deceptive blossom

"I.. I see." He’s so at loss for words, mainly because he’d never hypothesized something like this. Clearing his throat again, he supposes he should say something else, something to return what Kagura has said, but in the end, he can only reach the conclusion that the very phrase itself was a reply, and there’s no way to say it again without repeating himself. All he can do is stand there, which is embarrassing enough, but pretty comfortable given the boy’s soft body.

"Sorry, but…" Asking is inevitable — as much as he enjoys embracing him without the fear of being too overwhelming or obvious, letting his form mold against Kagura’s to experience the feeling for all he can, it’s just that he can’t stand here forever wondering what he should do.

However, of course, things don't work quite like that, and Toki finally makes the question that had been hovering above them through all this. And to be honest, Kagura doesn't really know how to answer that. Things are going to change after this, and he's been aware of it from the start, so he has to face the issues head on. Opening his mouth, staying as close to Toki as he can, he hesitates--

"... I-- I don't know." Kagura finally replies in a murmur, his eyes closing as he holds on to Toki, letting out a small breath. Making this decision feels scary. In movies, in books, in doujins, it always goes the same way - a confession, and dating. But, would it work for them? What if it didn't? Gh, it makes him a little nervous.

In no time, the lioness leaps from the wardrobe and practically tackles him so that his legs bend in order to keep himself from toppling over. It isn’t that Kagura is heavy to him, not when he carries around a sniper for fun and let’s be real, he’s not weak, but it’s the wobbliness of his limbs thanks to the situation that he has trouble keeping still. Regardless, the excitement leaves him smitten with the blond cuddling into him, and Toki can’t help but feel overwhelmed.

"Do I-… I, what other way could I like you?" He asks, slowly wrapping his arms around his person to support him. Honestly, he has no idea that Kagura even gets a little self conscious about something like that, considering he didn’t find it an issue in the first place. Perhaps its ignorant of him, or perhaps he just doesn’t see the need to regard the man as two different people when it comes to his sex and his appearance.

"A… ah, sorry, I don’t really know what to say either…" He murmurs, although for the moment, enjoying the proximity feels less nerve racking for once. Considering that his feelings are out, he supposes it’s because he no longer has such a weight holding him down when it comes to returning the affections, therefore he lowers his head, resting his cheek against the assassin’s head to lightly nuzzle it. It feels soft against his skin, fluffy and cute to touch…

Even though Toki says he doesn't know what to say, it doesn't seem to matter if they say something or not. Being in his arms is warm, comfortable, and Kagura lets himself sink against him, letting out a small sigh and nuzzling up into his shoulder contently. He can feel Toki nuzzling the top of his head, and Kagura can't help but let out a contented sigh, grasping at his jacket.

"Someone else? Ah--" Laughing a little, Kagura shakes his head, holding onto him tightly. As much as he was scared, Finding out that Toki likes him too is far too relieving. "No, no... That was... a long time ago. I-... I like you, Toki. I'm so glad--"

AH- for a terrorist, he really isn’t good at dealing with surprise appearances from the assassin!

"Serious—" He repeats in disbelief, shaking his head like a confused puppy attempting to rattle his brain into gear. "I- y… yes?" Toki can’t quite shake the confusion from his voice, wondering why it’s such a surprise. Hadn’t all those teasings been signs that the blond had caught on, or was that just playing around with him in the first place? Given that, if Kagura’s supposed crush on him had led him to do such things…

"I mean… I… it’s not like I knew how to say it." Clearing his throat, he rubs at his arm for self comfort, unsure of how to react with magenta eyes watching him through the crack of the door, nor can he really return the contact. It can’t helped that he decides to go on, making an even bigger fool of himself, but he was never good with words when it came to expressing romantic disclosure. That being, he’s never had to admit such a thing.

"By that, uh, I guess what I’m implying is that I’ve liked you… for a while, and-… sorry, that must be really creepy to hear…"

And, when Toki finally replies, he's left speechless, his heart beating fast as he stares ath him in utter shock. Toki... likes him? He likes him for a while, now? Aah, Kagura's feeling embarrassed to hear that, a blush rising to his cheeks as he stares at him for a few moments before finally shoving the door open and wrapping his arms around Toki tightly.

"T-Toki--!" Kagura doesn't bother with a honorific this time, just holding onto the older boy tightly, his eyes closed. He doesn't know what changes with this, but it doesn't matter right now - he's happy, just really happy and relieved.

It’s dumb, but he ends up at said door, his reluctance heavy in his actions and his heart — as cliche as it is — sitting in his throat. Can he even hear him? What if he does, and he’s just going to say stupid things, just like he’d stupidly said a stupid thing a stupid moment ago.

"Kagura?" The attempt at dropping the honorific is some sort of measurement of intimacy, but an attempt is an attempt, and he quickly pulls it back. "Uh-… I don’t know if you can hear me— it’d actually be pretty terrible if you couldn’t since… since I’d rather say this to your face- but, er, that’s… the door is in the way and, uh…"

He goes quiet again, ridiculed by his own words.

"What… what I mean to say is, I don’t expect you to come out or anything, although you never really shut your door but— …" And yet another pause, because thinking about it is so much easier than giving the words. Lord knows how Kagura had managed to do it, if it was performed. "I… I wanted to say it before- I didn’t know where to- but…"

Running his fingers through his hair, Kagura looks at Mitsu's cage, smiling a little as he catches sight of the fox raising her head and twitching an ear. It's alright, isn't it? He's always been a good actor, so it's not like things have to change. He can just forget this ever happened and move on with his life.

He's distracted with these things when he hears Toki's voice coming from the other side of the door. Did Toki really call him without a honorific? That's... odd. Toki never did something like this. Keeping his gaze on the fox, Kagura continues pressed back against the door, listening to try and catch anything else he might be trying to say.

What Toki tell him makes him speechless, though. Toki... likes him too? Is he serious? Closing his eyes, he leans his head back against the wood, trying to figure out just how he can possibly reply to that. It would be a lie if he didn't say he feels a little bit tempted to say 'thank you', but well, this isn't just a joking matter, is it? What can he even do about this, though? How is it going to change things? Tugging at his sleeves, Kagura looks down or a moment before straightening himself and opening the door a little - enough to see Toki's face.

In truth, his body doesn’t know how else to react, if it should remain calm upon being told that the boy he likes, the boy he’d come to assume as straight a la crush on boss all along, suddenly(?) has these emotions for him, these sentiments that he can fully return. It doesn’t take a genius to work out the flusters and the easily lit up — as Kagura puts it so gently when he teases him with those awful questions — faces as signs of having ulterior motives when talking to the blond, such as wanting  outcomes that helped him know him better.

Because he does like Kagura, it’s a matter of explaining it.

"… Ah, really.." He starts by clearing the trapped air from his lungs, blinking once, twice, and continuing. "… Well- … if it’s not important, then I won’t drag it out or anything…" Truth be told, to hear it passed off is a little awkward, given that he can’t exactly make way to explain his own feelings, therefore he rubs the back of his head and looks away, substituting an explanation with gratitude. Gratitude for returning his feelings, that is, although he can’t say that out front.

Kagura dips his head lower and bows to the terrorist, doing his best to keep his smile in his lips. It's not that he expected Toki to be rude, but for those long moments, he had the hope that his friend would actually have returned his feelings.

However, there's a reason why Kagura never confessed to Mikage nor had ever planned to confess to Toki. He already knew the feeling wouldn't be returned and, considering all responses, 'thank you' is probably one of the best he could have hoped for.

"Ah--... hm, t-that was it...! Hm, but maybe it would be better to forget about it?" He shrugs, doing his best to act nonchalant as he gives Toki a smile. "Well, I'll go see what Mitsu's up to, so I'll be seeing you!"

Turning around, he lets his expression fall, taking hurried steps into his room, where Mitsu was sleeping in her cage. Closing the door, he leans against it and lets out a sigh.

He's just sort of always assumed that it didn't really matter what he felt, those things wouldn't work out.

"Hm... T-Toki-kun... I-... I like you. I like you a lot-... hn-- I think that... I have a crush on you..." He stops, biting his lip as he tries to find something else to say, but honestly, it's already taking all his self control to stop himself from just turning around and going to his room. "... Aah-! T-That's it, yep! It's nothing important, haha... w-well, that was all!"

"Well- bounty hunters should be able to see through disguises if they’re going through a bounty over some outlaw’s head. Or else they’d just lose the opportunity to. It was kind of hard with you though- you’re pretty good at being a girl." He pulls up his hand, tapping his index finger to his cheek bone. "But nothing escapes the eyes of a bounty hunter, especially if you look worth the bounty!" 

The boy's apparent lack of understanding of the issues seem to show that he doesn't really go out buying clothes in public places that often. It's sort of amusing, really, but it also means that he should probably teach him before he gets himself in trouble.

"My accent isn’t strong!" Bridget pouts momentarily as the other begins to usher the both of them out. He was surprised at first- but then it clicked. Kagura obviously didn’t really want to be found out, and he must have let his mouth run.

The blond chuckles, flashing a toothy grin before placing both his hands on his hips. He shifted his weight onto one leg and gave a playful little wink. “It’s easy for me to tell!”

"I've noticed! People don't usually realize that about me, so you must be good!" He winks back at the other, giggling as he adusts his grip on the shopping bag inn his hands. "We're not so different, though, so I guess that I shouldn't be so surprised, right, Burijitto-san?"

There's a mischievous glint in the assassin's eyes as he smiles to the other blond, but his demeanor is otherwise entirely innocent. Of course, someone like him, an assassin to an organization, is trained to be perceptive - and, if the other boy can out him so nonchalantly, then he figures that he might as well do the same.

He smiles thoughtfully, although taking one hard look at Kagura’s features. Something seemed odd about the other- he just couldn’t put his finger on it. He shrugged it off for now, he would figure it out later.

"It’s nice to meet you, Kagura!" His accent may, or may not have butchered the other’s name, but it did leave quite the exotic chill any where if you were speaking to some foreigner. Although, it wasn’t all too heavy. "My name is Bridget."

"Almost got my name, there! You have a strong accent. Burijitto?" He tries to pronnounce the other's name, but his own accent gets in the way. He didn't really expect to be able to speak it right away, though. "Bu... no, wait-..."

His amusement with the other's name is forgotten at the sudden question, surprise flickering over his expression for a brief moment. However, before long, his smile comes back to place, and he nods out the door, starting to guide the other outside. The last thing he needs is for someone in the shop to overhear them and cause him troubles. He's already been in house arrest once, he doesn't want to end up in it again for lewd conduct, or whatever they would accuse him of for trying on girl's clothing in the feminine changing room.

Well…. Bridget caved in again. It seemed now matter how hard he tried to make the attempts at dressing like a normal boy would- he would always revert back into buying girl’s clothing. It seemed to be rather unfortunate, since he wanted to stop being mistaken for a girl. However, with his small frame, the blond only felt the most comfortable in girl’s clothing. Short shorts, skirts, dresses, the likes.

He curses loudly at being born a twin before silently making his way to the exit of the store he had purchased his new clothing. Desirable- at least that’s what it was. And in a boy’s color! His absolute favorite: blue.

He adjusts the contents of the bag for a moment before trying to squeeze through the small door. Getting his shoulder caught and rubbed up against someone else’s. He takes a quick glance at the other who seemed to have been leaving as well. Not having noticed Bridget walking towards the door until that very moment.

"Uhm.." The blond speaks softly before pressing forward, glancing down at the bag the other held in his hands. Oh- he peeked inside, how nosy of him. But almost immediately, his eyes lit up. 

Making his way out of the store and still buzzing in contentment with his new dress, Kagura didn't really notice someone was too close until he bumps against the person, making him blink up and out of his cheerful daze.

"Ah--! I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going--" Is this person looking at his bag... well, that's a little strange, but Kagura's around stranger people. The comment makes him perk up, though, his head tilting to the side. "Oh, really? Well, then! I think you have a good taste!"

Inbox any of these for some anon magic!

Solution: A solution is absolute, just like the truth! Your muse can only speak honestly for the next 5 hours, so let’s hope you don’t get any embarrassing questions! You can’t lie your way out of this one.

Formula: A sense of creativity sure has struck you! You can’t help but cook and try to create new recipes! So treat your neighbours to some good experimental cookies — and try not to blow up the kitchen in the progress. (Lasts 5 hours)

Subtraction: You’re getting smaller and smaller and smaller… until you’re much too tiny to get around on your own! You really fit the ‘chibi’ category now, don’t you? Don’t worry, it only lasts for 8 hours!

Calculator: Luckily everything goes according to your calculations— or not? Everything you try to do now goes completely wrong. Whether it is filing papers or pouring tea; you can’t manage any of those! (Lasts 4 hours)

Multiplication: Trouble x trouble = chaos. Gather some (perhaps random)  people and stir up some (harmless) chaos in the city! Whether it is prank calling or spraying graffiti; it is up to your temporary gang. (Lasts 8 hours)

Pythagoras: Straight lines all around, all these triangles and flat ends… but not for you! Or maybe you’ve finally started batting for the other team? Your muse’s sexuality has been switched for the next 8 hours!

Fraction: Multiplying a fraction requires a switch of two sides, but that’s not all that’s switching today! You and ___ have completely switched personalities for the next 6 hours. (Anon specifies who; magic has to be sent to both characters who are switching personalities)

Squared: A baby has descended from the heavens… you could say it’s a mini you, a picturesque love child of you and your affection! You only have to deal with it for the day, but just how good are you with kids? (Baby disappears after 24 hours)

X: X marks the spot, but also that special person! Today, you can’t hold back anymore, you have to confess to them. Quick, before someone else does! (Anon chooses who)

Identity: Who are you? Even you don’t know! You’ve forgotten absolutely everything about you — name, address, age, just how are you going get around? Hopefully a nice stranger will help!

Pop Quiz: Free anon magic!