HH_mirror

A was already awake, of course. His sleep cycle was irregular, and he was excited; this did not lead to sleepiness. He'd been dressed for a while, in loose pants and the baggy blue dress, pockets still big enough for the kittens, although from the way they bulged it was clear that they would not be for much longer. The still-shrunken plants were laid out and ready.

He races to the door at Kusuriyuri's knock, and pulls the door open excitedly.

"Is it time?"

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"It is time. You look ready?" He reaches over and pets the kitten's heads with a finger before entering the room and picking up the bags. "It is a good day to plant."

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"I am ready." He's been ready, is near to wriggling all over with excitement as he gathers up the rest of the plants. "I'm glad."

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"First, we will need to clear. The kittens will enjoy that, there will be grass for them to play with and get dirty. We will also need to make sure the rocks are cleared from inside the garden." A slight grin curves his lips. "It will be enjoyable."

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He's already imagining it, Einstein and Schrodinger scrambling in the grass while he works the earth under Kusuriyuri's guidance.

"Let's start, then, let's make it be a garden. It is ready to be a garden."

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Kusuriyuri chuckles softly as they pass through the main door. The kittens are trying to get out, Shrodinger chirping in protest and excitement, Einstein echoing her occasionally, more looking around with wide eyes, ears forward. The grass is still dew damp and the sun starting to peek over the horizon as they reach the land they bound off the day before.

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"Sshh, be still," A murmurs fondly down to them as he walks, briskly in the dawn chill. He's never been out at this hour, never seen this sort of stillness and the golden-rose sunrise.

It adds to the special-ness of the occasion.

It would be foolish to run; he might trip, might drop the plants or hurt Einstein or Schrodinger. So he doesn't run, but he wants to.

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Kusuriyuri kneels at the western border of the garden, facing the rising sun and bows to it. He sits quietly a moment, his eyes closed before plunging his fingers into the earth just on the other side of the barrier. "Yes, a good day to plant," he murmurs.

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A murmurs a charm of his own over the kittens, one which will deter them from crossing the barrier out of the garden, before letting them explore.

"Guide me," he asks softly. "Teach me. Tell me what I'm to do."

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"First, we destroy. We clear the ground, prepare it for growth. The grasses, the rocks, everything, and the soil must be turned and cleaned of roots." He turns. "Is my deshi ready?" He unties the rope from around his obi and binds his sleeves up so they are out of the way before picking up a shovel and handing it to A and picking up one himself.

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Entropy leading to chaos so order could emerge, A thinks, remembering yesterday's conversation as he takes the shovel, preparing to clear the earth so it will be ready for the plants L took him to get.

"Yes."

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The morning passes quickly, the sun rising, the dew clearing, the kittens being shooed away from shovels until Shrodinger found a colony of earth worms and Einstein found a patch of sun on a pile of dirt that had already been cleared.

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L arrives, a goodly while later, with a basket in his arms with enough breakfast for two people who have been working all morning, and cake for himself.

"How is the work going?"

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Rocking up into a squat, A grins up at him. There's dirt on his cheek, and his hair is even more askew than usual.

"We've cleared so much of the ground! Before long we will putting the plants into the earth."

Schrodinger trots up to L, and drops a rather worse for wear newt at his feet, while Einstein greets him with a sleepy mew.

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Kusuriyuri pushes his hair back with the back of his hand. "Good morning, Ryuzaki-kun." His face is covered with dirt as well, his kimono will need to be washed, but he is pleased with their progress. They have cleared more than half the marked space, even with the distraction that one and a half active kittens makes. He counts Einstein as half because he is less of a distraction than his sister. Or perhaps, Shrodinger is a full one and a half kittens worth of distraction. Either way, he has enjoyed himself.

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"I have been provided with more than enough food for the three of us. It may not be the first picnic in the garden, but if you're ready for a break, it could be the first near by."

Eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage, fried tomatoes, french toast...

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The smell of food is enough to make Einstein purr and rise from his drowse. He butts at L's ankles as A sets his shovel down.

"Oh," he says, looking surprised. "I did not realize I was hungry until you mentioned food." Glancing over to Kusuriyuri, "And when we have eaten, it will be time to start the planting?"

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Kusuriyuri smiled, leaning the shovel down on the ground. "A may begin planting while I finish clearing, yes." He brushes his hands on his kimono before frowning at them and turning to the stream. "I will return shortly," he murmurs.

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L begins unpacking the containers from his basket, onto the grass.

"I didn't hear you leave this morning," he comments to A. He was sleeping, for once.

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"The sun was just coming up," A says in a confidential tone. "The clouds were orange and pink! It got lighter around us while we worked." There's wonder in A's voice; the dawn was as magical to him as Floo travel.

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"It is best to begin when the ground is still cool and soft," Kusuriyuri adds, his face and hands wet and moderately cleaner. "It is good to see the sunrise, is it not?" He kneels and begins stroking Einstein who protests at the wet but nudges up for more petting anyway, hoping to find some food since Kusuriyuri has supplied him before.

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"That's a lovely time of day." Wonderful for thinking.

"Try the tomato."

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Tomato seems fitting somehow, in combination with the newly turned earth, and A's got a mouthful before he realizes it.

"Mm, s' good," he says.

Einstein and Schrodinger, of course, are clamoring for sausage.

"Thank you for bringing food."

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