"Fifty ryo says I can get her to blush." was Kotetsu Hagane's last remark over his shoulder before marching into the shop. He sauntered over to the table I was working at, and when I didn't look up, casually leaned a hand in my line of sight.

This again. And the day had been going so peacefully too… I sighed inwardly, finishing another pass of the iron before carefully setting it on the side and looking up at his cocky smirk. Why did I have to work at the tailor's that the shinobi frequented? Oh yes, because if I left it would make my boss cry and I owed her my life for removing my name from the clan registry. Damn guilt-tripping woman. I folded my hands over the garment I was working on and raised my eyebrows. "Is there something you need Hagane?"

His smile widened. "Oh, I just wanted to say you look absolutely lovely today- like always. You know that apron really suits you."

I nodded noncommittally. "I assume that's why the owner picked it out as the uniform."

"Well, it looks great on you." Kotetsu leaned further over the table, "Say, Kiko, how about a date?"

"No." I picked up the iron again and got back to work.

I saw him pout at his friend waiting outside from my peripheral vision. Turning back he cajoled, "Come on, I can show you a really good time~"

"Don't tempt a woman with a hot iron near your fingers Hagane." I told him.

"Is that a yes?" he asked, but removed his hand from the ironing board nonetheless.

"It is a threat." I told him blandly. "If you don't stop perusing me, I will make you wish you did."

He chuckled nervously before regaining his bravado. "Big words for a cute little civilian woman."

I gave him a brief look. "I never said I'd do it myself."

"Ah what I meant was…" He coughed, then regained his confidence for the second time. "Anything I can do to change your mind?" He asked in a low, seductive voice.

"No."

"Nothing?" He asks again.

I considered, then told him in the sweetest voice I could manage, though it sounded mostly like my usual monotone only higher, "Nothing would please me more, Hagane, if…"

"If?" He took the bait.

I looked away coyly, then up through my bangs and said, "Nothing would please me more than if you'd go away and leave me alone."

He blanched, "What? Kiko you wound me!"

"I'm sure you've had worse." I told him dryly.

"Why do you keep rejecting me, my love?" Kotetsu asked with a dramatic hand to his heart.

"Hm." I thought about it. Because I won't win your bets for you? Because you're not really interested? I decided to go with my third reason. "You bother me."

He shook his head morosely. "I'm sorry to hear that, Kiko-"

"Are you really?" I muttered.

"-because I have some clothes that need to be fixed and I only trust you to do it."

I sighed in relief. Finally, down to business. "Alright. Where are these clothes?"

"I'm wearing them."

I gave him my most unimpressed look.


~Omake~

Kotetsu groaned as he left the shop in just his boxers, Izumo merely smiling at his friend's pain. "I believe you owe me fifty ryo, Kotetsu."

"Oh shut up!" Kotetsu complained. "I've got needle pricks all along my leg from this dumb bet. Haven't I suffered enough?"

Izumo raised an eyebrow. "It was your idea to have her sew your pants while you were wearing them…"

Kotetsu grumbled, rubbing his inner thigh. "Vicious woman."

"…and while I do love seeing you in pain my dear friend, I still want my fifty ryo." Izumo held out his hand expectantly.

Kotetsu crossed his arms. "Hah! No way, she totally blushed when I took my shirt off. So if anything, you owe me!"

"She did not, I was looking through the window." Izumo pointed out.

"Then you weren't close enough to see!"

"Why don't we go back and ask her then?" Izumo asked smugly.

Kotetsu paled, "Ah no. I'm not getting near that place until my leg recovers from being used as a pincushion. I'll fork over the cash." He patted his butt then promptly lost the rest of the color from his face. "Ah shit, I left it in my pants' pocket!"

Izumo's laughter could be heard down the block.