generalflirt | ~♥THIRTY-FOUR♥~

~♥THIRTY-FOUR♥~

[Action]

[It's later than he expected to be back from his mountain sojourn, really, when he comes into the town on Wednesday night. Shikamaru, let alone Silver, probably came back before him, but he finally makes it back then, goes to his apartment for a much, much needed proper shower and goes to bed.

So it is on Thursday that Masaomi's properly back in down, Linda on his shoulder. He's skipped class for... well, a long while now, so when he gets up surprisingly early, one of the first thing he does is actually go to school, possibly with an ear to speak with the professors or anyone who missed him from that. After that, House 11 to see how all the people he knows from there are doing. Once that's done, he heads over to the Battle Dome for a few reasons. One of them is to try to see Law, one of them is to ... well he decides to test out the training in the Battle Dome, preferably with Silver or Gold or someone else who knows Pokemon to see if he can run them before going back to the plaza. In the plaza he has some intention of lurking around the Smithy and the library. But also just trying to integrate back into socializing with people, maybe break into some light flirting, if he can muster the gusto? Trying to normalize. And once that is done, well, if he didn't run into some people he's of the mind to run into after all that in order he'll be going to Mikado's apartment and then the Avatar House on the south end of town. And then, of course, back to his place at night.

tl;dr options in order:
A) School (also includes getting lunch in the break period)
B) House 11 (after school)
C) Battle Dome (either lurking in its clinic or fighting digital pokemon in the rooms or getting refreshments between bouts
D) Plaza (in particular smithy and library - will be chatting up people, might hit on girls)
E) Community Building 7 (in particular Mikado's apartment)
F) House 56
G) Community Building 1 (in particular his and Shikamaru's apartment and kitchen on that floor)

You can also run into him in transit for any of these locations, naturally. Oh, right, and he'll be wearing something akin to this, so no soulpatch or whatever he was wearing int he experiment. With a small bag and Linda's luridly yellow pokeball in his pants pocket]

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...I think you came close sometimes.

[Objectively speaking, that conversation in front of Shikamaru's new apartment, when he'd been saying and doing things to hurt her, that whole 'kidnapping' thing... close. But never irredeemable.]

Ah, so that's how you see it... that's good, that's good, actually.

[...He looks up at the sky a moment before looking back down at her]

[...so she'll start walking again.]

What's good about it?

It means I'm not out entirely.

[A pause...] Because, if you didn't notice, things have changed, Katara.

[You're doing that Thing again.]

...what do you mean?

Edited 2012-04-22 05:03 (UTC)

[...]

You know what I mean.

If I knew what you meant, I wouldn't be asking.

[Because a lot of things have changed.

And her stomach is all in knots about it.]

Ah... then I'll lay it out for you.

[He walks ahead of her- he gets to the edge of the fountain, standing in the midst of it, and looking straight at her]

We shared a day together, one only for us, and one I think we both know changed everything. I'm going to just ignore what "he" and "she" did for now. You'll argue they were phantoms... you're probably right. And... I killed her. I did it for you.

And... I'm at peace with that. [Inhales, exhales... smiles broader. It's only maybe 10% forced now]

Because I've decided something else. I'm no longer content to be a man observed for being trash. I don't want to be worthless anymore. I'm not a "bad" boy. Not really.

And then... most importantly-

[IN PUBLIC. He walks closer to her. While the rest of it this was at a conversational level, when he gets right in front of her, he whispers this next part]

I love you.

[There were several times as he was speaking about 'him' and 'her' and 'killing' where she would have interrupted - but she was glad she didn't, because then she wouldn't have gotten to hear him say that he was at peace with that, with doing what she still remembers felt like killing her, with doing the right thing.

And she's proud of him, then. She's fiercely proud, that he's stepping up and stepping into the possibility of who he could be, and it twists with the pain that he'd ever thought himself worthless in the first place and then--

--and then he's stepping closer (no, don't do that) and he's whispering so that she has to strain to hear (no, don't say that) and she takes a half-step back and she wants to tell him, "No, you don't" and raise a hand between them to reinforce the distance, or tell him not to say it, don't say it, let it be undone--

"You keep me balanced, Katara. You're everything I love about the earth in one person."

She shut her eyes tightly against the sudden onslaught of tears. And she whispers:]

I wish you didn't - I wish you hadn't said that.

[How is she supposed to not hurt him now?

What is she supposed to do?]

[...Ah. Of course it'll hurt her. He looks at her, starting to cry and looks at her there looking so fragile.

I wish you didn't - I bet you don't.

I wish you hadn't said that - Hah

He doesn't have any hesitation. He pulls one step head and places a hand on top of her head, closing their distance so that they are right up close again]

I'm sorry, that's one thing you can't take away from me. No one can.

Edited 2012-04-22 05:31 (UTC)

[His hand was warm against her cheek, and she didn't have to open her eyes to know how close he was. She turned her head into his hand for a moment, the escaping tears catching against his skin before she shakes her head almost violently and steps back, steps away.]

I'm sorry, Masaomi. I never wanted to hurt you.

[Maybe we shouldn't be friends anymore.

It's a wild thought that skitters through her mind, and she buries it almost as soon as it surfaces, but... wouldn't that be the most fair thing to do?]

...You know, that might be more convincing if you didn't keep stepping away.

[It's a coy tone. He can't help it, it slips out. Because it does hurt. It just isn't overwhelming. And this pain... he can stand it. He can live it. It's not crushing, it's not even stinging. It's just an awareness]

Stop it.

[Her response is immediate, her tone low, and she turns to the side.

You know why I have to do this. It's not because I want to hurt you.

Her posture is rigid, her hands tense.]

[...hah He doesn't hang his head, but he takes a step closer, in spite of her tone]\]

...You've never hurt me, Katara. Not once.

Edited 2012-04-22 05:48 (UTC)

[At this point, Katara can only stare at him incredulously.

Really, it's all she can do not to just shove him in the fountain and walk away.

Of all the ridiculous things...]

I've hurt me. Sure, your actions have hurt, but that's because of me. My feelings. My hopes. My dreams. My... yes, maybe even a little expectation, perhaps? All of those have hurt me. But you? [He exhales, taking a step closer to her]

All you've done is be a stalwart companion and a treasured friend. I know there's more between us than just a friendship, and I'm fairly certain you do too, but...

I've got no more reason to push you, and I've no more reason to be hurt by my own delusions. [And he holds his hand out to her, palm up to the sky] You don't hold any responsibility for me, Katara - I just hope that I can still be with you, in your life. I intend to be the type of man you can depend on.

[Stop it. Stop it, stop it, stop it.

Every word he said struck against her heart.

She opened her mouth to speak, not sure of what she would say--

"We... we became sweeties after the war ended. ...We still are, back home."]

[She squares her shoulders and turns to meet him, and very lightly, very deliberately, lays her hand on top of his.]

I want you to be that type of man too - not for my sake, but for yours. I know you have it in you.

[And she began to slide her hand off his.]

I might disagree with what is that you say, but I think I know what you mean when you say it, and I respect that.

[But he doesn't accept that. When he begins to slide off, he firmly takes her hand in his, throwing a positively dazzling smile]

Of course it's for me! I'm going to be stronger, better! I'm going to be happy! And no matter what happens, I'll know that I'll have had an amazing girl called Katara as my precious friend!

[and then. He releases her hand]

[Something catches when he takes her hand and she freezes, looking up at him. And when he speaks she's so proud of him that a thrill runs right up her hand and straight into her heart, and she can't help but smile at him. It's a small smile, but it's genuine, and when he releases her hand she brings it quickly back to her side.]

Happy is good.

[...let's get out of the town square now, huh?]

It is!

...Aaaaand now people are staring!

[He snaps his fingers and offers her is hand again. Even if she doesn't take it he's going to start to run ahead, intending for her to follow. this'll either be side-by-side-ish or held hands. Both are fine right now]

[Boy, are you crazy? You just told her you loved her. There is no way she is taking your hand!

But... although Katara briefly considers letting him run off on his own, she will follow his lead until they're out of the square.]

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