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✩ You can't escape! (the Music of the Night) Tsukasa / reader ; Aname / reader; Kou / reader — home ; masterlist - previous chapter : next chapter

II . . . LITTLE LOTTIE, FRANCE AWAITS

The bustling city of Paris rolled by the carriage window, citizens, women, men, and children alike, walking down the stone sidewalks and carriages were being pulled on the cobbled streets. The architecture that built one aspect of French culture spiraled above me, small details that would be missed by the unwatchful eye sitting in wait as it composed a scene of beauty and passion; France, Paris!, it was all so intoxicating even from within the carriage, I couldn’t resist taking in a deep breath as the song of hooves clanking away on the street and laughter and chatter from the streets filtering into the carriage, continued on. “Don’t get used to it all yet, Lottie,” Kou would tease upon seeing my deep breath in and out, noticing as my relaxed and almost homey expression; One I frequently wore once I was able to assure myself that I was in France, and this wasn’t another daydream. “Oh hush, Kou! Let me soak it all in.” The grin stretched upon my face, “It’s going to be my new home for the season, after all! Well, that is, if I’m able to pass through auditions well enough that I can be a part of the ensemble.” There was always an itching feeling in the back of my head, a doubt that was too far of a leap; That I should have picked somewhere else in France to start, slowly building myself up until I was truly ready for the Lotus Populaire. But, then, there were also the years of courage I had built up from countless sessions in London, where I ran as lead in the Operas there! So surely, this shouldn’t be so different.

Kou would let out a snicker-like-huff at my words, “I know, but just remember what we’re here for. . .an audition-” “-an audition, which I’m sure you will ace,” The words came out slightly mocking towards Kou, though all was meant in good fun, as he seemed fairly unamused that I spoke alongside him; seeming to know what he was going to say. “-which I’m sure you will ace!” He would finish abruptly, cutting me off and gaining a rather amused look. He would shake his head, “But we cannot forget that while beautiful, Paris can also be equally as dangerous! We’re going in and out, alright?-” Kou’s words would be interrupted once more during our trip as a melodramatic sigh was drawn out from my lips. There was a silence that followed after, at least, for a moment before Kou filled it. “For being brought up in wealth, you surely act like a commoner.” He would quip, watching as I took a playful, dramatic offense to his words. Like it had been a dagger in my heart, for he had insulted not only me yet my family and bloodline, including my dead relatives into the mix! Like it had been the most unproportional insult to the situation ever! Though then he would receive a scoff, “At least I’m not acting as a babysitter!” “At least I don’t need a babysitter-” “Kou Minamoto!”

“What? It’s true! What am I here for? Surely not just for moral support, you said it yourself!-” Kou rushed out, his hands gesturing out towards me before being held up as though a cop had found him guilty of a capital crime. “I’m here to act as a guard, babysitter, and moral support! With you? I have my hands completely filled playing those three roles and I don’t need for you to get injured or hurt or into some sort of trouble while we’re overseas!” While we’re overseas; He had a point, we were quite a bit away from home, and though we would have lavish accommodations during our three day stay, just long enough for the auditions and final casting, we were still not home. We were not with our families, in the safety and comfort of familiarity. Not even the Lotus Populaire was familiar to Kou nor I, as this would be both of our first instances seeing the new theater in all of its standing glory. And, throughout all of this, Kou was here to ensure I was both happy, suited, and safe. Even if he did call himself my babysitter, which was far from absurd because I simply did not need a babysitter at 21, almost 22! . . . He had a point.

And I would sink back against the seat, a defeated sigh leaving through my nose as Kou quirked a smile up at me. Carefully, he would rise from his seat parallel to mine and plop himself down next to me, drawing his arm over my shoulder and bringing me in close; A comforting side hug, his odd specialties, especially in a carriage ride. “Let me hear your wisdom today, grandfather.” I would tease before Kou even got a chance to speak. There was a roll of his eyes as his hand rubbed against my arm, both a playful warning to watch my wording and a comforting sensation that he was here; That while we were away from familiarity and home, he will do his best to fill such voids and gaps. “Maybe, I’ll let you have a little fun.” Kou started, peaking my attention, “A night in Paris, we can try that restaurant that you always wanted after your auditions tomorrow.” He would offer as the carriage began to come to a slow halt, drawing out until the driver stopped it completely on the cobble streets. There was a moment of blissful silence between Kou and I, a small moment shared in the comfort of the privacy of the carriage. Where not much had to be said other than a small, “I would like that,” as the comfortable silence continued, with some sort of hesitation that lingered in the air. I would notice as Kou seemed to be debating something within his head, he always grew this slightly pensive look with frowned eyebrows and a slightly pouty lip; It was adorable.

“Come on, let’s get out of the stuffy carriage!” I would exclaim, breaking the silence after a long, needed moment, as I grabbed Kou’s hand all too suddenly for him. He would jerk at the motion, seemingly being brought out of his thoughts as I opened the carriage door and, carefully, rushed down the steps to Kou’s protest. Though I barely was listening, it was Paris! And all at once it felt like the homesickness washed away, even for a moment, as I stood in front of the familiar apartment that the Minamoto’s used when they would travel down during season. Kou seemed just as relieved to see the old, but luxurious building as I was, as he parted to go pay the carriage driver and to handle one bag we each brought, full of belongings. It had been a while since Kou and I had been able to visit the old Minamoto France apartment, for the family sparingly came to France anymore due to the old Opera House burning; And I’m convinced that his father believes that it’ll surely happen once more, and of course with the news of the mysterious chandelier–that had been remade countless of times from the Opera Populaire and not moved into the Lotus Populaire, hanging above the seating in the auditorium–falling a handful of times for seemingly no reason solidified such fears within him.

So the apartment sat untouched, saved for some maids that did a routine bi-weekly clean on the old girl, simply to keep out the rats or possible insects that would enjoy to claim an untouched lavish apartment; Dressed in silks and fine leather and even finer wood, all importanted from the best salesman around the globe to provide the utmost comfort on a trip away from home.

“Louise!” A smile beamed onto my face upon the door of the apartment opening. It stifled my giggle as I heard Kou, slightly, struggling with the baggage behind me.

Louise paused with a start, glancing over upon hearing the familiar yet aged voice of a girl she had known all too well. When her eyes rested on mine, a grin couldn’t help but form on her more wrinkled face before she left her post at the door, rushing over to press two greetings kissing upon my cheek. I would return in kind. Despite being Minamoto's French-hired maid, Louise was nothing short of a miracle worker! Though by her appearance, I was sure not many would realize as such; For she was definitely on her aging years, where everything was slowly starting to take a toll on her yet she couldn’t bother to let such ‘absurdities’ – in her own words – show! She was a paler woman, who leaned upon the shorter side as well, who worked in the same clothes she had when she started, though you were sure she cleaned them well, with her hair graying caramel tied up in a tight bun. Yet, no matter her age, her eyes were as motherly as they always had been from the day I met her. “Ah, it has been simply too long!” Louise would grin, her more boney hands finding their way around my shoulder, “Come! Come inside! Mrs. Minamoto already let me know of Kou’s and your arrival! Everything has been prepared, no need to stress. I’m sure you had enough of that during your travels.” Her voice came off soothing, eager and chipper, as she led me into the living room of the flat, motioning for me to sit down on the couches. As I would do so, happily chatting to Louise about our journey from the little old Kingdom to France, Kou would stumble into the flat carrying two bags with a huff. The sound of the carriage’s horse trotting off could be heard through the door, yet you paid it no mind, as Kou would try to heavy the bags once more. . . despite his previous struggles. Louise was quick to notice, and quick to have nothing of the sorts happening under this roof, “Ah, ah! Little Viscount, put those bags down.” She would scold, “You’ve had a long journey yourself, the luggage can be carried by another.” “Louise,” Kou let out an airy laugh as she rushed over to him, ushering the bags to be placed by a wave of her hand. Kou, defeated and not wanting to hurt the old maid, placed the baggage down on the floor with a small, yet charming, smile. “We don’t have anyone else to carry the baggage up, it’s completely alright. I can do it, no need for you too–”

“Oh no need for that! Your father has hired a new assistant, due to my ‘old age’ he says. I told him it was simply unneeded yet he insisted,” There was a playful frown that twinged on Louise’s lips as she spoke about the new assistant, or maybe her aging. I was sure it was a combination of both as she waved Kou to sit on the couches and make himself comfortable, all the while claiming she would go find the new butler. “Well,” Kou started as he stifled back a chuckle, walking around the couches and over to me. He would plop down on the couch, rather dramatically in my opinion, as his arms sprung out on the backside of the couch and his legs extended forward. “I’m glad to know Ms. Louise is as living as ever.” Kou would only receive a head shake in return, his foolishness sparingly getting a remark from me; As instead, I decided to take in the new furnishings of the apartment, as it had changed from my last visit. No longer was everything draped in pretty blues that compliment one another, yet instead had shifted to more browns mixed with maroon. It created a homey feeling, for sure, and no longer stuck out as strange to passersby on the street, who just so happen to peek inside. The living room in particular changed more, as the velvet deep navy couches no longer sat parallel to each other with a oak coffee table in between, yet was now replaced with two maroon red couches shaped like an L, both plush and wrapped in silk, with a small table between them and a matching wool carpet below them. It was a large change from the usual cooling blue tones to now a soothing, yet striking, maroon and spruce; Though it was somehow comforting, almost as though the room and furniture was enclosing to give me a great big, warming, hug after such a long journey–which was enhanced more by the warm orange and pinks hues that filtered in through windows thanks to setting sun. I wouldn’t notice how my muscles would relax against the softer couches, how I had slumped a little, or how my eyelids began to droop ever so slightly.

Yet, Kou noticed and alerted me, gently, to the problem as soon as it came to his attention with a gentle nudge. I had possibly already dozed off, having been awoken to his soft voice, “Maybe you should head to bed,” was his warming suggestion to my cold reply of a head shake. It would be improper to leave before meeting the new assistant that had been hired, furthermore to leave Kou by himself on the first night of Paris when we already have plans made! “Lottie,” Though his sterner voice would seep through, mimicking that of his brothers, as he rose to his feet. His hands grabbed ahold of and intertwined with my own, slowly and carefully dragging me upon my suddenly aching feet. “It was a good few hours from the steamer boat to the carriage ride, and frankly I feel the fatigue nipping away at myself. We’ll push our plans back until tomorrow, you may simply just head to bed and I’ll stay to meet the new Butler.” There was a protest that dared to fall from my lips, though Kou was quick to hush the concerns, especially since he practically left me with no choice. He was stubborn, much so like his elder brother, and I was sure he would not quit until I was tucked into bed. So there was reluctant agreement on my part to his whole ordeal. “Good, thank you, now to bed.” There was a sly hint of concern that filtered through Kou’s words as he gave my hands one final squeeze, before the teasing followed, “I assure you the layout of the flat has not changed.”

He would only get sarcasm in return, “Very funny Kou.” Though I wouldn’t stay around longer than that, as I parted our hands every so slowly before turning sluggishly and exited the living room, walking down the hallways to Kou shouting something along the lines of ‘good night!’ which I would mimic. My hand would rise to slide along the walls of the apartment, feeling the textured walls made out of the smooth wallpaper that I was too tired to pay attention to, run across my fingers as I walked up the hard wooden stairs. They still creaked, even if just a little in my imagination, as I walked up to them as they had done all the years ago. Then down the hallway upstairs to a room nuzzled in the far end of the hall, on the left, near the window that peaked out onto the Paris streets, I would find my room–or more promptly the guest bedroom that I had claimed my own, due to my constant visitation–and would open the door with a familiar swing. Slugging off my shoes, leaving them by the door, I found myself by the mirror that laid by my bed, though not facing it. Without much care, feeling the drowsing hands of sleep caressing my body, I would work on the layers of my clothing, dropping each one until I was suitable enough for bed; Most likely my under clothes that poor Louise would iron out later with a fuss, as a proper citizen would not sleep in such conditions! Though, that would be a problem she would have to fuss about tomorrow, as I would climb into the plush bed and snuggle my way under the blankets. It all felt heavier, comforter, softer than I remembered them being and the question of if the Minamoto family had changed the bedrooms too crossed my mind. It didn’t get to linger long once my eyes fluttered closed, as the sweet release of sleep washed over my clouded mind. It would simply have to be a question for tomorrow.

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