Rebel Heart

23:14 – Totsuki, Japan – Four months after the Regiment de Cuisine

He'd told her once that she'd had a rebel heart; she wasn't sure she believed him, but it was evident, even then, that Yukihira had seen something in her – something that had clearly struck a chord close to home. She hasn't been a rebel in a while now, though – hasn't had much time to relax with the dust still settling from the collapse of her father's regime.

Erina Nakiri hates to admit defeat, but even she has to acknowledge that the work is taking its toll. She's exhausted, and it's all she can do to remain calm as her first seat had questioned her intentions for sending him away.

Despite Hisako and Tadokoro's best efforts, they had ended up arguing long into the night after all. By the time they're done shouting at one another, the sky is a deep shade of blue, stars and moon aglow. She's sitting by the window, winded and agitated, and for a moment she can't help but wonder how exactly they'd managed to work together to overthrow the previous regime at all.

Yukihira evidently reads her without a hitch – the man strides up to her side and peers into the sky. She catches the faintest glimpse of a smile.

"This is kinda like that night in the train, isn't it?"

She rolls her eyes. "Except I hadn't just spent the night yelling at you then."

He laughs, and the anger abates. Something flutters inside her – something she hasn't yet had the time to acknowledge.

In lieu of any verbal response, Erina can only scowl.

"You know, Nakiri, there's a very simple solution to that. Just stop shouting."

"You're so thick-headed sometimes that it's the only way it'll get through!"

"I heard you," He sighs, then shoves her legs gently aside to make room for himself on the cushioned bay window seat. She wiggles aside a little to allow his feet room by her hips, her own settling in close by his. "Go to this town with Tadokoro. Find out what the hell is going on. Don't set anything on fire. Don't make unnecessary waves. Come back in one piece."

She bristles at the mention of Tadokoro. The mere thought of it is enough to make her snap.

She'd really been looking forward to a break from administration work.

"Yes," She grumbles. "Come back and help me with this paperwork that's been piling up."

Yukihira smirks. "You are aware the stack's only so high because you're pedantic as all hell, right?"

"No." She fights back the urge to kick him in the chest. "You see that stack over there? It's the new course materials we've been working on to include the new suggestions raised in our last meeting. That stack over there? Budget approvals. This stack over here, interviews with the newspapers and magazines. I had to fill in your portion of that Saveur Japan article, by the way. You're welcome."

At that, Yukihira has the decency to look a little bit embarrassed, letting out a soft, sheepish chuckle. He runs a hand through his hair – it's shorter now, closer cropped at the sideburns to give him a dastardly rogueish appearance. He knows it too, the bastard – more than once, she's caught several underclassmen giggling in his direction, only to immediately witness him turning to her with a wink and a smile, as if to say, 'Right?'.

Unlike Alice, who's been throwing hissy fits for two weeks straight, she hasn't decided how she feels about Yukihira's groupies.

"I'm sure you put in all the PR-correct responses, Nakiri. You're good at that stuff," He looks up at her, his smile softening a bit – the way it does whenever he's about to say something serious. And sure enough, he does. "I just don't think you should work yourself so hard. You should be coming with me. Whatever happened to the Queen who was no longer content to sit pretty while the troops went to work?"

She sighs. "Do my ears deceive me, or did you just call me pretty?"

"Stop dodging the question. Is it always gonna be like this?"

Yukihira's eyes are focused upon her face, and oddly enough, the intensity of his gaze it makes her a little uncomfortable. It's never bothered her before – but lately, things have been different. There's something in the air, she thinks, something that changes the way friends of different genders looked at one another.

The streak of irritation rises once more. It's not Tadokoro's fault everyone else is busy as shit this week. It's not Tadokoro's fault she has to go with him. If she reminds herself enough times, she thinks she might stop resenting the tenth seat for her good fortune.

"I don't know." She answers as honestly as she can. "Things are still crazy right now."

Yukihira sighs. "I know," He admits. "I guess I was just hoping to spend more time with you now that we're friends." A pause – then a smile spreads slowly across his face, warming her heart like butter on toast. "You're kind of great, Nakiri."

"And in contrast, you suck," She tells him, drawing a laugh from the man. "But I kind of like you too."

19:42 – Windvane Baths, A Certain Prefecture's Hot Spring Town – Three days later

Contrary to his original belief that their little mission would leave time for some rest and relaxation, Yukihira is exhausted beyond belief. His feet ache, and he hates to admit defeat, but the day's work had yielded little more than statements from concerned customers and neighbours alike. He's starting to wonder what exactly Nakiri had intended for them to accomplish when a knock sounds on the door.

The innkeeper pokes her head through the door. "Can I take your plates?"

"Of course! It was delicious." Tadokoro steps aside to let the woman through. He watches as they make light chatter, running through the day's happenings and discoveries in his mind. It's not too late yet, and there'll be time to ring Nakiri back at Totsuki to give his report.

Knowing her, it'll have to be a short one.

He sighs, glancing out the window. It's the same starry sky that greets him beyond, but one that brings little peace. If anything, he's eager to pass out and get back to work the next day. Nakiri's voice echoes in his head, haughty and imperious as always. Touched with a hint of affection. Intrinsically Nakiri. The sooner you get it done, the sooner you get back here.

He doesn't notice that Tadokoro's talking at him until she strides right up to him. There's a magazine in her hands, and as she hands it to him, he notes the look of concern in her eyes. "Ah, sorry. I was just spaced out a bit."

"You must be really tired," She sets down a cup of tea, then nods at the magazine in question. "The innkeeper wanted you to see the latest Saveur."

The picture that greets him on the front cover is a familiar one. He can't help but smile at it – they'd been messing around the day of the photoshoot, the queen in her regal chair and her first seat by her side, ready to fight the battles she could not on her own. She'd made fun of his over-the-top Shounen-hero pose. He'd flicked at her hair, ruffling the blonde tresses each time she took her eyes off him. Eventually, she'd grabbed his hand to make him stop, and they'd ended up a stupid laughing mess.

Literally one good shot came out of that three-hour photoshoot, the rest 'ruined' one way or another by a laugh, a smile, or by the intimacy they shared.

It's a good memory and he's happy to drown in it, so it's no surprise he doesn't hear Tadokoro when she speaks. "I wish we could stay here forever," He says absently. Nakiri's eyes gleam on the cover of the magazine, as if to say 'maybe next time'. It really is too bad.


A/N - Thanks for all the reviews, guys! I have to point out that my main platform of choice is Tumblr. Feel free to PM me for my handle if you'd rather follow me there. As to updates - they may be frequent or infrequent depending on my prompts or if the mood strikes me like today. Either way, this fix it was necessary for the garbage that is Chapter 264.

For posterity's sake, I think we can go ahead and agree that this collection of one shots does not happen in order, nor do they adhere to canon.

Also if you've got any thoughts, please do review! It brightens my day and I really love hearing what y'all think. :) Cheers, and thanks, until next time!