Taiga bowed, deeply and respectfully. "Thank you, husband; I'm sure I will find this place most agreeable." The platitudes rolled off his tongue and filled the air. The knot was undone and the obi unwrapped, Crow quite delicate with it, well-trained.<br/><br/>Taiga slid the opened kimono off his shoulders, showing the lean and shockingly lovely body beneath. Taiga was crafted of smooth tan skin over elegant muscles, six handsome ripples of muscle in his stomach. His long lashes showed against his cheeks as he lowered his eyes.<br/><br/>It was the first time he would be nude before his husband, and he drew in a gentle breath, letting the kimono pool in beautiful silk around his hips instead of taking it off as he should, while Crow began unknotting the much less decorative obi of Kado's wedding yukata, a bold black garment with elegant impressions of waves embroidered in silver thread into the back.<br/><br/>In truth, after being undressed, custom dictated that Kado and Taiga should consummate their marriage. This fact drew subtle nerves from Taiga, but it was Crow's energy that felt unusually heavy. Though dutiful and careful in how he unwound the obi and disrobed Kado, Crow had an edge to his lips that Taiga saw, looking up in the mirror.<br/><br/>He had a flash of recognition and humor.<i>This servant is not a good liar,</i>he thought.<br/><br/>"Tell me, Crow. Where do you come from?"<br/><br/>A stricken look crossed Crow's face and he lowered his head to hide his shame. "The docks, sir," he said.<br/><br/>Taiga glanced at him assessingly. There was no mystery. Only the very poorest lived among the fishmongers.<br/><br/>"One can find one's own grace in any land or post, with an even head and a will to live well," Taiga said, quoting a noted scholar of the classics. The sentiment was simple: means or locale mattered far less than living rightly and honorably in oneself. It was delivered gently, and Crow relaxed a little, offering a small bow as he undid Kado's kimono too. He removed the silk obi and stored it elegantly, as elegantly as he'd put away the decorations from Taiga's hair.