Kaikyū

August 10th, 2009 4:39 pm

Stepping out of the bath left Neirah feeling rejuvenated. With her hair still damp and kinked in more dramatic waves than were typically present, she brushed back the unruly strands, turning her head to the sound of her roommate's voice. Part of her wanted to enjoy the music a little bit longer, but another part of her wanted to instigate.

"Ah, no, that's way too much." From where he started to scribble out words on a piece of paper nearby, Tatara jolted alertly to the feeling of Neirah's wet arms folding around his neck from behind. Her skin was cold, and her full breasts smothered against the couch back wrapped in a plush bath towel. After a yelp that broke his concentration, Tatara's hand raised to Neirah's forearm to make sure she wasn't a phantom. "Nei-chan! You can't sneak up on me like that!" He lowered his fingers to his chest and clasped his shirt above his heart, reprimanding the curious girl through a smile.

"I'm getting better at it, aren't I?" She leaned over his shoulder, her bare toes raising off the floor as she draped herself over his shoulder and strummed some absent chords on his guitar. With a sweet giggle, she turned her face to where she was near to his cheek, her playful grin animating with affection. "But then, I learned from the best."

Tatara reached back and rubbed the kink out of his neck. "Either way you look at it, Kusanagi-san's right as usual," he groaned. "I've never been stealthy, but we really should get you a bell." His expression dropped as Neirah chuckled to dismiss his input, and he watched her struggle to climb over the couch as modestly as she could in a towel. She did not succeed, by any means.

After Neirah had dropped into the seat next to him with an exasperated grunt, she turned her lively blue gaze towards her friend. "Would you really put a bell on a lion?" she instigated fondly. "I mean, wouldn't that damage its pride?" When the silence passed between them for a moment where Tatara didn't speak, she turned away from where his unsettlingly vacant stare passed through her. "Fine," she conceded. "But if I have to wear one, I want it to match King-sama's."

Realizing that Tatara still hadn't spoken even after she had included their king in the conversation, her cheeks were colouring with hesitancy as she shifted her gaze towards his locked observation. "Tat-chan? Is everything okay?"

Shaking his head free of his trance, he awkwardly laughed it off. "Oh wow, sorry Nei-chan. I kind of spaced out."

Her brow knotted impatiently. "I noticed."

Comprehending that he wasn't going to get away with a half-baked excuse, he set his guitar on the floor by their feet and turned to face where she sat by his side. "I was just thinking. You know, it's been over a year since that night I brought you here to get cleaned up after your run-in with those Yakuza members."

Neirah seemed to shrink away at the rousing of the subject. "What on earth made you think about that?"

He turned away and flipped his notebook closed. "What you just said. It reminded me of when Kusanagi-san told you that I wasn't even close to being sneaky. You just used to be so skittish and reserved back then. And I was thinking… that today is so different from back then." After settling his transcript down on the table in front of him, he turned to face her with a cheerful smile. "You look so happy."

Neirah sighed blissfully and tilted her head to rest on his shoulder. "It's because Tat-chan's positivity has infected me."

His expression grew bleak with discouragement. "Why do you say that like it's a bad thing?"

"It's not." Her voice was a faint whisper on her lips as she stared comfortably out the window of their shared abode. "Do you remember the day Tanaka joined us? It was almost a year ago now."

"How could I forget?" he chuckled. "He does a great job of reminding us how bitter he is about your first impression." Tatara yelped as Neirah quietly raised her fist and dropped the butt of it into his thigh, causing him to moan while he clutched the area that began to cramp. "Nei-chan, that hurt."

Unaffected by his cries, Neirah continued. "Well, that was the first day I met Anna-chan. I ran away from her because I didn't feel like I was my own person. I felt like I was just doing whatever it took to fit in."

Even though he still rubbed his leg, his expression became sincere as he watched her drift into the memories. "I don't understand why you would feel that way," he admitted. "Everyone seemed to love you right from the beginning."

Neirah let a bashful smile brighten her face. "It's just the way we seem to be structured as a clan," she clarified. "For some reason or another, everyone seems to have someone else that they work better with, who they're really close to. Like Dewa-kun and Chitose, or Onii-san and Mikoto-sama. We even met Yata and Fushimi-san that day, and since they've joined, they're inseparable too." Her tone softened with dismay. "I guess I was afraid that if another girl joined our clan, it would be expected for her and I to get along. It caused me to panic."

Tatara seemed confused about the purpose of Neirah's tangent. "But, I thought you and Anna got along just fine?"

Neirah quickly shook her head. "Of course, we do, but not because we have to. I'm just trying to explain that I don't feel pressured to be anything that I am anymore. If I'm optimistic like you, it's because you inspire me to be that way." She turned to face him with a confident smile. "Just like King-sama inspires me to be strong or Kusanagi-san inspires me to be tactful. Rikio helped me see it that day. He was really understanding."

She sighed and tipped her head back against the couch to stare up at the ceiling. "Maybe I wouldn't be who I am today if I never met any of you, but I can't bring myself to believe that that's a bad thing." She turned her playful expression back to face her roommate, slyly. "Although, with Fushimi-san around, it kind of counters Tat-chan's easy-going aura."

After sharing a warm chuckle at their clanmate's expense, Neirah sighed and nuzzled back into Tatara's shoulder. "And when I thought about it more, I stopped worrying about feeling like a third-wheel all the time because just like everyone else, I have a special partner too."

Tatara's expression grew wry with devilish intent. "Did Kamamoto also help you see this?"

Neirah puffed up her cheeks with a mild growl. "Between him and Chitose, it's a wonder I'm even a little sane after that last brawl. I am a spoiled lion and need to be nurtured along with the utmost care when I battle. Otherwise, I get a little crazy. That was the only thing both of them did remind me."

With a carefree chortle, Tatara bent at the hips to pick up his guitar, lying it back in his lap. "I didn't really expect such a big explanation for it," he teased spiritedly. He played a few scattered tones on the strings before cutting his gaze cleverly back. "And here I thought you were happy about your date."

Neirah wasn't long climbing to her feet as she raised her voice in protest. "For the last time, this isn't a date! I'm just going to spend time with an old friend before my summer has been completely devoured by my duty to my clan!" She scrambled over his legs blocking the path between the couch and table, reminding herself that she had been in the middle of her preparations. "Kusanagi-san had me on house-arrest all that time we were trying to track Tomo and, at this point, Okazaki-san probably thinks that I hate him."

Tatara's attention had diverted by the time she had stepped back into the bathroom to lengthen her lashes, and his notebook was spread out before him once more. "Neirah? Before you go, do you think you could listen to this? I think I finally got the chords figured out." He turned to watch her shadow shift hastily in the doorway. "Tell me if the rain sounds happy enough, okay?"

From where she was observing the purposeful blinking of her eyes over a wire brush, she responded. "I'd tell you to ask my feet, but I should probably get dressed first." Batting her eyelashes at her reflection, she smiled and returned her mascara wand to its holster with a satisfying slurp. She did as she suggested, dropping the towel into a heap on the tile floor before slipping on her outfit for the day. "I'm listening."

Preparing his recorded tune in front of him, Tatara readied the neck of his guitar and locked in a comfortable position. "Okay, here it goes."

At first, Neirah didn't intend to pay the melody much mind. She was too concerned about getting her bangs to behave. But soon, her finger-comb was slowing its brushstrokes, and her ears were focussing more intently on the way his voice joined in the melody halfway through.

She poked her head out of the doorway, and her glossy lips parted as she watched his demeanour shift with the sound of the music he was making. She was so quiet while he was playing that it caused him to feel uneasy, and he quickly stopped to assess her response with a guilty look on his face.

"Eh, is it no good?"

"No good? It's perfect." Neirah reassured him upon approach. "Tatara, I didn't know you could sing."

He laughed off her compliment with unease. "Well, this is the first time I've tried, so I guess I didn't either." He watched her approach until she was near again, and then he quickly diverted his gaze. "Anna helped me to figure out the chords, and I started to put words to it the other day after King's fight with Tetsuko. I don't know why, but… I was feeling inspired."

"I see…"

Tatara's smile flushed with embarrassment as he watched his fingers turn the page on the table before him. "Anna thinks I should call the song Circle of Friends. I never really thought about naming it or anything, but I guess it makes sense seeing as-" His brow creased when he comprehended that Neirah had grown distant and his tone reflected his initial concern. "Nei-chan? Is something the matter?"

Shaking herself out of her trance, she rejected his assumption with the shake of her head and wandered into their kitchenette. "It's nothing," she quietly reassured him. "I guess I'm just wondering… how Tomo is doing."

Tatara diverted his gaze and carried on gently strumming his song to practice the rhythm. "I invited him to the bar if he wanted to talk about things, but it's been a while now. It makes me wonder if the Blue Clan might not have picked him up. They've been working hard since their new king was chosen."

Neirah stared at the back of his head as he continued to play, her thoughts despondent. "Have you met him yet? The Blue King?"

His playing suddenly stopped. "Just in passing," he admitted quietly. "He and King don't get along very well. I can tell."

Her face lit up with a faint smile. "Maybe the Blue King has the same social handicap as I do. They may have just gotten off on the wrong foot."

The gentle sound of Tatara's strumming filled their home again. "I'm not too sure about that, but I know Kusanagi-san was pretty relieved when they managed to get away without much punishment from the Gold King."

Neirah snorted curtly. "No kidding," she sassed. "In my opinion, that new king should be showing ours the respect he deserves. I'm sure he'll learn the hard way that being a king isn't easy, and Mikoto-sama has much more experience."

Tatara finally turned to face her from over the back of the couch with a nervous laugh. "Now, now, Kusanagi-san is right. Lion-chan should behave herself while we figure everything out."

She uttered a displeased retching noise as she approached the door. "That sounds absolutely dreadful," she argued. "I don't care if he is a king. If he stands in my way, he's just another obstacle to burn."

"That doesn't sound like a very good attitude to have," he groaned hesitantly.

Just before dismissing herself, Neirah turned in the doorway to address his concern. "Our fate is our own, remember? Anyone who would stand in the way of how we want to shape it is an enemy, as far as I'm concerned." With a distant sigh, she reached out and absently twisted one of her cute good-fortune cat magnets upright again. "Besides, King-sama has good intuition. If he says he's no good, he's probably right."

Tatara observed her for a moment before instigating her fury. "Ah, but you know who else King doesn't like."

Snapping to attention, Neirah threw down her balled fists and shouted her retort. "Okazaki-san is a good person whether I date him or not, so I won't let King-sama burn him!"

Tatara's expression warmed. "Because he's in the circle, right?"

His calming tone seemed to comfort the rampaging woman. "That's right…"

They shared an understanding smile before Tatara checked the clock and urged her to depart. "It's almost five. You should get going before he thinks you stood him up."

Neirah startled, checking his accuracy on the wall before rushing towards the door. "You're right!" After opening it, she hung in the doorway for another moment to address her companion. "Don't worry. I won't be long. And I'll go see Onii-san when I'm done, so he doesn't think I've been kidnapped or anything quite so malevolent."

"Go!" Tatara repeated playfully. "I'll take care of Kusanagi-san if he gets suspicious."

She offered him an appreciative beam in response before vanishing down the hall. "You're the best!"

"What?! No way!" The only thing that was more surprising to Gin than the news Neirah had just delivered was that she'd said it all with a straight face. "No wonder I didn't see you much this summer." He raised his cappuccino cup to his lips and sipped, careful to lick the foam from his upper lip when he lowered it. "Believe it or not, I think I seriously underestimated this whole 'clan' thing."

Murmuring her words softly with her lips still resting against the plastic lid of her coffee-flavoured cream, Neirah diverted her gaze towards the congested shopping mall. "You shouldn't be thinking about it at all," she sternly corrected. "Kusanagi-san isn't happy with you right now. And I hope you take my word for it when I tell you that he's a dangerous enemy to make."

Gin tipped his gaze over the top frame of his ruby glasses in thought. "Kusanagi… He's the one behind the bar, right? The one that acts kind of like your big brother?" Gin was delighted to turn and watch a minuscule smile raise the girl's flushed cheeks.

"I suppose he does, doesn't he?"

Matching her enthusiasm, Gin brightened. He was curious about her other world, and it helped that she became a much happier person whenever they spoke about her family. He turned away from the view and popped the plastic lid off his drink so he could finish the cinnamon-sprinkled frothed milk at the bottom. "And I definitely remember Kamamoto-san. You two spend a lot of time together, don't you?"

Neirah nodded more than once, which to Gin, marked her interest in their conversation. "Rikio was one of my first friends in HOMRA," she explained. "Actually, I'm pretty sure he saved my life the night I joined the Red Clan."

Gin choked on inhaling cinnamon as he was caught off-guard by his snicker. "Wait- How are you not positive?"

Neirah's eyes seemed to vivify as she connected their gazes. "I don't fall from multi-story buildings often, so it's difficult to say whether or not I'd survive."

From where they had sat next to each other on the mall bench, Gin lurched to life with urgency in his tone. "Ah! Tsukiyo, you need to be more careful!"

Neirah didn't adjust in defence of her actions. "Don't be absurd. Now that I carry the power of the slate, I jump off tall buildings for fun."

"How can you say that so casually?!"

Neirah sighed and slipped her attention over the sight of the people passing by them. "These are the kinds of things people under the slate's influence are capable of. To us, it doesn't seem half as crazy as it sounds."

Gin chuckled awkwardly and settled back against the bench. "I don't know… Even half of the crazy seems like too much for me."

Finding a soft laugh in the back of her throat, Neirah dusted her hair over her shoulder and set her half-emptied cup in the trash beside her. "You're one to talk. I know you've been coming around the bar looking for me." She offered her hand his way to receive his empty paper cup and throw it away for him, catching the apprehension in his gaze as he considered their nearness.

When presenting his cup to her, he considerately gripped the top rim so that she could take the base in her palm where they wouldn't risk contact. "Well, sometimes you don't answer my messages, and I know you spend a lot of time there." He groaned softly and raised his fingers to his shoulder like he recalled the pain. "Honestly, I wouldn't mind showing up there if it weren't for that scrappy kid with the skateboard." Suddenly, Gin raised both hands, linking his fingers behind the back of his head as he recalled being struck there with the aforementioned article. "I'm telling you; he gets downright irrational when I ask about you. Last time, I was pretty sure he was going to kill me."

Gin yelped the moment the bench ignited with laughter loud enough to cause spectators to divert their attention. His expression dropped as he took in the beautiful view of her pearly smile, the way her cheeks dusted with pink and her eyes sparkled with life.

"Yata." She raised her finger to her eye to catch the tears that were beginning to fall from her outburst. "Believe it or not, he's one of our best fighters."

Gin whimpered and rubbed his head again. "Ha, I believe it."

Neirah turned to face the food court with a tender expression on her face. "Then the broody one with the dark hair and glasses is Fushimi-san. He helps me with my homework sometimes if I pester him enough. The redhead with looks that could kill is my king, Suoh Mikoto-sama."

"I remember that one, too," Gin clarified. "After the wild one roughed me up, Suoh-san picked me up by my collar and threw me out." He even re-enacted the moment for her so that she could get a few more laughs in. "Just like that! Like I was trash!"

Despite Gin's obvious suffering by the hands of her clan, Neirah was joyful to hear his side of the story. "If you think Yata is wild, you obviously haven't met Chitose-kun yet. He might not be as high energy, but at least Yata let you leave with both legs, and I'm assuming they were functional." She turned a puckish glance his way. "Chitose is almost as protective over me as Kusanagi-san, especially when King-sama isn't around, but I can't seem to figure out what kind of relationship we have."

Gin seemed startled into considering a romantic interest. "E-eh? What do you mean by that?"

She rested her hands on the bench at her sides as she kicked out her aching feet. "Most of the boys refer to me as 'big sister', even the ones who are older than me. But with him, it's hit or miss."

"Oh yeah," he interrupted knowledgeably. He connected both sets of thumbs and forefingers before raising them to his face like glasses. "There was this one guy with really dark sunglasses on one time I was there. He called you Onē-san like that little girl-"

"Ah, Wolf-kun."

"And then he punched me."

"He what!?" Neirah cracked her palm against her brow with a bitter moan. "Great, now Bandō is picking up Yata's bad habits. He can be so impressionable…"

"And you're telling me that this Chitose fellow is more protective of you than that?"

There was a meek defence on Neirah's face as she tilted her guilty smile his way. "Well, if he and Dewa-kun were ever there when you showed up, they'd probably break both of your knees." She sighed like she was disappointed and then dropped her head to ignore the sight of her companion paling. "To be honest, Fujishima might be the only one who wouldn't attack you just for the fun of it."

Gin's tone dampened docilely. "Ah, and which one is he again?"

"Probably the one who dragged Bandō away from you, despite his noise and flailing."

He held his hands up to his crown and slicked them back to indicate Kōsuke's hairstyle. "Ginger lad. Real soft eyes."

Neirah nodded repeatedly. "That sounds about right."

Gin's fondness grew even more reflective as he dropped his hands into his lap with a grateful smile. "Wow. You change so much when you talk about them." He didn't bother shying away from the shock that she twisted to connect with his observation. "And then, I'm pretty sure there was one more that always seems to be there. The last time Suoh-san tossed me out, he was there telling him not to hurt me too bad because it would upset you." When he watched her face contort with bashful humility, he sheepishly raised his fingers and twisted a lock of his hair. "He uh… How do I describe him?"

With careful precision, Gin removed his glasses and turned his deep russet gaze towards her with a small furrow in his brow. "He kind of looks like me." After watching the way Neirah's demeanour adjusted, he quickly diverted his gaze and slipped his glasses back over the bridge of his nose. "Well, I uh, never got his name."

When Gin turned back to face her, Neirah's smile had softened with notes of enamoured endearment. "Tat-chan." Her whisper had been so quiet that Gin felt the need to shuffle closer to hear her, and when he did, she repeated her words politely. "Totsuka Tatara. He's my roommate."

Caught unprepared by the admittance, Gin's expression shook with jealous guilt. "You… live together?"

She nodded slowly. "Since the day we met over a year ago. He was the one who introduced me to King-sama."

Finally, Gin had to divert his gaze, and he immediately began to fidget by her side. "I see, so he's the one…"

"Hm?"

Throwing his hands out to wave them in front of his face, Gin quickly laughed off his hesitancy. "Oh nothing, I just- There are these times when you act differently. Like, you're all smiles and full of energy when you talk about the others, but when it comes to this Totsuka-san, you really…" He trailed off under the intensity of her focussed observation. "Well, you… You're just… different is all." He diverted his sheepish gaze. "I notice it. I can tell that you're close to him."

"Okazaki-san, can I tell you something… kind of personal?"

Gin immediately straightened and redirected his attention when he heard the woman speak so earnestly. "Y-yes, of course!"

Neirah's gaze tapered as she stared at the floor and tried to steady her racing heartbeat. "When I first met Tat-chan, I didn't believe he actually existed. Everything felt… so surreal, and a part of me worried that I had finally lost my mind."

She raised her hands to her shoulders and gave them a self-conscious rub to banish the chill creeping up her spine. "I recognize that you don't know him very well, but if you did, I'm sure you would understand," she whispered. "He isn't like anybody I've ever met. He's… just perfect, in every way. I suppose what I feared the most, back then, was that when my subconsciousness didn't need his help anymore, he would disappear."

Finally, she let a sheepish smile curl her lips. "But he stayed. He's still here with me, reminding me that everything will work out in the end. Even when I face my deepest fears or hardest battles, he's always there with a smile to remind me that we're going to be alright."

Shaking herself free of the mushiness, she quickly readjusted her smile to be as casual as possible. "Tat-chan might be the most important member of our clan. It's hard to describe. He's the least confrontational, but I feel like we would be lost without him. And…" Her face ignited when she turned her fond beam back towards her companion. "He's my very best friend in the entire world."

Gin was still having a hard time figuring out the signals he received from the woman by his side, but he didn't feel pressured to, by any means. For the time being, he just appreciated how happy she looked and how good that made him feel. "I'm kind of jealous," he teased. "To think that you've only known him for a little while, and he can make you smile like that. He must be pretty special." He laughed in spite of his contempt. "I mean, I've had way longer than he has, and I'm only just starting to hear you laugh, which is great, by the way."

Neirah shivered to the impact of his playful wink and how Gin's easygoing attitude matched Tatara's. "But Okazaki-san is a good person too," she murmured fondly. "I'm beginning to see that more clearly now."

With a bashful chuckle, Gin climbed to his feet. Just as he went to offer his hand to her to help her raise, he immediately retracted it in respect to her delusions. "We should probably get going soon, right? I don't want Kusanagi-san to get mad that I kept you too late." Gin had accepted that he was no match for the rival he'd seen in Tatara, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to enjoy her company while it lasted. "Do you think it's okay if I walk you back to the bar?"

Neirah's cheeks coloured with a deep red to consider his reverent spirit. "I don't quite care if it is or not," she prompted spiritedly. "I would enjoy the company, so I promise I'll protect you from any wrath that befalls you upon our arrival."

Gin laughed energetically at her declaration. "That's so reassuring! Thank you!" he proclaimed. "I feel so much safer knowing that the Red Lion is protecting me!"

Neirah softly groaned as they began to depart. "I know you're genuine, but if you're trying to be flattering, it's lioness."

Gin seemed staggered by her refusal. "But, from what I can tell, everyone on the outside calls you the Red Lion?"

"Well, they're wrong."

"Ah, ha, alright then!" he corrected. "I feel much better knowing that the Red Lioness has my back!"

"Keep it up, and she'll be chewing on it."

"E-eh, right!"

Neirah was in good spirits by the time she waved after Gin and let herself into Izumo's bar. There was a gentle song on her lips as she hummed the chords Tatara had begun to piece together. As she entered the bar just before ten, she couldn't help but repeat the lyrics she heard him begin to construct that day. "Ikusen mono kō sasuru michi de, bokura wa deaeta-"

"Well, aren't you in a fine mood," Izumo drawled mischievously from behind his bar. "And did I just catch you singing?"

Neirah leapt to attention, throwing her hands out in front of her to cover for her folly. "A-ah! No! You heard- well, I'm not sure what you heard, but it certainly wasn't singing. The Red Lioness only parts her jaws to roar."

Through his amused hum, she could see the tension brewing in her superior's body as he leaned over the redwood to interrogate her. "That Okazaki has you all starry-eyed, I see. Be a damn shame if he didn't make it home tonight."

"That's not-!" A moment of panic stole her voice as she looked around the bar to realize that it had been empty. "W-wait… Where is everyone?" What surprised her was that the bar was even void of customers, which seemed strange considering how much traffic usually popped by with a bad case of the Mondays.

Izumo sighed and shrugged his shoulders with a small smirk. "Maybe I sent them out after your little pal, maybe they wandered out for some air, but who knows."

"That's not funny, Onii-san," she reprimanded sourly on approach. Growing braver as she took a stand for her departed companion, she folded her arms over her chest and snorted derisively. "Okazaki-san is a good person, and you owe him an apology for accusing him of being involved in that whole ordeal this summer." When she neared the bar, she knelt on one of the stools and leaned forward to jab her index finger into the centre of his chest. "And if there is even a hint of truth in what you just said, you'd better call King-sama now and tell him to get his butt back here before I hunt him down and do it myself."

Izumo flashed interest but didn't demonstrate any more enthusiasm in his tone as he spoke. "Is that so? Now that sounds interesting." Belittling her efforts, he reached out and patted her head with an affectionate smile. "You're so cute when you act tough."

A flash of crimson stole her impatient glower as she focussed on keeping her bubbling aura from surfacing like she stood a chance at making demands out of Izumo. "Kusanagi-san is being mean."

With a hearty sigh, Izumo retracted his palm and raised a saucer to the bar between them. "Come on, Neirah. You know I'm just teasing." To reward her for being home on time, he gently added a teacup to her plate before offering her the sight of a steaming kettle. "What do you know. I just put this on a couple of minutes ago, so it should be good and hot."

She startled to the sincerity in his tone as he poured her tea and immediately realized what he had done. With a sheepish blush, she tilted her gaze away with a faint grin. "Thank you, Onii-chan."

He smiled tenderly and returned the kettle to its hotplate before locking her under his observation. "So, how was your date this time?"

With a happy sigh, Neirah took her first sip of tea before lowering her cup to its saucer and appreciating the robust flavour. "It was wonderful, thank you for asking," she initiated dryly. "Though, for the umpteenth time, it wasn't a date. Okazaki-san just isn't my type."

"I see." His casual purring was quiet as he continued to wipe down his countertop. "Then what kind of men are you interested in?" he pried. "Tell me so I can put a sign on the door warding them off before they become a nuisance."

"Okazaki-san is not a nuisance," she retorted sternly. "And my type is undetermined."

Izumo shimmied closer and pressed the issue in the same way he may have if she were their enemy, but it didn't cause her to bat a lash at his display. "Are you insulting my intelligence, young lady? You're seventeen and turning all the boy's heads. If it isn't annoying, then why don't you tell me which ones you like to see lookin' your way?" When her sharp and lethal glower met him, he pressed the matter. "You can tell your big brother, Kusanagi."

"Oh, I'm going to tell him something, you can be sure of that."

The pair reacted very differently to the sound of the entry bell chiming. Neirah had sighed her relief and could have sworn that she saw Izumo flash teeth towards the interruption. "Thank goodness," she hummed gratefully.

"We'll continue this later," he nearly growled. "So, stay put and finish your tea."

"Whatever you say, Onii-chan."

Even though he wanted to fire back at the bratty teenager, he bit his tongue in preparation to address his approaching customer. Letting her wriggle off his hook for the moment, he turned his pleasant smile towards the storefront and uttered his friendly greeting. "Evening and welcome to bar HOMRA. How can I-"

Neirah startled with a gentle hum of curiosity as Izumo lost his words before they came. She was cautious as she turned over her shoulder, hoping that he hadn't done so because Tomaya had just waltzed on into their unguarded territory. She didn't know if the presence to meet her eyes was reassuring, though. Instead, the sight made her groan. "Well, we know what Kusanagi-san's type is-"

Izumo ignored Neirah's agonized yelp as he struck her over the head the moment their female guest had turned her fair features away to observe her quiet surroundings. By the time her soft blue eyes faced him again from beneath her neatly styled blonde bangs, he was clearing his throat and readjusting his friendly façade. "How might I be of service?"

The beautiful creature seemed curious, but stiff as she approached the bar while carefully noting the presence of those in her company. She dressed modestly and took a seat at the bar two stools from Neirah's tensed figure as she laid her handbag down on the rosewood counter. Even though she wasn't acting nearly as elaborate as the women to grate on Neirah's nerves characteristically, the lively brunette didn't seem to have much use for their company.

The woman took note of this as she kindly addressed the girl. "My, aren't you a little young to be sitting at a bar?" Even if her question seemed aloof, there was an authority in the tone that uttered it like she was instigating conflict.

Izumo groaned as he watched Neirah stiffen to the mere acknowledgment of her presence, sipping her tea. "Here we go…"

Noticing that Neirah wasn't going to pay her any mind, the blonde straightened in her seat with a soft snort. "Well, I suppose if all you're drinking is tea, there shouldn't be any trouble."

Izumo rushed forward and tried to capture the astute woman's attention. "Ah, please don't mind her," he rushed out worrisomely. "That's my little sister, Neirah. She comes by to visit me sometimes when it's quiet. I can assure you I would never serve anyone underage." Izumo wasn't quite sure how he felt about the twinkle in the woman's crystal-clear eyes.

"Is that so?" The beauty returned her gaze to Neirah and observed the girl. Just beneath the cascade of auburn waves falling over Neirah's shoulders, the woman caught the sight of golden lines twisting up her target's spine in the shape of the symbol on the front door. "You have lovely hair," she prodded cunningly. "But isn't it a little impractical in length?"

Even as Izumo shuddered to the sound of Neirah's cup clattering with her saucer, their busty blonde guest did not. The sharp blue leers of both women met for the briefest moment that night, neither of them threatened by each other's superior air, and Izumo could see his life flashing before his eyes. It was a miracle that he hadn't had to break up a catfight.

"Ah, you'll have to excuse her," he murmured soundly. "She has a pretty bad attitude when it comes to introductions."

The woman turned away from the door where she watched Neirah exit, her hands settling calmly into her lap. "It's no trouble," she assured him. "Younger siblings can be bothersome at times, can't they?"

Izumo began to relax again once Neirah had departed. "You have siblings?"

"Two older brothers," she stated dourly.

He let an entertained chuckle rumble in his throat. "So, what you're saying is that you were the bothersome one."

It seemed like she didn't accept his humour as her sharpening gaze tapered on him incredulously. "Do you find me bothersome?"

With a hearty sigh, Izumo straightened and prepared for the conflict unfolding before him now that he was unmanned and on his own. At the very least, he poured her a glass of water to be courteous. "You'll have to forgive me, Lieutenant Awashima Seri. It's been a quiet day, and I'm runnin' on about three hours of sleep." He passed her the glass, taking a moment to appreciate her startled expression before it hardened again. "That and sometimes I'm just not that good at gettin' serious with a beautiful lady."

Shaking herself out of her astonished trance, Seri closed her eyes and wrapped her hand around his offering. "So, you knew who I was. That was most impressive."

"I make it my business to know everything I can when it comes to the slate," he educated calmly. "And SCEPTRE4's revival has me particularly curious."

"I bet it does," she droned inertly. "As to be expected of HOMRA's top informant."

Her blunt analysis caused an easy laugh to fill the space between them. "Although it's nothing too impressive. I mean, we did briefly cross paths the day our kings got slapped on the wrist by Kokujōji-san." He offered her stern expression another friendly grin. "Besides, isn't what you're doing the same?"

Surrendering to his accuracy, Seri diverted her gaze towards the water she sipped. "I suppose that is a fair accusation."

"Ah, but I'm not accusing you of anything," he corrected. "I don't see a reason why we can't have a civil conversation between clans. Wish Mikoto could see it that way. Unfortunately, that guy only seems to wanna talk with his fists."

Seri showed the Red King no leniency in her statement. "Your king seems to be a rather tenacious fellow," she instigated. "He's succeeded in causing quite the stir around our base of operation."

"I'm sure he'd be flattered," he teased brightly. "But don't sell yourself short, Awashima-san. Your Munakata Reisi has made quite an impression on him too. Looks like they're not gonna get along." He connected eyes with the woman in hopes that she would see that there was no ill-intent in his. "Y' see, first impressions are important. That's why I've been trying to teach Neirah to be better at them. Unfortunately, I can tell you and her are probably going to take after our kings."

For the first time since she'd stepped into his bar, Seri curled her lips up into a soft smile. "I see. But as first impressions go-"

"I think you and I will be alright," he interrupted in agreement.

Her smile remained thin as she lowered her head with a tender sigh. "Actually, that's exactly what I was hoping for. Seeing as our kings can't seem to converse civilly, I was hoping that, as enforcers of their will, we might be able to help them along."

A casual purr found Izumo's tone as he picked up some liquor bottles and began to return them to their rightful places on the shelf behind him. "No doubt you want us reds to back off now that SCEPTRE4 is back in business, am I right?"

The authority immediately returned to Seri's tone as she continued. "Seeing as SCEPTRE4 is generally responsible for the handling of dangerous or unruly Strains, it only makes sense that we begin to fulfil that duty now that we are fully operational."

Even though their conversation was indeed civil, Izumo couldn't help but feel his heart sink with disappointment. "You learn quickly, considering you haven't been a blue clansman for very long." He settled the remainder of the bottles on the shelves and turned to connect their gazes again. "Unfortunately, we don't always have time to wait on all the proper paperwork, if you know what I mean."

"You make it sound like HOMRA could ever play the victim," she prompted doubtfully. "Do you actually expect me to believe that your king doesn't instigate these occurrences?"

"Well, I'm not saying he's innocent, but we've had our reasons in the past."

"Oh? And what was your reason behind the incident last winter with the human trafficking ring devastated in the harbour?" Her tone grew more profound as she continued her interrogation. "There wasn't even a Strain involved in that incident. If you ask me, it was in direct violation of Protocol 120."

Izumo dismissed her intensity and remained relaxed under her scrutiny. "Ah, that one was personal."

"That is what I'm saying," she commanded dryly. "Nearly a hundred people lost their lives in that incident."

"A hundred, huh? Seemed like a lot more at the time."

Upon straightening, Seri thrust her stiff fingers into her lap and tapered her gaze on the casual man. "If I may be frank, Kusanagi-san, I think a lot of your problem is the men your king chooses to join his clan. It is no secret that his main informant was previously a member of a notorious Yakuza group. They call him the Red Lion, and coincidently enough, that incident at the harbour retaliated against his group of origin."

"Now I'm the one who's impressed," he drawled with intrigue. "Just how did you manage to put all that together in less than a month?"

"I have my ways," she purred strictly. "But the real reason I wanted to meet with you was to see if you were as callous as the rumours tell."

Izumo's hands fumbled with the glassware he was handling, and he had to scramble to keep it from striking the floor. "Eh? You think I'm the Red Lion?"

There was no mercy in the woman's icy glower. "Are you going to deny that too?"

After a staggering moment, Izumo sighed with a fond smile and returned his easygoing demeanour. "Well, of course," he assured her confidently. "It wouldn't be fair of me to take credit where it isn't due. Our little lion worked hard to become so revered. Although she prefers Red Lioness, if you would, Lieutenant."

It was Seri's turn to be bewildered by the words to join their conversation. "S-she?

His gaze shifted towards the door as his endearing smile remained, and Seri's was soon to follow. "And she's not great with introductions, so I wouldn't expect one anytime soon."

"T-that young girl… She's-?"

"Now, now," he strategically interrupted. "I recommend you take care not to look down on her for her age. She's seen more action than half'a my boys." His tapering leer focussed roguishly on her startled reaction. "Besides, you can't be much older than she is." Catching the sheepish hesitation in her typically commanding demeanour, he held out his upturned palm with a mischievous smirk. "Speaking of which, I'm gonna need to see some ID, miss."

At first, the flush in Seri's cheeks could have been mistaken for rage as she stood, but after she reclaimed her handbag, she was offering the bartender a surprisingly welcoming smile. "I suppose this is your victory, Kusanagi Izumo."

He lowered his palm to join the other on top of the bar. "Don't be like that," he comforted kindly. "It's not my intent to come off sounding pretentious. I meant it when I said that I think we can get along just fine."

"I also don't see any reason why we couldn't converse politically," she admitted vaguely. "But it would appear that I still have a lot to learn."

"Well, feel free to come by anytime you feel like it," he invited. "Or, in case I'm not here, maybe you wanna exchange numbers. Just in case curiosity strikes outside of business hours."

Seri narrowly stifled a dim chortle. "I get the feeling that subtlety isn't the strong suit of anyone operating under the Third King."

"I wish I could assure you that Neirah and I are anomalies, but the truth is, you're probably more accurate than you realize."

"I'll keep that in mind," Seri crooned in a friendly manner. "Next time you see her, please tell your little sister that I apologize for making her feel uncomfortable."

"Yeah. A lion's pretty particular about its mane."

With an instigating leer over her shoulder, Seri braced her lean fingers on the doorway before making her final remark. "Lioness' don't have manes."

As he dropped his waving hand to the sight of her departure, he couldn't help but chuckle. "Maybe that's what makes ours so terrifying."

Hm? Izumo tilted his gaze to watch the street begin to buzz with laughter, and, sure enough, his brood of boisterous clansmen was returning. It always entertained him to watch the way his colleagues fluttered around their king like moths to a flame. In a way, he found it ironic. But no matter how brightly that fire burned, it could never outshine the smiles on their faces.

"Kusanagi-san look!" From where she lingered draped over Rikio's shoulders, Neirah's fond expression beamed utter joy. "I found King-sama, and he brought snacks!" She whined softly the moment Mikoto released his cigarette so that he could palm the braying woman's head.

"Kid, I'm not gonna say it again."

"Sorry, Mikoto-sama."

"You're hopeless."

"Sorry that it took so long. We walked Fujishima home. His parents get worried when he's out too late." Rikio sighed and crouched so that Neirah could climb off his shoulders. "Nē-chan, you really need to stop wearing those shoes all day. I can't carry you everywhere."

"That's what I've been tellin' her!" Misaki argued.

As soon as Rikio opened his eyes to support Misaki's claim, he came eye-to-ruby-eye with a young Strain who seemed fascinated by the concept of piggyback rides. "Oh, Anna? Is something the matter?" Rikio's expression dimmed apprehensively as the child gently shook her head, her lips concealed by the frilly cuff of her dress. "Ah… do you want one too?" He laughed awkwardly as the blushing doll quickly nodded her head with an eager sparkle in her eye. "Well, alright, then. Hold on tight, okay?"

From where he watched Rikio volunteering his services, Saburōta let a wicked snicker sound around the plain cookie side of the strawberry Pocky he was eating backwards. "That's rough," he noted wryly. "Onē-san's done it this time. Now Anna-chan's always gonna want-" His words were stollen by startled yelps when Neirah bounced by, shoving her fingers down against the beak of his cap so that it covered his eyes. Then, before he could interject, she chomped off the dipped end of his cookie. "Ah-h ha! What the hell was that for?!"

"Don't act coy," Neirah tormented. "You were eating it backwards. You were practically begging someone to steal it."

A blushing Saburōta finished munching what remained of his cookie before throwing his fist out at her. "I was saving the best for last! That's not weird at all!"

Saburōta was immediately dropping his head a second time as Yō swatted his cap off the top. "Shit, do you have to be so damn loud?" He didn't even bother to meet Neirah's concerned gaze as he passed by her and cracked the top off his soda bottle. Then, he took a moment to consider how he was going to drink and smoke at the same time. "And Nē-chan shouldn't lead him on like that."

"Yeah!" Misaki added supportively. He made his way to Neirah's side with a welcoming smile on his blushing face. "Besides, Kusanagi-san said you should be back here somewhere around ten, so we picked some up for you too!" He rummaged through his pockets for a moment before pulling out a box and a bottle. "I remember the other day on the roof you said you had strawberry candies, so I figured ya probably liked 'em, and Chitose said you liked fermented tea. It was either that or coffee with way too much cream in it, and the thought of that just made me gag." Even though he wrinkled his nose to consider the flavour himself, he didn't let his judgment pass on her tastes. "See? Now you don't have to share with stupid Bandō."

Saburōta couldn't hide his bitter discouragement as he snapped back at Misaki's insult. "What if I wanted to share?!"

Neirah turned sadly to where Yō was unusually sitting quietly on his own, without adding his two cents to the conversation. "Uh oh, woman troubles?" She turned her tender gaze over her shoulder to the sound of Masaomi snorting derisively at her assumptions.

"Is it ever anything else?" he muttered grimly. "Just give him some space to figure out that his will to live isn't at the bottom of a bottle, and he should be right back at it tomorrow."

"Wise words from my most trusted and loyal friend," Yō snapped back sardonically. Before he could kick up more of a fuss, Neirah had taken a seat at the bar next to him and offered him a tender smile as she nudged his hand with hers.

"Do you want to play with my bracelet?"

Yō seemed to consider the warmth in her statement for a moment before an appreciative smile was curling his lips around his cigarette. Surrendering to her comfort, he dropped his hand to caress the dark bangle with its match lingering just beneath the contact around his wrist. "Yeah, that might help."

"Is Fushimi not with you?" Izumo interrupted curiously. "I swear he was when you left."

From behind his soda, Misaki made a disapproving face and snorted his impatience while he seated himself on the other side of Neirah. "Yeah, then he gave some lame excuse and left. Don't worry, Kusanagi-san. I'll give 'im hell when I get home."

"I wouldn't worry about it," Izumo calmly refuted. "It's not like it's a prerequisite to spend every waking hour together."

Misaki snapped forward like the man had just insulted him. "What do you mean?! We're a team! We've gotta stick together! What if Mikoto-san needs us and we're not there?! I mean, with those blue bastards sneaking around and all-"

"Sneaking?" Izumo chuckled lowly. "Is that what you think they're doing?"

"Well… yeah, kinda."

"Speaking of togetherness," Neirah instigated quietly. "Has anyone seen Tat-chan? I haven't seen him since I left."

Misaki cocked a brow curiously. "Huh? I thought he was with you? Didn't you guys go somewhere around five-ish?"

Neirah's expression dropped to consider Izumo's white-lie. "Yes, how could I have forgotten..."

"Anna, can I stop now?" Rikio groaned when he turned over his shoulder to meet the frantic shaking of Anna's head.

After an unconcerned shrug, Misaki seemed to dismiss the urgency of the topic. "Seems weird when you think about it."

"I don't find it suspicious in the slightest," Izumo instigated casually nearby.

Neirah raised from her seat and quickly shuffled towards the door. "Right, well, I seem to have just remembered where I left him, so I should probably get going." She was careful to flash Izumo a lethal glower just in case he missed the edge in her tone as she spoke. Upon dropping her gaze, she directed a quick bow towards Misaki. "Thank you for the snacks, Yata."

When she started away from the bar in a light jog, Misaki spat out his drink and fell forward in his seat, nearly choking on the remains. "How the hell did she know I was the one that got them for her?!"

"She's not stupid, you know," Masaomi instigated. "You've been acting super nice to her since that whole thing with Tetsuko."

"I already told you," Izumo rumbled impatiently. "She isn't upset with you about interrupting her that day."

Misaki whirled his bashful expression to face his superior. "Yeah, but did she tell you that herself?!"

"I think I know why Fushimi left," Yō grumbled. "You two just aren't meant to be on the same page. Deal with it."

"Why don't you just talk to her?" Izumo prompted. "Seeing how you can do that now."

"I dunno, it's just… still kinda weird," Misaki muttered under his breath. "I can never tell what she's thinking." He whimpered when Izumo approached and laid his hands against the bar in front of him with a sinister grin flashing his annoyance.

"Then ask her."

Sure enough, when Neirah had returned home, all of the lights were still on, and she had to wonder if Tatara had ever left the apartment. She let herself in, setting her empty bottle of Kombucha on the counter before trying to locate her roommate. "Tat-chan, I'm home!" She stepped through the room, a knot in her face as she searched for him. "Tat-chan? Have you been here all day? Have you eaten anything?"

Suddenly, her breathing hitched as she approached the sight of him hunched over his guitar, his folded arms resting against the couch arm that supported his sleeping head. With a gentle sigh, her fond smile returned, and she approached the heartwarming sight. "Oh, what did you do?"

She started by lifting him and apprehending his instrument, then, to keep him from stirring too much, she replaced it on the couch arm. She laid him back into her lap as she took up his notebook, letting him continue to nap away the exhaustion of working on his song all day. He seemed dedicated to his project, and it began to show in the beautiful lyrics she started to read from his pages. She felt the sentiment welling within her as she slid her fingers through his hair, his song hummed softly from within her aching chest as she imagined the words on the paper syncing to his melody. It still wasn't complete, but she could tell that, by the end of the project, it would touch the lives of every last one of them. It reminded her that Tatara might have been the most important member of their clan.