Ichikage was first out of the car when it arrived at its destination, mostly because he wanted to have a good view of Cricket's face when she realized the nature of the surprise. So he took the liberty of opening the door on her side, inviting her out with a sweeping gesture.
"Surprise, and all that."
In front of her loomed a large, arched gate, the distinctive castle silhouette beyond clearly visible in the late afternoon sun. The place was almost astoundingly quiet, save for the music playing from the entrance. He could make out more noise beyond—the rattle and hum of rides, quieter sounds of vendors and other staff members, most likely about to work the easiest shift of their lives. The arch read, in romanji, TOKYO DISNEYLAND.
"It's all yours, for the evening at least."
Etsuko merely blinked, and glanced between Ichikage and the gate a few times. Her facial expression was flat for the most part, however; her eyes slowly widened as it finally seemed to dawn on her. “Wait... what? All... mine?" she started out, still vaguely confused. She groaned out loud before shaking her head and tilting it down.
“Tō-san, you didn't," she began in what sounded like disbelief. “Tell me you didn't," she continued, still having trouble processing the fact.
“Otō-sama, did you rent out the entirety of it for the day?" Kiyoshi asked, brow arched in amusement in Etsuko's direction. He'd stepped behind her, and turned his attention to Ichikage.
“He did." She didn't seem entirely upset anymore, and simply rolled her eyes. Taking a breath, she stepped beside Ichikage and wrapped her arms around him. “I hate you, but thank you," she muttered, her face buried in his shirt probably to hide the embarrassment on her face.
He chuckled softly, giving her a brief squeeze. "If it makes you feel any better, it's only for half a day. The last few hours it's usually open, and then a bit of extended evening time." She wasn't usually the type of person who liked inconveniencing others, and he didn't want her to feel at all guilty about having fun. So when Mika had suggested this timing as a form of compromise, he'd been happy to go along with it.
"In any case, your friends are already inside. Everyone's got free run of the place, but save some room for dinner, because we'll all be eating together at about eight o'clock."
“It makes me feel a little better," she muttered, pulling away from the hug. She blinked, and glanced around at the others. “What are you all going to do, though?" she asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice. Her eyes had narrowed slightly in Ryoka's direction as if she were suspicious of her of something.
“Hey, I plan on checking out all of the vendors and what they have for desserts," Ryoka spoke, holding her hands up in front of her. “You've nothing to worry from me," she added, though the smile on her face suggested otherwise.
“We won't be too far, Tsu-chan, but it's your birthday. You should go have fun without worrying about us," Kiyoshi added, smiling just soft enough that it wasn't entirely without mischief.
“That's what I'm worried about," Etsuko replied with a flat look. She shook her head, though, and glanced towards Satoru. “Uh, do you want to come with me or..." she trailed off, apparently not sure of what to ask him.
He considered that a moment; probably wondering how the gaggle of friends would receive him. Ichikage doubted he need worry—in his experience, young men who looked like Satoru didn't run into much trouble integrating with groups of their peers, even if there was some awkwardness involved on his part. "...Sure," he said at last, lifting his shoulders and half-smiling. "But you're going to have to introduce me. I know the high school group, but I've never met any of your new college friends."
“That's fine; I'm sure they'll love you, too," she stated, apparently happy with the thought since she was smiling a little more. Ryoka snorted softly, but didn't say anything until Etsuko and Satoru had left the group.
“They grow up so fast," she spoke, wiping a non-existent tear from her left eye. Kiyoshi looked confused at the statement, though.
“How so? They still look the same," he spoke, causing Ryoka to snort softly.
“You'll get it one day, Kiyo-kun."
Ichikage barked a laugh. "Will he, though? A couple thousand years should probably have been enough time to 'get it,' and yet..." He trailed off, making a vague gesture in Kiyoshi's direction.
Mika hid a smile with her hand, before smoothing the expression away as though it had never been there.
"Anyway," he continued, "I for one will be heading for the rollercoaster first thing. Anyone interested in joining, or shall I be riding all by my lonesome?"
“It would be bad form if I let you go by yourself," Ryoka stated, glancing at Ichikage with an amused look on her face. She was probably trying her best not to laugh at the expression on Kiyoshi's face. His lips were pursed into a fine line and he looked vaguely annoyed. Unamused, if anything.
“I do not like rollercoasters," Kiyoshi stated, his brows furrowing deeper. “They are—"
“Too fast? Too high? I didn't know Kiyo-kun could be afraid of something so... trivial as a rollercoaster," Ryoka interrupted, causing Kiyoshi's face to fall flat.
“They don't frighten me, Ryoka-san. I simply do not like them," he responded, causing Ryoka to snort softly.
“You keep telling yourself that, Kiyo-kun."
"He's always been a bit of a spoilsport," Ichikage added, grinning at his frowning child. "Not sure where he got it from, since I'm the most fun person I know. His mother knew how to have a laugh, too." He didn't often mention her; though he'd made a point of not letting Kiyoshi forget about her, she had died such a long time ago now that even his memories of her had gone a little fuzzy at the edges. It was simply the way of things.
Kiyoshi didn't look too amused about the statement, and merely stared in Ichikage's direction with a flat look. “It's alright, Kiyo-kun, everyone's scared of something. I'm scared of lady bugs, if that helps. I mean, they're adorable and tiny, but there's just something about 'em," Ryoka spoke, shrugging her shoulders in the process.
“Plus, the only thing Kiyo-kun inherited from you was the pretty hair. Even his facial structure isn't the same. He has more feminine qualities," she continued, waving her hand around Kiyoshi's face, though at a polite distance.
“Mika-chan, would you like to go elsewhere?" Kiyoshi asked, turning towards Mika and ignoring Ryoka's statement.
She was prevented from answering for a minute by Ichikage's laughter, which had waxed into a sonorous, full-belly sound. It was just like Kiyoshi to react to offense that way, with a metaphorical sniff and his dander all up before he stalked off. He was really more cat than wolf sometimes.
When it waned again, she rolled her eyes slightly. Finally able to provide an answer to Kiki's question, she did. "If that's your wish, sir." She gave Ichikage and Ryoka a small nod before following him away.
That left Ichikage with Ryoka, which of course he didn't mind in the slightest. "So happy to hear that my son's not the only one with pretty hair," he drawled. "I was beginning to think you had a bit of a crush on him. Made me feel left out." He had, of course, entertained no such suspicion, but he was interested in hearing how she reacted.
In the meantime, he started his way over to the rollercoaster, poured concrete underneath the flat soles of his sneakers.
“Pft, a crush on Kiyo-kun? Ha," she stated, laughing lightly as she walked next to him. “He might be handsome, or pretty, take your pick, but Kiyo-kun's taken. I'm not that kind of woman, you know." She glanced up at him, a smirk on her face as she rolled her eyes. “If I'd known that you felt left out, I would have said something sooner. Can't have you feeling left out, can we?" She arched a brow in his direction before pursing her lips together.
Her cheeks began to puff slightly, though it became obvious why. She started laughing. “I'm sorry, Ichi-kun," she spoke between laughs. Once she managed to settle her breaths, she straightened back out, and glanced back up at him. “But do tell me next time if I make you feel left out. I don't want it getting back that my boss is feeling unappreciated."
His grin stretched wide over his face. "Feeding my ego is not in the job description, you know," he replied. It wasn't anything he hadn't already deduced, and in truth not anything all that important, but he couldn't deny that it was flattering anyway. "But if you would like to continue doing so, by all means. I never get tired of compliments from lovely women."
She snorted softly, rolling her eyes as she did. “I'm sure you don't. You get compliments almost on a daily basis when you're out, and that's not including the days you're," she paused, arching a contemplative brow. She seemed to be searching for the right word. “When you're like this, dressed handsomely and things," she finally spoke, gesturing with her hands in a similar manner he'd done earlier to Kiyoshi.
“I guarantee women would be all over you right now if you hadn't rented the entire park out for the evening," she stated, laughing softly as she did. “And it's not really feeding your ego if I'm stating facts, right?" she stated, seemingly happy with the conclusion.
"A fact artfully stated is a compliment," he replied, lifting his hands and folding them together behind his head. "And compliments are certainly one way to inflate my sense of self importance. Unlike flattery, which is just empty falsehood."
He elected not to comment on the bit about people being all over him—in truth he attributed that more to the strength of yōki that he exuded. Even when he suppressed it, it acted on an unconscious level, and it tended to have an effect on people. Especially those who hadn't any ki or yōki of their own, or who hadn't grown used to the effect over time. Strangers, in other words. He could hardly consider it any real charm of his, really.
At that point, though, they reached the rollercoaster. There was of course no line, and they were immediately loaded into the front car. Ichikage shuffled over so Ryoka could take the spot next to him, patting the seat a couple times before taking off his sunglasses and putting them in his pocket so he wouldn't lose them on the ride.
She took the seat next to him, still grinning from ear to ear as she did. She stayed quiet for a moment longer, the smile fading from her face and turning into something more contemplative. “If you were that lonely for compliments, Ichi-kun, you could have just told me. I'd compliment you every day if need be. Although if there are other ways to inflate your sense of self importance, I'm sure we'll find out sooner or later," she stated, the joke still light in her tone.
“It's not like I'm going to go complimenting anyone else, though. Well, besides Kiyo-kun because it's fun and his reactions are hilarious," she continued, reaching up to roll her ponytail into a bun before the ride started. It was probably to keep it from flying around since it was still long, despite being pulled back.
He snickered, pausing as the rollercoaster's brakes were disengaged and it started forward, rolling a long a flat length of track before sloping upwards slightly. "My confidence is not quite so fragile as that, dear Ryoka-san. But, as I said, if that's something you decide you want to do, I certainly won't complain."
An amusing thought occurring to him, Ichikage leaned slightly sideways and spoke a bit more quietly. "Though if you think of any other ways you might like to stroke my ego, do feel free to let me know."
The rollercoaster dropped, perfectly on time.
The expression on her face went from confused to deeply confused before turning a deep shade of red. By the time they came around to the top again, the entirety of her face was red, including the tips of her ears and down to her neck line. She'd blinked a few times, and had kept her attention forward, her throat working as if she were having a difficult time breathing.
“That's hardly fair," she finally spoke, the red slowly receding from her face. “And inappropriate all things considered. You're my boss, in the end. But, that doesn't mean I can't go out and find someone or someone's. You remember what Satoru said, yeah? Hookers and blow," she seemed capable of joking still, though she still hadn't glanced in his direction.
He shook his head, eyes glittering with ill-concealed mirth. "So you could," he agreed readily. "And you're welcome to, if that's what you want." He tilted his head at her as the rollercoaster climbed yet again, this time to the highest of its peaks. "I hope I've not made you too uncomfortable, Ryoka-san. You're welcome to set boundaries wherever you want them, and I will abide. I do tend to be rather inappropriate when left to my own devices, I must confess."
She had a fair enough point about their employment arrangement, and he wanted to make it very clear that he would not take advantage. Would only pay her as much attention as she wanted and welcomed. He valued keeping talented people in his employ and happy there more than the chance to have a bit of fun, however amusing it was making her blush like that. She deserved the respect, in any case.
She snorted softly. “You misunderstand me, Ichi-kun," she spoke, finally turning towards him. “I personally don't care what's appropriate and what's not. You should know that by now," she began, giving him a lop-sided grin, “we're almost kindred spirits that way. That being said, however, Mika-chan has made it very clear how others would take that, and I am not going to be that person."
The grin faltered a bit as she shook her head. “Different worlds and different lives, or something to that manner," she spoke, probably referring to what Mika had told her. “Besides, we're both adults, right? Well... different types of adults, I guess, but still," she continued, though it sounded like she was rambling now. She pursed her lips together in a contemplative manner before shaking her head.
“And unlike Mika-chan and Tsu-chan, mine is just a passing fancy, and unlike those two, I own up to my shit, thank you. So, there you have it," she spoke as she shrugged her shoulders.
He was prevented from answering immediately by the drop, which lurched them forward and made it feel for a moment as though his stomach was somewhere up near his heart before gravity kicked back in and it dropped. He saw a flash off to the side; probably a ride camera taking their picture.
The rollercoaster veered sideways, first tilting to the left, and then to the right. Ichikage held himself in place enough that he didn't inadvertantly run into her, but her shoulder brushed his arm on the reversal, something he of course didn't mind in the slightest.
When they finally leveled out for a moment, he arched an eyebrow at her. "Your directness is refreshing as usual, Ryoka-san. Do let me know if and when the fancy passes. Until then I shall keep you entertained with more salacious commentary, I'm sure." The rollercoaster pulled back into the stop, the bar popping loose of its socket and allowing the both of them out.
"I'd like whatever picture was just taken, please," he informed the attendant, who nodded rapidly a few times and headed behind the booth counter set to the left of the ride.
She snickered softly at his statement. “Mm, I'm afraid if that keeps up, it'll never pass," she responded, glancing over in the direction the attendant had gone. “But in all seriousness," she began, glancing back in his direction. The smile had disappeared from her face, and she wore an expression that expressed what she was to say next, was important to her. “I wasn't lying when I said I own up to my shit. Yes, I say it's a passing fancy, and that might be true, but..." she started, pausing for a slow breath.
“Just know that you're, technically, stuck with me until you fire me. So..." she spoke, though the expression on her face hinted that that wasn't what she wanted to say, exactly. “I guess that's kind of bad news for the others," she snickered softly, reaching up to release her hair from its bind. She pulled it back into a ponytail once she'd combed her fingers through.
Ichikage's smile dimmed, until it was something a little less farcical, more genuine. "Fear not, my dear. They can handle it. As can I."
Perhaps as she thought, it was merely a fleeting feeling—he'd felt enough intense-but-temporary attractions to know that they were far more common than anything that lasted. And it may be that yōki had something to do with it, and that as she grew more accustomed to it, the feeling would fade accordingly. In any case, he certainly wasn't going to make her employment contingent upon any one result, and that was really the only thing that mattered in the long run.
They reached the booth, and the attendant handed them a hand-sized photo, protected for now by a thin sheet of clear plastic. Ichikage laughed when he saw it: his own face was contorted into a manic grin with a hint of mischief. There were still visible hints of pink on Ryoka's face. He handed the image to her, then momentarily diverted his attention back to the attendant.
"Make that two copies, thank you."
"Surprise, and all that."
In front of her loomed a large, arched gate, the distinctive castle silhouette beyond clearly visible in the late afternoon sun. The place was almost astoundingly quiet, save for the music playing from the entrance. He could make out more noise beyond—the rattle and hum of rides, quieter sounds of vendors and other staff members, most likely about to work the easiest shift of their lives. The arch read, in romanji, TOKYO DISNEYLAND.
"It's all yours, for the evening at least."
Etsuko merely blinked, and glanced between Ichikage and the gate a few times. Her facial expression was flat for the most part, however; her eyes slowly widened as it finally seemed to dawn on her. “Wait... what? All... mine?" she started out, still vaguely confused. She groaned out loud before shaking her head and tilting it down.
“Tō-san, you didn't," she began in what sounded like disbelief. “Tell me you didn't," she continued, still having trouble processing the fact.
“Otō-sama, did you rent out the entirety of it for the day?" Kiyoshi asked, brow arched in amusement in Etsuko's direction. He'd stepped behind her, and turned his attention to Ichikage.
“He did." She didn't seem entirely upset anymore, and simply rolled her eyes. Taking a breath, she stepped beside Ichikage and wrapped her arms around him. “I hate you, but thank you," she muttered, her face buried in his shirt probably to hide the embarrassment on her face.
He chuckled softly, giving her a brief squeeze. "If it makes you feel any better, it's only for half a day. The last few hours it's usually open, and then a bit of extended evening time." She wasn't usually the type of person who liked inconveniencing others, and he didn't want her to feel at all guilty about having fun. So when Mika had suggested this timing as a form of compromise, he'd been happy to go along with it.
"In any case, your friends are already inside. Everyone's got free run of the place, but save some room for dinner, because we'll all be eating together at about eight o'clock."
“It makes me feel a little better," she muttered, pulling away from the hug. She blinked, and glanced around at the others. “What are you all going to do, though?" she asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice. Her eyes had narrowed slightly in Ryoka's direction as if she were suspicious of her of something.
“Hey, I plan on checking out all of the vendors and what they have for desserts," Ryoka spoke, holding her hands up in front of her. “You've nothing to worry from me," she added, though the smile on her face suggested otherwise.
“We won't be too far, Tsu-chan, but it's your birthday. You should go have fun without worrying about us," Kiyoshi added, smiling just soft enough that it wasn't entirely without mischief.
“That's what I'm worried about," Etsuko replied with a flat look. She shook her head, though, and glanced towards Satoru. “Uh, do you want to come with me or..." she trailed off, apparently not sure of what to ask him.
He considered that a moment; probably wondering how the gaggle of friends would receive him. Ichikage doubted he need worry—in his experience, young men who looked like Satoru didn't run into much trouble integrating with groups of their peers, even if there was some awkwardness involved on his part. "...Sure," he said at last, lifting his shoulders and half-smiling. "But you're going to have to introduce me. I know the high school group, but I've never met any of your new college friends."
“That's fine; I'm sure they'll love you, too," she stated, apparently happy with the thought since she was smiling a little more. Ryoka snorted softly, but didn't say anything until Etsuko and Satoru had left the group.
“They grow up so fast," she spoke, wiping a non-existent tear from her left eye. Kiyoshi looked confused at the statement, though.
“How so? They still look the same," he spoke, causing Ryoka to snort softly.
“You'll get it one day, Kiyo-kun."
Ichikage barked a laugh. "Will he, though? A couple thousand years should probably have been enough time to 'get it,' and yet..." He trailed off, making a vague gesture in Kiyoshi's direction.
Mika hid a smile with her hand, before smoothing the expression away as though it had never been there.
"Anyway," he continued, "I for one will be heading for the rollercoaster first thing. Anyone interested in joining, or shall I be riding all by my lonesome?"
“It would be bad form if I let you go by yourself," Ryoka stated, glancing at Ichikage with an amused look on her face. She was probably trying her best not to laugh at the expression on Kiyoshi's face. His lips were pursed into a fine line and he looked vaguely annoyed. Unamused, if anything.
“I do not like rollercoasters," Kiyoshi stated, his brows furrowing deeper. “They are—"
“Too fast? Too high? I didn't know Kiyo-kun could be afraid of something so... trivial as a rollercoaster," Ryoka interrupted, causing Kiyoshi's face to fall flat.
“They don't frighten me, Ryoka-san. I simply do not like them," he responded, causing Ryoka to snort softly.
“You keep telling yourself that, Kiyo-kun."
"He's always been a bit of a spoilsport," Ichikage added, grinning at his frowning child. "Not sure where he got it from, since I'm the most fun person I know. His mother knew how to have a laugh, too." He didn't often mention her; though he'd made a point of not letting Kiyoshi forget about her, she had died such a long time ago now that even his memories of her had gone a little fuzzy at the edges. It was simply the way of things.
Kiyoshi didn't look too amused about the statement, and merely stared in Ichikage's direction with a flat look. “It's alright, Kiyo-kun, everyone's scared of something. I'm scared of lady bugs, if that helps. I mean, they're adorable and tiny, but there's just something about 'em," Ryoka spoke, shrugging her shoulders in the process.
“Plus, the only thing Kiyo-kun inherited from you was the pretty hair. Even his facial structure isn't the same. He has more feminine qualities," she continued, waving her hand around Kiyoshi's face, though at a polite distance.
“Mika-chan, would you like to go elsewhere?" Kiyoshi asked, turning towards Mika and ignoring Ryoka's statement.
She was prevented from answering for a minute by Ichikage's laughter, which had waxed into a sonorous, full-belly sound. It was just like Kiyoshi to react to offense that way, with a metaphorical sniff and his dander all up before he stalked off. He was really more cat than wolf sometimes.
When it waned again, she rolled her eyes slightly. Finally able to provide an answer to Kiki's question, she did. "If that's your wish, sir." She gave Ichikage and Ryoka a small nod before following him away.
That left Ichikage with Ryoka, which of course he didn't mind in the slightest. "So happy to hear that my son's not the only one with pretty hair," he drawled. "I was beginning to think you had a bit of a crush on him. Made me feel left out." He had, of course, entertained no such suspicion, but he was interested in hearing how she reacted.
In the meantime, he started his way over to the rollercoaster, poured concrete underneath the flat soles of his sneakers.
“Pft, a crush on Kiyo-kun? Ha," she stated, laughing lightly as she walked next to him. “He might be handsome, or pretty, take your pick, but Kiyo-kun's taken. I'm not that kind of woman, you know." She glanced up at him, a smirk on her face as she rolled her eyes. “If I'd known that you felt left out, I would have said something sooner. Can't have you feeling left out, can we?" She arched a brow in his direction before pursing her lips together.
Her cheeks began to puff slightly, though it became obvious why. She started laughing. “I'm sorry, Ichi-kun," she spoke between laughs. Once she managed to settle her breaths, she straightened back out, and glanced back up at him. “But do tell me next time if I make you feel left out. I don't want it getting back that my boss is feeling unappreciated."
His grin stretched wide over his face. "Feeding my ego is not in the job description, you know," he replied. It wasn't anything he hadn't already deduced, and in truth not anything all that important, but he couldn't deny that it was flattering anyway. "But if you would like to continue doing so, by all means. I never get tired of compliments from lovely women."
She snorted softly, rolling her eyes as she did. “I'm sure you don't. You get compliments almost on a daily basis when you're out, and that's not including the days you're," she paused, arching a contemplative brow. She seemed to be searching for the right word. “When you're like this, dressed handsomely and things," she finally spoke, gesturing with her hands in a similar manner he'd done earlier to Kiyoshi.
“I guarantee women would be all over you right now if you hadn't rented the entire park out for the evening," she stated, laughing softly as she did. “And it's not really feeding your ego if I'm stating facts, right?" she stated, seemingly happy with the conclusion.
"A fact artfully stated is a compliment," he replied, lifting his hands and folding them together behind his head. "And compliments are certainly one way to inflate my sense of self importance. Unlike flattery, which is just empty falsehood."
He elected not to comment on the bit about people being all over him—in truth he attributed that more to the strength of yōki that he exuded. Even when he suppressed it, it acted on an unconscious level, and it tended to have an effect on people. Especially those who hadn't any ki or yōki of their own, or who hadn't grown used to the effect over time. Strangers, in other words. He could hardly consider it any real charm of his, really.
At that point, though, they reached the rollercoaster. There was of course no line, and they were immediately loaded into the front car. Ichikage shuffled over so Ryoka could take the spot next to him, patting the seat a couple times before taking off his sunglasses and putting them in his pocket so he wouldn't lose them on the ride.
She took the seat next to him, still grinning from ear to ear as she did. She stayed quiet for a moment longer, the smile fading from her face and turning into something more contemplative. “If you were that lonely for compliments, Ichi-kun, you could have just told me. I'd compliment you every day if need be. Although if there are other ways to inflate your sense of self importance, I'm sure we'll find out sooner or later," she stated, the joke still light in her tone.
“It's not like I'm going to go complimenting anyone else, though. Well, besides Kiyo-kun because it's fun and his reactions are hilarious," she continued, reaching up to roll her ponytail into a bun before the ride started. It was probably to keep it from flying around since it was still long, despite being pulled back.
He snickered, pausing as the rollercoaster's brakes were disengaged and it started forward, rolling a long a flat length of track before sloping upwards slightly. "My confidence is not quite so fragile as that, dear Ryoka-san. But, as I said, if that's something you decide you want to do, I certainly won't complain."
An amusing thought occurring to him, Ichikage leaned slightly sideways and spoke a bit more quietly. "Though if you think of any other ways you might like to stroke my ego, do feel free to let me know."
The rollercoaster dropped, perfectly on time.
The expression on her face went from confused to deeply confused before turning a deep shade of red. By the time they came around to the top again, the entirety of her face was red, including the tips of her ears and down to her neck line. She'd blinked a few times, and had kept her attention forward, her throat working as if she were having a difficult time breathing.
“That's hardly fair," she finally spoke, the red slowly receding from her face. “And inappropriate all things considered. You're my boss, in the end. But, that doesn't mean I can't go out and find someone or someone's. You remember what Satoru said, yeah? Hookers and blow," she seemed capable of joking still, though she still hadn't glanced in his direction.
He shook his head, eyes glittering with ill-concealed mirth. "So you could," he agreed readily. "And you're welcome to, if that's what you want." He tilted his head at her as the rollercoaster climbed yet again, this time to the highest of its peaks. "I hope I've not made you too uncomfortable, Ryoka-san. You're welcome to set boundaries wherever you want them, and I will abide. I do tend to be rather inappropriate when left to my own devices, I must confess."
She had a fair enough point about their employment arrangement, and he wanted to make it very clear that he would not take advantage. Would only pay her as much attention as she wanted and welcomed. He valued keeping talented people in his employ and happy there more than the chance to have a bit of fun, however amusing it was making her blush like that. She deserved the respect, in any case.
She snorted softly. “You misunderstand me, Ichi-kun," she spoke, finally turning towards him. “I personally don't care what's appropriate and what's not. You should know that by now," she began, giving him a lop-sided grin, “we're almost kindred spirits that way. That being said, however, Mika-chan has made it very clear how others would take that, and I am not going to be that person."
The grin faltered a bit as she shook her head. “Different worlds and different lives, or something to that manner," she spoke, probably referring to what Mika had told her. “Besides, we're both adults, right? Well... different types of adults, I guess, but still," she continued, though it sounded like she was rambling now. She pursed her lips together in a contemplative manner before shaking her head.
“And unlike Mika-chan and Tsu-chan, mine is just a passing fancy, and unlike those two, I own up to my shit, thank you. So, there you have it," she spoke as she shrugged her shoulders.
He was prevented from answering immediately by the drop, which lurched them forward and made it feel for a moment as though his stomach was somewhere up near his heart before gravity kicked back in and it dropped. He saw a flash off to the side; probably a ride camera taking their picture.
The rollercoaster veered sideways, first tilting to the left, and then to the right. Ichikage held himself in place enough that he didn't inadvertantly run into her, but her shoulder brushed his arm on the reversal, something he of course didn't mind in the slightest.
When they finally leveled out for a moment, he arched an eyebrow at her. "Your directness is refreshing as usual, Ryoka-san. Do let me know if and when the fancy passes. Until then I shall keep you entertained with more salacious commentary, I'm sure." The rollercoaster pulled back into the stop, the bar popping loose of its socket and allowing the both of them out.
"I'd like whatever picture was just taken, please," he informed the attendant, who nodded rapidly a few times and headed behind the booth counter set to the left of the ride.
She snickered softly at his statement. “Mm, I'm afraid if that keeps up, it'll never pass," she responded, glancing over in the direction the attendant had gone. “But in all seriousness," she began, glancing back in his direction. The smile had disappeared from her face, and she wore an expression that expressed what she was to say next, was important to her. “I wasn't lying when I said I own up to my shit. Yes, I say it's a passing fancy, and that might be true, but..." she started, pausing for a slow breath.
“Just know that you're, technically, stuck with me until you fire me. So..." she spoke, though the expression on her face hinted that that wasn't what she wanted to say, exactly. “I guess that's kind of bad news for the others," she snickered softly, reaching up to release her hair from its bind. She pulled it back into a ponytail once she'd combed her fingers through.
Ichikage's smile dimmed, until it was something a little less farcical, more genuine. "Fear not, my dear. They can handle it. As can I."
Perhaps as she thought, it was merely a fleeting feeling—he'd felt enough intense-but-temporary attractions to know that they were far more common than anything that lasted. And it may be that yōki had something to do with it, and that as she grew more accustomed to it, the feeling would fade accordingly. In any case, he certainly wasn't going to make her employment contingent upon any one result, and that was really the only thing that mattered in the long run.
They reached the booth, and the attendant handed them a hand-sized photo, protected for now by a thin sheet of clear plastic. Ichikage laughed when he saw it: his own face was contorted into a manic grin with a hint of mischief. There were still visible hints of pink on Ryoka's face. He handed the image to her, then momentarily diverted his attention back to the attendant.
"Make that two copies, thank you."