. While getting to know her, he explains the history of the Ijuuin family and the nature of his own relationships... and asks about her own past, offering suggestions to make her approximate lies more plausible. On the surface, he seems a kind man... though she's shaken when he leaves.''
*'''Content warning''': Emotional abuse

----

[[Category:Cutscenes]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

What Yua wasn't expecting, after Miho went to work... was a call from Kimitake Ijuuin, her new so-called 'fiance'. He wanted to come and visit...

... so she gets dressed in her usual leotard, before he rings the doorbell. It's a little like armour, anyway.

When Eiko answers the door, she finds him holding a bottle of sparkling water. "Wine is traditional," he tells Yua, as she peeks out from behind her maid, "but given you're with child..."

"Thank you," Yua smiles. "Eiko-san, can you take that?"

"Of course, Ooshiro-san," Eiko nods. "You'll be having your refreshments in the dining room?"

"Yes, I think that's best," Yua agrees.

"Then please, make yourself comfortable and follow me," Eiko tells their guest.

Once Kimitake's changed into some visitor's house slippers (helpfully set out by Eiko), he's escorted in to take a seat. Yua soon joins him, and Eiko pours them that sparkling water... once she's checked it over for its packaging and seal. (Miho gave her very precise instructions, regarding Yua's health.) She serves up some fancy little biscuits alongside it, as Kimitake tilts his head.

"Don't worry," he assures Yua. "I called ahead to check with Miho-chan before I visited, too. I just wanted to get to know you a little better... since we'll be working together." 'Working together'. It's a much nicer way to say it than ''married.'' "And answer your own curiosities, of course," he adds, amicably. "I confess, I thought it would be... easier on you to talk in your own territory, so to speak. You can evict me at any time."

Yua ''is'' a little reassured -- both to hear Miho's fine with it, and with his reassuring ''efforts.'' "All right," she smiles, to him, still a touch nervous, but... he's right, isn't he? This is her home. It's where she's strongest. "Then... what would you like to know?"

"I confess," Kimitake says, with a light dusting of laughter, "the thing I'm immediately curious about... it's how you refer to your servants by their first name! Unless that's just a rare last name...?"

"Oh, n-no, she's Eiko Ikeda," Yua shakes her head, with a light blush of ''embarrassment.'' "But we see each other every day, and... it just felt weird and way too formal, and... I never really had people like this to help me before? So I don't..."

"Of course," Kimitake assures her, gently. "I understand you don't come from money, do you? Miho-chan's world must be so intimidating. And with me from that world, too... please let me know if there's anything I can do to help put you at ease."

"Okay, Kimi-san," and he's sensitive enough to realise that her nicknaming is just ''part'' of that, so Yua, luckily, isn't called on to explain. "Um, then... do you have anyone helping you at home?"

"That's right. I employ maids to keep the house in order," Kimitake answers her, and the difference in their phrasing is subtle yet distinct. "Since I have a busy job... I rarely have time for housework. In households like these, no one expects you to do the cooking and cleaning," he explains, kindly. "So a wife's duties become far more invested in organisation, planning, and coordination. Perhaps you've seen it with Miho-chan's mother...? She's a fierce example of her role."

"But... I like to cook," Yua says, glancing down at the biscuits. "And Mimi's never told me not to help Eiko-san around the house..."

"If that's what you'd like to do, of course, that's another matter," he allows her. "Indeed, hearing that, I'm inclined to ask you to try your hand at dinner if I need to borrow you to invite someone's family over... it's an enduring cultural image, you know, dinner prepared by one's wife. It remains charming. But you needn't worry about me the rest of the time," he shakes his head, taking a sip of water. "My servants are quite capable of handling matters of the home... and I don't mind continuing to oversee them myself, of course. Since you're really aiming to be Miho-chan's wife, aren't you?"

"That's right!" Yua insists, firmly. She pauses, though, looking to him. "Um... but I could cook you dinner sometimes, I guess... when you say 'borrow', what do you mean?"

"I don't intend to take you from your home," Kimitake assures her. "Not most of the time. Indeed, that Miho-chan has been your apparent best friend for many years facilitates our cover story aptly... all we need say is that you love spending time with her, and so you're frequently visiting. But the one you'll really be ''visiting'' is me... if I arrange to host someone important for dinner, I'd like for you to be there to keep up appearances, and when I've occasion to attend dinners or parties, I would very much appreciate you there. If you need to stay overnight, I'll arrange your own bedding for you... I wouldn't ask you to sleep in my bed."

"But... what about when the baby's due?" Yua asks, frowning.

"We'll work that out together," Kimitake assures her. "Right now, I fear I'm overwhelming you quite enough as it is... it's fine to begin with a short-term plan. But I assure you," he adds, seeing her worry, "I'll not take you away from your lover, even when you give birth to her son. You'll remain at her side."

"I want to sleep in ''her'' bed," Yua insists.

"I'll make sure of it," Kimitake promises -- or speaks, at least, with the ''weight'' of one.

"Mm..." Yua takes a sip of water, glancing down at herself. "... you said you wanted a son," she advances, a touch meekly. "But you're older than me... don't you have children, already?"

"I do," Kimitake sighs, "two daughters, from my previous marriage. But their mother took them when she left... I suppose she thought a man of my inclinations had poor morals with which to raise children. This world can be... remarkably uncharitable," and those are, perhaps, the six most honest words he's said today. Yua doesn't notice, though, because as far as she's concerned -- he's ''right.'' "But I would like a son... though I don't begrudge you for having Miho-chan's first, of course." Back to lying; Yua doesn't notice ''that,'' either. "And don't worry about succession. We'll just have Miho-chan adopt her son when he becomes an adult -- it's quite normal." There's something he's not saying, there, about the assumptions around ''Miho's'' life; rather than explaining his implicit heteronormativity, he moves on. "While I would ask you to bear those children, to serve as their mother... neither one of us have an interest in the act itself. IVF will suit our purposes just fine. All that... it's all right with you?"

"I... I said it was," Yua says, though her gaze has dropped down to her ring instead of his eyes.

"I remember," Kimitake says, gently. "But you were under a lot of pressure last night... so I wanted to make sure you were really willing to do it." And how convenient he checks in on her feelings ''now,'' after she's resigned herself.

It at least looks remarkably kind; Yua certainly thinks so. She offers him a small smile, in turn. "It isn't a small thing you're asking for," she starts, though she doesn't speak directly to the fear she's had over her stress turning toxic for her own plus-one body. "But... if this is really the only way for me and Mimi to have a family together... I'm willing to do what it takes for us to be happy. Just so long as Mimi can help raise my other children, too... okay?"

"We'll make sure all our children know the truth," Kimitake assures her, and speaks nothing of her own transgressions -- the ENORMITY of what SHE was asking for.

(He's not the sort of man whose feelings reach his eyes.)

"Um..." Yua starts, uncertainly. "Is... is there anyone you'd like to raise our children with... too?"

"My relationships are a little more casual than that," Kimitake advises her, and seeing her nervousness, tries to gentle his voice down even ''more.'' To all observers -- including Yua -- he's making every ''effort'' to make himself seem less like a shark circling her, despite the inherent power of his name. "It's a little different with men, Yua-san -- can I call you Yua-san?"

"That's fine," Yua nods. "Is -- is Kimi-san fine?"

"Of course," he smiles.

"Um, then... there really isn't an important man in your life?" Yua asks, fingers rubbing over the texture of one of those biscuits for a few moments to calm herself before she actually gets around to eating it.

"There is a man I admire a great deal," Kimitake says, "but those feelings aren't romantic, not really. More... nuanced by history."

"Uh, mm -- so... you've known him for a long time?" Yua was in the middle of eating that biscuit when the question occurs to her, so she just kind of hums around it before she manages to swallow it and ask.

"Oh, not ''personal'' history," Kimitake corrects her, though he's kind about that, too. "It's a matter of legacies."

"Oh..." Yua frowns, thoughtfully. "I heard how the Ijuuins were a samurai family hundreds of years ago... is it like that?"

"That's right," Kimitake nods. "Do you know much about it...?" Has Miho ''told'' her about it, he means.

"Mm... not too much," Yua shakes her head. "But... it sounds like you know a lot about it?" She pauses, and asks, because it's clearly important to ''him:'' "Do you want to tell me about it?"

Kimitake smiles; he does. "Back then, we were retainers to the honourable Shimazu clan. We served as ''karou,''" house elders, amongst the highest-ranking advisors and officials serving a ''daimyo'' lord, "ensuring Satsuma-han ran effectively. You might be interested to know that the Kingdom of Ryukyu was a vassal state of that domain, back then, too... that's what first struck me, when I heard about Miho-chan's fascination with you."

"I -- I guess my Grandmother was a little put off by her name," Yua remembers, though she's clearly on the back foot, "but-- but when she met her, she really liked her...? A-anyway, what happened back then isn't your fault, or anything..." ... though she's certainly remembering the way Kimitake's ''father'' referred to her as a maiden of the Ryukyu Kingdom, yesterday.

"Love conquers all," Kimitake assures her, with a gentle smile. "But I'm curious about ''your'' personal history... for a woman, you're lovely, but I really can't miss that eyepatch...?"

"I-I -- I don't really like to talk about it," Yua says, as she turns her face away.

"Please," he asks her, humbly. "We'll be working together, so I'd like to know how to defend you, too."

"Mm..." Yua hums, hiding behind her glass of water as she takes another sip. Peeking out from behind it, though, she can see his eyes are kind... he does seem concerned. "Okay, but... it's a sad story, so..."

"That's all right," Kimitake says.

And for a moment -- just a moment -- Yua considers ''really'' telling him. He's an Inspector... what if he actually could help her? He might even know about the problems -- she knows that rot has taken hold in Sumaru's Police Department, too. (Though she does not stop to consider that Kimitake might be ''fine'' with it; he's Miho's cousin, after all, and Takashi vouched for him personally.) But she considers it for only a moment; she knows, after all, it isn't ''safe'' for him to know.

It's fine. She's figured out... some way to tell it.

"I... enrolled in the military, when I left school, because my test scores were so bad no university would take me. I thought that if I served for a few years, I'd be able to get a stable posting like my dad, and then Mimi and me could be together... but..." Yua bites her painted lip, her thumb and forefinger rubbing against each other. "T-there was... a training accident," she settles on, after a moment. "Our equipment failed when we were on a boat out at sea... and we were found by people who were used to smuggling people into Japan. Since we couldn't pay, or anything, they ended up trafficking us... I ended up, um... being used to test medical products, I guess. Probably for a rich person who wanted new treatments and didn't want to be the one to find out they actually hurt...? They tried to do a new surgery to me, but my eye was injured badly during it. D--disfigured on the inside, and -- it really, really hurts if the light hits it, so I need to wear this eyepatch all the time."

It's all a lie, of course; but it is ''neighbour'' to the truth. Kimitake doesn't look impressed, even though he frankly kind of is. Instead, he looks deeply ''concerned.'' "Did... did anyone force you, back then...?" He asks, the nightmare scenario clearly invading his mind.

"... there was a woman who wanted to," Yua admits, naming her without thinking of the implications of handing solid evidence to a police officer. "Natari Konishi... um, but before she could follow through on anything, she got a different job, I guess. B-but that's why... I'm sensitive about people knowing I like women. She... was fascinated by my... degeneracy." And it isn't the first time the word 'fascination' has come up, in this conversation. Yua doesn't notice in the slightest; she's always used the word to describe Natari's obsession with her.

It really isn't that hard to find something like that out.

"But you wanted to marry Miho-chan openly?" Kimitake asks, tilting his head. "I confess, I'm a little surprised... wouldn't you prefer people didn't make assumptions?"

"I-- I thought -- you know, if we were married, if we'd sworn vows like everyone else... people wouldn't think it was just something, sick and weird and, wrong, and, if I was married like normal, no one would get to ask a bunch of invasive ''questions,'' and ''look'' at me like, like --" Tears spring to Yua's eyes, as her voice hitches on the memories, too sharp and too jagged.

"Yua-san -- Yua-san, please -- I'm sorry," and Kimitake is a picture of concern, as he tries to reach her with his voice, and quite deliberately ''not'' in any other way. "It's all right, we don't need to speak of her any longer. It's all right, really -- really," he insists, again, as he manages to get her to look at him again, in all his sincere remorse. (His apparent sincerity.) "I can tell... you've had to make a story out of it so you can tell people, but that element is very real, isn't it? Let's leave it be."

"O--okay..." Yua sniffs, and isn't even surprised when Eiko appears, like a ghost, with a box of tissues for her. (Because, of course, she's been subtly monitoring this entire conversation.) She takes one, "t-thanks, Eiko-san," and cleans her face up, though her makeup does regrettably smear a little.

"Maybe... a story like that is still too close to the truth," Kimitake suggests, to her, remaining kind. "I've heard a lot of stories like that, in my line of work... can I help you make it a little less painful?"

"'Kay," Yua says, with another little sniffle.

"Often, people operating those smuggling operations are foreigners," Kimitake observes. "They funnel people into the various organised crime organisations operating in Japan... and they're happy to operate as spies, too. I'm surprised that they didn't try to get you to trade government secrets for your safety, though... I suppose you wouldn't know anything useful as new recruits, would you," he realises, with a light frown. He pauses, and asks: "If it isn't too painful... how did you get out?"

"Mimi and Myucchi saved me!" Yua says, at once.

"Myucchi...?" Kimitake asks, tilting his head.

"U-um -- Myunghon Yeo -- they're one of my best friends..." If she weren't trying to get over being so distraught, Yua might have reconsidered mentioning Myunghon's name to an officer, but... she has no reason to think Kimitake would do anything ''wrong.''

"Ah... perhaps it's better to tell people that Miho-chan worked with the authorities to get you out," Kimitake proposes, gently. "They might still worry you're at risk from organised crime, hearing a name like 'Yeo'... it isn't fair, but I've seen those prejudices from all corners of society." As he suggests that, he ''implies'' his disagreement with Officer Ishiba... though he says nothing outright.

"But, the authorities didn't, really..." Yua starts, hesitantly.

"I know," Kimitake says, softly. "We do fail victims... all the time." And he says it with a deep regret, as if a thing weighing deep across his shoulders. "But you'd like a story you can tell which people won't question terribly, won't you?"

Yua never ''said'' she was lying; Kimitake simply knew. But how can she fault him for knowing? She knows how easy it is for Miho to read her, and perhaps all Ijuuins are gifted, in that way. "... you're right," she admits, quietly. "So... if I say it's the authorities who found me, people won't think that's weird?"

"Most people won't," Kimitake assures her. "Indeed, so long as you mention the words 'human trafficking', there's little need for you to mention any details at all. No one will want to press you on the details of something like that... right?" He asks, spreading a hand in an open gesture. "You'd know this better than I do, since you've lived it, and all... and I'm sure you've tried to tell someone before."

"I've... mentioned it vaguely, once or twice," Yua admits, though she shifts uncomfortably, eye glancing to the window. "But if it weren't you asking, I'd not say this much. It -- it isn't -- safe."

"Still," Kimitake presses, gently, "is what I've said true to those experiences?"

"Mm... yeah," she says, her shoulders sinking. "Though I felt quite ashamed, using those words... but no one pried overmuch."

"There you go," he smiles, gently. "It must weigh heavily on you to have such an unspeakable history... I've seen many women benefit from finding some way to speak their truth, even if it's sanitised for the masses. I really would like to help you get to a better place, Yua-san... I'm sure you've seen far too many men who just use you callously without considering your feelings." He sighs, looking down at himself. "If the people who hurt you were wealthy... I'm sure some of those men even looked like me. Forgive me, Yua-san... I can see I've put you in a difficult position."

"You're not like that," Yua hastens to assure him, quickly. (More quickly than any wise evaluation could take; regardless, as she says it, it becomes true.) "You're very kind, Kimi-san! You didn't need to take so much time out from work just to come and talk to me where I was more comfortable... you could have just assumed I was fine with it. Especially when you're still mourning!" He hasn't mentioned his late fiancee yet; Yua evidently remembers the one time he did. "I-it's true you're kind of assertive, but that's... a family trait, right? Besides, ever since you met me, you've been trying not to come off as too scary... I did notice that. Um, sometimes Mimi's family can be intimidating, so, I appreciated the effort... so... s-sorry," she apologises, clasping her hands together. "Mimi's so good at talking, she never loses her cool... but I get overwhelmed, and, um, flustered, really easily... I guess it seems like I don't like you, but it's really not your fault, you know? You've been nothing but nice to me."

Well, she certainly ''thinks'' that way. And Kimitake smiles, with a hint of relief, as he hears it. "You really didn't have to reassure me so much, but I'm glad to hear it," he says. "I don't have any desire to be your lover, but I hope that I can be your ''friend.'' Still... I'm sure I've bothered you enough for one day, haven't I?"

"Maybe just for today," Yua agrees, "though you really haven't been a bother. Please, feel free to come by any time... I'm rather free during the school holidays, you know?"

"I'm glad you have some time to rest before your work starts up again," Kimitake smiles, as he stands. "I know the first few weeks can be challenging to adjust to..."

"Mm," Yua nods, standing to escort him back to the door. "Sometimes it's tough... but I'm very happy!"

"That's great," Kimitake says, as Eiko helps him slip his coat back on. He steps back into his fancy shoes, as he says: "I'm grateful for your hospitality, Yua-san. I look forward to working with you."

"Me, too," Yua smiles, to him, resting a hand on the wall beside the door. "I'll see you later, okay?"

"Goodbye," Kimitake bows his head, and leaves. Once the door is safely closed, Eiko turns to Yua...

... and, for some reason, looks concerned. "Are you all right, Ooshiro-san? You look... a little ashen."

"Yes," Yua nods, though she's leaning on that wall a little more, now. "I just... feel a little lightheaded."

"I'll call the nurse," Eiko volunteers, as she takes Yua's hand. "Come, let's sit down."

"If you think that's best," Yua defers, though she smiles, to her maid. "But, I think... I'm just a little overwhelmed? That man... it was decided I would marry him," she lifts her other hand from the wall, to show Eiko her ring. "... to keep up appearances."

"It wasn't your choice?" Eiko asks, her frown deepening.

"Well," Yua pauses, on the way to the lounge, "I agreed..."

Eiko sighs, squeezing Yua's hand. "Ijuuin-san's world can be frightening, can't it?" She asks, sympathetically. "There are times... I'm glad I can keep it all at arm's reach."

"... it can be," Yua admits, "sometimes." She's quiet, for a moment, looking first at their hands and then to the blue-haired woman beside her. "Hey, Eiko-san... does it bother you how I use your first name?"

Something a little more troubled enters Eiko's smile, as she shakes her head. "That's just the way you are," she insists. "It doesn't bother me. Really," she adds, seeing Yua's unsure expression. "It's okay if you're different, Ooshiro-san."

As Eiko helps Yua to the couch, the queen of the house sighs, sitting down. "I hope Sachie-san can see me quickly," she muses, to her fellow woman. "I need to get started on dinner." Tiger, her massive cat, leaps up onto the couch beside her now that scary stranger is gone. Yua weaves her fingers through his fur, thoughtfully, as Eiko sets off to call the nurse... ''and'' her partner. And Eiko can still hear Yua as she steps out, talking more to her cat than to her maid:

"First, I'll set the pot to boil..."

2025-11-13: Set the Pot to Boil - Revision history