bakerstreet | ( picture prompt meme )

Pretty sure.

[Once they reach the path, it seems to stretch on both ways, following the river.]

They probably know about this part, but my spots pretty hidden. I hope you weren't thinkin' you could just follow this and find it. I'm not that stupid.

[Excuse you. She leads him to the right, where branches hang over the path here and there, and vegetation creeps over it to reach the water. Nothing impeding, but it's awfully pretty.]

I've never followed it all the way down yet. It goes pretty far. The other direction hits the road and bridge back there.

[Fuyuhiko gives a small, private roll of his eyes, but it's definitely not imperceptible. If Natsumi is paying close attention to his facial expressions then it's more than likely she noticed.]

So what, you think no one else is ever gonna think to take the other path?

[So he's making some presumptions about what kind of place this is in order to get answers out of her. So what? He's gotta snuff his curiosity somehow.]

It's a fork in the road, Natsumi. The point is to pick one side or the other.

[And before she can say anything about it—]

And not everybody's gonna care about following the fucking river.

[Not a word he ever thought he'd precede with "fucking," but hey, it happens.]

[Natsumi immediately prickles at his criticism, shooting him a glare.]

Oh, okay, I guess I am just that fuckin' stupid! Good to know that's what you think of me!

[She can't help it, the angry sarcasm practically dripping from her voice as she looks away from him again.]

You know we can just turn around. Clearly it's not special enough for you so hey, no skin off my bones if you don't want to see it. Not the first time you've dismissed me so whatever!

[Despite saying this, she's still walking, so she obviously still wants to take him there and have this picnic. It's just in her nature to argue with him. Up ahead in the path, if either of them are paying attention to it now, it kind of looks like the dirt path is changing to something boarded, like a bridge or a pier almost, with railings along the edge of it to likely keep people from falling in. Still the vegetation hangs over head, untamed and free to grow how it likes.]

Edited 2017-08-21 23:11 (UTC)

Is it such a crime to be concerned about your well-being?

[It might sound like he's showing weakness, but he's only doing it with the express purpose gaining the upper hand in their argument. So it's not like he just admitted to caring deeply about her safety at all, see?

To further his argument, he gestures directly to the floor underneath them as they step onto the boards.]

Someone had to have built this, Natsumi. Shit like this doesn't come out of nowhere.

[And obviously it's being decently maintained, otherwise he would be complaining about how it could give out underneath them at any second. That means someone besides Natsumi must be showing up here at least semi-frequently to maintain it.

He really isn't trying to imply she's stupid, at least not now. He just wants to prove a point.]

Tch...

[She can't decide if she wants to stubbornly turn around, go back and sulk for the rest of the day and maybe tomorrow, or stubbornly go on ahead anyway just to prove him wrong. Because she's positive her spot's good! Yeah, he's right on that, but she's not saying this part is hidden! But now she's doubting herself, and she hates doubting herself. She does it enough as it is with everything else in her life. But, at this point, he'll probably just insult it the whole time too, won't he? Maybe she should turn around. Nothing she does is good enough for him, so why would she think this is any different? He's always looking down on her and everything she does...

Chewing on the inside of her cheek, she keeps walking. When she replies, her voice is strained from trying to keep it level and calm, not angry or disappointed, even if that's how she feels.]

You wanna go back, just gotta follow the path in the opposite direction. I'm sure you can find your way back home once you hit the road. Just because I asked you to come doesn't mean you've gotta if it's gonna be so annoying for you.

[He confused for only the briefest fraction of a second.]

It's not...

[And as what he's done registers, he slows down until he's come to a complete stop. The guilty and slightly horrified look on his face is one that Natsumi should treasure for years to come. It truly is, more than anything else, a sign of how much he cares, no matter how much he might try to hide it.]

I'm not really mad Natsumi, I'm... I'm just being an ass again. I thought we were doing that thing where we argue but don't really mean it, you know? Didn't think it meant anything to you. Sorry.

[It's not the best or most eloquent apology, but it'll have to do, because she certainly won't be hearing him repeat himself any time soon. After a beat, he sucks in a deep breath and continues down the path with a renewed sense of determination.]

Well, come on. This food isn't going to eat itself.

[She definitely will treasure it, later when she's in the right mind to. Right now she looks a little more like a kicked puppy, pouting just a little bit as she walks along with him.]

Jeez...I have feelings you know. If you sit around and shit on something I'm really excited about, I'm gonna get upset with you.

[But you know what would make it better? Definitely seeing if this is a chance for her to just sneak out and wrap an arm around one of his. He's apologizing for making her feel bad, so she bets he'll totally allow this.

Definitely. Maybe. Okay, 50/50 on if he will, but she'll take those odds over the 90/10 that he won't most of the time. Either way, whether he allows it or shakes her off, she manages a little smile again. He apologized, and that's good enough for her.]

But it's okay. We do have way too many of those stupid arguments don't we? It gets pretty hard for me to tell if I'm really upsetting you or not sometimes, so I can't be too mad.

[He'll allow it, just this once, if only because no one else is around and he doesn't want to risk upsetting her again and fucking this situation up more than he's already managed to. But because he's a solid inch or two shorter than her, he ends up feeling sort of like her worn-out teddy bear.]

I know, I know... I'll think before I open my mouth next time, alright?

[As long as it keeps her happy, which is all that really matters. Honestly, fuck other people. They couldn't be better than this, right? Yeah, he didn't think so.]

But... yeah. Guess we need to learn how to talk things through at least some of the time if we wanna avoid shit like this.

[Probably one of the few times he'll admit he needs to work on his emotional business. But if it's for Natsumi, he really doesn't mind. Or he at least minds a lot less.]

Okay.

[Don't even think like that, Fuyuhiko. Holding onto your arm like this makes her very proud, thinking more like they look amazing side by side; The powerful heir to the throne Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu and his terrifying but beautiful younger sister Natsumi. People see the two of them coming down the road and they should be parting like water for them! Even if she doesn't match up to him in any way, she is at least above a majority of the peons that walk the Earth.]

Probably, but I mean when has that ever gotten us anywhere?

[That's because they haven't actually given it an honest try.]

I don't even know where to start with that touchy feely shit. Am I supposed to just confess my deepest, darkest secrets and hope you know what I'm talking about? Oh oniichan~

[She's doing her best to mimic the kind of overdramatic tone you might hear in soap operas or bad cheesy romance flicks, even going so far as to carefully slip the handles of her bag over her wrist so she can place her hand over her heart.]

I haven't dared to tell you this before now, but...we need to talk things through! And I just...I have to tell you...it hurts me so much that you wear those dorky ties with your suits! As someone who cares a lot about fashion, it really fuckin' offends me! I don't know how we can possibly work this problem out though!

[Whoops, apparently we can't make fun of something without also dragging Fuyuhiko a little.]

[Hey, it's not his fault he has highly conditional self-worth and an intense need to appear as masculine as he possibly can, and that those two things just love to mingle. Either way, the teddy bear feeling at least makes him act a little gentler. It's probably a subconscious thing.

He gives a chuckle at her dramatics at first, but it quickly fades as his fashion sense is brought into question.]

You're not really joking, are you? Ugh, seriously...?

[See? This is totally beneficial for both of them. In most other circumstances, he would have snapped right away. You've softened him, Natsumi. Softened him into a fluffy, grumpy little bear.]

The hell is wrong with my ties? I happen to like them just fine. So you had better learn to appreciate them, because they're not going anywhere.

[Especially the one with the cow skull on it. That one is badass and she can pry it from his cold, dead hands.]

Besides, you've got your own issues there too, with all that... froofy stuff.

[It's not his best insult. It's not even a good insult. Is it an insult at all? It's unclear. But with the great lengths he went to avoid wearing "floofy stuff," he thinks he's perfectly within his rights to poke fun at Natsumi for it a little. ...As long as she knows it's in good fun. She'll know he doesn't mean it, right? He is so bad at this.]

[At first she puts on quite the pissed off look. But...it's completely ruined by the "snrk" that follows, and then her attempt at trying to hide laughter. And then pretty soon she's cracking up, leaning against him a little as she does it.]

"Froofy" stuff? Oh my god, really?

[It's safe to say she's not taking him seriously, both as far as seriously insulting her goes and that it's a good insult at all. And then she's grinning, reaching up to poke his cheek a little.]

Should I start dressing like you? Blacks and whites, pinstripes, sharp suits. Or I guess dress suits. People gotta tell us apart somehow and fuck knows if I dressed like you fully they'd be like, "Wow Kuzuryu-kun when did you start wearing a wig?"

[At least she doesn't lean against him for too long, but still keeps a hold of his arm.]

Looks like we're at a stalemate though. I'm not gonna stop wearing all my froofy stuff. That means we really suck at workin' through our problems I think, because I'm pretty sure they aren't supposed to end at "too bad I'm doin' it anyway." What're we gonna do now?

I think this is the part where we realize we never really cared about this shit at all and it was all for the sake of an example.

[So they've got different styles. In his opinion, that's a good thing. God knows if Natsumi dressed like him he'd hear no end to the talk about how she "pulls it off better," and more shit about how she should be the next heir instead. He would rather they stay different; so different that no one could ever think to compare the way they dress.]

I mean, unless you want me to make fun of your acting skills. That's always an option.

[And yes, of course he knows it was for the joke, but there's no way he can just leave that be. It's his sworn duty as her older brother to make good on every opportunity to embarrass her that arises.]

Might set us back a bit in terms of progress, but I'm willing to risk it if you are.

[This comment is accompanied with not just a teasing grin, but an actual, genuine wide smile that takes over his whole face. Either he's really starting to enjoy himself or he just gets that much amusement out of making fun of his sister.]

[Like in most cases, her own mood easily follows her brothers, that genuine smile of his putting an equally genuine one on her own face. Even if he's ragging on her a little, that doesn't matter. Not if she gets to see an expression like that.]

Hah! Are you sayin' you could do better? Huh oniichan?

[She is apparently plenty happy to risk it, encouraging it even.]

Come on, lemme hear your acting skills! Your my older brother, so you've gotta lead by example, y'know! How am I gonna improve otherwise?

[Wow, didn't take long at her for her to turn that one back around on him. He can feel blood rush to his face as he tries to brush off her dare. Even when it's just the two of them he still doesn't feel like humiliating himself.]

I never said I could do better! And I definitely never said you were capable of improving.

[Maybe being bad actors just runs in the family. He's never been particularly good at pretending not to give a shit whenever he cares far more than he could possibly describe.]

With a performance that poor, I'm not seeing any way up for you. Sorry, Natsumi. That's life.

[Or show business, whatever she wants him to call it.]

[Should've seen it coming, Fuyuhiko. When will you learn that you can't gain the upperhand against your little sister? She just sticks her tongue out at him. How rude!]

Heh, guess it's good I have no plans on bein' and actress. Who needs actin' skills when they can just blackmail someone, right? And we definitely don't need the cash.

[Rich kid life. She flips a little bit of her hair, looking confident and proud of herself.]

I was thinkin' of gettin' into modeling though. All those offers are temptin' sometimes!

[The path eventually leads them up a set of stairs, pulling them away from the river again. At least this walk is a little easier to follow, rather than the wooded walk they took to get to the path in the first place.]

[If Natsumi's messing with him, then the look on his face must be utterly priceless. First confusion, then dawning realization, then shock, then disgust, before settling on the darkest, most dreadful death glare he's pulled in weeks. But it's not directed at her, oh no. He's just staring straight ahead, imagining all of those people offering her modeling deals, and then imagining their blood painting these stairs.]

People ask you... to model?

[Frequently? Enough for her to actually consider it? He feels violently ill, probably because he's envisioning most of these people as creepy sickos who want an excuse to see her in a swimsuit or some shit. No. Absolutely not.

...So then he has to gently remind himself that Natsumi is her own person who can make her own decisions and that if this is what she really wants, he shouldn't interfere. That, and it would look bad to care too much.]

Ugh. Whatever. If you ever really want to, don't let me stop you. But you're not allowed to come running to me if some perv volunteers to be your photographer.

[Translation: she totally is, and he will kick said perv's ass.]

[Don't think she doesn't notice those expressions. She watches him, raising a brow for a moment and letting him think and talk, but her own expression softens some at his reply.]

Somethin' tells me that's not really what you're wantin' to say right now.

[See, this is why she loves her brother. Yeah, sometimes being protected and worried about by everyone is annoying. Especially in the family, where Fuyuhiko's been kidnapped before and their family members worry that Natsumi might be next, always wanting to watch her too, asking her where she's going and if she has her phone and this that and the other. But when it's her brother who's worried, it's never bothered her. She loves it. It makes her feel like may be she is special to him.

She laughs a little, shrugging.]

They're just hand towel companies askin'. Nothing big. I bet I'm pretty enough to get pervy photographers volunteering though. I'd definitely have someone with me, so you don't have to worry about me bein' annoying and askin' you to save me.

[She would though. He'd be the first person she'd run to, even if that meant she'd be faced with a million "I told you so"s for it.]

[That's a relief, so much so that he worries it'll show on his face. So he avoids her eyes, staring down at the ground and kicking the dirt slightly as they walk.]

I didn't ask.

[Okay, technically he did, but good luck getting him to acknowledge it. After a few moments of stubborn silence, he softens, lifting his gaze up from the ground and turning to stare at the trees they're passing by instead.]

...But thanks for letting me know anyways, I guess.

[It's quiet, but his tone is undeniably genuine. He'll always care about her, no matter how hard he tries to mask it.]

How much longer are we walking for? I haven't eaten since we left home, you know.

[She does him the courtesy of letting the tone and gratitude slide, figuring she's probably embarrassed him enough today. She bets just letting her hang off him like this is embarrassing. Looking up from him, she glances around, assessing their surroundings.]

Hey, you think I ate anything either? I've been saving my appetite for this all mornin'! But not that far. Actually, our turn is just right up here.

[She points to...what is definitely not an actual turn. Actually, it's a pretty huge bush. Maybe there's a path behind it? But it doesn't really look like it. And when they actually get to the bush, it's obvious that there's not. The path their on is the only one there, and it continues on straight ahead.]

Gonna have to do a little off roadin' and walking over some rough terrain, but that shouldn't be any problem for you right?

[He stares at the bush, which comes up to nearly his shoulders, with a look of complete dread. These are nice pants Natsumi, what the fuck.]

I can't believe you're making me do this.

[...He says as he detaches himself from her grip at last, secures his grip on the grocery bag, and begins to navigate himself forward anyways. She isn't making him do jack shit at this point. He's doing all of this of his own volition. He tries to shimmy himself between the bush and the tree next to it as best as he can, holding the bag up above his head to keep it from getting damaged. It's... a struggle.]

I... fuck... This is seriously... ugh, dammit... I can't believe y—

[He moves a little too roughly and the bag swings around before coming back to hit him upside the head.]

God dammit fucking hell!

[He reels forward, holding his head with one hand while still keeping the bag up with the other (albeit a bit lower than before). It definitely didn't hit him hard enough to do any lasting damage, but damn if it doesn't hurt like a bitch.]

You know if you just--okay. After you I guess.

[She was going to offer to show him an easy way through but hey, if he wants to be the man and lead she won't stop him. She can't help but chuckle as he struggles, trying to hide it as best as she can behind her hand, but that quickly comes to a stop when he manages to hit himself in the head. Not so funny anymore.]

Oniichan!

[She moves as quickly as she can, choosing just to squeeze through the bush without any finesse or care for what it may or may not do to her clothes, coming out with only a little struggle on her end before quickly move to his side.]

Are you okay? How hard did that hit you?

[She's worried, because if he seriously hurt himself it's her fault. If this were a fight, if they had knives and were going at each other with everything they had, it would be a different matter. But it's not, it's an accident, and she hates hurting her family by accident. Especially him. The leaves in her hair and small tears in her shirt and skirt don't matter as much as his well being.]

[He lets out a small grunt of discomfort, keeping his eyes squeezed tightly shut. As soon as the pain begins to dull, he takes his hand away from the offending area and waves her off. His hand is dry, thank god, so he probably isn't bleeding. He opens his eyes and blinks a few times, getting readjusted to the world around him (he is still stuck between the bush and the tree) before giving her a quick once-over.]

...You fucked up your clothes over this?

[It's hard to tell whether he's disappointed or proud? Maybe both. It's a very unusual mixture. He sighs, twisting his body at an odd angle so he can hold the grocery bag out towards her.]

Here, just take it. I need to... fix this.

["It" being his current position. Honestly, of all the fucking situations he thought he would end up in today, this one was not on the list.]

[She holds her breath as he adjusts, relieved to see no blood on his hand and letting that breath out in a sigh once he talks. Okay...okay, he's alright. She doesn't respond immediately, taking the bag from him so he can work on freeing himself.]

...of course I did. So what if I fucked up my clothes a little. S'not like I can't buy more.

[She can't just buy an older brother though. Or his trust or affection. Not that she's going to say any of that, way too mushy for her tastes thank you, but still. It's important to her that he doesn't seem too upset. Or at least not more upset than he had been before trying to squeeze through.]

I'll show you the trick for gettin' through there when we come back.

[His face pales slightly at the word "trick".]

Should've shown me the trick in the first place...

[You know, before he went and made an ass of himself. He knows he rushed forward before she had an opportunity to stop him, though, so that's as much as he says on the matter. Although he does wonder if she took the easy way out for her clothes to have gotten so torn up.

This may be the one time in life that he's grateful for his small size, because it only takes a few moments of determined squirming for him to get himself out of his leafy prison. Once he does, he dusts himself off as best as he can and holds his hand out for the grocery bag.]

Alright, now that we're done with all of that shit...

Hey, I was trying to offer to.

[But that's right, like a big dummy you rushed forward! You deserved to make an ass of yourself. Just not hit yourself in the head. Which she's still a little worried about, but she won't fuss over it. Maybe after they're sitting down, but he's not passing out or anything so he's probably okay.

She hands the bag back to him, brushing herself off a little as well and reaching up to pick a couple leaves out of her hair. Dammit, now it's all messed up...with a sigh, she works on fixing that and turns in their new direction. It's a heavily dense area of forest here, so she really wasn't kidding about rough terrain.]

It's just straight through here. You follow the trees with the biggest roots sticking out. Be careful, I've tripped a lot going through here tryin' to be quick about it. Pretty easy to scrape your knees and scuff up nice pants and shoes that way.

[There...her hair is a little better. Better enough that she can start leading the way. She doesn't try and take his hand or his arm this time at all, the reason obvious once she starts placing it against trunks to help her navigate. It's something she's pretty skilled at now, having visited this place so many times before. But she's slow, so he can keep up in case he has troubles with it.]

At least this part is short! You'll probably see the clearin' pretty quick from here.

[Sorry Fuyuhiko. This is definitely one of those times where "the journey is just as great as the destination" is supposed to apply. Surely...surely it'll be worth it.]

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(gonna be gone most of the day today, just as a heads up!)