Look me in the eye so I know you know

[frozen_railroad]

Who: Izumi and Rhyme
When: Saturday afternoon
Where: Starting out at the dorms, but will move onto Nausicaa
What: Izumi, relieved that the joy of Christmas is finally done with for the year, takes Rhyme out to lunch at her request.
Rating: G.

Comments

[bellsanddreams]

The knock was welcomed and had been waited for as Rhyme jumped off her bed and threw open the door. Sitting on her bed was a rather large package, but not heavy because of it's contents. She was bubbling with excitement to give him the gift, having not pre-empted that a rabbit might not be so welcome right now.

Her smile flashed out and she reached her arms around his middled instinctively, desperate for the contact of who she considered another member of her family. "Izumi!" It had been a long couple of weeks without her second brother around. Too long, in Rhyme's mind. "It's so good to see you again! Do you want to come in for a few minutes or should we just get going?" She didn't mind what they did, they didn't even have to go for lunch if he didn't want to. She was just happy to see him again and to feel less alone.

[frozen_railroad]

"Nice to see you too, Bell-chan." The Shinigami playfully patted his free hand on Rhyme's head. The blonde was accustomed to the girl's signs of affection. She...really missed her brother, didn't she. It was a shame, Izumi didn't know what it was like to have siblings.

"Well, I'm not really all that hungry. You mind if I dump this on you first?" A nod toward the package in his arms should've indicated that it was meant for Rhyme. It really wasn't much, just a music box. But someone like Rhyme would probably find some use from it.

[bellsanddreams]

Not only did she miss her brother, but she missed him. He had steadily become a larger and bigger part of her life here; someone Rhyme didn't want to have to miss because she hoped he would always be around. Blinking, she tugged him inside when he mentioned not wanting to eat just yet, and beamed again at the sight of the package in his hands.

"Izumi!! You didn't have to get me anything, but thank you!!" Taking his hand, she brought him even further into the room and sat on the edge of her bed, hoping he would do the same. "I got you something too!"

((The song in the music box..Is it from Elfen-Lied? ^^ ))

[frozen_railroad]

Rhyme really was a cute girl. Not only that, she acted so much like Mitsuki that it was almost criminal. Seeing no point if fighting off Rhyme's tugging, the Shinigami followed the girl into her room. Instead of joining the girl on the bed, Izumi kneeled down in front of the small girl. Presenting Rhyme with her gift, the blonde beamed a smile at the girl. "Now what kind of person would I be if I didn't get you anything for Christmas? Now you're the one who didn't have to get me anything."

[[Yes is is. Shoot me if you want, I love the song. lD]]

[bellsanddreams]

"Not get you anything? Now, Izumi, that doesn't seem fair. Friends get each other presents for Christmas! I just hope you like mine." Her eyes were soft as she reached for the gift behind her and handed it to Izumi, taking the one he had in his hands for her own.

"Let's open them together, ok? On one. Three...two....one!" Ripping the paper off the box, her eyes widened in wonder at the sight of beautiful music box. Smiling gently as her eyes took in every detail of the box, she opened it adventurously and was a bit shocked to hear the lovely melody sprung forth from the confines of the box.

"Izumi...It's so pretty!! Thank you!!! I love it! This is really nice! I've never had something so nice like this!" One of the happiest thoughts sparked in her mind; she could put her bell necklace from her biological brother into the safe, pretty box that her second brother had given her.

((Oh no! I haven't watched much but what I've heard of the song is really pretty! ^^ And Izumi is getting a box of chocolates as well as a hamdmade bunny

[frozen_railroad]

Well, Izumi was rather pleased at the reaction he had gotten from Rhyme. Her eyes lit up like lights, the reaction he had been hoping for. The blonde even put off opening his gift just to watch the girl open her gift on Christmas. Children were the ones that made this holiday really special. "I thought you would like it. Call it a hunch."

Oh. His gift. Yellow eyes looked down at the package. Sighing, Izumi knew it would hurt the girl if he didn't open it. It was just a little weird, the Shinigami wasn't accustomed to receiving gifts. Opening the present, yellow eyes widened. Suddenly, a warm chuckle escaped the cold Shinigami. "So this is why you asked what my favorite animal was." Taking out the plushie, Izumi examined the toy. "Thanks Bell-chan. I really appreciate this."

[bellsanddreams]

The chuckle caused her heart to warm as she watched him. It was good to see the shinigami smiling, happy. It didn't always happen that Izumi was this happy so Rhyme studied his face to memorize the expression there.

Sliding off her bed, she wrapped her arms around him tightly, squishing the bunny in between the two of them. "You really like it? Her ears are a little floppy, I'm sorry about that, but I thought it was ok since some bunnies are supposed to have floppy ears?"

The music of the box tingled along in the background and she couldn't help but feel perfectly happy with the sound. She made a resolution to memorize the melody as soon as possible.

[frozen_railroad]

It was always a good sight to see so much life in someone. The blonde patted the girl's head yet again, a cheesy replacement for ruffling her hair. Silent, but steady, the Shinigami could hear Rhyme's heartbeat. It made Izumi wonder if Rhyme would ever know the truth to what he really was. Would that knowledge shatter the poor girl's heart?

Sooner or later, she was going to find out. How much longer was later?

"The ears are just fine, Bell-chan. You worked really hard on this, didn't you?"

[bellsanddreams]

"You think so? I started to like them at the end." Rhyme replied honestly, the sparkle in her eyes never dimming. She gave him her trademark big, welcoming smile and hugged him again around the waist. Rhyme was perfectly happy to just stand here and take in a sniff of his scent, to realize fully just how lucky she was to have Izumi near her.

"I know it's not a very manly gift or anything, but it's the thought that counts, right? I did work pretty hard on it." She admitted, humbly looking down with a little smile to scratch the back of her head.

[frozen_railroad]

It was futile to resist that adorable smile. Sighing in defeat, the Shinigami stood there for her, letting the girl take her time. Strange, even now she had that slight scent of death on her. It was a little bit like Mitsuki's scent, but Rhyme wasn't on the Death List. The magic of the school affected the list of orders, letting Izumi know who on campus is dead or who destined to die there. Luckily, no one's name ever appeared on the latter list.

"A gift is a gift, Bell-chan. It would be incredibly rude for me to worry whether or not the gift looked "manly." Just as long as I know the one who made it is a very sweet girl, I can live with it."

[bellsanddreams]

To be honest, Rhyme was probably one of the most accepting people on this campus. She'd had her own run-ins with shinigami; Reapers in her world, but it didn't mean that she would necessarily lump Izumi into the same category as them. He was sweet and he cared about her. He was much more important to her than any other 'Reaper'.

"I'm just glad you like it, Izumi. I was hoping you would. You don't have to sleep with it or anything. I just wanted to make you something by hand. I think the bunny turned out all right."