Mirror, Mirror (Shun)

Sky had wandered off earlier in the day and had seemingly taken that strange fellow named Phalanx with her, or maybe he had simply wandered off too. Whatever the case was, Oki was for once alone in its shop, trying to readjust and clean things that were simply forgotten while it had been away. The cleaning process wasn’t much, but the simple action was nice to perform. Besides…it wasn’t sure when it would get another chance to do this sort of work. It had a feeling that once it stepped out of the door and hit the streets again, it might be a long while before it could perform such a simple task. So the old being savored the quiet time it had as it continued to clean.

The front and back doors of the shop were open allowing the breeze from outside to blow in causing the shop to become a rather pleasant place to be in at the moment. The other shops were open and the smells of food could be smelt. It was a warm and comforting scent. A reminder of simpler times. Staying focused on its task, Oki stood on the top of a ladder on its tippy toes as it reached up to the top shelf to clean away the dust that had collected there with its tongue between its teeth behind the mask it wore to protect it from inhaling the dust and in turn having a coughing fit unlike any other.

When it was finished with one section, it climbed down to move the ladder to another spot before climbing up again to resume cleaning. The being would continue to repeat this process until the task of dusting the top shelves were done. Once done, Oki stood in the middle of its shop with a duster in one hand as it placed its hands on its hips and narrowed its green eyes under the thick black bangs of its hair, scanning the area for missed spots as it kept an ear out for any customers that might come in.

Oki had finished the cleaning and examining of the room feeling quite proud of itself. It seemed like the shop was back into its old dust free form. Sure, there was some organizing to do, but the old being knew this would not take long as it hooked the duster on a small hook on its belt and pulled its mask down so that it hung easily around its neck. It would collapse the ladder so it was a step ladder instead, a light jingling coming from the bracelet given to it by Hyde filling the comfortable air lightly as the being moved.

The sound was soothing as the being moved the step stool closer the shelf and began to tackle the items on the lower shelves. It wasn’t sure how they had gotten pushed back so far, but it assumed from the large amount of hair it found, it was more likely the cats that Sky allowed in the shop that had pushed them back. Oki sighed inwardly at this. Cats…It still didn’t like them at all, but what was it to do when it had a cat lover in the same space as it? Sure, Oki could take drastic measures to get its way, but honestly the effort to do such a thing was so much more troublesome than simply letting the evil creatures in. As long as they didn’t come into its room, it suppose it was okay….even if it was annoying to constantly have to readjust things when they bumped stuff out of the way to rest.

Oki continued to work quietly on the bottom shelf until it heard a car and then a set of footsteps entering the shop. Placing down the item it had, it would easily get up from the stool and turn to greet the one who came in. It was a blonde that was giving off a strange air and dressed as if he was not from this part of town. So…the question was what would a upper class wanderer of this age want with an old antique store? Was this young one perhaps a collector of the fine arts then?

The small analysis was quick before Oki was giving the one entering a friendly smile as it spoke.

“Hello and welcome to the Little Spirit's Home. Have you come looking for something in particular?” Oki said, its friendly business attitude automatically coming into play as it let a potential customer take the time needed to browse and what not.

Oki remained in its position watching the other as he continued to move about the store examining objects that lined the walls. The other seemed nice enough. He spoke politely and the smile given was non-hostile, so the old being never did feel threatened by the other as it nodded lightly at the words spoken.

“Okay then. Take your time,” Oki said before moving back to the stool and going back to organizing the items on the bottom shelf and getting rid of unwanted cat hair. While it worked it remained highly aware at all times where the person browsing was within the shop. While this rich child did not carry the heavy sounds of a full grown male, it was easy to follow the direction of movement without looking, the light thud of his feet and the creak of the old wooden floors under the weight of the another outside of itself dead give a ways of this. These were familiar sounds that did not phase the being who remained professional despite cleaning.

When the other spoke and asked it a few questions, the old being stopped in its work as it looked over its shoulder from its sitting position. Green eyes would meet the others eyes evenly as a friendly smile remained on its lips.

“Some would agree, but I am afraid looks can be rather deceiving. I am quite capable of running the shop on my own. In fact, I have been doing so for many years. As for speaking to a manager or owner, you are speaking to the only one left now,” Oki said as its eyes narrowed with its gentle grin.

“How may help you, Mr.--?” Oki left the last bit open for the other to fill in a name if he wanted to as it remained friendly and open, never suspecting that its guest may have actually come into the shop for more than just the antiques.

Surprise. That is what the blonde showed as he found that Oki was the one who ran the shop. However, it would seem that despite what the being had said, this one still did not believe that Oki alone owned and ran the shop. It was a curse of it not being able to age, but Oki did not let this bother it as it listened to the boy talk. When he mentioned that he really wanted to see Oki, who he said was a girl, the being’s light smile faded slightly as it tilted its head at the other.

“Well then. I suppose we should just cut to the chase then, yes?” Oki said in a calm tone before getting up from its seat and turning to face the strange boy fully.

“Why is it that Mr. Kurosawa is so eager to meet us?” the being asked remained polite and professional as always as it pointed a thumb at itself to emphasis who "us" was. As it moved the bracelet Hyde had given it jingling lightly with the other artifacts upon it as green eyes watched the other like a cat. Unblinking, unafraid, and calm. Surely this was a business complaint no? Why else would someone be so eager for a manager?

While Oki remained more or less professional, the old being could not stop the sinking feeling that arose in its gut as this guy before it began smirking after the initial shock of the way Oki spoke had washed away. While Oki didn’t show any fear or any emotion towards that smirk, it had the distinct feeling that this guy was not here for business. No…there was something else underneath that little show that this one was after, but what it was, was beyond Oki.

Even when the other, looking as innocent as a devil, spoke those sweet words of his, Oki found itself becoming quite guarded and protective of its shop as it watched the other’s attitude shift turning this situation into more of a servant/master situation more than anything else. Oki didn’t like that at all, but nonetheless it remained nonhostile as it tilted its head lightly at the other.

“Oh, your boyfriend suggested this place? Well, he certainly has a good eye for art. What be his name?” Oki said its tone remaining friendly enough as it held its ground against whatever plot this one was up to. It wasn’t sure what was going on, but it had to admit it was getting a very bad vibe from this ordeal. It was almost like being face-to-face with Helen, but on a different level it was not sure how to deal with yet.

This was very uncomfortable no matter which way Oki looked at it. The being wasn’t sure of the problem this guy had or who this boyfriend was, but the quieter the other was, the more Oki’s stomach turned as it watched the other simply stare and smile that sickly sweet smile of his. It wasn’t sure what made the other so pleased as he walked about the shop as he if he owned it and even dared to touch an artifact on the shelf. A common thing for customers to do, but….with this guy, the action might as well have been a slap in the face. This guy…he was enjoying putting Oki on the spot, wasn’t he? But for what reason?

Despite all this running through Oki, the being’s stance remained calm and non-hostile its face neutral as it tried to keep its business like self under the intense pressure from the other. When the other spoke, Oki tilted its head lightly at the words as it absorbed the details of the person the blonde described. Well, that description was certainly a vague one for the norm, but for Oki the details were a little too specific as it gave the other a light perplexed frown.

“Now that you mentioned it, I have met someone that matches that description, but what does he have to do with any of this?” Oki said becoming more and more ruffled by the situation. What was this guy after and how did Hyde calculate into this? Wait... Hyde wasn’t the "boyfriend" was he? No, no, no! That couldn’t be true. He was Oki’s no? Despite its best effort, the more the other studied the blonde the more the frown deepened as its body tensed slightly with the stress and potential truth. Oki was so not liking where this was heading, but it tried to assume nothing in this situation. If it let itself become too ruffled then whatever game this guy was playing would've been won....and Oki was not willing to surrender just yet.

Oki had a bad feeling about this whole situation. That this was not a friendly little visit. That there may have been something more malicious at play. The being wanted a verbal confirmation from the other about its suspicions of who said person was that he described, but instead it got silence and biting words that came in the form of some sort of insult rather than a small chastise from a disappointed person.

Oki’s frowning ceased as it watched the other coolly as he spoke and kept messing with one of the items on the shelf; however, Oki tried to keep its temper in check as it responded to the other. It’s voice quiet and calm.

“I hardly think such words are necessary,” Oki began before shifting lightly in its spot as it kept an eye on the other. “Please refrain from toying with the items on the shelf,” the being said just like any store clerk with valuable items would do when their goods were in the danger zone; however, despite the request, Oki hardly thought the other would listen. No he seemed to be enjoying twisting wor—What? Oki tapped its pant leg unconsciously with its left hand. It's patience with this one was beginning to wear thin, but still it fought to remain composed.


“I won’t deny that fact. I like him very much,” it said evenly as its eyes narrowed into slits at the last words.

“I don’t have an answer for why he likes me, he simply does. End of story,” Oki told the other bluntly quite done playing this little game. It didn’t want things to go out of control, but on the other hand this one was pushing buttons that was slowly chipping away at Oki’s calmness. It understood this one was an jealous ex or maybe a side partner Hyde had neglected to inform was dumped. While it was true Oki was a bit peeved about Hyde not telling it about this one, it wasn’t like it had exactly thought to ask about other relations either. Still...why did all this have to come from this brat?
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Note: The Hanged Man is swaying as it watches the situation....

It took every bit of control to not jump on this guy. This sneering, taunting beast of a human that did more than twist words as he flat out refused to obey the warning given about the vase. In a normal situation, Oki may have repeated itself, but in this case green eyes only hardened as the being remained where it was for the moment watching the other continue to mess with the vase.

There was malice behind everything this one did and it was this malice that only ruffled the usually calm being’s feathers. It listened to his little speech about evaluating the item, but Oki was no fool. It knew the difference between evaluating and threats to do something to said object. When people fell into the latter category the being was not so kind….especially when they were so demeaning and cocky in what they did.

“What customers I have and don’t have are of no concerned to you. Put it back,” Oki said in calm tones its expression devoid of emotion at this point as this cocky little brat continue to ignore it and increase the malicious intent he had. His smiling and snickering did nothing to sooth the burning fire that was starting within Oki. As he came closer holding the vase, Oki’s green eyes would remain locked on its enemy as it watched to see what would happen to that vase.

As the other spoke, Oki listened its blank expression making it hard to tell if it was about to explode or cry; however, the words that followed told the truth.

“Does one really have to question why another treats them kindly or even loves them? If you are always asking why, then you are insecure with what you have and in turn don't deserve it,” Oki said as it glanced at the blonde up and down.

"Perhaps your attitude and insecurities is what caused him to leave you, hmm? Maybe he noticed this problem and got out of the situation while he could. Not that I can blame him. Nobody would want someone who behaved like you. Unruly and spoiled. Very displeasing indeed,” Oki told the other its words calm and cold as it finished its analysis of the other.

It didn’t like playing this game, but unfortunately for the boy Oki was no push over and not that easy to break. If he was going to start a fight, then Oki would finish what was started…civilized or not. It would survive this encounter no matter what.
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Note: The Hanged Man is in the reverse position and does not care for you. - Caution