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[hatician]

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[cloths]

I don't really care about fancy tea. [ meaning: if he likes this brand, then this is fine. her brother had often criticized gin's easy-going acceptance in these sort of situations. he'd remind her she's a captain now, and gin knows but— that seems a very unimportant thing when kisuke's name has finally been cleared. ]

Have you thought about what you're going to do now? I don't think you can get back your captain spot unless we find ourselves a captain short there...

[cloths]

[ privately, gin can't help but think that is a very well-deserved kick. she bites her lower lip, hiding a smile. ]

He's fine. [ gin can't help but find a certain level of kinship with naoyuki's companion now that they have established that someone needs to keep an eye on him. permanently.

her tone is deadpan, with just the slightest tinge of sarcasm infused to make her stance more than clear. ] Now what he needs is a proper bed and not some ratty nest in a warehouse.

I am sure anything urgent can take care of itself until he's had at least sleep and proper food. [ gin looks at oono: he's your problem now. ]

[peninhand]

The precipice of defeat?

[ Clearly he is right as far as the mathematical aspect of this is concerned. His devious smile confirms it. But she can absolutely turn this around. Maths aren't the point here, are they? She's told him before, she doesn't like to think of it as an equation.

And if this battle cannot be won, then she shall not fight it. Instead, she will claim victory and dare him to call her bluff. ]

I've already won and you know it. [She leans forward as he guides her chin up.] And honestly, it's a victory for you too.

[ Three dates? Pah. They haven't even begun their first date and here they are, arguing like lovers would. If he disagrees with her conclusion, he's free to say so. But... ]

That means you get a devoted and loyal girlfriend~! [A pause.] One who is more than happy to try any fancy you have-- Even the weird and twisted ones.

[ Now now, of course she's totally not as confident as she pretends to be. Just the idea of sex is still pretty scary, so beyond that... But that doesn't mean she doesn't want it. And she most certainly doesn't mind trying whatever he wants! And that's what matters. That he knows she's open-minded. ]

But more importantly-- One who treats love very seriously.

[ She closes an eye and smiles triumphantly at him. He could shut her off with but a word. But she doesn't believe he will. She doesn't want to believe it. That's a bluff, perhaps. But one she intends to win with. ]

[hatician]

[A little gasp escaped him as he sat up. Though Ururu's blow looked deadly to any outsider, she made an effort to purposefully strike him where he wasn't injured and to have him land far beyond any broken glass. He might have slammed through another wall but it was still a careful enough landing him where he wouldn't truly be hurt too much more than before.

Oono didn't know that much. She simply gawked at Gin. Ururu, coming back beside her, pinched Gin's robes and tugged them unconsciously, clearly looking for her opportunity to talk with her again. Naoyuki choked out a sigh once more as Oono hurriedly jumped through the window to look for him.]

S-S-Soul reapers are all crazy, aren't they!?

[Despite wearing her own shihakusho, of course, she was only a substitute soul reaper. Once Oono found Naoyuki, she resumed her fussing just as Ururu spared Gin a worrying look.]

Do you want me to treat you properly, Gin-chan? [Of course, she never lost that bad habit Kisuke had taught her. She understood, well enough, that Gin hadn't truly distanced herself from Kisuke throughout the years--even after he passed. It pained her, seeing the conflict that had stricken her earlier.] They may be noble soul reapers but their swords carry curses. He taught me how to purge vile things.

[hatician]

Hm. [To say he sounded pleased would be an understatement. For better or worse, her confidence was important to him. Even if they parted, if she could hold onto that feeling then he might have found himself a better influence than he'd ever been elsewhere. Still, it would be calling for defeat to think too far in that direction, so he cut the thought short and followed her track to the letter.]

Now, I can't have you trying too hard to please me so soon.

[Though he wouldn't point out where he thought her limits were when it came to intimacy, he'd certainly put the slightest buffer to it when they were strolling out on the sidewalk. Certainly, one could construe it as embarrassment on his part but moreover, he just didn't want to fry her nerves by going along even if it was absolutely tempting.

There was, of course, that momentary glimmer in his eye that she was sure to spot--the hint that he wanted to corner her with that trail she'd left for him and make her question the time and place to bluff with him. Instead of biting, his smile softened for her and he let her free of his touch for a little while longer.

A part of him settled at the moment. That was it, he supposed. Beyond her confident declaration of victory and the smile she wielded as a sword and shield in equal parts, he realized there wasn't even a competition to have anymore. Still, there was no joy in resting on one's laurels. Seeing her best efforts would surely be enough to make him quell his regret with something finer.]

So, rather than thinking so far ahead, why don't you tell me what you'd like to have for dinner? Since you're keen on your victory, I'd imagine you've considered your victory feast? It wouldn't hurt to get it prepared.

[cloths]

[ satisfied in letting oono fuss over naoyuki, and that he is, in fact, just fine makes gin turn her attention to ururu. her shoulders sag a little, the weight of the injury beginning to sink in despite the first aid administered before. it would most likely scar, a rare thing for gin who is quick on her feet and has always been skilled enough to avoid blows that would scar. she's been injured plenty but always more superficial than not. ]

If you do not mind, please, Ururu-chan. [ there are the beginnings of a smile there. gin keeps her voice down, between them because, well, there are things she wants to ask. ] You've been looking after him all this time?

[ not upset about being kept out of the loop. if anything, it had probably been for the best. ]

[peninhand]

[ Monika has to contain herself very hard because right there and now, she feels like exploding from joy. She's done it, hasn't she? They're officially a couple! She's managed to fight back every of his attempts at putting himself down or painting himself in the worst possible way.

Of course, that was the natural conclusion. The power of love reigned supreme, after all! Though much as she loved saying cheesy things like that, deep down she knew there was no such thing as a "power of love." Love on its own couldn't have made this dream into a reality without a lot of determination and persistence.

She leaned against his shoulder, beaming at him. ]

Something vegetarian, of course. [Not that she'll force him to eat vegetarian (she'll just gently try to nudge him in that direction), but she's very strict with her diet. Most of the time. Hopefully he's never caught her eating junk food on evenings when she was feeling morose.] How about spaghetti? Only one big dish for the two of us.

[ Now that might sound unusual... But it's leading in the exact direction one might expect from Monika. ]

The spaghetti scene in Lady and The Tramp is something I've always dreamed of reenacting.

[ It was about as cute as things could get! ]

[hatician]

Only a year.

[Mindful of Gin and her station, Ururu didn't look to pry at how she'd been handling herself in the past few decades. It wasn't as if they'd never seen one another since then but, without Kisuke, she'd become much more independent. She hadn't assumed Gin would recognize her or treat her quite the same. Even so, she seemed a bit happy to conjure her best, most appropriate kido to treat her. The grid-like web of tendrils she conjured from her fingertips found Gin's partially-repaired wounds and began stitching them in tightly, painlessly, much the way her father had taught her.]

He sprung up out of nowhere, as you might expect. I haven't been able to figure out where from and he'll lie about his parents.

Even so. [It took a startlingly short amount of time. Eight Division soul reapers had started arriving to clean up the scene, a number carrying seal warrants to see if Gin was willing to approve memory erasure for any bystanders. Ururu, her voice still soft as it always would be, offered Gin an apologetic smile that fit her all too well with time.]

You can tell. It's him.

[hatician]

[For all the diversity in Monika's efforts to catch up on every experience and taste when it came to food, Kisuke had begun to realize that telling her what his favorite food was almost seemed like a tragic waste of centuries of experience. Umeboshi onigiri--for all the comfort it gave him on a rough day, it was just adjacent to natto when it came to being basic and old-fashioned, wasn't it?

Perhaps he was overthinking dinner, as he did with everything else. The crease of his smile seemed to relax somewhat with Monika's growing confidence, feeling each little bump of her shoulder against his and the way she made every effort to be in his space, right up to the point that he took her wrist in his hand with a gentle hint of possessiveness as if to allow her that chance to gloat, to herself or however, she preferred. While he wished he should share her genuine enthusiasm for anything in the world, there were simply too many things hanging on him to let him bask in what was otherwise a moment of pure fondness and admiration for her.]

It's very cute, certainly, and I haven't had Italian in a while. After the Udon festival, you kind of rethink carbs, right? [Not to mention a logistical nightmare. Dissecting something meant to be light-hearted and cute was simply par for course when it came to Kisuke as he imagined he'd have to devise an attracting element to the one noodle of spaghetti they'd want to use. Would it be better to use some sort of compound to bind each noodle with its own reactive frequency so that the second person to pick up their fork would--]

Still... How accurate would you like it to be?

[peninhand]

[ She's not going to gloat, who does he take her for? Well, maybe a little bit... But discreetly! She won't expose their pure(?) and innocent(??) love for the world to see until she knows he's okay with her screaming at everyone he's now her boyfriend.

... In time, in time. ]

Super accurate, of course~!

[ That includes the spaghetti kiss, yes yes.

In fact that's the only reason she wants to do it. The music would be nice, but so long as she gets her kiss she'll be happy. Sure, maybe it's a bit early in their relationship for a kiss... It's not very serious to kiss that early, is it? And if she was to be like the typical love interests in video games, she should be blushing and stuttering like crazy at the mere idea of kissing so soon...

... To heck with that! She'll blush, yes, but she'll have her kisses! ]

[cloths]

[ gin frowns. none of this bodes well, especially because it's kisuke and his secrecy has reasons but also— ] Oh, that feels a bit weird [ she doesn't pull away and instead forces herself to relax. it doesn't hurt and the ease with which her wound is mending speaks of care and practice; of someone who took lessons bestowed on them to heart. gin doesn't smile but the tense lines of her body ease up. ]

I don't think it's smart to leave him unsupervised. [ she knows ururu will keep an eye on him but gin? gin can't so easily sneak back and forth due to her station. and in truth, would she even trust anyone else to do this? ] If you say it is him then ... I don't have a reason to doubt him but—[ it is maybe herself that wishes he wouldn't be kisuke. ]—what is he planning to do?

[ but gin knows that to answer that question she's going to need to keep visiting naoyuki and see.

she's not sure how to feel about that. ]

[hatician]

Ahh. Settling for little else, then?

[While Monika preferred to bask in the moment of victory she deserved, Kisuke took it as an opportunity to let the creative juices flow. Of course, the shochu he was going to pick up would grease the wheels along somewhat but in the interest of giving Monika at least one incredibly gratifying experience turning fiction into reality, he knew he'd have to buckle down and crunch numbers.

In the meanwhile, he spared her a warm little smile and interrupted that thought of hers with a damning question.]

Before that, though, do you have any other ambitious scenes in mind? While I enjoy letting you keep your cards close to your chest... [As he couldn't help but admire her sharper nature and the playful acting she indulged herself in so often.

Except in the moment, of course. The sappy smile cutting into her cheeks couldn't have been more obvious.] I like being prepared! Well. Reasonably so.

[hatician]

It's... difficult.

[Ururu had rarely put herself forward as someone terribly confident even around Gin but it wasn't as if she were ever unreliable even in her youth.]

D-Did you see how far she kicked me...?

It's only a fracture! J-J-J-Just keep still, Sato-san!

[In turn, Ururu made no comment on that and simply narrowed her eyes to a fine point, focusing on knitting the last bits of skin and flesh together so that only one was clean and visible. She even ran the spell over Gin's scar, working through her tissue to bridge it together so finely it would only be visible as a sheepish, thin line on her skin.]

Shy of interrogating him, I don't know. He's using Kisuke's custom kido, his zanpakuto and he even prepares his tea the same way but... It's clear he doesn't know why he's doing it. If you bring up certain names or concepts, he's clueless. The only one he recognized had been yours.

[peninhand]

[ Any other scenes? Oh goodness. That was a big question, wasn't it? ]

Any other? Well, um... [She laughs awkwardly.] If I start listing them, we'll be there till tomorrow morning you know.

[ She is absolutely serious. Not all of them are scenes from fictions, most are just things she's imagined and hope to experience someday. Her time inside the game had felt like an eternity, and while she'd been all alone in that digital nightmare, such dreams had been the only thing keeping her going.

Regardless, she lets go of him and cants her head to the side to look at him. ]

But in this specific case... [Her face is redder than red now, isn't it? Gosh, she hates it so much! She's going to turn out being just like the one-dimensional girl she despises in dating sims at this rate, hmpg!] Do you think it's too early for a first kiss?

[ That is how the scene ends, after all. ]

[hatician]

Ahh, I see. I'll keep it in mind for later, then.

[For a little while, she seemed to settle happily on that thought but there was a moment's turn and he stilled somewhat at the realization that it was a bit more determined than usual.

So, whether or not she put on a good act to keep it bottled up during the day--the moment she had him alone, so to speak, it was all coming bubbling up. It was still better than her being cooped up in a database or hanging on the back end of a server but he couldn't help but feel it was something he could have worked on.

Everyone was lonely, one way or another, but hardly anyone could truly say they were stuck on an island in the middle of nowhere.]

Oh? Well, there's a problem in that. Those movies always seem to make it look flawless--not one blemish to the thing you want to see most.

...It takes a bit more practice than that.

[It might have been mean to try to disarm her that way and lay on the expectation that he'd turn her down but he was ever the 'sink or swim' type. The crease of his canvas bag followed as he tucked it under his arm, finding Monika's hip with his hand so he could draw her in close and kiss her. 'Practice' was one word to use but he wasn't taking it too easy on it--subjecting her to that feeling of being closed in on by someone with strength in their hands and the scratch of stubble touching her cheek.

It was his best effort to use a bit of his meaner side to stun her.]

[peninhand]

[ Aah...

She wasn't sure what she had expected. But that most certainly had not been this. So far, she had really been in control. She had thought about this date so much and prepared herself so well to make sure he wouldn't let his misconception on "what's right" for her get in the way of their feelings. And it had gone beyond even her wildest expectations.

But now? She had lost control over everything. In spite of her posturing as more mature and knowledgeable than she was, it was now revealed that at the end of the day... She knew nothing. Only what she'd read, what she'd imagined and dreamed of. She had zero experience. ]

I-I... [She looked at him with confusion before looking to the side.] Ahaha... I'm really just all talk, huh?

[ And yet... While her old self would have probably found this scary? She found it oh-so enticing. Oh-so intoxicating and wonderful? For him to hold her like that, with strength and passion, to pull her so close and push his lips against her... ]

What does it say about me... That I wish we would keep practicing?

[hatician]

[He wasn't unaffected. Even with a wealth of experience, for better or worse, there was still something different about closing that particular gap with someone he'd grown familiar with and fond of. Monika had been different in incalculable degrees but in every way that was lovely, she was very familiar. She paid him so much focus that she'd grown used to his littlest affectations and become accustomed to navigating them but there were still a number of cues he hadn't shown her, not because he didn't want to, but because there was ever that 'time and place' to consider.

As much as he liked to pretend to be overly flirtatious, it was patently untrue that he genuinely was. With every intent to appreciate the doe-like expression left behind he parted from her and allowed her that time to process the warmth in his eyes and, though fading with distance, on his lips. Even if it was the most disappointing kiss, he knew it was unforgettable--at least for the moment. The right attitude would be to erase and replace it with something even more unforgettable but... they were out on a public sidewalk. They could revisit that torture later.]

I'd say... one kiss is fine when you're out shopping. Two or more kisses and it'll get dangerous~. Now--come on and let's keep going so I can drag you along while you're all dreamy-eyed.

[peninhand]

[ Sniff. Crushing her dreams like that. What a truly cruel man! ]

Awww, alright.

[ She leaned against his side and resumed their walk, though she was in a positively brighter and more dreamy mood than she had been mere moments ago. ]

You know, I don't mind if everyone knows I'm your girlfriend. [She put a finger against her lips.] In fact, I think I would rather like it.

[ Though besides holding hands, there aren't many ways to make that public knowledge... Well, rings serve that purpose but that's just too early for that! And they're really discreet things. Surely there are better things to do that... ]

[hatician]

My, my, you're becoming rather brazen, aren't you?

[Chiding her gently and, really, without any intent to make her stop, Kisuke turned his wrist just so slightly so he could meaningfully run his thumb over the inside of her palm while they were on their stroll.]

I'm of the same opinion, Monika, but there's something to be said about subtlety, isn't there?

[So, while she had her moment to think about the sweeter forms of declaring that transition between them, he was more than eager to distract with teasing that could stay well-hidden enough.]

[peninhand]

[ Subtly... She was plenty subtle usually! But maybe the sheer euphoria of the moment was getting to her. Could you get drunk on love? It certainly felt like it. She smiled brightly as he spoke, closing her hand more tightly as she felt his thumb running against her palm. ]

Mhm, that's true.

[ She struggled real hard not to lean against him. Honestly... The entire time he'd spoken of himself as if he would be a bad influence on her. But it really felt like she was the one being a bad influence here! ]

You know, you made it sound like you'd be an unrestrained monster or whatnot... [She leaned to the side a bit.] But looks like I'm the one who needs to show restrain here, ahaha!

[hatician]

So you think.

[He could hardly chide her over her attempts. Despite her desperate situation, Monika had never once tried to corner him in a way he wouldn't be able to come back from--finding it exceedingly charming that she would be so considerate with him.

Despite all rationale, he found it endearing when she seemed to hold back and wonder if she was pressing too much. If only she'd ignore that instinct once in a while?

Squeezing her hand gently, he let just about wrote it down for her to remember.]

As fun as restraints can be, you realize that it's unhealthy to hold yourself back as often as you do, right?

[cloths]

[ none of what ururu is saying is helping this puzzle. gin is glad for the information but she knows that kisuke's intellect is-was unmatched, and whatever is at work here she might not be able to see anything until it is too late.

naoyuki shouldn't have to suffer or die, if he's kisuke or whatever and however he's linked to the shinigami—gin glances towards the side watching the two young adults fussing on the side.

yet, he recognised her name--it makes gin want to shrink away and reach out at the same time. if she hopes will she get hurt again, if she hopes too much-- ]

Ururu-chan, will you keep an eye on him for now?

[hatician]

[Ururu frowned deeply, recognizing Gin's distant expression for what it was. No matter how she'd once been, what she shared with her father had been a strikingly keen eye.

You've already made up your mind.

She'd agonize over it but Gin was unerringly faithful. She and Kisuke shared that misery--the stubbornness and tenacity to persevere where everyone else would advise them to live more freely. As much as she loved him, she couldn't help but wonder if they would have lived more peacefully without their obsessions.]

I will. So, Gin-san... How much of this are you willing to keep in your report?

[There might have been a time that she was softer spoken but Ururu left Gin without an opening. If she was going to imply there was a need to protect Kisuke--the next thing to follow would be controlling what information left with her. For only a moment, Ururu's eyes were even sharper than her father's.]

[cloths]

As much as is needed to protect him. [ meaning: as little as possible, painting over details with broad strokes. gin could shoulder the weight of what happened here, she would take responsibility for the lives she took, and she would handle it. not just because kisuke is important to her but because this is also part of her duty. ] Soul Society is best left in the dark for now, I'll speak with the captain commander personally to ensure things are kept private.

[ and of course, her own squad she trusted to have her back no matter what her report said. ]

But...I will be back because-- [ she's sentimental. because she's still in love. because she wants to protect him. ]

[hatician]

[Ururu could see it clearly.

It was a blessing, then, that Naoyuki was lying on his back and staring up at the ceiling of a mangled shop rather than at Gin.]

Good.

[Ururu, lowering her head, bowed one more time.]

You'll want to leave before he sees you making that face.