Grasping at Roses [Closed]

[Kitty]

Flustered. That was a good word for it. She had just spent a couple of hours out on the training grounds in an attempt to rid herself of this sickening feeling. She had won this round against Arata, but little to his knowledge, he had managed to stir her quite a bit internally. His words truly were as poisonous as she had feared. Even training until her hands were red from gripping her swords so tightly did not take her mind off of the negative feelings his words had managed to provoke from her. After some time, she told herself that enough was enough. The blade of her sword was the only place she ever wanted to see blood; if her hands began to bleed onto the handles, it would be bothersome to clean.

Sliding her prized weapons back into their sheaths, she proceeded toward the building. Carefully twisting the doorknob with only the tips of her fingers, she slid inside. The air was cooler in the building; she was appreciative. It was far too hot outside this time of year. Her body ached to be bathed, coated in medicine, bandaged, and sent off to bed for the day. However, she first needed to tend to the burning in her throat. Perhaps a cup of tea would slake her thirst.

The kitchen was entirely empty when she entered. Katanai was thankful for this, considering the rough shape she was in. She was not in the mood to be interrogated or scolded for pushing herself in the training ground. True enough, she was sore and her hands were hurting her, but it was a burden she was fine with bearing at the moment. The distraction of pain would serve to take her mind off of the morning's incident in the garden.

Why did this bother her so much? At this point, she knew that Arata had definitely been playing head games with her, trying to get her upset. Was it even Arata's words that were bothering her? She shook her head, giving a small sigh. Reaching into cupboard, she pulled out her favorite teapot. For some reason, the base owned multiple teapots. Perhaps it was for if they ever had an occasion where everyone in the house wanted a cup of tea at the same time. The thought amused her slightly, but even that amusement faded quickly.

After filling the pot and setting it on the stove, she selected a rich flavor of black tea. In her present mood, she was not looking for anything too sweet. Black tea, in her opinion, had a soothing aroma. The taste of the kind they were currently stocked up on at base was bitter and earthy, but at the moment, the smell was all she needed to put up with the taste.

Waiting for the tea to brew and fill the room with it's therapeutic scent, she rested the throbbing palms of her hands against the cool marble of the counter top. Bowing her head, she took a moment to close her eyes. The sudden recollection of Arata's devilish lips pressing on her cat-like deformity caused her to shut her eyes tighter, trying to block him out. It was all in vain, unfortunately. With the clench of her eyes, she felt his threatening arms snaking around her torso once again. She spoke mentally to herself. "Focus on something else."

Blue. A crystal, soothing blue. Exhaling slowly, she envisioned the fountain as it froze over. She recalled watching a carefully wielded sword as it cut down opponents that stood in her way. She pictured a cold, familiar hand holding her arm as thoughtful eyes examine injuries. She felt a familiar, content feeling as she saw him standing in the distance, waiting for her to catch up and leave for a mission.

Her world felt unstable at the moment, and she did not appreciate it. Why was she thinking such strange thoughts? Arata's poison had sent her mind spinning. A small "tch" escaped her as she pressed her palms against the counter with more pressure. She needed something real in this state of delusion.

[Rina]

The heat was still unbearable. It poked and prodded at his unconscious state with sticky claws and aroused him from his sleep. No matter how hard he tried to relax, he could still feel the glare from the sun beating down on him. Luckily, whilst he was asleep in the garden, he had rolled onto his usual sleeping position--on his stomach with his arms folded under his head--which most likely saved him from being burnt to the shade of a strawberry.

Tamaki's eyes groggily pried themselves open, revealing the darkening sky. Had he really slept through most of the day? Sitting up, he let out a yawn. Then again, it didn't surprise him. He never was a morning person. If anything, he swore he was nocturnal.

He rose to his feet, arm muscles protesting as he stretched them out. Who knew falling asleep on a marble bench would be so exhausting and painful? Running his fingers through his already disheveled tresses, he decided to retire back indoors.

Taking leisure steps along the cobblestone pathway of the garden, he eventually arrived at the door of the base. Lazily thrusting it open, he trudged inside. He was thankful for the noticeable difference in the temperature of the air of the building opposed to the outside. He could still feel the heat residing on his back.

He swallowed in the welcomed cooler air, only to find himself parched. He knew how unforgiving scolding temperatures were on the body, and he decided to combat any future dehydration. He just couldn't be bothered in the long run.

Slinking into the kitchen, his eyes caught a petite silhouette that was beginning to become more and more familiar as the weeks went on. Perhaps because they were partners? Or perhaps his eyes specifically searched her out...

Pushing his thoughts away with a subtle shake of his head, he mustered all the stealth he could manage--which wasn't that remarkable considering his rather obnoxiously loud gait--and strode over to his partner. He wanted his presence to be known, yet very subtly noticed. Positioning himself behind her, he blew a soft breath over her right shoulder.

[Kitty]

Ears twitched atop her head as she heard a foreign pair of footsteps approaching. Although she was grateful that they were able to break her out of such disturbing thoughts, they were not quite welcomed, either. Katanai was not very tolerant of others to begin with but at the moment, she wanted nothing more than to be alone. Still, her current state of mental and physical exhaustion won over her dealing with the nuisance this time around. Perhaps they would be brief, just getting a drink or something to eat and leaving. She was sure that it was obvious that she did not want to be bothered.

A cool breath over her shoulder caused her to quickly straighten herself up, open her eyes, and spin around to face the person who was insistent upon getting her attention. "Tamaki..." she was thoroughly surprised to see him there. Her eyes were wide with surprise to begin with, but they nearly went wider when she realized how close he was standing. Having thought that the person's intent was to make their way to the refrigerator, she had not bothered to move at all. Inwardly, she was thankful that her face was still slightly pink with over-exertion. Otherwise, a blush may have crept up on her.

"What is the meaning of that?" she asked, referring to his "greeting" in a tone that was more flatly matter-of-fact. Thankful that it had not come out in a bewildered manner, she tilted her head to the side as to urge him to answer. His appearing at the moment was unexpected, but his blowing on her shoulder was even stranger.

If she did not know any better, she would suspect him of mind-reading. The possibility was likely enough in this organization, but she knew that if he could read minds, she would have found out by now. They were always mission partners, so she was sure he would utilize such an ability to more accurately predict the moves of any opponents they faced. If he could read minds, she was sure that he would be untouchable on the battlefield.

Maybe he really just did have timing impressive enough to show up at a time when he would give her the most surprise and embarrassment. At the moment, she was at quite the low. She was thankful he could not read minds. Otherwise, perhaps he would see how shaken she was. She did not like being seen as weak, so being confronted in such a strange way at a time when she was mentally crumbling was enough to make her head hurt.

[Rina]

To his surprise, Katanai seemed to be startled by his greeting. Just as soon as he blew, she was straightened and turned to face him, lips uttering, "Tamaki..."

She was usually so aware of the world around her. Perhaps she was simply caught off guard? No. There had to be something else. Her face held a slight pinkish hue. From the looks of it, she appeared to have been training outside and was flushed from a mixture of hard work and the sun's rays.

"What was the meaning of that?"

"Would you have rather I yelled in your ear?" He questioned, rising his hand to lightly brush the tip of her ear. "You're not fond of loud noises." He reminded her. Despite him not having ears like hers, he vouched for her. He disliked loud noises also.

Withdrawing his hand, he strode over to the refrigerator. "I won't be here long," he promised. Although he would've liked to stay a little longer considering she was there, he respected that she probably wanted space. After all, he didn't blame her. It was hard to find a serine spot where there wasn't a dozen assassins crowded.

He thrust the refrigerator door open--as it had a habit to stick--and reached inside a pair of bottle water. As he retrieved the beverages, he closed the door and walked back to her side.

"Here," he muttered, holding one out for her. He had noticed she was beginning to make tea, but he knew it would end up causing her to become more dehydrated than she probably already was. "Drink this before your tea," he commanded softly.

[Kitty]

"Would you have rather I yelled in your ear?"

A small frown tugged her lips downward. He was being his usual, smart-mouthed self. In a way, it was annoying. At the same time, it was somewhat comforting. Her frown soon faded into a slight smile. It was a sense of familiarity in a time where she was beginning to over-think everything. Then, she felt his fingers brushing against her ears. Her breathing hitched slightly as her body registered the feeling. It felt strange and taboo at first, but surprisingly enough, with him, it was comforting.

"You're not fond of loud noises."

"Point taken," she said softly. When he put it that way, it seemed almost considerate of him to greet her so strangely. At the same time, her mind couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't simply tapped her on the shoulder or greeted her in his usual voice. Whenever most people were to talk, she found it irritating and headache-inducing. Tamaki, on the other hand, had a voice that was soft enough to feel gentle on her overly-sensitive ears.

"I won't be here long,"

Biting back a frown, Katanai did not say any reply to this tidbit of information. No matter how much she would have liked to be alone originally, she couldn't help but admit inwardly how comforting his presence had become. It was strange to think of Tamaki's presence as comforting, considering how their partnership had begun, but there was no denying it now.

Leaning against the counter where she had previously been pressing her hands, her eyes followed Tamaki to the refrigerator. So he was just coming in for food or a drink after all. It wasn't like he had followed her there. With all the times he had been showing up recently, it would have been easy enough to believe that he was following her. At the same time, she somehow had the feeling that that was a delusion as well.

"Drink this before your tea,"

For a moment, she studied the bottle that was being extended to her. After a split second of hesitation, she carefully reached forward, wrapping her fingers around the droplets of cool condensation that clung to the bottle's plastic. She exhaled, feeling the cool of the bottle against her hand. It stung at first, but it soon was soothing. Then, she realized that Tamaki was not giving it to her simply to hold.

"Arigato," she murmured as she twisted the cap off carefully with the tips of her fingers. She did not wish to grind the hard plastic of the cap against the raw palms of her hands. However, she also tried to look casual with her actions. She did not want Tamaki to notice her injuries. Bringing the bottle to her lips, she took a sip. The cool water slid down her throat, easing the burning that had built up over the past few hours of training.

[Rina]

"Point taken."

He allowed a soft smirk to cross his lips. Despite how egotistical it sounded, he liked being right. He liked having a point. It made him feel that his breath wasn't wasted for no reason.

His eyes followed her hand as it clutched the water bottle he had handed to her. Perhaps it was just him, but she seemed almost content with just holding it in her hands.

"Arigato."

He continued to study her movements as she gingerly unscrewed the cap of her water with her fingertips. There was obviously something amiss. Had she hurt her hands during some point?
Thinking back, Tamaki recalled occasions when his constant clutch on the hilt of his katana dug into his palms after a long training session. Putting two and two together, he figured Katanai had spent one too many hours clutching her sword. But then again, he was the exact same way.

Placing his bottle on the counter, he carefully pried her water bottle with a quiet, "Excuse me," and placed it next to his. He didn't know how long she was planning to leave her hands untreated, but he was going to make sure it wasn't much longer.

Reaching around her, he rummaged through a small corner cabinet until his hands found the roll of cloth bandage he was searching for. "You worry me more than anything," he muttered as he worked quickly to unravel the cloth. Setting the cloth aside on the counter nearby for easy access, he lightly grabbed her wrist, pulling her over to the sink. He knew he was being a bit too overbearing, but his instinct as a doctor often kicked in as soon as he saw warning signs of an injury. It's just how he was.

After setting the faucet water to a lukewarm temperature, he lightly corralled her hands with his, urged hers to find the spray of the running water. "It might sting," he admitted softly. "But it'll be less troublesome later on."

[Kitty]

Instead of seeming pompous or annoying, there was an indescribable quality about his smirk. It almost made her smile increase. Though he often had a cold or disinterested exterior, the time they had spent together allowed Katanai to know just how playful and sarcastic he could really be. She noted how her mind had begun to calm down; it was surprising. When she had first noticed Tamaki, she expected the uneasiness she felt to increase. Instead of being confrontational or cold, he had taken on a tone that was his equivalent to friendly. As usual, the blond was full of surprises.

Bringing the bottle of water to her lips once more, she took another sip. As much as she hated to admit it, it was foolish to make a pot of tea with no other plans of hydration. The best thing for the body after training was water--preferably room temperature water that would not shock the system. Although she was not as medically knowledgeable as Tamaki, she understood that much. As long as she paced herself and did not mindlessly chug down the liquid contained in the plastic bottle in her hands, the chilled water would suffice just fine.

Absorbed in the feeling of the water simultaneously cooling the sharp dryness in her throat and the throbbing soreness of her hands, she did not notice her partner's scrutinizing gaze. Next thing she knew, his hands were gently pulling the bottle away from her.

"Excuse me,"

Gently biting the inside of her cheek, she decided to be compliant to the point of opening her hand just enough for the bottle to more easily slide through her palm. Was she drinking a bottle that was meant for someone else? It wouldn't surprise her much. In this building, practically everyone was territorial. It was amusing, in a strange sort of way. At least it was reassuring that if there every was an enemy attack on base, everyone would give it their all to subdue and finish off the culprits.

When he reached around her, she felt a small, barely-there bead of sweat form on the back of her head. Her ears twitched toward the cabinets upno hearing him rummaging through for something or other. What did he think he was doing? He could have just asked her to move. Tamaki did have certain ways about him that were quite strange. She decided to actually question him this time around, softly asking "Is there a problem?"

She found her answer as soon as he pulled forth the roll of bandage. Her smile faded slightly. She was disappointed in herself. Was it really that obvious that she had over-done it? A small sigh escaped her. "Observant as always," she murmured.

"You worry me more than anything,"

Although her face had regained it's typical pallor, his words caused a light blush to spread across her cheeks. She was just beginning to get used to Tamaki's doctor-like actions, but she still was not used to people being there for her, caring if she was hurt or not. His words resonated in her mind, giving her a strange feeling that she could not put a finger to.

"Forgive me," she muttered, bowing her head slightly.

At first when he went to move her, she froze up slightly. With a small exhale, she allowed herself to relax into compliance. She felt like a puppet, but with him pulling the strings at a time like this, she did not feel in danger. When he turned the water on, she frowned slightly. She was planning to take care of her injuries herself. It felt like he was belittling her, which almost angered her. Taking a moment, she let another sigh escape her, reminding herself that his intentions really were nothing but kind.

"It might sting, but it'll be less troublesome later on."

"I understand," she responded quietly, allowing the water to run over her irritated palms. Sharply inhaling through her nose, she clenched her teeth slightly. This was probably the reason she had not wanted his assistance: she did not wish for Tamaki to see her show signs of pain or weakness. It was just the way she was. However, she was still grateful that he cared enough to urge her to immediately give attention to her raw, aching flesh.

[Rina]

"Is there a problem?"

By the time she had managed to ask, he had already produced the answer. Perhaps he should've explained to her what he was preparing to do. After all, he was stepping on her toes quite a bit.

"Observant as always."

He allowed his head to nod in agreement. It's true, he was observant. He liked studying the tendencies and habits of people. Doing so gave him insight that allowed him to almost accurately predict the actions of others. On the battlefield, his predictions proved to be a useful weapon in his arsenal.

"Forgive me."

He couldn't really blame her. After all, it wasn't like she purposely did troublesome things to make him worry. It was him who was worrying on his own.

A few sighs from her along the way to the sink made him draw back ever-so-slightly. He knew he had a bad habit of being controlling, especially when an injury was present, but he couldn't help it. His instinct as an older brother and medical practitioner was a deadly combination that caused him to be a little too oppressive in some situations.

"I understand,"

For a few moments, he watched as the water poured over her raw palms. He could only imagine how much it stung. Then again, he was also too familiar with the pricking sensation. It often took everything in his power in order for him not to wince or grunt, and he imagined Katanai was the same way. After all, she was uncannily similar to himself.

After he was sure her hands were rinsed off well enough, he reached over to turn the faucet off. "It's alright if you show your weaknesses around me," he muttered casually as he grabbed for a towel, keeping his attention on the task at hand

Although he knew it seemed as if he was asking too much, he wanted for her to let down her guard once in a while. He couldn't imagine what it'd be like constantly having to put on a strong front. Even though he often did the same, he was still able to drop his guard around his sister. But as far as he knew, Katanai had no one to relax around.

With the towel in hand, Tamaki proceeded to lightly pat off the excess water from Katanai's palms. Keeping his eyes on her hands, he proceeded to mutter, "It's fine if you reveal your weakness, it's just me, right?" Lowering his voice to a whisper meant more for himself than her, he continued. "I could be your strength if you needed."

[Kitty]

"It's alright if you show your weaknesses around me,"

Her mouth opened slightly, but she did not know how to reply. "Eto..." she mumbled thoughtfully, watching him intently as he reached for a towel. How could he be so casual about saying something like that? It was hard for her to formulate a reply. She wanted to tell him that she couldn't just "show her weakness," but in order to say that, she would have to know why. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts--not only for his sake, but for her own.

Dropping her strong front was something she had not done in many years. Since she was thirteen, her goal was to become strong enough to feel pain without showing it. She vowed that the only time she would wince or shed tears was when she was absolutely at her breaking point and absolutely alone. It was easy when she was living out in her family house in the desert. The house was isolated and she was the only one living in it. Living here at base, she liked to think of her room as a sacred place where she could quietly be to herself. Unfortunately, thanks to her encounter with Arata the previous night, she was afraid that she no longer had her room entirely to herself.

The thought of the cocky red-head bursting into her room as if it were his own private kingdom would not leave her be. Her room had been a sacred place. In a house with so many people, it was a space that belonged entirely to her. Now that someone had so thoughtlessly burst in, she would always be glancing over at the doorknob, waiting for that heart-shattering moment when a hand on the other side suddenly, quickly turns it.

"It's fine if you reveal your weakness, it's just me, right?"

The soft tone of his voice complimented the gentle motions he used to pat the reluctant droplets water off of her throbbing palms. Her eyes remained closed. The moment was as soothing as the aroma that the teapot was beginning to emit in the form of water vapor. His words resonated with her once again, ringing in her ears. "It's just me, right?" She would have clutched her fists the way she normally did when she tried to unravel her inner thoughts, but the fact that he was occupying her hands, as well as the fact that balling her fingers to fists would only hurt more, stopped her.

Before she knew it, her thoughts were becoming overwhelming once again. Why? Why did his words reach her in a level deeper than just her ears? Mind swimming with uncertainty, she opened her eyes. Perhaps viewing reality outright would allow her to stop her mind from producing images of its own. Unfortunately, the instability did not go away that easily. Water had welled up in her eyes. When she noticed this, she was afraid to so much as blink, in fear that it might escape onto her cheeks.

What was provoking this? Was it the pain in her hands? Was it Arata's poisonous words? Was it her own thoughts? Was it Tamaki's sudden gentle kindness? Through the slight blur of threatening tears, she looked down at him. He was diligently tending to her hands, trying to be as gentle as possible. Yet, why was it so hard to imagine herself showing weakness to him?

"I could be your strength if you needed."

Feeling her cheeks heat ever so slightly, she swallowed as if to taste his words. "Tamaki..." Once again, she was unsure of what to say. She was unsure of what to do. She hated this strange feeling of uncertainty that she had never felt until getting to know this strange partner of hers. However, the gentle whisper of his voice moved her in a way that caused her heart to feel a strange aching. Considering the present unavailability of her hands, she pushed her chin against her chest. For the first time in many moons, she felt a small bead of water escape her eyes. The sudden bow of her head had caused the loose tresses of her hair to fall from behind her shoulder and touch her cheek, as if it was wiping the disobedient droplet away.

[Rina]

"Tamaki..."

He usually disliked hearing his name being called. More often than not, it meant someone was requesting something of him. He was either called to obtain an object out of reach, to kill a bug that infiltrated one of the girl's room, or to venture out onto a mission. But this time, his name was a welcomed chime, yet with an alluded tension he couldn't quite place his finger on.

Dropping the towel, he noted her head bow, her hair curtaining her face in rich, silver strands. He allowed a small smile to emerge on his as he glanced down at his mission partner. Thanks to his sister, who also put on a fixed front like Katanai, he was aware of the meaning behind her subtle gestures.

"Baka," he muttered, gingerly taking hold of her wrists. He spun her to face him, pulling her closer to his chest. With an light, yet adamant hand, he pressed the back of her head, urging her to use his shirt to bury her weakness.

"Even if someone walks by, they won't see you," he muttered casually. He often preformed the act of a shield for Tara when she would finally hit her limit's edge. After all, it was less embarrassing for her than cracking in public. And no one else seemed to think twice about embraces such as those anymore.

He lightly patted her head. He actually found her cute like this. She was like a small child needed comfort. But of course he would never confess that to her. If he even mentioned such a thing, she would probably nearly kill him the next mission they would go on. Instead, he allowed a slight exhale, a sort of silent chuckle to escape from his nose. She was more intriguing than she first appeared to be.

Hell, the first time he met her, he loathed her. She was always one step ahead of him; wielding two swords instead of one, nimble movements that provided an advantage during missions, and impressive battle techniques. And to top that off, she was a petite-framed woman. It was as if everything about her was mocking him.

But as time went on, his detest slowly exchanged itself for admiration and eventually worry. What exactly was she to him? Had he finally found a partner he had chemistry with? A tag-team that was to be reckoned with?

He allowed a second exhale. No. It was the person he was beginning to see, the one people often didn't take the time to discover, or simply the person she didn't want to be discovered. Yet slowly but surely, she was beginning to open up to him. Perhaps he would do the same eventually.

"You're much cuter when you smile," he noted softly.

[Kitty]

"Baka,"

It felt strange to have someone control her like a doll. Arata had done something similar earlier in the day. The difference this time was all in the fact that it was Tamaki who was spinning her around, grabbing her wrists. She was equally surprised at first, but she did not fight him. Embarrassingly enough, she felt entirely secure with him--even as he was forcing her closer. Normally, she would have gotten angry at having an insult slung at her. With the golden-haired man before her, however, she knew that it was not meant to insult. If she were in better spirits, she would have given him a smart reply. Instead, she stayed silent, confusion growing as he pulled her head against his chest.

"Even if someone walks by, they won't see you,"


When his words sunk in, her eyes widened slightly. He was using himself to create a sanctuary for her. To her at the moment, it was an ultimate form of kindness. She had just lost the kingdom that was her room, so to have this moment where she was able to hide herself in his arms, she was entirely grateful. Instead of fighting him, like her instincts would usually tell her to do, she embraced the opportunity. Pressing her forehead against his chest, she simply took deep breaths. She silently allowed the remaining tears to slip past the corner of her eyes. Thankfully, there was not much water to be drained.

First, she felt his hands release her wrists. Then, there was the gentle pat on the top of her head. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to take in the feeling of being secure. She heard a small breath of a chuckle escape him. Her cheeks flushed once more. Was he really making fun of her after bothering to be so kind? Nonetheless, she gently raised her hands, wordlessly grasping at the material of the back of his shirt.

After taking a moment to gain composure, she looked up at him. His eyes were piercing, but in a gentle sort of way. They were strong, but calming. She exhaled softly, examining his facial features. How was he so calm about this? She thought about it for a moment. Perhaps she reminded him of Tara, his younger sibling.

Katanai got along rather well with Tara. It took quite some time before they were comfortable around each other, but she admired Tara's strength a great deal before they began speaking on a slightly casual basis. In Tara, she saw a bit of herself. The girl was withdrawn, quiet around those whom she was not comfortable with. That's not to say that she was loud around those she found familiar--she was just slightly more open to conversation.

She almost frowned upon thinking that Tamaki would associate her with Tara. Normally, she would find it flattering to be compared to someone who possessed such a great deal of strength and control. However, something seemed strange about being a younger sister figure to her partner. The two were only a year apart. Then again, Tara was only two years his junior. Why did it feel so strange to her?

"You're much cuter when you smile,"

His gentle voice snapped her out of her train of thought and toward reality. At first, her breathing halted momentarily, her heart pausing with it. Time stood still for just a brief moment. Was this meant to be a compliment? The corner of her mouth turned upward in a small smirk. As she had mentioned earlier in the garden, she knew very well that she was not "pretty" or "beautiful" or anything of the sort. "Strange choice of wording," she mused softly, yet almost bitterly, as she let her hands fall back to her sides.

[Rina]

Her forehead was pressed against his chest as her hands grasped at the back of his shirt. Judging from her position in relation to his, he dubbed her as being around the same size as his younger sister. Yet, at the same time, there was a difference with her sizing. To him, she fit more perfectly around him than his sister did. But then again, it might've just been wishful thinking.

After her tears were shed, she brought her head up. He glanced down at her. It seemed that with each moment he spent with her, a shard of her stoic mask would falter and crumble, revealing more and more the person underneath.

Her eyes were more than pools crimson. They were pools of blood, heartache, disappointment, and pain. Yet, at the same time, they were perfectly crafted gems, made all the more strong with each step she took farther from her past. He admired them. They were unwavering, enduring, and simply beautiful.

"Strange choice of wording,"

Although her lips curled into a smirk, her tone hid the slightest hint of rancor within her words as her hands slipped back to her side. He couldn't help but allow a soft frown to play on his face. Although he would have liked if they stayed as they were for a while longer, he knew that she probably felt otherwise.

Withdrawing his hands back into their usual position in his pockets, a quiet "Hn," crossed his lips. She was playing stubborn, and he knew once she thought a certain way, it was nearly impossible to cause her to think otherwise. Both her stubbornness combined with his obstinate personality had caused them to butt heads in the past, and it often seemed like a reoccurring theme.

"Well, I don't care what you think," he muttered firmly, lowering his gaze to meet hers. "I happen to find you cute, pretty, and beautiful; all the words you hate when applied to yourself." He was going to stand his ground no matter how stubborn she was. After all, if anyone could stand up to her, it would be him.

[Kitty]

"Hn,"

Watching as he stuffed his hands into his pockets as he always seemed to do, she noted how typical his response was. As much as she denied it aloud, to herself, she would admit that the two of them were truly cut from similar cloth. Of course, not the exact same cloth, as was evident upon considering how he was a flaxen-haired Adonis and she was nothing more than a demon.

"Well, I don't care what you think,"

Tilting her head ever so slightly, she looked up into his eyes. They did not light with amusement or hold a certain joking glint. At the moment, he was about to be entirely serious about...something. Truly, she had no idea what he was even talking about anymore. Raising a skeptical eyebrow, she stared directly back into the icy pools of his eyes.

They reminded her of striking blue topaz gems, such as the type she would see only the richest of women wearing. At the same time, they seemed as cold as the ice he was so fond of. The depths of his eyes contained the scene of the garden's fountain freezing over and over again. It was almost as if his eyes were a gateway to his power. He did not look away, so neither did she. This had become a strange sort of staring contest. Unsure of what this was all provoked by, she simply waited for him to speak again and finish his thought.

"I happen to find you cute, pretty, and beautiful; all the words you hate when applied to yourself."

"Nh.." The small noise escaped her as her lips parted slightly from the surprise of his statement. A light blush dusted over he cheeks. For a moment, she was silent. She could tell through those frozen eyes of his that he was actually being serious about this. It was very different from the way Arata had gone about complimenting her earlier, or the way anyone had ever complimented her. Although she scanned his features, trying to see a hidden, malicious intent behind his words, she found nothing but sincerity. It almost troubled her. "Is that so..." she murmured before tailing off, trying to think of a response.

Her ears twitched atop her head. She turned turned her head, glancing at the tea kettle she had set on the stove earlier. The noise was very soft, but her sensitive ears picked up on it--the water had begun to boil. Moving toward the stove, she turned her attention away from Tamaki and toward the task she had begun before he even walked in. Reaching up into the cupboard, she took out two cups.

Utilizing a pair of pot holders, she carefully picked up the pot of tea. It felt heavy and painful in her hands, but the cushion provided by the holders made it bearable. Pouring the fragrant tea into the two cups, she set the pot back down, turning the stove off after setting the pot holders back on the counter.

"You truly are strange, then," she mused, setting one of the cups down on the counter. She would drink it after she medicated and wrapped her hands. Turning back to Tamaki, she extending the other cup toward him, a small smile playing on her lips. Once again, she had ended up sharing her tea with her partner. This was becoming a strange coincidental habit.

[Rina]

"Nh,"

Tamaki held his breath as he awaited a reply. He was mentally preparing himself for any smart remark she would retort back to him. Their conversations often lead to an unannounced matches seeing who could come back with the stronger, better timed smart-aleck reply. Instead of opening her mouth to reply, her ears twitched and her head turned. She soundlessly set off to tend to her tea which she had been preparing before being interrupted by Tamaki himself.

He watched as she gingerly picked up the kettle with help of pot holders and poured two cups of tea. He couldn't suppress the smirk that forced its way onto his lips. Watching her was like watching a petite housewife preparing tea for her husband's arrival home from work. He found it cute. He proceeded to watch as she retired the kettle to the stove and turned it off.

"You truly are strange, then."

So she did have a reply, after all. But along with her reply came the offering of a cup. He was never fond of the hot beverage, yet for whatever strange reason, he couldn't reject the tea if it came from her.

Murmuring a soft "Arigato," he reached for the cup and gently took it from her hands. As he brought the beverage to his lips, he paused mid-motion and muttered a quiet string of vulgar words before setting it down on the counter beside him.

How the hell could he forget to tend to her hands? And he nearly called himself a doctor? Inwardly scoffing, he walked over to the side cabinet open, thrusting it open and rummaged inside once more. After finding a small tube of antibiotic ointment, he shut the cabinet and returned back to her side.

"Never distract a genius from his work," he muttered, grabbing hold of her wrists once more. He wasn't surprised that he somehow managed to fit both of her wrists in one hand, considering she was over-all petite.

Using his free hand and his teeth, he unscrewed the top of the tube--probably not the most sanitary route to go--and proceeded to squeeze the antibiotic out onto her hands. He tossed the tube onto the counter and went on to rub the ointment into her palms with gentle, circular motions. He tried to be as gentle as he could, not wanting to irritate her hands any more than they were.

When his task was completed, he reached over to obtain the roll of bandages. Unraveling the roll with a single hand was no easy feat, although he managed. Once the roll was unraveled, he begun to gently wrap her one hand and then the other, using his teeth to rip the cloth in-between the transition from one palm to the other.

"There," he muttered, re-wrapping the unused cloth around the roll. "Oh, and one more thing," he added, grabbing her hands palms-up in his once the roll was safely on the counter. "Take better care of your hands," he muttered as he brought his lips to her palms and softly kissed her freshly bandaged hands.

Turning away, he reached for his cup of tea and took a sip.

[Kitty]

"Arigato,"

A small smile slid gently across her lips. What, no smart remark? Perhaps her partner was losing his edge. With contemplative eyes, she watched him as he went to take a sip from the teacup. Considering the tense unfamiliarity of the situation was dying down into something more comfortable, she felt considerably more relaxed. Matches of wit were something she often engaged in--especially with Tamaki. She had to stay ready, just in case he was taking the opportunity to think of a suitable comeback.

The cup only made it perhaps halfway to his mouth when she heard a stream of vulgarities pour from his mouth in a soft, steady stream that would be comparable to tea pouring out of a kettle. A small bead of sweat accumulated on the back of her head. What was that all about? For the most part, Tamaki only said anything when he found it worth his while to say. Something must have upset him. Perhaps the scent of the tea was too strong for him.

"Something has upset you?" she said in a matter-of-fact, yet questioning manner. Her eyebrow quirked upward, signifying that she was looking for an explanation. Her curiosity was tickled as her gaze followed him back to the cabinet. She waited patiently as he rummaged through the cabinet's depths, wondering what exactly he had so suddenly thought of. When he turned back toward her, she saw the tube in his hand and instantly understood. Before she could say another word, he decided to comment:

"Never distract a genius from his work,"

There were so many remarks she could have said in reply to that, but as he captured her wrists in one of his hands, she decided to remain silent and simply see what he was planning on doing. In moments like this, she knew to be compliant. Tamaki's nature as someone who nearly had a medical degree was caring, yet stern. She knew that when he was treating a patient, it was hard to argue with him--even for her.

Although she had inwardly vowed to be obedient, his hand seemed to be interested in making sure she did not move an inch during the process. With great interest, she watched as he unscrewed the cap using his free hand and his teeth. He looked so intent and serious, but to a point, it was also quite a ridiculous spectacle. She would have been fine with holding her hands still for him. She was not injured to the point where she could not so much as hold her arms up and in place. The only injury she had managed to inflict was an irritating wearing down of the skin on her palms, thanks to the death-grip she had on the hilts of her swords.

After squeezing some of the tube's contents on her hands, he tossed it onto the counter in a way that she would nearly consider dramatic. A small hiss slid through her teeth as he began to massage the ointment into her already sore palms. It was painful, but considering she had done this to herself, she would not complain. Her eyes stayed trained on him as he worked. It was apparent that he was trying to be as gentle possible in his actions. She grit her teeth, determined to not show any more signs of pain. He was obviously doing the best he could to keep the pain minimal.

In order to distract herself from the pain in her own hands, she concentrated on the feeling of his. His hands were significantly larger than hers, explaining why he was able contain both her wrists in the grasp of just one of his hands. Considering the present tenderness of her skin, it was hard to really tell the texture of his fingers or palms. She imagined them calloused from both the incessant hand-washing medical school was sure to entail and his rigorous training with the sword. Without him even telling her such a thing aloud, she could tell that he had suffered similar annoying irritants to the one she was presently facing.

Upon finishing sufficiently rubbing the ointment into her hands, he retrieved the roll of bandages that he had put on the counter earlier. Considering his one hand seemed insistent on keeping her wrists captive, she watched with great amusement as he slowly but surely unraveled the bandages with his free hand. She had to give him credit--such a task would be unnecessarily daunting. When he finally succeeded in his task, he began to wrap the bandages carefully around her hands. She admired how skillful he looked as he worked. His eyes seemed thoughtful and determined.

After her first hand had been successfully wrapped, she watched in slight shock as he lowered his mouth upon the material, ripping it with his teeth. She couldn't help but smile at the sight of him biting through the cloth. A small laugh escaped from behind her teeth as she thought of his comment about being a "genius at work."

"I suppose that scissors would be too convenient for a genius?" she questioned softly, unable to resist the playful jab. Still, she watched him as attentively as ever as he covered the other hand neatly in bandages. When he finished up, she took a moment to silently respect the job he had done, moving her hands carefully. As much as she hated to admit it, she would have not been able to do such a careful job on herself. Considering how she was right-handed, her left hand would have inevitably been wrapped considerably better than her right.

"There,"

Eyes flashing back to him, she paused for just a moment before bowing thoughtfully. "Arigato," she murmured. He had done a great service for her.

"Oh, and one more thing,"

Giving him a questioning look, she watched intently as he took her hands in his once more. Were they not already successfully tended to? He had already put the roll of bandage back on the counter, so it did not appear that he was planning to re-wrap anything.

"Take better care of your hands,"

Her eyes widened slightly as he brought his lips down to where he was holding her palms. Feeling the tender kiss he placed upon the fresh bandages, a light blush crept across her cheeks. Her lips parted, but she was unsure of what to say. Before she could manage to gather any suitable words, he had turned away, picking up the cup of tea she had poured for him moments ago.

Deciding to follow his lead, she carefully picked up her teacup. The bandaging and ointment allowed her to hold it with minimal pain. Bringing it up to her lips, she carefully took a sip, still trying to think of a way to reply to him. For once, she found herself utterly without words. Just as she had expected, the tea had a bitter taste to it. Though she was secretly a bigger fan of sweet things, she liked the way the earthy flavor wrapped around her taste buds. After a long, drawn-out sip, she brought the cup away from her mouth, setting it back down on the counter halfway emptied.

Looking over at Tamaki, she was suddenly reminded of the first conversation they were forced into together, where he had asked her to "take care of him" when they would leave for their first mission. A ghost of a smile crossed her lips. With slow, careful words, she spoke up.

"I will try... Though, I do hope you will continue to take care of me."