For all the excitement Shinpachi experience the previous night, it did not take long for him to drift off to sleep without so much as a thought about Kagura. If he had any dreams that night, they weren't very memorable ones, because as soon as he closed his eyes, he opened them nearly a second later, and it had already been morning. He was about to turn on his side and go back to sleep until...

"Whoa!" exclaimed Shinpachi.

Upon seeing Kagura's stupid grin right in his face, Shinpachi nearly jumped right out of his skin. Actually, he just jumped back into the pile of magazines near his futon. By the time he had gathered himself, Kagura was back in his face, close enough for him to see the dust on her eyelashes.

"Guess what I'm holding behind my back," said Kagura.

Shinpachi found it most likely to be a torture device of sorts, or maybe one of those seaweed snacks she loved so much. But his heart dropped when she unveiled what it actually was. A video tape. He was pretty sure he knew what the tape was of.

"Bet you slept well last night, uh-huh," said Kagura, still grinning.

Though Shinpachi was mentally kicking himself in the balls for being caught on camera, he was also surprised she wasn't angry or upset about the ordeal. But then came the catch.

"Now that calls for something extra for me to keep my mouth closed," said Kagura.

Shinpachi groaned and asked, "Like what?"

"You're buying me dinner tonight, uh-huh," replied Kagura.

This one took Shinpachi by surprise. It sounded unusually normal for Kagura. Especially since her past definition of trading favors meant humiliating him. It almost sounded like she was asking him on a date. But he had no doubt there was yet another catch. That there was a trap being laid for him.

"Buying you dinner?" asked Shinpachi, "Why? What kind of torture are you going to have me endure for that?"

"Torture?" asked Kagura, faking surprise, "Why would I torture you by having you buy me dinner? There's no sense in that, right?"

He would have explained the many things that made him believe otherwise, but she had already made her way out the door, smiling as she left.

Eventually, Shinpachi stumbled down to the living room in their apartment. Gin was being his lazy usual self and reading Shonen Jump while laying upside down on the couch. Kagura was also being her usual lazy self by laying on her side while eating potato chips. And then Sadaharu came in through the window to Kagura's feet.

Funny, thought Shinpachi, If I play with her feet, I get blackmailed, but Sadaharu gets to lick them just because he's her pet?

That was exactly what transpired. Given the size comparison, Kagura's foot was minuscule in comparison to Sadaharu's tongue. Her foot could probably fit in his whole mouth. But she didn't mind because he was a giant dog. He was her pet.

So what did that make Shinpachi?

As promised, Shinpachi escorted Kagura to dinner later that night, something Gin would normally poke fun at him for if he didn't have his nose buried in Shonen Jump. Shinpachi went out in his usual attire, but Kagura had completely dressed up. Donning a pink kimono instead of her usual clothes, she added a flower to her hair and wore open-toed sandals with knee-socks. He took her to a restaurant a couple blocks down, but still couldn't shake the feeling that she was up to something. It was true she did look girlier than she usually preferred. Maybe she really was trying to put on a good look for him?

Ah, but that's just it, Shinpachi thought to himself, That's all they are. Looks. She's gotta be up to something.

The conversation had been fairly normal for the occasion. Kagura would occasionally throw in a jab at Shinpachi's self-esteem, but that was more or less normal between them. Kagura certainly planned to bleed Shinpachi's wallet dry, because she was chomping down whatever food items appealed to her. Maybe that really was as bad as it would get? At least the part about footing the bill.

"Maybe we should take the rest to go, Shinpachi-kun?" asked Kagura.

I saw no reason why not. Our waiter placed what was left of my noodles in a box and we went back home. Gin STILL had his nose buried in Shonen Jump, and hardly even noticed when we came in. I thought to myself that this was actually a nice night out. Even if it was with the alien girl who was blackmailing me.

Until I walked back into my own room where I thought I left my food. It was still in the box, yes...but Kagura was sticking her feet in it!

"What?" asked Kagura, "You didn't actually believe me when I said there wasn't a catch? You're pretty dumb, uh-huh!"

I cursed at myself for not having seen this coming. Who knows where those feet have been? It's one thing to be worshiping her feet, but eating food with her foot odor as a special ingredient? Undoubtedly increased while wearing knee socks. The noodles were ruined.

"I should have known better than to trust you," I said begrudgingly, sitting down to suck up my latest punishment.

I was waiting for her to make one of her usual snarky retorts in response. Even when I placed some of my noodles on my chopsticks, she didn't say anything.

"Well?" I asked.

"Well what?" asked Kagura, "Just eat your noodles."

I did so, else I face her wrath again. Though she didn't seem in her usual mood. She almost looked...I want to say upset about what I said? But this is Kagura I'm thinking of. She wouldn't actually have more motive for this than just humiliating me, right?

As much as I loathe to admit...the noodles didn't taste all that bad.