Chapter 2: Friendship
It was a peaceful night. Somewhat cloudy, but mild and breezy in a way that made the trees sway gently and rustle softly. The moon was closer than usual and washed everything in a silvery glow. Mamushi looked out over the small garden courtyard in front of her room. She didn't often allow herself to enjoy things like this, but she figured since no one was watching, no one would ever need to know just how beautiful she thought this night was. She even allowed a small sigh to escape as she took in her surroundings.

"You know, I love it when you make that noise."

She nearly jumped out of her skin at the sudden interruption. Of course he was here, and of course he'd been watching, ready to make fun of her at the opportune moment. Her expression immediately dropped into her trademark scowl. She rolled her eyes at his comment and continued to gaze out into the night, hoping if she ignored him for long enough he'd leave her alone.

He came out from behind one of the cherry blossom trees and strolled right over to the door jamb she was leaning on. He kept his gaze fixated in the same place hers was, but maintaining a cocky smirk he leant down to her ear and whispered, "I love it even more when you make it for me."

She spun round glaring at him. "What the hell do you want Juzo?" She abandoned her original plan, unable to let him say things like that and get away with it. She knew what he was doing and hated how easy it was to get a rise out of her; she knew if she didn't react this would go a lot more quickly but she couldn't help herself. Something about this idiot never failed to piss her off.

He chuckled loudly and leant back against the door. "Nothing much, just thought I'd come see if you're busy. Or, you know, if you wanted to be."

She felt the faint blush she sustained from his words previously flush it's way all over her face. She couldn't keep up the eye contact for fear of imploding, so she whipped her head around to once again face the scenery. His advances were not unfounded; for the last week they had somehow found themselves in each other's rooms every single night. She wasn't a hundred percent sure how this had all started happening. The first night had followed a lengthy discussion about their mutual lack of experience; it only made sense it would end that way. She assumed that was all it would ever be – a confusing but not at all unpleasant experience that they soon forgot about. However, when she worked up the courage the next day to go talk to him about it, the same thing ended up happening again. And again the next night. And the next three nights after that. If she was being completely honest his advances were not at all unwelcome either; she enjoyed how openly he expressed his want to be with her so that she didn't have to.

"You know, you could get into big trouble if anyone saw you here. You're not meant to be over on our side of the complex this late."

"Yeah, yeah, what else is new?" he drawled sarcastically, turning to face her. "So?"

"So what?" she challenged, looking defiantly into his eyes. He'd had it way too easy for way too long now, and he had to be taught that she was not the kind of girl that is so easily won over.

He smirked again. God, she hated that smirk. Every time he did something to make her lose control, even just slightly, he got that cocky smile on his face. As if he knew what she really wanted. She hated to admit he usually did.

He moved his hand up to her jaw, as if to pull her in for a kiss. He leant in so close she could smell the shampoo he used, but stopped there. And his hand didn't cup her cheek but moved to pull her hair loose from it's ties. She didn't realise till she felt her hair come cascading down her shoulders that her eyes had shut automatically and her head had craned forward to meet his lips. She quickly opened her eyes to a laughing Juzo and felt her face redden even more than before. "S-shut up! You're gonna wake everyone up if you keep laughing like that!" she scolded unconvincingly.

"Looks like I know you better than you know yourself, Mamushi," he said in between laughs, which pissed her off even more. She pushed him back and retreated inside her room.

"Go away Juzo, I'm not sleeping with you tonight." He lightly grabbed her wrist as she tried to disappear from his view.

"Wait, wait, I'm sorry. Come on," he spoke gently to coax her back out again. She eyed him suspiciously but paused in her doorway. "I didn't come over here just for that, we can just talk or hang out or something." It was his turn to blush a light pink shade, and he said his piece looking sheepishly down at the ground.

Mamushi still looked at him suspiciously. She was slightly lost for words. "What?"

He looked up at her. "What? What's wrong with that?"

"Why are you being weird?"

"I'm not being weird!" he shouted, too loudly to be acceptable. Scared he might have woken someone up he stopped talking, listening for noises. When they heard some rustling coming from Uwabami's room and the light turning on, she quickly grabbed his yukata and yanked him into her room, shutting the door swiftly but quietly. They waited in silence for a few minutes before Mamushi peeked her head round the corner and saw the light had turned off again. She breathed a sigh of relief and turned her attention back to Juzo.

She eyed him up and down, trying to assess what he wanted exactly. Wouldn't just talking be weird now they were...? She didn't even know what. "You really want to just 'hang out'?"

"I mean, we're still friends, right? I like hanging out with you. And besides," he smirked again, getting his confidence back, "seven nights in a row with me might blow your mind."

"You're awfully confident for someone with no validation whatsoever."

"Ha, you having to bite your lip to stay quiet is all the validation I need." She smacked his arm hard. "Ow!"

"Fine," she said quietly, "let's just chat then."

"Alright," he said smiling widely, taking a seat on her floor.

"But no sexy talk," she warned as she sat opposite him with her legs folded.

"Alright fine!" he laughed as they settled back into their normal conversation, glad that at least some things wouldn't ever change between them.