Tryin' to Get Over You [CLOSED]

J had just came in from his morning training session. He was covered in sweat and had a rag hanging over his neck that he recently wiped his face with. He was sitting across from his brother, a meal made by Maaya placed in front of both of them. Maaya knew she did not have to cook as she had been told many times, however, she felt the need to. He began eating, understanding the tension that often showed between him and Maaya, even if he wished it wasn't there. They did have a problem right now, but not one that would easily be fixed. "We have some things we will have to work through, but I'm sure we'll get through it. She's trying very hard; I'm just unsure of how to comfort her now."

"As for the rain..." J looked up to the sky and shrugged, "I can't remember. I'm sure it is supposed to come in though. Why are you worried about th- Right. You have a date tonight, don't you?" J looked  down to his food and smirked. Kazuo had been a little secretive on who he was going out with, which only made J wonder more. "Are you still not going to tell me who it is?" J asked and then looked to his brother with narrowed eyes that issued a challenge, a brotherly one though, "If I must, I will follow you. I must watch out for my younger brother at all costs. What if this person is a spy? What if they're not trustworthy? I must make sure of this, and I can't unless I understand who they are."

"That is not wh-..." Kazuo caught his words before he could even say them. However, Kazuo wasn't helping settle J's mind. "Your words are only making me more suspicious, Kazuo. My brother, understand that I have nothing more than your best interests at heart. You've known every woman that had come to me for the possibility of marriage, is it not only fair I know who you go out and date? I do trust in your judgement, but I do have the Saionji name to think about as well." J turned his head and called one of the guards, "I am going to need you to launch and investigation on the woman my brother has decided to go out on a date with. His refusal to reveal her identity has me worried. Understood?"

During their conversation, J enjoyed the meal he had. He finished right around Kazuo finally admitting who he was going out with. J stopped mid chew of his last bite and stared at Kazuo. He glanced around as he thought about that and then just nodded while swallowing. "I understand your worry, but you don't have to. Captain Hayashi is a kind woman and you are not bound by the same laws that bind me when it comes to marriage. Even then, I don't follow them. The fact that Maaya is, or was, a noble has only been a bonus for the family." J was about to stand up when he noticed the guard still there, looking all confused. "Did you not hear my brother? He said it doesn't need to be done. You're dismissed. Thank you." J said as he stood up and sighed, "Good luck on your date. You've chosen well." He was about to walk away, but then stopped and looked back to Kazuo, "You do know that I would not have followed you around, right? I'm not that nosy, Kazuo. Thank you for telling me anyway. Have a reasonable amount of fun with the Captain." J vanished from sight with a quick-to-escape shunpo.

Midori remembered dinner, but wasn't thinking of it like an actual date. Like Kazuo Saionji would ask her out on a date, right? Who the hell would expect that? However, she did want to look nice for the outting. She tossed on a little white dress with a blue flowery pattern all along it. It showed off her chest a little more than she meant it to, but it wasn't a bother. She hadn't worn this thing in a very, very long time. She hadn't had a reason to. As she was finishing up her hair, she heard the knock at the door. "Coming!" she called out, a little surprised he was on time. She slipped into a pair of small white pumps as she made her way to the door and opened it up to greet Kazuo. "Well don't you look handsome." she said playfully and with a smile. She expected to have fun today. "We might want to make sure we don't go anywhere to open. I don't know if you heard, but it was supposed to rain today." Midori said as she stepped out and closed her door, "Where do you want to go?"

"Oh, well thank you." Midori giggled as she happily accepted his arm. "The Sapphire is a wonderful restaurant, but  I'm not sure it's the place I'd want to go today." Midori had a bit of a check list in the back of her mind right now, though she was completely unaware of it. The checklist consists of multiple hints and clues that would show her that Kazuo did think of this as a date. The first one was checked off when he looped their arms. The second was checked off when she realized what type of restaurant they were going to. Sure, the two of them were Captains, but she figured a small diner would have been their choice of destination. Kazuo had chosen a more fancy and high-class location.

They arrived and Midori had a third check go off when she realized he made reservations. She was surprised and it showed on her face. The two recieved a window seat and Midori thanked Kazuo for helping her to her seat. She then smiled as she observed the fish in the moat. It was a beautiful sight, like being in an aquarium and enjoying a great meal. "It is quite beautiful." she said and then turned back to him, "My day has been rather quiet. There were very few injuries in need of my help and I made sure to stop by Kaminari's early this morning to check on her. How has your day been so far?" The waiter came over and handed them their menus and some water to begin, leaving in silence so they could make their decision. "Thank you." was all Midori said as the waiter left. She opened the menu and titled her head, "I've never been here before. Do you know what's good?"

"If your brother is picking on you again, I can get a little revenge on him." Midori said with a giggle, "I invented a certain pill that allows me to get my own petty revenge on people who have chosen to spite me. It changes the way the body loses weight. So the more one works out, the fatter they get. Do you remember when Kaminari suddenly put on like 30 pounds a couple years back? She cut out all the bust areas in my shirts and I walked out of the house with my bra popping through my shirt before even realizing it... It was so embarrassing, so I made her fat." There was a playfully dark look on Midori's face when she remembered that. She giggled a little bit. "She still doesn't know it was me either... Oh, yeah, and don't you go telling on me! I can't believe I even told you that. Hahaha."

Midori was noticing that Kazuo was talking a bit faster than normal. He seemed nervous about something. When he asked for the wine menu, she was surprised. Did she bring enough money for this? She turned away for a moment and glanced into her wallet. "No. No, I did not bring enough for this... Shit. Should have expected a more lavish dining tonight. I'm so stu-... wait a minute." Midori put her wallet away as a few interesting thoughts rushed through her head. She tilted her head to the side as she looked at him. Even as he stopped talking, she was obviously contemplating something. She glanced to his outfit, his hair was back, the arm loop, the super fancy restaurant, the wine, the window seat. "Holy shit. This is a date." Midori's face immediately turned extremely red. She could not hide it. She looked down to the menu and skimmed over it, "I think I'll try the lobster. I-I don't need a four course meal o-or anything." She closed the menu as the wine menus came, "I'm not good at choosing."

"If he finds out, he'll be angry and I'll tell him to grow a sense of humor. Of course, if he found out I did it because I thought he was picking on you, he might take it out on you... Could be a bad situation, but seeing J get fat would be hilarious. It's just lucky that once you stop taking the pill, the rate of going back to normal is accelerated, so he wouldn't be like that for long." Midori laughed, thinking about someone like J actually looking like a couch potato. The fact that Kazuo saw her that way was extremely embarrassing. She put her hand over her face and shook her head. "I should of made her take them for an extra month. Sometimes I'm a little too air-headed. I should have noticed the people staring sooner, but oh well. That bra has been destroyed; Wouldn't wear it again anyway."

Midori appreciated Kazuo taken the initiative and ordering for her. She wasn't used to being around the more gentlemanly types, especially since she now understood. "This is a date... Wow." Midori was a little awestruck at this point. Her mind was going a mile a minute, trying to think of how many ways she need to avoid messing this night up. Even if they never went out again, she didn't want to embarrass him or make him think less of her. She should have never told him that bra story. She mentally groaned before bringing her attention back to him. "Oh, well thank you. It was a gift and I can't remember the exact name right now. I know it's something lavender." Midori began playing with her hair, blushing even more as he complimented her, "Th-Thank you, again. You do as well, but I'm sure you're used to hearing it... You and your brother are quite popular with the ladies."

"Come on, get it together girl..." Midori yelled at herself for even mentioning other women at this point, "You're never this out of it. Just take a deep breath and talk to him like normal. The conversation was going much better when you were oblivious..." Midori closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. She visibly relaxed and then looked up to Kazuo with a clearer look in her eyes. "So how is everything going after the incident? Have damages been repaired? ... How's Maaya?"

Midori was taken aback by the compliment. Unfortunately, it didn't have the same impact on her that it would have on other women. It was like he was trying too hard to make her feel nice. Saying that bra looked good, especially with how he had seen it, felt inappropriate. She kept a straight face and chose to say nothing more until the conversation moved on. "I'm sure the women who compliment you do mean it." Midori tilted her head a bit, "I'm glad that me saying it feels special, but don't lessen the compliments you get from other people. You hear them often, but remember that compliments have a power, a powerful one that people often ignore. Telling someone they look or smell nice, complimenting a new outfit, or even commenting nicely on their smile or eyes... Especially for women, it can really make someones day. It doesn't always mean you're being flirt with. Sometimes it's just to brighten a mood. Things like that can really make a difference, so when someone compliments you... Take it nicely. It's not easy to say something like that to either Saionji Brother; it takes courage."

It didn't surprise Midori that there were a few issues there, but talking about that kind of thing wasn't the best for a date. Midori nodded in agreement. She was surprised that he went back to a conversation about the same day. "Mm... I'm okay. Nothing there really effected me and I wasn't injured. I'm not a noble either, so things about it don't really stress me out... Kazuo, is that really what you want to talk about tonight? I feel like there are other things we can discuss... Why don't you tell me something about yourself. Usually you try to get to know people on a more personal level... when you're on a date." Midori smiled sweetly and blushed a bit, showing that she knew what was going on.

Midori took to heart what Kazuo said about the compliments. She understood it to a degree, but she couldn't relate. She had never been complimented to that point and she didn't think she wanted to be. However, he took it well and that was impressive. "Yes," she nodded in agreement and toasted with him now that they had gotten their wine, "To a good first date." Midori took a sip of the wine and savored it. She exhaled happily as she set the glass down. Kazuo told Midori about a place he had went. He had even kayaked. She didn't really know what that was beyond some sort of boat.

"That sounds nice..." she replied and thought of a place she liked to go, "I don't really have one. I know that sounds stupid, but I don't. I can't remember the last time I went to the World Of The Living to have fun. I haven't had a vacation in years, but that is my choice. I guess it's a silly one... I could use a break, but with everything that's gone on recently, taking one could cause problems... Still, I think I might plan one soon. Maybe... Ireland. I wouldn't mind seeing the States. Hawaii or California would be nice. Is there a place that you've never been that you would like to see? Just... somewhere new?"

The night was going great. The conversation was pleasant and the meal was a bonus. Midori was really enjoying the night. When Kazuo switched up, she didn't know what to expect and what he said was not on the list at all. He had lied about that? Midori kind of understood the reasoning, but she didn't know how to feel now. "I see." was all she felt she could say. At this point, she couldn't look at him. She glanced off toward the floor, deep in thought. "That's fine, I think. I appreciate you telling the truth." she said, but still wasn't looking at him. Midori's expression saddened a bit, "I've gotta go." Midori stood up and dropped some money on the table. She bowed to Kauzo and hurried off, "Goodnight."

Midori wasn't slow, but she wasn't as fast as Kazuo and probably never would be. She should have expected to be stopped. She looked down to the money and just clenched it in her hands when she looked back to him. She listened to what he had to say, but as he went on, her eyes were telling him to stop talking about that. He got the hint, at least she thought he did, because he changed the subjecet. However, he didn't understand it. She just shook her head. "That's not it... You don't understand." Midori glanced around the restaurant. This was embarrassing. She felt like all eyes were on them, when in reality no one was even paying attention. Her cheeks flushed red and she looked back to Kazuo. "I need some fresh air... It's too hot in here." she said and hurried outside. When he came out, he'd find her leaning over a gate and staring down into the moat to watch the fish.

Midori jumped when he showed up. He pulled her from her thoughts. She smiled weakly and looked back to the fish. She had chosen a spot that was away from people. "No, I don't even think Kaminari would understand, or Lilith, or Sascha, or even Maaya... I don't know if anyone would at this point." Midori sighed and lowered her head, "I was hoping you were one because then I wouldn't be the only inexperienced Captain. I'm sure most of the Lieutenants have probably even experienced it, but nope... Not me." Midori knocked on her head like she was an idiot. "I used to be able to relate to Kaminari, but now that she's with Tsubine, she even makes fun of me for it... It's extremely embarrassing..."