The Man who walks the Path of Heaven

[path_of_heaven]

[There's a delicious aroma wafting from a large building. The smell is overpowering in the area and it's the taste of delicious food.

Inside, the smell gets stronger as it leads you to a large kitchen. It sounds and smells like a dozen chefs are hard at work, preparing a banquet, but in reality, there is only one man.]

Comments

[2000_skills]

Oh! Hey Tendou-san! You're back!

[path_of_heaven]

Yusuke.

[He continues going about his cooking.]

It's true, I've been a while. Sometimes things need to be done.

[2000_skills]

Things need to be done? Like what?

[Yusuke pulls up a chair at the table and sits to watch Tendou]

[path_of_heaven]

I don't make it a habit to bring up subjects covered to completion.

[2000_skills]

...What?

[path_of_heaven]

"What's done is done."

[2000_skills]

True, but that doesn't mean you can't let people know what's been done. Accepting the past doesn't negate the chance at a story.

[path_of_heaven]

Another time, perhaps.

I wouldn't want to get distracted and burn the salmon.

[2000_skills]

Oh! Yeah probably a good idea.

That'd be a shame. It's really something you have to focus on.

[path_of_heaven]

I can do this blindfolded.

I simply prefer not to.

[2000_skills]

Ooh! Impressive.

[path_of_heaven]

It's simply something I can do.

[2000_skills]

But it's not something everyone can.
It's good to be humble, but that doesn't mean people still won't be impressed.

[Humble...Yusuke has some very odd definitions.]

[riderpedia]

[Guess who looks like he's actually be making an effort to take care of himself while you've been off doing lord knows what? It's your roommate/best friend whether you like it or not. And he's carrying a bag and looking a little proud of himself.]

...I figured that had to be you.

[path_of_heaven]

Of course.

Who else could it be but I?

[riderpedia]

You were gone for a while... I was starting to get worried.

[He looks down at the bag, then holds it out to Tendou.] This is also pretty late now but... Happy Mother's Day, I guess?

[path_of_heaven]

... what?

[Tendou takes the bag and opens it.]

[riderpedia]

[There's just a book in the bag. A nice, thick, leatherbound book. There are no words on the cover or spine. Philip just continues looking proud of himself.]

[path_of_heaven]

...

[Tendou opens the book and starts flipping through it.]

... ... ... What.

[riderpedia]

I wrote about your life.

I'm not good at a lot, but I can do research really well. So this seemed like the most appropriate thing to do...

[Philip clearly has a loose definition of 'appropriate'.]

[path_of_heaven]

I'm not sure appropriate is the word... ...

[Tendou starts reading... ... and keeps reading... and actually starts seeming pretty into this.]

This is the most important book I've ever held in my hands.

Thank you.

[riderpedia]

You're welcome.

[Philip seems very pleaased at how well this went over. He's never done anything like this before.]

It was very interesting to research... You've had a very interesting life.

[path_of_heaven]

My life was written like a book before it even began. A plot was set and I carried it to its climax.

... then I did some rewrites.

[riderpedia]

I like books.

And the editing process is very important.

[path_of_heaven]

Very.

Thank you.

[Tendou closes it and puts it on a nearby shelf while he goes back to cooking.]

Anything you'd like for tonight?

[riderpedia]

[Philip just smiles and sits at the table.]

It's to thank you for taking care of me... I guess it's too late to be a Mother's Day gift, but I still wanted you to have it.

Anything is fine. You've already started, so whatever you're making is good.