I'm too sexy for my log, too sexy for my log, so sexy it hurts~
Who: Shunsui & Kurenai
When: Wednesday, July 26th (yeah, a little backdated, too bad)
Where: Kurenai's apartment (Private... no neighbors listening in)
Warnings: Enough angst to choke a baby, enough fluff to drown your mom, and Shunsui says a bad word!
Kurenai:
The night had started out entirely too uneventful for Kurenai's tastes, save a little ranting about the bullshit date situation she had found herself in and the miracles of some good sake. She hadn't been in a pleasant mood when she started drinking, but now that a few hours had passed she was downright giddy. She was in such a good mood that the rather surprised Chinese food delivery guy got quite the tip when he delivered to her place. He seemed a bit shocked by the fact that she opened the door in an open men’s' button down shirt, but not nearly as much as when she laughingly confessed to being naked only moments before.
As she sat eating her lo mien and trying to get Puchi to eat water chestnuts and drink some sake, she was practically bouncing out of her panties. Shunsui was heading over, and he was bringing sake. More importantly, she'd convince him to stay so she could actually sleep tonight, since she didn't remember sleeping the night before and figure that was bad. All in all, what had started out a day filled with bitching and pouting over Itachi ruining her life was looking up, thanks to the power of Shunsui and sake. And the ferret.
Shunsui:
Between work and sleep, the recent past hadn't left much of anything for Shunsui. The owner of the bar was usually a kind, understanding woman. Once a year, however, almost as if she reserved her monthly cycle for a single, annual extravaganza of hormonal terror, she ruled with an iron fist. It was no coincidence it came with the bar's busiest weeks of the summer.
Having survived the annual terror once before, Shunsui knew what to expect. It hadn't made the workload and hectic nature of the job during crowded nights any easier, though. He was exhausted during his first night off in two weeks, but the calling of his drunken angel revitalized him. He wanted to see her, and was eager to hear the story she had begun rambling about earlier. Shunsui knocked on the door lightly, dressed in his favorite jeans, a black t-shirt, belt and riding boots.
Kurenai:
Jumping up quickly enough to scare the ferret into climbing onto the back of the couch, Kurenai ran over to the door, opening it and pulling Shunsui inside. Taking a moment to poke her head out into the hallway and look around with narrowed eyes, she nodded as she closed the door and turned to face him.
Utterly thrilled that he actually showed up, Kurenai bounced her way over to Shunsui and began jumping up and down in front of him, much like a hyper child. She seemed unmindful of the fact that her attire consisted of a black lacy bra, black panties, and the afore-mentioned open button-down, also black. Pausing to give him a massive hug, she began talking quickly. "You came, you really came, and the ghost didn't follow you or nothing! And did you bring the sake? Well, siddown!" She tugged him towards the couch, picking up the ferret before sitting down and smiling expectantly.
Shunsui:
Shunsui somehow managed to catch his balance after being yanked inside, laughing a little and watching her glance up and down the hallway. "Checking for spies?" He grinned and shook his head at her.
Her bouncing proved quite distracting in her lacey bra and panties, the open shirt just helping to focus his gaze towards her center. He talked over her shoulder, holding her tight in the embrace. "Of course I came! The ghost? Is that what you were looking for out in the hallway?" He fell into her couch, opening the bag and procuring a large bottle of sake from it.
Kurenai:
Taking a moment to consider why she had picked up the ferret, Kurenai put Puchi back down and slid closer to Shunsui with a very serious look on her face. "Yeah, did you see him? I thought he mighta followed you."
She couldn't sit still, and was also growing warm as she leaned forward to grab the sake from him. "We should get something to drink this in, since I only drink from the bottle alone." Sitting back, she smiled, waving the bottle slightly as she leaned against him.
Shunsui:
Shunsui raised an eyebrow at her and shook his head. "Sorry, I must've missed it." Somehow he couldn't help but be reminded of that crazy ghost hunter. Kanon-something? As Kurenai slid close to him, he slipped an arm around her waist and decided it didn't really matter who the ghost hunter was.
He teased her with the sake bottle for a few moments before she managed to snatch it away. "Alright, well you stay put. I'll get the glasses." He leaned over and kissed her lightly before climbing off the couch and heading into the kitchen, returning a few moments later with a pair of glasses.
Kurenai:
"Do you know where I keep the glasses?" Kurenai actually didn't feel like moving, having drank to the point where even getting to the bathroom involved more thought than she really liked, and was thankful that Shunsui didn't question her further on the ghost thing.
"Maybe the ghost just doesn't think you're important enough to worry about. I dunno. While you're up I need a napkin please. Puchi didn't like the lo mien." She petted the ferret, thinking she should put him back in his room before she got too comfortable and left him out.
Shunsui:
Shunsui grinned and grabbed a couple napkins on his way back. "That's fine with me... I'd much rather see you than a ghost." He sat back down next to her, setting the glasses down and handing her the napkins. "Poor little guy, not everyone can handle noodles." He smiled down at the little ferret, wondering when she acquired the thing. She didn't have it in the last place she was in... maybe she wanted a pet? Well at least the critter was cute, even if it did just regurgitate Chinese.
He poured some of the sake into the glasses, smiling as he watched Kurenai pet Puchi. His eyes quickly found their way trailing up from Kurenai's hand to the rest of her, admiring her beauty. He was a lucky man.
Kurenai:
Kurenai laughed as she took the napkins from him, cleaning up the messy spot near the bottom of her shirt as she shook her head. "I just tried to give him some water chestnuts, he hasn't been eating a lot since Itachi..." She stopped, not wanting to speak of that horrible man, especially not when she was in such a good mood. "I should put him back in his room, cause I don't wanna leave him out. He might chew the wires or escape."
She looked as though she was going to get up, but paused instead when she felt Shunsui watching her. Suddenly really self-conscious, she smiled up at him. "You're staring, did I miss a spot?" She pulled off the shirt, checking it over.
Shunsui:
Shunsui nodded to her, wondering what kind of damage the ferret could do with those teeth. It might not be a rodent, but that little thing looked like it could chew with the best of them. "Probably a good idea." So it was Itachi's? Interesting little thing to leave behind. Shunsui wondered who would have taken care of the critter had Kurenai not been there to do it.
Her smile had the strange ability to make him forget about what he was thinking, and this time was no different. Musings over the ferret quickly fell to the wayside at the sound of her voice. "No... at least, I don't think you did." Not that he was going to argue the removal of clothing. He never was one for meaningless confrontation, even over little things.
Kurenai:
Kurenai nodded, slowly getting to her feet holding the ferret. She picked up the dirtied shirt, swaying a little as she walked down the hallway. She put Puchi in his room, dumped her shirt in the hamper, and using the wall for assistance made her way back over to the couch and flopped down next to Shunsui before picking up the sake and taking a large sip.
Realizing that she didn't get a shirt, she began to laugh. "I forgot to get a new shirt, so I'll just take yours if I get cold. Is that okay?" She took another sip, setting the glass down before snuggling against him and nuzzling his neck. "Where have you been, I needed you..."
Shunsui:
Shunsui watched Kurenai make her way down the hallway and back, her drunken swagger doing little to take away from her lithe form. His arm found its way around her waist again as she half fell down onto the couch beside him. "That's fine... clothes are overrated anyways. There are much better ways to keep warm." Despite maintaining a look of sincerity during the statement, his suggestive grin returned by the end of it.
He lifted his own glass, giving Kurenai's a light toast before taking a drink from it and setting it back on the table just in time for Kurenai's nuzzling. "Boss lady has been trying to kill everyone... haven't had a day off since my birthday, and she was loathe to give me that one." He sighed a little from realizing his exhaustion but smiled, giving Kurenai's cheek a kiss. "Sorry I haven't been around lately... but hey, I do have the next few days off."
Kurenai:
Smiling at the kiss, Kurenai pulled back enough to look up at Shunsui with a pout. "You're mine for those days, got it?" She snuggled against him, giving him a rather potent kiss that tasted of sake and Chinese food, effectively stopping him from arguing. She didn't assume he would, she just figured it was best to head him off at the pass. "I think you owe me and all, since I last saw you on your birthday."
She could tell that Shunsui was pretty exhausted and wondered what she could do to help him relax. "Is there any way I can help you relax before I fill you in on what I've been doing?" She couldn't help but hope he didn't get mad at her over the 'date' with Taki, and she knew there was something else she was worried about. "Oh, at some point I should introduce you to Kenpachi, he lives downstairs with Yachiru." As she spoke, she remembered waking up in Kenpachi's room, and pulled back slightly. "I'm not sure if you'd like him though, maybe not." She gulped down the rest of her drink, worry quickly leaving her at the feel of the sake burning her throat.
Shunsui:
Shunsui's next comment would have been in mock protest had it not been cut off so thoroughly. He happily returned this kiss, having missed Kurenai's lips for the past two weeks. "I'll be sure to pay you back many times over for my absence." He grinned and kissed her again before settling into the couch.
Though many things came to mind at her offer, he shook his head. He could relax while she recanted her recent past for him. Shunsui picked up his glass of sake and took a sip, this one larger than the last. He'd be relaxed soon enough. "Not sure if I like him? I try to get along with most people..." Shunsui shrugged a little and took another sip. "But I'm alright either way..." His voice trailed off as he watched her down the rest of her drink. He idly wondered just what she building herself up to say as he poured her another glass.
Kurenai:
Kurenai tried to get her glass of sake, stifling a laugh when she had trouble gripping the glass on the first try. Coordination was starting to become an issue, but she didn't care. It wasn't as if she was going anywhere. Finally getting it, she had another big sip and smiled at Shunsui in thanks.
"I know, regardless of what stupid emo kids think you're so not some caveman. Well you are, but only when it's appropriate." She blushed softly as she looked at him, thinking of times when him being a caveman benefited her. "And that's good that you're alright either way. So, where should I start?" She thought back, wishing the details of what she had been doing weren't so fuzzy.
Shunsui:
Shunsui raised his eyebrows at her confession, not quite sure what to say for the moment. He'd been with more than his fair share of women, but hearing those words was a rare happening, much less in a possibly meaningful sense. Granted, she had quite a bit of sake this evening...
With the way Kurenai breezed past her comment, he felt it might be best to let her move on with her conversation. It was definitely something that would be brought up again, though. "I think I have then mental fortitude to make it through the story and remain stable." He grinned at her and filled his glass with sake, taking a sip and getting comfortable. "Alright, I think I'm ready for it."
Kurenai:
Kurenai noticed the raised eyebrows but lack of a comment and sighed inwardly, finishing the glass off before starting a steady stream of chatter. "Alright well there was your birthday, and that was pretty awesome. I swear, I'm amazed I could walk the next day. Then I did some work at the club, boring."
She paused, brushing her hair out of her face. "Uh, then I put out an ad of sorts to get somebody to kick ass for me, and met Kenpachi on Thursday. He and Yachiru came over, he accepted my offer and we had lots of sake and ho shit was that good. I think we like, did stuff 'cause I woke up in his room naked, but I'll have to ask. Unimportant anyway. The next day..."
Shunsui:
Shunsui winced more than a little at the words "lots of sake" and "woke up in his room naked". Kurenai was a rather affectionate drunk. It wasn't very difficult to imagine what likely happened, but Shunsui kept to their agreement and said nothing. Two... no, three days after his birthday? This didn't quite coincide with her statement not two minutes past.
He sighed a little, trying his best not to show too much of what he was thinking. Half a glass of sake later, he was beginning to feel the first glass starting its work, a very welcome feeling that would hopefully make this little story time more pleasant. He doubted it though, not three days into her two weeks of story it had already gone downhill. No, leaped off a proverbial cliff.
Kurenai:
Noticing the wince made Kurenai drag her pause out a little longer. She wanted to ask him what was wrong, but had hit a good flow. "Then things were pretty boring until Saturday when I took Momo and Tayuya out dancing and we met up with Yoruichi and her friend Kuukaku."
She laughed, reaching for her empty glass before grabbing his instead and taking a sip. He wouldn't mind. "That Kuukaku has a huge rack, like epic! Then on Monday that Taki guy and I went out on a date. He told me if I went on one date with him he'd finally leave me alone, but I think he lied. He took me to the place Itachi and I went on our first date and asked dumb and lame questions and wanted to dance. I hate the little prick."
Shunsui:
Had he not just heard of her escapade with the guy downstairs, Shunsui would have been more interested in Kuukaku's unfathomably large tits. Very much interested, actually. He sighed once again and filled Kurenai's empty glass full of sake and drank from it. From drunken frivolities with Kenpachi to Kuukaku's breasts and now a date with Taki, the sleaze ball who felt the need to interrupt their night at the club. And then practically stalk her.
Shunsui mildly cursed himself for not taking care of the guy sooner. Why would she agree to that stipulation? Of course he was lying, the creep would say anything for time with her. Shunsui took a large swig from the glass of sake, nearly emptying it in one drought before setting the glass back on the table. A nice little buzz was working its way into Shunsui's mind, easing a little of headache he was acquiring.
Kurenai:
Hearing Shunsui sigh threw her off yet again, and she actually had to stop and think before continuing to speak. When she picked up the story her voice was really soft, and she couldn't look at him, staring down at her hands instead. "It was a nice restaurant, and I actually ate something for the first time in like, a day. Oh yeah, forgot to mention I kept forgetting to eat. Don't know why though." She really didn't know why. It made her feel stupid to know she needed a fucking babysitter.
"Anyway, we ate, and he asked me to dance. I wasn't going to, but I figured if I did he couldn't bitch later. He kept making these comments, like ones Itachi would make. I flipped, and left." She took a deep breath. "He followed me, we went for a walk, and I think the wine hit me harder than I thought because he like, took off his glasses and started speaking like Itachi. Then he knocked me out."
Shunsui:
Shunsui shook his head again in mild disappointment. It suddenly struck him as odd that he was suddenly concerned more about her not eating than he was with the rest of her story to that point. The rest of her tale quickly extinguished concern over her hypoglycemia.
He nodded his understanding over her train of logic concerning the dance, but quickly grew still as she talked about Taki growing in douchebaggery and practically becoming Itachi. Shunsui's eyes widened as she reached the end of her statement, his tongue quickly forgetting the temporary vow of silence. "Knocked you out?! As in, you didn't pass out, he hit you and knocked you out?!" Shunsui was incredulous, his emotions having run the full gamut this evening, the sake doing little to take the edge off of this revelation.
Kurenai:
Kurenai didn't even think to get on his case about speaking, hearing the concern in Shunsui's voice and wanting to fix that. He had just gotten off of a lot of work, and didn't need her causing him stress. "Well, I kinda fainted at first, like when he first did the Itachi thing, but then I went to get away and he called me Starlight and hit me in the neck."
It didn't occur to her to think that considering everything she was saying Shunsui might be upset, and she wrapped her arms around him, snuggling closer. "I woke up and I was on this boat, locked in a room. He was sitting outside, and wanted to talk, but it wasn't Taki it was Itachi so I had to leave and get out, come back to you so I used my shoe. On the window and I broke it and was climbing out but Taki caught me so I kicked him and ran and he caught me and was sitting on me. Then he talked and I got away and I think Taki is Itachi's ghost and now he's following me. That was all I did until now." She seemed so proud she could remember all that.
Shunsui:
Shunsui's anger didn't fade much as she continued, especially not after hearing the bastard actually hit her. He was happy she thought to escape to get back to him, but all the more confused and infuriated by the end of her story. "Wait... so... that son of a bitch, Taki... is Itachi? So, Itachi's not dead, and he's been fucking with you? With us?" He almost wished he hadn't had any sake, a clear mind was easier to think things through with.
Shunsui held Kurenai close, still trying to figure out exactly what was going on. Kurenai wouldn't make this up, but Taki was no ghost. He must be Itachi... but why would Itachi do that? Fake his own death?
Kurenai:
Kurenai sat up just enough to tilt her head back and look up at him, the shock on her face evident. She couldn't understand where Shunsui could get such a harebrained theory from, and blinked before speaking. "I..think you've had too much to drink, Shunsui. That makes so sense. I mean, Itachi is dead, buried even. I've been to the grave. Besides, Taki is blonde and a total emo dork. Itachi was dark haired, and nothing like that."
Kurenai really didn't want to believe Shunsui could be more drunk than she was, especially since she had been drinking most of the day, but he was seriously making no sense.
Shunsui:
Shunsui looked down at her, puzzled that she couldn't even imagine the possibility that he could be right. She did have a point, though. Itachi was buried with all the bells and whistles of funerals that came with being opulently wealthy from money earned long before he was born. "Maybe it's just the stress making my imagination run ahead of me..." He shrugged a little, not entirely convinced of his own excuse.
He felt himself calming down as he tried to piece together that situation, growing less angry and more irritated that he didn't have the answers. The frustration soon passed as he looked over at Kurenai, remembering what all she had just told him. The happenings with Taki, the blacked out night with Kenpachi, both on top of everything that she had been through relatively recently. Shunsui brought a hand to his forehead, rubbing his temples a little bit as his headache returned.
Kurenai:
Kurenai could tell that something was bothering Shunsui, and started to feel really bad. He seemed to have a headache, and he was talking about stupidly impossible things. She knew this was all her fault, and felt like crying, but instead pulled herself away from him, getting up to move behind the couch. Reaching down, she gently rested her fingers on his temples, lightly rubbing. "I gave you a headache, I'm sorry."
She wasn't sure what else to say, but she could tell that he was only agreeing with her about Itachi, Taki, or whoever to appease her, and that kind of hurt. Speaking softly, trying not to let the alcohol affect her temper, she tried to reason with him. "You know Shunsui, I know what I saw and heard. He didn't sound like Itachi all the time, but he did look like Taki. Maybe he's like, one of those people really good at doing impressions, and was trying to freak me out. He said he knew Itachi from Fukuoka or whatever, so maybe I was mentioned or something." She couldn't stop the irritation that crept into her tone, much as she tried.
Shunsui:
"No you didn't... working to death for a couple weeks gave me a headache..." Which was mostly true, Kurenai's little tale had simply served to renew it. Either way, he didn't protest her fingertips holding the pain at bay. Whether or not she would consider the possibility of Itachi still being around or if he would see her logic and agree, it didn't matter right at that moment.
He leaned his head back, looking up at Kurenai behind him. He frowned a little and reached up, pulling her arms towards him a little and gesturing to the cushion next to him. "That was your horrendous outing with Taki... you mentioned something about going out with Kuukaku... and the night with Kenpachi." He frowned a little, looking away from her as two thoughts kept dancing at the forefront of his mind. "Why?" That was one of them, and hopefully enough of a question to get the explanation he wanted.
Kurenai:
"It wasn't like I was just with Kuukaku, I mean Tayuya, Momo, and Yoruichi were all there too. We went to a club to blow off steam." She walked around to sit down next to Shunsui, a confused look on her face. "As for the night with Kenpachi, I thought I explained that. I needed somebody to beat up Gin for me, and he will."
She sighed, figuring that just coming out with it was best. "I mean, Gin and Itachi fought according to Deidara, and Itachi died so it's gotta be Gin's fault. I wasn't gonna ask you to take out the guy who killed my ex-husband, you hated him and he hated you." A lot of her current issues were because of that fact, it occurred to her. "We had some drinks, Yachiru was there. We came back here to talk in privacy, we had some sake, and he asked about my old place. I showed him, and we were talking about my work and stuff, and one thing kind of lead to another but I dunno. He hasn't said anything to me about me doing something, so I don't see what the big deal is."
Shunsui:
Shunsui looked at her half astonished. "You don't see what the big deal is? Kurenai, you know as well as I do how you get after drinking... waking up naked in his room and not remembering what happened the night before isn't exactly reassuring." She probably didn't need him questioning something she can't remember, but Shunsui didn't particularly need the probability that she had slept the with guy. Not after all that had happened between them. He could've been blowing it out of proportion. Maybe Kurenai had too much to drink walk up a couple flights of stairs, passed out in his room, gotten too hot in the night and stripped, and woke up in the morning having not remembered... Shunsui couldn’t quite convince himself of that happening.
He shook his head a little bit, leaning forward and picking up the almost-empty glass of sake only to finish it off and set it back down. His buzz had worn off and he wanted it back. "And if you asked him about it and as you said, one thing led to another... then what?"
Kurenai:
Kurenai, who was still more than drunk enough to fail to understand why Shunsui was getting so agitated, looked up at him in disbelief as she found herself moving away from him. "I really don't see what the big deal is, and I didn't ask him about it. If anything happened Shunsui it was just sex, it wasn't at all like what we have and what we do. That is something special, and whatever this was, it obviously wasn't that memorable." Well actually, the more she talked about it, the more she did remember the way her legs felt that next day, the fact that it didn't happen just once, but that he didn't actually stop until she couldn't even think to move herself. She was more than aware she didn't protest either, but the fact that Kenpachi totally didn't act like he fucked her brains out was somewhat unnerving.
She got up, her head having cleared up just enough to make her walking a bit sharper and less erratic. "I need water, or something. I need to think." She wasn't exactly happy with how this was turning out and her still addled mind didn’t stop her from sharing that fact. "I invited you over to make me feel better, not to flip out on me you know."
Shunsui:
"You honestly don't see what the big deal is? You're kidding, right?" This was unbelievable. The woman who not three weeks ago professed to be his after he went through all kinds of hell for her decides that fucking a total stranger is no big deal? "If it was just sex, then why'd you do it? Do you have sex with all the strangers you have drinks with? Do you expect to go around 'just having sex' all the time, so long as what we have is special?" Shunsui felt his temper slowly winning over his desire to spare her feelings. She thinks she might love him? What a perfect way to show her appreciation for him.
He watched her walk away from him and to the kitchen, growing more irritated by the moment. "Now you decide to think? If what we have is special, why would you go off and fuck some guy you just met? Hell, if you did have sex and he didn't say a word about it, you were just a piece of meat to him! Is that what you want?"
Kurenai:
She literally flinched as if he had hit her, pausing in mid step on her way to the kitchen and clenching her fists. She wanted to turn and face him, to defend herself against his accusations with just as much bile as he was launching at her, but she didn't want to fight. They both obviously had hard enough weeks away from each others company, and this wasn't helping anything. Turning her head just enough to make her voice heard, she closed her eyes in an effort to keep her voice calm and controlled, digging her nails into her palms. "You act as if this was something I planned on doing."
Kurenai knew that it was a lame defense, and it was then she realized that it was because she honestly had nothing to defend except her pride. "I'm not going to sit here and defend myself against your accusations when you’re right. What I did was wrong, you deserve far better treatment, and I'm no better than some disgusting piece of meat. Now that we have this established, I doubt you want to stay around me. I understand. Now please leave so I can get over myself without feeling like more of a stupid whore. Thank you." Her words allowed her the time needed to recover enough to know she wasn't going to collapse then and there, so using the wall for balance she continued her walk to the kitchen, still intent on getting water.
Shunsui:
At least now she admitted she was wrong instead of trying to toss it aside as if it never happened. As if she'd never betrayed him. Shunsui almost laughed as he turned back around, collapsing on the couch. She wouldn't leave Itachi; she wouldn't betray Itachi, no matter how much better to her Shunsui was. She's finally happy, has a future of never ending joy so long as Shunsui had a say in the matter, and then her bonds of loyalty snap three days after his birthday. Shunsui brought his hands to his face, rubbing his eyes and temples once again.
"Bring me a glass of water while you're at it..." There was no sense in beating a dead horse. Well, other than the fun of it, but Shunsui wasn't much enjoying this particular carcass. He saw two choices: leave, or forgive her. Attempting to stay with her while failing to forgive her completely would only bring more strife later. Her relationship with Itachi had been a nice example of that. Well, she never did cheat on Itachi... He shook his head and sat back up, leaning forward with his elbows on knees and head in hands as he waited for her to get back.
Kurenai:
She glanced over her shoulder at the figure sitting on her couch, wondering why he didn't leave. It was obvious that she had hurt him badly, and she couldn't understand why it was that he was still there. In Kurenai's mind, the minute she had admitted she was wrong he should have been out the door and far away from her. She had fucked up, and was even admitting it, and he wanted some water. Interesting...and yet she still wanted to avoid him. She just couldn't think properly knowing that his eyes would be filled with nothing but pain and unspoken accusations.
"Ice or no?" If he was going to stay, she would at least play the part of a good host. Besides, she wasn't going to be sleeping tonight, and she was in far too good of a mood earlier to pass up a new opportunity to pack her bags and go on the guilt trip of her life. The amusing thing about this whole situation was that her only thoughts about Itachi currently were centered on the fact that she wouldn't have gone and gotten so drunk if she just had somebody to talk about him and those recently recovered memories with. She couldn't do that to Shunsui, couldn't vent to him about both missing and hating her dead ex, and when she had been telling Kenpachi about the Gin situation she had gotten herself so mired in those memories of him that she did the only thing she could think of to forget.
Shunsui:
"A little ice, I guess." He didn't care much about a drink right now, but she was already up. It also gave him a means to show that he didn't plan on leaving her apartment, or her for that matter. Part of him told him he should just cut his losses and get the hell out and don't look back. Shunsui ignored that voice, opting instead not to think too much about anything for the moment. What if it were true? What if she really did love him, and this was just some stupid mistake? She didn't appear to be kicking him out. Had Kurenai wanted out of the relationship she could very easily tell him right now, it was as good a time as any. Better than most, even.
His headache was beginning to fade again. He hoped for good this time. It wasn't helping matters, the physical pain simply seemed to get in the way of thinking. He had felt fully justified in everything he had said, but now that it was said and acknowledged, the anger and irritation was fleeting.
Kurenai:
She made a little noise to acknowledge that she heard him, and went about getting the water. This all seemed so surreal, but she wasn't going to just kick him out or anything like that. Truth to be told Kurenai didn't want Shunsui to leave, and yet she wasn't sure why. He had every right to, she wouldn't fault him and she wouldn't even think to try and change his mind. She had behaved abysmally, he was perfect and she betrayed that and him without a second thought. She couldn't see herself doing it again, that was for sure, but she also felt like she didn't even deserve to be in the same room as him.
Bringing the water out, Kurenai set his on the table and moved to look out the window. She was still paranoid that Taki would show up and mess with her head again, but there were far more important things to take care of. Turning to look at him, she met his eyes and sighed. "It seems incredibly trite to say I'm sorry."
Shunsui:
He murmured his thanks when he heard the glass set upon the tale, reaching out with one hand and taking a sip from it. He sat back in the couch, resting his head on the top of the cushions as he looked at the ceiling. He asked himself repeatedly why he was still here. Every time he did, he came to the same conclusion: he wanted to be here. He wanted to be with Kurenai, he wanted her as his angel.
Shunsui's head rolled over to the side, watching her at the window. He smiled softly when their eyes met, seeing what she likely saw in his: some sadness, some pain, plenty of exhaustion, but his small smile was sincere. He even laughed a little bit at her comment before lifting his head and turning his body to her. "Maybe... but the apology is accepted." He smirked a little and scooted over from the center of the couch, making room for her and holding out an inviting arm.
Kurenai:
She started moving towards the couch without even realizing that she wanted to walk over there, finding herself sitting down next to him and smiling as if that simple statement was exactly what she needed to hear. She put down her water, the action also taken without her conscious knowledge, and wrapped her arms around him, pushing herself against him as she began to cry softly against his shoulder.
Kurenai couldn't even figure out why she was crying, the action being so unlike her considering the weakness that it inferred. As she found her tears slowing down, it hit her that she should allow herself to cry in front of him, if he truly felt for her how he claimed then seeing her in a weakened state wouldn't drive him away. She felt ridiculous for ever thinking it would and pulled away, wiping her eyes. "I just feel like everything happened so fast, and I thought I was fine and could handle anything that life threw at me, but I was wrong. I..I didn't want to lean on you, and then when I finally needed to you were busy. I was stupid, and I'd never ask you to forgive me or anything, but it seems like you are, and I don't know what to say. Everything I can think of just sounds so fake."
Shunsui:
Shunsui smiled softly and wrapped her in his arms, holding her gently to his shoulder as she started crying. Given all the stress she'd been under it was a wonder she hadn't broken down sooner. He kissed her forehead lightly as he held her to him, one hand slowly rubbing her back. It was then he realized she was still in her lacey underthings, practically naked. The attire hardly seemed fitting considering how the evening had gone, but it didn't matter.
He smiled at Kurenai as she pulled away and tried to explain everything he more or less already knew. He brought a single finger to her lips, effectively stopping her words for the moment. "You don't need to say anything." His voice was scarcely above a whisper when he spoke, his own words ending as the finger at her lips was tenderly replaced with his own, the kiss saying all that he felt needed to be said for right now.
When: Wednesday, July 26th (yeah, a little backdated, too bad)
Where: Kurenai's apartment (Private... no neighbors listening in)
Warnings: Enough angst to choke a baby, enough fluff to drown your mom, and Shunsui says a bad word!
Kurenai:
The night had started out entirely too uneventful for Kurenai's tastes, save a little ranting about the bullshit date situation she had found herself in and the miracles of some good sake. She hadn't been in a pleasant mood when she started drinking, but now that a few hours had passed she was downright giddy. She was in such a good mood that the rather surprised Chinese food delivery guy got quite the tip when he delivered to her place. He seemed a bit shocked by the fact that she opened the door in an open men’s' button down shirt, but not nearly as much as when she laughingly confessed to being naked only moments before.
As she sat eating her lo mien and trying to get Puchi to eat water chestnuts and drink some sake, she was practically bouncing out of her panties. Shunsui was heading over, and he was bringing sake. More importantly, she'd convince him to stay so she could actually sleep tonight, since she didn't remember sleeping the night before and figure that was bad. All in all, what had started out a day filled with bitching and pouting over Itachi ruining her life was looking up, thanks to the power of Shunsui and sake. And the ferret.
Shunsui:
Between work and sleep, the recent past hadn't left much of anything for Shunsui. The owner of the bar was usually a kind, understanding woman. Once a year, however, almost as if she reserved her monthly cycle for a single, annual extravaganza of hormonal terror, she ruled with an iron fist. It was no coincidence it came with the bar's busiest weeks of the summer.
Having survived the annual terror once before, Shunsui knew what to expect. It hadn't made the workload and hectic nature of the job during crowded nights any easier, though. He was exhausted during his first night off in two weeks, but the calling of his drunken angel revitalized him. He wanted to see her, and was eager to hear the story she had begun rambling about earlier. Shunsui knocked on the door lightly, dressed in his favorite jeans, a black t-shirt, belt and riding boots.
Kurenai:
Jumping up quickly enough to scare the ferret into climbing onto the back of the couch, Kurenai ran over to the door, opening it and pulling Shunsui inside. Taking a moment to poke her head out into the hallway and look around with narrowed eyes, she nodded as she closed the door and turned to face him.
Utterly thrilled that he actually showed up, Kurenai bounced her way over to Shunsui and began jumping up and down in front of him, much like a hyper child. She seemed unmindful of the fact that her attire consisted of a black lacy bra, black panties, and the afore-mentioned open button-down, also black. Pausing to give him a massive hug, she began talking quickly. "You came, you really came, and the ghost didn't follow you or nothing! And did you bring the sake? Well, siddown!" She tugged him towards the couch, picking up the ferret before sitting down and smiling expectantly.
Shunsui:
Shunsui somehow managed to catch his balance after being yanked inside, laughing a little and watching her glance up and down the hallway. "Checking for spies?" He grinned and shook his head at her.
Her bouncing proved quite distracting in her lacey bra and panties, the open shirt just helping to focus his gaze towards her center. He talked over her shoulder, holding her tight in the embrace. "Of course I came! The ghost? Is that what you were looking for out in the hallway?" He fell into her couch, opening the bag and procuring a large bottle of sake from it.
Kurenai:
Taking a moment to consider why she had picked up the ferret, Kurenai put Puchi back down and slid closer to Shunsui with a very serious look on her face. "Yeah, did you see him? I thought he mighta followed you."
She couldn't sit still, and was also growing warm as she leaned forward to grab the sake from him. "We should get something to drink this in, since I only drink from the bottle alone." Sitting back, she smiled, waving the bottle slightly as she leaned against him.
Shunsui:
Shunsui raised an eyebrow at her and shook his head. "Sorry, I must've missed it." Somehow he couldn't help but be reminded of that crazy ghost hunter. Kanon-something? As Kurenai slid close to him, he slipped an arm around her waist and decided it didn't really matter who the ghost hunter was.
He teased her with the sake bottle for a few moments before she managed to snatch it away. "Alright, well you stay put. I'll get the glasses." He leaned over and kissed her lightly before climbing off the couch and heading into the kitchen, returning a few moments later with a pair of glasses.
Kurenai:
"Do you know where I keep the glasses?" Kurenai actually didn't feel like moving, having drank to the point where even getting to the bathroom involved more thought than she really liked, and was thankful that Shunsui didn't question her further on the ghost thing.
"Maybe the ghost just doesn't think you're important enough to worry about. I dunno. While you're up I need a napkin please. Puchi didn't like the lo mien." She petted the ferret, thinking she should put him back in his room before she got too comfortable and left him out.
Shunsui:
Shunsui grinned and grabbed a couple napkins on his way back. "That's fine with me... I'd much rather see you than a ghost." He sat back down next to her, setting the glasses down and handing her the napkins. "Poor little guy, not everyone can handle noodles." He smiled down at the little ferret, wondering when she acquired the thing. She didn't have it in the last place she was in... maybe she wanted a pet? Well at least the critter was cute, even if it did just regurgitate Chinese.
He poured some of the sake into the glasses, smiling as he watched Kurenai pet Puchi. His eyes quickly found their way trailing up from Kurenai's hand to the rest of her, admiring her beauty. He was a lucky man.
Kurenai:
Kurenai laughed as she took the napkins from him, cleaning up the messy spot near the bottom of her shirt as she shook her head. "I just tried to give him some water chestnuts, he hasn't been eating a lot since Itachi..." She stopped, not wanting to speak of that horrible man, especially not when she was in such a good mood. "I should put him back in his room, cause I don't wanna leave him out. He might chew the wires or escape."
She looked as though she was going to get up, but paused instead when she felt Shunsui watching her. Suddenly really self-conscious, she smiled up at him. "You're staring, did I miss a spot?" She pulled off the shirt, checking it over.
Shunsui:
Shunsui nodded to her, wondering what kind of damage the ferret could do with those teeth. It might not be a rodent, but that little thing looked like it could chew with the best of them. "Probably a good idea." So it was Itachi's? Interesting little thing to leave behind. Shunsui wondered who would have taken care of the critter had Kurenai not been there to do it.
Her smile had the strange ability to make him forget about what he was thinking, and this time was no different. Musings over the ferret quickly fell to the wayside at the sound of her voice. "No... at least, I don't think you did." Not that he was going to argue the removal of clothing. He never was one for meaningless confrontation, even over little things.
Kurenai:
Kurenai nodded, slowly getting to her feet holding the ferret. She picked up the dirtied shirt, swaying a little as she walked down the hallway. She put Puchi in his room, dumped her shirt in the hamper, and using the wall for assistance made her way back over to the couch and flopped down next to Shunsui before picking up the sake and taking a large sip.
Realizing that she didn't get a shirt, she began to laugh. "I forgot to get a new shirt, so I'll just take yours if I get cold. Is that okay?" She took another sip, setting the glass down before snuggling against him and nuzzling his neck. "Where have you been, I needed you..."
Shunsui:
Shunsui watched Kurenai make her way down the hallway and back, her drunken swagger doing little to take away from her lithe form. His arm found its way around her waist again as she half fell down onto the couch beside him. "That's fine... clothes are overrated anyways. There are much better ways to keep warm." Despite maintaining a look of sincerity during the statement, his suggestive grin returned by the end of it.
He lifted his own glass, giving Kurenai's a light toast before taking a drink from it and setting it back on the table just in time for Kurenai's nuzzling. "Boss lady has been trying to kill everyone... haven't had a day off since my birthday, and she was loathe to give me that one." He sighed a little from realizing his exhaustion but smiled, giving Kurenai's cheek a kiss. "Sorry I haven't been around lately... but hey, I do have the next few days off."
Kurenai:
Smiling at the kiss, Kurenai pulled back enough to look up at Shunsui with a pout. "You're mine for those days, got it?" She snuggled against him, giving him a rather potent kiss that tasted of sake and Chinese food, effectively stopping him from arguing. She didn't assume he would, she just figured it was best to head him off at the pass. "I think you owe me and all, since I last saw you on your birthday."
She could tell that Shunsui was pretty exhausted and wondered what she could do to help him relax. "Is there any way I can help you relax before I fill you in on what I've been doing?" She couldn't help but hope he didn't get mad at her over the 'date' with Taki, and she knew there was something else she was worried about. "Oh, at some point I should introduce you to Kenpachi, he lives downstairs with Yachiru." As she spoke, she remembered waking up in Kenpachi's room, and pulled back slightly. "I'm not sure if you'd like him though, maybe not." She gulped down the rest of her drink, worry quickly leaving her at the feel of the sake burning her throat.
Shunsui:
Shunsui's next comment would have been in mock protest had it not been cut off so thoroughly. He happily returned this kiss, having missed Kurenai's lips for the past two weeks. "I'll be sure to pay you back many times over for my absence." He grinned and kissed her again before settling into the couch.
Though many things came to mind at her offer, he shook his head. He could relax while she recanted her recent past for him. Shunsui picked up his glass of sake and took a sip, this one larger than the last. He'd be relaxed soon enough. "Not sure if I like him? I try to get along with most people..." Shunsui shrugged a little and took another sip. "But I'm alright either way..." His voice trailed off as he watched her down the rest of her drink. He idly wondered just what she building herself up to say as he poured her another glass.
Kurenai:
Kurenai tried to get her glass of sake, stifling a laugh when she had trouble gripping the glass on the first try. Coordination was starting to become an issue, but she didn't care. It wasn't as if she was going anywhere. Finally getting it, she had another big sip and smiled at Shunsui in thanks.
"I know, regardless of what stupid emo kids think you're so not some caveman. Well you are, but only when it's appropriate." She blushed softly as she looked at him, thinking of times when him being a caveman benefited her. "And that's good that you're alright either way. So, where should I start?" She thought back, wishing the details of what she had been doing weren't so fuzzy.
Shunsui:
Shunsui raised his eyebrows at her confession, not quite sure what to say for the moment. He'd been with more than his fair share of women, but hearing those words was a rare happening, much less in a possibly meaningful sense. Granted, she had quite a bit of sake this evening...
With the way Kurenai breezed past her comment, he felt it might be best to let her move on with her conversation. It was definitely something that would be brought up again, though. "I think I have then mental fortitude to make it through the story and remain stable." He grinned at her and filled his glass with sake, taking a sip and getting comfortable. "Alright, I think I'm ready for it."
Kurenai:
Kurenai noticed the raised eyebrows but lack of a comment and sighed inwardly, finishing the glass off before starting a steady stream of chatter. "Alright well there was your birthday, and that was pretty awesome. I swear, I'm amazed I could walk the next day. Then I did some work at the club, boring."
She paused, brushing her hair out of her face. "Uh, then I put out an ad of sorts to get somebody to kick ass for me, and met Kenpachi on Thursday. He and Yachiru came over, he accepted my offer and we had lots of sake and ho shit was that good. I think we like, did stuff 'cause I woke up in his room naked, but I'll have to ask. Unimportant anyway. The next day..."
Shunsui:
Shunsui winced more than a little at the words "lots of sake" and "woke up in his room naked". Kurenai was a rather affectionate drunk. It wasn't very difficult to imagine what likely happened, but Shunsui kept to their agreement and said nothing. Two... no, three days after his birthday? This didn't quite coincide with her statement not two minutes past.
He sighed a little, trying his best not to show too much of what he was thinking. Half a glass of sake later, he was beginning to feel the first glass starting its work, a very welcome feeling that would hopefully make this little story time more pleasant. He doubted it though, not three days into her two weeks of story it had already gone downhill. No, leaped off a proverbial cliff.
Kurenai:
Noticing the wince made Kurenai drag her pause out a little longer. She wanted to ask him what was wrong, but had hit a good flow. "Then things were pretty boring until Saturday when I took Momo and Tayuya out dancing and we met up with Yoruichi and her friend Kuukaku."
She laughed, reaching for her empty glass before grabbing his instead and taking a sip. He wouldn't mind. "That Kuukaku has a huge rack, like epic! Then on Monday that Taki guy and I went out on a date. He told me if I went on one date with him he'd finally leave me alone, but I think he lied. He took me to the place Itachi and I went on our first date and asked dumb and lame questions and wanted to dance. I hate the little prick."
Shunsui:
Had he not just heard of her escapade with the guy downstairs, Shunsui would have been more interested in Kuukaku's unfathomably large tits. Very much interested, actually. He sighed once again and filled Kurenai's empty glass full of sake and drank from it. From drunken frivolities with Kenpachi to Kuukaku's breasts and now a date with Taki, the sleaze ball who felt the need to interrupt their night at the club. And then practically stalk her.
Shunsui mildly cursed himself for not taking care of the guy sooner. Why would she agree to that stipulation? Of course he was lying, the creep would say anything for time with her. Shunsui took a large swig from the glass of sake, nearly emptying it in one drought before setting the glass back on the table. A nice little buzz was working its way into Shunsui's mind, easing a little of headache he was acquiring.
Kurenai:
Hearing Shunsui sigh threw her off yet again, and she actually had to stop and think before continuing to speak. When she picked up the story her voice was really soft, and she couldn't look at him, staring down at her hands instead. "It was a nice restaurant, and I actually ate something for the first time in like, a day. Oh yeah, forgot to mention I kept forgetting to eat. Don't know why though." She really didn't know why. It made her feel stupid to know she needed a fucking babysitter.
"Anyway, we ate, and he asked me to dance. I wasn't going to, but I figured if I did he couldn't bitch later. He kept making these comments, like ones Itachi would make. I flipped, and left." She took a deep breath. "He followed me, we went for a walk, and I think the wine hit me harder than I thought because he like, took off his glasses and started speaking like Itachi. Then he knocked me out."
Shunsui:
Shunsui shook his head again in mild disappointment. It suddenly struck him as odd that he was suddenly concerned more about her not eating than he was with the rest of her story to that point. The rest of her tale quickly extinguished concern over her hypoglycemia.
He nodded his understanding over her train of logic concerning the dance, but quickly grew still as she talked about Taki growing in douchebaggery and practically becoming Itachi. Shunsui's eyes widened as she reached the end of her statement, his tongue quickly forgetting the temporary vow of silence. "Knocked you out?! As in, you didn't pass out, he hit you and knocked you out?!" Shunsui was incredulous, his emotions having run the full gamut this evening, the sake doing little to take the edge off of this revelation.
Kurenai:
Kurenai didn't even think to get on his case about speaking, hearing the concern in Shunsui's voice and wanting to fix that. He had just gotten off of a lot of work, and didn't need her causing him stress. "Well, I kinda fainted at first, like when he first did the Itachi thing, but then I went to get away and he called me Starlight and hit me in the neck."
It didn't occur to her to think that considering everything she was saying Shunsui might be upset, and she wrapped her arms around him, snuggling closer. "I woke up and I was on this boat, locked in a room. He was sitting outside, and wanted to talk, but it wasn't Taki it was Itachi so I had to leave and get out, come back to you so I used my shoe. On the window and I broke it and was climbing out but Taki caught me so I kicked him and ran and he caught me and was sitting on me. Then he talked and I got away and I think Taki is Itachi's ghost and now he's following me. That was all I did until now." She seemed so proud she could remember all that.
Shunsui:
Shunsui's anger didn't fade much as she continued, especially not after hearing the bastard actually hit her. He was happy she thought to escape to get back to him, but all the more confused and infuriated by the end of her story. "Wait... so... that son of a bitch, Taki... is Itachi? So, Itachi's not dead, and he's been fucking with you? With us?" He almost wished he hadn't had any sake, a clear mind was easier to think things through with.
Shunsui held Kurenai close, still trying to figure out exactly what was going on. Kurenai wouldn't make this up, but Taki was no ghost. He must be Itachi... but why would Itachi do that? Fake his own death?
Kurenai:
Kurenai sat up just enough to tilt her head back and look up at him, the shock on her face evident. She couldn't understand where Shunsui could get such a harebrained theory from, and blinked before speaking. "I..think you've had too much to drink, Shunsui. That makes so sense. I mean, Itachi is dead, buried even. I've been to the grave. Besides, Taki is blonde and a total emo dork. Itachi was dark haired, and nothing like that."
Kurenai really didn't want to believe Shunsui could be more drunk than she was, especially since she had been drinking most of the day, but he was seriously making no sense.
Shunsui:
Shunsui looked down at her, puzzled that she couldn't even imagine the possibility that he could be right. She did have a point, though. Itachi was buried with all the bells and whistles of funerals that came with being opulently wealthy from money earned long before he was born. "Maybe it's just the stress making my imagination run ahead of me..." He shrugged a little, not entirely convinced of his own excuse.
He felt himself calming down as he tried to piece together that situation, growing less angry and more irritated that he didn't have the answers. The frustration soon passed as he looked over at Kurenai, remembering what all she had just told him. The happenings with Taki, the blacked out night with Kenpachi, both on top of everything that she had been through relatively recently. Shunsui brought a hand to his forehead, rubbing his temples a little bit as his headache returned.
Kurenai:
Kurenai could tell that something was bothering Shunsui, and started to feel really bad. He seemed to have a headache, and he was talking about stupidly impossible things. She knew this was all her fault, and felt like crying, but instead pulled herself away from him, getting up to move behind the couch. Reaching down, she gently rested her fingers on his temples, lightly rubbing. "I gave you a headache, I'm sorry."
She wasn't sure what else to say, but she could tell that he was only agreeing with her about Itachi, Taki, or whoever to appease her, and that kind of hurt. Speaking softly, trying not to let the alcohol affect her temper, she tried to reason with him. "You know Shunsui, I know what I saw and heard. He didn't sound like Itachi all the time, but he did look like Taki. Maybe he's like, one of those people really good at doing impressions, and was trying to freak me out. He said he knew Itachi from Fukuoka or whatever, so maybe I was mentioned or something." She couldn't stop the irritation that crept into her tone, much as she tried.
Shunsui:
"No you didn't... working to death for a couple weeks gave me a headache..." Which was mostly true, Kurenai's little tale had simply served to renew it. Either way, he didn't protest her fingertips holding the pain at bay. Whether or not she would consider the possibility of Itachi still being around or if he would see her logic and agree, it didn't matter right at that moment.
He leaned his head back, looking up at Kurenai behind him. He frowned a little and reached up, pulling her arms towards him a little and gesturing to the cushion next to him. "That was your horrendous outing with Taki... you mentioned something about going out with Kuukaku... and the night with Kenpachi." He frowned a little, looking away from her as two thoughts kept dancing at the forefront of his mind. "Why?" That was one of them, and hopefully enough of a question to get the explanation he wanted.
Kurenai:
"It wasn't like I was just with Kuukaku, I mean Tayuya, Momo, and Yoruichi were all there too. We went to a club to blow off steam." She walked around to sit down next to Shunsui, a confused look on her face. "As for the night with Kenpachi, I thought I explained that. I needed somebody to beat up Gin for me, and he will."
She sighed, figuring that just coming out with it was best. "I mean, Gin and Itachi fought according to Deidara, and Itachi died so it's gotta be Gin's fault. I wasn't gonna ask you to take out the guy who killed my ex-husband, you hated him and he hated you." A lot of her current issues were because of that fact, it occurred to her. "We had some drinks, Yachiru was there. We came back here to talk in privacy, we had some sake, and he asked about my old place. I showed him, and we were talking about my work and stuff, and one thing kind of lead to another but I dunno. He hasn't said anything to me about me doing something, so I don't see what the big deal is."
Shunsui:
Shunsui looked at her half astonished. "You don't see what the big deal is? Kurenai, you know as well as I do how you get after drinking... waking up naked in his room and not remembering what happened the night before isn't exactly reassuring." She probably didn't need him questioning something she can't remember, but Shunsui didn't particularly need the probability that she had slept the with guy. Not after all that had happened between them. He could've been blowing it out of proportion. Maybe Kurenai had too much to drink walk up a couple flights of stairs, passed out in his room, gotten too hot in the night and stripped, and woke up in the morning having not remembered... Shunsui couldn’t quite convince himself of that happening.
He shook his head a little bit, leaning forward and picking up the almost-empty glass of sake only to finish it off and set it back down. His buzz had worn off and he wanted it back. "And if you asked him about it and as you said, one thing led to another... then what?"
Kurenai:
Kurenai, who was still more than drunk enough to fail to understand why Shunsui was getting so agitated, looked up at him in disbelief as she found herself moving away from him. "I really don't see what the big deal is, and I didn't ask him about it. If anything happened Shunsui it was just sex, it wasn't at all like what we have and what we do. That is something special, and whatever this was, it obviously wasn't that memorable." Well actually, the more she talked about it, the more she did remember the way her legs felt that next day, the fact that it didn't happen just once, but that he didn't actually stop until she couldn't even think to move herself. She was more than aware she didn't protest either, but the fact that Kenpachi totally didn't act like he fucked her brains out was somewhat unnerving.
She got up, her head having cleared up just enough to make her walking a bit sharper and less erratic. "I need water, or something. I need to think." She wasn't exactly happy with how this was turning out and her still addled mind didn’t stop her from sharing that fact. "I invited you over to make me feel better, not to flip out on me you know."
Shunsui:
"You honestly don't see what the big deal is? You're kidding, right?" This was unbelievable. The woman who not three weeks ago professed to be his after he went through all kinds of hell for her decides that fucking a total stranger is no big deal? "If it was just sex, then why'd you do it? Do you have sex with all the strangers you have drinks with? Do you expect to go around 'just having sex' all the time, so long as what we have is special?" Shunsui felt his temper slowly winning over his desire to spare her feelings. She thinks she might love him? What a perfect way to show her appreciation for him.
He watched her walk away from him and to the kitchen, growing more irritated by the moment. "Now you decide to think? If what we have is special, why would you go off and fuck some guy you just met? Hell, if you did have sex and he didn't say a word about it, you were just a piece of meat to him! Is that what you want?"
Kurenai:
She literally flinched as if he had hit her, pausing in mid step on her way to the kitchen and clenching her fists. She wanted to turn and face him, to defend herself against his accusations with just as much bile as he was launching at her, but she didn't want to fight. They both obviously had hard enough weeks away from each others company, and this wasn't helping anything. Turning her head just enough to make her voice heard, she closed her eyes in an effort to keep her voice calm and controlled, digging her nails into her palms. "You act as if this was something I planned on doing."
Kurenai knew that it was a lame defense, and it was then she realized that it was because she honestly had nothing to defend except her pride. "I'm not going to sit here and defend myself against your accusations when you’re right. What I did was wrong, you deserve far better treatment, and I'm no better than some disgusting piece of meat. Now that we have this established, I doubt you want to stay around me. I understand. Now please leave so I can get over myself without feeling like more of a stupid whore. Thank you." Her words allowed her the time needed to recover enough to know she wasn't going to collapse then and there, so using the wall for balance she continued her walk to the kitchen, still intent on getting water.
Shunsui:
At least now she admitted she was wrong instead of trying to toss it aside as if it never happened. As if she'd never betrayed him. Shunsui almost laughed as he turned back around, collapsing on the couch. She wouldn't leave Itachi; she wouldn't betray Itachi, no matter how much better to her Shunsui was. She's finally happy, has a future of never ending joy so long as Shunsui had a say in the matter, and then her bonds of loyalty snap three days after his birthday. Shunsui brought his hands to his face, rubbing his eyes and temples once again.
"Bring me a glass of water while you're at it..." There was no sense in beating a dead horse. Well, other than the fun of it, but Shunsui wasn't much enjoying this particular carcass. He saw two choices: leave, or forgive her. Attempting to stay with her while failing to forgive her completely would only bring more strife later. Her relationship with Itachi had been a nice example of that. Well, she never did cheat on Itachi... He shook his head and sat back up, leaning forward with his elbows on knees and head in hands as he waited for her to get back.
Kurenai:
She glanced over her shoulder at the figure sitting on her couch, wondering why he didn't leave. It was obvious that she had hurt him badly, and she couldn't understand why it was that he was still there. In Kurenai's mind, the minute she had admitted she was wrong he should have been out the door and far away from her. She had fucked up, and was even admitting it, and he wanted some water. Interesting...and yet she still wanted to avoid him. She just couldn't think properly knowing that his eyes would be filled with nothing but pain and unspoken accusations.
"Ice or no?" If he was going to stay, she would at least play the part of a good host. Besides, she wasn't going to be sleeping tonight, and she was in far too good of a mood earlier to pass up a new opportunity to pack her bags and go on the guilt trip of her life. The amusing thing about this whole situation was that her only thoughts about Itachi currently were centered on the fact that she wouldn't have gone and gotten so drunk if she just had somebody to talk about him and those recently recovered memories with. She couldn't do that to Shunsui, couldn't vent to him about both missing and hating her dead ex, and when she had been telling Kenpachi about the Gin situation she had gotten herself so mired in those memories of him that she did the only thing she could think of to forget.
Shunsui:
"A little ice, I guess." He didn't care much about a drink right now, but she was already up. It also gave him a means to show that he didn't plan on leaving her apartment, or her for that matter. Part of him told him he should just cut his losses and get the hell out and don't look back. Shunsui ignored that voice, opting instead not to think too much about anything for the moment. What if it were true? What if she really did love him, and this was just some stupid mistake? She didn't appear to be kicking him out. Had Kurenai wanted out of the relationship she could very easily tell him right now, it was as good a time as any. Better than most, even.
His headache was beginning to fade again. He hoped for good this time. It wasn't helping matters, the physical pain simply seemed to get in the way of thinking. He had felt fully justified in everything he had said, but now that it was said and acknowledged, the anger and irritation was fleeting.
Kurenai:
She made a little noise to acknowledge that she heard him, and went about getting the water. This all seemed so surreal, but she wasn't going to just kick him out or anything like that. Truth to be told Kurenai didn't want Shunsui to leave, and yet she wasn't sure why. He had every right to, she wouldn't fault him and she wouldn't even think to try and change his mind. She had behaved abysmally, he was perfect and she betrayed that and him without a second thought. She couldn't see herself doing it again, that was for sure, but she also felt like she didn't even deserve to be in the same room as him.
Bringing the water out, Kurenai set his on the table and moved to look out the window. She was still paranoid that Taki would show up and mess with her head again, but there were far more important things to take care of. Turning to look at him, she met his eyes and sighed. "It seems incredibly trite to say I'm sorry."
Shunsui:
He murmured his thanks when he heard the glass set upon the tale, reaching out with one hand and taking a sip from it. He sat back in the couch, resting his head on the top of the cushions as he looked at the ceiling. He asked himself repeatedly why he was still here. Every time he did, he came to the same conclusion: he wanted to be here. He wanted to be with Kurenai, he wanted her as his angel.
Shunsui's head rolled over to the side, watching her at the window. He smiled softly when their eyes met, seeing what she likely saw in his: some sadness, some pain, plenty of exhaustion, but his small smile was sincere. He even laughed a little bit at her comment before lifting his head and turning his body to her. "Maybe... but the apology is accepted." He smirked a little and scooted over from the center of the couch, making room for her and holding out an inviting arm.
Kurenai:
She started moving towards the couch without even realizing that she wanted to walk over there, finding herself sitting down next to him and smiling as if that simple statement was exactly what she needed to hear. She put down her water, the action also taken without her conscious knowledge, and wrapped her arms around him, pushing herself against him as she began to cry softly against his shoulder.
Kurenai couldn't even figure out why she was crying, the action being so unlike her considering the weakness that it inferred. As she found her tears slowing down, it hit her that she should allow herself to cry in front of him, if he truly felt for her how he claimed then seeing her in a weakened state wouldn't drive him away. She felt ridiculous for ever thinking it would and pulled away, wiping her eyes. "I just feel like everything happened so fast, and I thought I was fine and could handle anything that life threw at me, but I was wrong. I..I didn't want to lean on you, and then when I finally needed to you were busy. I was stupid, and I'd never ask you to forgive me or anything, but it seems like you are, and I don't know what to say. Everything I can think of just sounds so fake."
Shunsui:
Shunsui smiled softly and wrapped her in his arms, holding her gently to his shoulder as she started crying. Given all the stress she'd been under it was a wonder she hadn't broken down sooner. He kissed her forehead lightly as he held her to him, one hand slowly rubbing her back. It was then he realized she was still in her lacey underthings, practically naked. The attire hardly seemed fitting considering how the evening had gone, but it didn't matter.
He smiled at Kurenai as she pulled away and tried to explain everything he more or less already knew. He brought a single finger to her lips, effectively stopping her words for the moment. "You don't need to say anything." His voice was scarcely above a whisper when he spoke, his own words ending as the finger at her lips was tenderly replaced with his own, the kiss saying all that he felt needed to be said for right now.