Happy birthday, old man! [Asuka, Kureno]
[[back dated to Kureno's birthday, June 11th. Old fashioned chat log style!]]
Asuka: *it's Kureno's birthday, and even though she usually has to be dragged by someone to get out of the house these days - usually by Rin - she makes herself go to Kureno's today. Because it's his birthday, and she always sees him on his birthday, and... well... seeing him either makes her feel better or worse, and she's hoping on the better this time around.* *knocks on his door*
Kureno: *still recovering from his injuries, though he's better almost two months later - still keeps his left arm in a sling most of the time though, taking care to minimize movement so he heals properly. Wasn't planning on having any company for the day, except perhaps his team, so he's pleased to see it's Asuka behind the door.* Hey. Come on in. *offers her entrance to the house*
Asuka: Hey. *gives him a smile and comes inside, toeing off her shoes before she realizes belatedly that she probably should have brought a gift or a card or something, since it is his birthday and all* *awkwardly* Umm..... I should have brought you something. For your birthday.
Kureno: You don't need to.
Asuka: Do too. ..... how about takeout?
Kureno: No pancakes again?
Asuka: .... um, do you have pancake mix?
Kureno: I have flour, milk, water, sugar...whatever makes it.
Asuka: .... I don't know how to make pancakes from scratch. >>;; I always use the mix.
Kureno: Well what else do you know how to make?
Asuka: *thinks for a minute, and then starts counting off on her fingers* I can make frozen and microwave meals, ramen, scrambled eggs, pancakes, sandwiches, uh...
Asuka: Premade soups....
Asuka: Rice....
Asuka: Things that have rice in it.... uhm........ *draws a blank* Takeout?
Kureno: .....Well. *looks in his cupboard* I do still have some soup mix you bought from the time I was sick... And you don't "make" takeout, Asuka. -_-
Asuka: *sidles up next to him to look into the cupboard as well* I make it appear, anyway.
Kureno: *chuckles* How about onigiri? Can you make those?
Asuka: Oh yeah, that's easy.
Kureno: I think I have some nori in here... *rifles through some of the top shelves*
Asuka: I could make you a big pot of rice and extra onigiri so you'll have leftovers. Then you can just heat up some soup or something easy to go with it. Nothing that needs two hands.
Kureno: I'll take it. *pulls down a package of dried seaweed and helps bring out some of the other things she'll be needing*
Asuka: *once he helps her find the pots and rice and stuff, she shooes him away to go sit down as she gets the pot boiling. Sticks her head in his fridge as an afterthought while the water heats up* Do you want any fillings?
Kureno: Um...if you can find anything suitable, sure. I'm not picky. *pause* ...Well, not this time.
Asuka: *gives him a suspicious look over the fridge door* 'Not this time'? Have you been eating at all?
Kureno: Of course. Just not homemade onigiri.
Asuka: Hmm. *still suspicious* I just figure the only way you wouldn't be picky is if you were starving.
Kureno: *rolls his eyes and replies dryly* I just thought I should keep an open mind now, what with you cooking.
Asuka: .... pft. *turns back to rifling through his fridge* It's just rice. Even I can't mess up rice.
Kureno: I'm bracing myself for any possibility.
Asuka: It's your birthday. I won't screw it up. *straights and withdraws from the fridge holding a jar of pickled herring, nudging the door shut with her hip* But if I do, you can just get something else out of me instead I guess.
Kureno: ...Like what?
Asuka: *puts down the jar, leaning back against the counter and crossing her arms after checking on the pot of water* I dunno. What do you want?
Kureno: *quietly stares at her perhaps longer than seems normal* .....I'll think of something. *stands up from the doorframe he was leaning against and turns to cross over into the living room where he allows himself to blush a little and berate himself for still thinking like that*
Asuka: ..... mmkay. *blinks a little, but figures he's just going to get something or... something. Anyway, he can't get what he's thinking of unless she ruins the rice, right? And she won't ruin it, so it's a moot point. Shrugs and returns to the food, measuring in the rice once the pot starts boiling*
Kureno: *is actually staying in the living room since he was being shoo-ed off earlier. ....but something does occur to him and soon he walks back further into his house. The spare bedroom's closet specifically, where he's kept a few odds and ends for the time being. (The room, other than an old futon, is otherwise about bare.)*
Asuka: *sticks around long enough to make sure the rice is boiling properly, and won't boil over after she sits a lid over it. After that it's just a matter of setting the timer and ignoring it for a while - the best way to cook, she thinks. Wanders out of the kitchen at this point, peeking into the livingroom to see if that was where he went, and then wondering where he did go when she finds him not there.*
Kureno: *finds what he's looking for: a long, black lacquer box bundled up in a cloth. He sits, pondering it for a while before deciding it's overdue anyway and there's no point waiting further. Brings it back up to the living room*
Asuka: *turns when he wanders back himself, blinking curiously at the bundled package he's carrying, but deciding not to be nosy* The rice is going. Now we just have to wait 'til it's done or it burns, whichever comes first.
Kureno: Hopefully not the burning. *sits down on the couch, the box place on his coffee table* Come here for a sec, Asuka.
Asuka: *comes over as requested, plopping on the couch next to him, openly curious as to what he wants* ...?
Kureno: *indicates to the wrapped box with an upturned palm* Open it. It's for you.
Asuka: *looks down at the gift, nudging aside the cloth to see the lacquered box underneath, before looking questioningly back up to Kureno* You're supposed to get presents on your birthday, man, not give them.
Kureno: I bought it for you almost a year ago and I was going to give it to you for your LAST birthday, but...well... *scratches the side of his neck* It's late. And maybe it can be your birthday/Christmas/I'm sorry present all in one.
Asuka: ... why 'I'm sorry'?
Kureno: .....because it's late.
Kureno: *that's not REALLY the reason he's sorry, but maybe it's not a good time to bring that old business up again* Open it.
Asuka: *snorts but smiles, accepting that as an explanation and pulled the box up into her lap as requested. Inside is a very nice short katana (her appreciation obvious at the immediate "oooh" that escapes her), red and black and burnished brass with carved dragon designs. There are two tiny stilettos designed to fit on either side of the sheath, and she's very obviously itching to pick it up and play with it right away. But she restrains herself to instead look back over at Kureno with a half-shy grin.* This is a really nice I'm sorry present.
Kureno: Well I'm really, really, really sorry it's late. *half-joking, glad she likes it*
Asuka: *grins a little wider, reaching in to stroke the sheath. Oooh, it's got a little stand in there too. Is it for display or use? She hopes both.* Rice seems a kinda sad present. And I still owe you a Christmas present and an I'm sorry present, too.
Kureno: It's fine, Asuka. It's what I want. ....Besides, I...at the time I deliberately went out of my way to get something extra dazzling.
Asuka: *decides that even if it is just for display (which she suspects not if he did go out of his way), she still really really likes it. Gives him another half-shy peek of a smile.* You did a good job.
Kureno: *a slightly shy grin back* Glad I did.
Asuka: ..... I still need to get you a Christmas present.
Kureno: You don't have to. It's fine.
Asuka: *pets the katana again* You didn't have to get me this, either.
Kureno: *"That's because I wanted to." But he can see the opening for her in that argument already* ...Whatever you want, Asuka.
Asuka: *nods, still stroking the katana and thinking about what she can get him as a present, when the timer goes off. Reluctantly puts the box back down on the coffee table so she can check on the rice* Be right back.
Kureno: *just nods and lets her go off, sitting back on the couch and looking down at the katana* ......heh. *boy, things are still awkward between them, aren't they*
Asuka: *checks on the rice, happy to see she didn't miscalculate and it hasn't boiled over any. Pokes it at bit, stirring to make sure nothing is sticking to the bottom, before calling out to the living room:* You like your rice firm or squishy?
Kureno: Um... *will NOT make a dirty thought out of that. Come on, Yuuhi, really.* A little more on the firm side.
Asuka: Mmmkay. *gets the mesh colander out over the sink and drains the rice, careful not to splash or burn herself, and then rinses with water for a bit to cool and wash off the starch. Then back into the pot it goes, and she prepares to start making onigiri*
Kureno: *after sitting in the living room for a bit, gets up and wanders back into the kitchen* Need any help with anything?
Asuka: *at this point she's up to her wrists in rice, having happily spread the counter with the things she needs - a plate, the opened jar of pickled herring, little cut up pieces of nori. There are already two onigiri finished, a little smaller than usual, and another almost done in her hands. She's blowing futilely at some hair that's gotten into her eyes as he comes back into the kitchen.* Nah, s'cool, unless you want to try making some. *eyes his sling* Though you probably shouldn't.
Kureno: ...probably not. *watches her blow at that strand of hair a few times more before reaching out and running his finger along her face, tucking it behind her ear* ...
Asuka: *doesn't pull away, but does give his hand a sideways look and stops what she's doing long enough for him to tuck her hair away. And then gives him a small, thankful smile before returning to her work.* ... thanks.
Kureno: Welcome. ... *doesn't really have anything else to do, so watches her continue*
Asuka: *treats the rice a bit gingerly at first, but goes along quicker as it cools - getting a wad of rice in one hand, making the basic shape, pressing in a bit of fish, then covering it with more rice and firming up the final shape before tucking it into a fold of nori. She makes six, three with and three without fish, before stopping and wiggling her rice-sticky fingers at him, not quite touching him, just because she can and she knows it'll probably get a rise out of him.* Rawr.
Kureno: *stares at her flatly* I think you'll know what'll happen if you do.
Asuka: *grins* It would be worth it.
Kureno: Don't you dare.
Asuka: *squints one eyes, sticks her tongue out a corner of her mouth in an exaggeration of concentration, and reaches out to poke him in the cheek.*
Kureno: ....... *still staring at her flatly, calmly reaches up and takes the rice off his cheek and eats it* .....Right. *goes to his freezer and takes out a few ice cubes*
Asuka: *actually a little surprised he actually let her do that, but when he goes for the ice cubes, she knows he just wanted an excuse to retaliate* *immediately picks up her rice spoon, taps most of the rice off of it, and then holds it up between them two-handed like a sword.* You'll have to fight me first.
Kureno: Let's see who's been keeping in better shape then... *gets the tray out and is able to use his left hand to hold it so his right doesn't get too cold. Flicks an ice cube at her with a velocity you don't normally see ice cubes get to. Knowing she either has to dodge or more likely deflect it, uses some of his speed skills to close in on her*
Asuka: *dude, it's his kitchen, no serious fighting in the kitchen! But he obviously wants to put some ice down her shirt or pants (or both), the cheater. She dodges with some surprise, letting herself get backed up against the counter, and reaches out to try and smack the ice-cube tray out of his hand with the spoon when he closes.*
Kureno: *concentrates too much on getting a handful of ice down her shirt to defend his ice tray, so it does get knocked to the floor. But it's his victory really since some cubes make it down her shirt. Keeps her pinned to the counter though so she can't wiggle them out, his right hand holding the wrist with the best grip on her spoon* You are so cleaning up this mess.
Asuka: *combination laugh and completely undignified squeal as he managed to snag the neckline of her shirt and drop in some ice cubes. Half go down her back, getting caught and staying along the small of her back because she's pressed back against the counter, the other half going down the front and (thankfully) just sliding right out.... except for the one that gets stuck in her binding. Tries to get un-pinned unsuccessfully, gasping* Holy shit that's cold!
Kureno: Yeah, ice is funny like that. *grinning in evil triumph*
Asuka: *since he won't let her away from the counter, she sticks her free hand in his face, still sticky with rice, arching away from the counter to try and get the damn ice to just fall out.* *still with a half-laugh even though she's freezing* Wait till I stick some down your pants, see how funny it is then!
Kureno: Hey! *tries to keep his face away while keeping her at the counter* Hey, I had warned you! *gah, can't win with her hand able to reach farther than he can bend his face away. ...besides, this is creating all sorts of...bumping that's not really embarrassing when you don't think about it, but he...* Tch. *finally steps back rubbing at his face and picking the bits of rice off it*
Asuka: *as soon as she can wiggle free she does, abandoning the rice spoon to dance away and dig down the front of her shirt to get that one... stubborn... ice cube... GAH!... out of her binding. Once she does, she promptly throws it at him.*
Kureno: *flinches away from it slightly, having been watching her and wondering what she was doing until he figured it out; after that he could only laugh* Serves you right. *goes to the sink to wash some of his face*
Asuka: *huffs and stalks back over to the abandoned ice cube tray, freezing but still enjoying this; takes advantage of his turned back to shove a handful of ice cubes down the back of HIS shirt while he's washing his face*
Kureno: HEY. *jumps and turns around so she can't get any more down in case she had them. Hastily untucks his shirt and shakes them out* Oh you are just asking for it.
Asuka: *didn't, but that was only coz she didn't want to waste time picking up more off the floor* *evil grin* Oh, am I ~ ?
Kureno: ... *quickly turns the water on higher and places his finger in the faucet, sending a jet into her front*
Asuka: Ack-! *busts up laughing, shielding her face with both arms criss-crossing over her torso, turning her head away. Only takes a half-step back, not wanting to slip on any ice she can't see.*
Kureno: *keeps that up for a while, but it IS making a rather large mess in his kitchen, so does stop, but keeps his hand near the faucet* Give up?
Asuka: *front of her shirt and some of her jeans were swiftly soaked, so she's glad he finally takes mercy and stops spraying her. Swiftly steps back out of the faucet's range of fire, watching her step as she does so, still grinning and giving a quick, breathless laugh before answering.* Only until I get more ice!
Kureno: You know, you're the one who started this whole thing with the rice. I'm not going to let you finish it too.
Asuka: *griiiins* Why not? You're having fun getting me freezing cold and soaking wet, why can't I return the favor?
Kureno: Because it's my birthday.
Asuka: ....... so? *bends down to pick up a piece of ice*
Kureno: You're supposed to be nice to me. *puts his finger under the water, watching her carefully*
Asuka: *picks up another piece of ice, carefully keeping on the far side of the kitchen* I am being nice. I made you onigiri, didn't I?
Kureno: And then put it on my face, yes.
Asuka: *picks up the ice cube tray and drops cubes back into slots; it's too cold for her to be carrying them in her hands* Details, details. This isn't degenerated to a food fight yet. ... *hopefully* Unless you want it to.
Kureno: And waste good food? ...Well, waste what I assume is at least edible food?
Asuka: It's edible! You licked some off your face yourself. If it wasn't you'd have choked.
Kureno: You seriously want to start a fight like that with me?
Asuka: I'm just saying the food is totally edible. Come over here and try some yourself.
Kureno: .... *was intending on still eating them, but if Asuka has other plans...* ... *turns off the faucet and slowly makes his way over to the onigiri, keeping a very close eye on Asuka*
Asuka: *backs off a little bit and picks up another ice cube, dropping it into the tray.... not so subtly moving between him and the faucet*
Kureno: *sees and reaches out to slowly grab an onigiri, hefting it in his hand almost like a baseball and stepping back until he and Asuka are about equal distances from the sink*
Asuka: *innocently picks up another ice cube*
Kureno: *suspicious, but cautiously bites into the onigiri, never taking his eyes off her*
Asuka: *sidles closer to pick up another ice cube* Like it?
Kureno: *also takes a step closer* Not bad.
Asuka: *grins* See? I told you I wouldn't burn the rice.
Kureno: It's a miracle. *takes another bite*
Asuka: *shakes an ice cube threateningly at him* It's a miracle you didn't get one of these down your pants, you mean
Kureno: You cheated.
Asuka: I did not! If I was going to cheat I would have - *kawarimi's behind him to try and dump the whole tray of ice cubes down the back of his pants*
Kureno: *reacts too late to avoid having the hem of his jeans snagged by her, but does smash the rest of his onigiri in her face*
Asuka: *cackles gleefully as she shoves the ice (and the tray) down the back of his pants, before getting the rice in her face - still laughing and backing away blindly, spitting out rice in the process*
Kureno: Aurgh! You stupid... I can't believe you did that! *pulls tray out, making all sorts of uncomfortable noises as the ice cubes still slip down his legs, getting caught along the way, of course. Is quite a sight, trying to shake and brush them down and out*
Asuka: *wipes away the rice from her eyes, trying to catch most of it rather than letting it drop to the ground, just so she can see him dance around trying to get the ice out. Laughing too hard to make a coherant response*
Kureno: *she's near enough to the faucet again. Turns it on and sprays her*
Asuka: *between the rice, the laughing, and the water, the noise she makes is garbled but still clearly amused. Since the kitchen is a mess anyway and things are probably 'settled' at this point, she just takes advantage of the water to wipe the rest of the rice off her face.*
Kureno: *stops after realizing she's not bothered by it* Jeez. Wash your face of IN the sink.
Asuka: *shakes her head and brushes some of the soaked hair out of her face... finding more rice in her hair as she does* *grins* Take a shower in the sink, you mean. I'm so proud of you, man. I never knew you had a food fight in you.
Kureno: Like I've been saying, you're a terrible influence.
Asuka: *griiiiins* You like it.
Kureno: *confesses to nothing and goes over to grab another onigiri* Shut up. And clean up my kitchen.
Askua: *holds her dripping shirt away from her stomach* In this?
Kureno: What. Did you bring a change of clothes?
Asuka: Of course not, I wasn't expecting you to get me wet.
Kureno: *laughs a little at that before his mind derails a bit with it* ...Well what do you want me to do? >>
Asuka: *squeezes some of the water out of it* I don't know, I'm just saying I can't clean your kitchen if I'm dripping all over it.
Kureno: *rolls his eyes and heads into his laundry room, finishing off his onigiri and jumping a little as he finds he didn't get ALL the ice cubes out after all. Comes back a minute later with one of his nightshirt that was being washed* Here.
Asuka: *squeezes out more water in the meantime, fishing more rice out of her hair, before giving the shirt a dubious look* .... is that long enough?
Kureno: For what? ...You don't have to take off your pants, do you? Jeans don't drip.
Asuka: *looks down at her pants as dubiously as she looked at that shirt, considering how they're soaked to the knees.* .... I think I do.
Kureno: ...Whiner. *guesses she has a point though. Shuffles back into his room to pull out some drawstring pants for her* You can change in the front bathroom in the hall.
Asuka: Old man. *accepts the pants and shirt and tries to drip as little as possible on the way to the bathroom*
Kureno: You're not that far off yourself you know! *stays in the kitchen eating onigiri and makes himself not to clean up anything and leave it all for her. ...It takes some willpower.*
Asuka: *muffled through the door* Far enough! *when she doesn't get a response, she goes ahead and cleans up, hanging her shirt and jeans over the shower rod, picking at the rice in her hair for a while until she just gives up and sticks her head under the tub faucet. After about ten minutes she wanders back out in the shirt and pants, barefoot, and takes a bite of onigiri ("mmm... not bad...") before proceeding to clean up*
Kureno: *lets her know where to find the proper cleaning supplies, still eating* These are pretty good, by the way.
Asuka: *cleans up the last of the not-melted ice cubes, before depositing them and the tray in the sink, and gets a mop to start wiping up the mess* Told you so. *quick flash of a grin*
Kureno: *rolls eyes* Yes, well they had better have been good for all the trouble they caused.
Asuka: *gives him another grin as she mops* You'd've enjoyed it even if the onigiri failed. You'd especially like it, because then you'd get to rub it in and ask for something else.
Kureno: *doesn't let himself think about what he'd thought of earlier* Heaven knows where that would have led to. *was referring to the food fight. Tells himself that*
Asuka: You'd definitely have still made me clean your kitchen. Dunno what you'd want after that. *squeezes out mop in the sink, rinses off the accumulated rice, squeezes again, and resumes mopping* Maybe more cleaning...
Kureno: ........something.
Asuka: Heh. *mop mop mop* Something all right. *keeps cleaning until done, and afterwards puts everything back and plops down on the seat next to him, reaching for whatever onigiri is left*
Kureno: *has eaten about two more, one plain, one with filling; the one on her face had had filling, leaving one last one* Thank you.
Asuka: *grins up at him, holding the onigiri with both hands* Happy birthday, old man.
Kureno: Shut up. -_-
Asuka: *it's Kureno's birthday, and even though she usually has to be dragged by someone to get out of the house these days - usually by Rin - she makes herself go to Kureno's today. Because it's his birthday, and she always sees him on his birthday, and... well... seeing him either makes her feel better or worse, and she's hoping on the better this time around.* *knocks on his door*
Kureno: *still recovering from his injuries, though he's better almost two months later - still keeps his left arm in a sling most of the time though, taking care to minimize movement so he heals properly. Wasn't planning on having any company for the day, except perhaps his team, so he's pleased to see it's Asuka behind the door.* Hey. Come on in. *offers her entrance to the house*
Asuka: Hey. *gives him a smile and comes inside, toeing off her shoes before she realizes belatedly that she probably should have brought a gift or a card or something, since it is his birthday and all* *awkwardly* Umm..... I should have brought you something. For your birthday.
Kureno: You don't need to.
Asuka: Do too. ..... how about takeout?
Kureno: No pancakes again?
Asuka: .... um, do you have pancake mix?
Kureno: I have flour, milk, water, sugar...whatever makes it.
Asuka: .... I don't know how to make pancakes from scratch. >>;; I always use the mix.
Kureno: Well what else do you know how to make?
Asuka: *thinks for a minute, and then starts counting off on her fingers* I can make frozen and microwave meals, ramen, scrambled eggs, pancakes, sandwiches, uh...
Asuka: Premade soups....
Asuka: Rice....
Asuka: Things that have rice in it.... uhm........ *draws a blank* Takeout?
Kureno: .....Well. *looks in his cupboard* I do still have some soup mix you bought from the time I was sick... And you don't "make" takeout, Asuka. -_-
Asuka: *sidles up next to him to look into the cupboard as well* I make it appear, anyway.
Kureno: *chuckles* How about onigiri? Can you make those?
Asuka: Oh yeah, that's easy.
Kureno: I think I have some nori in here... *rifles through some of the top shelves*
Asuka: I could make you a big pot of rice and extra onigiri so you'll have leftovers. Then you can just heat up some soup or something easy to go with it. Nothing that needs two hands.
Kureno: I'll take it. *pulls down a package of dried seaweed and helps bring out some of the other things she'll be needing*
Asuka: *once he helps her find the pots and rice and stuff, she shooes him away to go sit down as she gets the pot boiling. Sticks her head in his fridge as an afterthought while the water heats up* Do you want any fillings?
Kureno: Um...if you can find anything suitable, sure. I'm not picky. *pause* ...Well, not this time.
Asuka: *gives him a suspicious look over the fridge door* 'Not this time'? Have you been eating at all?
Kureno: Of course. Just not homemade onigiri.
Asuka: Hmm. *still suspicious* I just figure the only way you wouldn't be picky is if you were starving.
Kureno: *rolls his eyes and replies dryly* I just thought I should keep an open mind now, what with you cooking.
Asuka: .... pft. *turns back to rifling through his fridge* It's just rice. Even I can't mess up rice.
Kureno: I'm bracing myself for any possibility.
Asuka: It's your birthday. I won't screw it up. *straights and withdraws from the fridge holding a jar of pickled herring, nudging the door shut with her hip* But if I do, you can just get something else out of me instead I guess.
Kureno: ...Like what?
Asuka: *puts down the jar, leaning back against the counter and crossing her arms after checking on the pot of water* I dunno. What do you want?
Kureno: *quietly stares at her perhaps longer than seems normal* .....I'll think of something. *stands up from the doorframe he was leaning against and turns to cross over into the living room where he allows himself to blush a little and berate himself for still thinking like that*
Asuka: ..... mmkay. *blinks a little, but figures he's just going to get something or... something. Anyway, he can't get what he's thinking of unless she ruins the rice, right? And she won't ruin it, so it's a moot point. Shrugs and returns to the food, measuring in the rice once the pot starts boiling*
Kureno: *is actually staying in the living room since he was being shoo-ed off earlier. ....but something does occur to him and soon he walks back further into his house. The spare bedroom's closet specifically, where he's kept a few odds and ends for the time being. (The room, other than an old futon, is otherwise about bare.)*
Asuka: *sticks around long enough to make sure the rice is boiling properly, and won't boil over after she sits a lid over it. After that it's just a matter of setting the timer and ignoring it for a while - the best way to cook, she thinks. Wanders out of the kitchen at this point, peeking into the livingroom to see if that was where he went, and then wondering where he did go when she finds him not there.*
Kureno: *finds what he's looking for: a long, black lacquer box bundled up in a cloth. He sits, pondering it for a while before deciding it's overdue anyway and there's no point waiting further. Brings it back up to the living room*
Asuka: *turns when he wanders back himself, blinking curiously at the bundled package he's carrying, but deciding not to be nosy* The rice is going. Now we just have to wait 'til it's done or it burns, whichever comes first.
Kureno: Hopefully not the burning. *sits down on the couch, the box place on his coffee table* Come here for a sec, Asuka.
Asuka: *comes over as requested, plopping on the couch next to him, openly curious as to what he wants* ...?
Kureno: *indicates to the wrapped box with an upturned palm* Open it. It's for you.
Asuka: *looks down at the gift, nudging aside the cloth to see the lacquered box underneath, before looking questioningly back up to Kureno* You're supposed to get presents on your birthday, man, not give them.
Kureno: I bought it for you almost a year ago and I was going to give it to you for your LAST birthday, but...well... *scratches the side of his neck* It's late. And maybe it can be your birthday/Christmas/I'm sorry present all in one.
Asuka: ... why 'I'm sorry'?
Kureno: .....because it's late.
Kureno: *that's not REALLY the reason he's sorry, but maybe it's not a good time to bring that old business up again* Open it.
Asuka: *snorts but smiles, accepting that as an explanation and pulled the box up into her lap as requested. Inside is a very nice short katana (her appreciation obvious at the immediate "oooh" that escapes her), red and black and burnished brass with carved dragon designs. There are two tiny stilettos designed to fit on either side of the sheath, and she's very obviously itching to pick it up and play with it right away. But she restrains herself to instead look back over at Kureno with a half-shy grin.* This is a really nice I'm sorry present.
Kureno: Well I'm really, really, really sorry it's late. *half-joking, glad she likes it*
Asuka: *grins a little wider, reaching in to stroke the sheath. Oooh, it's got a little stand in there too. Is it for display or use? She hopes both.* Rice seems a kinda sad present. And I still owe you a Christmas present and an I'm sorry present, too.
Kureno: It's fine, Asuka. It's what I want. ....Besides, I...at the time I deliberately went out of my way to get something extra dazzling.
Asuka: *decides that even if it is just for display (which she suspects not if he did go out of his way), she still really really likes it. Gives him another half-shy peek of a smile.* You did a good job.
Kureno: *a slightly shy grin back* Glad I did.
Asuka: ..... I still need to get you a Christmas present.
Kureno: You don't have to. It's fine.
Asuka: *pets the katana again* You didn't have to get me this, either.
Kureno: *"That's because I wanted to." But he can see the opening for her in that argument already* ...Whatever you want, Asuka.
Asuka: *nods, still stroking the katana and thinking about what she can get him as a present, when the timer goes off. Reluctantly puts the box back down on the coffee table so she can check on the rice* Be right back.
Kureno: *just nods and lets her go off, sitting back on the couch and looking down at the katana* ......heh. *boy, things are still awkward between them, aren't they*
Asuka: *checks on the rice, happy to see she didn't miscalculate and it hasn't boiled over any. Pokes it at bit, stirring to make sure nothing is sticking to the bottom, before calling out to the living room:* You like your rice firm or squishy?
Kureno: Um... *will NOT make a dirty thought out of that. Come on, Yuuhi, really.* A little more on the firm side.
Asuka: Mmmkay. *gets the mesh colander out over the sink and drains the rice, careful not to splash or burn herself, and then rinses with water for a bit to cool and wash off the starch. Then back into the pot it goes, and she prepares to start making onigiri*
Kureno: *after sitting in the living room for a bit, gets up and wanders back into the kitchen* Need any help with anything?
Asuka: *at this point she's up to her wrists in rice, having happily spread the counter with the things she needs - a plate, the opened jar of pickled herring, little cut up pieces of nori. There are already two onigiri finished, a little smaller than usual, and another almost done in her hands. She's blowing futilely at some hair that's gotten into her eyes as he comes back into the kitchen.* Nah, s'cool, unless you want to try making some. *eyes his sling* Though you probably shouldn't.
Kureno: ...probably not. *watches her blow at that strand of hair a few times more before reaching out and running his finger along her face, tucking it behind her ear* ...
Asuka: *doesn't pull away, but does give his hand a sideways look and stops what she's doing long enough for him to tuck her hair away. And then gives him a small, thankful smile before returning to her work.* ... thanks.
Kureno: Welcome. ... *doesn't really have anything else to do, so watches her continue*
Asuka: *treats the rice a bit gingerly at first, but goes along quicker as it cools - getting a wad of rice in one hand, making the basic shape, pressing in a bit of fish, then covering it with more rice and firming up the final shape before tucking it into a fold of nori. She makes six, three with and three without fish, before stopping and wiggling her rice-sticky fingers at him, not quite touching him, just because she can and she knows it'll probably get a rise out of him.* Rawr.
Kureno: *stares at her flatly* I think you'll know what'll happen if you do.
Asuka: *grins* It would be worth it.
Kureno: Don't you dare.
Asuka: *squints one eyes, sticks her tongue out a corner of her mouth in an exaggeration of concentration, and reaches out to poke him in the cheek.*
Kureno: ....... *still staring at her flatly, calmly reaches up and takes the rice off his cheek and eats it* .....Right. *goes to his freezer and takes out a few ice cubes*
Asuka: *actually a little surprised he actually let her do that, but when he goes for the ice cubes, she knows he just wanted an excuse to retaliate* *immediately picks up her rice spoon, taps most of the rice off of it, and then holds it up between them two-handed like a sword.* You'll have to fight me first.
Kureno: Let's see who's been keeping in better shape then... *gets the tray out and is able to use his left hand to hold it so his right doesn't get too cold. Flicks an ice cube at her with a velocity you don't normally see ice cubes get to. Knowing she either has to dodge or more likely deflect it, uses some of his speed skills to close in on her*
Asuka: *dude, it's his kitchen, no serious fighting in the kitchen! But he obviously wants to put some ice down her shirt or pants (or both), the cheater. She dodges with some surprise, letting herself get backed up against the counter, and reaches out to try and smack the ice-cube tray out of his hand with the spoon when he closes.*
Kureno: *concentrates too much on getting a handful of ice down her shirt to defend his ice tray, so it does get knocked to the floor. But it's his victory really since some cubes make it down her shirt. Keeps her pinned to the counter though so she can't wiggle them out, his right hand holding the wrist with the best grip on her spoon* You are so cleaning up this mess.
Asuka: *combination laugh and completely undignified squeal as he managed to snag the neckline of her shirt and drop in some ice cubes. Half go down her back, getting caught and staying along the small of her back because she's pressed back against the counter, the other half going down the front and (thankfully) just sliding right out.... except for the one that gets stuck in her binding. Tries to get un-pinned unsuccessfully, gasping* Holy shit that's cold!
Kureno: Yeah, ice is funny like that. *grinning in evil triumph*
Asuka: *since he won't let her away from the counter, she sticks her free hand in his face, still sticky with rice, arching away from the counter to try and get the damn ice to just fall out.* *still with a half-laugh even though she's freezing* Wait till I stick some down your pants, see how funny it is then!
Kureno: Hey! *tries to keep his face away while keeping her at the counter* Hey, I had warned you! *gah, can't win with her hand able to reach farther than he can bend his face away. ...besides, this is creating all sorts of...bumping that's not really embarrassing when you don't think about it, but he...* Tch. *finally steps back rubbing at his face and picking the bits of rice off it*
Asuka: *as soon as she can wiggle free she does, abandoning the rice spoon to dance away and dig down the front of her shirt to get that one... stubborn... ice cube... GAH!... out of her binding. Once she does, she promptly throws it at him.*
Kureno: *flinches away from it slightly, having been watching her and wondering what she was doing until he figured it out; after that he could only laugh* Serves you right. *goes to the sink to wash some of his face*
Asuka: *huffs and stalks back over to the abandoned ice cube tray, freezing but still enjoying this; takes advantage of his turned back to shove a handful of ice cubes down the back of HIS shirt while he's washing his face*
Kureno: HEY. *jumps and turns around so she can't get any more down in case she had them. Hastily untucks his shirt and shakes them out* Oh you are just asking for it.
Asuka: *didn't, but that was only coz she didn't want to waste time picking up more off the floor* *evil grin* Oh, am I ~ ?
Kureno: ... *quickly turns the water on higher and places his finger in the faucet, sending a jet into her front*
Asuka: Ack-! *busts up laughing, shielding her face with both arms criss-crossing over her torso, turning her head away. Only takes a half-step back, not wanting to slip on any ice she can't see.*
Kureno: *keeps that up for a while, but it IS making a rather large mess in his kitchen, so does stop, but keeps his hand near the faucet* Give up?
Asuka: *front of her shirt and some of her jeans were swiftly soaked, so she's glad he finally takes mercy and stops spraying her. Swiftly steps back out of the faucet's range of fire, watching her step as she does so, still grinning and giving a quick, breathless laugh before answering.* Only until I get more ice!
Kureno: You know, you're the one who started this whole thing with the rice. I'm not going to let you finish it too.
Asuka: *griiiins* Why not? You're having fun getting me freezing cold and soaking wet, why can't I return the favor?
Kureno: Because it's my birthday.
Asuka: ....... so? *bends down to pick up a piece of ice*
Kureno: You're supposed to be nice to me. *puts his finger under the water, watching her carefully*
Asuka: *picks up another piece of ice, carefully keeping on the far side of the kitchen* I am being nice. I made you onigiri, didn't I?
Kureno: And then put it on my face, yes.
Asuka: *picks up the ice cube tray and drops cubes back into slots; it's too cold for her to be carrying them in her hands* Details, details. This isn't degenerated to a food fight yet. ... *hopefully* Unless you want it to.
Kureno: And waste good food? ...Well, waste what I assume is at least edible food?
Asuka: It's edible! You licked some off your face yourself. If it wasn't you'd have choked.
Kureno: You seriously want to start a fight like that with me?
Asuka: I'm just saying the food is totally edible. Come over here and try some yourself.
Kureno: .... *was intending on still eating them, but if Asuka has other plans...* ... *turns off the faucet and slowly makes his way over to the onigiri, keeping a very close eye on Asuka*
Asuka: *backs off a little bit and picks up another ice cube, dropping it into the tray.... not so subtly moving between him and the faucet*
Kureno: *sees and reaches out to slowly grab an onigiri, hefting it in his hand almost like a baseball and stepping back until he and Asuka are about equal distances from the sink*
Asuka: *innocently picks up another ice cube*
Kureno: *suspicious, but cautiously bites into the onigiri, never taking his eyes off her*
Asuka: *sidles closer to pick up another ice cube* Like it?
Kureno: *also takes a step closer* Not bad.
Asuka: *grins* See? I told you I wouldn't burn the rice.
Kureno: It's a miracle. *takes another bite*
Asuka: *shakes an ice cube threateningly at him* It's a miracle you didn't get one of these down your pants, you mean
Kureno: You cheated.
Asuka: I did not! If I was going to cheat I would have - *kawarimi's behind him to try and dump the whole tray of ice cubes down the back of his pants*
Kureno: *reacts too late to avoid having the hem of his jeans snagged by her, but does smash the rest of his onigiri in her face*
Asuka: *cackles gleefully as she shoves the ice (and the tray) down the back of his pants, before getting the rice in her face - still laughing and backing away blindly, spitting out rice in the process*
Kureno: Aurgh! You stupid... I can't believe you did that! *pulls tray out, making all sorts of uncomfortable noises as the ice cubes still slip down his legs, getting caught along the way, of course. Is quite a sight, trying to shake and brush them down and out*
Asuka: *wipes away the rice from her eyes, trying to catch most of it rather than letting it drop to the ground, just so she can see him dance around trying to get the ice out. Laughing too hard to make a coherant response*
Kureno: *she's near enough to the faucet again. Turns it on and sprays her*
Asuka: *between the rice, the laughing, and the water, the noise she makes is garbled but still clearly amused. Since the kitchen is a mess anyway and things are probably 'settled' at this point, she just takes advantage of the water to wipe the rest of the rice off her face.*
Kureno: *stops after realizing she's not bothered by it* Jeez. Wash your face of IN the sink.
Asuka: *shakes her head and brushes some of the soaked hair out of her face... finding more rice in her hair as she does* *grins* Take a shower in the sink, you mean. I'm so proud of you, man. I never knew you had a food fight in you.
Kureno: Like I've been saying, you're a terrible influence.
Asuka: *griiiiins* You like it.
Kureno: *confesses to nothing and goes over to grab another onigiri* Shut up. And clean up my kitchen.
Askua: *holds her dripping shirt away from her stomach* In this?
Kureno: What. Did you bring a change of clothes?
Asuka: Of course not, I wasn't expecting you to get me wet.
Kureno: *laughs a little at that before his mind derails a bit with it* ...Well what do you want me to do? >>
Asuka: *squeezes some of the water out of it* I don't know, I'm just saying I can't clean your kitchen if I'm dripping all over it.
Kureno: *rolls his eyes and heads into his laundry room, finishing off his onigiri and jumping a little as he finds he didn't get ALL the ice cubes out after all. Comes back a minute later with one of his nightshirt that was being washed* Here.
Asuka: *squeezes out more water in the meantime, fishing more rice out of her hair, before giving the shirt a dubious look* .... is that long enough?
Kureno: For what? ...You don't have to take off your pants, do you? Jeans don't drip.
Asuka: *looks down at her pants as dubiously as she looked at that shirt, considering how they're soaked to the knees.* .... I think I do.
Kureno: ...Whiner. *guesses she has a point though. Shuffles back into his room to pull out some drawstring pants for her* You can change in the front bathroom in the hall.
Asuka: Old man. *accepts the pants and shirt and tries to drip as little as possible on the way to the bathroom*
Kureno: You're not that far off yourself you know! *stays in the kitchen eating onigiri and makes himself not to clean up anything and leave it all for her. ...It takes some willpower.*
Asuka: *muffled through the door* Far enough! *when she doesn't get a response, she goes ahead and cleans up, hanging her shirt and jeans over the shower rod, picking at the rice in her hair for a while until she just gives up and sticks her head under the tub faucet. After about ten minutes she wanders back out in the shirt and pants, barefoot, and takes a bite of onigiri ("mmm... not bad...") before proceeding to clean up*
Kureno: *lets her know where to find the proper cleaning supplies, still eating* These are pretty good, by the way.
Asuka: *cleans up the last of the not-melted ice cubes, before depositing them and the tray in the sink, and gets a mop to start wiping up the mess* Told you so. *quick flash of a grin*
Kureno: *rolls eyes* Yes, well they had better have been good for all the trouble they caused.
Asuka: *gives him another grin as she mops* You'd've enjoyed it even if the onigiri failed. You'd especially like it, because then you'd get to rub it in and ask for something else.
Kureno: *doesn't let himself think about what he'd thought of earlier* Heaven knows where that would have led to. *was referring to the food fight. Tells himself that*
Asuka: You'd definitely have still made me clean your kitchen. Dunno what you'd want after that. *squeezes out mop in the sink, rinses off the accumulated rice, squeezes again, and resumes mopping* Maybe more cleaning...
Kureno: ........something.
Asuka: Heh. *mop mop mop* Something all right. *keeps cleaning until done, and afterwards puts everything back and plops down on the seat next to him, reaching for whatever onigiri is left*
Kureno: *has eaten about two more, one plain, one with filling; the one on her face had had filling, leaving one last one* Thank you.
Asuka: *grins up at him, holding the onigiri with both hands* Happy birthday, old man.
Kureno: Shut up. -_-