You're Kidding?! [NSFW]

"Aha, alright...something meaningful, but not expensive... I'll definitely keep that in mind." He would certainly keep it in mind, he would be sure she'd have a great Christmas, this was...as she'd said, her first time having one around others...

He would definitely make it special in that case!

She seemed to enjoy batting at...the tassels though, almost like a cat... Resisting the urge to laugh, he instead spoke up. "Mia...um...I should check on the food, but if you don't think you can stand around nearby I could try to ah...keep you on my back? That way you could still...play with the tassels?

It should almost be done, but I'd rather also be of help to you with comforting...and all..." It was a silly suggestion, but...it was a suggestion nonetheless. Mia seemed to really enjoy playing with them like this, so...

Mia nodded firmly, she'd... honestly be happy just spending it with him and having snacks and stuff. "If Nozomi wants something super special, I want to do it... I-I mean, she is the one who it should be all about right? I-I am making you and her each gifts, so... we can exchange presents but do what she wants."

It really should be what their little sister wanted most, for dinner or everything... That would make it most special to Mia, to make Nozomi happy...

Sensing his amusement, Mia blushed a tiny bit before he spoke and offered... his back... That caused the blush to bloom across her cheeks and she looked away... But nodded. She could stand just fine but... Mm... against Masaru's back, all snuggled up...

She smiled and nodded more firmly, liking the idea a lot. No way should pork bowls burn!

"Alright, that sounds good; we can make whatever Nozomi wants, we'll have have a great time, and it's sure to be memorable..." He'd celebrated a few Christmas' with Nozomi, though they had all typically been small... Just spending time with one another, he'd set aside the day to play with her, and exchange gifts...

He wanted this time to be more... This was a bigger celebration after all... Mia was with them now, and Nozomi would want to do something super special too!

Mia was blushing, but... she seemed to like the idea of being on his back best and so he smiled, backing away just for a moment to turn. "Alright, crawl on and we'll get back to the pork bowls."

Mia nodded happily, smiling brightly as Masaru agreed with her plan. They probably shouldn't have waited till mid December to set things up, but really did it matter? Christmas was important! Well, maybe not here... But... Mia had read so much about it and spent time thinking about a nice, sweet christmas with her sweetheart.

N-Not really imagining a sweetheart who would spend a fortune on the world's best scarf... B-But still!

A special Christmas with her family, even if her father couldn't be here. She'd be happy if he was, but if he couldn't it wouldn't make her super sad. There'd just be another day to celebrate at some point.

As he backed away and prepared for her to climb on, his words caused a soft giggle before Mia followed his instructions. Climbing onto his back, she wrapped her arms with one hand still holding his sash, around his neck and legs around his body. She had her shinigami uniform on still, which made this possible... Though she was squished against him with her chest...

Snuggling up against his neck, she smiled and laughed softly. "Were you making those to try and distract me? It almost worked Masa. You're getting really crafty!"

Masaru waited until Mia was properly on him before standing, and once she was secure he stepped back over to the food to finish up. They had Christmas planned, and he was sure it'd be a great experience.

He didn't know if it would be possible to get Lakshmi or her father here...but he could only hope if they couldn't make it that it wouldn't hurt her too badly.

Aha...the pork bowls?

"It ....It was mostly to...perhaps soften...the blow? Perhaps maybe...distract a little bit..." He admitted, giving a sheepish chuckle as he continued with his work.

"Smart..." Mia admitted, it had almost worked... As her reaction had definitely told Masaru and now that she was accepting the the whole... scarf and what it entailed, she could be truthful.

"It worked a bit... I didn't think my stomach ruled me that much, but it seems like it does haha. Or maybe its just because you make the best pork bowls..." Maybe it wasn't so much her stomach, maybe it was more Masaru's skills at cooking. She peered carefully and with lots of interest over his shoulder, her head pressed to his neck partially.

"I'm happy, really happy you thought of it though. I really love you a lot, you're so...so thoughtful Masa." She murmured into his ear, giving him a minor squeeze of happiness...

Aha... It'd almost worked...though it was a bit flustering, but also really nice to hear Mia thought his skill was one of the things that distracted her so much, that she loved the food he made that much... It was really nice hearing it, considering how much he loved cooking.

A lighter chuckle escaped as he felt Mia squeeze him; "I'm glad... I'm really glad... I love you a lot too, Mia, a lot, a lot."

Saying that, he looked back down to the food; some of it was done but some other bits for the dish weren't...almost though...

"Mia, want a bit of what's done already?" He questioned, his hand holding onto one of the spoons nearby in case she did.

Mia kissed the side of Masaru's head a few times as he spoke of how much he loved her in return, her face burning as he said... a lot a lot... "Haha! You're making me blush saying it like that!"

She was burning up, but so intensely happy that she burst out with happy laughs after telling him that. He couldn't see her happy blush, but she was going to tell him it existed... Especially after his pronouncement.

However as Masaru asked if she wanted some, her laughter stopped and her mouth immediately opened much like a bird. "Aah."

She was prepared for pork bowl delivery, not even feeling shame at how obvious she was being but it was pork bowls! Mia had no shame when it came to those...

"I mean it though, every word."

With a smile, Masaru lifted the spoon carefully for Mia, looking to her to be sure the spoon got to her without fluke so she could eat. For now she could only get spoonfuls of the partially complete product, but it should still taste good.

Soon she could have the whole thing!

"It's almost done, should only take a little more time. I was able to get a lot done before you got here..."

"That's why I'm blushing so hard... Because I know..." Mia was definitely in no real denial over Masaru's feelings, especially not after that scarf... She just nuzzled his head, showering him with all the love she could like this before going back to waiting for pork bowl parts.

Opening her mouth again, Mia was careful to lean forward and make it easy for Masaru to feed her a bite of it. Sparkles poured from her as flowers bloomed around her head, chewing and swallowing before she proclaimed. "Uwaaa! I can't wait, its so yummy... Thank you Masa!"

The gift had definitely set her off into her more open and playful mode, happy and showing it without reservations for Masaru at least... She opened her mouth again though after a moment, making a little wanting whimper as she silently begged for more.

"Welcome!" Masaru answered, happy to see how much Mia enjoyed the food; he continued to give her food, feeding her spoonfuls whenever she wanted another bite as he continued on with the cooking, the occasional laugh escaping him as Mia nuzzled his head and showered him with more affection.

He had prepared plenty, so these spoonfuls were nothing...

It took only a bit longer, but his smile grew as he looked back at her after setting the spoon down.

"Should be done now, we'll just get it into a proper bowl and you can dig in." Sounded like a good idea to him, and now Mia could enjoy the full extent of her favorite meal.

Mia continued to accept bites of delicious food, in between the rather important nuzzles and kisses. Even a few bites to his neck... But those she double checked no one was around for!

Still the food was way more distracting and his preparation techniques were interesting to watch from this angle. She could see just how he did... well everything from back here and she found herself watching with interest on top of all the other things she was doing.

As he looked back and set the food down, Mia made no move to get off of his back but instead smiled and nodded. "Sounds yummy... Aaah, I'm really hungry... Should I get down?"

She wondered if... he wanted her still on his back though, since he hadn't made motions he wanted her down at least... Could she stay then...?

"Eh? If you'd like to? Personally I don't mind..." If she wanted to get down she could, he had imagined she'd seat herself at the dining room table, but he wasn't tired...so really supporting her on his back right now wasn't a problem at all... Did she want to stay on his back?

As he asked that, he moved about to get everything in a bowl properly, and moving the dishes that needed washing to the sink to be cleaned in a bit. For now the most important thing was letting Mia enjoy her food!

As Masaru so easily gave her the offer to stay, saying he didn't mind and rather obviously didn't seem to be effected by her added weight, Mia was now given an option. Several options... Most of which ended in pure embarrassment.

He was just going about cleaning as she froze there on his back, indecision destroying her mind. Did she stay... that meant he'd have to feed her pork bowls which wasn't a bad thing... But then explaining to Nozomi the situation...

Walking down the hallway like this...

Seeing others...

Mia squeaked and shifted, shaking her head as her face burned. "I-I should get down. S-Someone might see..."

"Hm? Most would...mind there own business, but if that's what you want to do I don't mind, Mia." It was probably a bit flustering, but he knew most of the servants would mind their business if they saw the two like this...

Nozomi...well, she'd probably say hi...? Congratulate the promotions assuming word had gotten to her, which it probably had...

Masaru bent a little bit, just in case Mia did indeed decide to get down, the pork bowl was ready so she was free to enjoy it.

"Would you like to go to the dining room with it? Or our room?" Either worked, just wherever Mia would find the most comfort being.

"...Th-Thats not the point... S-Someone would... s-see..." Mia murmured, knowing they would mind their own business but... but just...them seeing in the first place was the flustering! Even Nozomi seeing would be embarrassing, she was far too observant and knowing than a child should be but that was probably from her early Rukon years...

As Masaru bent, Mia slid off with great reluctance as she finally stopped riding on his back. Just...the thought of someone seeing her like that was making her vibrate with fluster...

She'd even been begging for food... Over his shoulder...

Mia was in her own little world of freaking out for a few moments before Masaru's voice cut across her minor fluster... "A-Ah! Y-Yes... Bedroom please. I'd like there..."

Hiding... Hiding away from the world after her embarrassing actions.

W-Well...it would be flustering y-yes...but... W-Well, it was what Mia wanted...and as she slid down Masaru waited on her answer on where she wanted to eat.

The bedroom it would be then!

Giving a nod, he went to get a tray to properly set the dish on, as well as anything else that was needed; bringing it over, he got it all set up before lifting it, and turning back to Mia. "Alright, bedroom it is then."

He had been about to start walking, but stopped, "Aaa, drinks; almost forgot..." They were in the fridge, as usual...

Mia stood there, flustered enough that she was vibrating still... Masaru had been willing to just...face that much fluster to make her happy.

She kind of regretted getting down now... Not paying too much attention to what he was doing, wrapped up in her own embarrassed little world and clutching his sash that she hadn't let go of yet... He hadn't taken it back and it matched her scarf...

As he headed for the door, she made to follow him with her head down and face red before he spoke up about drinks... Her hand darted out, catching his sleeve as she shook her head. "L-Let me! You got dinner..."

Rushing to the fridge, she got out a few of the canned green teas that she was addicted to and brought them to the tray. Staring at if carefully, she set them on it just right so as to not unbalance it before smiling.

"All done, lets go then?" She'd follow him as her arm slipped through his, lightly holding it without too much weight on it.

"Alright..." Masaru nodded, letting Mia handle the drinks as she went and gathered up a few cans of green tea before setting them on the tray. Good! Now they were all settled for real! His smile returning, he directed it to Mia. "Let's go."

Saying that, he began walking again after she'd slipped her arm through his own.

The meal was all set! Mia had done some sample tasting while he'd been cooking, so he knew she'd like it, though...she always liked it.

Mia still had his sash, but that was perfectly fine. He'd get it set up next to...to the haori once they got to the bedroom. H...He hadn't been the kindest to the articles with all of the excitement going on...and by excitement he meant disbelief and shock...

Mia returned his smile and followed Masaru out of the kitchen, having grown used to living here and seeing others enough that she didn't cower anymore. Instead she walked happily at his side, trailing him only a bit while keeping close...

Pork bowls and Masa were right there after all, she couldn't stray too far! She'd take care of his sash for him too for now, and lifted it up to settle around her neck along with the scarf. It'd be safer there...

Following him to the bedroom, she made sure that once they reached it she had darted ahead to open it for him. Sliding the door open, she bowed lightly in a bit of teasing with her fingers placed delicately against her knees. "After you, My Lord."

The walk to their room was quiet, but nice; it was a nice, short walk before food...and once in their room it'd be a lot more comfortable. With the...promotions and all...yes, it was important they go to...see the new division...but...also important they let all of this news settle themselves first...

Yes, that was right... It all had to settle with themselves first...

All this news had been delivered so suddenly...

Reaching the bedroom, Masaru was about to go in before Mia went ahead and opened the door, which he thought was just for the food before-

!!?

No stumbling! His mind had screamed that as his legs froze on the spot, the tray shaking ever so slightly, but not enough to really disturb the pork bowl or teas.

H...H...Had... W...Why now!? T-That had been an unfair shot! He was carrying food!

They could settle in the bedroom and recover... But she knew that at least she would have to go greet the Division today... Just pork bowls were a nice, relaxing diversion for now. It'd give her time to just... become calmer, become more serene and gather up all the courage she had to reintroduce herself.

Just... she could do this, she just had to prime herself and be prepared.

"...Its your fault for using your nobility to get me a rare and super expensive gift. If you can do that, I can call you my lord." Mia smiled sweetly, stubbornness showing through as she followed Masaru inside. If he dropped the pork bowls... Well he had better not, he had to just deal with it! This was her minor bit of revenge, but... also her way of showing she respected him and his position...

Poking him in the back, she tried to hurry him inside. "Maasaaa. Food. I'm hungry..."

S-Still-! He'd... He had believed he could at least be free of such titles while he carried her food considering she knew how he reacted! D-Doing that... He could have spilled...but luckily he had enough control to stop and at least...try to not turn a meal into a disaster...

As Mia piqued up again, this time about the food, Masaru seemed to snap back to reality for a moment as he stepped more into the room where Mia was. "R-Right... It's still nice and hot!"

Not a drop had been spilled!

Mia brought her scarf up to her mouth and covered it as she attempted to hide her giggles, knowing what she had done to Masaru but trusting him and his need to feed her implicitly. He'd keep their food safe! He had a lot of control, a lot, so she could trust in that...

Instead she just led him to the couch where she sat as daintily as the most noble of women, despite her uniform, and promptly waited for her food to arrive.

She should really get a fan to practice with more... Or carry the one she had gotten from Yuzuki around more often...

It'd be fun to do the fan thing around Masaru, not that he knew she could now...

Following Mia over to the couch, he set down the tray for her before he decided to step over towards the bed. She was...was still teasing... sitting like that, though it wasn't really teasing and probably more so Yuzuki's teachings, b-but...

W-Well! She could enjoy her food now! He'd prepared it specially for her to enjoy!

Rather than joining her on the couch immediately, he went back to...somewhat continue what he was doing before she'd arrived...which was actually picking up the haori...at least picking it up... He had yet to even put it on properly...

Once it was in his hands, he stared down at it before stepping back over to the couch to sit, feeling like that would be best for him for the moment.