On High Guard
Aspirator
FIVE
Koko grinned as he sat down next to the Commander, allowing his bowl to plop gently on the wooden table. "So the training is going well? I'm sure you've made a lot of progress in four weeks." There was no mistaking the mirth in his voice.
The Commander glanced at him sideways, grunted, then went back to his meal. Since the two months that he has been with them, Koko found it amusing to sit and chat with the "stone wall". Koko grinned at the way Natsume chomped furiously on the potatoes, which hardly needed chomping at all. Ha, if they thought he was a stone wall, then they haven't tried getting to know him.
"I heard you're now gentler with her."
"I would not describe my training as gentle." The Commander responded evenly.
Koko let that slide. He had another question coming. "Why won't you let her sit with you for meals? I hardly think you could call yourselves strangers now that you've been training her for four weeks."
"I don't let anyone sit with me."
"And yet, here I am." Koko grinned.
The commander glanced at him sideways again. He set his drink down, swallowing the last of the ale, then spoke lowly, "I deem you unworthy of any unnecessary effort I must exert to remove you."
The advisor, rather than intimidated, felt worthy of his companionship. "Thanks, Natsume."
"It's Commander Hyuuga to you," the commander growled in correction.
"You say that every time." He grinned.
The Guard let out another long breath, before digging back into his meal.
A week later, Koko was sitting next to Mikan, who was twiddling with some grass.
"He's letting me sit with him, now, I think a little reluctantly." Mikan reported back to the advisor.
Koko grinned, nodding consolingly, "mhm?"
"That's a good start to friendship, right?"
"I would say so." Koko answered.
"I mean, you would say you two are friends, right? You're the only other person that gets to sit with him."
"Yes," the advisor smiled like a Cheshire cat, deciding not to mention that the man in question probably wouldn't think so if he were asked.
Mikan drummed her fingers against her skirt nervously, impatiently.
Koko, on the other hand, watched her patiently.
Finally, she blurted, "I mean, do you think he wants to be my friend?"
"I'm sure he does," Koko answered automatically.
"Well, he said my training is over." Mikan frowned, "really abruptly too."
"Is that so?" Koko tried not to sound too interested, "did he say why?"
"No. Maybe he doesn't want anything to do with me anymore." The so-called handmaiden frowned. Her uncertain brown eyes gazed up at the advisor questionably.
"As his only friend," the advisor quickly stepped in before the lady could talk herself into the opposite train of thought, "I think it's safe to say it's the contrary. He wants to be your friend, not to be your trainer - or teacher - or to be seen as that anymore. Hence, he had to stop your training."
"Really?"
"Yes," Koko answered confidently, grinning.
"I mean…I guess I sit with him during meals now."
"Exactly, and who else gets to do that?"
"You."
"And I'm his friend."
"So, by that logic," the sorceress tapped her finger against her chin. When the thought occurred to her, her face brightened as she smiled beautifully, "I'm his friend too!"
"Yes," Koko smiled back at her, for now.
"I've been thinking."
"Ah," the advisor tried not to drum his fingertips against each other evilly, nor show any sign of real interest. He turned to look at Mikan, who had plopped down next to him as they watched the High Guard train amongst each other. "What have you been thinking about?"
"I should thank him." Mikan jutted her lower lip out, her eyes gazing upwards as she visually showed that she was indeed thinking. "For training me."
"Yes?"
"But he doesn't seem the type to enjoy presents." Mikan revealed her dilemma, "of any kind."
"I wouldn't rule out any kind of presents just yet," Koko responded, the gears in his brain turning quickly.
"Well, how do you suppose I should thank him?" The brunette straightened in her chair to look hopefully at him. "I mean, we already know how much he despises, you know, objects. I can't give him a thing, then what do I give him? Words? I just feel like saying thank you doesn't really…ugh, I don't know, Koko."
"Well, you can give him a feeling." Koko answered. "That's not material."
"A feeling?" Mikan frowned, "how? How do I convey my gratitude aside from saying the two boring words?"
Koko grinned, trying his best to casually state, "well, a kiss."
"A-a kiss?" Mikan flustered, touching her own lips in response. Her eyes were already far away, as if imagining the scenario in which she would have to deliver it. "I have thought about kissing him…" She muttered quietly to herself, obviously not meant for him to hear.
"Splendid." Koko chuckled.
"What was that?" The handmaiden tilted her head sideways to look up at the advisor.
"Nothing," he smiled reassuringly at her, "it's a good idea, that's all. It'll be the only thing that he'll truly appreciate."
"A kiss?" Mikan was lost in thought again.
"A kiss." He confirmed, biting the inside of his cheek to stop himself from grinning too widely.