[open to anyone]

[ise_nanao_chan]

Nanao climbed the stairs, a cup of tea in one hand, her coat draped over the other arm. It was still crisp, but she wanted to get some fresh, cool air. The apartment had been stifing since she had got home from work in the early afternoon, enough so that she didn't mind that the shower had cooled off after a few minutes

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[intoinfinity]

It was late afternoon by the time Byakuya was done with classes and research and all the other pesky things a graduate student was supposed to do. Reading mathematical texts were difficult enough as it was, but did he have to do it in French? Of course, it was part of the curriculum, but he always did better in German than French. Digging through two pages of technical French with a French-English dictionary by his side for the better part of five hours wasn't his idea of a good time.

He was relieved to finally see 311 Lysgar Street looming up ahead of him. The beginnings of a headache was brewing, he could tell, and he still had five more pages to plow through over the weekend. Well, if nothing else, he'd take the evening off. Maybe spend a quiet evening polishing some of his swords. So lost in reverie was he that he didn't even notice the girl curled in the corner.

[ise_nanao_chan]

The sound of soft footfalls drew Nanao's attention from her thoughts, causing her to tip her head just enough to the side to see (and be seen by) who was approaching. She had never seen him before, but she figured he lived in the building. No one came to this area unless they lived in 311, or were up to no good.

Still, Nanao didn't think that this person was someone to be wary of.

"Good evening... or is it still afternoon?"

[intoinfinity]

The sound gave Byakuya pause for thought and his eyes shifted, looking for the person who had spoken. He made the girl out then. Glasses, thin face. He'd vaguely seen her around the place, but he still didn't know people very well. Rukia probably knew who she was, her favourite colour and all sorts of other things though, he was willing to bet.

"Good evening. No, it's evening." He tilted his head up to glance at the sky. The sun was quite definitely working its way towards the horizon.

[ise_nanao_chan]

Nanao stretched carelessly then pushed her glasses back up the bridge of her nose, climbing to her feet. "I don't think I've met you before... you do live here, right?"

[ise_nanao_chan]

Nanao frowned slightly as she watched him leave. She slipped into the almost closed door and dropped her mug off in number 4's kitchen, then headed upstairs, to the roof.

It was finally dark enough to see the stars she so loved to watch, and quiet enough she could think. She'd been think alot lately, which wasn't unusual for her. The subjects she had been thinking of WAS something different, though.

She reached her favorite spot, far enough from the door that she wouldn't be disturbing anyone if they came out, sat down and leaned back against the low wall behind her. Without thinking, her eyes slid half closed, allowing her mind to wander.

[chicksdigdogs]

Kiba had taken a little while longer than the minute he'd said to snag his jacket; Shouri was sleeping on it, and Operation Remove Coat had turned into Operation Dog-Wrestling. With Shouri appeased at last by a blanket, and Akamaru tired out and napping after their run, he finally managed to slip his coat on and head for the stairs.

"Nanao?" he called, as he stepped out onto the roof and shut the door behind him. He spotted her sitting against the wall, eyes almost closed and face unexpectedly peaceful. Glancing around--it was a beautiful night, and clear, after all the cloudy skies they'd had--he headed over to her, hunkering down beside her with his back to the wall. Just close enough that he could nudge her with his shoulder if he leaned over, but not quite close enough to touch.

"S'a nice night," he said softly.

[ise_nanao_chan]

Lidded eyes blinked all the way open at the soft comment to see Kiba sitting next to her. For some reason, the thought that he had come up to the roof made her smile. She looked up into the night sky and made a soft sound of contentment.

"Yes, it is... quite nice," she replied quietly.

"You don't have any four footed helpers tonight?"

[chicksdigdogs]

Kiba shrugged. "Nah, Akamaru's pretty tired. Took a long run tonight. And I don't take him out in public much." Sneaking him and out of the building was hard enough; even if the huskies were open secrets, Kiba still couldn't shake the feeling that he should be careful about who saw Akamaru where.

"How've you been?" he asked, leaning his head back against the wall to gaze at the sky, unconsciously echoing her posture. "Hey, look, there's Sirius!"

[ise_nanao_chan]

Nanao absently tipped her head towards his hand, the smile on her face softening. "You're not a dumb jock, Kiba. I never thought you were..." Her eyes closed again as she took a deep breath of the night air, pushing it back out again with a soft sound.

"I'm glad you came up here..."

[chicksdigdogs]

"Hey, thanks." His voice was a little lower than usual; he wasn't quite sure why, but didn't really spare thought to consider it.

"So'm I. Glad you're glad."

His fingers curled up a little more, brushed her cheek again, then curved gently to cup the line of her jaw in his palm.

[ise_nanao_chan]

Dark eyes slowly slid open at the touch, their gaze leveling on Kiba. She shivered, but not from the cold. On the contrary, she felt almost overly warm. A hand unconsciously rose to push a lock of hair out of her face, but she didn't really notice. Her attention was on her companion.

The hand dropped back to her side, her fingers travelling over the curve of his leg before coming to rest on the rough surface between them, yet still in contact.

[chicksdigdogs]

A muscle twitched under her touch; he took a sudden, sharp breath, let it out again in a hiss between his teeth. She was-- This was--

Kiba had a well-earned reputation as a flirt and even a playboy. He saw it, like almost everything else in life, as a game; maybe there wasn't a loser but there sure was a winner, and there were goals and fouls and even rules, though he didn't often keep them. Things were easy, that way; he flirted and teased in good earnest and total heartlessness, like a puppy romping with a new toy, just there to enjoy himself and make sure everyone else was enjoying herself too.

Except his system seemed to be breaking down, recently, and all of the sudden it was scaring him.

He tried to speak, cleared his throat, tried again, his voice husky. "Nanao--"

He couldn't make it past her name.