June 2007, Meiji Shrine

[ellectrical]

Mid-June at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo means the tail end of the seasonal bloom of irises in shrine's gardens – bright blue-purple blossoms still remain throughout the complex, though the crowds that come to view them have thinned out since the height of the season. The shrine is tucked into a forest that remains apart from the otherwise urban Shibuya ward, the entrance of the path through the trees marked by a high arch that visitors are meant to bow beneath before continuing onward toward the shrine.

It's quiet – quieter than anywhere else Elle has been in the city so far. She hadn't wanted to visit a museum, and the weather today was amenable; sunny, but not too hot. Enough wind that the leaves rustle in the tall trees that shade that path, but not so much that one would need a jacket. There are still enough visitors for voices to be heard throughout the woods, especially as they reach the main yard of the shrine, and there's an occasional buzzing or flurry of wings above them, but still – it's quieter.

Elle figured X would prefer that.

The main yard opens onto the shrine complex, paved by rectangular stones, the large building of cypress pillars and copper gabled roofs spread over the square beneath the camphor trees. To the side there are desks where visitors can write prayers on small pieces of paper to be left in the walls and shelves set up around the shrine.

Now, with no definite path to follow, Elle hesitates as they reach the open space of the square.

Comments

[cutting_edgex23]

"That is good," X says.

She looks at Elle.

Then, after a long few moments, she half-turns to look back at the tree.

She looks back at Elle.

Then --

"Oh."

Beat.

"I am supposed to move back?"

Is that -- how this works?

X is not even sure if Elle wants to take a picture. Of her.

And the tree.

But.

[ellectrical]

Elle continues to look uncertain for a moment, before taking a step back, away from the tree, and X. When people do this, it must be for things they'd actually want to have a photo of.

Her stance is still more than a little awkward when she holds up the camera, and attempts to get X and the tree in the frame.

"Maybe a little," she suggests, watching X through the tiny screen on the back of the camera.

[cutting_edgex23]

X pauses a moment, flicking another glance from Elle (and her camera) to the tree, gauging the distance between them.

Then she takes three long, slow steps back.

"It is enough."

It's almost not a question -- but only almost.

[ellectrical]

She fiddles with the zoom button for no real reason for a minute, then settles the image.

"Yeah," she agrees.




There's no flash, and the camera doesn't even make a noise when she presses the button on top. She may have cleared the photos from London, but the settings are still as they were when she wanted to be as unnoticed as possible.

Once she's done, she lowers the camera, and approaches X, holding it out so X can see the picture on its back screen.

[cutting_edgex23]

If X were a fidgeter, the picture might have caught her with one hand raised, brushing her hair back from her face, or twisting a strand around her fingers.

Or maybe she would have been blinking.

But since it is X --

She's just standing, hands at her sides. Waiting.

It makes her look relaxed.

"You like taking pictures?"

Beat.

"When they are not for work."

[ellectrical]

Elle looks back down at the photo on the screen.

"I don't remember everything."



It's another oddly awkward moment when she adds, "I won't forget but -"

Her left shoulder sets into something like a shrug. "Not like you."

[cutting_edgex23]

"I do not know if it is better," X offers.

Awkwardly.

"I like photographs, too."

Even if she is not great at taking them.

More practice might help.

[ellectrical]

"It helps me remember like you."

This, in addition to the mere fact that 'other people are doing it,' is the sense Elle can make out of taking photos that aren't for work.

After another pause, "Do you want one?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"Yes," X says.

Promptly.

"Please."

[ellectrical]

"Okay."





She'll get to it.


"Do you want one of something else?"

Or she may want the picture of herself. Elle isn't sure.

[cutting_edgex23]

X hesitates.

But --

"There is somewhere you want to stand?"

Aesthetics are not X's strong suit. At all.

[ellectrical]

It takes Elle a minute to figure out what X is asking.

That uncertainty hasn't abated when she says, "You'll have to take it."

"If I'm in it."

[cutting_edgex23]

"I know," X says.

Because she does.

"If it is okay."

Now she is uncertain, too.

[ellectrical]

Before saying anything else, Elle hands the camera over to X.

Then, "Do you want anything else in it?"

Elle may be measurably better at aesthetics, but in this case it's limited to knowing a photo should maybe have a person and a thing in it.

(Her father's, after all, is him and a fish.)

[cutting_edgex23]

"The tree is okay," X says, after another moment of silence.

"I like it."

Then she gets in position to take the picture.

[ellectrical]

Elle nods, her eyes following X.

She's slightly more fidgety, but manages to still herself with one hand at her side, the other on her purse strap.

When the time comes (which she guesses at X settling on a position), Elle even smiles.

[cutting_edgex23]

X takes the picture.

She seems pleased.

And when (if) Elle approaches, X will tilt the camera to let her see.

"Thank you."

This is important, too.

[ellectrical]

Elle waits until she's sure X is done before approaching. That smile for the photo slips away on command, though something of it seems to return when she looks at the camera screen.

"I'll - give it to you."

Beat. "When we're in the Bar."

[cutting_edgex23]

"That will be good," X says.

Again, her response is prompt.

"You do not mind if I put it on the wall?"

In her apartment, that is.

[ellectrical]

That takes her a moment to answer.

"No - I - I don't -"

There may be a few moments of fumbling with the camera, before she shuts it off, and meets X's eyes again.

"You can do that," she answers, clearly.

[cutting_edgex23]

"Okay," X says, studying Elle.

She might -- almost -- smile.

A little.

"That is good."

Some things X has no intention of losing.

Ever.

[ellectrical]

She nods again, slipping the camera back into her bag. This time, she pulls out a small tourist map of the shrine, and holds it out far enough that X can see it, too.

It's a little tentative, but she asks, "Do you want to go there -"

She points to the main shrine building on the map, and the motions slightly back toward it.

"Or..."

Eventually, she points to the iris garden.

[cutting_edgex23]

X flicks a sideways glance at Elle, then looks toward the shrine.

She is silent for a few very long moments, then --

"You do not mind going inside?"

Beat.

"We do not have to stay. Long."

[ellectrical]

"Okay."

She lowers the map, and moves slightly to the side, though this time she seems to wait for X lead to lead the way.

[cutting_edgex23]

X only hesitates a second before doing so.

All she really wants to do is stand quietly for a while.

Inside.

It is like meditation.

She remembers.