It wasn't suited to Seimei at all, but owning an estate was out of the question for someone of such a presumably low income. He was lucky enough to stand on the grounds of his traditional home every morning, but beyond that, the mighty had indeed fallen. His apartment was rarely occupied, Seimei too often fleeing the city to escape the noise and life that had explode over the centuries.
He almost longed for the Sengoku era.
"You really wouldn't," he mumbled, looking down at the hems of his sleeves before sighing and - as always - giving in. "Come along. It isn't far."
He slipped away, putting a polite distance between them as he guided Kaoru through the streets and alleys to a modest building with only a few floors. It was, at least, not a cement and steel highrise with hundreds of people stacked atop one another, but it was still nothing comfortable for a kitsune man living out of his age. Up the stairs they went, Seimei greeted regularly by the numerous elderly people inhabiting the home. He was loathe to say anything, but he preferred to live there because it was nearly always older occupants who passed away long before they realized that he didn't age or change in any way. It was already getting uncomfortable at the shrine.
Unlocking the apartment door - he hated locks and keys - and stepping inside, it was a very different look that one may have expected. Not Kaoru, of course, who knew full well how Seimei clung to his era and culture. The floors were wood because he wasn't allowed to have mats installed, but it wasn't a terrible thing. The walls were hung with old paintings and scrolls, the furniture was extremely sparse and the majority of the lights were removed. Candles and lanterns "decorated" the flat, but were for practical use. The kitchen had very little in it, no appliances other than the oven and fridge. The bedroom and bathroom were small, sparsely decorated and obviously barely used. The whole place had the sense of a space avoided. Even so, Seimei took his shoes off and turned bowing and greeting Kaoru before inviting him in formally. Afterwards he turned away for the kitchen, seeking to start tea, as he kept very little on hand to drink or eat.
"I'm sorry I couldn't bring you somewhere more befitting your presence. This is all society allows me if I stay here, and I needed to be close to make it to today."
no subject
He almost longed for the Sengoku era.
"You really wouldn't," he mumbled, looking down at the hems of his sleeves before sighing and - as always - giving in. "Come along. It isn't far."
He slipped away, putting a polite distance between them as he guided Kaoru through the streets and alleys to a modest building with only a few floors. It was, at least, not a cement and steel highrise with hundreds of people stacked atop one another, but it was still nothing comfortable for a kitsune man living out of his age. Up the stairs they went, Seimei greeted regularly by the numerous elderly people inhabiting the home. He was loathe to say anything, but he preferred to live there because it was nearly always older occupants who passed away long before they realized that he didn't age or change in any way. It was already getting uncomfortable at the shrine.
Unlocking the apartment door - he hated locks and keys - and stepping inside, it was a very different look that one may have expected. Not Kaoru, of course, who knew full well how Seimei clung to his era and culture. The floors were wood because he wasn't allowed to have mats installed, but it wasn't a terrible thing. The walls were hung with old paintings and scrolls, the furniture was extremely sparse and the majority of the lights were removed. Candles and lanterns "decorated" the flat, but were for practical use. The kitchen had very little in it, no appliances other than the oven and fridge. The bedroom and bathroom were small, sparsely decorated and obviously barely used. The whole place had the sense of a space avoided. Even so, Seimei took his shoes off and turned bowing and greeting Kaoru before inviting him in formally. Afterwards he turned away for the kitchen, seeking to start tea, as he kept very little on hand to drink or eat.
"I'm sorry I couldn't bring you somewhere more befitting your presence. This is all society allows me if I stay here, and I needed to be close to make it to today."