Shirakawa Mansion

Masaru kept to the same streets they'd used to walk from Mia's, the less crowed areas where not many ventured. Mia was quiet, but he could understand why, and let her continue to use him as a cover.

As they continued, he gave her hand another small, hopefully reassuring squeeze with a soft, smile to match.

Mia didn't feel upset by the silence, Masa was...so kind he was probably making it easier on her to walk. As they neared her house though with nary a person to be ran into, she smiled softly. There was her hedge...

Loosening her grip on Masaru but not letting go, she whispered softly. "You...are the best."

Her eyes went up but not to look at Masa, but instead the stars that were out strongly. Her house was always a great place to see them. She was happy he was here to take her home...

As they neared Mia's home Masaru gave a small, but happy chuckle at her words as her grip loosened on his hand.

"It wasn't a problem, at all." He smiled, his eyes moving up to look at the stars soon after Mia's had. "I'm glad you let me walk you back, the stars are rather nice out tonight..."

"Then... you can do this whenever you want. A-And come over too." Her eyes glanced over at Masaru as he was now looking up as well, a blush going through her as she looked over the handsome man. "... Really nice. Y-Yeah."

She didn't know if she meant the stars or...

Moving ahead of Masaru with a small blush, she knew the way through the jungle-garden and would probably have to lead him, her eyes fell back to the earth once more. Though she stopped at the entrance of the hedge, turning to look up at the taller man. "H-Here! That way you don't have to walk out of the...dark jungle in there."

"Alright, I'll be sure to take you up on your offer...when you have...time of course." He ended with a small, sheepish chuckle as they approached a hedge where the entrance was.

He gave a small nod at her words, "O-Okay, sounds good."

"I-I'd offer...you to stay...since its dark and dangerous out there... b-but I only have my bedroom and um... I don't...have...p-pajamas..." Mia's voice squeaked as she spoke, looking away for a moment. Hey if it was too dangerous for her it was for him! At least her silly logic went. "I-I have lots of free time, y-you can...whenever you have some..."

Leaning up, Mia went to kiss Masa but... well he was taller by a bit. Her hands went around his neck and she gently and rather forwardly for herself moved herself up. "U-Um...goodnight kiss?"

At Mia's words Masaru felt his face redden, and he could only hope it wasn't as visible when they were outside at night...

"I-It's alright, I-I'll be fine...I'll stop by...when I have some free time then." Masaru replied, a small noise of surprise escaping him as Mia moved forward, her arms moving to his neck. When he heard her request though, he couldn't help but smile again.

"Of course."

Saying that, Masaru leaned in the rest of the distance and connected their lips for a moment or two, giving her time to respond before pulling away, and giving her another smile. "Goodnight, Mia. Sleep well tonight, alright?"

Mia let out a happy little sound as Masa said he would stop by when he had free time. She felt amazingly happy at that, even his little surprised noise made her happier. As they kissed lightly for a few moments, her mouth responding to his immediately, she felt...just content with things.

When he pulled back with a smile, she slowly opened her eyes and gave him a sweet smile and nodded. "I promise I will you sleep well too. Goodnight Masa."

Turning around, she moved quickly into the dark jungle that lead to her house. Her face was beat red but...she could deal with it. Today had been amazing. She...she would going to replay it in her head all night.

She touched her lips lightly, wondering...if it would always feel that sweet?

"I will, I promise. Night, Mia." Masaru smiled, waiting until Mia had gone inside before he turned to leave and head home.

He couldn't help but recall the days events, it'd been...more fun than he could have imagined, she hadn't been...afraid or anything of his appearance when he'd used his zanpakutou either. It made him really happy, he'd been worried before, but now he was perfectly content.

It'd been...awhile, and a lot of things had changed since Lakshmi had delivered the news pertaining to Setsuna, her death, and her revival that would eventually come. There was no telling when it would happen, but...

He'd known it had been a secret to keep, but things had changed...and...he felt Mia now had a right to know about it as well. She knew how...broken up he'd been about it, it felt...wrong to keep this news from her after he knew she'd known how it'd hurt him.

She was...practically family too now as well...though...right? They'd...well, they were past their confessions, and...he had a feeling that her father might now...He had no way of confirming that, but he knew Lakshmi had a lot of trust in the man. So if he knew...then Mia should definitely know as well...

He was in the gardens outside of his room, watching the koi fish swim around in the pond; he had asked Mia if she could come today, so...he was expecting her after he'd gotten confirmation.

Once she was here he could...explain things...

Mia entered the gate with a smile to the servants who let her in. They smiled back, a knowing one that made her blush slightly as she looked away. Masaru...had asked her to come over. Specially asked her to come over.

Normally they just planned around days when they had time to visit or when she got off early and came over as a surprise. Well not much of one, when she could she was over here with either Masaru or his sister. Her father's pardon had cut down on the time only slightly, he was also busy at times so it didn't steal as much of her quickly dwindling time as she'd thought.

Sensing Masaru's presence in his garden, she waved off any escorts with a small smile as she hid under her ever present hood only slightly. It was becoming easier to actually attempt to communicate with his servants, instead of cowering in her cloak...

Heading there with a warm smile, she let the hood fall as she finally slid the door open on the entrance other than his rooms. He was looking at his koi and she gave a soft laugh as she slid the door shut behind her. "Masa? You needed something?"

She'd be happy to just spend time with him, but it seemed like something was up.

Hearing Mia approach, Masaru turned his attention to her when he heard her laugh from behind him; he offered her a smile, warm as usual. "I...did actually, something I wanted to talk to you about...Would you like to sit out here, or go inside?"

Either was fine with him, it was best to talk where it was most comfortable.

"It's...not anything bad, I promise." He added with a small laugh of his own, he...didn't want to worry her about that.

Mia's heart still skipped beats when he smiled at her like that and she reached up to unhook her cloak as he spoke. She tugged it over her shoulder, a bit of a worried expression appearing for a moment before Masaru reassured her and it was banished. "Um, either is fine. I like both...it might be cooler inside though."

Instead of a kimono, Mia was wearing a yukata at the moment and her head titled a bit as she pulled her cloak over her arm to carry. "What is it if its not a bad thing?"

Not waiting for him to get up, she couldn't resist bending down and kissing him before he could reply. She...hadn't seen him all day! It wasn't fair to expect her to not want to kiss him.

Masaru didn't have a chance to respond before Mia's lips met his, he responded, holding the kiss for a moment before pulling away slightly, but not too much as their faces were still quite close.

"We can go inside then, and talk in there." He smiled; "It's...I'll explain more inside."

He wanted to say it was about Setsuna, but...he felt like that would make her feel it might be upsetting despite his earlier words. She...did still believe the woman was dead after all...

Mia smiled as he pulled back slightly, her face moving to nuzzle his face affectionately. "Kay, we'll go inside. Sparkle's getting big, I think someone may be feeding her a bit too much. She may be spying for someone, we should be careful."

Teasing in a goofy manner, she straightened back up and moved to his bedroom door. Reaching for it, she had to stop and blush... This was way too familiar to be acting! It...was his room and...house! She stopped and waited with a little sheepish laugh.

Mia's teasing earned her laughter from Masaru after he'd returned her nuzzling with a movement of his own before he moved to stand with her.

He watched as she stopped at the door to his room, just as she was about to reach for it; "Mia? Something wrong?" He approached the door, tilting his head slightly at her action. She could have opened the door if she'd wanted...

Masaru's laughter was a good reward, she liked that and kept smiling even as he got close. He seemed confused and she spluttered a reply as she finally opened the door for them. "I-I thought...too...forward ...opening your door to your...room"

It was silly she knew that but it was something she had felt briefly and acted on! Hurrying into the room with her red face, she shook her head slightly and buried it in the cloak. Masaru had something he wanted to talk about and she knew she was being silly. It just...sometimes shyness hit her... and she got all like this.

That was why-

He had no time to respond before Mia headed inside, her face red from what he could tell though she had it slightly hidden in her cloak. He followed though, and offered her another warm smile; "It's alright, you can...come and go as you please here really, though I'm unsure if that goes without saying, but...you can treat this as...like..a..."

It was rather flustering to say, his face red from just thinking it really; "...a second home if you'd like..." He finally managed to get out, his hand moving to his neck as he fought against his fluster.

After a few moments, he cleared his throat, his face still tinted; "The...thing I needed to speak with you about...let's sit...first..."

Violet eyes peeked up from the arm holding her cloak to her face. Mia caught his warm smile and tried to resist the blushing that formed from a combination of his words and his own flushing face. She squeaked and nodded. If that's what...he wanted...

It'd be fine right? That was okay? The cloak lowered fully and she smiled while her eyes looked anywhere but the handsome man right there. "If...you want..."

The cleared throat startled her and she hopped with another squeak before nodding again and moving towards his recently gotten couch. It was comfortable and she crawled onto it, curling up in her usual meek manner. "Its...really not bad is it? I'm sitting..."

Her voice came out more worried than she expected, wondering what could be wrong as she waited for him to sit too.

"A-Alright, I'd...be happy if you did, but...it's entirely you're decision..." She could treat this as her own home, it was perfectly fine for her to do so.

Masaru moved to seat himself next to Mia after she'd curled up, "It's not bad, it's important...but not bad..."

He was silent again, thinking of how to properly word it; "It's...something to keep secret, within...the families really, that is...Setsuna's, counting myself. Lakshmi...she has a lot of trust in your father so...I feel she might have informed him as well, and considering...us, it's not right to keep you in the dark either."

A breath escaped him after saying before he continued further; "Setsuna she...is not really dead; her zanpakutou, Lakshmi told me she's like a phoenix of sorts...she's reforming...there's no telling when she'll come back, but...she is alive."

"If...it'd...make you happy I will... I will try. With some things..." Mia knew it might be a while before she could fully, but she would as far as she could. Maybe with...this room and the garden? A start, it would be a start...and she'd be willing to try.

As Masaru sat, Mia shifted over so she was leaning against him and nuzzled his shoulder lightly as he sat silently for a moment. Whatever he had to say was important so she could wait and try to soothe him... before his words caused more heart hopping. A secret...within the families? She was...family to him? And he wanted her to know... She'd keep it secret forever as her face turned its eternal red color and she gripped his arm...

Before all the color drained from her face. It fled, leaving behind no hint of the former red. Setsuna was not dead. She was alive. She was an immortal reviving bird who was reforming as they spoke.

"...She's going to kill Papa and I. We're gonna die." Mia's pale face stayed pale, she shook slightly. No telling when she'd come back... She had no time to prepare, she'd have to get her bags packed and a safe hole...somehow. Maybe one in the library?

That...was certainly not a reaction he was expected from Mia. She believed...Setsuna would end up killing her and her father? Obviously...by her expression she seemed to believe that statement of hers.

Masaru situated himself slightly so he'd be able to hold her properly, one of his hands moving up to her head in attempt to sooth her; "It's alright, Mia. It's alright, no one is going to die. I swear."

He shook his head, this concern...

"You have both Lakshmi and I to keep both you and your father from any harm, though...you are not going to have to worry about any harm coming to either of you. She wouldn't...really hurt either of you, she has no reason to...you are both respectful and nice..." He knew Mia was respectful at least, but he felt Kaimu could be when it came to important matters. "Nothing is going to happen to either of you..."

Saying that, he leaned in some and kissed her forehead; "It's alright, it's alright..."

Mia was pulled closer to Masaru and snuggled comfortingly, his words stopping the shaking slowly but surely. Masaru and Lakshmi would keep them safe... His hand on her hair stopped her panic dead. He was so sure the woman wouldn't hurt them...but all she'd heard of her...

Well Masaru would know, would know better than them. So she'd trust him... Color returned to her cheeks and she nodded after he kissed her forehead, that action causing a small smile to appear on her lips. "Okay... But...But Masa! That means...your family isn't dead at all! You have her... you still have her..."

The implications of his words had settled finally and her smile turned bright once she knew she wasn't in danger any longer. She uncurled a bit and looked up at him with that smile, happy for the man. "Have...you known for a while then? Is...that...why you were...okay when I brought her up?"

Masaru continued in his attempts to reassure her as she snuggled up to him, and it seemed to work as her shaking stopped, and with the hair petting well...that had seemed to help a lot.

His smile returned at her words; "That's right...There's no telling when she'll return, or...even if she'll look as she did, really but...she isn't dead...It was....a huge relief to hear that..."

He gave a small nod at her following question, he'd known for...a decent while now, he'd...just been unsure; "I've known for awhile, Lakshmi...she came to inform me shortly after things had happened...that was...before things...happened between us, now though...considering our relationship...and...you knew how close I was to Setsuna, and I know you must have been...upset at least for me...

I felt it only right to inform you, I trust you can keep silent about this, it felt wrong to keep it from you considering everything. It's meant to be kept within the family, alright?" He offered a smile at the end of his words, and...to give some lightness to his words he brought a finger to his lips.

"Thats...thats good. As long as she's alive and can see you again!" A bit excited for his sake, Mia snuggled against him more and accepted the soothing actions that were just sweet and wanted now.

Listening, she looked up at him with her soft smile in place. "I...was worried more than..upset for you. I didn't...I didn't know if you were...just taking it okay or...hiding things from me... about your feelings. I'll keep it secret, I promise!"

He felt..wrong to keep it from her because of everything?! And then...those words... Family...

"M-M-Mhm..." Mia's stutter became more pronounced, her head nodding before the red overtook it and she had to bury it in his chest. Family...he thought of her as family. He thought of her as family, he thought of her as family he thought of her as family and...

Flustered sounds escaped her in his chest. It didn't help her that his finger against his lips had been...so cute...