A/N: I had the worst writer's block for the first time in this story ughh. Was actually worried I wouldn't be able to finish it by Wednesday
Ages 22 and 25: Holiday Emotions
Kagura was really starting to regret ever mentioning the word "love" in front of Sadist. Since her birthday, he's been trying the most annoying tactics to "make her fall in love with him." It's been over a month since then and Christmas was fast approaching, and Kagura hoped to God that Sadist doesn't do something even more embarrassing than usual.
It seemed the minute he knew Kagura was into him, a whole new side of him broke out. He wanted to always hang out and if they didn't, he'd stalk her. (She gave Kondo-san a piece of her mind for suggesting that tactic to Sougo.) He brought home cakes (filled with tabasco) and even dressed up as mascots to try and appease her.
Today in particular, Sougo went so far and tried to show Kagura his BDSM set, but she ended up tieing him up instead and left him there while she went out to eat with Soyo-chan and Nobume-chan.
"I can't stand it anymore!" Kagura said, face flat on the table where they were eating. "This is definitely not how romance is supposed to be aru."
"I just think Sougo-san doesn't really have much… experience with girls." Soyo-chan laughed, trying to comfort Kagura.
"Don't you think maybe, he's trying to the woo the old fourteen year old you instead of the twenty two year old you?" Nobume asked, after listening to Kagura's story.
"Why would he do that? He was the one that pointed out that we've changed…"
"But like Hime-sama said, he probably doesn't know what to do. In the end, I think it all comes down to telling him how you want your relationship to be."
Kagura blushed deeply at what Nobume was saying. Though the two technically weren't an item yet, they knew about each other's feelings. Kagura was honestly hoping that their relationship would just evolve into more touching and hanging out, not constantly being pranked. She should have known this would happen...
"Of course Kagura-chan! What about asking him for a date? You guys can check out the tree for Christmas!" Soyo exclaimed.
"But… isn't the guy supposed to be the one to propose a date?" Kagura asked.
"Come on Kagura, what would Otae-san say if she heard you were too scared to go ask someone out for a date?" Nobume countered. "Besides, I'm sure if you don't ask first, that idiot's probably going to do something even more embarrassing on Christmas."
"Right! Nope, I can't handle that anymore. I'll ask him right now!" Kagura said, pulling out her phone and sending a message.
"Shouldn't you tell him in person? This is your first date after all." Soyo asked.
"Eh, it's fine. I'm sure he'll be happy either way."
"Kagura-chan! You should be more excited. What activities are you going to plan? What outfit are you going to wear? I have a few new dresses if you want to try on! And I'm sure Nobume has some as well." Soyo-chan ranted. This was everything she had wanted for her two friends after all.
"Soyo-chan, that seems like a lot of work…"
"Nonsense! Let's start planning now. December's a busy holiday for everyone after all!"
By the time the girls nailed out every little detail, Kagura remembered that Sougo was still tied up back at home…
Though Sougo was a tad bit upset that Kagura completely forgot about him, he perked up rather quickly when he heard the word "date."
He had been trying his best to woo Kagura in his own special way, but unfortunately most of the time it just seemed to piss her off even more. Women. He had listened to a lot of people's advice, even Kondo-san, about how to flirt with Kagura, but none of them seemed to work. No wonder why everyone was still single in this series.
The date planned was overall a pretty normal one: Dinner and then a walk around the town to see all the holiday lights and the tree. She had given him a rather odd command, and told him not to be an embarrassment or else. He didn't know what she meant seeing as his original plan for Christmas was getting her a dog collar and more of that tabasco cake and maybe stealing all the presents from children.
The restaurant she picked had thankfully been a buffet on the nicer side. The two were meeting there since it seemed like Soyo wanted to experiment a few looks on Kagura for the big day.
Sougo had appeared early as usual, actually kinda excited for this date. Kagura only dressed up a few times of the year, and he hoped this day was one of them.
"SAAADDDIIISSTTTTT," he heard some yelling and he looked up to see Kagura in a pretty modern outfit that probably would have been smarter to wear during the spring.
However, before he had a chance to fully look over Kagura, she had tackled him to the ground and tugged off his own jacket.
"I don't know what Soyo-chan was thinking!" She exclaimed, shivering from the winter air.
Kagura had arrived late afternoon at Soyo's place thinking that a warm kimono would be enough for the date, but she was thrown into a cute outfit with no sleeves and no tights and most importantly, no jacket.
"It's all about technique." Soyo said. "If you look cold, he'll let you borrow his jacket, or he'll hold your hands, or maybe he'll even let you snuggle!"
Except that plan went right out the window. Kagura was so cold, she wasn't even thinking about Sougo and their date, the first thing she was thinking about was ripping that jacket off of him.
"Hello to you too, China." Sougo said, rubbing his head from the collision. "Where on earth is your jacket?"
"Soyo-chan said I wouldn't need it… Said something about ruining the cute image of these clothes." Kagura flashed him the outfit one last time before zipping up his jacket all the way up to her chin.
"Well… Maybe if you were wearing nothing but my jacket I'd be happier." Sougo replied haughtily, except Kagura was still on top of him and that meant the perfect placement to get punched in the face. What a great way to start the date.
After their little impromptu sparring session, Kagura and Sougo finally entered the restaurant (who actually called the cops on them, but once the Shinsengumi realized who they were, just let them continue with the chaos).
Sougo ended up sweet talking Kagura into an eating contest with him, even though he knew he stood no choice of winning against her. He just wanted to get a rise out of Kagura and he honestly did like to see the happy face Kagura makes next to good food.
After dinner, he happily rolled Kagura's currently rounder body out the door and paid the slightly distraught cashier the amount for two people's dinner (even though it was probably more like 8 people's worth). Definitely will have to come back here next time.
The two strolled along the path downtown where the Christmas tree was lit. Though it was getting late into the evening, many couples were out and about probably all for the same festive reason.
Kagura couldn't help but think back on Soyo's next advice on what to do:
"When the two of you are walking side by side, you should wrap your arms around his!" Soyo squealed, thinking about what that would look like.
"Don't people usually hold hands?" Kagura asked.
"But if you wrap arms together, you'll be even closer!" Soyo exclaimed. "Trust me on this Kagura-chan! Just act completely naturally and slowly get closer and closer until you just casually move next to him."
Kagura stared so intensely at Sougo's arm, it made him a little nervous. Worried that she was maybe also going to steal his sweater, he picked up his pace a little, not wanting to give up his only piece of warmth left.
Kagura noticed him walking further away and sped up to keep in pace with him. Which… then led him to walk even faster, and then before they knew it, the both of them were sprinting for no reason down the street after each other.
Catching up to him, she grabbed him by the wrist and yelled, "Sadist! Why are you running?!"
"I should be asking you that! There's no way I'm giving you my sweater, you already have my jacket!" Sougo said, panting heavily. He looked warily at Kagura hoping she wouldn't try and pounce him again.
"What? I don't need your sweater… Your jacket's really warm…" She blushed, realizing what she was saying.
"Oh" was all Sougo was able to say, looking at the pretty girl next to him look so surprisingly shy.
"Then why were you staring at my sleeve?"
A moment of silence occurred, while Kagura failed to think of a better explanation than "I wanted to link arms with you."
"Let's go get drinks!" She randomly shouted. "It'll keep us warm, and we need to celebrate! It's Christmas!"
Kagura quickly tugged him before letting him respond and left in a random direction for a bar.
"Careful there China, you sound anymore excited about alcohol and I'll think you're becoming an alcoholic."
But despite his teasing, Sougo was fine with going in a new direction. The Christmas lights will be up for awhile, so he wasn't worried about them missing out on it.
Except what he did not count on was Kagura drinking as if she were lost in the desert.
"Slow down there China, what's gotten into you?" Sougo asked, sipping his drink. If Kagura was going to continue the rate she was going, he definitely couldn't drink too much.
"YOU" she exclaimed, already sloppily dripping alcohol everywhere.
"Me" Sougo replied, in an amusing voice.
"I-I told you," she paused a moment to jam a finger into Sougo's chest, "to make me fall in love with you."
"And yet," she continued, "you've been doing stupid pranks and making fun of me this whole time. How is that romantic at all? I want kisses, and hugs, and that stupid arm wrapping thing that Soyo-chan told me to do. But the best thing I've gotten so far is your stupid jacket."
Kagura was about ready to chug another drink before Sougo raised his hand and stopped her. He put the glass down and put enough money to cover the both of them before he grabbed her hand and pulled them out of the bar.
"Where are we going?" Kagura mumbled, slightly peeved her drink was gone. She needed more of that liquid courage if she wanted to get through the night.
"We're going to a romantic evening" Sougo replied.
He paused for a moment to let go of their connected hands and stuck out his elbow towards Kagura.
"What are you doing, some kinda chicken dance?" Kagura asked, not believing him on the romantic evening part.
"This is where we link arms China, come on." He said, taking Kagura's arm himself and pulling her super close to him. "I thought this is what you wanted."
The lack of distance between them reminded Kagura of the times they cuddled close in the taxis and on their couch and suddenly Kagura understood why Soyo-chan wanted her to do this.
"I was kinda worried this month, about... you know... our relationship. You said it'd be okay to advance, but after thinking about it, it really is quite a change we're going through. I didn't know what our boundaries were so… I was playing it safe." Sougo confessed, slightly red from his explanation. He was embarrassed to admit how important it was to him to not mess this up.
But Kagura leant in Sougo's side even more and laughed to herself. She felt even warmer than before, understanding a bit more of Sougo's mindset. To think he was worried about pleasing her! No guy has ever thought about her like that before...
Sougo seemed to have caught Kagura's cheerful mood and started leading them back towards the Christmas tree.
"Come on China, I believe you said you wanted kisses, and hugs, and that stupid arm wrap thing and we've only gotten through one third of that list. Let's go check out that darn tree already and gross people out with our PDA."
He got yelled out again for saying that, but it was worth it seeing as they completed the list after the date was done.
A/N: Thanks for reading!
