uccellodifuoco | Appointment Post

[ Nope, she probably didn't remember at all - it's probably a good thing she didn't try coming here during any of the past days, really.. But then again, right now she has a specific reason for coming over!! A very, very specific reason, you see. ]

... I was wondering.. if I could ask Ikki-kun something.

What is it?

[He's... Not staying still, really. He's wandering around the place doing things like putting food in Hyoga's plate, picking up an extra tower he left in the way, starting to prepare something for breakfast... He figures that she will let him know what she wants anyway so it doesn't matter if he's not still gawking at her, right?]

There was something Battler-kun taught me a while ago. And.. [ ... ] ever since then, I've been thinking about it, and I decided it's something I want to try with Ikki-kun as well.

[ She's saying as if it's some really big and important decision. ]

Would that be okay..? To just do it now? [ even though she hasn't said yet what it is. ]

[Who's Battler and why is he teaching you things? And what things are those? It sounds important and serious, but Ikki knows Kotomi at least enough to know that it may be something silly in his opinion. And she didn't say what it is that she wants to do...]

Who's Battler?

[Maybe asking that will make her tell what it is.]

Battler-kun is a friend of mine. He likes reading too, so we went reading before, and he said he'd cook for me..

[ All completely irrelevant things, but hey, he asked so she'll just sum up random things. ]

So he taught me it while we were reading together. And I could only think how nice it'd be to do that with Ikki-kun.. [ she says it as if 'that' is something other than reading. ]

[Does every guy in this village like to read or what? And yes, he can guess that it must be something other than reading. Which also makes him wonder how it was taught to her, whatever it is.]

A friend, huh? A very good friend?

[ Every guy Kotomi knows, apparently. And are you getting a bit jealous there, Ikki? ]

... Hmm.. yes, I think Battler-kun's a very good friend. [ Then again, you know Kotomi, Ikki, all her friends are 'very good friends' to her.. ]

Is Ikki-kun curious about Battler-kun?

[Yeah, and where were they when she and the other girls put together that Starfish Festival? He's not jealous, though, just wonders whatever could someone teach her that she would want to try with him.]

Whatever. What is it that you wanted to do?

[ Oh, right, what she wanted to do! Ikki said it like that, so surely it's okay to just.. go right ahead and do it, right? It's practically approval! So she smiles - oh gosh, this is enough to make her a little nervous, but.. it's okay, Battler taught her that!

So once she's finally close enough to him, she'll try and move her arms around him the best she can with how he's bigger than her.. and hug him. Yup, that's what she wanted to do, good luck, Ikki. ]

[Ikki stops what he's doing as he notices her approaching closer and closer to him... Kotomi what the heck are you doing, what did they taught you now-... Ikki just blinks as he finds himself being hugged by the girl, just like that. No, really, what the heck is this? She can't possibly mean that she didn't know how to hug before and has been thinking about doing so with him since she was taught it, right? That's just stupi- wait, this is the girl who had to learn about Valentine's from a book.

It is possible.

Awkwardly, Ikki just places his own arms around her, just in case she gets upset if he doesn't. There, he's hugging back now, happy? You can let go whenever you want now. He hasn't hugged anyone in... Years, honestly, and if hugging Esmeralda's corpse while crying in pain doesn't count the gap is even bigger.

Whatever, this can't last long. And does this mean that she was taught how to hug? Hugging that Battler guy most probably? ... New plans for the day, go to the Battle Dome and train, he feels in the mood of punching things for some reason.]

[ Letting go after hugging? Pshaw, what's that supposed to be? No way Kotomi is going to let go now, the hug is way too nice. That's right, it's just as nice as she imagined it all this time. It's nice and warm and Ikki's hugging her back now too, so that's even better! Yes, she could stand here for a long time like this, no problem, so nice..

.. Yeah, sorry, Ikki. She's just going to silently keep hugging you, just enjoying the whole thing. There's no escape. ]

[What, didn't Battler teach her how to let go? Does she realize that he's half naked? Not that he himself cares but... Oh well, it can't last eternally anyway. And it's kind of nice, the feeling of her body between his arms, against his body. It's as if she's all fragile and small and he has to handle her carefully, but it's nice, yes.

A hand goes up to caress her hair gently as he takes a deep breath, her scent drifting in his nostrils. He has no idea what she smells like but he likes it. It's a scent very different from Saori's expensive perfumes of important labels and that are nothing but a waste, it's different as well from Esmeralda's scent, a mixture of ashes and flowers. And it's obviously not the scents he's used to on the battlefield, there's no mud or blood neither the scent of rotting flesh. It's a clean and soft scent that he wouldn't mind getting used to.

Anyway he keeps hugging her, just ready to let go whenever she does. Smoker will probably come out of his own room any time soon anyway so at most she will let go then, right?]

[ She probably hasn't even noticed the half naked thing, she's too busy being caught in her own la la la dream land from how nice the hug feels. Which is why she doesn't let go either, she doesn't even realise how much time is passing. Only if they stood here for days and she'd feel sleepy or hungry she might realise, but until then.. nope. It just somehow feels nice, being this close to him. She can't get any closer to him than this, right? Feeling him right next to her..

Honestly, for all of this to stop there needs to be something interrupting them or someone, or they'll just stand here like this forever. Not that Kotomi minds, really, she's okay with things being like this and staying like this for a while. ]

[The first time Smoker walks out of his room, he backsteps right back in. Awww what a cute moment he doesn't want to ruin. He gives it about fifteen minutes and walks out again.]

[.... Seriously? They're still hugging? What is this, world record for longest hug?]

[Oh well, he doesn't want to embarrass them by calling attention to it, but he can't stay in his room forever. So out he goes, acting like this is normal and sets up a pot of coffee.]

Morning you two. [Gruff and growly voice, as always.] Have you had breakfast yet Kotomi-chan? [It's not that early, but Smoker isn't an early riser, especially away from his men who are noisy for their morning calisthenics.]

[Really cute with Ikki being half naked, indeed. Ikki notices Smoker stepping out, but unfortunately the man steps back in too fast for him to be able to say or do anything. The fun side is that by the time Smoker first steps out they have been at it for already ten minutes if the clock Ikki's looking at doesn't lie. But he just can't let go unless she does it first. Come on, she can't pretend to stay like this forever. As nice and comfortable as it is.

Ikki holds down a grumbling sound, she probably would take it wrong, and just ends burying his face against her hair. He really wonders what she smells like, it's a scent he can't pinpoint anywhere else but in her. It's a stupid thing, he knows, but there's little else to do in this situation. Unless he really wants to risk to upset her, but... Just look at her, what he can see from his position shows a blissfully happy Kotomi. It's ridiculous, though, to be so happy from just a hug, it's... As if he had Shun in his arms all over again when they were little and his brother was just a baby. Those days full of pain and hardships but that were brightened simply by the baby's laugher rolling in his ears, by his small hands reaching up for him to pick him up and hug him. Even those days in which he couldn't find even milk to give the baby and Shun did almost nothing but cry seemed to get better once he hugged him, even if the baby was still hungry and in pain, it was as if he calmed down then, as if he knew that Ikki would do anything to protect him even if now he was hungry or sick.

Yes, those days were probably the last time Ikki properly hugged anyone. Even when Shun grew up, as soon as they ended at the Kido mansion Ikki tried his best to make the boy be strong, capable of taking care of himself and surviving by his own. Without needing to reach up for his brother to hug or comfort him as he had done day after day before. He hadn't even hugged him when the kid went off to his training and the next time they saw each other Ikki was out to kill Shun... Or make Shun kill him.

His arms unconsciously tighten a bit more around Kotomi's body, pulling her even closer as if afraid that she could slip through them and never return. It's a stupid thought, he knows that the one who made things slip was himself, not Shun. But what's more stupid is the thought that maybe the one who got comforted by those hugs when they were little wasn't the baby but Ikki himself. And at the same time, maybe the one who wanted to try this the most wasn't Kotomi after all. But he pushes away that thought, he can't be that weak, he can't open that can of worms. When Smoker steps out Ikki looks up, a hardened glare in his eyes, as if this means nothing, as if nothing in his mind troubles him him or haunts him.]

Morning, Smoker.

[He doesn't let go of Kotomi, but looks at her expectantly, surely now she will let go, won't she?]

[ Since Kotomi is.. well, Kotomi, which is practically the same as 'oblivious', it takes her a few moments longer than Ikki to notice the other guy coming out of his room as well. But even so, she doesn't seem to let go - not just yet. She's still clinging to Ikki happily, the only difference is that she pulls her face away enough to be able to smile at Smoker, she's in a good mood because of the hug, after all. ]

Good morning, Smoker-kun. [ As if it's completely normal for her and Ikki to stand here and hug. Clearly it is. Nothing special going on here. ]

Damn straight. [ about the breakfast question - Smoker said it to her once before, okay, she doesn't realise how ridiculous it sounds when she repeats it in her usual blank tone.. she probably doesn't even really realise what it means except for in which context it's used. ] I ate breakfast early so I could come over.. It's not a problem, is it?

[ Still clinging to Ikki, at least for a bit more. ]

Not a problem. [If here was something off about her echoing his language, he doesn't notice. Thought he might if Ikki later berates him for it.] You're welcome here anytime Kotomi-chan.

You want something to drink? Or should I just leave you alone to keep hugging indefinitely? [Who knows, maybe they'll move on to something bigger. Like holding hands. Oh the scandal! No, but Smoker finds it cute. In the weird super unique to them way that it is. The lack of a shirt would make a bigger note on Smoker... if Smoker ever wore shirts. He doesn't though, just jackets, so it tends to take him extra long to realize someone isn't dressed all the way unless they're like Grell and wear 5 layers of way too many fancy things.] No newspapers in Luceti, so I usually just read a book, with my coffee, but I could go outside. [He gestures a thumb at the door. Smoker is not a person who hugs. Part of being the King of Tsunderes. As such he's not sure how private the other two find it. Then again, Smoker is a little backwards on his notions of privacy in general.]

Edited 2012-05-01 19:11 (UTC)

[What is his life. No, really, something is pretty serious when Ikki is the one considering that something isn't socially right. Not that being half naked is really a problem for him, he can't remember if Esmeralda ever saw him wearing anything over his chest actually. But for some reason he feels a bit conscious of it with Kotomi there, almost pressed against it.

Everything goes through the window the moment she answers Smoker, though. Ikki says nothing yet but the glare he gives Smoker is almost as close as the glares he gives anyone who dares to harm Shun and the others. He's pretty sure where she has gotten it from after all. The glare turns harder as the other taunts them for the hug, does he really think Ikki's hugging her indefinitely just because? She started it, she has to be the one finishing it.]

This is your apartment for you to do as you please and no one is telling you to leave.

[Also if he leaves probably this will never end. Maybe now Kotomi will stop with the hug?]

.. No, Smoker-kun shouldn't have to leave..

[ Somehow all of this seems to snap her out of it - her expression becoming a little more sad, especially when she looks up and notices that Ikki is glaring at the other man. Did something happen, is something wrong..?

It's now that she finally lets go, a worried expression on her face. ]

Ikki-kun, are you alright..?

[There's a mixture of relief and reluctance when she finally lets go. His own arms slip from around her at the exact same speed as hers do, still glaring at Smoker for another moment before he looks at her.

Why is she wearing that expression. She looks sad, doesn't she? And what's with that question? What the... He hugged her as she wanted! For as long as she wanted! Why isn't she happy, satisfied at least? Did he do it wrong? Come on, it's just a hug, how can anyone do it wrong? Maybe she didn't like it. Like a baby that doesn't like to be hugged and kissed by his father if he has rough hands and a rough beard. Maybe she liked Battler's hug best.

Definitively today he's in the mood of punching things.]

I'm fine. What's up with that face you're making? It was you who wanted to try this, don't tell me you like the original better with that Battler.

[He sounds tense as he frowns at her in confusion and slightly upset, forget Smoker for a bit, this is more important.]

If you liked his hugs that much you shouldn't go around trying it with other guys.

[Or don't forget him and let him interrupt before Ikki's tsun ruins the day.]

[Giant sweatdrop! That glare man! Oh and Kotomi's sad... no....]

[Smoker was about to insist he could go outside and give them some privacy, but then that response... wow Ikki wow. Smoker's practically into popcorn.gif mode here, but okay stopping his best friend before this train wreck gets any worse.]

Ikki, relax, it's just a hug. She's just worried about why you're angry. [Aka, and being angrier won't make it better dude.] And Kotomi-chan, I'm sure he's just annoyed that I interrupted is all. [... Or something.]

[ Sob, help her, Smoker.. Kotomi is mostly just standing there and wibbling, especially as she hears Ikki's words, especially as she sees him frowning at her too now.. something really went wrong, right? She just wanted to hug Ikki, and it felt nice and just.. was nice, but now everything's like this.. did she do something wrong again, even if Smoker says Ikki's just annoyed that he interrupted..? ]

S-.. sorry, Ikki-kun. I.. just wanted to hug Ikki-kun, but then he looked angry and I got worried he didn't like it.. Hugging Battler-kun is nice too, but with Ikki-kun it's nice in a different way..

[ even if she couldn't explain that even if asked to. ]

.. Did I do something wrong..? I'm sorry, I-.. I'll be a good girl from now on..

[Ikki just fulminates Smoker with another one of those murderous glares. Of course it's just a hug, it's just a stupid hug, he doesn't need anyone telling him that. It's not as if he's jealous or being snappy because of it, please, it's just a silly hug, who would get upset about it? He doesn't answer the other, just keeps glaring until Kotomi's wibbling sounds actually get registered by his brain and he turns to her.

He's never going to turn to look at her again when she makes those noises. Never again. What is this, why is she so sad, it's her who started it! ... There's a vein in his neck that seems to pop up more at the mention of how "hugging Battler-kun is nice". So hugging him is nice too but in a different way, huh? Whatever, it's not as if he cares.]

Different how?

[Not that he cares but it's annoying if she trails off just like that- Why is she now asking if she did something wrong? No, she hasn't, unless going around hugging people and learning bad expressions is something bad now. Ikki's not sure at the moment so he won't even consider it. The last part kills him though. She'll be a good girl from now on... A good girl.]

How stupid can you get?! When have you not been a good girl?! Who says you're not a good girl? I'll show them what's like to be bad if they need it so much.

[That would be you, Ikki.

Fortunately he knows it, even if he's probably ruining it all even more. He growls and groans in frustration, ruffling his hair for a moment, trying to figure a way to fix this mess. But really nothing would have happened if she wouldn't have gotten so upset when she broke the hug. Ah, screw it. Ikki reaches out, not taking a no or anything by as answer before he pulls Kotomi back against his chest, hugging her tightly.]

Forget about everything just now. Let's start this stupidity again. No one here is angry... I just don't like you looking upset right after you have hugged me as if you had not liked it.

[Whether it works or not he's not going to let her go easily, instead he holds her as close as possible. Unlike the other one which was mostly lax and "just there", this one is a firm and tight hug, yet careful enough to not crush her small body. The kind of hug that says "you're not moving from here" as well as "you're safe here", ironic given how he has probably ruined it all now.]

Edited 2012-05-08 20:35 (UTC)

[Smoker just winces at the bit about Battler. Okay jealousy, yup that's something Smoker gets. And he makes a mental note to put that into his book for Kotomi to understand/translate tsundere-ese.]

[Still at least Ikki seemed to realize she was just getting upset because he was upset. Never ending circle. No couple should be allowed to be this cute. After all an "argument" because they both were worried about the other being upset? Adorable. Smoker's not sure how good Ikki's hearing is though, and he doesn't have time to slip Kotomi a note, so he just mumbles as quietly as he can to her in low bulldog grumble.]

He's just grumpy because he wants to get the most hugs from you and be the best at it. Precious treasure. Kotomi-chan's never bad.

[And well, if Ikki heard, he can just send more death glares Smoker's way or deal with it later. Smoker's not worried, he can handle it. And with that, he goes to pour himself a cup of coffee. He also carefully sifts through his stack of books on the counter nearby to grab the one he's still reading, and one to write in. Better get started on those notes sooner or later.]

How about you Ikki, want some breakfast?

[Troll Smoker will have to pay for this later, he's sure. Especially since his own girlfriend is just across the hall.]

[ She's about to just wince and wibble more as Ikki frowns more and even yells a little, but.. the moment she goes to do that, there's suddenly something else. Suddenly he's pulling her close again, hugging her again despite him being angry just now, and Kotomi's eyes go a little wide in surprise for a moment at the action, for a moment unsure what to do in all her slowness.

But she can hear Smoker's words despite it being a low grumble, and Smoker wouldn't lie to her right now. So.. 'wants to get the most hugs from you'? But she'd hug Ikki anytime he'd want her to, right? She likes the hugs, and she wants them, she was just scared Ikki didn't like it as much as she did.. but if Smoker says that and Ikki himself is actually hugging her again, then it's okay, isn't it?

So excuse Kotomi when she goes and clings even more to Ikki, even burying her face against him for a bit (lack of shirt on his part be damned, apparently). She doesn't even say anything, she's just.. clinging here as if her life depends on it, don't mind her. ]

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