Sorry for a bit of a late post on this one. So Okita and Kagura are still in the theater this week. Thanks for reading! ^-^
Kagura walked into the theater and set the bathtub full of popcorn on the chair next to her, as Okita sat on her other side, leaving behind a confused employee named Bob and a large pot of poison ivy.
As "Alien vs. Yakuza" began to play, Kagura plunged her hand into the bathtub of popcorn and left her hand to operate mechanically from the tub to her mouth and back.
Dramatic Music 1
*Yakuza sits at bar, sighs. Looks intellectual. Oy, that doesn't mean put on glasses and read the dictionary, idiot! No that isn't what it sounded like I meant. Honestly, are you even listening to me? Fine. What I meant was to look pensive. Like you are thinking deep thoughts. Stare off into space. That's it! Perfect!*
YAKUZA: The world is changing, isn't it?
MAN NEXT TO HIM: It is.
YAKUZA: Isn't it, though?
MAN NEXT TO HIM: It sure is.
YAKUZA: That's right.
MAN NEXT TO HIM: You've got it.
YAKUZA: I sure do.
*Oy! You sound like you've forgotten your lines. Why was that in the script? Who wrote that? What was the point of those last few lines? Was there any point? Oh, bonding? It was so MAN NEXT TO HIM could be a Meaningful Character? Well, I suppose we can still salvage the scene.*
YAKUZA: What's a Meaningful Character?
*There's no hope. There is no longer any hope.*
Enter ALIEN.
ALIEN attacks MAN NEXT TO HIM
YAKUZA looks devastated.
YAKUZA: How dare you? How dare you touch the MAN NEXT TO ME?
ALIEN: Grrr.
YAKUZA: So that's how it is? You two knew each other in grade school? You sat next to each other?
ALIEN nods.
YAKUZA: He was rich?
ALIEN: Grrr.
YAKUZA: He was an aristocrat?
ALIEN: Grrr.
YAKUZA: He was a duke?
ALIEN: Grrr.
YAKUZA: You think you've known the DUKE longer than me?
ALIEN: Grrr.
YAKUZA: Still not enough, ALIEN.
YAKUZA turns to DUKE.
YAKUZA: DUKE, I am your father.
Okita was watching Kagura, who was absorbed by the drama. She felt his eyes on her and turned to look at him. He reached for the popcorn, but she forced his hand away from it possessively.
"That's my popcorn."
"Is that a challenge?"
"Not particularly."
"Can I take it like one?"
"Do what you want. It's still my popcorn."
"Not for long!"
She stopped his hand again with an arm wrestling grip.
"Let's settle this by arm wrestling!"
"Where would we find a flat surface?"
"Right here!"
"Armrest-ling?
"Why else would they call it that?"
ALIEN attacks YAKUZA.
He checked. She was still guarding the popcorn.
Heavy rain begins.
Still alert.
Turn on fans.
He pretended to focus on the movie.
Teary music 1.
And Kagura was absorbed once more by "Alien vs. Yakuza." Okita's arm snaked deftly behind her, creeping towards the popcorn, and then darting out all at once. His hand was in the popcorn when Kagura realized he'd gotten to it. She immediately pinned his arm in place, throwing her whole weight into the back of her chair. They remained in a stalemate until,
YAKUZA stands up, facing wind.
DUKE: Is this true, YAKUZA?
YAKUZA: No, I made it up. I wanted to protect you from the alien.
DUKE: You would do that for me?
YAKUZA: No. I do what I do for mankind. But I am accepting donations.
Kagura's back relaxed, and Okita felt that his arm was no longer held but simply resting across her shoulders. He was now free to retrieve the popcorn. But he did not grab the popcorn and withdraw his arm. Instead, he left it there.
YAKUZA pulls out sword and attacks ALIEN back.
Cue ketchup throwers.
Thunderstorm begins.
Cue dramatic spotlight.
YAKUZA: I'd rather die than change my way.
Begin LONG FIGHT SEQUENCE 1.
As alien and yakuza battled it out onscreen, Kagura felt herself drawn toward the screen. Okita was leaning back in his chair. She couldn't tell if he'd fallen asleep with his eyes open, or was watching the movie. Either way, he wouldn't be too much help if she lost control, she decided. She clutched her umbrella with both hands, trembling with adrenaline.
No, the alien had made a wrong move there! She needed to back him up! Wait, what was the yakuza doing? He ought to have just punched the alien right then. No need to fiddle with his sword! She ought to help him, too. Something inside of her chest was stirring, pulling...And then it abated. She could feel the need to fight drop from her chest, moving as a chill down her spine and into her feet. It had her by the ankles. Her feet twitched, itching for the hunt.
A hand waved in front of her face.
"Oy, you there, China?"
"I..need to attack..." she muttered from between gritted teeth.
Okita nodded.
"So that's what this is about."
Suddenly, Kagura began to propel herself out of her chair. She was halfway standing up when Okita reached out to her. She grabbed his hand and clung to it, pulling herself back into her seat.
Okita had lost circulation to his hand due to her iron grip.
"Loosen the death grip, would you?"
"Sorry. It's just.."
"It's fine." He felt pins and needles in his hand, but it lost its bright red color, so he decided he was alright.
YAKUZA: DUKE, I have something to tell you.
DUKE: I'll hear you out. This may be the only thing I can do for you. I am ready to hear anything you want to say to me. I will open my ears, since ears were made for hearing!
YAKUZA: No! "Sincere"s are not just made for hearings! Whether you're in a court of law or not, I believe that a samurai must be sincere all of the time.
Kagura laughed, under control again due to the calming influence of Okita's hand around hers. She was no longer about to fling herself into the picture onscreen.
Okita almost laughed, because that line had sounded so much like something Kagura would have said.
Kagura knew she didn't need to hold onto Okita's hand any longer.
Okita knew Kagura didn't need his hand to restrain her any longer.
But neither of them minded.
And neither of them let go.