The view from Sugino's window was very different than the view Haruka had become accustomed to-- From Kantarou's roof he was content to watch, to see the busy movements of the people and the carts in the streets. There was more than enough to keep him interested without his ever having to move, and more than that, he felt like what he saw from that window was all that he needed to see. Sugino's window was serene, vast. There was so much world beyond it. It made Haruka's wings ache with a longing to spread out and fly, to soar far and fast and...
Away.
That thought filled him with a different sort of ache, hard to explain even to himself, but he suspected that in part the instinct to leave was due to Sugino and Youko's interminable bickering.
"He's a home-wrecker!" Sugino insisted fiercely.
"Don't make me laugh, Kan-chan can barely wreck a kettle of tea!" Youko snapped back at him. Poor protective thing, she was all but growling and bristling around the edges. "Maybe if you were a better home-maker--"
"This isn't about me! We're talking about him!"
Youko folded her arms over her chest and leaned back in her seat, staring at the tengu. "Fine. Then let's talk about him. What has Kan-chan ever done that makes you think he's trying to destroy your happy home?"
It was futile, and Haruka could have told her that. Tengu did not easily forgive grudges, and Sugino's origins didn't make him any less stubborn and set in his ways. Even if the grudge was irrational or unfounded, it was difficult -- extremely difficult to overcome it.
Haruka knew. He struggled with it all the time.
"He's untrustworthy," Sugino said flatly. "He lies all the time. Deny that if you can!"
Youko hesitated and scratched at an ear. "Well... Kan-chan's just irresponsible, he doesn't like working-- Yeah, okay, he has some pretty terrible habits."
Triumphant, the tengu stood and pumped a fist, eyes alight. "You see?! This is only part of the reason why when I catch that playboy making eyes at Muu-chan--"
"Muu?"
Haruka interrupted. He didn't know why he was talking, but at least his was an opinion that might have some ability to silence this constant quarreling. "It takes a big heart to forgive. Myself, Sugino. Kantarou has done that time and again. Can you stop muttering behind his back and wait for him to return from his business before ?"
Sugino was startled, looked at his flat, serious eyes and sat down again heavily, looking a little self-conscious. He muttered, "You've changed, Onikui."
"I think it's sweet." The kitsune was watching him with soft, strange eyes. "Haruka-chan can be sentimental too."
Sullenly, Sugino insisted, "Just eat your grubs."
Youko sighed and shoved a grub in her mouth reluctantly. Haruka thought about darting for the window again. It would feel good to fly away. Especially right now...
Haruka, Sugino, Youko: "The New View"
Away.
That thought filled him with a different sort of ache, hard to explain even to himself, but he suspected that in part the instinct to leave was due to Sugino and Youko's interminable bickering.
"He's a home-wrecker!" Sugino insisted fiercely.
"Don't make me laugh, Kan-chan can barely wreck a kettle of tea!" Youko snapped back at him. Poor protective thing, she was all but growling and bristling around the edges. "Maybe if you were a better home-maker--"
"This isn't about me! We're talking about him!"
Youko folded her arms over her chest and leaned back in her seat, staring at the tengu. "Fine. Then let's talk about him. What has Kan-chan ever done that makes you think he's trying to destroy your happy home?"
It was futile, and Haruka could have told her that. Tengu did not easily forgive grudges, and Sugino's origins didn't make him any less stubborn and set in his ways. Even if the grudge was irrational or unfounded, it was difficult -- extremely difficult to overcome it.
Haruka knew. He struggled with it all the time.
"He's untrustworthy," Sugino said flatly. "He lies all the time. Deny that if you can!"
Youko hesitated and scratched at an ear. "Well... Kan-chan's just irresponsible, he doesn't like working-- Yeah, okay, he has some pretty terrible habits."
Triumphant, the tengu stood and pumped a fist, eyes alight. "You see?! This is only part of the reason why when I catch that playboy making eyes at Muu-chan--"
"Muu?"
Haruka interrupted. He didn't know why he was talking, but at least his was an opinion that might have some ability to silence this constant quarreling. "It takes a big heart to forgive. Myself, Sugino. Kantarou has done that time and again. Can you stop muttering behind his back and wait for him to return from his business before ?"
Sugino was startled, looked at his flat, serious eyes and sat down again heavily, looking a little self-conscious. He muttered, "You've changed, Onikui."
"I think it's sweet." The kitsune was watching him with soft, strange eyes. "Haruka-chan can be sentimental too."
Sullenly, Sugino insisted, "Just eat your grubs."
Youko sighed and shoved a grub in her mouth reluctantly. Haruka thought about darting for the window again. It would feel good to fly away. Especially right now...