Stainless Night [Closed]

[Rina]

Crystalline eyes scanned the expanse as Tamaki rocked from his heels onto the balls of his feet, and onto his heels once again. His breath was coming out in short huffs as he concentrated on regaining his energy. He wasn't a stranger to the training grounds, yet he still found a way to exhaust himself every time he ventured out to practice.

"Still not good enough," he thought bitterly. He gripped the shaft of his katana until the pigment in his knuckles begun to fade and rose to his feet. He ignored the faint protests from his fragile muscles and made his way to the target rage once again. He could always do better.

That's just the way his brain was wired. He could always do better than he had the day before, the previous hour...Hell, he knew how lethal the assassination business was. If you weren't on your best game during every moment of every hour, you would be killed within the matter of seconds; to either the slashing of a blade or the penetration of a bullet. And that's just what he had to come to terms with. If you want to be the best, you have to survive. And if you want to survive, you'd better train pretty damn hard.

He wiped the perspiration from his forehead as he stared down the target crafted meticulously of thick lumber. Despite the sun having already set, the heat of the day still hung in the air in thick clouds of humidity. Perhaps that was half of the reason why he was so off in his training. He never handled warm temperatures well, and considering the weather was being uncharacteristically hot for the time of year, he had trouble coping.

He raised his beloved blade to the wood and struck in a fluent, sedate swing that he was so accustomed to. He held no restraint or hesitation as he felt his katana make contact with his target. It was simply repetition for him--only this time, it didn't contain the grotesque slashing sound of flesh and severed arteries that was often accompanied with the spew of sweet, crimson blood.

Drawing back from the cascade of splinters and fragments of the lumber, he lowered his weapon. "Better than ten minutes ago,"he noted to himself as he sheathed his blade. "I'm alive for one more day."

[Kitty]

A barely-there smirk gave her usually listless face a defining spark of emotion. Crimson eyes honed in on him. He was working hard in the training grounds. He always was. She couldn't help but give a small sigh. He was one of the most well-trained, precise people she knew, yet he always pushed himself a step further.

Her ears twitched as she heard the whistle of the kettle she had set on the stove earlier. In a very routine matter, she pulled two cups from the cupboard, filling them carefully with hot water. As she continued to make the tea, she listened to Tamaki's breathing. He had already managed to exhaust himself.

Sometimes, she worried about him. What if there was an attack on the base in one of those moments where he had tired himself out? What if they were after him? She couldn't help but let out a small laugh; she already knew the answer. She would be right there, swords in hand, ready to draw the blood of whoever dared threaten the base, the organization, and most importantly, him.

Katanai would never admit such embarrassing things aloud, of course. Especially in a place like this, where it felt like there was always plenty of ears listening in. She liked the feeling of never being alone most times, but when it came to Tamaki, she would prefer it if everyone else would leave her be.

Shaking her head, she went back to the task at hand. The tea was officially ready. She picked up the cups, careful not to spill anything, and made her way outside. She leaned against a tree, watching Tamaki as he worked with his blade; his movements appeared so graceful and natural. The hair on the back of her neck stood up a bit as she watched him strike the target he had aimed for.

The air was warm and sticky. Perhaps tea was not a good choice? No. Tea was always a good enough choice, in her opinion. Regardless, she knew it was one way to get him to take a break for a bit. She was surprised to watch him sheath his katana; she was almost certain that she was going to have to ask him to stop. Oh well. It was a pleasant surprise.

Pushing away from the tree she had been leaning against, her tail swished quietly behind her as she walked toward him. Her eyes were fixed on him as she approached. Once again, a smirk managed to slide across her face.

She took a moment to think of something clever to say. She always had to be on her toes when speaking with Tamaki.

"If I were a tree, I would fear for my life," she said softly, yet sarcastically, extending one of the cups of tea toward him.

[Rina]

"If I were a tree, I would fear for my life,"

Tamaki didn't even feel the need to turn his head to locate the source of the voice. He would recognize the soft, sarcastic tone above the most clamorous crowd in an instant. It's just how he was--no. It wasn't part of his observant personality. Who was he kidding? He alone knew very well that he often awaited the sound of her voice.

Obsessed? Maybe. More so interested? Of course. There was something different about her that set her apart from the countless girls he encountered. Perhaps it was how considerate she seemed. Or perhaps it was the way she always seemed to appear out of thin air like a wish being granted by a genie--No.

He gave his head a subtle shake. What was he thinking? How could one, unimportant girl send his world completely off balance? He was aware that things like that often happened in books and movies, but not in real life. Not to him...

Then again, she wasn't as unimportant as he often forced himself to believe. He didn't know what, but something in her sparked an interest and he couldn't put on such a detached front like he was able to with others. Somehow, with her mere presence, she could trick him into doing something he rarely did--drop his guard.

Turning ever so slightly, he noticed the cup of tea in her hand. He was never fond of tea--quite frankly, it made him feel as if he was melting--but considering it was from her...

"Thank you, Katanai," he murmured; trying his best to harness his usual impassive tone. He reached for the cup, his fingertips swiftly brushing hers as he quickly withdrew the tea.

Bringing the drink to his lips, he promptly downed the tea, ignoring the initial sting from the hot temperature. He had forgotten how long he was out and he was parched. Withdrawing the cup, he wiped the corners of his mouth. He always had a clumsy habit of missing his mouth.

He lifted a hand and briefly laid it on her head. "If you were a tree, you'd better hope you'd still make tea for me." He let his lips twitch into a slight smirk before withdrawing his hand and making his way over to the towel he had laid out prior to his training.

He carefully set the half empty cup of tea down and picked up his towel, draping it around his shoulders. If the evening had gotten any hotter, he surely would've melted. He dabbed at the perspiration that collected on his face and neck. He had almost forgotten how sweaty he let himself get and inwardly scolded himself for allowing Katanai to see him as unsightly as he was.

"I guess it can't be helped," he thought.

[Kitty]

She always seemed to crave the sound of his speaking. She liked how he never seemed to raise his voice above it's usual murmur; her ears were sensitive to noise, thus it was refreshing to have someone talk at a volume that did not lead to a pounding headache. Sometimes she worried that she was becoming too attached to him. Attaching herself to people was not something she did very often any more. Not since her parents' murder all those years ago. All that was in the past. Perhaps it was about time she started letting someone in after all.


Of course, she never would have imagined herself feeling this way about anyone--especially someone like him. He was your typical Adonis, the one that any stereotypical girl would easily throw herself at. He was the strong and silent type, dripping with good looks. She was a monster, quiet and wallflower-esque.

Watching as he quickly downed the tea, she let out a soft "heh" as she noticed that more tea had escaped his mouth than not. He was more thirsty than she expected. Perhaps she should have brought out a bigger cup... Or maybe water would have been a better choice?

She then felt the gentle impact of his hand to her head. In slight surprise, she closed one eye. The other eye focused on him. She felt the heat of a small blush start to prick at her cheeks. That was one thing she hated--blushing. She seemed to blush often nowadays. Out of frustration, embarrassment, and reasons she could not explain with words, she felt her cheeks turn pink. With skin as pale as hers, it was always obvious when a blush began to develop.

"If you were a tree, you'd better hope you'd still make tea for me."

Once again, she let a soft, short laugh escape her. She sipped her tea thoughtfully before replying, "Perhaps if you would promise to not slash me with your sword."

Crimson eyes followed Tamaki as he began to dab at himself with a towel. Katanai took another small sip of tea before setting the cup down on the ground near her feet. Her footsteps light and quiet, she stepped closer to him.

Her hands worked steadily, unbuttoning her long-sleeved blouse. It was rather hot outside, but she was born and raised in a desert. This kind of heat was nothing. She pulled off the blouse nonchalantly, leaving her in a black tank top.

The only reason Katanai owned tank tops was for the sake of always having an undershirt on. In the business of assassin work, it would be foolish for a woman to wear a shirt without something under it. She would never wear one out of the base without a shirt over it, of course. She did not like the feeling of her arms being exposed.

Figuring that she had to do her laundry soon either way, she used the blouse to help Tamaki in his task of wiping his neck and face off.

"You've been out here for quite some time," she commented softly. "Do you know what it means to relax?" she added as a playful jab.

[Rina]

Retrieving his towel, he allowed himself to take a discreet glance at Katanai. Her usual pallid complexion seemed to be taking on a slight pink hue, yet he quickly dismissed the reasoning behind it. It was humid outside, so it wasn't anything out of the ordinary to witness someone flush; especially in this heat.

"Perhaps if you would promise to not slash me with your sword."

A slight smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. Perhaps that's one thing that he found so interesting about her. No matter what was said, she always seemed to have a sly reply that often left people scrambling for a comeback. She was unpredictable, and that's what he found intriguing.

"I'll think about it," he responded simply, running his fingers through his hair. His communication skills were weak and almost nonexistent, so he often kept his replies short. Yet, with her, it seemed like he had to force himself to shut up before he let too much slip out.

As he went to tend to his neck and face again, he noticed she was already beside him, assisting his task with her own shirt. Out of reflex, he tensed at the contact. He wasn't used to people freely lying their hands on him; not even so much as a hand shake or a playful punch on the shoulder. This sense was all new to him.

"You've been out here for quite some time. Do you know what it means to relax?"

"Yes, 'to be or feel at ease'," he retorted quietly in a sarcastic tone. Normally, he wouldn't have responded so playfully due to his distaste in conversations, but he couldn't help it. There was just something inside him that felt as if he could confine his innermost thoughts to her--even though he never planned to.

He normally hated becoming close to people. All it ever brought was betrayal, conflict, and heart ache, so he kept aloof. And others didn't seem to have a problem with that. For the most part--either due to fear or pure disinterest--everyone left him alone.


Except her. Apart from his own sister, Katanai seemed to be the only person who was courageous--or stupid--enough to try to socialize with him. Normally, he would've brushed her off within the first few confrontations by either completely ignoring her existence, or if that failed, a scornful remark, yet he just couldn't seem to do it. And quite frankly, he found it troubling.

Normally, he wouldn't have a problem ridding someone of their presence. Normally, he wouldn't have to bite his tongue to avoid a collision of foul language that would occasionally occur if he was that agitated. Normally, he'd keep his apathetic front and continue through his days without a second thought about anything. But ever since she came along, all of that changed.

"Oi," he thought to himself, letting out a defeated exhale. Once again, he allowed a discreet glance at the girl before him. "This girl is troublesome."

[Kitty]

"I'll think about it"

Letting out a small, contemplative, "Hnn," she simply went about her task of dabbing the sweat away from his tense neck and shoulders. She felt a short breeze slip past them, ruffling her bangs ever so slightly out of place.

"Yes, 'to be or feel at ease',"

Katanai rolled her eyes, but then assumed a facial expression of mock surprise.

"Thank you, Tamaki-sama. I was afraid my vocabulary would begin to slip without knowing the dictionary definition of the word."

Her voice felt rich, smooth with sarcasm. After completing her thought, she kept quiet for a few moments. In that sentence, she had said more than she would typically say in an entire day of corresponding with the people that lived in her household. What was it about him that drew out this completely different side of Katanai?

Drawing a soft breath, she closed her eyes for an instant. Something about being around him made her feel at ease. By merely standing near him, her breathing and posture had relaxed. She felt calm, content with her surroundings. Intent on pushing her hair back into place, she carefully raked her fingers through her bangs. That, of course, was the instant another small breeze came; this wind was just enough to set her hair askew once more.

With an annoyed huff, her eyes shot open. In the corner of her eye, she caught Tamaki glancing her way. Her gaze locked with his. Heart skipping a beat, she couldn't seem to sever the gaze. As if to divert from the fact that she had been caught red-handed in the act of staring, she decided to continue her previous point.

"Regardless," she murmured in a tone even softer than usual, "You should put that definition into application now and then."

In a swift movement, she took a firm grasp of a low-hanging branch of a nearby tree. Easily using the palm of her hand and arm strength to push herself upward, she landed in a sitting position. Smoothing the pleats of her skirt out over her legs, she looked at Tamaki. Now that she was on a tree branch, she seemed to be closer to eye-level with him.

For one reason or another, she found his eyes intriguing. However, growing up the daughter of an aristocrat, she knew better than to stare. Sometimes, she dreamed of those eyes, gazing at her from a sea of surrounding darkness. They seemed to represent a chilling safety.

It seemed unlikely that she should be attracted to him for many reasons. One of the less point-blank reasons was the fact that he was practically a frozen being, while she was accustomed to the scorching hot days and frigid nights the desert provided. Where she was raised, there was rarely snow. Now, snow was a beautiful object to her. It was a way to gaze into Tamaki's eyes without being anywhere near him.

He was the snow. It was one of the many reasons she knew that she was not supposed to feel so fondly toward him.

Dressed in a black pleated skirt and an arm-revealing tank top, one is not supposed to lay in a snow bank and stare at the sky. Similarly, dressed in a black pleated skirt and a soft tank top, she was not supposed to approach someone like Tamaki with empty conversation.

No matter how pointless the topic was, the conversation did not seem empty to her. It seemed full of something--something that she could never quite put a finger on.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed her teacup, sitting on the ground where she had left it. Due to the humidity, it had not lost all of it's heat.

[Rina]

"Thank you, Tamaki-sama. I was afraid my vocabulary would begin to slip without knowing the dictionary definition of the word."

He let out a barely audible chuckle. It was very rare for someone to earn a laugh from him; he never really found what people said amusing. Coming from anyone else, he'd probably become agitated with the response, but coming from her, he found it...charming.

Just as soon as he directed his attention to her, their eyes met. Normally, he wouldn't make eye contact with anyone-- it was too risky--and if he did by chance, he'd quickly drop the stare within a matter of seconds. But with her eyes, the way the different shades of crimson swirled and spiraled around seemed to mesmerize him and he found it hard to look away.

"Regardless, you should put that definition into application now and then,"

He watched as she effortlessly lifted herself onto a low tree branch near by. He often noticed her fluent motions. It was almost as if she was weighed less than a feather, barely gracing the ground with the presence of her feet. And to be honest, he wished he could do the same. He felt that if he took one step too close, the ground would quake under her.

"I do apply it; when I'm training," He begun to tug the back of his shirt over his head, slipping off the article of clothing and tossing it onto the ground. It had been clinging to him ever since he began to perspire and he could only handle the trouble for so long. Besides, he often did his laundry in the evening, so it was easier to just rid the shirt now than later.

From his peripheral vision, he noticed her gaze fall upon her teacup. He was bad with observing people's body language aside from that during a confrontation, yet decided to gamble anyway.

Striding over to the cup, he bent over and carefully picked it up. With the tea in tote, he made his way over to the tree branch were Katanai was perched. He stood adjacent to her, his elbows propped up on the tree's limb, and scarcely out-stretched his arm. If he needed to, he could just cover himself by making it appear as if he was casually waiting to drink some more.

Leaning against the tree, he exhaled upward, blowing his flaxen tresses out of his eyes. He knew he was probably going to need a haircut soon, but he liked his length. His hair acted as a barrier against shafts of sunlight and a curtain between his eyes and the eyes of others.

He let out a quiet, disgruntled sigh as his bangs fell back into the almost exact same spot he had blown them out of the first place. Things like that usually happened; almost as if to spite him. Once again, he let out a soft breath.

[Kitty]

"I do apply it; when I'm training,"

Eyebrow arching upward, she tilted her head. If that was what he called relaxing, what was strenuous activity? Katanai figured that there was no way to win this argument. Dropping the topic would probably be in her best interest.

A nearly inaudible rustle tore her gaze from the teacup to him. She watched as he removed his shirt, tossing it to the ground without a second thought. Katanai swallowed back her heart, trying to chase the dull blush from her cheeks.

Since when was her mind focused on things such as emotion and attraction? She had not thought so much about "romantic" things since she was a little girl. Although she was very different from others due to her appearance, she had the typical dreams of a young girl at some point; meet someone, fall in love, get married, perhaps even start a family. She wanted to wear her mother's elegant wedding dress and have her father walk her down the aisle.

Although the wedding dress was still up for grabs, albeit collecting dust in a closet, she would never be able to have her father give her away. Her dreams of marriage died with her parents. Her dreams of love decayed. She wore combat-friendly clothes instead of a flowing gown and carried swords rather than hopes to find "the one."

With subtle curiosity, Katanai's gaze followed Tamaki. He sauntered over to the teacup she had set down earlier. His hands seemed both strong and careful as he picked it up. With steady steps, he approached her. She felt the tree branch tremble slightly as he leaned against it, mimicking the fluttering of her heart. She noticed that he had ever-so-slightly extended the tea toward her. Was he offering it to her, or was he just resting his arm in a comfortable position?

It was a bit of a risk, but she decided that she would take it from him. If it came to show that he was not trying to offer it to her, she would try her best to play it off with sarcasm. Hopefully, the situation would not call for it.

Gently and carefully, she took the cup from him, accidentally brushing her hand against his. After allowing the touch to linger slightly and feeling her cheeks heat even more, she withdrew the cup, murmuring a small "Arigato."

She closed her eyes, bringing the cup to her lips. She took a small, yet drawn out sip of the tea. Although she tried to focus on the flavor the tea provided, the sensation that phased her most was that small touch.

[Rina]

He was caught off guard as a delicate touch grazed his hand. His attention was brought down to his arm and he watched as Katanai withdrew the cup from his grasp. He was somewhat relieved. At least she understood his subtle gesture.

His glance danced toward her face as he watched her shut her eyes and take a prolonged sip of the liquid. The tips of his fingers twitched and he absentmindedly outstretched his hand toward her hair. Realizing what he was doing, he quickly recoiled.

Tamaki clenched his jaw. What did he think he was doing? If he hadn't caught himself, he'd have to come up with an excuse for lying his hands on her without a reason. The wind seemed to die down, so he wouldn't even have been able to say that he was simply fixing her hair back into place.

He dropped his head, propping his chin up on his folded arms. He was acting out of character and it bothered him. Right now, if it were anyone else with him, he'd probably have retreated inside without saying a word. But because it was her, he hung around.

Why did he decide to stick around anyway? It's not like he was expecting anything major to happen. But all the same, he couldn't seem to draw away. It was as if he was falling into the pull of her gravity and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't escape it. It was impossible.

He let out a quiet huff and raised his head. He turned his attention back to Katanai.

What was so special about her anyway? He encountered countless girls, so why did she stick out so much? Her features? No. Truth was, he hardly noticed her ears anymore and her tail often slipped past him.

He bent his elbows and propped his chin up on the palms on his hands as he studied her intently. He was just hoping she wouldn't open her eyes at the wrong time and catch him staring. But if she did, he'd swiftly look away before she'd have time to register what just took place.

He exhaled, blowing his bangs out of his eyes so they didn't obstruct his vision. What was so special about her? Sure she was sly and intelligent, and not to mention a skilled assassin, and graceful, and she always seemed to know how to handle a situation, and she was... well, gorgeous.

His train of thought stopped and he abruptly turned his head. He could feel the faint trail of heat on his face, but he knew it wasn't from the humidity in the air. Almost ashamed of himself, he muttered an averse "Hnn."

[Kitty]

The cup still half full, she ended her drawn out sip. Refusing to look at him just yet, she turned her face to the sky before reopening her eyes. The sun had set and the darkness spread over the sky like a soft blanket. The heat was bound to cool down now that the sun was entirely gone. Katanai could tell, however, that she would not feel her body cooling until she was no longer around Tamaki. Letting out a content sigh, she decided to try and break the silence.

"My room was on the top floor of the house I grew up in," she mused thoughtfully. "Sometimes at night, I would open the window and dangle my feet off the edge, just so I could get a better look at the stars."

She paused for a moment. Why was she even bothering talking about this? It was all true, of course, but she never talked about her childhood. Never.

"My mother noticed me and worried that I would fall. She hired a man to build a balcony extending from my room."

She could still see it. The white marble base contrasted strikingly with the black metal railing. When she was sure her father was not looking, she would sit on the railing and dangle her feet off the edge, just like she would on her windowsill.

"I would lay on the floor of the balcony at night, and there would be a perfect view of the stars," she concluded.

Tearing her gaze away from the fresh sky of the evening, she turned her attention back to Tamaki. He seemed to shine just as bright, if not brighter than, any of the stars she admired. His eyes twinkled more than all constellations and it was hard to look away.

She allowed her eyes to close for a few passing moments. She did not want to be questioned for staring at him too long. Such questioning would only be troublesome and nearly impossible to explain.

The onset of a drawn out silence was hard for her to bear. She feared nothing more than boring him to the point that he would just get up and walk away. The only reason she bothered saying anything was to keep him nearby, even if just for a moment or two longer.

"My apologies," she muttered, opening her eyes to look at him once more. "I did not mean to bore you with lengthy narration."

Tilting her head ever so slightly, she fixed her gaze on him, urging him with her eyes to respond. Each second of silence felt like an eternity.

[Rina]

"My room was on the top floor of the house I grew up in. Sometimes at night, I would open my window and dangle my feet off the edge, just so I could get a better look at the stars. My mother noticed me and worried that I would fall. She hired a man to build a balcony extending from my room. I would lay on the floor of the balcony at night, and there would be a perfect view of the stars."

Tamaki was slightly thrown off by her childhood recollection. He usually wasn't the sort of person someone would have a conversation with, let alone recall an adolescent memory, yet he almost found it relaxing. For once, someone actually made an attempt of striking a conversation with him.

"My apologies. I did not mean to bore you with lengthy narration."

He could feel her gaze penetrating him. Almost as if she was waiting for a response. He hadn't thought about replying, but considering she made an effort to draw a conversation out, he would might as well be polite and offer a few words in exchange.

"In the summer evenings, my mother would take my sister and I out to lay out on the lawn and look up at the stars," he began in a quiet voice; careful not to allow any sort of emotional reminisce invade his tone.

He recalled those nights; where the humidity clung to the air and the crickets were array in the grass chirping to each other in a melodious symphony. His mother would lay out in the grass with him and his sister and smile--her smile often competing with the brightness of the constellations--and stare in wonder at the stars above them. No matter how often she gazed at the sky with her children, she would still be amazed with the beauty of it all.

"I thought it was stupid," he muttered, lifting his face to the sky. "They were just dozens of bright dots in the sky; so why did everyone find them so admirable?"

As a child, he never did understand why everyone thought the night sky was so beautiful. So what if there was a thousand bright lights cluttering the horizon? Surely those who obsessed over it never saw a large city with sky scrapers that contained lights that never seemed to turn off.

He continued to stare at the sky, following the constellations with his eyes. He knew if he mother was listening right now, she'd probably scold him for being so close-minded. His lips twitched into a small frown before continuing.

"But I suppose I see it now," he murmured in a softening tone. "It might not be the way others view it, but it's my perspective." He leaned forward, resting his chest on the tree branch. "The stars aren't just incandescent exploding balls of gases to me. They're the millions of minuscule scars resulting from the hardships the sky has encountered." He paused cordially. "But even so, no matter what the sky has been through, people still find the sky's weakest aspects one of it's most beautiful features."

He blinked, and trailed off with his speech. He hadn't even revealed his insight to his own sister. Blowing his bangs out of his eyes, he granted a glance over at Katanai. If she was ever to think of him as a spineless, childish person, now would be the time.

[Kitty]

"In the summer evenings, my mother would take my sister and I out to lay out on the lawn and look up at the stars."

Her lips twitched upward into a soft smile. She was relieved that he took her invitation to join in and say something. So he had recollections of the past as well, filled with the beautiful starlight.

"I thought it was stupid. They were just dozens of bright dots in the sky; so why did everyone find them so admirable?"

Tilting her head to the side in confusion, she felt the smile fade into a look of puzzlement. It was strange to think that someone could be so indifferent about the mysterious beauty the stars provided. It was slightly heart-wrenching to think that he had not understood just how precious those moments were.
Then, a dark realization hit her like a bullet.

Katanai closed her eyes for a moment, trying to shut out the overwhelming pang of regret. Back when her parents were alive, she had not treasured the small moments with them as much as she should have, either. Things like this often reminded her of that fact. True enough, she was a great deal happier as a child when her parents began accepting her for who and what she was, but she was nowhere near as appreciative as she should have been.

Maybe that was why she felt such a connection to Tamaki. Like her, he had lost someone very dear to him. Like her, he did not realize how precious the maternal bond is until she was gone.

"But I suppose I see it now. It might not be the way others view it, but it's my perspective."

Eyes fluttering open, she turned to face him. She was puzzled and intrigued by what he had to say.

"The stars aren't just incandescent exploding balls of gases to me. They're the millions of minuscule scars resulting from the hardships the sky has encountered. But even so, no matter what the sky has been through, people still find the sky's weakest aspects one of it's most beautiful features."

A chill ran down her spine. She could not bring herself to say anything as he finished his sentiment. Her eyes locked with his as he glanced her way. It was that moment that Katanai first understood why Tamaki interested her so much.

He understood. He was so well-grounded and eloquent in his thoughts. By just listening to him, she felt herself drawing closer to the inner workings of his mind. It was beautiful.

She wanted to say something, but there were no words that could follow her thoughts.

"To me," she began slowly and thoughtfully, "They were just a constant in a world of inconsistency."

Taking in a small breath and thinking of how she would word this, she turned her head to the sky once more. As if the stars were explaining themselves through her, she was able to continue.

"Stars shine the brightest when the skies are dark. It's just a small way in which the world reminds the creatures that dwell within that beauty can come from sorrow or pain."

A ghost of a smile crossed her lips as she looked back at him. Perhaps she was not quite as eloquent, but she had to attempt to allow him the same insight to her mind as he allowed her.

[Rina]

For a moment, her eyes locked onto his. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he could see something inside her; as if he was looking into the inner clockwork of her mind. There was something there that seemed to reflect... him.

"To me, they were just a constant in a world of inconsistency."

He shifted his gaze to the dark night once again while he waited for her to continue. The more she spoke, the less she seemed to differ from him. Perhaps there were people who shared his emotions after all. Sorrow, regret, anger, happiness... Perhaps he wasn't so distant from the rest of the individuals surrounding him.

"Stars shine the brightest when the skies are dark. It's just a small way in which the world reminds the creatures that dwell within that beauty can come from sorrow or pain."

Ever so slightly shifting his cerulean eyes from the sky, he allowed them to scrutinize her. She resembled so many important people in his life. His mother, sister... She even seemed to parallel himself.

He nodded in agreement. Ever since his mother passed, he begun to appreciate even the smallest things in life--even if he wouldn't openly admit so. When the sun would shine, instead of complaining about the glare and heat it brought, he begun to grow fond of it. It was almost as if his mother was smiling down at him and embracing him with a warming hug like she often did when he was younger.

Yet, he'd never willingly concede that he was as content as he was. It was much easier to go through life quietly admiring the world and clandestinely experiencing joy than openly doing so. Asserting a dispassionate front constructed walls that left no room for vulnerability or heartache.

Tamaki let out a quiet huff and allowed a prolonged inhale to refresh his lungs. The evening was finally cooling and he eagerly welcomed the crisp breeze that occasionally weaved in from the expanse of trees.

He shifted his attention back to the sky, which had seemed to become engulfed in a sea of ink, shadowing the base and training grounds with darkness. He had lost track of time, and thus, wasn't prepared for the shock brought on by the absence of light.

Being an assassin, he was subject to many traumatizing experiences and sights, yet there was one thing that he secretly feared--the dark. For as long as he could remember, he had always dreaded the hours of the night for that exact reason. He never openly admitted or demonstrated his trepidation, yet he still couldn't seem to get past his childish dismay.

Impulsively, he lashed out a hand; blindly reaching for the comforting touch of the branch's rough bark on his palm.

[Kitty]

For most people, sitting still for so long would have been a troublesome ordeal. Katanai did not mind it. She was used to situations where being absolutely still practically saved her life. The night was both her greatest pool of danger and her camouflage. Night is the time that most predators seek out their prey. However, it is also the greatest concealment for prey, if one knows how to work with it. As an assassin, Katanai had to think of herself as both the predator and the prey in every given circumstance: dangerous, but constantly on the defensive.

However, the instinct to stay on edge yet concealed was not what drove her to be still this evening. For the first time that she could readily recall, she was entirely comfortable in someone's company. This was an extremely unusual behavior for her. She was the type of person who always felt more alert and drawn back when surrounded by others--even fellow members of the organization. There was more of a chance that someone would deeply betray her than there was chance she would warm up to them.

Tonight changed that. Tamaki was, next to Aurora, the best companion she had ever been around. He did not try to start meaningless chatter or criticize her unnecessarily. The fact that he was just there was what she liked about him. His presence was strong; she could feel it easily. At the same time, it was not overbearing. It was nice. Relaxing, in a way.

Try as she may, Katanai could not deny that she was happy with her newly made acquaintances. Both Tamaki and his sister, Tara, were easy to get along with. Tara had become her younger sister, in her eyes. Katanai appreciated her because she could relate to her and try to help her. They had both been through the similar circumstance of traumatically losing parents. They had both been alone with one other; for Katanai, it was Aurora while for Tara, it was Tamaki. Katanai knew better than to write Tara's cold disposition off as typical bitterness as so many others did. She could tell, just by the small moments they occasionally shared and the occasional chat over a cup of tea that Tara was very much like her; doubtful of everyone, but with reason.

The conversation had died down for the time being, but she was content with that. She wasn't one for talking more than necessary to begin with, and she had already said more than she would in a typical day's span. She saw him reach out to grab for the branch of the tree, but she was not prepared for what indeed would happen.

Her current hand placement consisted of one hand grasping the half-full teacup, steadily holding it on her lap. The other was resting on the tree, giving her more support to maintain her current position of leisurely sitting.

When Tamaki had reached out to grab the bark of the tree, he did just that. However, his hand was placed so closely to hers that it rested against the outer side of her last finger. A chill was sent up her spine once more. It was strange and foreign, but every time she came in contact with him, her heart was sent aflutter.

Feeling the heat return to her cheeks, she stole a sidelong glance at him.

[Rina]

He held the branch tight in his hand, letting every crevice of the tree's bark scrape against his palm. He welcomed the familiar sense, letting it comfort him as the scenery was shrouded in a blanket of foreign darkness. However, something felt off. Aside from the tree's skin, something else grazed his hand. It was soft and warm, and almost welcoming. After a few moments, he realized what he had blindly stumbled upon. Her hand.

He tried to force his eyes to adjust to the lack of light before confirming it. Sure enough, his hand fell not even centimeters away from hers. He probably wouldn't have been able to get his hand any closer even he had if he initially planned it. Obviously acting in the dark wasn't his forte.

Even with the lack of lighting, he could still confirm the scale of her hand opposed to his. It felt so minuscule compared to his; hers slender and petite while his was large and sturdy. If she were to hold it hers up to his palm, he most likely would have no problem folding his fingers over the tips of hers.

Tamaki kept his gaze at their hands, reluctant to look up. His mind liked to play tricks with him in the dark, deceiving him into thinking that he was being approached by gruesome silhouettes that sprouted from the shadows. Perhaps that was the biggest insight to why he feared that dark. Or maybe it was the fact that it gave him the illusion of being alone. Either way, he absolutely dreaded it.

Muttereing a quiet "Sorry," he hesitantly withdrew his hand. He blindly crept away from the branch, cautiously striding over to the base of the tree before leaning heavily on it.

He had nearly forgotten how exhausted he was; his body was beginning to grow sore from his prior training, protesting as he stabilized his weight against the tree. He usually would've ventured back inside after his workout if it wasn't for something keeping him out. He didn't know what, but something inside him urged him to stay outside even if it was for a few moments longer.

He uttered a soft yawn before tilting his head back on the trunk and closed his eyes.