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[ Susato shivers beneath his touch, as if only just now noticing the temperature drop. Is she seeing her breath, or is she just imagining it? Either way, they stay like this. She is determined to allow him all the time he needs.

She isn't usually one with the warm, radiant heat around her, but just for today, when he needs it the most... maybe she is.

She still needs to say something. ] Relax. I'm here.

[She's here. His grip may have tighten as he clings to her flesh. Skin? They were going to enjoy a bath, weren't they? His breathing steadies, his eyes, slowing opening. He was expecting to still see a sea of red, but there was just water. Susato before him, giving him a warm embrace. The rest of his senses eventually come back to reality, and he rest his head on her shoulder.

The temperature gradually returns to normal. Fang is still calling from outside, though not as intense as before. What a mess.]

[ She may have repeated the words a few times, waiting desperately for some sign that he was OK. I'm here. Relax. You're OK. He's OK. She glances up at the ceiling, focusing for a moment on Fang's cries, as if wanting to channel the feelings to her as well, so that she knows. It's not until the temperature starts to rise again, and she feels his head on her shoulder, that she starts to relax herself.

Tension starts to flow out of her body with the water. Susato still refuses to move. The constant stream of water starts to feel heavy against her skin, weighing her down until she plops next to him with some effort, hand slipping from his shoulder to his upper arm.

Feels like she's been holding her breath for some minutes. Maybe she has.

Was this her fault? ]

[Her presence and constant reassurance that everything's fine is honestly appreciated, even if he isn't telling her. Mostly trying to work out what to do from here. His head moves to lean against the shower wall, a hand moving to rest against the back of Susato's head.]

Sorry. [He manages to get a word out. Quietly.] I'm all right. [There is no blood anywhere to be seen.]

[ Susato leans into his touch, and squeezes his arm as her way of acknowledging his apology. Words still choke her when she tries to speak them, caught in her throat. It is difficult to speak, but whatever the case, she doesn't seem to be in a hurry to leave. ]

I'm relieved. But... someday... [ She swallows. ] Someday, I fear you will have no choice but to talk about it. [ Somehow. One way or another. She still remembers one of the first conversations they ever had here, when she asked him about the nightmares. ] I want--

[ No. Not just 'want.' ]

I will be there, when that happens. [ Whether he likes it or not. ]

Edited 2022-06-18 23:22 (UTC)

...Yes. [She's not wrong, as much as he wants to tell her otherwise.] I know you will be. [Honestly, sooner or later, he'd talk about it, if it's Susato. Just...not yet. Not on the floor of the shower room for sure. His hands lower to grip hers.]

Let's...just get up from the floor. [Turn off the water so they aren't drenched. There are still sounds of chirping from Fang.] Let Fang see that I'm all right. [Naked, but all right.]

[ What do you mean, naked--

Some of Susato's composure starts to slip as she is turning red all over again. She's still recovering from all that, and at the same time, the mention of Fang saddles her with a slight guilt. She squeezes his hand in return, then moves to stand with somewhat stilted motions as the water threatens to send her back onto the floor.

It doesn't. (This time.) A small mercy. ]

O, Of course. I would have let her in sooner, but I just-- well, you--

No, I'm glad you came for me when you did. [Really, he just-

Ah. Her face is going red. And she is exposed to him. He is looking. What were they doing?]

...We simply should not keep her waiting, that's all. [He carefully scoots passed her, still holding onto her with one hand as he makes his way out. The floor is a bit slippery outside the shower room due to the water having leaked out. He can't spot any clean towels he can use in the vicinity to cover himself so- ]

[ He is looking. She is looking. What else did she expect?

At the very least, she'll try to keep her gaze high, because it's not like she hasn't seen his bare chest before. Then he pulls ahead of her, and she stares up at the back of his head as she clings to his hand.

Just... don't look too far down? Don't--

If he really wants a towel, she can have hers that she hung near the wooden tub. ]

I'll come with you. I should... [ I should apologize. But she trails off there, looking off to the side as if the empty bathtub is suddenly very interesting. It's probably cold by now, huh...? ]

[He glances behind to her.] ...I'm sure Fang would like to know you're okay as well.

[That's probably what she's thinking? Eitherway, he isn't waiting for her to finish as he opens the door for Fang to see them both. She coos relieved to see they were all right. Wet and without their clothes, but fine. As he gives her assuring headpats, he recalls Susato's attention was on the tub at one point.]

I'll warm the water back up, if...you were still interested, of course. [Cause there was a whole lot of awkward just now.]

Huh? [ Straightening her back, she turns her attention back to him. Even she isn't entirely sure what she'd been about to say, though after a moment, she is aware enough to figure it out.

Once Kazuma is done, it's her turn, and she doesn't hold back with the pets. ]

Of course she would. [ And then, despite how silly it feels, she goes for it. ] I am sorry we kept you waiting... my learned friend.

[ She glances back at the tub at its mention. She's probably still red in the face, but it occurs to her then that Kazuma isn't the only one between them that should be able to warm up the water. ]

We... um, we could both use the time to soak, if Fang would wait for us a little longer. [ Maybe she can fetch them more towels-- ]

[Fang purrs once she saw them both are alright and given pats. While she would like to stay, she understand well enough the humans have clearly not completed their cleaning routine(?).]

She'll be fine. Ah, actually. [He calls to her before she wanders off.] Can you get us some more towels? [She perks up at being given a task and off she goes.]

All right. [He's turning back to her. Where is he looking without offending her-] We can do that. [Should he just...put an arm around her? Maybe she won't feel so embarrassed?]

[ The way Fang perks up at her given task is adorable, and she will totally focus on that than wherever Kazuma may be looking. She doesn't linger after Fang leaves though, making a beeline for the tub, so if he places an arm around her, they will approach the tub together.

Don't think, Susato, just get in the damn water.

Susato dips a foot in-- ]

[ --and recoils slightly. Nothing compared to the chill she had felt in the shower room, but compared to what she had expected from before, it's enough to make her hesitate. ]

It got cold without you. [ She presses on regardless with nothing more than a slight wince, until she gradually sinks herself the surface. Her mouth dips just below the water line and she breathes out, making bubbles appear (again). ]

Ah. [Well, he was going to tell her to give him a moment, but she's already decided to go down into the water. And...making bubbles. He can't tell if she's doing that just because or she's upset about something. Whatever the case, he should stop dilly dallying and gets this bath warmed up again.

He'll step in and settle beside her. The water has indeed cool down a bit, but it'll soon start to warm up around him. He glances over to Susato for a moment--selectively looking in places he know he wouldn't get in trouble for. He's still having trouble just properly looking at her it seems. Last thing he wanted was to further stress her out.

After letting out a bit of air, he leans up against her. Quietly.] If I may...I can keep you warm for a bit. [His hand gently reaches to hold her arm, the other moving around her shoulders to pull her into a hug.]

[ If he still needed a moment, she would have happily obliged. As it is, she definitely does not find it strange when she feels the ripples in the water from his weight coming in after her. The bubbles, gentle as they were, suddenly stop (they were definitely "just because"), and there go any thoughts of her warming the bath herself, lost in the embrace. ]

Ah. [ Her voice raises several octaves in a squeak before she clears her throat. She's so tense, almost as if she is afraid someone is going to catch them any second, yet that's also what makes it... thrilling. ] Well... y, you... you no longer smell like wet dog?

[ No, no. Say something else, anything else. She shifts, turning to return the hug, which feels easier now that she's done it before, and he's not shaking so much this time. ]

I mean, thank you. I'm...

[ ............. ]

[Honestly, he hasn't fully recovered from the shower incident himself. It's a bit telling when he puts more weight against Susato, getting lull into the feeling he can finally relax. He hums amusingly in response to being told he doesn't smell like dog anymore.]

Just tell me if I'm going too far... [Because right now, he's really embracing the fact he's holding someone in his arms. And she's warm, soft, and smell of flowers. He's being careful how he holds her, where his hands wander, but...well, he'll get a signal if he gets a little too comfortable.]

. . .

[ Too far? The thought had crossed her mind, but that hadn't been what she was about to say. Maybe it felt fast more than anything, yet there are times like right now when she doesn't know what to do or say, when it feels like the world is moving in slow motion. Perhaps it's a bit telling on her end, too, that despite everything, she is still comfortable enough to be lulled into gentle sleepiness.

She closes her eyes and leans her weight against his chest, nuzzling his chin slightly as she settles into a comfortable spot. ] I was going to say I am glad that I was here.

[ In the back of mind she still wonders if it would have happened if she hadn't joined him in the first place. How many times had the same images haunted him when all he wanted was private time to himself, to cleanse? She blinks her eyes open again, though, arms still wrapped around him--thinking that might be a conversation for another day. ]

I'd nearly forgotten just how many scars you have. Is that terrible of me...?

...Me as well. [If it feels fast, he's not trying to move things so quickly. Hugging is one thing, but it's a new feeling being able to touch skin. His hands are massaging Susato's body, listening to her while doing so.]

Well, they don't hurt. [A hand slides up along her back, stopping to rub the back of her neck. There's no thought behind his movements, it all just felt like a natural thing to do.] I try not to think about it to be honest.

I know. [ Goosebumps. His hands feel rough and slightly calloused. She arches her back, air being sucked in through her teeth as his fingers travelled upwards. Her arms tightened around him and she swallows down every instinct she has to toss him on the spot.

...Then she seems to relax again, as she adjusts to the feeling of him massaging the back of her neck. She leans in closer to press her lips against his neck, lingering for a moment in a kiss. ]

I suppose it is inevitable for a samurai. But I still... [ She pauses to breathe him in. He smells like the same flowers she does. ] I still find myself wishing there was something I could do. [ Is it Rei's influence, even after all this time...? ]

Edited 2022-06-22 02:47 (UTC)

[He hums quietly as Susato reacts to what he was doing. He be lying to himself if he didn't find some kind of pleasure to her reaction and subtle movements. Something delicate, and yet truthful, letting her emotions tell him how she felt to his touch. In return, he leans up against her head when her lips pressed against his neck. Yes. He likes that attention very much.]

Is that what's troubling you...? [He sort of mumbles his words, partly distracted.] You're here, aren't you?

[ She can feel every hum and vibration in his throat when he responds. Yes. She likes that very much as well. It might've even tickled. She still doesn't know if any of this is right or proper. She could feel his head against her own, but she still can't help but pull back slightly because she wants to see his face. Just for a moment. Looking at him as if to say, 'I never thought about it that way.' ]

I'm here. [ Just below his neck where she had just been, she can see deep, diagonal claw marks which have since healed over. They were some of many, but seemed to stand out. She's quick to return to her position, but trails a little lower this time, tracing the marks with her lips in gentle pecks. ] But I am also on a mission...

[Does it matter if it's proper when it feels nice? Kazuma at least doesn't seem to care about it long as Susato is uncomfortable. His head leans forward slightly when she back hers for a moment.] Hm...?

[Her intentions made clear when she comes back and presses her lips against a certain spot. He lets out a sound, taking in some air as his senses are getting assaulted. In a good way? It's not an awful feeling, but he's hardly ever allowed anyone to touch him, let alone kiss him this way. He can probably guess what this "mission" is.] I see. [A bit of a chuckle escapes him. A hand runs up and through her hair, giving her a little head massage. He isn't pushing her away, rather almost guiding her to continue.]

[ Damn. He may have been guiding her to continue, but hopefully he is not too disappointed if she doesn't. Her eyes closed again at some point and she just rests there for now, the side of her face pressed against his chest so she could hear his heart beating. Just this is enough; she doesn't need anything else. ]

. . . There was a petal that I caught falling from the Tree of Memories. It was while I was waiting for you, during the festival. [ Just one. She never saw a need to seek out more, particularly not after the cage. ] Remind me to show you sometime.

[ For the sake of transparency... perhaps? Maybe it didn't matter anymore.

Either way, neither of them seem to be in a rush to leave the bath. She doesn't know much time has passed when the lights suddenly flicker back on above them. The sound of the storm that raged outside had been reduced to no more than a mere drizzle. ]

[This is a good distraction after what happened in the shower ok? In fact, it feels like ages since that incident had occur, lost in the moment. His hums are any indication he's listening to her. His breath on her ears as he presses his lips.]

The tree again...? [What could something from that troublesome tree be worth sharing? He can't deny that he's curious, and Susato does want to share if she's bringing it up.] There's something on that petal, about us? [Just a guess, as he nips at her ear.

Fang at this point as returned with the towels. At first she waits at the bathroom door, but then chooses to come inside when neither of them greet her. And there she'll lay on the ground, just as the lights return to the home. None of which seems to have taken Kazuma's attention away from Susato. Although, they can't keep soaking forever, unless they want to become prunes.]

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