kyūbantai

--- The eye twitch is back pretty quickly. Who told her about this? "Hell if I know," he says, decidedly not trying to recall anything about the guy. "He looked like any other guy." Boring, forgettable, not suitable for Mashiro at all.

--- For a moment there, his eye twitches. That is, until he has processed the second sentence and he realizes they had been talking about Mashiro. The relief is shortlived, though, because he doesn't want anyone asking about Mashiro either. Annoyance flares up again just as quickly.

--- As ever when confronted with something as emotional as all this { even if he absolutely refuses to let it show }, he is unable to look Rose in the eye. Though, he does listen closely for the other's answer, for any hint that perhaps he might have been right, or will be right in the future.

Rose does not placate him, which, strangely, makes the answer seem more believable. His fellow visored does not claim that he is not difficult to be friends with, quite the opposite it sems. But.. It also obviously does not deter him. A wry smile curves his lips. "Right.. Thanks." He doesn't really get what Rose's instruments have to do with it, but those are dear to his friend, so.. He supposes it isn't so bad to be mentioned in the same breath.

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--- "Alright, fine.." He suspects the expectation is something like Rose perishing in battle, or the hollows taking over, ripping them apart, or even just the fact that their livespans are cut in half, and Rose'll go before he does. But it's something.. A little more insidious, and something he tries not to dwell on too much. He already knows what Rose will say in reply anyway.

He's never shared this, despite Rose being, for all intents and purposes, his first friend.. And, for a while there, his only friend. They spoke about a wider array of concepts and worries and interests than anyone else Kensei had shared his mind with { though admittedly, that list was not very long }.

"I'm always kind'f expecting you to figure out I'm more trouble than I'm worth." He shrugs, like that thought is not completely devastating. He doesn't carry such insecurities lightly. In most areas of life, he is quietly confident and secure. This is not one of them; people, friendship.. He does feel deeply, even if he little shows it. "I think I'm always kinda waiting for you to realize it." And to drop him in turn. He wouldn't fault Rose for that. Kensei knows he is not an easy-going person, he isn't a light- and kindhearted friend like Rose is. He doesn't have the right words half the time, and the other half he explicitly uses the wrong ones. He can be explosive and nitpicky, and downright impenetrable at times.

His biggest fear with regards to Rose is that.. Rose will realize he deserves a better friend. Someone who doesn't need instructions to be even a half-way good one. Someone that doesn't need that much energy put in to keep. Once he realises that..

"Mark me. I want for anyone who looks at me to know I'm yours." He bites his lip momentarily. "The neck is probably best for that, but I want you to pick the spot."

--- But that is always the way, though, isn't it? Kensei grunting or barking some orders, and Shuuhei diligently following them. That has been the division of labour in their work and their relationship both. This instance, though, breeds opportunity for Shuuhei to walk along the other side of that equation for once. And yet it does not surprise Kensei that he does not truly take that opportunity. Still, Kensei is already minorly impressed by the more firm tone Shuuhei takes the second time.

"That so..?" He says, not really asks, his tone lilting towards amusement. I want you to pick the spot, Shuuhei says. That still leaves quite some freedom in his hands. His thumb slides along the brunet's jawline once more, as though contemplating. Deep brown eyes follow the vertical and horizontal lines upon his partner's face. A few jagged, and organic, and one stark and neat. He barely remembers what Shuuhei looked like without them, when he met him.

--- "Maybe?" He quirks a pierced brow. "Ya gotta gimme a bit more conviction that than, Shuuhei." He offers the younger man a lazy smile. Hes feeling.. strangely relaxed, despite the rather out-of-pocket request. And it is a request, because Shuuhei failed to put any strength behind that command. Which Kensei can understand, given their positions. And true enough, he does not usually take kindly to being bossed around. Indeed, has gone nearly six centuries with very few people daring to do so, beyond his family elders when he was still a child. But, he finds, he's starting to make an exception for Shuuhei. He can at least ask things of him, despite them being outside his comfort zone.

"And where should that be..?" He asks, though he doesn't expect an answer, already traveling the length of Shuuhei's bare arm with gloved fingers. There's enough skin on display there. He might take a wrist and be safe enough. Few people would suspect it to be anything but a random bruise. But, given a challenge like this, he is unwilling to chicken out. So that hand travels further, over bicep and shoulder, pausinf at the sliver of skin visible at his collar, tapping, as if contemplating, along his clavicle. Then along that dangerous choker until two fingers run along Shuuhei's jawline, and angle his face slightly away from him, as though surveying the available canvas. "Mm. Here?" Lightly slotting his hand around Shuuhei's throat, his thumb grazes first along the other's adam's Apple, then over his pulsepoint. He can feel the quickening of his heart there.