[ Another simmering urge—more than reaching out and touching. Rokurou has never been known to deny his desires in earnest; looking at Six now, he feels that tickle to act, subtly encouraged by the low-lying oni that spies upon his thoughts.
Without saying anything else, the daemon closes the distance between them. Leans in, chin nodded up, eyelids lowering as he meets their lips in a light press. Tentative and curious, light and chaste, but undoubtedly what it is: a kiss. ]
[ six didn't know what to expect. what he notices at first is the way rokurou closes in the distance between them, all the way until there's nowhere for him to go. his heart beats wildly for reasons unknown to him, but the oni deep inside keeps him steady and right where he is.
their lips meet, and for once, six doesn't push him away immediately. he waits until he has to breathe to be the one to pull back, pale face already a deep scarlet that is definitely not going to fade anytime soon. for the most part, he doesn't look disgusted by what happened — he's simply confused, because he doesn't understand why rokurou would do that. ]
Six's face turns brilliant red, and all Rokurou can think is cute. Which isn't very helpful when the erune is looking at him with a clear question in his eyes, the sound of his name both unsure and inquisitive. ]
Xing. [ the name escapes his lips, a soft utterance, before the daemon huffs and rubs his neck, ] ... ah, I just.
[ There's no excuse he can think of aside from the truth. Which is why Rokurou hesitates, searching Six's face, before admitting, ]
[ rokurou calls him by his real name and now his heart can't make sense of what its doing. the red flush on his cheeks deepen considerably, even more embarrassed now thanks to the intimacy of it all, even if it was just as simple as referring to him as xing. in the back of his mind, he understands why it affects him this much.
there's a faraway voice whispering the reason, after all: xing is a beautiful name. don't you know? there's a reason why your father chose it.
your name means—
he finds his voice somehow. ]
You wanted to—? It's... [ he knows he shouldn't ask, he knows it isn't fair, ] It's not because of the oni, is it?
[ but isn't it a valid fear nonetheless? both of them have admitted to being drawn to each other as a result of what their youkai wants, so he wants to be absolutely certain. ]
No. [ of course he understands why Six asks—the relationship between their oni is toxic at best, possessive to the point of sick obsession ... but whatever he's feeling now is gentle, something he's not sure the oni dwelling inside of him is possible of. ] No. It has nothing to do with the oni.
[ Which is also hard to admit, makes him feel vulnerable, which is something he tends to avoid at all costs.
Licking his lips and rubbing his chin, the daemon glances away, watching the stars again as though they'll offer some words that have this all making sense. But there's only really one answer: that he likes Six. Did from the moment he met him, sure, but it was the quiet moments between them that wedged something strange between his heart and gut. ]
six can feel the way his breath catches in his throat, rokurou's words leaving him just a tiny little bit dumbstruck. no one has ever expressed feelings that go much deeper than friendship, and thanks to how much he doubts his own worth, he can't help but wonder if rokurou is making a mistake here. there's nothing good about him and yet here is the daemon saying he wanted to kiss him — plain and simple.
he doesn't know what to tell him. he's never been in this position before.
but given how fast his heart is beating, can he take this to mean that he feels the same way? that he won't mind it if rokurou kisses him again? ]
Then... maybe you should do it again.
[ heat rises to his cheeks once more, eyes diverted to focus on the grassy patch between them. ]
[ Rokurou hesitates, but only because he can't quite believe what Six just said. Maybe you should do it again. In earnest too, from the way the erune blushes, and Rokurou feels warmth prickling across his own skin in anticipation.
Rather than question if he's sure, the daemon says nothing—it's quiet with only the soft rustle of grass in the wind as he reaches forward to guide Six's face back toward his with a knuckle beneath the chin, bringing their eyes to meet. It's dark, but with the fresh starlight, lilac catches and glimmers; a pretty purple hue that Rokurou would be satisfied to study.
Leaning in, he brings their lips to touch once more. This time it's less tentative, a firmer kiss that lasts longer, as his hand slides to rest on the curve of Six's cheek. ]
[ anticipation mixes itself all over that pretty lilac hue, colouring it with a warmth and depth that had never really been there before. six can feel the world coming to a standstill, different from how it twists and rewinds in this place, and then rokurou kisses him again and suddenly everything is back in working order. a faint breeze caresses his skin softly, but it's no much compared to the way the daemon is holding him.
his heart flutters once more, followed by a warm, fuzzy feeling that he can no longer pretend means nothing. there's something about how rokurou makes him feel that can't be attributed to anything he's ever experience in his life — this is new, exciting, and terrifying all at once.
he doesn't want to let this go.
he lingers for a few seconds more, relishing in the taste of the other man, relishing in how they fit together so nicely. it's almost upsetting to pull away but he knows he has to, opting to keep their foreheads pressed against each other's. ]
[ Six—no, Xing—rests their foreheads together and it's... nice. A pleasant feeling, a tickle of intimacy that draws a sigh from the daemon's lips. They still burn from that second kiss, a sensation that lingers sweetly.
Huffing a short laugh, Rokurou closes his eyes for a moment. Relishing the breeze, the warmth Xing exudes, the sound of the party off in the distance and the quiet that envelopes them in their own little world. ]
Alright? [ he laughs, a soft thing, a rasp of voice that lingers between them, ] Mmmn ... was my kiss just alright?
[ Gently teasing as he opens his eyes again, Rokurou searches Six's without knowing what he's looking for. All he really knows is that he likes the color, and that it looks so pretty catching moonlight, as though he's meant to be cupped in the hands of tender night. ]
[ the erune thinks he can get used to simply listening to the sound of rokurou's laughter. it makes his heart do weird things that are hard for him to process, but the feeling he experiences is pleasant nonetheless. when he opens his eyes, his blush turns into a deeper scarlet once he realizes rokurou's been staring at him. ]
I... Practice?
[ does that mean rokurou wants to do kiss him again?
not that the idea is appalling to six, but it terrifies him all the same. he doesn't know what his heart is doing at this point. there's no stopping him from asking such a dumb question with a really obvious answer. ]
[ Rokurou blinks once, twice, before laughing again. A throaty, deep sound, yet it still comes across light as chimes. When he first met Six, the man had struck him as stoic and cold. Now, looking so surprised and confused and a little unsure, he looks adorable. Enough that Rokurou can't resist reaching up to thread his fingers through that soft, downy hair, in an affectionate rub.
That blush looks real good on him. ]
Haven't you ever heard 'practice makes perfect'?
[ Yet he doesn't dip in to meet their mouths again—the sense that Six lacks experience in this area is strong, and he doesn't want to spook the erune off. While reckless and quick to jump headlong into battle, Rokurou's a patient man. He doesn't mind waiting.
Turning his gaze back up to the stars, he leans over, so that his shoulder is pressing against Six's. ]
S'alright. I'm happy to watch the stars too. [ grinning, ] Maybe we'll see a shooting star, it's a clear enough night.
[ practice makes perfect, rokurou says, as if that first kiss hadn't been perfect already—but what does he know? it's not as though he has any experience in this at all, still confused and unsure of what he should be doing here beyond the fact that it just... feels nice, like it's something that should have happened long ago.
he looks away from rokurou when he ruffles his hair again, lilac eyes closing at the gesture. he's not used to thinking how nice it is to have someone pressed up against him like this, close enough to share the warmth. he listens to what rokurou wishes to see—a shooting star, he says, something so rare that it makes six wonder if it'll even be possible.
after all, hakagemachi just got their stars back. will it be willing to lose one so soon? ]
... You're so fixated on them. The stars.
[ his voice lowers into an even softer tone. so much quieter now.
your name means—
that beautiful light twinkling brightly in the night sky. ]
[ Turning his appreciative gaze away from the sky and stars, he searches Xing's face again, half-smile still curved on his lips. Caught a star, huh...? With hair shimmering against the dark of night, he does look like one, brilliant and unreachable, yet somehow here beside him in the grass. ]
Have I? [ reaching over again, he cups a hand against the erune's cheek, brushing a rough thumbpad across high cheekbone, ] I should give you the attention you deserve, then.
[ Because if that isn't an invitation to kiss him again, Rokurou doesn't know what is—eyelids lowering, he dips in again to meet their mouths in a light brush, hand still steady on Six's cheek. Now that he's caught this star, he doesn't want to let it go. So he doesn't. Won't.
The kiss lasts longer this time, a gesture the daemon lingers in, sensation of warmth tickling across his lips once more. ]
[ those lilac eyes widen with panic once he realizes how rokurou interpreted what he said. ]
That's not what I—
[ it's too late.
the daemon is so close to him now, thumb gently caressing his cheek, mismatched eyes fluttering shut as he leans in to lock their lips. this is one star that burns a deeper shade of red, warm and hot and vibrant all thanks to how the other man makes him feel. he doesn't really know what to make of this, still unsure, still uncertain of whether or not he deserves this simple happiness, but there's no denying the fact that this is something he isn't willing to give up.
he kisses rokurou back, tentatively at first, but growing more curious and more bold as seconds begin to add up. it may be a little awkward on his end despite his best efforts, so he can only hope rokurou doesn't mind.
(it might kill him if the man deems to comment on it. he can already imagine the look on his face.) ]
[ Of course he doesn't mind it—it's not as though he's particularly experienced in this area either, barely knowing how to interpret intimate feelings much less act on them. Swords and battle are all this yaksha really knows—but right now, it feels like maybe he might not just have one sole use, purpose, worth.
When the kiss finally does end, Rokurou smiles again, a touch of color tinting his own cheeks. He isn't much of a blusher, but that warmth is all over his skin. A pleasant tingle that makes his toes curl in his socks. ]
Haha, sorry. What were you saying?
[ Since he did stop him from finishing that sentence with a smooch. ]
[ once they both pull away from each other, the flush on six's cheeks never leaves him, made all the more worse when he sees a faint one colour rokurou's too. his eyes blink wildly at the sight before he has to look away, suddenly feeling so shy despite being way past the point of it being necessary. they've already stepped over the line so why does his heart still feel like jumping right out of his chest?
he struggles to regain his composure, unable to remember what it is he wanted to say. ]
I... [ give him a moment. ] My name. My real name, Xing... I wanted to tell you what it meant.
[ this time, there's no recovering from how red his face is. he can't meet rokurou's eyes out of fear he just might crumble from the weight of embarrassment. ]
I was told it meant "that beautiful light twinkling brightly in the night sky".
[ he simply wanted to tell someone before this city's magic made him forget. ]
[ Oh. Suddenly, Xing's earlier comment makes sense—and the stretched across Rokurou's lips grows, parted with a small huff. Charming. Honestly... how the hell can someone be so unintentionally cute? ]
So it means "star"?
[ The irony of that isn't lost on him. somehow, it looks like he did manage to catch a star in his hands.
As beautiful as the sky is and as nice it is to finally see a clear night, Rokurou can't seem to draw his gaze away from Six anymore. Curious, intrigued, infatuated—he isn't quite sure what he's feeling, but it's warm. ]
I like it. [ a brief pause, then, tentatively, ] Can I call you that? Xing.
[ Instead of Six, as much as he likes the moniker. ]
[ there's a reason why six hasn't gone by as xing, and it's not just because siete has deemed it necessary for all eternals to have a moniker. that name is tied to a past he is desperately trying to atone for, a past that he doesn't think he'll ever be truly at peace with, no matter what he does.
it's a name that has too many memories that are no good, but somehow, when rokurou asks if he can call him xing from now on, the only thing he can think of is how much he wants to let him. ]
... If you'd like.
[ his heart is racing. somehow it's beating so loud that he's scared it might leap right out of him. ]
I don't think it suits me at all.
[ why would his father pick this name, when he was so hated by everyone in his life? it doesn't make any sense to him. ]
[ Looking at him right now—silver hair in moonlight, light eyes, pale skin and flushed cheeks .... Rokurou can't understand why Xing wouldn't think it suits him. So, slowly, the daemon shakes his head. ]
Really? [ a small, fond smile tugs at the corner of his mouth as he reaches out again, combing his hand through Xing's hair and stopping when he finds an ear, which he rubs between his thumb and index finger. ] I think it might.
[ But he won't beat Xing over the head with embarrassing comments about how beautiful he looks right now, and how he's more alluring than the stars themselves. Those are thoughts Rokurou keeps for himself, just simmering in the low heat of emotion that's so rare for him. No doubt some of Akame's influence, the oni having more emotions in his little finger than Rokurou in his whole body .... but this isn't bad. Despite not missing how intense they could get, this feeling... it's nice. ]
[ rokurou doesn't have to say anything, especially given the way he's looking at six as if he's the most beautiful thing in the world right now. the erune can already guess what the daemon is thinking—the unspoken words are written in his smile, the twinkle in his eyes. it makes it difficult for six to look at him directly because it's so overwhelming.
he's never really been in this position before. to have someone's focus be all on him and nothing else. what is he supposed to do here? is he supposed to say anything? acknowledge it? it'll be easier to push rokurou away, but—
his heart knows that's not what he wants. ]
... Of course you'd say that.
[ his heart is racing once again, but it's all thanks to what he's up to this time around. he shifts his body's position so it's easier to pull rokurou closer to him, enabling easy access for yet another kiss. words are hard to string together when his mind is a mess of emotions so he'll settle for this.
soft and sweet, it's a kiss that lingers. he knows rokurou won't mind. ]
[ It's Rokurou's turn to fluster somewhat. For some reason, he doesn't expect Six to initiate, heart stuttering stupidly when the erune leans in to meet their mouths together. Soft, still quite chaste, and yet heat prickles along the daemon's flesh. Even a light brush of lips like this feels like a lot when all of his nerves are bright, focusing every iota of their attention on Six.
Lingering in that kiss is sweet. A moment of brevity from how everything the past few days has been brutal: a fight with a spirit, zombie youkai, the topsy turvy twist of time ... as much as Rokurou relishes action and battle, this is nice.
Humming, he presses their foreheads together again. ]
[ it's just too bad that the one time six does something to fluster rokurou is the same time he isn't looking directly at the daemon once the kiss breaks off. if anything, his eyes are closed shut, if only because he's nervous what he sees will just make his heart beat even faster. this is such a weird sensation for him, so unused to love and affection that he isn't quite sure how to navigate it, but he's making do somehow.
one way or another, he'll gather up the courage to do what he just did again.
for now, however, he is content to stay close like this, to not move a single inch away from the man who has confused him in more ways than one. at least it's a good thing — for the most part. ]
... Yeah. Let's stay here.
[ with the stars as their backdrop, six finds himself trying to match the rhythm of rokurou's breathing, the same rise and fall of those ribs where the daemon's heart rests. he doesn't know why he started to do it, only that it soothes him, takes away all the tension he might otherwise be experiencing.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
swordhardy) wrote2020-10-29 08:10 pm
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Without saying anything else, the daemon closes the distance between them. Leans in, chin nodded up, eyelids lowering as he meets their lips in a light press. Tentative and curious, light and chaste, but undoubtedly what it is: a kiss. ]
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their lips meet, and for once, six doesn't push him away immediately. he waits until he has to breathe to be the one to pull back, pale face already a deep scarlet that is definitely not going to fade anytime soon. for the most part, he doesn't look disgusted by what happened — he's simply confused, because he doesn't understand why rokurou would do that. ]
... Rokurou?
[ why? ]
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Six's face turns brilliant red, and all Rokurou can think is cute. Which isn't very helpful when the erune is looking at him with a clear question in his eyes, the sound of his name both unsure and inquisitive. ]
Xing. [ the name escapes his lips, a soft utterance, before the daemon huffs and rubs his neck, ] ... ah, I just.
[ There's no excuse he can think of aside from the truth. Which is why Rokurou hesitates, searching Six's face, before admitting, ]
I wanted to.
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there's a faraway voice whispering the reason, after all: xing is a beautiful name. don't you know? there's a reason why your father chose it.
your name means—
he finds his voice somehow. ]
You wanted to—? It's... [ he knows he shouldn't ask, he knows it isn't fair, ] It's not because of the oni, is it?
[ but isn't it a valid fear nonetheless? both of them have admitted to being drawn to each other as a result of what their youkai wants, so he wants to be absolutely certain. ]
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[ Which is also hard to admit, makes him feel vulnerable, which is something he tends to avoid at all costs.
Licking his lips and rubbing his chin, the daemon glances away, watching the stars again as though they'll offer some words that have this all making sense. But there's only really one answer: that he likes Six. Did from the moment he met him, sure, but it was the quiet moments between them that wedged something strange between his heart and gut. ]
It's me. [ another breath, ] And you.
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six can feel the way his breath catches in his throat, rokurou's words leaving him just a tiny little bit dumbstruck. no one has ever expressed feelings that go much deeper than friendship, and thanks to how much he doubts his own worth, he can't help but wonder if rokurou is making a mistake here. there's nothing good about him and yet here is the daemon saying he wanted to kiss him — plain and simple.
he doesn't know what to tell him. he's never been in this position before.
but given how fast his heart is beating, can he take this to mean that he feels the same way? that he won't mind it if rokurou kisses him again? ]
Then... maybe you should do it again.
[ heat rises to his cheeks once more, eyes diverted to focus on the grassy patch between them. ]
Just to be sure.
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Rather than question if he's sure, the daemon says nothing—it's quiet with only the soft rustle of grass in the wind as he reaches forward to guide Six's face back toward his with a knuckle beneath the chin, bringing their eyes to meet. It's dark, but with the fresh starlight, lilac catches and glimmers; a pretty purple hue that Rokurou would be satisfied to study.
Leaning in, he brings their lips to touch once more. This time it's less tentative, a firmer kiss that lasts longer, as his hand slides to rest on the curve of Six's cheek. ]
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his heart flutters once more, followed by a warm, fuzzy feeling that he can no longer pretend means nothing. there's something about how rokurou makes him feel that can't be attributed to anything he's ever experience in his life — this is new, exciting, and terrifying all at once.
he doesn't want to let this go.
he lingers for a few seconds more, relishing in the taste of the other man, relishing in how they fit together so nicely. it's almost upsetting to pull away but he knows he has to, opting to keep their foreheads pressed against each other's. ]
... Alright.
[ that's it. that's all he says.
he's always been so good at ruining the moment. ]
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Huffing a short laugh, Rokurou closes his eyes for a moment. Relishing the breeze, the warmth Xing exudes, the sound of the party off in the distance and the quiet that envelopes them in their own little world. ]
Alright? [ he laughs, a soft thing, a rasp of voice that lingers between them, ] Mmmn ... was my kiss just alright?
[ Gently teasing as he opens his eyes again, Rokurou searches Six's without knowing what he's looking for. All he really knows is that he likes the color, and that it looks so pretty catching moonlight, as though he's meant to be cupped in the hands of tender night. ]
Guess I need practice.
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I... Practice?
[ does that mean rokurou wants to do kiss him again?
not that the idea is appalling to six, but it terrifies him all the same. he doesn't know what his heart is doing at this point. there's no stopping him from asking such a dumb question with a really obvious answer. ]
But why do you want to practice—?
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That blush looks real good on him. ]
Haven't you ever heard 'practice makes perfect'?
[ Yet he doesn't dip in to meet their mouths again—the sense that Six lacks experience in this area is strong, and he doesn't want to spook the erune off. While reckless and quick to jump headlong into battle, Rokurou's a patient man. He doesn't mind waiting.
Turning his gaze back up to the stars, he leans over, so that his shoulder is pressing against Six's. ]
S'alright. I'm happy to watch the stars too. [ grinning, ] Maybe we'll see a shooting star, it's a clear enough night.
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he looks away from rokurou when he ruffles his hair again, lilac eyes closing at the gesture. he's not used to thinking how nice it is to have someone pressed up against him like this, close enough to share the warmth. he listens to what rokurou wishes to see—a shooting star, he says, something so rare that it makes six wonder if it'll even be possible.
after all, hakagemachi just got their stars back. will it be willing to lose one so soon? ]
... You're so fixated on them. The stars.
[ his voice lowers into an even softer tone. so much quieter now.
your name means—
that beautiful light twinkling brightly in the night sky. ]
Even though you've caught one right here.
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Have I? [ reaching over again, he cups a hand against the erune's cheek, brushing a rough thumbpad across high cheekbone, ] I should give you the attention you deserve, then.
[ Because if that isn't an invitation to kiss him again, Rokurou doesn't know what is—eyelids lowering, he dips in again to meet their mouths in a light brush, hand still steady on Six's cheek. Now that he's caught this star, he doesn't want to let it go. So he doesn't. Won't.
The kiss lasts longer this time, a gesture the daemon lingers in, sensation of warmth tickling across his lips once more. ]
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That's not what I—
[ it's too late.
the daemon is so close to him now, thumb gently caressing his cheek, mismatched eyes fluttering shut as he leans in to lock their lips. this is one star that burns a deeper shade of red, warm and hot and vibrant all thanks to how the other man makes him feel. he doesn't really know what to make of this, still unsure, still uncertain of whether or not he deserves this simple happiness, but there's no denying the fact that this is something he isn't willing to give up.
he kisses rokurou back, tentatively at first, but growing more curious and more bold as seconds begin to add up. it may be a little awkward on his end despite his best efforts, so he can only hope rokurou doesn't mind.
(it might kill him if the man deems to comment on it. he can already imagine the look on his face.) ]
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When the kiss finally does end, Rokurou smiles again, a touch of color tinting his own cheeks. He isn't much of a blusher, but that warmth is all over his skin. A pleasant tingle that makes his toes curl in his socks. ]
Haha, sorry. What were you saying?
[ Since he did stop him from finishing that sentence with a smooch. ]
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he struggles to regain his composure, unable to remember what it is he wanted to say. ]
I... [ give him a moment. ] My name. My real name, Xing... I wanted to tell you what it meant.
[ this time, there's no recovering from how red his face is. he can't meet rokurou's eyes out of fear he just might crumble from the weight of embarrassment. ]
I was told it meant "that beautiful light twinkling brightly in the night sky".
[ he simply wanted to tell someone before this city's magic made him forget. ]
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So it means "star"?
[ The irony of that isn't lost on him. somehow, it looks like he did manage to catch a star in his hands.
As beautiful as the sky is and as nice it is to finally see a clear night, Rokurou can't seem to draw his gaze away from Six anymore. Curious, intrigued, infatuated—he isn't quite sure what he's feeling, but it's warm. ]
I like it. [ a brief pause, then, tentatively, ] Can I call you that? Xing.
[ Instead of Six, as much as he likes the moniker. ]
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it's a name that has too many memories that are no good, but somehow, when rokurou asks if he can call him xing from now on, the only thing he can think of is how much he wants to let him. ]
... If you'd like.
[ his heart is racing. somehow it's beating so loud that he's scared it might leap right out of him. ]
I don't think it suits me at all.
[ why would his father pick this name, when he was so hated by everyone in his life? it doesn't make any sense to him. ]
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Really? [ a small, fond smile tugs at the corner of his mouth as he reaches out again, combing his hand through Xing's hair and stopping when he finds an ear, which he rubs between his thumb and index finger. ] I think it might.
[ But he won't beat Xing over the head with embarrassing comments about how beautiful he looks right now, and how he's more alluring than the stars themselves. Those are thoughts Rokurou keeps for himself, just simmering in the low heat of emotion that's so rare for him. No doubt some of Akame's influence, the oni having more emotions in his little finger than Rokurou in his whole body .... but this isn't bad. Despite not missing how intense they could get, this feeling... it's nice. ]
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he's never really been in this position before. to have someone's focus be all on him and nothing else. what is he supposed to do here? is he supposed to say anything? acknowledge it? it'll be easier to push rokurou away, but—
his heart knows that's not what he wants. ]
... Of course you'd say that.
[ his heart is racing once again, but it's all thanks to what he's up to this time around. he shifts his body's position so it's easier to pull rokurou closer to him, enabling easy access for yet another kiss. words are hard to string together when his mind is a mess of emotions so he'll settle for this.
soft and sweet, it's a kiss that lingers. he knows rokurou won't mind. ]
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Lingering in that kiss is sweet. A moment of brevity from how everything the past few days has been brutal: a fight with a spirit, zombie youkai, the topsy turvy twist of time ... as much as Rokurou relishes action and battle, this is nice.
Humming, he presses their foreheads together again. ]
Let's stay here and watch the stars for a while.
[ He's in no rush to get back to the party. ]
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one way or another, he'll gather up the courage to do what he just did again.
for now, however, he is content to stay close like this, to not move a single inch away from the man who has confused him in more ways than one. at least it's a good thing — for the most part. ]
... Yeah. Let's stay here.
[ with the stars as their backdrop, six finds himself trying to match the rhythm of rokurou's breathing, the same rise and fall of those ribs where the daemon's heart rests. he doesn't know why he started to do it, only that it soothes him, takes away all the tension he might otherwise be experiencing.
he doesn't have anywhere else he'd rather be. ]