chippedsoul | The Journal [Inbox]

[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.]

[ Unlike Kazuma, Susato does look up upon hearing the door. Her heart my have skipped a beat upon the realization that they're suddenly not alone, but then the lights come on and it's Fang. Susato's mouth was open, like she'd been about to respond to him, but she lets out a laugh, seeing how Fang had burrowed herself in their towels. There may have been a little relief in it, even as all her muscles go weak at the nibble and breath in her ear. ]

No, just you. [ Words come out effortlessly and without thought, but she pauses then, feigning disappointment. ] Oh, drat. I've spoiled the surprise.

[ Hardly. ]

[Got'em. Well, he actually wasn't trying that hard to get to the bottom of it. Though it seems Susato wasn't trying to hide it as well, so he just laughs at her "disappointment".]

Who would have thought. Just can't stop thinking about me, can you? [And now he's just teasing her. He leans forward to rub noses with her, hands lightly tickling her skin.]

[ He leans forward just enough. The anticipation sends goosebumps from the tip of her nose straight down her spine. Is he going to kiss her or not? Yet she doesn't wait to find out. Their noses are still touching when she closes what little distance is between them and presses her lips to his.

Because she gets to do that now. He is hers, and she is his. ]

Forever on my mind. [ Guilty. ]

[Wonder who's more ~~thirsty~~ forward between the two of them? This isn't the first time Susato has taken the initiative to kiss him. He isn't as taken aback and more amused. Absolutely going to embrace and return the favor. Maybe going a little too hard, cause the water is getting splashed about. Were they kissing or practically devouring each other's face at this point? All he knew was that he wanted her, badly.

Eitherway, the intimacy of it all will have to sadly end sooner or later. Kazuma needing to catch his breath.] ...How are you feeling?

[ Listen. You don't put your face that close to someone else's unless you want to be kissed. She has read enough romance by now to know! The handful of books in the genre that she picked up on a whim in the month following the festival and the appearance of the Tree of Stories--they count.

Either way, she can't say she was entirely prepared for that. The splashing nearly took out the candles, which they should really blow out at some point now that the lights have come back on. She's lucky she didn't back into them. ]

Soggy. [ It's the first word that comes to mind. Breathless, she is starting to feel the weight of the water on her body. Drenched. Her hair, while clean, feels like a mop. ] But...

[ Satisfied. ]

happy.

[He's leaning back to give her a look.] Soggy. [Who are you, Gina? Ah whatever, he's in too good of a mood to care. With a shake of his head.]

Well, I'm sure I can remedy that. [Suddenly a warm breeze blows through the area for a moment. And in that moment of distraction, here comes Kazuma, putting his hands underneath so he can lift her out of the bath as he moves to stand.]

[ Well! Gina does still lives with them, but that aside, Susato simply tilts her head in visible confusion. Suddenly there is that warm breeze. She ultimately knows it must have something to do with Kazuma, but she still wonders if the candles were a part of it too. In the moment Susato glanced back, perhaps about to give them some puffs of air to snuff them out, she is hauled into the air.

A familiar squeak escapes, and her arms immediately cling to his neck as water drips relentlessly from them both. Damn. ]

Someday, I will be the one carrying you, you know.

[ Meanwhile Fang perks her head up from her towel-blankets and stands, doing a happy little circle. Oh, the humans are done? ]

Hah, I'll keep you to your word. [He has no doubt she could, just not anytime soon. More importantly, he got her again. Fang already has a towel in her mouth to give to them.]

Ladies first. [Once he's carefully gotten out of the tub, without slipping, he'll set Susato back down. His lips meeting the nape of her neck while doing so.]

[ Susato is quick to reach for Fang, intending to give her all the attention she rightly deserves. The fact that Fang had come so quickly when Kazuma appeared to be in trouble does not go unnoticed, but Susato is only human. She finds her breath hitching when Kazuma's lips caught her neck, her arm weak as she reaches for the towel. She turns to give him a look.

"Ladies first," but just for that, she's still playfully shoving the first towel at him to make him take it first. ]

. . . No, I insist.

[ Fang has already scooped up the second towel off the floor, offering it up to Susato, so no takesie-backsies! ]

[Oh, how dare she gives him the towel instead. A feign sigh as he accepts.]

If I must. [He's still chasing her with kisses, wanting to keep getting a reaction from her. Counterproductive to getting themselves dried up, but he doesn't care and is almost being playful about it.]

[ He must. With that victory in the bag, Susato easily accepts the second towel from Fang, only for a giggle that she can't bite back to escape her lips. Her grip weakens immediately under Kazuma's kisses and the towel slips, draping over Fang's head.

Yep. Definitely counterproductive. ]

Oh, sorry, Fang! [ She means that genuinely, she swears, so why can't she stop giggling. She will try in vain to reach for the towel again, though clearly she doesn't try hard enough. ] That tickles!

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject