soul_logs | [Closed] Best Laid Plans

Entry tags:

[Closed] Best Laid Plans

Characters: Kanji Tatsumi and Naoto Shirogane
Location: Loch Ness, Scotland
Rating: PG-13
Time: March 22nd, Morning
Description: Mission 131e. The Kishin egg of Loch Ness defeated them once, but it wasn't going to happen again.

Naoto's eyes trailed from the water as the Kishin egg emerged and proceeded to follow after Kanji. She ducked back, listening as she followed after them. The rigging was set; all they needed now was the Kishin egg to take its queue. Hopefully, this would be the last time she had to set a trap like this, but they would see. If they succeeded, it wasn't going back to the water.

Now, as long as Kanji remembered to jump, they shouldn't have any complications or need to make any abrupt alterations.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Naoto turned her head, noting the shady spot and nodded. "That will do."

It was just Kanji who really needed to be sitting down instead of hobbling around as he was. She waited for him to proceed first to make sure he didn't fall over.

So that's where he would go, feeling something tickle against his calf as he turned and had only a little difficulty taking a seat when bending the leg only made things feel worse.

But the shade, at least, was pleasant as he leaned against the tree trunk and set everything down. Curious as to the extent of the damage, he reached down and... sighed. The claws went through his pants. It was something he could fix, but it would cost less just to get a brand new pair and toss these ones out when they got back. Pulling the slashed material back, however, revealing five long red lines against the paler skin, still bleeding as they went from beneath the knee right down to the ankle.

"Damn... no wonder they hurt like a bitch."

The extent of the damage was worse than she first assumed.

Beneath the shade, Naoto removed her hat so she would see better. She opened the first aid kit, looking at what was provided. The detective had been gathering supplies from training days and picking up a few things from the store when recommended. One such item was a small bottle of hand sanitizer which she used before pulling a pair of latex gloves on. Not taking any risk, though, they might already be infected from the initial scratch.

The gauze pads came out, several being required to soak up the blood so she could proceed with disinfecting the cuts. When the spray came out, that was the only warning Kanji got before she began applying it.

Kanji bit down, a small sound in his throat at the touch of the gauze. He had to remind himself that it was necessary, but did she have to press so damn hard!? He gave her quite a frown, a brow furrowed as he remained as quiet as he could through the discomfort. He could take a few lumps, and he'd hurt far more than this.

But then he noticed the can. Oh, no. He knew what that wa-- "Nao- GH-"

That quick burn raced through his leg, and it wouldn't let up until the cuts were coated. When that subsided, his eyes were shut, and Kanji was looking grumpier than usual.

She wasn't pressing that hard. The bandaging would be worse.

Naoto briefly looked up when he said her name and frowned. She lowered the can and blew carefully across the wounds, aware they were stinging. She had been considering stitching them so they wouldn't scar as big, but at this rate, she would resolve to just padding and bandaging.

"I'm almost done..."

Don't be silly. Scars were manly as hell. At least, if you asked him.

But he felt something odd, then. Something kinda nice, actually. He opened his eyes, wondering what it was... and quickly looked to his left, a heat spreading across his face as he studied the nearby loch and a pair of cormorants standing on the shores with their wings held open to dry in the sun, bellies full of fish.

He nodded when Naoto spoke, reaching up to adjust the sunglasses still rested upon the bridge of his nose. He hadn't had a good enough look at the marks to determine if they needed stitching, and he was more than reckless enough to make himself his first actual test of his ability to stitch wounds.

So her scars were manly?

She grabbed new gauze pads and carefully placed them over the cuts again before pulling out the roll of bandage. Naoto worked quickly and evenly over his injuries having the experience of wrapping from her chest daily.

"You should have it looked at when we return."

Perhaps not manly. Kanji had only caught a glimpse of it as he changed her out of her wet clothes the last time they were here. He never thought to ask about it, but... the one who survived a hit that left something like that behind was the toughest person he knew.

"I gotta hit the clinic?" He groaned, looking back. Were it up to him, he'd just go straight home and take care of it himself. He knew enough first aid to tend to what he had. Well, for the most part. He needed to get fresh gauze from somewhere, whether he liked it or not.

With that thought, Kanji sighed through his nose and made his decision. That'll lessen his time spent in a place like that.

He leaned and picked up one of the boxes he'd brought, and offered it to her.

"Here. It's different this time. Skip what you don't like." He paused, turned his eyes away.

"...thanks. Y'know, for the patch-up."

"Yes, Kanji-kun. The egg's claws could've been riddled with bacteria when it scratched you. The disinfectant will do its job, but your health can always be compromised quickly with wounds like this."

Naoto closed the kit, blinking when she raised her head and the box was thrust into her vision. She pushed the kit aside and accepted it, nodding.

"You're welcome. It would be rude if I left you unattended to."

Especially after he saved her last time.

He thought back to when he helped change a bandage on her leg so long ago, wondered if that was why she insisted. But to see her sitting under the tree like this, warm and dry, was more than repayment enough for that day one week ago. Kanji was quiet when he opened up the second box, feeling a little hungry himself after the time they spent tracking the kishin egg compared to its eventual defeat.

He shifted a bit to get comfortable, gingerly moving his leg to keep it straight before he dug right in.

"And here I was wonderin' if we brought too much," he remarked, gesturing a chopstick to the first-aid kit.

"Think I'll leave the saddlebags full from here on out."

Putting some space between them, Naoto sat besides Kanji, her own box in her lap. She didn't open it immediately; instead, she stared ahead, lost in her own thoughts. This egg's soul made it twenty-four for her. There was still some room for growth and uncovering her abilities.

As Kanji spoke, she returned to the present, opening the box and looking at the contents. As expected, it all looked delicious. The serving size... she wondered if she would be able to eat it all.

"It's important to be prepared for anything here." Naoto broke her chopsticks and murmured 'itadakimasu' beneath her breath before beginning to eat.

And just as icing on the cake, it was chara-bento: Just for shits and giggles, he'd made the onigiri into the Featherman helmets. Red Hawk was the first one to go from his own set.

"Yeah. 's why I paid a little more for the sturdy bags- carries a lot, and nothin' gets tossed around too much."

He picked up another ball, and held it out to her.

"Trade ya this Yellow Owl for a Black Condor."

Naoto felt her face flare at the sight of the little Featherman helmets. This was just between the two of them right? She nodded, agreeing with the purchase.

"Huh? O-Oh, sure..." She picked up a Black Condor roll and held it out to Kanji.

She wouldn't believe the lengths Kanji went through to keep Tifa from seeing the preparations for these things. Seeing her reaction was well worth it, but he made no mention of it.

He was about to place the little ball into the box in her lap, but felt a little knot twist in his stomach as he looked at her offer. The way she held it... was she...?

Kanji swallowed what was in his mouth, and wagered that maybe she was. He leaned and, while placing the Yellow Owl onigiri in the box rested upon her lap, ate the offered one right off the chopsticks.

Perhaps Kanji should imagine the lengths Naoto must go through to hide anything from Minato. It's a miracle if he doesn't know.

Naoto stared, eyes widening when Kanji just ate the onigiri from her chopsticks. She really hadn't been going for that! But now, her face burned and she was incredibly flustered.

Partners had a tendency to pop up at the worst times. Though, he had to wonder if he'd ever done the same thing to Tifa. If he did, she was too kind to tell him.

His eyes glanced her way, and his eyes widened a bit. Uh oh. That wasn't what she was trying to to! But he all ready ate the thing, so he couldn't just--

Kanji sat up immediately, shoulders hitched as he turned his head away, quietly finishing the rice ball in his mouth. His ears may be bright red enough to be used as beacons if it were dark out right now.

If you respect one person's space, they should respect yours. Minato's just not very conscious about that.

Naoto picked randomly at her food, embarrassed and now unsure about eating with her chopsticks. Was this... an indirect kiss? Should she keep feeding him now? She doesn't know.

He wouldn't know anything about that, but that question was starting to occur to him. He immediately thought he could just trade chopsticks with her and it would be okay, but when he looked at his own pair - two grains of rice stuck to the wood - he remembered that he'd been using these all ready, too.

And so with a quiet gulp he focused on his own lunchbox, his stomach doing too many flip-flops to really feel much of an appetite at the moment.

"S-so, uh, you're a quarter of the way if my memory's right." Something for the silence. Anything. He picked up a bit of tempura and crammed it into his mouth regardless. He figures if he stopped, she'd think something was wrong.

She couldn't eat with her hands; the box wasn't made for that. Besides, after eating that Kishin egg, she didn't want to touch Kanji's hard work with her hands. Face still red and mouth trembling slightly, she picked up some of her food... and resumed eating, lips touching the chopsticks.

"Mhm?"

She had some difficulty swallowing, but she did eventually. "Oh, uhm, without the Witch's Soul, yes."

Ninety-nine Kishin eggs before a Witch... Hm.

All he knew was, when the day came that she needed to collect a Witch Soul, she and Minato weren't going alone regardless of how many souls he and Tifa had amassed at the time. Part of him wanted to make the comment, but... it was a little early, wasn't it? And she most likely knew he wouldn't sit idly at home for anything like that.

But that wasn't what was at the front of his mind as he glanced from the corner of his vision. A knot tightened in his stomach when the chopsticks were lifted again, not realizing he'd lifted another bit of katsu, but stopped halfway. It dropped onto the onigiri when Naoto took that next bite, and his eyes went right back to the box.

And he started eating faster. Almost too fast. Nothing was wrong, nothing was wrong at all! Sh-she was still using them-

"G-gonna hit those classes that're starting up again? I'm still kinda undecided." If they're anything like those 'Dealing with Witches' lessons, which had become entirely goddamn unhelpful...

Yes, Naoto could assume what Kanji would do which is only why he asked. He would keep asking as her number drew closer to ninety-nine and follow her and Minato no matter where their Witch hunt went.

She continued to eat, but stopped when Kanji proceeded to shoveling his food quickly without any thought to possible consequences. He would end up choking; where was his canteen or thermos?

"I believe I may try. More to observe the newer arrivals and see how they handle the information. I was going to attend resistance training at least."

She was right; Death City was due for another round of newcomers pretty soon. Fortunately, he'd gotten a buffer prepared on those gift baskets for SEES, along with another batch of armbands. It'd been a while since he'd spoken to Chika, and hoped she was in better spirits than befo--

That's when, to nobody's surprise, his lunch decided to try and go down the wrong tube. With an odd cough he stifled his mouth with a hand and looked frantically around for that stupid thermos he'd brought. He didn't leave it on the bike, did he!?

Naoto knew that was going to happen. She had already set her lunch down and headed over to Ziodyne. It didn't take long to locate the thermos and bring it back over, opening it and pouring some of the contents for Kanji.

"Here..." She held the cup to him.

Okay. He had to get going now if he was going to limp his sorry ass on over to get the thing. Setting his own box aside, he was just shifting to get up and fetch it. They could probably make use of it now, anyway--

But Naoto was up and off, and he could say nothing in any sort of protest. He took the cup like it was the freaking Holy Grail and drank; one big swallow later, and he could feel that building panic subside, replaced by the discomfort of far too much at once working its way down his throat.

His face stung when all was said and done, and he uttered a hoarse, "Thanks."

Ugh, how embarrassing...

"You're welcome..." She refilled his cup again before sealing the thermos again and setting it down. Taking her spot once again, she placed her box in her lap before speaking again.

"You shouldn't have eaten at the rate you were..."

She resumed eating at a leisurely pace.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

only these two could complicate eating so easily

haha! I know right?

love these two

the best

no subject

no subject

no subject