Poppin' up like daisies! [Lakshmi]

He had known for quite some time now that they were related. And of course it had been Setsuna who had informed him. She had been delighted to inform him that he had another relative. Had one more person who shared blood with him.

Another person, who was his family and yet there was nothing that bonded them. Another person he should be close to and yet was not.
His family was dead.

It was this that had him refuse to meet Lakshmi in any way or form. 4th Division was like a desease he avoided in any way or form and if he really was forced to head to this Division he had always made sure not to cross paths with this one. Just like he had refused to meet Setsuna when she also invited her Masaru and Lakshmi.

Now however, now he too was a taichou. Now he would meet her at every single captain meeting. Would be forced to work with her, especially as both their Divisions were more passive in their work.

Xarath had no intention to meet her at a captain meeting for the first time. Losing his face there. Being reminded of things he did not want to.

He would face his demons here. True, it was her area in which she was boss, but it was better than in front of others who had no right to view this specatcle. Especially Masaru needed to back off and stay away. He would immediately side with her and he know himself that he was always eager to bite when being pushed into a corner.

It did not make it any better however.

His tongue created gentle clicking sounds as he moved down the wide hallway with his captains coat whipping behind him. He avoided any Shingami who dared to look at him or even question if something was the matter. If he stopped now, if he took just one single break, he would lose his nerves and turn around to head back out.

He no longer was a coward.

And yet he stopped down in front of the 4th Divison captain's office without daring to create another sound. A shaky breath escaped thin lips as he stared at the wooden door. How long he did that he was nto aware, was not even certain how many people were currently trying not to stare at him. Or address him.

No coward. No coward.

His arm finally lifted, his fingers curled and then he finally knocked on her door.

Lakshmi was quite unaware of the man standing outside of her office door as she sorted through paperwork required of her squad. Requisition forms to be approved, final expenses to be sent out to the administration division, profiles on several new promising recruits in the academy she would do well to cultivate.

It did not take her long to go over the required signing work and give her approval to most, though a few would be sent back for explanations of why that particular expense was needed. Once she was finished with those, the Captain grabbed the profiles that needed reading and headed to the small section of her office with a comfortable couch and small table. Her coffee had long since gone cold but Kai was off running errands around the squad and so she just sipped it as she reclined on the couch. She was very spoiled now, he normally made sure her drinks were hot but it wasn't as if cold coffee was bad.

After a bit though she was pulled from her intensive reading at the sound of a knock on her door. Her eyes darted over to the door before she sighed. So much for relaxation...

"One moment please." Setting those profiles on the table, Lakshmi got herself up with a tiny bit of extra effort due to the carefully hidden bump on her stomach. It wasn't hard to move just yet but it was quickly becoming obvious despite the layers she was wearing and the loosening of her clothes.

Her rather wavy blue-black hair was pulled over her shoulder in a messy braid that it sprung from despite her best efforts, icy blue eyes that were a twin to missing former Soutaicho curious as she made it to the door and slid it open. That curiosity quickly turned to shock and Lakshmi reached up to tug on the long sleeve of her Haori before a warm smile broke across her lips.

"This is an unexpected pleasure, please come in. To what do I owe this visit Captain Shiru?" Of course she had wanted to meet the man, congratulate him on his promotion... But previous attempts and the man's attitude had kept her away. He was much like a prickly cat and as much as she wished to meet him and get to know him, forcing her company on him would never work.

Lakshmi pulled back from the door, her arm out in offering to allow him inside while her smile shined brightly. He had come to see her! How wonderful!

As soon as he heard the soft voice his whole stance changed. He had not been certain if the 4th Division captain was indeed in right now, but it seemed like she was. It was making everything more real. Unavoidable. A shaky breath escaped him, a tongue click followed and then his shoulders suddenly pulled back and his chin tilted up in arrogance while deep green eyes glared at the door in front of him.

Indeed. It did not take long for her to open up and greet him. He did not immediately speak up. Instead he continued to glare down at the beautiful form in front of him.

Well, if he could not be pretty he at least would try to be imposing.

"I'd not call it a pleasure." he finally murmured, his orbs still set on her far too familiar ones. It was no surprise any longer that she was being favored. "I'm merely unable to avoid you any longer, now that I am Taichou of 7th." he added as he simply sidestepped her to move into the office. It was bigger than his own, but that hardly mattered. He prefered it small and cozy, with thick drapes and candles instead of sunlight.

"Therefore I decided to pass by now and introduce myself." He turned just enough to keep his eyes on her. "I have no intention of playing family reunion at a captain's meeting."

The arrogance and glaring did not seem to effect Lakshmi in the least, nor dim her pleased smile. In fact at his words of denial over it being a pleasure, she merely chuckled and shook her head. "I did not say it had to be a pleasure for you. It is one for me at least, that you can be assured of."

Xarath, the mysterious antisocial cousin of hers who seemed to wish to be left alone, had been dragged kicking and screaming by duty to her door. She would not look a gift horse in the mouth though she wondered if her eyes disconcerted him since he had stared so strongly.

"In spite of your avoidance, Gigi did ramble on about you quite a bit. It is nice to finally meet you yourself, instead of her pleased talks." Lakshmi chuckled more, too happy and amused than anything at this prickly family member. The darker skinned woman closed the door behind the man before raising her arm in offering of the contents of her office. "Would you like to sit? I do not have tea or anything ready, but I can call for such if you wish to stay any length of time."

Her japanese was more formal, with an odd lilt to it that spoke of the fact that it was her second language. She'd never been able to get rid of her accent and tried to compensate for it in other ways.

While her office was large and bright, there were drapes she could use to keep it darker and quite for naps, though those were not pulled across the large windows. It had two sections it seemed, one area with a large desk filled with paperwork and even a modern sort of computer-like device. Shelves and filing cabinets sat near it, as well as a door leading off into another room in back that remained a mystery for now.

The other section was much more homey, she spent a lot of time here and thus made sure she had somewhere to rest from her work. The large comfortable looking couch sat in front of an elegant coffee table, the paperwork from earlier sprawled across it at the moment as well a cold cup of coffee half drank. Across from the couch were two plush chairs she used for more fun reading and less strenuous paperwork duties. All were in varying shades of ivory and soft creams, with occasional splashes of soft blues or greens.

"If you had wanted it would have been simple for me to play deaf dumb and blind to you as I have been." Lakshmi commented, a pondering look coming to her eyes as she waited to see what Xarath wished of her. Just to meet her before a Captain's meeting? How odd... It was almost disappointing and she reached up to play with her braid. It seemed he was still in fact the fluffed up prickly cat, though her icy eyes were still soft as she stared up into Xarath's green.

If he wished to leave he was able to, though she would be a bit put out, and with that thought the shorter woman headed for her couch.

This turned out to be quite a problem. He had wanted her to react upset. Maybe to kick him out and continue living her life while he lived his. However no matter what he said, she reacted calm, collected and maybe even with slight amusement. As if he was nothing but a brat.

His tongue immediately clicked and his head turned to his side so he would not have to stare into her eyes any longer. She could stare right back at him - he could not stand it.

Another tongue click and yet he remained standing. He had no clue if he should sit down, remain standing or just leave again. For now he pretended he was interested in her office. It was nice to look at indeed. Soft colors, warmth even, and comfortable looking furniture.

That seemed to be something the had in comon. He prefered his places like this also.
He should not compare himself to her.

With a sigh, and upon realizing she would not continue, did he turn his head back towards her. However this time he did not even dare to stare into her eyes - instead they glanced at her chin.

"I have no clue who this Gigi person is. Neither why you two decided to talk about me behind my back." The others probably did so also. It did not mean he was supposed to like it.
Quite the contrary.

His tongue clicked again.

"However it is not healthy for our position to remain deaf and blind to one another. At one point we will be forced to work together. Especially seeing which devisions we are leading." Fourth had to deal with every Division - being head of the medical system after all. And seventh? Everybody had to go through him to get students and in turn to be allowed into Divisions.

"Rest assured however- I am in no need of tea."

However, he would not mind if all this could be a bit smoother. Now that he was here he had no clue what to talk about. And just leaving again would seem like he was running from something.

Hopefully she would know what to say.
His tongue clicked.

It seemed she had upset him or annoyed? Lakshmi's amusement grew to powerful levels but she pushed it right back down, using the knowledge that Xarath might get far too upset and actually leave if she allowed it to run rampant. As he looked away, the captain turned her focus to other more important items, such as getting herself down onto the couch to relax once more.

It wouldn't do to just plop down on it as she had before and Lakshmi lowered herself down before noticing Xarath's focus on her office. "Come sit if you wish then, I promise I do not bite family."

His inability to focus on her eyes any longer was a curious detail and Lakshmi stored it away as those apparently impossible to focus on ice-like orbs took in quite a bit. His tense state, his form and stance, his nervous or not habit of clicking his tongue. With a sigh, it was then she realized he might not relax no matter what she did or said. Oh well.

"Setsuna is Gigi. Of course she would see fit to tell me minor bits about my cousin. Nothing of importance though, I can assure you." Whether he was annoyed or not over this was nothing Lakshmi could help one bit. Of course they would discuss him lightly, Setsuna's feelings on him had been clear and she would want to share as much as possible with her granddaughter as well.

Turning to the side a bit, the woman played with the small hairs escaping her braid as she leaned back against the couch's arm rest. Her voice continued to explain in her calm way, with no censure or even anger in it. In fact that amusement still ran through it, never ceasing. "It is entirely possible for me to maintain a completely professional relationship without a formal introduction or personal meeting with another. I know what my work entails and even what yours does, Captain Shiru."

What did he truly want? Lakshmi wasn't sure and felt herself pondering this more than she should. If he wished her to welcome him as family, she would. But that air around him seemed cold even so.

"It would not be the first nor the last time I met another Captain for the first time at a meeting, my work keeps me busier than I like in fact. We are Captains, I can deal with you as such and not as family if required. I did word that awkwardly I suppose, I meant the deaf and blind more to you as a person and potential relationships outside of our duties."

"Did you truly come here just to introduce yourself based on those thoughts? Or are there other reasons? It is the first time in a while a new Captain has come to personally introduce themself to me, regardless of our bloodties that you have seemed inclined to ignore up until this point." At least he did not need tea and Lakshmi's stomach turned at the thought of the cold coffee now. Annoying nausea... She reached one hand up to shift her haori over her stomach more in a natural motion to cover it.

His slim eyebrow arched high on his forehead. She does not bite family? So everybody else? He really was not curious about that fact, or wanted to know more about it. Instead he finally nodded and with quick, fluid steps moved up to the couch to sit down also.

One leg crossed over the other and his shoulders rested against the back of the couch while his eyes remained on her chin.

So she had a special name for Setsuna.
They all were allowed to call her special names, were they not?

And how easy it was for her to tell him that she could not care any less. They she would just happily continue pretending he was dead.

He had been wrong. No matter what Setsuna had said - he was not part of their family.
No special names for him, no inclusion. He was just the idiot that they easily could ignore.

His tongue clicked.

"There is nothing else." he finally murmured. It surprised him that it did not crack, for their was suddenly a heaviness in his throat. "I shall no longer disturb you, captain."

And even though he had just got comfortable he stood up again.
His tongue did not cease its clicking.

As Xarath stood, the Captain felt her nerves jolt as her hand went protectively to her stomach. It wasn't as if he was a threat, but the man had been seated there silently and almost casually until that point so it was a shock. Well it seemed she had messed up her wording. Her attempts to be as neutral for him as possible were backfiring in that he seemed disturbed or upset.

"You are not disturbing. I am sorry... I guess I am bad at this whole attempt to be neutral since you seem to mistake my words." Lakshmi's head turned to the side, more of those messy waves that were not entirely curls escaping her braid as she made that sudden motion. What in the world was she to do about this?

Maybe just her feelings would help him to help her realize what he was expecting of her.

"I would like, if it was your desire, to treat you as family. I would like the chance to get to know you, but right now my desires in this are not the important ones." Her teasing attitude gone now, she spoke quietly as her eyes trained on the coffee table in front of them. "I can understand not wanting anything to do with any of us, any of the Fujihana family. I can understand and accept that, so I did not want my feelings to interfere with your wants and life."

But was that how he was acting? What was it lurking inside those depths there... Anger or sadness or wants? Which ones? The wish to be left alone or the wish to be around them.

"But what do you want, Xarath? I will do what makes you feel best and happiest if you will only tell me or let me know." Her voice softened the more she spoke, those cold eyes showing more than a bit of sadness as she let the amused mask fade away and looked back up at the taller man.

The only reason he did not leave right away, while ignoring her soft spoken words, was her comment about being neutral. What the hell was that supposed to mean? Either you liked somebody or you did not. Either you wanted to meet somebody or you did not.Either you wanted to have a conversation or you fucking did not. So what exactly was she trying to be neutral about?

His tongue clicked. Once, twice, then he opened his mouth to speak himself but Lakshmi interrupted him to clear up her feelings about this.

Not that it was all that clear to him after she was done.

However his tongue only clicked once more before he finally spoke up. "I want you to drop this bullshit." he muttered and shifted just enough to stare down at her while his arms crossed in front of his chest. "I know it is unfair if I throw you all now into the same pot but..." Here his tongue clicked. "Setsuna pretends I am not here. I have to watch her frawn over you and Masaru as if you are the best damn thing int he word. You guys get to be personal with her. You guys get to give her nicknames. I get the guilt trips. Why I am not here any why I do not care. It is so hard to care when you are shown that while they pretend to want you nobody wants you."

Twice his tongue clicked before he took a deep breath to continue.

"Now you flaunt your 'Awesome Status' at me and wonder why I want to be left alone. I have enough issues with myself. I do not need the Fujihana family." As much as he still yearned for them. For who else did he really have? Who else could he prove himself to but them? "kicking me into the ground. So how about you stop being neutral? It is the least you can do, for it was not exactly easy for me either to show up here."

After all - he was simply Xarath.
And they were not.

At first Lakshmi felt a bit annoyed, being spoken to like that wasn't something she took well most of the time. Bullshit... She hadn't been trying to be like that, but really how else was Xarath to take it. The Captain pushed aside her ego and accepted that she was quite at fault in this manner, having attempted something entirely impossible and stupid really.

"Sorry... I am sorry Xarath, for how I acted until this point." Standing with care, Lakshmi gave Xarath a low bow of respect and apology before rising and looking up at the much taller male. Her blue eyes shone with a bit more emotions than before, trying hard not to hide them behind her usual masks for the man for now. "I do not wish to pretend you are not here and I really do not mean to flaunt that...awesome status. Even if it is unfair to toss me in with everyone, it really is not fair of me to judge you for reacting like that when you have been treated in such a manner by Setsuna as well."

"If what I wish for matters even a bit to you, I would like to get to know you more. I barely know anything as you said, it must have been hard for you to even come here not knowing me as well." The other Captain had her full attention now, one golden brown hand reaching out almost beseechingly. It refused to touch him without his permission though, her smile soft and a bit hopeful at the moment. "I can scrounge up some snacks, there is quite a bit of vanilla pudding on hand nearby. I do owe you for my rudeness earlier at least."

This reaction was not one he had expected. He would have guessed she was going to cry now. And blame him. Defend Setsuna and Masaru. Shriek. Kick him out. Bite him? The last was quite possible seeing as one never knew how pregnant females reacted.

Well, in the end she still had caught him off guard and he was not certain if he really could blame her pregnancy for that.
It seemed to be who she was in the end.

And so she managed to shame him in the end, especially as she pushed herself up in her current condition and then even bowed to him.

His dark eyes were quick to glance away as his pale cheeks heated up and his tongue clicked a few times.

"I do not want to talk about this anymore." he finally pushed out. He could not. He loved Setsuna for trying to give him a chance. He admired Masaru for not becoming like him in the end. He was growing fond of Laskhmi who showed him strength even after he had tried to ruin it.

And yet he was incredibly hurt by all three of them.

So how was he supposed to react? It was his fault, for making himself scarce. It was their fault for making him feel like he was not worth it.

Then again, when was he ever worth it?

He drew in a shuddering breath and then clicked his tongue before finally daring to look back down at her face.
Right above her lips - he no longer dared to look into her eyes.

"If you do not mind I could stay for some tea." he murmured softly. "However I would have to decline the sweets." He patted his belly. "Have been having too much to eat lately."
He'd just become fat.

"We shall drop the subject." Lakshmi quirked a brow, trying hard not to smile and show her happiness that Xarath had apparently forgiven her. It still showed, despite her best efforts as she straightened up and waved a hand to the couch and chairs settled around the coffee table as the man stared at her once more. It seemed he could not make eye contact and though her mind whirled with efforts to unravel the sounds and sighs he made, there was much she could not read of him.

"Please sit then, I will ask for someone to bring tea if you give me a moment." Saying that, Lakshmi stepped forward and moved around Xarath to reach the door. There was always someone around lately, her squad having gone into hovering mode. That thought brought a frown to her lips and she reached up with long fingers to poke the earring that dangled from her left ear. Luckily her distraction was not long and she stuck her head out of the door with a quick request of tea for two.

As she turned back, the squad member on duty having rushed off, Xarath was graced with a small smile as she took in his words about growing fat. "...It does not look like such to me, but if you wish, I am a doctor and I can do a dietary analysis for you. As a Captain it is good to take care of your body, but snacks now and then will not do many of us bad. Though... Perhaps some fresh fruit might tempt you? Sweet but healthy."

She did have some red grapes and oranges on her desk, leftovers from lunch and breakfast. Both went well dipped in vanilla pudding, as far as she was concerned at least.