Log; Complete

[notawoman.livejournal.com]

When; The evening of the 21st, shortly following this discussion.
Rating; G
Characters; Namikaze Minato [flash_minato] and Diao Chan [notawoman]
Summary; The pair meet for tea, and cursed, Diao Chan feels compelled to share a little secret of hers.
Log;

Diao Chan was feeling unsettled, to say the least. It was proving surprisingly hard work not to simply blurt out the mysteries she harboured today, and that bothered her greatly. Why she felt so compelled to let anyone know would have been beyond her, were it not for the incredible range of curses affecting people on the network. Stubborn though she was, she could feel her resistance slipping away like sand through parted fingers, and only the knowledge that she would be freeing the words that burned in her chest soon gave her the willpower to tear herself from her computer.

If the City was going to force her to speak, then she was going to choose who heard. At least Minato seemed the trustworthy type; if he swore to keep it private between them both, then it would probably stay that way.

'Huo Ge, what would you think of this?' she wondered, as she locked the door to her apartment and journeyed to Minato's.

Only a matter of minutes had passed before she came to a stop at the blond man's door, and she took a deep breath to compose herself,then rapped her knuckles against the hard surface. It wouldn't do to simply spill her secrets before she had even crossed the threshold, after all.

Comments

[flash-minato.livejournal.com]

Minato had shooed Sasuke off to drag Kakashi out of bed, which would probably take a while. The tea was already warm when he heard Diao Chan's knock, and he smiled as he went to answer the door.

"Diao-san, please come in. I hope nothing happened on your way here," he said politely, opening the door wider and nodding his head in greeting.

[notawoman.livejournal.com]

"Thank you for humouring me, Namikaze Daren," she said with a half-wry smile, as she entered. "You are too kind."

Her eyes discretely scanned the room, to be sure that they were alone, and she folded her hands in front of her waist. "I really should not be so eager, but I cannot deny that I am."

[flash-minato.livejournal.com]

"It is understandable. Perhaps talking to someone will help you keep silent for the rest of the day, hm?" Minato said, smiling and walking into the kitchen, where he poured them both a cup of warm green tea. "I don't think anyone will be bothering us, so please, feel free to speak your mind."

[notawoman.livejournal.com]

Diao Chan followed, her smile not losing its brilliance despite the hint of rebellion she showed towards the City. "I sincerely hope so!"

Though she had been given the opportunity, she did not say the words she ached to just yet; instead she picked up her cup and took a dainty sip, then turned her body fully towards Minato. Her expression softened, but also became more serious as she said, "You may find this surprising, Namikaze Daren. You swear that my secret is safe in your hands?"

[flash-minato.livejournal.com]

"Your secret is safe with me. I swear," Minato said, smiling and taking a small sip from his tea as well.

1/2

[notawoman.livejournal.com]

At affirmation of it, Diao Chan smiled for a moment, then she placed down her cup and stepped closer to Minato, her large eyes gazing at him intensely, and beseechingly, as her full lips parted. "I have my reasons for what I have done," she said, and for a moment her breath was lost as the burning words she held came to the tip of her tongue...

[notawoman.livejournal.com]

...and there was the slightest of shifts in bearing, like clothes being shed, or a veil lost to the wind, as those few, simple words were finally freed.

"I am not a woman."

[flash-minato.livejournal.com]

"You... Aren't... A woman?" Minato said, gaping slightly in disbelief. It... Couldn't possibly be true, could it? If it was, then Diao Chan had completely fooled Minato. It wasn't something that was very easy to do. He was capable of sensing deception fairly well. After a long moment, Minato chuckled and grinned. "Well, you are wonderful at masquerading as one, if that is true. I hadn't even suspected a thing."

[notawoman.livejournal.com]

Minato was given a moment's space, and a hint of a smile touched Xiao Meng's face. "That is because there is more still to my secret. I am an eunuch," he replied.

That one fact made all the difference; his face, his voice, his figure... all were untouched by puberty, by testostorone, by anything that would hint he was truly male. "But I am no less a man," he added, and the sudden conviction burning in his eyes belayed that the issue was a deep one.

[flash-minato.livejournal.com]

"A man is made by the strength of his convictions, not by how he is built," Minato said, chuckling and grinning at Xiao Meng. "I would know that better than anyone. Some of the strongest warriors I've ever met have been children, but I don't respect them any less for that."

[notawoman.livejournal.com]

Xiao Meng looked to Minato in awe for a few seconds, before he smiled fully, and relaxed. "Then you are a very rare man, Namikaze Daren."

He turned to retrieve his tea again, and held it in his hands. "Eunuchs are not thought of kindly. With my looks, people are especially inclined to think of me as a woman, even without this effort."

He took a sip, then tilted his head curiously. "You don't mind that I have decieved you? I will continue, Namikaze Daren. It is easier to live this way here," he emphasised the point by placing a hand upon his chest. "I hope you understand my choice."

[flash-minato.livejournal.com]

"I don't mind. I just hope that when it is just us, you can feel comfortable being yourself. I will be sure to continue to treat you as I have been in front of others, however," Minato said, smiling and taking another sip of his tea. "So, is Diao your true name, or just an assumed name?"

[notawoman.livejournal.com]

Xiao Meng nodded. "I am not ashamed of who I am. I will honestly be glad for the chance! Thank you, Namikaze Daren."

At the question, his smile took on a playful tinge. "I think you already know the answer! Diao Chan is the adopted daughter of a lord. At her core is Xiao Meng, nanny to a fair few little brats of a wealthy and influential clan."

He raised both his eyebrows ever-so-slightly. "How you refer to me is your choice. I will still know whom you address."

[flash-minato.livejournal.com]

"When it's just us, I think Xiao-san will do," Minato said, grinning at Xiao Meng. "A nanny? Strange occupation for a man, but it is a difficult one. I remember when I was still a Jounin sensei. Half the time, I felt like a babysitter. Course, those brats always were cute. Makes me feel old. Kakashi was actually one of my students."

[notawoman.livejournal.com]

"He was? That is a surprise!" Xiao Meng exclaimed, before he lowered his eyes as he smiled fondly. "Brats wouldn't be half the trouble they are if they were not cute, would they?"

He lifted his chin and rested one hand upon his hip, shaking his head softly at a memory. "No matter how many times I tell them, the four I watch will not stop calling me sister! But I am very fond of the household I serve back home."

[flash-minato.livejournal.com]

"Kakashi still insists on using sensei or sama around me, even though he isn't my student anymore. He was a cute brat, but he was troublesome too. Course, he had a pretty difficult childhood. Obito was the one who finally reached him... Kakashi was... Truly a completely different person as a child," Minato said wistfully, a sad smile touching his lips at the thought of his former student.

[notawoman.livejournal.com]

Xiao Meng watched the emotion play on Minato's face thoughtfully, as he sipped his tea. "It must be strange, seeing a child you've invested so much care for become an adult and walk their own path," he quirked his lips, and added, "It's lovely that he still thinks of you highly, even now."

[flash-minato.livejournal.com]

"It is strange. I am flattered that he thinks so highly of me... But now, we are equals. I would prefer that he treated me like one more often. But I suppose because he grew up treating me with such respect, it's not going to be easy to start treating me as an equal," Minato said lightly, chuckling and taking another sip of his own tea. "So, what about your adorable brats? What were they like?"

[notawoman.livejournal.com]

"They're still very young, and since they're all boys, they love to be outspoken and play fight when they should be inside with their tutors! They are especially fond of pouncing upon their unsuspecting elder brother. It was not so long ago that they game him a black eye in one of their play skirmishes."

Xiao Meng finished the last of his tea, then carefully placed the empty cup aside, speaking as he moved. "But I have been a guest of the Imperial City in recent months. I was just beginning my journey home when I was brought into the City."

[flash-minato.livejournal.com]

"Boys will be boys, I suppose," Minato remarked, reminded of the times when Kakashi and Obito would get into their small fights and he'd have to break them up. Again, there was a pang of guilt as he thought of Obito, as there always was when reminded of the Uchiha. "What a terrible time to have arrived. I would hate to be taken on my way home..."

[notawoman.livejournal.com]

"It was far worse than that!" Xiao Meng replied as he turned back to face Minato, with a wryly amused smile.

"My limbs were paralysed at the time. I must have drifted off against my brother's chest as we were riding to meet our caravan. One moment I was safe in his presence, the next I found myself on the cold floor beside the fountain, unable to do anything about it!"

[flash-minato.livejournal.com]

"I can only imagine what you must have gone through when you first arrived, Xiao-san. I could not imagine being unable to defend myself," Minato said softly, his smile equally wry. "But, I suppose you needn't worry about that now."

[notawoman.livejournal.com]

"I was not entirely defenceless, Namikaze Daren. Fortunately there was a kind, young man happy to carry me to the hospital." He touched both of his hands to his chest to suggest that it was in this guise he had been found. "Circumstance chose my approach for me. Fate has been fond of surprising me in rather unexpected ways."

[flash-minato.livejournal.com]

"Fate can be interesting that way. She is a fickle mistress," Minato said, grinning at Xiao Meng and finishing off his tea. "Of course, a true warrior can always find a means to defend themselves. Even if it is only with words."

[notawoman.livejournal.com]

Xiao Meng laughed softly at that. "Appearances certainly have a power of their own."

He then smiled warmly, and said with straightforward honesty, "Who would have thought that such an invasive curse would bring about any good? I've enjoyed speaking to you without any reserves, Namikaze Daren. I hope this won't be the last time it happens."

[flash-minato.livejournal.com]

"I've enjoyed speaking with you as well, Xiao-san. I do hope we can do this again sometime soon," Minato said, smiling and getting up from his chair.

[notawoman.livejournal.com]

And with that the veil returned, slipping on so seamlessly that it could be considered a natural shift.

Diao Chan gave an enchanting smile, before she spoke. "Farewell, Namikaze Daren. Have a pleasant evening."