[action thread] [Open to Nanao, Kurenai and Hayate] [Reminiscence] [open]

[ise_nanao_chan]

It wasn't something she'd planned on doing, but never-the-less, Nanao found herself putting clothes back on after her shower, instead of her usual habit of donning pajamas. As she pulled her tee-shirt back on, she thought to go up to the roof to enjoy the evening in solitude. Her wrists were still bruised, that sickly yellow-green showing that they

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[miss_ex]

Kurenai enjoyed the few times she had the apartment to herself. She felt more relaxed and free to move about the apartment doing as she pleased. This hardly meant much however as she was currently balancing out her checkbook on the kitchen table, still dressed in a pair of jeans and tanktop despite the humidity. If she'd lived with other women she would've had less reserve, but as it was, she could never be sure when Genma or Hayate would come back or even if anyone stopped by.

Speaking of which...

The knock made Kurenai looked up from the bill in her hands. Grateful for an excuse to put it down, she walked over to the door curiously. The sight on the other side made her smile.

"Nanao. Please! Please come in. Can you?" Kurenai asked, wondering if the woman had the time or was just dropping by, which made her also think of the reason she might be. "Hayate's not here right now..."

[ise_nanao_chan]

Nanao stepped into the apartment, obviously comfortable in her surroundings. "I know he's not. I didn't come to see him this time." Her tone might've sounded impertinent to some, but she didn't think it mattered to Kurenai.

They had a long history and she knew she might be chastised for her cheek, but she also thought that Kurenai might cheer her on for growing up some, even if the growth had been painful at times.

"I was on my way to the roof and thought I'd stop by and say hello, since I haven't in a while..." She shrugged, looking down for a second, then crossed her arms over her chest.

"I hope you've been behaving yourself."

[miss_ex]

An eyebrow was raised curiously at Nanao's tone, but nothing was said about it. Then her eyes rolled--albeit in defeat--at her chastisment. "I've been good tonight," Kurenai replied with a wry grin. She stepped aside and motioned in. "Well why don't you come in for a bit anyway? You know I've been meaning to talk with you and no one else but me is here, so it would be the perfect opportunity..."

[ise_nanao_chan]

"I feel like I'm in trouble when you put it like that... "

Nanao settled down one side of the couch, leaning back slightly as she stared at her former tutor and friend. "I know I've been hard to get ahold of lately. I'm apologize."

The change of subject....

[miss_ex]

It wasn't an answer Kurenai liked, but with Nanao's stand behind it, she couldn't press the issue futher out of respect. With a deep, cleansing breath, Kurenai allowed (and only slightly had to force) herself to let it be. ...For now, definitely at least.

With a more relaxed grin she complied and changed the subject.

"So what are you doing now? School? Work?"

Re: The change of subject....

[ise_nanao_chan]

Nanao leaned her head back against he couch. "Both, but I'm not taking any summer classes this time around. I'm working at the university library now. When I first got here, I ended up working at this little cafe as a waitress."

A wry smile creased her face. "That's not a job I'm cut out for. Too noisy and too messy. Now books, I can handle.Someplace quiet and boring. It's handy, too. I can study while I'm working, not to mention internet access..."

[miss_ex]

Kurenai laughed. "Somehow hearing you say that doesn't surprise me at all. A librarian, huh? Fitting for you. I had a hard time getting you to put down your novels and pick up your textbooks sometimes when you were younger..." She gave Nanao a teasing disciplinarian look, one that the younger woman would be familiar with.

"Do you have a major?"

[ise_nanao_chan]

She didn't bother to restrain the slight eyeroll that had been her habitual answer even back then. "You know better than to even say that. I was usually buried in NON-fiction books. Granted, not what I was supposed to be studying at the time..."

She shrugged slightly, still smiling.

"I was working on my post-graduate law studies, but I dropped that... and now... I have no idea. I don't think I've found it yet."

It was still an odd thing to Nanao, not having her future planned out to every last moment.

"What about you? What do you do now?"

(Again to prevent shrinking thread boxes...)

[miss_ex]

Kurenai sighed a bit helplessly but still with conviction. "Nanao, I'm not doing this to gang up on you. Although don't think I won't use that tactic if I feel it's necessary. I'm doing this because I think it's good for you. I think it'll help you and give you more confidence when placed in bad situations. You know I wouldn't be so insistent on something if I didn't feel it was best..."

She wasn't satisfied with Nanao's apparent resolve, but she wasn't giving up either. She looked to her roommate.

"Hayate, do you think you could bring us more information on when and where these classes are?" She cast a pointent look at Nanao without addressing her. "We'll both be looking into it."

[lunar_gale]

He pursed his lips slightly, casting another glance in Nanao's direction before pulling a folded piece of paper from the back pocket of the faded jeans that hung a bit looser than usual around his hips.

"Mmm, let's see. Thursdays at seven?"

Gesturing vaguely with the brochure, he shrugged and managed a small smile. "He asked me if I wanted to join..."

Guess he hasn't had his share of throwing me around, yet.

[ise_nanao_chan]

When she was much younger, such things didn't bother her. It had been second nature for Nanao to accept the fact that her parents made all her decisions for her.

Now, however, was a slightly different story. She didn't really appreciate Kurenai speaking for her, but, as was her habit, she held her comments back. Even if she had to bite her lip to do so.

She did make her point by strolling to the arm of the couch and sitting down, then aiming a bland look at her companions. "I said I'd think about it, and I will."

[miss_ex]

"We all will, I think," Kurenai stated matter-of-factly, but Nanao's body language made her think better of pushing further tonight and she dropped the subject.

"So! ...Hayate, what is it you do again?" she asked, unable to quite remember. She walked into the kitchen for a glass of water.