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“Are you still sulking about Mukuro being out on deployment?” Sayaka asks as Kyoko quietly goes through her mail of the day. Kyoko looks up from where she’s ignoring a letter from her grandfather, confused by her statement.
“I beg your pardon?”
“It is written all over your face. You’re moping because she’s not here to keep you under control, which is why I offered to babysit you!” Sayaka grins. Kyoko bristles.
“You are not babysitting me.”
“Who took three energy drinks off of you in the last few hours?” Sayaka replies, “Yeah, me. So I am babysitting you. What mail do you have?”
Kyoko looks down to the pile once again. An ignored letter from her grandfather, an upcoming anniversary card for her and Mukuro and… wait. A postcard? Kyoko picks it up, looking at the typical corny beach scene on the front. She can feel Sayaka on her shoulder as she giggles and taps the laminated surface.
“I bet that's from Mukuro.”
“Please, she wouldn’t have time to write one. She also doesn’t do cheesy, corny postcards like this.” Kyoko says, unamused. She goes to dispose of the letter and postcard when the idol grabs her wrist. Kirigiri physically cringes, but allows her to argue her point. Sayaka takes the postcard but allows her to dispose of the letter. She hands it to the detective and nods, and Kyoko reluctantly but finally flips it over.
“So?” Sayaka says hopefully, and Kyoko huffs.
“She sent a postcard.” Kyoko says.
“Ooh! Can I read?”
“No, absolutely not.” She huffs, “Five minutes, out.” She directs, pointing out the kitchen. Sayaka shrugs then picks up her phone, smiles, and bounces out of the kitchen. Kyoko looks down at the postcard, beginning to read it.
‘Hello.
I am writing to you from a place I don’t think I can name specifically. I am sorry I had to leave on such short notice, but I am glad to inform you that my duties are light. All I have to do is patrol, and the enemy doesn’t come this far back. I love you, and I assure you that I will return.
Love you, forever and always.
Ikusaba.
P.S; I hate sand in my boots.’
Kyoko smiles lightly at herself as she pockets the postcard. She’s reassured and she’s quite happy to not disturb Mukuro’s travels now. She turns to her casework and begins reviewing, noticeably happier when Sayaka returns.
-
When Mukuro returns two weeks later, there is a party held by her classmates. She notices out of all of them only two are absent. Junko, who promptly told her she wished she had died out there, which was always lovely, and Kyoko, who she was yet to see. She smiles sheepishly at the others in the room - Sayaka, Makoto, Hina, Sakura and Chihiro - and wonders why her girlfriend hadn’t turned up. She’s grabbing some more juice when Sayaka pops up behind her, garnering her attention.
“Hey, what did you say in that postcard you sent to Kyoko?”
Mukuro blinks. Frankly, it’s none of Sayaka’s business, and honestly Sayaka had a habit of getting into other people’s businesses. But Mukuro hasn’t a social backbone in her body so she surrenders and answers regardless.
“Nothing much. Why, did she not like it?”
That’s when Kyoko walks in and Mukuro is quickly proved wrong. They look happier, their posture is better and from what she can see they are speaking more clearly. Mukuro looks back to Sayaka as the detective spots them. The soldier tilts her head a little, smiling slightly and awkwardly. She thinks about approaching Kyoko for a moment then immediately asks Sayaka instead.
“Did my postcard do that?”
“Well, she’s been on cloud nine for the last two weeks, so you must’ve done something!” Hina calls, giggling as Kyoko playfully narrows her eyes. They approach the soldier and take her hand, smiling lightly with a hum.
“Hey.” Kyoko greets gently, smiling at her, “I got your postcard.”
“Was I really that romantic?”
Mukuro asks as Kyoko leads her out into the hallway. Mukuro wonders for a brief moment if she’s about to get stabbed or something before noticing the sleuth turn around, her neutral expression atleast semi-normal now. She also has the idea that she was too formal but really, Kyoko texted like that so returning the energy felt right to the noirette, especially since she knows Kyoko wasn’t alone for those two weeks. She waits with bated breath, then..
“No.” Kyoko answers. But then she hums, “That’s exactly why I loved it so much. You spoke in a way that I understood. You didn’t use all this flowery language, just informed me that you were safe, what you were doing and that you were returning. That’s all I can really ask for.” She explains, kissing her hand. A common show of affection from her in public spaces. She didn’t often kiss on the face due to always being on guard.
(Wow, the bar is so low for her standards, Mukuro thinks.)
Mukuro smiles a little but cups her cheek, “Hey, just because I didn’t use it doesn’t mean you don’t deserve it. I’m just.. still getting used to it. And there wasn’t much room on the postcard.” She says, “You’re still my beautiful, stunning partner, Kyoko.”
Kyoko blushes, “I know, I think I just wanted to hear you say it.” She replies.
Mukuro nods. She stares for a moment, then hums, “Let’s ditch the party. I wanna spend time with you.”
Kyoko rolls her eyes, “Are you sure? Alright. Come along then.” She says, leading her girlfriend into the dorms. Once completed, she settles with her on the bed and smiles softly. Kyoko sends a text to Sayaka but otherwise doesn’t inform the others that they’ve left.
“Hey. Hey, I love you.” Mukuro murmurs, smiling up at the sleuth. Kyoko lets out a light chuckle, burrowing into the crook of her neck.
“I love you too.” Kyoko replies, kissing her neck lovingly, “I’m so glad you came back.”
“Me too.