Poke-her-hontas

OOC Note: She's currently dressed like the display pic.

For the past three years she had lived in Karakura Town, yet there was still much of the town she was unfamiliar with and much that she had not experienced that the town had to offer. She generally stuck close to the inner parts of the city, specifically those located near the Vigilance Tower and her apartment's neighborhood. Today, however, Angeni had decided that she would like to gain more incite into the town's history. It was mostly because, however, Chayton had more or less been badgering her about finding out the reasoning behind the Arrancar attack that the Vigilance databases had labeled "The Incursion." She had also been curious herself, though not to the extent that Chayton was. There was only so much that she could learn from books and digital databases. Those tended to be mechanical, devoid of true emotion, just reporting the facts and not much else. She wanted to learn how the people themselves were affected, their reactions to things, how the town developed and from what ideals. 

A true owl if ever there was one.

She began to fidget impatiently in her seat. Sparkling jade panned the bookshelves of the library around her. Pages upon pages of knowledge, much of it yet to be read by the perpetually curious young woman. But that was for another time. The entire suggestion to visit the more unfamiliar places in town had been Chayton's idea, yet he was late. It was an interesting concept considering the two were bound by the soul, wherever Angeni went Chayton was required to follow. Though apparently that didn't extend to the spirit world. A restless sigh as two manicured fingers absently toyed with the zipper of her jacket. Back and forth the metallic fastener was guided by almonds of ruby along a riveted track. Eventually impatience won and she rose to her feet with an exasperated sigh. He would just have to find her wherever she decided she was going...where was she going, anyway? A single finger entwined with a few sparse locks of onyx. An outdoor garden? A movie? A museum? Karakura was certainly not deprived in its possibilities for entertainment. Hardened paper was carefully returned to their locations upon the shelves as Angeni began her departure from the library. A gentle smile from the librarian as Angeni approached.

"No withdrawals today, Angie?" An equally vibrant smile returned to the elderly man as the exotic maiden shook her head.

"Not today, I was waiting for Chayton so we could go explore the town, but he's off messing around in the spirit world. So, I guess I'm on my own today for the time being. Anyway, I'm off, bye!" A polite wave of departure as Angeni left the hall. Casual progress in her steps brought her outside of the tower and to the bustling streets of downtown Karakura. She expected nothing less from her town, her new home. She had still as of yet decided what exactly she wanted to spend her day doing. It was such a pleasant day, after all. Not too warm, not too cold, just enough of a breeze. A typical day dancing on the line that separated the seasons from one another. There was a particularly lighthearted bounce to her steps as she made her way along the moderately crowded sidewalks. Her aimless wandering halted briefly at a small frozen treats vendor cart. There was a surprisingly large selection of treats, but Angeni only had her eyes on one: a chocolate-dipped frozen banana. It was chocolate, it was a banana, how could she go wrong with that? Purchasing her desired treat, Angeni continued on her quest to occupy her day. It seemed that the spirits had other plans for the young foreigner.

The frozen treat was clamped snugly between her lips, her teeth absently rising and falling to nibble at the sweet confection. A naive expression of innocent curiosity adorned her face as the flamboyantly dressed male approached her. A small tilt of her head and absent blink as the male bowed and began speaking. Her Japanese was....quite shoddy at present, so he may as well have been speaking to a wall. Truthfully, the only part of it she had really understood was "hello" and apparently that his name was Shinpei. The chocolate-glazed banana withdrew away from her lips and she flashed the male a friendly smile. He had introduced himself, that much she was certain of. It was only right that she introduced herself as well. 

"Oh, hello! It's nice to meet you, Shinpei. My name's Angeni, my friends call me Angie, though. But, umm....I'm sorry, my Japanese isn't all that good, so I don't really understand anything you just said." A sheepish smile crested her lips. Hopefully she hadn't insulted the man if he had said something important to her, but it was the truth. Aside from a few basic phrases and words, Angeni's Japanese was, for lack of a better term, laughable at best.

Word Count: 839

Current GP: 16

Total GP: 16

What were the odds? It seemed that Angeni's luck had been kind today. Not only did the man not take offense to her inability to properly converse in Japanese, but he also spoke English. Her smile widened at that. Good, it would be easier to make friends if they could actually understand each other. Though apparently the luck of the ancients had another surprise in store for her. The man quickly went on to inform her that he was offering free guided tours of the area, much to her delight. Of course she wouldn't have had an issue with paying if that was necessary, but the fact that it was free made it all the more better. It was also a plus that the tour guide was quite kind as well. Though he head tilted slightly at his comment about allowing her to bring her banana along. Why would that be a pro---oh. Angeni's eyes widened for a moment at the possible implications. But that couldn't have been what he was thinking of, was it? Maybe he was just worried that she would drop it along the way or get her clothing dirty. 

"Ah, really? That's really nice of you! It's a bit funny, I was actually looking for a place to find out more about the town. There's only so much I can learn from reading the books in the Tower library." From her time here in Japan, she had learned that bowing was a sign of gratitude and respect. It would be rude not to show Shinpei the proper respect for his generosity. Her head lowered and her upper body angled forward in a courteous bow. She stood upright and resumed nibbling at the banana. At most it would be two hours, there was plenty that Angeni would be able to learn in two hours, though it would not be as much as she would have liked. His next question caused her to once again tilt her head and blink curiously. She hadn't necessarily thought about it much over the past three years, but now being asked where she was from reminded her that she was in fact a foreigner here. 

"Oh, I'm not from here. I'm actually American, Native American if you want to be specific. I just moved here three years ago to learn about Japanese spiritualism. I'm a mystic, you see, so I thought it'd be nice to learn about how you guys do things over here. I've learned a lot of Brother Kokuou and the other people in Vigilance, but I'm always up to learn more." Her words were muddled slightly. She hadn't bothered ceasing her nibbling as she explained her origin. She didn't exactly feel that it was necessary to do so, he could hear her just fine couldn't he? Now that she had spoken about her mysticism, her thoughts had shifted back to Chayton. He still hadn't shown up...what could he be doing that required so much time? Her head angled upward in thought. It wasn't so bad to have some time separate from him from time to time. His next words had snapped her out of her thoughts and garnered her attention. A pink blush reddened her cheeks and she averted her gaze away from him, a timid smile spreading across her face. She had been complimented on numerous occasions, but it always elicited the same reaction.

"T-Thank you, that's sweet of you. Umm...so, where to first? You're the tour guide, so I guess whatever you want to show first is fine." The blush persisted, but she managed to meet his gaze and give him a friendly smile. She wondered what would be the first destination on the tour. Perhaps she would learn more about the town's history....sans the episode about murderous Arrancar, of course. She had began to nibble at the banana again, though not out of enjoyment of the treat but rather because of a sense of embarrassment. For some reason, she felt as though his gaze was a bit more focused than it should have been. She would just ignore it for the time being, though judging by the intensity of his gaze, he seemed to be enjoying the "view" quite a bit. Again she averted her eyes, absently pulling together the flaps of her jacket with a single hand. A makeshift clasp at the center of her chest. 

Word Count: 731

Current GP: 14

Total GP: 30

Flattery was second nature to Shinpei, apparently. She was aware that there quite possibly weren't many Native Americans, or probably even Americans in general, here in Japan aside from perhaps tourists or those that had relocated for business purposes. Coincidentally not unlike herself. Still, being called unique in such a manner, she couldn't help but flash a kind smile. Stunning emerald attempted to meet the roving strobes that currently searched her figure. A lingering gaze upon a duo, though not the duo they should have been focused on. She supposed that she could understand the male's interest in the....intricacies of the flesh, as it were. Still...

A turn to break at least direct line of sight on the area of her body he was so interested in. One of many, apparently. Absent tasting of the frozen treat resumed as she shifted her gaze towards the indicated area; it would be gone soon, a real shame, she had enjoyed the treat while it had lasted. Angeni found it surprising that she hadn't noticed a place with such aesthetic value in her time as a Japan inhabitant. Though, she, supposed that was perhaps a given with her tendency to stick to "known ground", as the hunters from her native country would have referred to it. A flower garden turned leisure park with ties to the Yakuza....Karakura certainly had its share of diversity in its past. She had both read about the Yakuza and heard of them from Kokuou, but she had never expected to learn something like this. A small nearly unnoticeable flinch of surprise, a jolt shooting down her spine at his sudden touch against her back. If he truly was as attentive to her body as his lingering gazes had portrayed, he may have perhaps noticed it. It was presumably a harmless gesture meant simply to urge her forward in continuance of the tour, even still it had caught her off-guard.  

"I see...if what I've learned of the Yakuza is indeed true, then it's probably for the best that they no longer have a presence here. As far as the woman, she is with her ancestors now, her spirit rests peacefully." Her voice had taken on a serene, almost prophetic tone. It was unknown to her of whatever other transgressions the woman had been guilty of or any other atrocities she may have permitted. If there were any other legacies that the woman had left behind, this garden-turned-park was the one that Angeni was appreciative of. She allowed herself to be lead to the fountain, passively gazing at the other visitors of the park as they enjoyed the wonderful weather. On some occasions, her passing gaze would be met by lascivious stares at her and disdainful leers at Shinpei. Realization dawned on her that the two of them perhaps looked like a couple out on a park date. A slight deviation in her steps widened the distance between Shinpei and herself, though not enough that it would noticeable. Not, of course, without excruciating attention to such a minute detail. One would have to be actively paying attention to notice it.

Then, she halted in her steps. A sharp inhale, a gasp of awe. Before her sat a monument of stone and marble, intricately crafted yet also slightly weathered by both time and changing seasons. Despite this, the fountain still held a captivating beauty. Carefully she approached, as if she were worried even the slightest discrepancy would damage such elegance. At an angle she sat upon the smooth rim of the fountain, feeling the sun-kissed warmth mixed with the pleasant chill of the crystal clear liquid within its basin. Her upper body inclined slightly as she leaned towards the water. Gingerly her fingers trailed through the water, captivating by the shimmering clarity of the water. Her free hand absently shifted a few errant strands of hair back behind her ear as a content smile parted her lips.

"It really is beautiful...thank you for showing me this. And...thank you for taking me on this tour, I'm learning quite a bit and enjoying myself very much." 

Word Count: 683

Current GP: 13

Total GP: 43

A soft blush, a simple dusting of pink not as defined as the previous, rose in her cheeks as she felt her hand be taken. Curiosity was more apparent than before, turning the coin over repeatedly in her palm as if inspecting it for some sort of spiritual significance. But it seemed to be....just a regular coin? She turned a bewildered gaze up to him from her seated position. Was this his idea of a gift? A coin that could be gotten anywhere? She doubted it had any sentimental value, he had been much to willing to part with it. He then directed her to take a closer look beneath the sparkling depths. There, she saw countless coins scattered along the fountain bottom. Some were piled on top of one another, others seemed to stand out as if they were outcast of the group. So focused was she on the fountain's discarded bounty that she had not noticed Shinpei move closer to her.

Another flinch, this time accompanied by a small and adorably cute yelp of surprise, as she felt his hands rest on her shoulders. It hadn't been intentional, and she certainly hadn't wanted it to be something that was heard. But there it was. A fumbling attempt to draw attention away from the previous sound came in the form of a low cough that transitioned into an obviously forced clearing of her throat. She allowed herself to be guided once more, as if she were a smile child being taught how to do something for the first time; more concerned about being rude to this man who had been so generous to her than anything else. A wishing well...this was something in which her experience thereof was noticeably lacking. Angeni had not been one to believe that luck could be dictated by tossing a coin into water, but rather that the spirits of her ancestors choice when and where to bestow luck on a chosen person. Still, practices such as this, admittedly, appealed to her childish nature. 

"Ah, really? Well I suppose I could tr----" A quiet inhalation, a visible tension of her shoulders. The quiet murmur of his words teased her ears and the wisp of his breath danced across her skin. He certainly did enjoy being so close to her. It didn't necessarily make her feel uncomfortable, but she felt something. What that something was, at present, she was unsure of. The best she could describe it, if she had to, was a radiating warmth that slowly spread through her body. Her cheeks virtually burned from the blush that was threatening to redden her entire face. She felt the urge to dunk her head into that crystal clarity before her. She needed to cool off. But at the same time, she didn't want to appear rude by abruptly pulling away from Shinpei. Deep breaths, Angie, calm down. A moderate semblance of composure returned to the ethnic young maiden as she attempted to divert her attention from whatever it was that she was currently feeling.

What could she wish for? What should she wish for? Her head lowered and onyx locks shifted from her shoulders to frame her face. Shimmering emerald gazed thoughtfully at the circular currency centered on her palm. If she did wish for something, would it really come true? Shinpei had apparently wished for an encounter with an attractive woman, and here she was. But that could be written off and even proven as pure coincidence....couldn't it? The idea of a wish-granting well seemed far-fetched, and yet her inner child seemed ecstatic at the prospect. She wouldn't know unless she tried. Caramel veils fell over jade irises. She would just wish for something simple. To learn more and enjoy the rest of her day, that was a simple enough wish. The subtle weight of the coin shifted within her palm, her thumb sinking into the small pit that had been created by her closed fist and slowly surfacing the coin. A ruby nail gave a small flip to the underside of the coin, sending it turning over and under through the air before plopping down into the water to join its brethren. 

"I...couldn't think of a really big wish or anything....so I just wished I'd be able to learn more about the town and have fun for the rest of the day." A single forward step and pivot turned her to face Shinpei again. The blush had faded and her body had cooled...at least for the moment. She still couldn't meet the man's gaze, instead focusing it on a group of picnickers at a distance over Shinpei's left shoulder. One hand fidgeting with the zipper of her jacket, the other nervously and repetitively twirling at a few coils of blackened hair.

"The fountain was nice...where to next? That is if you're still willing to show me around town."

Word Count: 814

Current GP: 16

Total GP: 59

There was no mistaking that Shinpei had a certain....panache when it came to how he spoke. A silver tongue, as most would call it. But now she had began to feel a bit guilty. By the way he answered her in regards to her wish, it seemed that she was forcing him to continue with the tour. It hadn't occurred to her before that he may have felt obligated since it was his job and had not actually been enjoying himself. Her expression noticeably shifted, the previously timid but friendly smile turning downward. She would have preferred that he not feel forced to take her on the tour, but unfortunately that didn't seem to be the case....or so she had assumed. Her smile returned to a fraction of its former radiance as he urged her onward. A skyward incline of her neck as she beheld the tapestry of an approaching sunset. Not yet completely shifted, though the medley of twilight colors were slowly beginning to blend and darken. 

She had partially gotten used to the hand that was settled upon her back. A bit more daring, it seemed, his hand had been "unknowingly" nestled at the small of her back. She didn't particularly mind; she had deemed it a harmless gesture. There would be no issues for now, lest he decided to get brave and begin placing his hands in places they shouldn't go. His presence was comforting, that much was certain. It was always nice to share knowledge or a thirst for learning with someone of similar mindset. Verdant sight panned across the park as they continued forward. Many of the park visitors were beginning to wind down their days, though there was still a rather large amount that decided to defy time and persist with their joviality. A curious glance ascended to get a look at the gate as they passed beneath it. It looked like a typical entrance gate. But as she had learned during her first few months within Japan, nearly everything had a significance. The reputed significance of the gate was then explained shortly after, much to her surprise.

Her eyes widened in a mix of intrigue and could most closely be described as timid embarrassment. Her eyes darted from left to right. If simply walking through the park on what she thought was a harmless tour had elicited the stares they had been getting, she wondered what the looks would be like now that they had passed through this supposed "love gate." She could feel envious stares boring into them, coupled with the hungry leering that had only been directed at her. A small sigh as she lowered her gaze to focus on the ground ahead of her. A ruby blush rose in her cheeks and she shot a quick glance at Shinpei when he commented on how they were destined to be together since they had passed through the gate. She didn't take much stock in the local superstitions of Japan, however curiosity-satisfying and whimsical in nature they were. Especially not in this case. Angeni had always held firm to the belief that she would be in control of her love life, though perhaps there could be some intervention from her ancestors in finding the person most suited for her....when the time came. 

Her ruby blush spread from her cheeks to engulf her entire face when he mentioned a "night of passion." Naive though she may be in most regards, she was well aware of what that generally entailed. She hadn't thought of having that kind of interaction with Shinpei, it was actually the furthest thing from her mind. Granted he had been taking every opportunity to visually explore her body and standing close with his hands on her seemed to be a constant goal of hers, but she hadn't expected that to be on his mind. Angeni angled her head away from him, instead focusing on the division on their current pathway between pavement and grass. A not-so-subtle attempt at hiding her blushing countenance. 

"A-An acquired taste, I suppose...it's a romantic notion, for all intents and purposes. But that kind of thing is...well anyway, where are we headed to now? Are there any fun things around close by?" A careful glance in his direction, a shy smile. She was enjoying the tour so far, regardless of the....carnal implications that seemed to be in play.

Word Count: 732

Current GP: 14

Total GP: 73

The hand being placed on her head had almost immediately dissolved the blush upon her face and she looked at him curiously. The way he had ruffled her hair just now, it was likely something that an adult would do to a small child. For a moment it seemed that his so far flirtatious advances had ceased and the gesture had been meant to reassure her that he wasn't feeling obligated currently. An ivory crescent donned her face and she nodded, glad to hear that there was still plenty of opportunities for entertainment in the area. As is stood, however, her previous assumption that the flirting had reached its end had been a hasty one. Again he commented about the prophecy, noting that it would only hold true if said sensuality occurred in the first place. If there was one thing that Angeni had to admit about Shinpei, it was that he was a confident man. A seventy percent chance to avoid intimacy with him by the end of the night? She couldn't help but find it amusing, apparent in the soft giggle that she emitted upon hearing it. The sudden grip on her shoulders had actually made her laugh a bit more, though it seemed it had been meant to startle her. He could make her laugh and was for the most part pleasant company, so he had two things going for him at least. 

"You're confident, that's good. Confidence is a very good trait to have, and I can see you have an abundance of it. But I think you may be overestimating yourself and underestimating me. We'll just have to see, now won't we?" A coy smirk and gave Shinpei a teasing tap on the tip of his nose with her index finger. With that, she laced her fingers gingerly behind her back and allowed herself to be lead to the next point of interest...wherever that may have happened to be. The streets had become noticeably more crowded due to the masses of commuters rushing home from another day at the daily grind. It was getting difficult to proceed forward without inadvertently bumping into a random person every few steps. Instinctively Angeni hooked her arm around Shinpei's; a wholly harmless gesture simply meant to ensure that she wouldn't lose track of her guide. Through alleyways and back streets Angeni was lead. The divergence between the crowded main streets and these less than savory looking back ways was glaringly obvious and a creeping sense of nervousness began to grip her. 

Was he planning to lead her to some seedy location for devious purposes? But he had seemed so nice. Maybe she was over-thinking things. A quick nod of self-affirmation. She could trust him, she was sure of it. She gave a short glance up towards him before looking forward again. Eventually the buildings fell away and they were proceeding down a single serpentining road. At the end of this solitary road stood a small hill. It wasn't completely secluded, but there was unmistakably much more privacy than had been afforded at the park. So it seemed that Shinpei's goal was alone time with her....but to what end? As she pondered this, she was guided to the lonesome bench perched on the hill's peak and gently sat upon the partially weathered wood. Her hands rose to stave off a gasp. The view, the landscape before her, the contrast between nature and industry; it was breathtaking. A whispering inquiry in her ear. That puzzling warmth she had experienced before began to radiate through her again. The way he spoke into her ear, that low masculine timber, the warmth of his breath caressing her neck. Her thoughts became muddled, unfocused. What was this? What was she feeling? A moment of clarity brought forth the answer: arousal. 

"It's..." She kept her gaze focused forward, a shuddering breath of her own as she attempted to regain her composure. She let out a small cough folded her hands neatly in her lap. 

"It's an amazing view. H-Has it always been here?" Her voice was uneven, obviously so. Even now she was making every attempt possible to calm herself down. She needed to. She had to.

Word Count: 701

Current GP: 14

Total GP: 87

Sensuality was an interesting thing. Actions that normally wouldn't be given a second thought could become capable of even more. A simple glancing touch, a certain look that a person gives, or even a certain movement in just the right way could be enough to set a person's hormones ablaze with passion. Angeni was no exception to this. If anything, her naive and trusting nature made her more receptive to it than most. That fact had became most apparent over the course of time she had spent with Shinpei. The simple "harmless" touches, the tone with which he spoke to her, even the manner in which he presented himself with her. The intoxication of that arousal scattered her thoughts. She felt a certain vulnerability from this situation. It made her nervous. It confused her. It...excited her. It really shouldn't have, but it did. This was someone she had only known for a matter of hours. So why then, was she in such a state of arousal? A visibly adamant shaking of her head from left to right as she pushed the thoughts aside. She wouldn't give in to such a primal and basal feeling as lust. She knew better. She could only imagine what her brother would think and say if he saw her in such a state. A light blush as he once more whispered in her ear. Focus, Angie, keep your wits about you.

For a brief moment her eyes widened, but it was quickly replaced by curiosity as she felt the light touch upon her chin and her head being guided upward. A small tilt of bewilderment at the small wink. Any feelings of arousal had passed and were now replaced by mild confusion.

"What? Is there something o----" Abruptly she had been silenced by his lips pressing to hers. There was shock, there was no mistaking it. The kiss had completely caught her off-guard. That warmth returned in full force, overwhelming arousal fighting against rational thought. It was a literal contest between brain and body. Her body wanted this, to feel his caressing touch, to give in to the pleasure that gnawed at her better judgment. Yet her mind...her mind scrambled with alarming urgency to will her body to cease. She needed to exercise modesty, yet she wanted more than that. The hammering thud of her excited heartbeat resonated through her ears. Her hands gripped at the fabric of her shorts, kneading the fabric between her fingers. Her body slackened for a fleeting moment and she subconsciously leaned more into the kiss. This was more than a simple spur of the moment kiss stolen at the opportune moment. There was a certain degree of passion behind it, an expertise. Almost as if....he had done this exact thing numerous times before. Of course that could be said about a majority of people, but this...it was like a specialty.

Her body tightened and her eyes widened. A small grunt of effort and she broke the kiss, a shifting seated movement across the bench before quickly rising to her feet. A series of hurried steps put a small amount of distance between the two of them. She kept her back facing him, a hand gently clutched at her chest and her head lowered slightly. Slow, deep breaths whispered from her lips as she slowly regained her composure. It was difficult, and she had even resorted to subtly manipulating her own reiryoku to aid in the recovery. A veil of onyx hid her face behind her hair. 

"I'm sorry, that wasn't supposed to happen. This was just supposed to be a tour. Can....can we just go....?" The latter part of her statement was a hushed whisper. A low sigh as she regained her composure well enough that she would be able to look him in the eyes. A kind smile as she again laced her hands behind her back.

"Hey, I'm getting kind of hungry. I don't know of too many restaurants in this part of town, mostly just the ones near my home. Do you know of any interesting restaurants around here?" 

Word Count: 683

Current GP: 13

Total GP: 100

She had more or less avoided what she would have considered a immoral situation. If she had allowed her body to do what it wanted and not what her mind knew was right...she lowered her head slightly as she trailed behind Shinpei. The chill of the night had began to creep upon them, resulting in her zipping up her jacket and folding her arms close to her body. Her gaze remained fixated upon the pavement ahead of them. Even without looking at him, she was able to tell that the recent occurrence on the hilltop had left him either disappointed or upset with her, possibly both. Unfortunately, Angie tended not to do particularly well with people being angry or upset with her. At some point she would have to address what had recently happened...better now than later, she supposed. Another low sigh then she spoke.

"Hey, umm, Shinpei....about just now..." Her voice had taken on a softer tone, just barely above a whisper. Why was she having such a difficult time putting her thoughts into words? She knew what she wanted to say and how to say it, and yet she had barely even mustered the resolve to address the situation in the first place. It had always been a vice of hers. No matter how confident she may be, when it came to resolving a disagreement or soothing anger directed at her she seemed to clam up. She drew in a deep breath as she prepared to continue what she had to say.

"L-Listen, about just now....I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I do like you and....the kiss was....probably the best one I've had in a while. I just....I didn't want to do something more in a place like that. And also....we've just met so....I wanted to at least wait until we've known each other better. Does....does that make any sense? I hope you understand, but I don't blame you if you're upset with me...." She muttered in a quiet voice, continuing to follow along behind her impromptu tour guide like a scolded child. She supposed that in a way, she was a scolded child, or at least that's how the situation seemed at the moment. She had more or less spurned the obvious interests and advances of a man that had been nothing but kind and complimentary towards her, but could she really be faulted for that? She had chosen to uphold a degree of self-worth, surely that was commedable. Would she really be such a bad person if she had given in to temptation? Would her family and friends think less of her? She became visibly troubled, her expression sinking further into one of sadness. Hopefully she would be forgiven.

Word Count: 456

Current GP: 9

Total GP: 109

She felt relieved when Shinpei spoke. He had chosen to forgive her, which she had silently hoped for. The fact that he had even placed an arm around her and pulled her closer to him had brought a small smile to her face. It was as if he had coveted her, claimed her as his own. And while she had not yet decided whether or not she would give herself to him in that particular manner, she had readily admitted that there was mutual attraction. She had began to partially regret her choice of outfit, cursing her lack of insight as to the change in temperature between the daytime and the night, though being "sheltered" by Shinpei's arm made up for it. The combination of the additional layer from his robes and his natural body heat provided a pleasant warmth to her, causing her to move a bit closer and flash him a grateful smile. She shook her head and smiled. There he was, being charming again. 

"Oh, I'm sure you say that to all the girls." A chuckle and a light but playful jab of her elbow at his side. She had merely been poking fun at his flirtatious tendencies, though a not so small part of her had to admit that she enjoyed his advances. She was comfortable in his presence, he had proven that he could be trusted. Although the kiss had been rather unexpected, she couldn't deny that she had enjoyed it and maybe even perhaps wanted it to happen. But she couldn't exactly just throw her arms around his neck and ask for a kiss....could she? She happened to glance up at Shinpei only to see that he was still grinning. Maybe the whole situation had been amusing to him, it was difficult to tell. He seemed to justify that pulling her in close had merely been to stave off the chill of the night air. She hadn't required an explanation, it was completely fine with her. So long as his hands didn't begin wandering, she had no issue with being under his arm. 

Eventually they returned to the more populated section of the city. She had not yet learned where they were going, so she was more or less at his whim presently. She didn't feel the need to be concerned for her safety, she trusted him after all. Her curiosity was almost immediately sated as he led her into a small sushi restaurant. The scents of spices and fresh fish wafted through the air. She drew in a slow inhale, partaking in the pleasant mixture of the scents. There was a calming ambiance to the location, the patrons all seemed to be enjoying the atmosphere, a fact that was more apparent by the scattered conversations she could hear. She had not been paying attention to the small exchange between Shinpei and the restaurateur, but it became obvious what it had been about when they were led to one of the more secluded tables near the rear of the restaurant. It was much warmer here in the restaurant as opposed to being outside, which was something she was glad of. Sitting at the table, she began to look thoughtfully through the menu.

"Only once or twice, and even then it was kind of just tasting and not a full serving. I think it was....sashimi? Oh, and spring rolls a few times. But that's about the extent of my experience with sushi. What do you recommend?" She had continued to scan over the menu, attempting to decide what she would like to try as she awaited his response. 

Word Count: 603

Current GP: 12

Total GP: 121