This one really went off in a direction I didn't expect.

Title: Awkward Conversations

Rating: T

Summary: In which Kagura and Okita get stuck in the back room of a sleazy saloon with nothing except a lot of time to kill and several magazines, and Kagura decides to quiz Okita on some personal subjects. Not really "awkward conversations"—I went off on a tangent with in the piece.

Up Next: Some Kamui/Kagura Sentences, written for DatAznKid, who submitted a detailed review and was kind enough to make a request.

"Explain again why we can't just bust our way out?"

"Besides the fact that it would deprive you of my company?"

"No, because I just adore spending time listening to you snark."

"Big words, China, maybe you are growing up. Except—" a smirk. "Shouldn't there be some physical growth? Somewhere?"

Blue eyes snapped. "Two seconds, Sadist."

A pause.

The girl unfurled her umbrella.

The boy locked eyes with her.

Blue clashed with chocolate.

Just try it, Kagura.

She went for it, faking left before darting to the right, closing the space between them with a speed that should have left any mortal far behind. Unfortunately, Sougo Okita wasn't mortal.

He was Shinsengumi.

Kagura almost yelled in frustration when she found her umbrella blocked by a wooden sword, only to remember where they were and how it would be very bad if word got out that she was here. She settles for a growl instead, a feral, Yato sound that she hoped scared the blonde in front of her.

Okita was experiencing another feeling completely. Kagura had been wearing civilian clothing when he caught her sneaking around, and in their brief tussle the blouse had been torn in several places. The flashes of skin combined with the noise she was making was, frankly, turning him on.

Focus, Sougo.

"Are you finished?" he said lazily, keeping his voice low, "You're about to destroy a very important operation. One that we've been planning for months."

Kagura rolled her eyes. "Sadist, you push me in a tiny room in the back of the sleaziest saloon in Edo. You're not in disguise, and you were obviously embarrassed to get caught here. You really expect me to believe that this is an 'operation?'"

"Air-quoting it won't make it any less true. Besides, most girls would kill to be in your position."

"I'm this close to screaming for help, Okita. Getting yelled at by Gin-chan will be worth escaping—"

"—your feelings for me? Sorry, they're inescapable." Okita sighed at the look on Kagura's face, "Honestly, Kagura. Can you just trust me? There's a very bad person who will get away if we blow our cover. It'll be an hour, tops, and then you can go brag that you helped nail the biggest drug lord in Edo."

Kagura studied his eyes, and he briefly wondered what she saw as her lips twitched. "Ok," she said, "But you need to answer a few questions for me."

"No, there isn't an antidote to your undying love for me. My turn. Why are you here? You've mentioned that Gintoki would be less than thrilled to know you're in the most notorious saloon in Edo."

"I'm here because I needed these," Kagura grabbed a couple magazines off the ground, where'd she'd dropped them after her initial scuffle with Okita. She blushed at his raised eyebrows but held up a hand when he started to ask another question. "My turn."

She paused, and Okita's eyes disappeared into his hairline as her face reddened considerably. Pulling a piece of paper from her pocket, she opened and read hesitantly, "In what situation should a girl realize that her p-partner wants s-sex?"

Awkward silence.

Kagura wouldn't look at him. "Gin-chan's making me take sex-ed," she grumbled, "Something about how I was bugging him with too many questions and needing to learn some important things about womanhood."

Okita smothered a grin. "Let me guess, he wrote the test."

"Shinpachi helped."

The image of those two collaborating over the sheet of paper Kagura held in her hand was too much. He doubled over, barely remembering to keep his laughter subdued as he clutched at his stomach. To her credit, Kagura didn't hit him. She did, however, sweep his feet out from under him with one of hers.

He landed neatly with his legs criss-crossed and patted the ground beside him. "Are there any less ambiguous questions on there? That one could be any sort of answer, and, knowing your sensei, it's probably the one that makes no sense."

Kagura sat down reluctantly, referring back to her notes. "What length is an appropriate skirt-level for YOU?"

"Let me guess, the 'you' was emphasized." Okita's mouth quirked as Kagura nodded. "The correct answer is a centimeter, but the one Gin's looking for is to your ankles." He smirked as Kagura struggled between glaring at him and scribbling the answer down. "See, no sense whatsoever."

"When strange men offer to give you rides, what should your response be?"

"Go to he—"

"Sadist, if you're not going to help me, then I'll fill it out myself." She bit on the edge of her eraser before writing something, eyes traveling down the page as she focused on the next problem.

Okita managed to resist peeking over her shoulder for all of five seconds, and then he moved to sit beside her.

Despite the fact that it was a regular sheet of paper, there were close to fifty questions, most of which had been answered with Kagura's messy scrawl. Okita's eyes widened as they scanned some of her responses.

Does she really think that it's normal to run a background check on any guy who talks to her for longer than a minute?

"China, if you follow these guidelines, you'll never get a—" he stopped, frowning at his seeming inability to finish his sentence.

"Kagura," she said, seemingly not noticing his lapse.

"What?"

"My name's Kagura." She was chewing the eraser again, and he couldn't help but find it distracting.

"Kagura, if you follow Gin's ideas of proper behavior, you'll never—"

Why can't I finish?

Kagura finally looked up, blue eyes inquisitive. "Never what? Get a date?"

His stomach sank. "Get a boyfriend. These rules are way too lax. What kind of guardian is that silver-haired psycho of yours if he thinks letting you talk to strange guys at all is a good thing?" Forcing a yawn, he turned to face the wall. "Whatever. I'm bored. Hijikata better hurry up the operation or I'm going to bust out and take care of it myself."

"I know he's being protective, you know," Kagura's voice was affectionate, "I'm not stupid." He heard a shift in her voice, "What I don't understand, however, is why you're trying to protect me." This was spoken in an undertone, and he pretended not to hear.

He'd had enough of awkward conversations for one day.

But tomorrow—perhaps we'll talk again.