Depression is a decision. [OPEN]

[alastinglight]

Characters: Takasugi Shinsuke, and whoever wishes to bother him!
Location: either in Takasugi's patrol area (residential quarter, between 12 and 6 pm!) or elsewhere in the city!
Rating: G
Time: November 18, noon onwards
Description:

Comments

[scentedcamellia]

Tsubaki was in a much better mood today. Things had been cleared up with Black★Star the night before, and with her partnership issues no longer a concern (in fact they were probably closer than ever before), the kunoichi was in the mood for a quiet, peaceful walk through the city.

She saw him from quite a distance away, and the young man looked...well he certainly didn't look happy. Then again, she wasn't sure if she'd actually seen him happy since he arrived, and that didn't sit well with her.

She took a few quick steps, before she called out to him. "Hello, Takasugi-san!" She gave him a friendly wave as she continued to approach him.

sob that Tsubaki icon is so cute

[alastinglight]

Takasugi paused at the familiar voice, and turned around to face the speaker. It took him about a second too long to remember who it was.

"Tsubaki-dono." the boy immediately bowed. He was one to respect strength, and he knew for a fact that Tsubaki was strong. She was also older than him, which, in his eyes, made her his superior in every possible way.

[scentedcamellia]

Her eyebrows rose at the very respectful gesture, and she nervously rocked back on her feet, her hands clasped behind her back. "Ah, you don't have to do that Takasugi-san..." She was most certainly not important enough for all of that.

"How are you? It appears you managed to get through the attack without being harmed." Her quiet tone indicated her relief to that fact.

[alastinglight]

"I did."

He straightened up on cue, a little perturbed at how nice Tsubaki was. People being nice generally unsettled him, especially when they weren't anything else beyond acquaintances...

...Or well, he liked to think that was the case. The two of them HAD talked, but.

Takasugi shuffled his feet, suddenly at a loss on what to say. That was unlike him; he normally knew what to do in any situation.

[scentedcamellia]

Tsubaki just gave him a pleasant smile, finding his moderate discomfort kind of cute. She felt a little bad for putting him on the spot, but she hoped that he would calm down and maybe warm up to her. Everyone needed friends, after all.

"Were you going somewhere in particular?" she asked, curious. "Maybe I can accompany you?"

[alastinglight]

Oh, uh.

"Not really." The reality of that fact didn't get any better after admitting it. "You're probably going to get bored if you do."

...A little rude there, but smoothness has not been Takasugi's strongest suit as of late.

[scentedcamellia]

Tsubaki either didn't notice that he might be being rude, or she simply was very good at brushing aside such comments. Either way, she doesn't seem perturbed in the slightest.

"Ah, well, I was only going for a walk myself," she said, moving to stand beside him so they could walk together. "It will be more pleasant with a friend, I think."

That means you, Takasugi.

[alastinglight]

Friend, was it? Like the kind of people who'll be forced to abandon you in the end? Who'll swear to kill you?

...Yeah, he had to stop this. Takasugi could only pray that he hadn't looked stricken at that point at all.

"You really don't have to."

Funny. He couldn't hear himself speak.

[scentedcamellia]

"I'm not asking because I think I have to, Takasugi-san," she said, reaching out and patting him softly on the head affectionately. "I'm asking because I want to."

It wasn't that she was oblivious to the fact that he was trying to run away from her, but something told her that he needed someone. And whenever she was far away from home, it helped to have people around, and she wanted to see him smile at her someday.

[alastinglight]

The gesture caught him off-guard, and after a bit of mental flail, Takasugi finally mustered up the will to look up at Tsubaki properly.

There's a rush of real relief, and just a bit of sadness. It's enough to make his stomach twist up. Or maybe that's just his chest hurting.

"...Thanks."

[scentedcamellia]

She just chuckled softly, happy to see some of the less happy feelings leaving his expression. It was a simple gesture, for her to walk with him, and she wasn't lying when she said she would like the company.

"You're welcome," she replied simply. "Come on, we'll walk through the park. It's pretty, there." And there were benches if they wanted to rest and talk at all.

[alastinglight]

The only thing he manages to make is a vague sound before he starts walking again. Mind you: he's going to studiously avoid looking at you the entire way to the park.

Working his way back to cool was the single most important thing right now.

[scentedcamellia]

As they crossed over from city streets to park pathways, Tsubaki glanced over at her companion with a friendly expression.

"What have you been up to, Takasugi-san? Have you found a partner?"

[alastinglight]

"I've had one for quite a bit actually. Okita Souji."

Small talk was good for one thing and one thing only: it gave him the opportunity to reremember how to be normal.

[scentedcamellia]

Tsubaki recognized the name, another from her county's history books. It still amazed and amused her every time a new one entered her world.

"How is that going?" she asked curiously, watching him as they walked down the paved pathway. "What's he like?"

[alastinglight]

"He's really strong, and honorable. It's... it's good, being able to serve as his Weapon."

He was smiling a little, obviously pleased at having a friend.