2519/Homecoming

Homecoming
Date of Scene:	27 February 2017
Location:	Japan
Synopsis:	(Warning: Haruna's parents are bigoted jerks. >:I). Haruna and Hannah go to confront Haruna's parents in her hometown. Will there be a happy end?
Cast of Characters:	Haruna Kurosawa, Hannah Sharpe

---

Haruna Kurosawa has posed:
So Hannah wanted to confront Haruna's and Aki's parents. Haruna was hesitant, but. Maybe... there's some hope. Maybe. There's something. Aki Kurosawa has chosen not to come. Haruna begged and pleaded but she shook her head. It's not that, Aki didn't want to go, or let Haruna go alone, more...

She'd sheltered Haruna for a long time. And when she was gone...

Well Scorn.

She wants Haruna to stand this down with Hannah for better or worse.

AND THUSLY, Haruna and Hannah get into a private limo. Haruna actually pays for it. It isn't a stretch limo. Just a town car. That's fine. The reason becomes obvious- as they travel out of Tokyo, following the coastline, for about four hours. After this long while they arrive in a small Japanese town- in the countryside- not the hustle and bustle of a city. It is directly on the water, and it's clear fishing is the primary trade here.

There are also plenty of Seagulls.

Haruna has been mostly asleep. Shifting from Hannah shoulder, to side of the door, to Hannah shoulder and back. She didn't sleep well last night. She's anxious. And nervous.

Haruna Kurosawa has the car stop into what appears to be a fish market. She gently places her hands to her face and rubs up her face a bit as she tries to take a deeeeep cleansing breath like some books have told her helps. It does help. But only a little. Enough for her to speak as she opens the door and leaves it open for Hannah to get out.

She points. "...That's Dad's Fish Market." she says. "It's not the heavy season. So he should'nt be out on a boat." she says.

She turns and points to the house across the way. "Mom and Dad's house." she says. She pointedly doesn't use the word 'home' here.

The last time she was here. She was in sixth grade. The last time she saw this house was over her shoulder when Aki grabbed her after having her hastily pack things.

Corvus spirals down, around the house- as he was following in the air. Mainly. They wouldn't let him in the car without a cage, and he gets super carsick in his human body.

He lands on Haruna's shoulder and he waves. "Yeah there's people in there so they're home. Didn't stay too long past the windows though." a pause. "Not like a Seagull is an odd sight around here anyways." he says shiftily.

Haruna nods and sighs.

"I'm really not ready for this. But. Someone's gonna come outta that house eventually to check on the shop and I'd rather not make a scene here. I bet dad tried really hard not to tell anyone about. Things." she sighs.

"Because rumors in a small town... yeah." she says.

"...Are you sure you're ready for this Hannah-chan...?" she asks.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Hannah's in the limo too! And being a comfy Hannah-couch! Every little movement earns Gull a comforting little squeeze or brush of the hair. Hannah herself slept like a baby, but she's nervous too. There's so much that could go wrong. But she's not about to let this stand. No, there's that tenseness in her shoulders and face when the pair exit the car that shows one thing: Hannah is ready for a confrontation. Fighty, this American is, to the last.

"Huh. I didn't think your Dad would be a fish monger." That definitely isn't what she expected! Still, Hannah has one arm wrapped around Gull's elbow as she lets herself get led around. Her cane is spun in her free hand, showing off just a little. She has to look confident for Haruna's sake!

Squeeze. "We can do this, Haruna. We definitely can! Honestly I don't care if the entire town and Tokyo hears things. But I'll be nice."

Frown. "Well, if they behave, anyway." Grrrr grrr. Hannah looks a little bit like an attack dog on a leash.

"We'll get through to them." 'If they know what's good for them'. Does Hannah even /need/ to say it out loud?

Haruna Kurosawa has posed:
Haruna Kurosawa takes a deep breath. "Corvus go hang out with some other Seagulls for a bit. It's not like my parents are youma or anything." she says. "They just do a very good impression." she says almost cooly.

She takes a deep breath and squeezes Hannah's hand, and walks across the dirt road.

"Yeah dad's a fisherman. Mom's just kinda. There." she sighs.

There she is. Standing on the stoop. She looks to the side. The shrub is still there. It's still overgrown. Dad still hasn't gotten to cutting it.

She looks to the left. There's still a brick missing from when Aki hid her favorite brush behind a brick like a jerk when they were kids.

She looks to the door and sighs.

She reaches her hand up to knock. She stops short and rubs a hand across her face. "Hannah...let me. Do the talking. At first. Don't. Tell them who you are. I mean. You can. Tell them your name! But.. don't tell them... who you are." she mutters. "Not yet."

She sighs and raises the hand again and-- the first knock is more of a touch but then it shakily turns into a frantic four part knock.

"Some's at the door!" calls a gruff male voice. "Probably Daigo asking if he can go home early from the counter. Peh.. kids these days..." there's a window open.

The door opens.

Yoshida Kurosawa is a man somewhere in his later fifties. He's dressed in overalls with suspenders and a white shirt. He looks like someone who works on a boat. Hard work means he's well built, and not very fat. He looks exactly like Hannah saw in the illusion. He does not sound like the illusion.

Yoshida stands there for a moment looking between Haruna and Hannah a moment- as if he was trying to discern who these two people were. Yoshida does not remember what his own daughter looks like. He has to think about it.

It's obvious when it finally clicks because his neutral expression of what was going to be telling a boy to get back to his shift for the final fifteen minutes turns into a very hard frown.

"Haruna-san." san.

"What do you want." he says. No other greeting just. What do you want. He doesn't want her here. Not even asking about Aki.

Haruna kind of obviously isn't handling this well. She wants to cower. And just run away again. Everything is screaming at her internally that this is a bad idea.

"Father..." she replies shakily back. Not Dad, or Daddy. 'Father'.

"...I would like to come in. And talk. This is..."

"This is Hannah Sharpe. She'd like to come with me." she says.

Yoshida looks like he's about to just slam the door in their faces when the aforementioned Diago, and some customers walk out. The house isn't that far from the shop. A scene made would be seen.

He does not like this and it's clear. "You may come in." he says- ultra politely, as if for show.

Haruna steps in. She knows Hannah will follow. The door is closed. The man just gives them both something almost like a glare as he begins to walk into the kitchen. Haruna follows. "Juria."

"Haruna-san has come. To visit. With a friend." he says.

A woman comes from the living room and she looks exactly like the illusion. She is also soft spoken, but she doesn't wear the kind expression that the illusion did. "Ah..."

"We weren't expecting you."

"Did something happen to Aki again?" she says eyes wide with worry suddenly.

"No Mo... Mother." she says. She sits down at the table. The kitchen is small. There are four chairs around it.

There is suddenly a really awkward silence. Haruna is trying to figure out words.

"Well?" asks Yoshida. "Don't waste our time." he says. Like he was doing anything more important than he was a moment ago, which appears to be 'watching TV'.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
"You're not running from this. I won't let you." Chides Hannah just a bit. And then, right in the market, they meet. The mere fact that the man takes as long as he does to recognize his own /daughter/ has Hannah tensing harder. A slow, slow quip of her lips. It's an almost wolf-like smirk.

This is still Haruna's father. His face feels very punchable right now. And the more he talks, the more she hates him. A shudder runs through her body.

"Kurosawa-san! It's a pleasure to meet you. I've heard so much." That last part is almsot a whisper. Haruna might want to hold Hannah back.

Smile. Smiiiiile. Finally they're at the house. "Miss Juria, ahh, I've always wanted to meet Haruna's parents! Your home is /lovely/ by the way! Hah, I didn't expect it to be a fishmongery. So, Miss Juria. What do /you/ do for a living?" Smile! Smiiiile. Oh yes, she's needling both of them.

But then the man pushes Hannah a little too hard. "Yoshida-san. Your own flesh and blood is never a waste of time. It'd be pretty poor hosting if you didn't at least ask her how she's doing."

Haruna Kurosawa has posed:
Haruna's parents come off as cold. But this is a small town, a fishing village. Rarely anyone leaves. Rarely anyone comes in to live. People grow up and die here all their lives. It's a very traditional place. Haruna and Aki probably would had been working in Dad's shop by now, had they stayed here. Then they'd take it over when they retired-- or their husbands would had. Or passed on. And then they'd pass it on, hopefully, to their children.

Maybe this is why Yoshida dislikes Haruna so much. No. It is why.

But first, Juria is happy to respond. "Oh! I keep the house, of course." she says with a smile.

The house is nice. Quaint. Not overly busy. Clean. There's the scent of the ocean breeze coming in through the open window. It's no real mystery why Haruna likes the beach so much.

Hannah Sharpe is as 'sharp' as her last name suggests as Yoshida doesn't take kindly to this tone. He didn't even ask when they went to Aki's /memorial service/ when they thought she was dead. Why would he now?

He frowns and leans in and sits down and crosses his arms. "Very well. Sharpe-san." he says.

"Haruna-san. How are you doing? Have you finally come to your senses?" he asks.

Oh. He asks then he just butters that last bit on.

"I'm.. I'm good! I opened a coffee shop! In Tokyo! It's doing really well." she says through a stammer.

Yoshida gives a disapproving look. Juria seems curious, but she is quiet.

"Come to my..." she frowns finally. "There's nothing wrong with me!" she finally says a little loud and worried. "There was never anything wrong with me!" she says as she thwaps her palms to the table, and she shakes a bit.

"So--so what, if I love who I chose to love!" she says. She takes Hannah's hand, and makes sure she can feel what she's doing as she unfurls Hannah's hand- which face it, is probably in a fist at this point- and places it on the table. The reason is clear. That ring.

Once again this takes Yoshida a moment to understand the action, and when it does he looks furious.

"You /stole/ that." he hisses. "That belongs to someone who actually ca----"

"Aki stole it when she was here last because she thought-- knew--- it belonged to me. If you want to blame someone for that. Sure. Blame me." she spits.

"This is Hannah Sharpe and she is the girl I love." she says.

"She was there... when no one else was! And protected me from things I can't even describe to you!" she also wants to say 'died once for', but.. she can't be too overdramatic with. The magic here.

"And her family! That has lots of traditions too! Her dad is a /marine/ and he cares for her! and her entire family cares for me more than you ever did!" she spits.

Haruna is really shaking now. Things are fuzzy in her vision. She needs a moment to gather herself. She's practically bristling.

"Like I wish you did!" she finally says.

Juria and Yoshida frown heavily, but there's an awkward silence again, also, a chance for Hannah to interject.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Hannah has been unusually quiet. You know, aside from the increasingly audible strangled sounds of pure fury and rage. The Witch Corruption isn't helping her self control by any means, but a vast majority of it is pure unbridled /Hannah/. Her balled fist is iron, but she manages to relax it a hair. Poor Haruna might have to put a bit of effort into it to get that hand to unflex. It's a testament to the girl beside her that it's possible.

More silence. She lets Haruna have the floor, this is her family after all. She can feel the tension in the room, that silence fills, and finally she chooses to act. No speak, but act at first.

Hannah Sharpe turns round, and pulls Haruna gently into a loving embrace. She kisses the other girl in full view of Haruna's parents, with the kind of smug tilt to her head that communicates that it's all both very much an intentional stab to the gut of the two before her, as well as utter genuine love. She might pay for this later. But she has a point to make.

And then, with a squeeze to Haruna's shoulder, she stands up. Cane in hand, she taps her way over to Yoshida and Juri by proxy. She gets far, far too uncomfortably close. Her mouth is a line, her hand trembles, the wood of her cane's handle cracks with how hard she's squeezing it. And then? She squats down. More or less eye level with Haruna's father, personal space fully invaded. Her grin is wolf like, and vicious. She lets the cane drop, and props up her head with a hand.

"Honestly? I don't like you. Either of you. A bigoted, cold man, and a wife too cowardly or set in her way sto challenge his ways. Frankly every moment I spent here is another that just makes me that much more annoyed. The only reason I'm giving you two the time of day is because you're Haruna's parents. And so, I won't write you off. No, I am going to give both of you a chance to redeem yourselves. Listen. If you don't like that she loves a girl, fine. Alright. Parents and children can disagree. If you two want to hate me? Blame me for all of this? Fine. Do it. I'll accept your hatred. Hell. Here." She picks up her cane, and presents it to Yoshida. A laugh comes from the woman.

"C'mon. Hit me! Show me how much you don't like me! Treat me like dirt! I don't care. I can take it. I'm not some weak, simpering wife that only stays at home and doesn't bother making something of herself." She scowls, blind gaze turning to Juria.

The other hand finds her cheek, holding it up.

"But, Mr. and Ms. Kurosawa. Are you really going to shut out your own flesh and blood? Your family? When you both are laying down on your death beds, do you want to sit there? Alone? The children that you helped bring in this world, so far away, /HATING/ you!? Please. I'm begging you both. Let it go. Take out your feelings on me, I don't care. But...this girl...Haruna Kurosawa...is your /DAUGHTER/! She's /FAMILY/! Even if you don't like who she loves, or what she does...just act like parents, damnit! Please, just...all three of you...a family shouldn't just fall apart because they have differences! There's nothing more important in this filthy world than family! I know it's hard. But...can't you at least try to come together? Can't all of you forgive each other? We're all humans, we're all stupid and flawed and /WEAK/! So please. All I'm asking is that the Kurosawa family forgives each other like family should." Offers Hannah, her plea empassioned to the point of the woman crying.

Haruna Kurosawa has posed:
Now. When Hannah embraces her, and kisses her to get the point across. Haruna wanted to do that when she she introduced her again. But she didn't really have the confidence for it. That makes her blush, and she's still /shaking/ over it, but that helped a lot. That hug. And Hannah just smugly proving the point with her actions.

The fact that Hannah is blind isn't lost on Yoshida or Juria but Yoshida places his hands down on the table with a thud. "Blame you? I don't even know you." he says gruffly. Ugh. How is even Haruna even a little like she is with parents like this. Juria frowns ever so slightly at Hannah's words. She however, doesn't say anything.

He leans forward. "You're American. Aren't you?" he asks, narrowing his eyes. It's the tone of voice and the 'Mr. and Ms. Kurosawa that gives Hannah away. "Like I expect an American to understand our customs." he says as he listens to Hannah's impassioned Plea. He never actually takes the cane. "What do you know of our traditions! From generation to generation, this is how it's been! Always!" he says. "The way my father's father, was taught, the way my father was taught the way we taught our children." he says slamming a hand down on table.

Haruna Kurosawa has sort of zoned out but there's a word that echoes in her head. 'my father'. She frowns, like she's remembered something. She stands up and walks out of the room and into the living room and up the stairs. She doesn't say where she's going or asks Hannah to follow. Maybe she expects her too. Maybe she doesn't.

"Where do you think you're going!?" snaps Yoshida as he stomps after. Hannah knows what's up there- which would be the bedrooms. This house is like the illusion house she was in, after all. She's opened the door to what was once her bedroom. It now appears to be an office. There's still the faded seagull border up around the top, though the rooms been painted a deeper blue than the light lovely ocean green it was in the illusion.

She pushes aside a filing cabinet- that wasn't there and kneels over. She pushes against the floor boards- until she finds the one that squeaks and she lifts it up. There's a lot of things in there. Childish things even. There's a piggy bank that looks like a seagull that still jingles with change when she pulls it out. There's a box of crayons that is clearly labeled 'Haruna's! NOT AKI'S!' in large faded print on a piece of paper that still barely clings to it by old tape. A small little ceramic bowl that contains hilariously obvious and cheap costume jewelry. She stands up as she finds what she's looking for. It's a book in a dust jacket- bound and well taken care of. She talks first, she talks to Hannah. "Do you remember. Our first Christmas?..." she asks. "When you gave me the locket...?" she asks.

"...and I gave you a book. And I said I got it from the library." she says. "And I told you why it was important to me." she says. "Because it helped me sort things out about myself."

"....Grandpa isn't with us anymore..." she says. "/His/ Father..." she adds almost with ice. "But he caught me reading it one day. And he read what it was about..."

"But he didn't react like dad did a few months later... when he read what it was about."

"...This is a first edition copy of the book. And it's Autographed by the author. I forgot I had this. It wasn't on my mind all this time. I only remembered the borrowed copy..."

"Because I cared too much about this copy to read it. Grandpa got it for me. Because he saw how I begged him not to tell anyone. Because I knew how you felt."

She frowns and turns around and stamps over to her dad, as she opens the book, to the first blank cover page- and there is writing there. She reads it out loud.

My Little Seagull
Never Be Afraid
To Fly The Direction You Want

-Grandpa

"Y-- you're here! Being upset at tradition! Like. Like!...." she shakes.

"And you didn't even think about it a moment!... be-because if Grandpa was okay with that!......"

Yoshida snatches the book from Haruna's hand, and reads the inscription- like he can't believe this. His expression profusely changed to one of bewilderment and confusion quickly when he realizes this is his father's handwriting.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Hannah tch's in annoyance, crossing her arms as the man doesn't even take up her challenge. "Good for you and your traditions! Sure doesn't seem like they're making anyone happy, now are they? Are those 'customs' really so important to you that you'd ignore your own children? Don't you get it? You're the blind one here if you can't even realize you're letting slip the most precious thing you'll ever have. It's not too late. I might not like you, Yoshida Kurosawa, but I'll do everything in my power to help repair your relationship with your daughter. That is, if you show that you actually have a spine. And what about you, Juria Kurosawa? Are you really worth being called a mother if you won't reach out to your children and then slap some sense into your husband? Are you really that much of a coward?" Adds Hannah venemously.

But then off Haruna goes, and the girl is up like a jolt. "H...Haruna?" Then, she's rushing up the stairs, nearly stumbling a few times.

Her smile is a little weak, tears threatening to fill her eyes. Angry, sad tears. Frustrated tears. "Yeah, I remember. Right on my desk. Had my...friend read it to me." Her voice cracks just a bit.

It all fits. So very much. Yoshida's silence is telling. Hannah leans back against a wall of Haruna's old room. She scowls, but her attention is all on the man.

"Yoshida. This is your daughter. I've seen her do amazing things. She's stood up to me when I was an idiot. She helped me stand back up after I'd made mistakes. She's been by my side, thick and thin. I don't deserve someone like her. But...I love her. And she loves me. And I think she still loves you too. You're family. Isn't family an important tradition? You can disagree. But can't you put that aside and just love your own daughter? That's why we're here today. Love. The same love your father had for your daughter. And what about your wife? Are you really okay with the way things are right now? Most people don't get second chances."

A sigh. "Don't blow this one. You'll regret it for the rest of your life if you do."

Haruna Kurosawa has posed:
Haruna Kurosawa had completely forgotten about the little hidey hole she made. Because sisters sometimes don't keep out of each others stuff- and Haruna had things she wanted to keep safe. Even if they were crayons and.. ugh younger Haruna's fashion sense seemed to be 'lots of costume jewerly.'. Also a hairclip with a seagull feather tied to it. But that isn't surprising.

Haruna Kurosawa lets Hannah speak as she grits her teeth. "D--do you know what it was like. Being alone? When Aki disappeared? It was horrible! It took... it took. Things I can't even describe to put me back to something even resembling myself before that night." she says. She remembers the words of a tiny raven spirit poking out of a tablet. He said. Her heart was like a void. A black hole. It isn't like that anymore.

"But I'm still here! Trying to drill it into your heads!" she says as she snatches the book from her father's hand- before he can do anything to it. That book is precious to her.

"Aki said, the only reason you care so much about this stupid tradition and hate who I choose to love is because you're scared! Frightened no one will be here to continue the family! That's so /stupid/!" she yells. "Aki chases so many fricken boys I won't be surprised if you have a bazillion grandkids by the time she's fricken thirty when she finds someone she likes!" she says flailing her arms a moment.

Haruna will tell Hannah not to repeat that later. Aki chases boys. She isn't supposed to. /Blue-sama/.

Haruna Kurosawa needs a chance to calm down because she's so... fed up and her face is so red that at this point if they told her to leave, she just /would/.

Yoshida looks a little confused. Bewildered. His grandfather taught him things. This was the tradition. That passage askews the tradition. It also doesn't help that Haruna hits the nail on the head. Two worried parents. Worried about who's going to continue things.
Hannah talks about second chances. How this is one. He remembers the memorial service. How hurt he was that there would be no grandchildren and it was all Haruna's fault. That's what he thought at the time.

He pauses and turns and ... walks out the door and down the stairs.

Haruna doesn't know what this means. There's actually a few moments of silence. A few minutes. Haruna is about to tell Hannah that they're leaving and she's just about to part her lips to say this when there's a call.

"Haruna-chan." is called from downstairs. '-chan'. "Sharpe-san.". They still don't know Hannah. She blinks and looks to Hannah and grabs her hand, and helps lead her back down the stairs and back to the table and both Yoshida and Juria are sitting there. There's some terse silence.

Yoshida is searching for words.

"I am, an old fool. Tradition. Is important here. You lived here. My father taught me things." he says.

"It's clear he didn't teach me some things. Or perhaps. I took the lessons to mean something else. We're and old family name here. This is important to us." he says.

Juria nods. "But it sounds like we put more importance over other things."

"Haruna-chan. Will you please forgive us? Will you give us, a second chance. As your..." it's obvious it takes him a moment. "Girlfriend. put...?" he says.

Haruna Kurosawa needs a moment because she almost leaps across the table, but instead scurries around it--- and she just wraps her arms around the old man. Just. Wraps and doesn't let go.

"Of course, Daddy!" she says, as she just begins to outright cry. "I came here because I just want you to care for me! and love me like you do Aki! and I want you to show Hannah how we fish! She likes to fish too! I went to America with her once!? And we fished and it was awesome and reminded me of home And I want you to talk to her too! and I want her to know you like I know her family!" and she's just kind of a bawling stream of consciousness for the moment.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Today, a secret passes that one Hannah Sharpe will not pass on to Blue-Jerk-Kun to her grave. No, Aki's boy-skirt chasing doesn't entirely come as a surprise, but she still raises a brow. Ouch. /Ouch/. She can respect that though. She'd be chasing more feminine skirts if it weren't for Haruna.

Hannah's remarkably silent, letting father and daughter say their piece. Down Yoshida goes, and Hannah's heart skips a beat. Her arms are already around Haruna, squeezing gently. She's here. You aren't alone, her presence says. And then they're called down stairs, and she's dragged down. There's no resistance.

Hannah's slumped, head down, face unreadable. Haruna's off like a rocket, hugging her dad, and only then does she look up. Tears stream down her face, and Hannah Sharpe is grinning like an idiot.

"You are a stubborn, old fool, Yoshida Kurosawa. But there's been plenty of old fools who've died before they could finally accept their children. So maybe you're less of a fool than you think."

She stands up, walks over, and then slaps the man on the back in that friendly, outgoing american way that's sure to annoy the man. This is intentional. She also doesn't hold back. That one will probably sting for a while.

"I still don't like you. But you're Haruna's family. So, let's get to know each other and our families. You're coming to the next bar-b-que. No, that's not a request. Bring fish. Juria."

Point. "Cook off. I won't lose! Let's see which cuisine is superior, American or Japanese." There's a menacing chef's aura radiating off of Hannah for just a moment. Then, she reaches out, and hugs both Father and Daughter.

"You're both brave, even if you're both hard headed. Like Father, like daughter. Now let's have dinner, huh?" Grin.