[Open]

[lilshiro_kun]

Characters: Hitsugaya Toshriou, anyone from the Vicky or Silvana who cares to bug him or whatever reason
Content: Wandering around Bellcius
Setting: Bellcius
Time: Friday
Warnings: None yet

Comments

[mysterious_aura]

She wasn't certain why she chose to leave at such a late hour. She wasn't even certain why she decided to wander around Bellcius. Yet, the Silvana's quartermaster found herself meandering through the streets all the same, almost absent-mindedly weaving through the thinning crowd in no particular direction. Perhaps it was the familiarity of the city that drew her attention. Perhaps it was the wistful inkling of hope that she'd find one of her companions within the proximity. Whichever it was, Tear felt the unsatiable compulsion to stroll through the place, until she felt content knowing she had refreshed her memory of the place.

As she proceeded down one of the streets, her gaze surveyed the scenery - until her eyes happened to detect a head of white hair. Was that...? Eyes momentarily widened with surprise, she swiftly made her way towards him.

Only when she managed to reach him, was she able to see his face. Hitsugaya Toshirou. She could feel a sliver of disappointment surge through her, but she brushed it off, letting her

[lilshiro_kun]

Toshirou had caught the site of someone moving towards him, but didn't think anything of it until he heard the person's voice. He hoped his face was set in it's usual frown, he didn't want anyone to know what was bothering. "I....just needed to get out." The last time he'd talked to Tear, was when she'd interrogated him about those stolen books and then briefly on the bridge when they'd had that fuzzball invasion.

He kept his hand in his pocket, fist closed tightly around the letter and kept his eyes on the street. He was sure if she talked to him for to long, she'd see something was bothering him and try to get the problem out of him.

[mysterious_aura]

That certainly made sense. Staying inside the ship for so long could prove a little hampering from time to time.

Yet, there his response was the slightest bit unusual. He had hesitated for a brief second with his first word, while his eyes averted hers. Although Tear didn't expect him to be smiling or having a completely amiable disposition, she found that his lack of bite and indirect gaze unusual.

"Have you ever been to Bellcius before?" She tilted her head slightly, as an inquisitive sort of gesture.

There he goes being suspicious again >.<

[lilshiro_kun]

"No, I've never been here before." He replied keeping his body turned so she wouldn't see his hand that was still tightly clenching the letter in his pocket. She was always so nosy, in his opinion, and one of the last people he'd want to see the letter that had been given to him.

"Why are you out here?" Toshirou asked, hoping to change the subject and steer the conversation away from himself.

Oh, Hitsugaya...Tear's just trying to make small talk~! D:

[mysterious_aura]

"I suppose for the same reason you are," Tear answered, exhaling softly. "Although, to be honest, I'm also searching for a friend of mines." She momentarily drew her gaze away from him, running her eyes across the establishments lining the side of the streets. "I don't know if he's still here, but...it's just in case." She let a pensive smile briefly flicker past her lips. "Although, considering how I heard that he's left for a while now, it's probably just wistful thinking..."

Letting her gaze settle on Hitsugaya once more, she noticed that he had angled his body rather unusually. She wasn't bothering him, was she? Or was he looking for something?

"If you've never been here before, I could show you around." She paused for a few seconds, trying to remember what the helmsman liked. "You probably want to know where the candy stores are, right?" If she wasn't mistaken, she could recall him asking about candy shops when they were in Melior before.

~! D:

[lilshiro_kun]

So she was looking for someone? He rather doubted it was the same person. Toshirou sighed then caught the small smile on Tear's face and he wondered if he'd ever seen her smile before. Doubtless people had wondered that about him as well.

He was about to refuse her, when he thought better of it. It wouldn't hurt anything to have her walk around with him, even if he had no interest in candy at the moment. Toshirou wondered if he'd be able to eat any again without thinking about him. "If you don't mind." He said, finally meeting her eyes.

[mysterious_aura]

Tear wasn't exactly certain what sort of reaction she expected from him. Maybe a refusal of some sort, or perhaps surprise. Whichever it was, she didn't anticipate acquiescence - not that it was necessarily an unpleasant factor. "Follow me then." She noticed that he finally met her gaze, but she wasn't entirely clear on why he decided upon doing so now.

Regardless, she didn't give another thought to the matter as she shifted, beginning to proceed down the street in the direction of the nearest candy shop. Casting a glance towards him out of the corner of her eye, she found herself reminded of what Jushirou had told her about him before. Was it true? Only way to find out was to ask. Yet, right before she parted her lips to speak once more, she wondered if he would mind additional conversation. For the moment, he seemed a little...somber, was it? She couldn't quite find the right word to describe it.

Instead of saying anything, she settled for subtly watching him, while she led him towards the candy shop.

[lilshiro_kun]

Toshirou eyed the candy store apprehensively. The last time he'd been in one...he bit his lip and tried to control his emotions, not wanting to let them show on his face. Walking past the quartermaster, he entered the store and glanced around, almost dispassionately. Normally he'd be hard pressed to leave a sweet shop, now he found it didn't hold much interest for him. Even picking up a pack of his favorite candy only caused a lump to form in his throat.

Maybe this had been a bad idea. His fingers closed on the letter again and Toshirou caught Tear watching him from the corner of his eye and he put the sweets back on the shelf before turning away. "I don't think there's anything I want in here." He said quietly.

[mysterious_aura]

As they entered, Tear watched as the young man look around disinterestedly, picking up a pack of candy only to return it, with his fingers enclosing around something else instead. When he addressed her, his tone was quiet - and, even if she didn't know him well enough, she could tell that it seemed a little uncharacteristically so. Something was bothering him. It was only a presumption, but it was starting to seem more and more likely the more time she spent looking at him.

"Ah...I could take you take you to a different candy store if you'd like. Unless you're thirsty? I know a place that makes some nice tea."

She gauged his expression carefully as she asked this. She wanted to confirm her conjectures for certain, before asking about it.

[lilshiro_kun]

"Thanks, but I......I don't have the money for it anyway." The offer of tea struck a cord with him and he was hard pressed to keep his face free of the pain he was feeling. "Tea is good." Toshirou wondered if he seemed to distracted or something because Tear was giving him an odd look.

[mysterious_aura]

There it was - the unusual expression his face assumed, as if struggling to restrain a certain emotion. Pain. Having grown accustomed to veiling all negative feelings upon her own countenance, Tear recognized it easily. But what was bothering him? It seemed to be related to the item he kept clenching...

"Alright then." Shifting, Tear began to head towards the entrance of the candy shop. "Ah, by the way..." She cast a glance over her shoulder towards the young man, her expression softening as she continued. "This may not be my place, but if something's bothering you...don't be afraid to tell me. It might make you feel better, to get it off your chest."

With this said, she continued forward, moving slowly so Hitsugaya would be able to catch up. Her words weren't forcing him to tell her anything - if he wanted to say something, she'd hear him speak out of his own volition.

[lilshiro_kun]

Toshirou started at her words. He obviously wasn't hiding his emotions or acting like himself for her to have said that. It probably would be best to get it out, but he still had doubts about telling Tear.

Following her the younger man simply tightened his grip on the letter and kept his eyes on the walkway.

[mysterious_aura]

Another reaction she didn't expect. Hitsugaya really wasn't acting like himself, it seemed. However, she simply couldn't tell what issue was bothering him.

Glancing over at him, Tear could see Hitsugaya's eyes adhere towards the walkway once more. Slowing her pace so she could walk alongside him, she fell silent for a few seconds, trying to figure out what was best to say. Noticing an item still clenched within his hands, she raised an inquisitive eyebrow but didn't speak. If he turned to see her expression, he'd understand her silent question without having to ask. However, once more, it was up to him if he wanted to tell.

[lilshiro_kun]

He wondered how far they were from the tea store as they walked down the street. Toshirou thought he saw Tear glancing at him every now and then, more specifically at his pocket where his hand was still gripping the letter.

"I don't want to talk about it." Toshirou said, eyes still glued to the walkway.

[mysterious_aura]

"I won't force you." It wasn't stated offensively - rather, it was a calm reassurance. If he worried that she would keep pushing him to speak, she would show him there wasn't a need for any concerns.

For a moment, Tear wondered if she ought to shift the subject towards a trivial matter, but then she decided to remain silent. He didn't seem to be in the mood for conversation just yet. For now, she'd take him to the tea store. Maybe drinking something warm would help him feel better. At least they were nearly there. She could already see it just up ahead.

[lilshiro_kun]

Before Toshirou would have snorted and rolled his eyes at that comment. Now he simply nodded his head and kept walking. He hoped that was the tea store up ahead, if not he'd just get a drink from there anyway.

Looking over the different varieties the young man spotted one he recognized merely because it had been Jushirou's favorite. After paying the clerk behind the desk he took his tea and sat at a table off to the side and held the cup between his hands, inhaling the familiar scent.

He just stared at the tea for awhile, not drinking it, even forgetting that Tear was there for a few minutes lost in thought.