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]

"Okay," X echoes, half-turning toward the way they came in.

"We can see the flowers. Now."

Beat.

"If you want."

[ellectrical]

Elle nods, and takes a step to move in stride with X.

She also slightly bump X's hand with her own.

It's not a distant walk from the main shrine to the iris garden. The number of other visitors recedes slightly as they walk farther out.

[cutting_edgex23]

X lets her own fingers brush against Elle's hand.

(The only reason she does not take Elle's hand entire is that people would pay attention. And she does not want to be problematic.)

But the quiet is nice.

And the company.

[ellectrical]

The path in the garden forms a large oval around it, a small shelter on one side. The irises are still in bloom, dotting the grass with vibrant white, purple, and blue. Without hesitating, Elle begins to follow the path into its loop.

"The book was right."



It takes her a moment to think to add, "They're pretty."

[cutting_edgex23]

"Yes," X says.


She walks the path, too. And after a few moments of silence --

"Thank you."

Beat.

"For bringing me. Here."

[ellectrical]

"You wanted to come."

There's a pause with it, and she doesn't really manage to pull of the casual tone she might have meant it to have.

But it doesn't matter. She gently bumps X's shoulder with her own a moment later.

[cutting_edgex23]

"Yes," X agrees. "I did."

And she presses her shoulder back against Elle's.

It is a very good day.

[ellectrical]

They walk a little farther, turning the bend the oval forms to walk back in the direction of the shrine. Elle abruptly stops, moving to the edge of the path and kneeling down near it.

A few moments later, she rises, holding one of the more purple irises.

(That was probably against the rules. But she's been so good at not breaking any while she's here; or really, it just doesn't occur to Elle that picking the flowers might not be allowed.)

She doesn't wait for permission before leaning forward with it, and slipping the torn-off stem into X's hair.

In the process, she does at least explain, "It's good on you."

[cutting_edgex23]

X half-lifts her hand to touch the flower, then stops.

Carefully --

"I like purple."

Because it is true.

And at this precise moment she is not sure what else to say.

[ellectrical]

"Yeah."

She steps back, and then to the side, moving to walk with next to X again.

This time, with no one else around, Elle's hand does slip against hers. But it's still a tentative movement.

[cutting_edgex23]

And X, only in part because Elle took the initiative and they are alone, twists her hand around to twine Elle's fingers with her own.

She does not let go --

At least not until Elle does.

[ellectrical]

Elle doesn't pull away.

As they get closer to the end of the path, she smiles slightly again, and says, "We can go to the shop."

"I have to get a postcard."

[cutting_edgex23]

"Okay," X says.

She does not ask why.

Here and now, she does not need to.