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"KYAAAAA!! Rengoku-san look!" Mitsuri squealed, suddenly wrapping one arm around Kyojurous own and gesturing wildly in the direction of whatever had caught her attention with the other. "Look how adorable these paper and writing sets are! The little engravings are so cute!" She fawned as she pulled Kyojurou towards the window display she was enamored with.
Kyojurou chuckled as she let herself be dragged over to the window displaying various kinds of ornate paper and brush sets, some pieces of the displayed paper being decorated with detailed designs lining the edges of the sheets, the brushes having similarly complex designs engraved into them.
"Aren't these so cute?" Mitsuri asked as she bounced excitedly, rocking Kyojurous own body up and down as she did so, "Look at all the designs! The flowers and the patterns! Oh I wonder if they have any with tiny cats or hearts on them, that'd be so cute!"
Kyojurou smiled down at her friend, "I'm not sure an establishment like this would carry parchment with pictures of cats on it!" She said, eyeing the expensive looking exterior and interior designs of the shop. "Hmhm," Mitsuri grumbled, face dropping to a pout, "I guess you're right, it does look like a super fancy place..." She trailed off, her face suddenly lighting back up as quickly as it had fallen, "Oh but anyhow! Aren't these just the cutest anyways? Could you imagine someone buying these and using them to write love letters?" She asked, a hand flying up to her face as her cheeks flushed a light shade of pink and her smile grew even more excited. "Oh that'd be so romantic, wouldn't it? I'd fall over swooning if someone did that for me I think!" She fawned as the flush on her face deepened and she leaned harder into Kyojurous side.
"Hm!" Kyojurou replied with her usual cheery tone, "They are very well designed! I can most certainly see why someone would find them appealing!" Mitsuri let out a cheery noise of acknowledgement at her reply, continuing to admire the various designs show cased in the window display.
"Hey dickheads! I thought we came out here to get some damn food, not to window shop!" Yelled out the offended voice of Shinazugawa from up ahead. Kyojurou turned to look over to where he stood several feet ahead of them, looking back at them with clear annoyance and impatience painted over his features.
"We're multitasking!" Mitsuri chirped back cheerfully in reply, waving him off, "We hardly ever get nights off anymore, let alone ones where any of us have the opportunity to spend time together as a group! We should enjoy our time out together as friends!" She stated cheerfully.
"We ain't friends! If you two are gonna waste all your time lollygagging around I'm leaving, I only came along for the free food!" He grumbled back at her loudly, before turning on his heel and continuing walking away from them, albeit at a slower pace than Kyojurou knew was his regular walking speed.
"I don't know how you convinced him to come out with us tonight! Shinazugawa isn't really the type for outword socialization like this!" Kyojurou questioned, looking down towards the smaller woman, "The restaurant we're going to has ohagi! It's easy to bribe him to do basically anything as long as you promise him that!" Mitsuri replied with a giggle. "Besides, he's really not as mean and scary as he likes to act like he is! Once you get to know him, he's a really big softie! You just have to crack his outer layer open like a crab shell to get to the soft, nice, tasty bits!" She stated, bringing her free hand up to mimic the motion of how one might squeeze a rather squishy piece of meat.
"Ha! I suppose I'll have to take your word on that!" Kyojurou replied with a laugh, amused by Mitsuris descriptors.
"Yea! he's-" Mitsuri started before stopping and looking towards the direction Sanemi had started off walking in, "He's leaving us!" She gasped in mock outrage, letting go of Kyojurous arm to run after him "Hey! Don't you go leaving us behind! Shinazugawa!-" Mitsuri yelled as she ran after the man in question, shaking her arms in the air offendedly.
Kyojurou smiled heartily to herself as she heard Mitsuris loud complaints of offense fade off in the crowd as she went to catch up with Shinazugawa. She was fairly certain there was a reason behind Shinazugawas usually less than personable persona softening somewhat around Mitsuri, and how he often allowed himself to be dragged out to things he would normally never agree to if she was the one asking, even if he grumbled and complained along the way. And that there was a reason Mitsuri seemed so instant on 'cracking open' Shinazugawas shell, as she'd put it. Going far beyond what most would consider a normal seeking of friendship from even someone as aggressively kind and overly friendly as Mitsuri. Though she'd never say anything of it out loud to the either of them.
Kyojurou started forward to follow after the two, before stopping and turning towards the decorated parchment Mitsuri had been admiring. One specifically in the corner of the display decorated with a snowflake pattern around the edges of the parchment.
What was that Mitsuri had said about writing love letters?
Staring at the store display for a moment longer before turning her head and continuing on her way after Mitsuri and Shinazugawa, internally deciding to stop by and look inside the store itself if it was still open after she and the others finished with their dinner.
Kyojurou stared down at the blank piece of parchment, brush in hand and several started and discarded crumbled papers strone across her desk.
If someone had told her a few months ago that Kyojurou would be staying up late into the night trying to come up with something romantic enough to write into a letter as a gift for her secret demonic lover, she'd have surely thought that idea was as ludicrous as they'd come, likely even asking whomever had suggested it if they had sustained any recent hard blows to the head or ingested any large quantities of alcohol that night.
And yet, here she sat, trying to find a way to word her affections for a demon who had nearly killed her and then spent the next several months proceeding that incident following Kyojurou around like a neglected dog, in a way that came off as both sincere and romantic enough to justify the gesture of writing a letter at all.
She'd only used one set of the pieces of paper decorated with snowflakes, having drawn too many a blank with her first draft to trust herself to start on a second of the paper she did not have ample amounts of, not wanting to have to go retrieve more from the store she had bought the sheets from in the first place. Since then she had concluded she'd collect her words and figure out what she wanted to say on a piece of scratch paper, then copy it to the specialized paper once she could be sure she wouldn't be completely fumbling her words and wasting her paper.
Kyojurou doesn't know why she decided she needed to get some specially decorated paper for Akaza, let alone why she thought it'd be a good idea to try and write a love letter for her on said paper. She wouldn't even be sending it to her for Gods sakes! She'd be handing the letter to Akaza in person for her to read to herself in front of Kyojurou like she'd been given an assignment to look over and grade, what part of that was romantic?
It's just, Akaza always seems to have a gesture or a way with her words ample enough to make Kyojurou feel as if she's living in one of those romantic plays Mitsuri is always gushing to her about. Breaking into odd monologues about how perfect she thought Kyojurou was, that always ended with Kyojurou face flushed and barley containing her desire to swoon over her words like a lovestruck teenager.
And the gestures, big and small that Akaza seemed insistent on performing, following her around like a loyal puppy at almost all times she was allowed to, admiring her on missions as she slayed other demons, waxing the most oddly dramatic poetry about how beautiful and powerful she thought Kyojurou was, all whilst acting as if she was jealous that any other demon was allowed to be on the receiving end of her blade. Insisting on taking her to specific locations she thought she'd enjoy, even if more often than not they ended up being generic night skies, or fields of yellow and red flowers or small town performances that she brought Kyojurou up to a rooftop to watch. Or the sheer amount of endless gifts Akaza loved to drop on her, food from street vendors, trinkets and hairpins and clothes she said matched Kyojurous hair or eyes or skin, or even just batches of flowers or an oddly shaped rock Akaza said made her think of her. (She'd kept all of them, of course, every odd trinket or vaguely flame shaped rock Akaza bestowed on her as if she was a cat proudly bringing its owner a mouse it had caught as a token of affection.) Akaza showered her in them endlessly, with no expectation for anything in return beyond still being allowed to remain in Kyojurous company.
Kyojurou often wished she knew how to return the sheer amount of love Akaza often bestowed on her, Kyojurou had never thought she had a weakness for words or expressing her own feelings and thoughts, until Akaza had crammed her way into her heart and made her realize just how weak with words she could truly be when faced with someone unafraid to say anything and everything she felt at any given time.
She didn't quite know how to word all the things she felt about Akaza, it felt too simplistic to simply say she loved the other woman, not to say she didn't. She did love Akaza, truly and deeply, but that wasn't all she felt for the other woman. She admired her, just as she was equally often infuriated and confused by her. Akazas personality was a whirlwind of traits that endeared Kyojurou as much as they made her wish to knock her own head against a wall. She could be infuriatingly crass and blunt, yet her unabashed ability to be exactly what she felt like being at any time was something Kyojurou almost found enviable about the other woman. She was chatty and cheerful a majority of the time, though that came with the caveat that her version of 'cheerful' was often.... deranged, for lack of a better word. It was charming in a way, as equally as it could be woefully disturbing. Kyojurou had slowly found herself morphing from disturbed and offended at her quirks of personality to endeared and charmed over the course of their knowing each other in a way that would surely have others calling her mad. Even if she found herself having to attempt to reel the other woman in on nights Akaza decided to act particularly unhinged, no matter how amusing she could find it to be.
And not to mention how every fact she thought she had figured out about Akaza seemed to come with a glaring contradiction running up behind it. How she was a demon, an upper rank, a creature with copious amounts of blood coating her hands, yet she still managed to be so gentle with said hands, caring for Kyojurous injuries, caressing Kyojurous face or holding her body close to her own with said hands, always so gentle, despite the destruction she had wrought with those hands. How she was so callous towards the concept of basic human traits, yet so, utterly kind to Kyojurou. How she seemed to be almost incapable of thinking outside of a simplistic worldview or mindset, and yet was one of the most complex people Kyojurou had ever known.
Kyojurou looked up from the scrap paper and sighed, blinking up at the ceiling in frustration as she tried to figure out how to condense all of that into simple words, or even just how to spell out her feelings in a way that actually read as romantic.
Maybe she was overthinking it all, maybe she shouldn't be trying to condense every feeling and thought she held for Akaza in a single fluttery love letter. There wasn't exactly a guide for what a letter expressing love or care should contain. She could put whatever she wanted in the letter, Akaza probably would appreciate a gift of hers of any kind regardless of quality.
But that wasn't fair, was it? Just because Akaza would accept subpar tokens of affection just because they came from Kyojurou wasn't fair. She shouldn't try and use Akazas own poor standards for treatment as an excuse to not put her all into a gift like this for her. She should be putting all the effort and willpower she could muster into it regardless! She should be attempting to raise Akazas standards for how she should be treated, not do the very bare minimum and write it off as fine because Akaza would praise her for it regardless.
Maybe she could drop the attempts at explaining her feelings and write about Akazas appearance? That was romantic, wasn't it? And she wouldn't be exaggerating if she simply described how eerily beautiful the other woman was, how her fluffy pink lashes framed her eyes perfectly. How whenever she smiled with her teeth the light shone off her fangs in a way that was both unnatural and alluring. How her perfectly toned muscles and delightfully curved waist and hips were framed beautifully by her collection of tattoo-like markings. Just how downright pretty her face was, her cheeks still carrying a youthful softness to them, and her smiles always somehow reminiscent of a pleased and content feline. How almost unnaturally perfect her skin and body often were, her skin unmarred by natural blemishes. It was uncanny in a way, an underlying sign of how inhuman Akaza really was, and yet Kyojurou only found herself drawn in and entranced by all of her features.
Kyojurou sighed deeply to herself once again, looking back down at the paper before her. Tapping her finger against the table as she tried to come up with what exactly to write, where to start, what she even wanted to say to Akaza with this letter.
Though maybe the gesture of a gift like the letter was what she wanted to say. She wanted to do something for Akaza, give a gift of some kind to show her affection and appreciation for the other woman. Maybe she didn't even need to write a letter, maybe she could go out and find something else to give to her as a token of affection. She didn't need to stick with the love letter idea, especially since it was giving her so much difficulty.
Kyojurou felt her brow scrunch at the thought. No, she was going to write this letter for Akaza. She wasn't just going to give up and try and find something else to replace it because she was having difficulty finding words for her feelings. They were her feelings dammit! She'd dig them out and present them to Akaza even if it meant digging her own hand into the confides of her heart, she just needed to split open the organ and find what she wanted to say.
Kyojurou took a deep breath, picking up the brush again and dipping it in the ink next to her. She was going to write this damn letter and show Akaza her love and appreciation even if it killed her.
Kyojurou fidgeted awkwardly with the corner of the envelope she had placed the letter for Akaza in. Chewing at her lip as she stared down at the envelope, eyes flicking up and down between it and the window she knew Akaza would inevitably make her way inside through.
It'd been around three weeks since she and Akaza had last seen each other, the both of them having been wrapped up in their own missions issued by their respective masters. Their last meeting had ended with Kyojurou telling Akaza where she'd likely be able to find her to genuinely be able to spend a night or two together again. Which currently led to where she was now. Stiffly waiting inside the inn of the small town she had directed Akaza to. Sitting on the edge of the far more western style of bed than she was used to. Fidgeting with the love letter currently held in her lap, waiting impatiently for her lover to arrive, and trying to fight off any second guesses about the gift she held in her hands and convince herself she wasn't embarrassing herself by giving said lover a love letter in person.
Her anxious thoughts were interrupted when she heard a light rapping against the window in the corner of the room. Looking over towards the window and feeling a smile form on her face at the familiar pattern of knocks. She briefly looked back down at the letter in her hands before shoving it into the collar of her yukata to keep hidden until she was ready to give it to Akaza. Doing her best not to horribly crinkle the letter as she did so.
Once she looked back up, it was to see Akaza shuffling her way into the room through the window, having sild it open while Kyojurous eyes were averted. A delighted grin coloring her face as she looked up to meet Kyojurous eyes. Sliding the window back down with a definitive click once her feet had made contact with the wooden floor of the inn.
Kyojurou stood from her spot, opening her mouth to greet the other woman before being interrupted by Akazas mouth suddenly slamming into her own. The two of them falling backwards onto the bed with a muffled "Oomf-" attempting to leave Kyojurous mouth as they landed. Their lips parted for a moment before Akaza pressed them back together even more insistently. Akazas arms snaking their way around Kyojurous head, hands entangling themselves into her hair. Kyojurous own arms wrapping around Akazas body lovingly as Akazas legs straddled her hips, pressing their bodies close together.
Their lips parted with a sigh, Kyojurou feeling her smile grow wide as she looked up to see Akazas face barley an inch above her own, her mouth twisted up into a cheshire grin as she looked back down at Kyojurou with a familiar mischievous glint shining in her eyes.
"Hi." Kyojurou greeted dazedly, feeling her heart flutter against her chest and her face flush under Akazas gaze.
Akaza leaned back down to press a small kiss against her lips, "I missed you." She said with a smile, her hands moving to caress Kyojurous face lovingly. Leaning down to begin decorating her jaw and neck with gentle pecks and kisses.
Kyojurou hummed contently at the affection, hand finding its way to Akazas head and petting her hair softly, before remembering the letter tucked into her chest that she had yet to give to the woman currently lavishing her in affection. "Ah- Akaza-" Kyojurou started, attempting to get the demons attention, her hand ceasing its movement and tangling itself in her short pink curls.
Akaza had made her way down Kyoujurous neck, now planting soft kisses against her collarbone. The demons hands having moved down from caressing her face to caressing her neck, rubbing small pleasant circles into it.
"Hm- Akaza wait- I have something to give you." Kyojurou said, tugging lightly on the back of Akazas hair. Signaling the other woman to lift her head from where it was pressed against her.
Akaza lifted her head up, looking down at Kyojurou with a smile and a questioning look. Letting out a curious chirp in response to Kyojurous words.
Kyojurou stared back at her for a moment, before steeling herself in before she could get cold feet. "I- um, I have a gift for you." She blurted out awkwardly. Trying to steel herself in with a smile as she felt her cheeks somehow become even warmer despite her already blushing state.
Akazas face fell into something that resembled the expression of a surprised cat, her eyes widening and pupils doing something funny at the declaration. Before it morphed back into a smile, eyes creasing with the curve of her cheeks as she looked down at Kyojurou. "Oh really? What do you have for me, Kyojurou?" She questioned with a playful tone coloring her voice.
"A Gift!" Kyojurou stated again, this time with a far more confident inflection to her voice as she sat up, pushing Akaza off of her as she did so. Akazas startled look returning as she was shoved to Kyojurous side, landing onto the bed with an "Oof."
Akazas expression quickly morphed into a pout at being tossed off of Kyojurou. Looking up at the other woman with a betrayed look in her eyes. Before shuffling from the inelegant heap she'd landed in to a cross legged sitting position closer to the foot of the bed.
Kyojurou herself moved to a more comfortable sitting position mirroring Akazas position on the bed. Seeling herself with a falsely confident smile. Before reaching into her yukata where she'd tucked the letter and gripping onto it.
"I- I wanted to get you something." She started, "And the design on this parchment reminded me of you- or well, I thought of writing you something on the parchment after seeing the design on it that reminded me of you-" she fumbled through her words as Akaza looked at her with an amused yet encouraging expression, urging her to continue. "And well- I uhm." She finally pulled the letter out and presented it to Akaza. "I wrote you a letter." She finished, feeling any confidence she'd tried to build up waiver at how she'd fumbled through her explanation.
Akazas eyes had gone a bit wide and her eyes were flickering from the letter to Kyojurou with a look of surprise once again decorating her features. Before she let a small smile take form on her face as she took the letter from Kyojurous hands. "Thank you. Kyojurou, that's very sweet of you." She said, looking down at the envelope now in her hands.
Kyojurou felt another crack form in her confidence as Akaza simply stared at the envelope for a few moments. Feeling her own smile grow tenser by the second.
"You don't have to open or read it now if you don't want to." She added, trying to be assuring.
This seemed to snap Akaza out of whatever gaze she had been in while staring at the letter. "Ah- no I can open it now." She replied hurriedly. Hand moving to gently break the sealing of the envelope. "You said the design of the paper reminded you of me?" She asked, her smile growing wider and taking on a teasing air as her eyes trailed back up to meet Kyojurous momentarily.
"Well it's- I just thought-" Kyojurou tried to rebuttal flusteredly. Before pausing as Akaza actually took the letter out from the envelope and opened it up, her teasing smile dropping and eyes almost glazing over in awe.
"Snowflakes." Akaza said, seemingly running her finger along the corners of the paper where the pattern decorated it.
Kyojurou took a small breath in before responding again, feeling herself flush a bit at the way Akaza examined the paper like it was something precious, "Yes, they reminded me of the design of your compass-" she paused, "and how you always seem so entranced by jewelry or other things with snowflake designs. And that you've said winter is your favorite season before- so- they reminded me of you." she finished awkwardly, feeling her face grow warmer and smile become softer as she gave her explanation.
Akaza looked up at her, an almost glassy look marring her eyes, before a soft smile made its way back onto her lips. "I. That's very sweet, Kyojurou," Her eyes momentarily flicked back down to the letter. "I love it." She said, an almost distant, floaty edge to her voice.
Kyojurous smile grew at Akazas approval. "You know, there is more to it than just the snowflakes, right?" She said teasingly.
Akaza seemed startled out of her dazed look at that, looking back down to the letter and back to Kyojurou again. Looking like a note of panic had entered her expression.
Kyojurous own worry returned and doubled at the sight, "Though you don't have to read it right now if you don't want to, of course. You can put it away for later if you'd rather." She assured her again, trying to ensure if Akaza was genuinely upset or uncomfortable at the prospect of reading the letter in front of Kyojurou for whatever reason, she didn't feel like she had to.
"No it's." Akaza began, squirming where she sat in an uncharacteristically nervous manner. "It's not that it's just." She started and stopped again, looking down at the letter with her brows furrowed together.
Kyojurou felt her concern start to show itself on her face, "Seriously, Akaza, you do not have to read it right now if you don't want to- it's okay-" she tried to assure her again. But Akaza cut her off, "No! It's not that, Kyojurou! I love it, I just." Her face scrunching up in her attempts to explain, "I can't read, Kyojurou." she finally finished.
Kyojurou felt her eyes widen a bit at the declaration as Akaza hurried to continue.
"Well that's not entirely true, I can read it's just." Her brows furrowed as she looked down at the letter again. "The kanji is so different now and some words and characters are hard to make out, I don't know what they're supposed to mean. Especially all the formal ones, and how some of the old ones are written now. It just takes me longer to try and understand what's actually been written down, and some of it I just, I can't figure out, sometimes." She finished, her eyes coming back up to meet Kyojurous again. Her face unscrunching and taking on a look that was likely meant to be assuring, "Not that you could've known that- of course. I do really love it and it was so sweet of you to make me something like this it's just," she looked back down at the paper again before letting an awkward smile form on her lips as she looked back up at Kyojurou, "I can't really read it, at least not all of it." She finished apologetically.
Kyojurou blinked at the long winded explanation. Taking in all the new information. "Oh." She replied rather ineloquently.
They sat in an awkward silence for a moment, Akazas smile straining a bit at Kyojurous lack of any further response. Before Kyojurou felt herself snap back into the moment, panic and embarrassment suddenly flooding her all at once.
"Oh gods- I am so sorry Akaza- I would not have if I had known- I didn't mean to-" she started and stopped, fumbling over her words in her attempts to apologize without making even more of a fool of herself.
But gods how could she have done something so stupid? All that time agonizing over making sure the letter was a perfect gift for Akaza, and she hadn't even bothered to check if she'd even be able to read it!
Akazas expression had dropped at Kyojurous panic, her face quickly morphing into its own panicked expression in response to Kyojurous half spoken apologies. "No- Kyojurou it's fine. I already said you couldn't have known- and I still appreciate the gift-" she tried to interrupt, an attempt at a reassuring smile joining her face alongside her otherwise panicked expression. Dropping the letter to attempt to reach her hands out towards Kyojurou comfortingly.
"No it is not! I wanted to get you a gift and I didn't even bother to check if you could actually read the written gift I got for you!" Kyojurou stated back, feeling shame and embarrassment well up on her face. "I should have checked beforehand, or gotten you something else-" Who makes someone a letter as a gift anyways?! It was already a subpar gift, taken even further by the fact she hadn't even been considerate enough to see if her partner would even be able to actually do anything with the gift she had gotten for her! "I am so sorry, Akaza." She continued, ashamedly. "I can get you something else- it was an awful gift anyways-" "Kyojurou-" Akaza attempted to interrupt, but Kyojurou carried on undeterred. "You deserve so much better- I can-"
"Kyojurou!"
Kyojurous spiraling was suddenly interrupted by Akaza suddenly clasping her cheeks in her hands, squishing kyojurous face between her hands, the sound of a light smack sounding as skin met skin. Kyojurou stopped and finally met Akazas eyes again, feeling herself shrink as she looked at Akazas face, now scrunched up in worry and disapproval.
"M' sorry." Kyojurou continued softly through her squished cheeks. Realizing how worked up she had been getting. "Jus' wanted to get you somethin' nice, like you always' do for me."
Akazas face softened, "It's okay, Kyojurou." Her grip loosening on Kyojurous face, her thumb starting to stroke comforting circles against her cheek, Kyojurou leaned into the touch. "You didn't do anything wrong. You weren't being inconsiderate, I like your gift." She said, a gentle smile forming on her face. "It means a lot to me that you took time to write me something at all, it's sweet. And I'm not mad at you, and you shouldn't be mad at yourself. You weren't being malicious or inconsiderate, it was just," she paused to find the words, "An unfortunate coincidence, is all."
Kyojurou sighed, letting her eyes fall closed and a hand come up to press against Akazas where it still rested holding her face. "I am sorry I freaked out," she said softly, eyes opening to look back at Akaza. "You get me so many sweet things, and do so many nice things for me to show your affection. I wanted to get you something special too." She sighed again, letting herself fully melt against Akazas touch as most of the tension left her body.
Akazas lips quirked into a purse and her eyebrows ticked upwards in a sign of worry, "You don't have to get me things just because you feel obligated, Kyojurou. I don't do things for you expecting things in return. I do it 'cause I want to, I like getting you things and doing things for you." She replied.
"No- no. That's not what I meant." Kyojurou continued. "I wanted to get you something nice because I- well." She took Akazas hands off from her faces and moved them down to hold them on her lap. Seeling herself in for what she was about to confess to the other woman.
"I have trouble... expressing, my feelings for you." She admitted. "I love you, very much, Akaza. And I feel as if-" she stuttered, "I feel as if I don't express it enough. I want to express how deeply I care for you, and though I struggle to put my words to it, I felt like- getting you a gift of some kind, writing out my feelings would've been a good way to start." She finished, rubbing her thumb absentmindedly against Akazas hand where they sat in her lap.
Akaza was quiet for a moment, blinking at her. Before a deep flush colored her cheeks, "Well- I think. You express your love for me just fine, Kyojurou. And uhm." She stopped, clearly flustered, unused to and unsure how to respond to the the direct, genuine words of affection. "I love you too Kyojurou, and it means a lot that you, want to make me feel as loved as you think I deserve to be. You do make me feel loved, more than I probably deserve honestly."
Kyojurou felt herself frown at the implication, "I want to make you feel as loved as you deserve to be loved. I don't think you deserve to feel loved entirely and wholly, I know you do."
Akaza blinked up at her again, eyelashes fluttering as her cheeks flushed even deeper than before. "Y- Yea. How I deserve to feel loved." She corrected, voice sounding equally as flustered as the expression on her face.
Kyojurou sighed, leaning forward to meet their lips in a brief kiss, to which Akaza leaned in to return enthusiastically. When their lips separated, Kyojurou let her head fall forward and to the side to lean on Akazas shoulder. "I am sorry I made this so awkward." She said, genuinely apologetical for how... All of this had ended up going.
Akaza huffed humorously, "You made it awkward? I'm the one who can't even read the letter you made for me." She replied, a light, humorous tone to her voice.
Kyojurou lifted her head up to look at her with an unimpressed gaze, about to say something in return when Akaza paused and started snickering at whatever face Kyojurou had been making, "I'm joking, Kyojurou. You're way too serious." She assured, bringing a hand to Kyojurous head to ruffle her hair affectionately.
Kyojurou huffed out a half-laugh at her words. Feeling any tension that had been lingering in the room evaporate.
"Though I am curious," Akaza started, bringing her hand down from Kyojurous head and looking down before finding and picking up the letter that had been tossed aside. Gazing at it with an amused tint to her eyes. "What did you write me? Is it some fantastical romantic poem? I didn't know you had a passion for such things, Kyojurou." She questioned, clearly teasing yet still carrying an edge of genuine curiosity to her voice.
Kyojurou sighed, feeling her own cheeks heat up at having to explain herself. "No, it's uhm." She paused, "It's a love letter. Like those kinds people use to profess their love to others in secret. Except since we are already together- I tried to write down all the things I love about you. And then put it in a letter to give to you, like a confession of love but... you already know that I love you, you're just hearing about the specifics of it." She finished awkwardly, feeling her face grow warmer with every word that exited her mouth.
Akazas smile turned from teasing to a more genuine, adoring look. Decorating her face beautifully as she looked back up at Kyojurou.
Kyojurou felt her blush deepen even further, this time for an entirely different reason. "I was uhm, trying to be romantic." She added.
Akaza snorted with laughter at that, her eyes turning half lidded. "I think it's plenty romantic, Kyojurou." Akaza replied, dragging out the syllables of her name in a purr, before leaning over to place a small quick peck against Kyojurous lips. Before returning to sitting back on her heels.
"Though you know, there's one good thing about me being unable to read your letter," She started, gaining Kyojurous confusion. She looked back up to meet Kyojurous eyes, her smile turning mischievous "You get to read it to me now instead." She finished, and then immediately bull rushed over to where Kyojurou was sitting, pouncing on her and pushing her backwards towards the pillows at the head of the bed.
Kyojurous back landed onto the bed, a heavy oomf escaping her mouth as she made contact with it. Looking up at Akaza as the demon began attempting to maneuver her into a more upright, comfortable position against the pillows. Shuffling the blankets and pillows around them to suit her liking.
"What are you doing?" Kyojurou questioned, finally giving in and allowing Akaza to maneuver her how she liked. "Well! Since you gave me a gift I have to read even though I can't read it, you get to read it out loud to me, it's only fair, isn't it?" She replied. Sitting up as she was seemingly finally content with how she'd positioned Kyojurou. Picking the letter up and dropping it onto Kyojurous lap, before moving to burrow herself under Kyojurous arm and cuddling up snuggly against her side, pulling a blanket around them and letting her head fall onto the other womans chest, using it as a makeshift pillow. "And besides, now I can admire your pretty, fancy handwriting while you read to me." She concluded, before looking up at Kyojurou with a content, expectant look on her face.
Kyojurou huffed in amusement at the demons antics, shifting as much as she could under Akazas weight to make herself comfortable. Bringing a hand up to pet Akazas hair as she picked up the letter from it's place in her lap.
Akaza purred at the affection, turning her gaze down to look at the letter as Kyojurou closed her own eyes and took in a deep breath, opening them to look back at the letter in her hand. Mentally steeling herself in, and began reading the letter out loud to Akaza.
She let her eyes flicker back and forth from the words on the letter to where Akaza laid against her as she read the first few sentences, feeling a small smile forming on her lips as she read out her own words of affection to the woman they were written for. Happy and content to have the other woman purring and resting peacefully in her arms, listening to Kyojurou recite all of the things that she loved and adored about her.