[ complete ] Masks
When; Saturday, July 11th, Grab bag curse day ( Backdated)
Rating; G
Characters; reversetheremix & roseblooms
Summary; It's a gal-pal shopping spree-- only not. Promises are kept and new friends are made!
It had been quite the afternoon, and she honestly hadn't expected it to play out as it did. It had soon become apparent that Shinji wasn't going to lurk around like other males often did when dragged out to shop, and his active participation had just made the entire situation even more memorable than she'd hoped for. The odd, random curses had hit the City today, but unless there was a curse that made her a spendthrift, she assumed she hadn't been hit by anything-- though everything just seemed to feel so much nicer today than normally. She could easily blame the company, Shinji had been a pleasure and he certainly knew his way around fashions for women (though she did have to smile wryly at some things he suggested she'd get)-- still, if it weren't for him, she probably wouldn't have shopped as much as she had today. Or gotten him the outfits they found, it was amazing how well he carried some of the things she picked up off-- it just went to show that you couldn't judge a book by its cover.
It had been the most relaxed she'd been in days, and she inhaled deeply as they stepped through the gardens after stopping by Turnabout Café for a snack (where she was certain people had stared for the sheer volume of bags they both had on them), and now evening was settling in as she turned her face up to the sky for a bit, before looking over at him.
"I still can't understand how you're carrying them all, Mr. Hirako." She said finally, looking amused as she walked beside him. "You know I could take half that load off of you..." She did feel bad he was carrying all their shopping, his and hers.
Shinji hadn't exactly had anything packed when he'd arrived in the City, so he'd been overdue for a trip to the Square anyway. This place seemed like an elaborate money-making scam in that way, but Megumi had made it less of a chore. He'd had an enjoyable time, especially since it wasn't often that he found a like mind in terms of style. He owed Kisuke another one for introducing him to Megumi.
"It ain't a big deal," he replied. It wasn't at all. Besides, it also wasn't like he was going to have her carry them - it'd be unfair, since she'd been such a good shopping partner. And even if she was stronger than she looked, he could handle it easily. Though there was a lot of them, it wasn't like the bags obstructed his view.
"And call me Shinji, already. No reason you gotta be formal with me."
She wasn't exactly stronger-- not being a fighter or needing to do any heavy work didn't exactly allow it, anyway, but she still concerned herself with the fact that he wasn't letting her hold her share. Still, it was gentlemanly of him and she couldn't really complain! At his request, she found a slow grin spreading over her lips and she chuckled to herself. "Ah... sorry about that." Moving her hands behind her back, she stepped up to his side. "Then it's only fair that you call me just Megumi. It's not every day I get lucky enough to meet a man who'll enjoy shopping with a lady, after all!" Usually she'd drag her girlfriends out, mostly Integra who really could never get over their trips, but it was a way to bond, wasn't it? And she really did enjoy herself, more than she had recently.
"Thank you, by the way. You picked out some amazing dresses, I can't wait to wear them!" she added, chuckling to herself as she thought over their afternoon's spoils. "And I bet you're just going to look amazing in the things we got for you. Where on earth did you develop that sense of fashion from?" It really was interesting, seeing how a lot of the people she'd met from Soul Society oftentimes wore things that really did set them apart, like Momo or Isane. It had been a while since she'd seen them, though, and she could only assume Shinji was from a different area entirely.
She deserved better men in her life, he quickly deduced. Anyone who wouldn't want to spend time with her, even if it had to be shopping, seeing as she was good, intelligent, fashionable company.... He'd wondered before what Kisuke's initial interest in her had been, because that man never did anything without a reason, and noted in lieu that Megumi must've had something to do with Soul Society, even if she wasn't of their world. Maybe in this city....
"My sense of fashion?" Well, he didn't get it from Rose or Love... they had their own styles they liked to and did manage to pull off. Though it was far from him to comment, frilly shirts and track suits just weren't his thing. "Dunno where I got it from, cause I've been like this..." - and though he didn't remember getting birthed, he figured it must be - "...since I was outta my mother's belly."
He glanced over at her blandly and took a mental stock of all the clothes he'd insisted she get (some of which she didn't, sadly, as he'd've liked to have seen her wear those too) and grinned slyly. "But I can't play fair if you ain't. You're always lookin' too good for me to say you'll be even more amazin' than usual, Megumi-chan."
He wasn't off the mark about her having had something to do with Soul Society, though that was limited to her interaction in the City, and not even as much as one would think. She'd been roped in to heal Arrancar at one point, and while she'd never actually interacted with their 'leader' of sorts, she'd figured that staying out of all their ways would be safer for her, seeing the amount of destruction these people got into. Though in his case, it was a little different-- Shinji, she'd noted, wasn't quick to violence as far as she'd observed him. Which had been during the curse where she'd become a Pokemon. But there had been no reason for him to after that, and she supposed it was better that way-- she was the one of the people who ended up having to heal them all to the point of exhausting herself and she really didn't want to be irritable at him.
She did have to admit, he was very refreshing to be around, and at his words, she couldn't help but chuckle. He was quick to compliment too, which was normally something she'd be wary of, but he just seemed to be so sincere about them that she let him say what he liked-- hey, it wasn't like they were offending anyone, and it did give her a bit of an ego boost. However, at his look and the way he spoke, she paused, colour rushing to her cheeks as she quickly moved her hands in front of her, lowering her head. "H-Hey now!" A nervous laugh escaped her as she shook her head. "That's not true at all! I'm long overdue for a makeover, you know." Looking up, she pretend-pouted at him, but it soon melted into an amused smile. "But really, I haven't had this much fun shopping since the last time Integra and I caught the final sale at the dress store. It was almost like war had broken out!"
Pausing for a moment, she moved a hand up to tuck her hair behind her ear, looking ahead of her once more. The sky was taking on evening hues of purple, and she added, in a softer voice. "I hope you liked what I picked too. It's been a while since I've gotten to pick something out for a male friend."
Regardless of her involvement with anyone from Soul Society or otherwise, she was human, and he didn't mind those so much. He'd wandered around Tokyo enough as it was - if it was going to be home he'd better get to know it well - and met people he grew to recognize here and there. Not often, and never for long, as there was the disconcerting matter that he wouldn't age like they did, that he was essentially an afterlife away from where they were... but he felt like he came close enough sometimes. At least that wasn't anything new. He'd always found it interesting; music, clothes, film and the occasional piece of literature. There really wasn't much to do some days otherwise, aside from training.
Though the mental image of a horde of people attacking a clothing store was distracting for a moment there. The threads might've been really nice but would it really be worth a melee? If he had ever owned a computer - or even had a viable address, on second thought - he'd probably have ordered online a lot more. Considering that he didn't have his own room here yet, he'd have to borrow Ichigo's for a while before he supposed he could give it a whirl if he still wanted to. Now that he could inquire after Megumi's company when it came time to shop some more, there seemed little reason to bother.
Either way, he mostly ignored her modesty. He meant what he said, after all. Following her gaze for a moment, Shinji said, "I wouldn't've gotten things I didn't like. And it's me who should really be sayin' thanks, for takin' me up on it."
"As long as you had fun as well, that's what matters!" she chuckled a bit as she cast a glance over at him while she walked. She had to admit, after being initially wary of him, he'd definitely won some points with his personality. Even if she did find his odd affection for her completely out of the blue, she understood gratitude at the very least, and she figured it was a good place to start getting to know him. It wasn't as though Urahara didn't make her wary as well, but he'd been kind enough to her at a time where she was at her most vulnerable, and that alone said much. Because of it, she was happy to give Shinji a chance, and now she was glad she did. He knew a lot about trends and other things, and really-- with how she'd been before she lost Axl, this was a welcome reprieve from being unable to catch up on them.
She did pause and look over at him, though, stepping in front so she could gesture to him to stop. "But you know, if you carry all those things, we won't be able to see the City from above like you promised! And I wouldn't want to have us lose our things by making them levitate everywhere-- why don't we store them away first so we can free up your hands, hm?"
Grinning, she turned around and stretched out her arm, seemingly in thought for a bit, before it began to glow a soft while, and then, in a slicing gesture, she cut downwards with her hand, and almost like a curtain was being pulled open, the reality before them was split into two dimensions. It was like there was a tear in the scene in front of them, and then she gestured to it, speaking calmly. "It's a space pocket. My father figure taught me how to utilize it for keeping things safe temporarily." If Shinji had observed it, she also hadn't carried a purse through this entire trip, but seemingly had one when payments had to be made. "You can keep the bags in here and get them out when we're ready to go! I don't use it too often except to store money on me, but there should be enough room for all of those!" Which was an understatement, seeing as it adjusted according to how much was stored in it. But it would be wasteful use of magic if she used it too much, after all.
He watched her do this with an interested whistle. He hadn't been with her when she'd paid for purchases, usually waiting outside or browsing some more himself, but it'd be a logical explanation as to why she never seemed to have anything with her. And maybe part of the reason she'd been of interest to Kisuke as well. He didn't believe for a second that her only powers were in healing, or that they'd be considered normal for humans back in his world. They probably weren't very common even in this one. There had been other people trying to capture her, during that curse. It probably wasn't without good reason.
And it wasn't difficult to conclude that she would've caught the attention of Shinigami and Arrancar that had been in the City before either. This kind of power resembled Hachi's and Orihime's. The movements of her hands as she opened the rift was very similar to how he broke illusions. In some way, the familiarity of it made her all the more likable. He stepped forward wordlessly, dropped the bags into the rip and moved back aside with an idle smile.
Her effort wasn't necessary since he could just as easily leave things in midair as long as he wanted without bothering to lift a finger, but whatever made her more comfortable. Megumi didn't seem like any of this was wearing her out and though he had an inkling at the extent of her powers, it wasn't really enough of concern of his to find out. She could share if she wanted to but he'd do her the courtesy of not asking.
If someone in the City moved to threaten her because of those powers, however, that's when he might have to step in. She did heal him when she didn't have to, and he kept strict count of things like that.
She seemed cheerful while explaining where she'd learned it from and he hoped she wouldn't mind that there weren't really very many explanations to where he'd learned his tricks from. If she was familiar with Shinigami or Arrancar, there wouldn't be a need to. "Now that you've done all the hard work," Shinji said, holding out his hand, "it's about time I keep my promise, huh?"
She certainly wasn't at all as powerful, if at all, compared to the Shinigami she'd encountered. One of the reasons she didn't associate with them was because of that very fact; they were all incredibly out of her league and she had no idea if she'd be able to hold her own, and most likely would not be able to fight them. So far she'd been lucky to a degree where it came to Arrancar, Grimmjow, as violent as he was, didn't let any harm come to her for the sole reason that he needed her to heal him. It was her only security in the face of people like them. As she watched him set the bags aside, another light stroke of her hand allowed her to close the pocket when he was done, and all was normal.
For the while, at least. Because when he spoke again, it made her smile a little more enthusiastically, even though she maintained her composure as she gave him a nod. "I do believe the opportunity is perfect, Mr. Hirako." This time, the name was used more as a playful formality than actually addressing him like that. He'd given her the go-ahead to use his name; and she would, and with a playful chuckle, she took a hold of her skirt and moved the other hand to slide into his.
It was strange, she thought, how easy it was to allow this. With everything that had been happening in the City with her lately, the last thing on her mind was making friends, and yet here this one was. She couldn't say she wasn't grateful though; she only hoped it wouldn't have any nasty surprises for her for wishing to continue it. As she stepped to his side, she exhaled softly. "Ready when you are." At times like this, her walls lowered just a little-- enough to reveal that she was still incredibly young at heart despite her mature front. But really, who wouldn't be, being promised something like this?
He didn't miss the lilt in her voice and returned it in his own. "Lemme know if it gets too high for you." Shinji doubted she would even notice the height once they got a good view of the City. It seemed to shrink the longer he stayed in it but its scope was nevertheless as huge as it had been the first day he arrived. The weather was warm so she wouldn't get cold, and it had grown just dark enough for all the lights to stand out starkly in the distance.
"This is gonna be easy, Megumi-chan. Like steps on a staircase." Slowly, he began walking up. One foot after another, he gently tugged her along. Of course he could just launch them up but he didn't want her getting nauseous. He'd learned this the same way, patiently, and thought it'd be a more comfortable way for her too. Made a person feel like they had more control, at any rate.
If it was a real staircase they were walking on, it'd have been constructed really badly, but it worked. In a short time, they were over the tall canopy of Xanadu and the City glowed in the near distance. It didn't remind him of any place he'd been before. From the other side, he could hear the surrounding sea echo more clearly and decided heading to the beach might be fun for her too. "Anywhere specific you wanna go?"
It took a lot to get her sick with the kinds of things she had seen in her life, and with her constitution as strong as it was-- it wouldn't have mattered how he'd taken them up. But she actually found herself appreciating this method a whole lot more, because she had absolutely not expected it to go like this. She noticed Shinji's own enthusiasm but what got her was how easily this happened, almost as if there had been this invisible path to take all this time in the gardens and she just hadn't known it until now. With each step that she took, she could feel the beginnings of Shinji's abilities guiding her and she took great care to not let her own abilities come in the way and clash with his in her defense. She was technically leaving herself in his trust, and while she could protect herself if something did go wrong, she wasn't too worried.
In all this time, Shinji hadn't given her any reason to doubt him.
As she began to draw further and further away from the ground, she paused only once to look down to gauge the distance between the ground and themselves, though there was only curiousity as opposed to fear in her eyes before she looked up and with a squeeze to Shinji's hand, she came up beside him. It was then that it hit her, she was standing up and above everything and everyone and it was just Shinji and her up here. The ocean was never too far for her, but feeling it from here, high up in the air was a different feeling altogether. And then, at the sight of the City lighting up, Megumi almost found herself so taken by the sight that she forgot to respond-- and only caught herself a moment or so later when she realised he wasn't talking. Her eyes widened for a moment, before she chuckled and moved a hand behind her neck apologetically. "How about a stroll over the lights?" She asked, clearly fascinated by the view enough to ask for something that ambiguous. "I want to see everything!"
"City first, then," Shinji said, and began to lead the way. "You got it."
They hadn't gone too far into Xanadu but he added a little glide to their steps to speed them along. Nothing nearly so fast as shunpo. It wasn't like they were in a rush, and he'd always enjoyed strolling the sky - up here was cleaner and quieter than a lot of other places in the city, even if it wasn't totally free of traffic. Staying quiet, letting Megumi take her time looking around as much as she pleased without distraction, Shinji focused his own attention on scanning for anything unusual. It wouldn't be as unlikely to find something strange in this place, compared to where he was coming from.
Once they got to the outskirts of the City, he took quick stock of where they were. Just high enough to be on par with the roofs of the apartment buildings and near the Cathedral, which looked especially ornate as stark shadows welled between its pillars. There really was a lot to see....
He glanced over at her to find the lights reflecting prettily in her eyes. "Your turn to chase directions, Megumi-chan."
In her case, it wasn't the skies that she took refuge in, but the deep, dark depths of the lake. She felt safest and the most easiest while being in there or the ocean, and she found herself comparing this to the feeling of being embraced by the weight of the waters. Up here, it was bright even in the settling darkness, and she couldn't help but smile as she observed the sights around her even as Shinji guided them forward. There was always a breeze to help them along, something else she was thankfully familiar with, and she chuckled softly as they paused near the towering buildings, finding herself fascinated by the sight before her.
Lifting her head from where she was looking beneath her, she turned to look over at Shinji with a bright smile. "Around the square!" It was then that she slowly slid her fingers free of Shinji's hold, focusing on managing the gravity around her while allowing room for Shinji's ability to help guide her powers as well, and took a step back. And she had a good reason for doing so because she circled around in front of him, looking as though she was taking steps on the air behind her. Her powers allowed her to manipulate air and her own gravity, but it wasn't something she needed to really use, except perhaps right now it was well worth it. Moving her hands behind her back, she leaned forward and smiled at Shinji playfully, before blinking as she picked up the sounds of that street swing and jazz group she believed she'd heard at a distance, and realized she recognized the tune, that made her smile to hersef.
"Looks like it's a dance tune. Can't say I've ever done that in mid-air." She added, backstepping as she drew her arm out to take his hand again. It was around the Square that there were those amazing jazz street performers, weren't they? Drawing closer to where they were would put them in the vicinity of their music, and she didn't want to miss that!
Nifty, nifty. Megumi was full of surprises, wasn't she?
"Footloose, huh," Shinji deadpanned even as he stepped forward to take her hand. He could hear the music - pretty good in his books, and danceable. It wasn't something he did often at all but there was no refusing such a lovely lady. Drawing her closer as they neared the street performers, he skimmed faces in the thick evening crowds. No one he recognized, which wasn't a surprise. No one who bothered looking up, which wasn't a surprise either.
The musicians started another number, mellow and smooth without being somber. He smiled at Megumi as she danced and lifted their linked hands up so she could twirl comfortably when she wanted. It had really turned out to be a relaxing evening thanks to her. Getting yanked to the City on the eve of the battle they'd been anticipating for so long was beyond frustrating - and the only thing he could do was grit his teeth and wait it out. Again. This time, a lot more alone.
There should only be so many misfortunes he didn't see coming... but he had his luck too. It just wasn't ever simple. Or single, probably, he reflected almost ruefully, as they danced. "Go dancin' in the City often?"
The look on his face honestly did make her chuckle, and it wasn't something done in offense, but more out of affection. He seemed to be completely willing to go with whatever she wanted to do, which of course, had been the continuing theme of the evening, but not once did he complain. She allowed herself to be drawn in, moving a hand over his arm and another onto his hand-- she didn't want to rely on her own abilities for this too much than necessary, especially since she wasn't all that used to using air as a method of transport. As the band did begin to play, she smiled up at him with a grateful look-- of course, there was no chance of there being any upskirt 'wardrobe malfunctions' of any sort with the layers she was wearing under her skirt, so she wasn't worried at all if someone did look up at them. And as the music continued on, she did indeed enjoy herself, moving with him and feeling like she'd been moving on a surface of clouds.
But it was during it that she noted the way his gaze took on a mildly distant look to it, and she wondered about it for a moment, until he spoke and she completed a twirl, arms stretched out before she came closer once more. With a shake of her head and a smile, she let herself follow the music as he stepped with her, enjoying the beat and melody as she replied, "Not really. I don't get to go out very often. Every once in a few months though, something comes up to enjoy with a friend." As the song came to an end, she heard the gathered audience applaud for the performers at a distance, and then she looked up at him, almost thoughtfully.
"Something on your mind, Shinji?" She chanced to ask, from what she'd noted earlier. There was a hint of concern in her tone, wondering if he had other matters to worry about and if she wasn't causing him to waste his time.
That she didn't get to go out too often was a shame, but from what he could tell of her powers it probably wasn't unwarranted of her to utilize that to help people. It was probably draining too. But at least this meant he'd have to ask her out more often.
The music ended and he met her gaze, once she voiced that question. Something on his mind... "Yeah," he said, "that there's probably a lot goin' on over in the Square, if you wanna go there next." This part of town shut down around this time and there wasn't much to see after the performers left.
With a shake of her head, Megumi watched him before figuring if it really was anything else, it wasn't her business until Shinji decided so. For that reason, she gave him the benefit of the doubt, and chuckled lightly. "It's alright. Why don't we head over to the ocean next? I bet the Square's had its fill of us during our shopping spree, right?" and stepping back, stretching their arms out by the hold she had on their held hand, she took a hold of the side of her skirt again and gave him a playful curtsy.
"You're quite the dancer!" She added, with a grin, before stepping to his side once more. The dance had indeed made her a little enthusiastic, enough to get the blood rushing through her and the evening honestly couldn't have gotten any better. With a squeeze to his hand, she let him move on ahead and then followed, all the while taking in the amazing sights around her-- Shinji had been right, seeing the City from this height was certainly quite an adventure and now, the Square that they'd only just recently been in earlier that day seemed to be filled with so much more life and colour that it was breathtaking. She smiled to herself, before looking up at him, pointing out the deities' headquarters, and then as they passed by the carousel and the fountain, she cast a glance beneath her, amazed with how, even with the fact that they were trapped in such a small place, there was still so much to explore.
As they progressed, she could feel the scent of the ocean grow stronger, and she didn't even have to look at where she was going-- the ocean was her place, and she was happy to be going to it. It was strangely comfortable, and she glanced over at Shinji once more, wondering about him-- then figured if her presence had done something to cheer him up a bit, then the evening was a success.
"Thank you, by the way. This was the most fun I've had in a while."
That was a good point about the Square and he acknowledged it with a grin in her direction. "I need a closet 'fore I can attempt that again. Not that I need anythin' else anyway." Except a place to stay settle into more permanently, maybe. Ichigo's temper was notoriously short and the rest in the apartment seemed almost worse off. At least, Shinji wouldn't kid himself otherwise: he At her curtsy he gave a short bow himself, without bothering to straighten much afterwards. He could be playful too.
Gliding more now than stepping, he turned towards the beach. "C'mon, be fair. It ain't my footwork that was pro." He jingled their linked hands lightly in return to her gesture and watched the play of expressions on her face. She was more open than she might've realized she was being but that sort of honesty, he could appreciate. Her excitement was clear as she pointed out all the sites he was already growing accustomed to seeing, and she seemed just a little younger than before for it. The last time he felt that way was... well, he was a low-key sorta guy. Enthusiasm didn't come so naturally.
He noticed her grow quieter as they neared the beach, and didn't interrupt her reverie. Looking beyond the beach, into the waters and darker skies, Shinji'd idly wondered before whether he could find home on the other side if he walked long enough. He doubted it. And now he wondered if she wondered that when she looked out there too, when she thanked him.
Wasn't that sweet. He gave her a genuine smile, because she was the one who'd done him the favor, from healing his broken nose - no one had done that before - to the twinge of concern that colored her tone, even if there wasn't anything he'd say to her of it... "You keep stealin' my lines, Megumi-chan."
She appreciated it; the way he responded to her, the way he just seemed to keep up his spirits. It was fun, having someone to just relax with and it was in that that she realised how much she missed having her close friends, most of who had now left the City and the few that remained, well-- it was always good to not overdo things and it would be lucky to catch them when they were free if a curse wasn't prompting it. As they finally got to the beach, she watched the waters beyond, her expression changing to one of relaxation, the kind of look one got when they found themselves home, or a familiar place. She knew it was futile to think of going home when so many had attempted and none had succeeded. And he noted her expressions quite well-- there were still things that fascinated her, almost the way a child would be, but that could be blamed on the isolation she'd grown up around until she'd met Axl, while at the same time she noted his own. Very reserved for a guy who seemed so easygoing, and while she did lower her guard in front of him, it wasn't as though she was entirely defenseless. Though if he'd had any intention of harming her, she knew it would have happened already, and she was willing to give him a certain amount of trust given time.
She was still wary of the people from Shinji's world, but she had to admit, he really wasn't so bad himself. And she found herself glad that she'd given him a bit of a chance, maybe they could go shopping again soon or just hang out. She missed doing things like this and aside from hospital work and hanging out with the kids, there wasn't much socialization she got outside of the network except sporadically. As they descended onto the beach, Megumi slowly let go of Shinji's hand and let herself land on the sand, fixing her hair that had been mussed up by the breeze by stroking it back down and then smiled to herself as she turned her face toward the ocean before them. With a chuckle then, she turned to look at Shinji and replied, "Have to make sure I charm my date properly, right?" With a playful wink, she turned back to look to the ocean, holding her hair down on one side.
"We should do this again. Maybe some day, I'll take you to the ocean depths. It's really pretty. Only fair, since you took me on a tour of the skies!" she added, looking over her shoulder at him. "Though.. you mentioned not having closet space? Haven't you found an apartment yet, Shinji?"
He watched her land on the sand gently, noting that she had good control, though he might've helped smooth it out a bit. He followed after, stuffing his hands into his pockets as his feet touched solid earth. It was a little cooler with the wind, smelled like salt and was a hell of a lot less polluted that he would've guessed, considering the City residents he'd met so far.
"Charm me properly?" Shinji repeated flatly. He could've elaborated: you were charmin' me proper from the moment I laid eyes on you or if you got anymore charmin' who'd know what to do with themselves 'round ya or any multitude of things, really. But he was pretty sure she got the sentiment without any clarification on his part. Her easy sense of humor made it easier to talk with her like that, in some part because it cut down how much he had to talk in general.
At her offer to go diving, Shinji wondered whether his gigai was built for that kind of thing. If it was, then why not? Scuba diving was a pretty popular past time in some parts of the world though hadn't thought to try it out himself before. "That'd be really interestin'... and I've been crashin' with a friend since I got here. I'll find somewhere roomy soon enough."
If the ocean had been polluted, she'd certainly not be as happy to be there as she was right now. Which was why she made the offer at all, and at his response, she could only smirk a bit, but she could tell that Shinji's odd fascination with her wasn't going anywhere soon. She absently wondered how long it would be before it did, though-- and figured even if that did occur, she'd have incredibly good memories to look back on, and some shared hobbies to boot. Drawing her arms behind her back, she continued to look ahead of her, looking thoughtful. She didn't know about the concept of gigai or any of the tricks of his world, having only ever treated Arrancar, but he probably wouldn't need to worry about it. They weren't going to have any trouble when she utilised her underwater spells to help protect them when they went deep enough.
At his acquiesce, she found herself feeling a little more cheerful at something to look forward to. Turning to look at hm then, she gave him a nod. "If you ever want help in setting up a place to stay, let me know and we can do that. You do know that you can claim any of the apartments and set them up as you please, right?" A lot of the magic-users adjusted their own apartments at will, and she figured the City's own brand of magic would help Shinji have his place as he wanted it. "You'd just need a roommate to keep the ticking from becoming a problem, but pets usually work too!"
Standing sideways, looking toward the ocean again for a moment, she seemed thoughtful for a while. It was tempting to take a dive in, but that would really be strange all of a sudden, wouldn't it? But with the moon as it was now, she realized it probably wasn't the best time, and then shaking her head, she looked back at Shinji with a tilt back of her head. "It's getting late, huh? We should probably start heading back." She wasn't in any rush to go back, though, and moving her hands back by her sides, she turned fully to face him. "Let me know if you'd like to hang out again. I bet the director would be more than happy to see me not working more than I have to like she's been complaining about." She chuckled.
"Yeah, I heard," Shinji said, when she mentioned the way housing in the City worked. Well - staying at Ichigo's did have its perks. By now he had a good idea of when everyone from his world was from, made some observations on the way time worked in the City, picked out Arrancar on the network and made a mental inventory of the sorts of people that could cause problems. Finding a place seemed secondary compared to that... though it was about time he check out of that scene. Get a cat, too, maybe. "Just haven't gotten 'round to it, I guess."
She was quiet for a little and raptly watched the waves go back and forth, leaning forward slightly enough that it seemed to Shinji like she might've wanted to wade in. Instead, she suggested going back, and he nodded - it was getting late and it wouldn't do if she was tired tomorrow, especially if she had to work. "I'll walk ya to your door," he said with a grin, "as it's only properly charmin' of me." When she turned and said she wouldn't mind hanging out again, he responded cheerfully with, "There's no way I can't take you up on that offer, Megumi-chan!" She really did work hard.
By the time they made it back into the city, the crowds were thinned out and he figured people'd vacated to the Underground for the most part. They'd set off at a relaxed pace on their way back to town, idly chatting about some of the sillier things they'd seen being sold in the Square and talking about what else there was to do in the City for the next time they went out. Making plans as if he was accepting the timing of this crazy nexus felt a little like resignation but... Megumi looked happy and she was proof that it wasn't all bad, either.
His words were met with a fond smile, and through their chatting on their way back, she did fall silent at times to let him speak, seeing as she hadn't exactly forgotten the distant look he'd had that evening. It was odd, she realised, to be concerned for him, she really had no reason to be, and they'd only just met. But this evening had indeed made things different and put her into thought and she wondered, if by being here, she'd be doing more good than she would going back. After all, there were all her friends here, and she got to see the ones who left when the City opened its doors...
It was an oddly tempting thought that she realised she couldn't make a decision on now. And she quickly brought herself back to the present as she caught up with what Shinji was saying, and as they stepped toward the building she used to get to her home, and walked inside, she looked thoughtful for a bit. When they reached the apartment door, she paused before it, then looked up at Shinji. After a moment's hesitation, she moved a hand up to his shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. It was less formal than shaking his hand, and not as informal as hugging, but somewhere in the middle, enough to be both friendly and polite at the same time.
"I hope you had a lot of fun today evening. If you ever do need anything, you know where to find me. And I do hope Mr. Urahara doesn't give you more trouble than I'm sure he already does." She grinned slightly, though her smile became softer for a moment. "Don't be a stranger, okay?" There was an undertone to her words; she hoped whatever issues he was having could be eased, and drawing her hand by her side, she slid it through the air by her side once more, and from the cut that appeared, his bags floated out, landing by his feet neatly. "I believe these should be going with you." She added, with an amused tone as she sealed off the pocket again, and moving her hand to the door handle, she seemingly opened it without a lock, though it was just the enchantment on it that recognized her. With a final wave, she nodded to him."Take care, Shinji."
He gazed at her mildly as she squeezed his shoulder. He knew he wasn't easy to read, and that little jab at Kisuke - perceptive. Or really empathetic. He didn't bother telling her she didn't have to be troubled for him, as he was more than capable of taking care of himself and she probably understood that. No point in dragging her into what was Shinigami, Vizard and Arrancar business when it came down to it either, so....
"No worries, it doesn't matter much," Shinji replied, keeping it vague as to whether he was referring to himself or Kisuke. "And I won't be." He watched his bags amble over to him, again with that nostalgic power, and picked them up once she set them down. Swinging them over his shoulder, he tipped his hat to Megumi and vanished.
Rating; G
Characters; reversetheremix & roseblooms
Summary; It's a gal-pal shopping spree-- only not. Promises are kept and new friends are made!
It had been quite the afternoon, and she honestly hadn't expected it to play out as it did. It had soon become apparent that Shinji wasn't going to lurk around like other males often did when dragged out to shop, and his active participation had just made the entire situation even more memorable than she'd hoped for. The odd, random curses had hit the City today, but unless there was a curse that made her a spendthrift, she assumed she hadn't been hit by anything-- though everything just seemed to feel so much nicer today than normally. She could easily blame the company, Shinji had been a pleasure and he certainly knew his way around fashions for women (though she did have to smile wryly at some things he suggested she'd get)-- still, if it weren't for him, she probably wouldn't have shopped as much as she had today. Or gotten him the outfits they found, it was amazing how well he carried some of the things she picked up off-- it just went to show that you couldn't judge a book by its cover.
It had been the most relaxed she'd been in days, and she inhaled deeply as they stepped through the gardens after stopping by Turnabout Café for a snack (where she was certain people had stared for the sheer volume of bags they both had on them), and now evening was settling in as she turned her face up to the sky for a bit, before looking over at him.
"I still can't understand how you're carrying them all, Mr. Hirako." She said finally, looking amused as she walked beside him. "You know I could take half that load off of you..." She did feel bad he was carrying all their shopping, his and hers.
Shinji hadn't exactly had anything packed when he'd arrived in the City, so he'd been overdue for a trip to the Square anyway. This place seemed like an elaborate money-making scam in that way, but Megumi had made it less of a chore. He'd had an enjoyable time, especially since it wasn't often that he found a like mind in terms of style. He owed Kisuke another one for introducing him to Megumi.
"It ain't a big deal," he replied. It wasn't at all. Besides, it also wasn't like he was going to have her carry them - it'd be unfair, since she'd been such a good shopping partner. And even if she was stronger than she looked, he could handle it easily. Though there was a lot of them, it wasn't like the bags obstructed his view.
"And call me Shinji, already. No reason you gotta be formal with me."
She wasn't exactly stronger-- not being a fighter or needing to do any heavy work didn't exactly allow it, anyway, but she still concerned herself with the fact that he wasn't letting her hold her share. Still, it was gentlemanly of him and she couldn't really complain! At his request, she found a slow grin spreading over her lips and she chuckled to herself. "Ah... sorry about that." Moving her hands behind her back, she stepped up to his side. "Then it's only fair that you call me just Megumi. It's not every day I get lucky enough to meet a man who'll enjoy shopping with a lady, after all!" Usually she'd drag her girlfriends out, mostly Integra who really could never get over their trips, but it was a way to bond, wasn't it? And she really did enjoy herself, more than she had recently.
"Thank you, by the way. You picked out some amazing dresses, I can't wait to wear them!" she added, chuckling to herself as she thought over their afternoon's spoils. "And I bet you're just going to look amazing in the things we got for you. Where on earth did you develop that sense of fashion from?" It really was interesting, seeing how a lot of the people she'd met from Soul Society oftentimes wore things that really did set them apart, like Momo or Isane. It had been a while since she'd seen them, though, and she could only assume Shinji was from a different area entirely.
She deserved better men in her life, he quickly deduced. Anyone who wouldn't want to spend time with her, even if it had to be shopping, seeing as she was good, intelligent, fashionable company.... He'd wondered before what Kisuke's initial interest in her had been, because that man never did anything without a reason, and noted in lieu that Megumi must've had something to do with Soul Society, even if she wasn't of their world. Maybe in this city....
"My sense of fashion?" Well, he didn't get it from Rose or Love... they had their own styles they liked to and did manage to pull off. Though it was far from him to comment, frilly shirts and track suits just weren't his thing. "Dunno where I got it from, cause I've been like this..." - and though he didn't remember getting birthed, he figured it must be - "...since I was outta my mother's belly."
He glanced over at her blandly and took a mental stock of all the clothes he'd insisted she get (some of which she didn't, sadly, as he'd've liked to have seen her wear those too) and grinned slyly. "But I can't play fair if you ain't. You're always lookin' too good for me to say you'll be even more amazin' than usual, Megumi-chan."
He wasn't off the mark about her having had something to do with Soul Society, though that was limited to her interaction in the City, and not even as much as one would think. She'd been roped in to heal Arrancar at one point, and while she'd never actually interacted with their 'leader' of sorts, she'd figured that staying out of all their ways would be safer for her, seeing the amount of destruction these people got into. Though in his case, it was a little different-- Shinji, she'd noted, wasn't quick to violence as far as she'd observed him. Which had been during the curse where she'd become a Pokemon. But there had been no reason for him to after that, and she supposed it was better that way-- she was the one of the people who ended up having to heal them all to the point of exhausting herself and she really didn't want to be irritable at him.
She did have to admit, he was very refreshing to be around, and at his words, she couldn't help but chuckle. He was quick to compliment too, which was normally something she'd be wary of, but he just seemed to be so sincere about them that she let him say what he liked-- hey, it wasn't like they were offending anyone, and it did give her a bit of an ego boost. However, at his look and the way he spoke, she paused, colour rushing to her cheeks as she quickly moved her hands in front of her, lowering her head. "H-Hey now!" A nervous laugh escaped her as she shook her head. "That's not true at all! I'm long overdue for a makeover, you know." Looking up, she pretend-pouted at him, but it soon melted into an amused smile. "But really, I haven't had this much fun shopping since the last time Integra and I caught the final sale at the dress store. It was almost like war had broken out!"
Pausing for a moment, she moved a hand up to tuck her hair behind her ear, looking ahead of her once more. The sky was taking on evening hues of purple, and she added, in a softer voice. "I hope you liked what I picked too. It's been a while since I've gotten to pick something out for a male friend."
Regardless of her involvement with anyone from Soul Society or otherwise, she was human, and he didn't mind those so much. He'd wandered around Tokyo enough as it was - if it was going to be home he'd better get to know it well - and met people he grew to recognize here and there. Not often, and never for long, as there was the disconcerting matter that he wouldn't age like they did, that he was essentially an afterlife away from where they were... but he felt like he came close enough sometimes. At least that wasn't anything new. He'd always found it interesting; music, clothes, film and the occasional piece of literature. There really wasn't much to do some days otherwise, aside from training.
Though the mental image of a horde of people attacking a clothing store was distracting for a moment there. The threads might've been really nice but would it really be worth a melee? If he had ever owned a computer - or even had a viable address, on second thought - he'd probably have ordered online a lot more. Considering that he didn't have his own room here yet, he'd have to borrow Ichigo's for a while before he supposed he could give it a whirl if he still wanted to. Now that he could inquire after Megumi's company when it came time to shop some more, there seemed little reason to bother.
Either way, he mostly ignored her modesty. He meant what he said, after all. Following her gaze for a moment, Shinji said, "I wouldn't've gotten things I didn't like. And it's me who should really be sayin' thanks, for takin' me up on it."
"As long as you had fun as well, that's what matters!" she chuckled a bit as she cast a glance over at him while she walked. She had to admit, after being initially wary of him, he'd definitely won some points with his personality. Even if she did find his odd affection for her completely out of the blue, she understood gratitude at the very least, and she figured it was a good place to start getting to know him. It wasn't as though Urahara didn't make her wary as well, but he'd been kind enough to her at a time where she was at her most vulnerable, and that alone said much. Because of it, she was happy to give Shinji a chance, and now she was glad she did. He knew a lot about trends and other things, and really-- with how she'd been before she lost Axl, this was a welcome reprieve from being unable to catch up on them.
She did pause and look over at him, though, stepping in front so she could gesture to him to stop. "But you know, if you carry all those things, we won't be able to see the City from above like you promised! And I wouldn't want to have us lose our things by making them levitate everywhere-- why don't we store them away first so we can free up your hands, hm?"
Grinning, she turned around and stretched out her arm, seemingly in thought for a bit, before it began to glow a soft while, and then, in a slicing gesture, she cut downwards with her hand, and almost like a curtain was being pulled open, the reality before them was split into two dimensions. It was like there was a tear in the scene in front of them, and then she gestured to it, speaking calmly. "It's a space pocket. My father figure taught me how to utilize it for keeping things safe temporarily." If Shinji had observed it, she also hadn't carried a purse through this entire trip, but seemingly had one when payments had to be made. "You can keep the bags in here and get them out when we're ready to go! I don't use it too often except to store money on me, but there should be enough room for all of those!" Which was an understatement, seeing as it adjusted according to how much was stored in it. But it would be wasteful use of magic if she used it too much, after all.
He watched her do this with an interested whistle. He hadn't been with her when she'd paid for purchases, usually waiting outside or browsing some more himself, but it'd be a logical explanation as to why she never seemed to have anything with her. And maybe part of the reason she'd been of interest to Kisuke as well. He didn't believe for a second that her only powers were in healing, or that they'd be considered normal for humans back in his world. They probably weren't very common even in this one. There had been other people trying to capture her, during that curse. It probably wasn't without good reason.
And it wasn't difficult to conclude that she would've caught the attention of Shinigami and Arrancar that had been in the City before either. This kind of power resembled Hachi's and Orihime's. The movements of her hands as she opened the rift was very similar to how he broke illusions. In some way, the familiarity of it made her all the more likable. He stepped forward wordlessly, dropped the bags into the rip and moved back aside with an idle smile.
Her effort wasn't necessary since he could just as easily leave things in midair as long as he wanted without bothering to lift a finger, but whatever made her more comfortable. Megumi didn't seem like any of this was wearing her out and though he had an inkling at the extent of her powers, it wasn't really enough of concern of his to find out. She could share if she wanted to but he'd do her the courtesy of not asking.
If someone in the City moved to threaten her because of those powers, however, that's when he might have to step in. She did heal him when she didn't have to, and he kept strict count of things like that.
She seemed cheerful while explaining where she'd learned it from and he hoped she wouldn't mind that there weren't really very many explanations to where he'd learned his tricks from. If she was familiar with Shinigami or Arrancar, there wouldn't be a need to. "Now that you've done all the hard work," Shinji said, holding out his hand, "it's about time I keep my promise, huh?"
She certainly wasn't at all as powerful, if at all, compared to the Shinigami she'd encountered. One of the reasons she didn't associate with them was because of that very fact; they were all incredibly out of her league and she had no idea if she'd be able to hold her own, and most likely would not be able to fight them. So far she'd been lucky to a degree where it came to Arrancar, Grimmjow, as violent as he was, didn't let any harm come to her for the sole reason that he needed her to heal him. It was her only security in the face of people like them. As she watched him set the bags aside, another light stroke of her hand allowed her to close the pocket when he was done, and all was normal.
For the while, at least. Because when he spoke again, it made her smile a little more enthusiastically, even though she maintained her composure as she gave him a nod. "I do believe the opportunity is perfect, Mr. Hirako." This time, the name was used more as a playful formality than actually addressing him like that. He'd given her the go-ahead to use his name; and she would, and with a playful chuckle, she took a hold of her skirt and moved the other hand to slide into his.
It was strange, she thought, how easy it was to allow this. With everything that had been happening in the City with her lately, the last thing on her mind was making friends, and yet here this one was. She couldn't say she wasn't grateful though; she only hoped it wouldn't have any nasty surprises for her for wishing to continue it. As she stepped to his side, she exhaled softly. "Ready when you are." At times like this, her walls lowered just a little-- enough to reveal that she was still incredibly young at heart despite her mature front. But really, who wouldn't be, being promised something like this?
He didn't miss the lilt in her voice and returned it in his own. "Lemme know if it gets too high for you." Shinji doubted she would even notice the height once they got a good view of the City. It seemed to shrink the longer he stayed in it but its scope was nevertheless as huge as it had been the first day he arrived. The weather was warm so she wouldn't get cold, and it had grown just dark enough for all the lights to stand out starkly in the distance.
"This is gonna be easy, Megumi-chan. Like steps on a staircase." Slowly, he began walking up. One foot after another, he gently tugged her along. Of course he could just launch them up but he didn't want her getting nauseous. He'd learned this the same way, patiently, and thought it'd be a more comfortable way for her too. Made a person feel like they had more control, at any rate.
If it was a real staircase they were walking on, it'd have been constructed really badly, but it worked. In a short time, they were over the tall canopy of Xanadu and the City glowed in the near distance. It didn't remind him of any place he'd been before. From the other side, he could hear the surrounding sea echo more clearly and decided heading to the beach might be fun for her too. "Anywhere specific you wanna go?"
It took a lot to get her sick with the kinds of things she had seen in her life, and with her constitution as strong as it was-- it wouldn't have mattered how he'd taken them up. But she actually found herself appreciating this method a whole lot more, because she had absolutely not expected it to go like this. She noticed Shinji's own enthusiasm but what got her was how easily this happened, almost as if there had been this invisible path to take all this time in the gardens and she just hadn't known it until now. With each step that she took, she could feel the beginnings of Shinji's abilities guiding her and she took great care to not let her own abilities come in the way and clash with his in her defense. She was technically leaving herself in his trust, and while she could protect herself if something did go wrong, she wasn't too worried.
In all this time, Shinji hadn't given her any reason to doubt him.
As she began to draw further and further away from the ground, she paused only once to look down to gauge the distance between the ground and themselves, though there was only curiousity as opposed to fear in her eyes before she looked up and with a squeeze to Shinji's hand, she came up beside him. It was then that it hit her, she was standing up and above everything and everyone and it was just Shinji and her up here. The ocean was never too far for her, but feeling it from here, high up in the air was a different feeling altogether. And then, at the sight of the City lighting up, Megumi almost found herself so taken by the sight that she forgot to respond-- and only caught herself a moment or so later when she realised he wasn't talking. Her eyes widened for a moment, before she chuckled and moved a hand behind her neck apologetically. "How about a stroll over the lights?" She asked, clearly fascinated by the view enough to ask for something that ambiguous. "I want to see everything!"
"City first, then," Shinji said, and began to lead the way. "You got it."
They hadn't gone too far into Xanadu but he added a little glide to their steps to speed them along. Nothing nearly so fast as shunpo. It wasn't like they were in a rush, and he'd always enjoyed strolling the sky - up here was cleaner and quieter than a lot of other places in the city, even if it wasn't totally free of traffic. Staying quiet, letting Megumi take her time looking around as much as she pleased without distraction, Shinji focused his own attention on scanning for anything unusual. It wouldn't be as unlikely to find something strange in this place, compared to where he was coming from.
Once they got to the outskirts of the City, he took quick stock of where they were. Just high enough to be on par with the roofs of the apartment buildings and near the Cathedral, which looked especially ornate as stark shadows welled between its pillars. There really was a lot to see....
He glanced over at her to find the lights reflecting prettily in her eyes. "Your turn to chase directions, Megumi-chan."
In her case, it wasn't the skies that she took refuge in, but the deep, dark depths of the lake. She felt safest and the most easiest while being in there or the ocean, and she found herself comparing this to the feeling of being embraced by the weight of the waters. Up here, it was bright even in the settling darkness, and she couldn't help but smile as she observed the sights around her even as Shinji guided them forward. There was always a breeze to help them along, something else she was thankfully familiar with, and she chuckled softly as they paused near the towering buildings, finding herself fascinated by the sight before her.
Lifting her head from where she was looking beneath her, she turned to look over at Shinji with a bright smile. "Around the square!" It was then that she slowly slid her fingers free of Shinji's hold, focusing on managing the gravity around her while allowing room for Shinji's ability to help guide her powers as well, and took a step back. And she had a good reason for doing so because she circled around in front of him, looking as though she was taking steps on the air behind her. Her powers allowed her to manipulate air and her own gravity, but it wasn't something she needed to really use, except perhaps right now it was well worth it. Moving her hands behind her back, she leaned forward and smiled at Shinji playfully, before blinking as she picked up the sounds of that street swing and jazz group she believed she'd heard at a distance, and realized she recognized the tune, that made her smile to hersef.
"Looks like it's a dance tune. Can't say I've ever done that in mid-air." She added, backstepping as she drew her arm out to take his hand again. It was around the Square that there were those amazing jazz street performers, weren't they? Drawing closer to where they were would put them in the vicinity of their music, and she didn't want to miss that!
Nifty, nifty. Megumi was full of surprises, wasn't she?
"Footloose, huh," Shinji deadpanned even as he stepped forward to take her hand. He could hear the music - pretty good in his books, and danceable. It wasn't something he did often at all but there was no refusing such a lovely lady. Drawing her closer as they neared the street performers, he skimmed faces in the thick evening crowds. No one he recognized, which wasn't a surprise. No one who bothered looking up, which wasn't a surprise either.
The musicians started another number, mellow and smooth without being somber. He smiled at Megumi as she danced and lifted their linked hands up so she could twirl comfortably when she wanted. It had really turned out to be a relaxing evening thanks to her. Getting yanked to the City on the eve of the battle they'd been anticipating for so long was beyond frustrating - and the only thing he could do was grit his teeth and wait it out. Again. This time, a lot more alone.
There should only be so many misfortunes he didn't see coming... but he had his luck too. It just wasn't ever simple. Or single, probably, he reflected almost ruefully, as they danced. "Go dancin' in the City often?"
The look on his face honestly did make her chuckle, and it wasn't something done in offense, but more out of affection. He seemed to be completely willing to go with whatever she wanted to do, which of course, had been the continuing theme of the evening, but not once did he complain. She allowed herself to be drawn in, moving a hand over his arm and another onto his hand-- she didn't want to rely on her own abilities for this too much than necessary, especially since she wasn't all that used to using air as a method of transport. As the band did begin to play, she smiled up at him with a grateful look-- of course, there was no chance of there being any upskirt 'wardrobe malfunctions' of any sort with the layers she was wearing under her skirt, so she wasn't worried at all if someone did look up at them. And as the music continued on, she did indeed enjoy herself, moving with him and feeling like she'd been moving on a surface of clouds.
But it was during it that she noted the way his gaze took on a mildly distant look to it, and she wondered about it for a moment, until he spoke and she completed a twirl, arms stretched out before she came closer once more. With a shake of her head and a smile, she let herself follow the music as he stepped with her, enjoying the beat and melody as she replied, "Not really. I don't get to go out very often. Every once in a few months though, something comes up to enjoy with a friend." As the song came to an end, she heard the gathered audience applaud for the performers at a distance, and then she looked up at him, almost thoughtfully.
"Something on your mind, Shinji?" She chanced to ask, from what she'd noted earlier. There was a hint of concern in her tone, wondering if he had other matters to worry about and if she wasn't causing him to waste his time.
That she didn't get to go out too often was a shame, but from what he could tell of her powers it probably wasn't unwarranted of her to utilize that to help people. It was probably draining too. But at least this meant he'd have to ask her out more often.
The music ended and he met her gaze, once she voiced that question. Something on his mind... "Yeah," he said, "that there's probably a lot goin' on over in the Square, if you wanna go there next." This part of town shut down around this time and there wasn't much to see after the performers left.
With a shake of her head, Megumi watched him before figuring if it really was anything else, it wasn't her business until Shinji decided so. For that reason, she gave him the benefit of the doubt, and chuckled lightly. "It's alright. Why don't we head over to the ocean next? I bet the Square's had its fill of us during our shopping spree, right?" and stepping back, stretching their arms out by the hold she had on their held hand, she took a hold of the side of her skirt again and gave him a playful curtsy.
"You're quite the dancer!" She added, with a grin, before stepping to his side once more. The dance had indeed made her a little enthusiastic, enough to get the blood rushing through her and the evening honestly couldn't have gotten any better. With a squeeze to his hand, she let him move on ahead and then followed, all the while taking in the amazing sights around her-- Shinji had been right, seeing the City from this height was certainly quite an adventure and now, the Square that they'd only just recently been in earlier that day seemed to be filled with so much more life and colour that it was breathtaking. She smiled to herself, before looking up at him, pointing out the deities' headquarters, and then as they passed by the carousel and the fountain, she cast a glance beneath her, amazed with how, even with the fact that they were trapped in such a small place, there was still so much to explore.
As they progressed, she could feel the scent of the ocean grow stronger, and she didn't even have to look at where she was going-- the ocean was her place, and she was happy to be going to it. It was strangely comfortable, and she glanced over at Shinji once more, wondering about him-- then figured if her presence had done something to cheer him up a bit, then the evening was a success.
"Thank you, by the way. This was the most fun I've had in a while."
That was a good point about the Square and he acknowledged it with a grin in her direction. "I need a closet 'fore I can attempt that again. Not that I need anythin' else anyway." Except a place to stay settle into more permanently, maybe. Ichigo's temper was notoriously short and the rest in the apartment seemed almost worse off. At least, Shinji wouldn't kid himself otherwise: he At her curtsy he gave a short bow himself, without bothering to straighten much afterwards. He could be playful too.
Gliding more now than stepping, he turned towards the beach. "C'mon, be fair. It ain't my footwork that was pro." He jingled their linked hands lightly in return to her gesture and watched the play of expressions on her face. She was more open than she might've realized she was being but that sort of honesty, he could appreciate. Her excitement was clear as she pointed out all the sites he was already growing accustomed to seeing, and she seemed just a little younger than before for it. The last time he felt that way was... well, he was a low-key sorta guy. Enthusiasm didn't come so naturally.
He noticed her grow quieter as they neared the beach, and didn't interrupt her reverie. Looking beyond the beach, into the waters and darker skies, Shinji'd idly wondered before whether he could find home on the other side if he walked long enough. He doubted it. And now he wondered if she wondered that when she looked out there too, when she thanked him.
Wasn't that sweet. He gave her a genuine smile, because she was the one who'd done him the favor, from healing his broken nose - no one had done that before - to the twinge of concern that colored her tone, even if there wasn't anything he'd say to her of it... "You keep stealin' my lines, Megumi-chan."
She appreciated it; the way he responded to her, the way he just seemed to keep up his spirits. It was fun, having someone to just relax with and it was in that that she realised how much she missed having her close friends, most of who had now left the City and the few that remained, well-- it was always good to not overdo things and it would be lucky to catch them when they were free if a curse wasn't prompting it. As they finally got to the beach, she watched the waters beyond, her expression changing to one of relaxation, the kind of look one got when they found themselves home, or a familiar place. She knew it was futile to think of going home when so many had attempted and none had succeeded. And he noted her expressions quite well-- there were still things that fascinated her, almost the way a child would be, but that could be blamed on the isolation she'd grown up around until she'd met Axl, while at the same time she noted his own. Very reserved for a guy who seemed so easygoing, and while she did lower her guard in front of him, it wasn't as though she was entirely defenseless. Though if he'd had any intention of harming her, she knew it would have happened already, and she was willing to give him a certain amount of trust given time.
She was still wary of the people from Shinji's world, but she had to admit, he really wasn't so bad himself. And she found herself glad that she'd given him a bit of a chance, maybe they could go shopping again soon or just hang out. She missed doing things like this and aside from hospital work and hanging out with the kids, there wasn't much socialization she got outside of the network except sporadically. As they descended onto the beach, Megumi slowly let go of Shinji's hand and let herself land on the sand, fixing her hair that had been mussed up by the breeze by stroking it back down and then smiled to herself as she turned her face toward the ocean before them. With a chuckle then, she turned to look at Shinji and replied, "Have to make sure I charm my date properly, right?" With a playful wink, she turned back to look to the ocean, holding her hair down on one side.
"We should do this again. Maybe some day, I'll take you to the ocean depths. It's really pretty. Only fair, since you took me on a tour of the skies!" she added, looking over her shoulder at him. "Though.. you mentioned not having closet space? Haven't you found an apartment yet, Shinji?"
He watched her land on the sand gently, noting that she had good control, though he might've helped smooth it out a bit. He followed after, stuffing his hands into his pockets as his feet touched solid earth. It was a little cooler with the wind, smelled like salt and was a hell of a lot less polluted that he would've guessed, considering the City residents he'd met so far.
"Charm me properly?" Shinji repeated flatly. He could've elaborated: you were charmin' me proper from the moment I laid eyes on you or if you got anymore charmin' who'd know what to do with themselves 'round ya or any multitude of things, really. But he was pretty sure she got the sentiment without any clarification on his part. Her easy sense of humor made it easier to talk with her like that, in some part because it cut down how much he had to talk in general.
At her offer to go diving, Shinji wondered whether his gigai was built for that kind of thing. If it was, then why not? Scuba diving was a pretty popular past time in some parts of the world though hadn't thought to try it out himself before. "That'd be really interestin'... and I've been crashin' with a friend since I got here. I'll find somewhere roomy soon enough."
If the ocean had been polluted, she'd certainly not be as happy to be there as she was right now. Which was why she made the offer at all, and at his response, she could only smirk a bit, but she could tell that Shinji's odd fascination with her wasn't going anywhere soon. She absently wondered how long it would be before it did, though-- and figured even if that did occur, she'd have incredibly good memories to look back on, and some shared hobbies to boot. Drawing her arms behind her back, she continued to look ahead of her, looking thoughtful. She didn't know about the concept of gigai or any of the tricks of his world, having only ever treated Arrancar, but he probably wouldn't need to worry about it. They weren't going to have any trouble when she utilised her underwater spells to help protect them when they went deep enough.
At his acquiesce, she found herself feeling a little more cheerful at something to look forward to. Turning to look at hm then, she gave him a nod. "If you ever want help in setting up a place to stay, let me know and we can do that. You do know that you can claim any of the apartments and set them up as you please, right?" A lot of the magic-users adjusted their own apartments at will, and she figured the City's own brand of magic would help Shinji have his place as he wanted it. "You'd just need a roommate to keep the ticking from becoming a problem, but pets usually work too!"
Standing sideways, looking toward the ocean again for a moment, she seemed thoughtful for a while. It was tempting to take a dive in, but that would really be strange all of a sudden, wouldn't it? But with the moon as it was now, she realized it probably wasn't the best time, and then shaking her head, she looked back at Shinji with a tilt back of her head. "It's getting late, huh? We should probably start heading back." She wasn't in any rush to go back, though, and moving her hands back by her sides, she turned fully to face him. "Let me know if you'd like to hang out again. I bet the director would be more than happy to see me not working more than I have to like she's been complaining about." She chuckled.
"Yeah, I heard," Shinji said, when she mentioned the way housing in the City worked. Well - staying at Ichigo's did have its perks. By now he had a good idea of when everyone from his world was from, made some observations on the way time worked in the City, picked out Arrancar on the network and made a mental inventory of the sorts of people that could cause problems. Finding a place seemed secondary compared to that... though it was about time he check out of that scene. Get a cat, too, maybe. "Just haven't gotten 'round to it, I guess."
She was quiet for a little and raptly watched the waves go back and forth, leaning forward slightly enough that it seemed to Shinji like she might've wanted to wade in. Instead, she suggested going back, and he nodded - it was getting late and it wouldn't do if she was tired tomorrow, especially if she had to work. "I'll walk ya to your door," he said with a grin, "as it's only properly charmin' of me." When she turned and said she wouldn't mind hanging out again, he responded cheerfully with, "There's no way I can't take you up on that offer, Megumi-chan!" She really did work hard.
By the time they made it back into the city, the crowds were thinned out and he figured people'd vacated to the Underground for the most part. They'd set off at a relaxed pace on their way back to town, idly chatting about some of the sillier things they'd seen being sold in the Square and talking about what else there was to do in the City for the next time they went out. Making plans as if he was accepting the timing of this crazy nexus felt a little like resignation but... Megumi looked happy and she was proof that it wasn't all bad, either.
His words were met with a fond smile, and through their chatting on their way back, she did fall silent at times to let him speak, seeing as she hadn't exactly forgotten the distant look he'd had that evening. It was odd, she realised, to be concerned for him, she really had no reason to be, and they'd only just met. But this evening had indeed made things different and put her into thought and she wondered, if by being here, she'd be doing more good than she would going back. After all, there were all her friends here, and she got to see the ones who left when the City opened its doors...
It was an oddly tempting thought that she realised she couldn't make a decision on now. And she quickly brought herself back to the present as she caught up with what Shinji was saying, and as they stepped toward the building she used to get to her home, and walked inside, she looked thoughtful for a bit. When they reached the apartment door, she paused before it, then looked up at Shinji. After a moment's hesitation, she moved a hand up to his shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. It was less formal than shaking his hand, and not as informal as hugging, but somewhere in the middle, enough to be both friendly and polite at the same time.
"I hope you had a lot of fun today evening. If you ever do need anything, you know where to find me. And I do hope Mr. Urahara doesn't give you more trouble than I'm sure he already does." She grinned slightly, though her smile became softer for a moment. "Don't be a stranger, okay?" There was an undertone to her words; she hoped whatever issues he was having could be eased, and drawing her hand by her side, she slid it through the air by her side once more, and from the cut that appeared, his bags floated out, landing by his feet neatly. "I believe these should be going with you." She added, with an amused tone as she sealed off the pocket again, and moving her hand to the door handle, she seemingly opened it without a lock, though it was just the enchantment on it that recognized her. With a final wave, she nodded to him."Take care, Shinji."
He gazed at her mildly as she squeezed his shoulder. He knew he wasn't easy to read, and that little jab at Kisuke - perceptive. Or really empathetic. He didn't bother telling her she didn't have to be troubled for him, as he was more than capable of taking care of himself and she probably understood that. No point in dragging her into what was Shinigami, Vizard and Arrancar business when it came down to it either, so....
"No worries, it doesn't matter much," Shinji replied, keeping it vague as to whether he was referring to himself or Kisuke. "And I won't be." He watched his bags amble over to him, again with that nostalgic power, and picked them up once she set them down. Swinging them over his shoulder, he tipped his hat to Megumi and vanished.