Bingo!

Flowers and Dinner Part 2

Kurama brought over the dinner he so carefully prepared for them as @riverstyxbotan made herself comfortable at the table. It was quiet for a moment as everything was placed and he finally joined her, sitting in the seat directly across from her. "Please, help yourself." He smiled softly and gestured at the food, allowing Botan to serve herself first.

While watching her flustered reaction between his close proximity and how to answer his question before had certainly been entertaining, Kurama had to remind himself that he had invited her over with a very specific goal. That goal was not to simply tease her, either. Still, he can hardly stop himself as he folded his hands in front of him, elbows propped on the table, and tilted his head slightly. "I'm still waiting to hear your answer, by the way."

Botan looked over the meal, eyes glittering in excitement. She shifted her hands to dish out food, about to offer to fill his plate as well when he brought up her lack of answer to his questioning mere moments before supper had announced its completion. She froze, arms still extended as she took a moment to recover.

"I didn't think you were serious," she admitted, though mentally she had gone through a panic over it. "I thought you were simply teasing me as I had brought up the subject."

She retracted her hands, one now reaching up to rub the side of her head in embarrassment. "Ahaha. Silly me for reading you wrong." She laughed for a few more seconds as he stared at her before more blush coloured her cheeks. "Well, no, I wouldn't turn you down. I meant what I said."

A small smirk twitched at his lips as Kurama gave her an amused look. "You didn't read me wrong. I was teasing you, but only a little bit. I really did want an answer." His amusement shifted and turned into what could almost pass as a shy smile. "I'm glad to hear, though, that you would not turn me down. I wouldn't want you to."

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the small box he had stashed there earlier and slid it slowly across the table towards Botan. "This is the gift I mentioned earlier. I made it specifically with you in mind." Inside was a necklace; a pendant of an impossibly small peony preserved in resin that dangled from a delicate rose gold chain.

Botan sat, eyes fluttering a few times in surprise at his answer and shift in demeanor. She watches him as he pulls out a box and slides it to her across the table, reminding her of his mention of a gift earlier in the night. She had forgotten with all the excitement and chatter she'd propagated.

She opened the box and looked over the necklace inside. Her fingers shifted to delicately lift it, cupping the resin in one hand while the chain dangled between the fingers of the other. "Wow, this is beautiful Kurama," she whispers, in awe of the tiny flower so perfectly preserved. She could see each tiny, overlapping petal almost perfectly.

She shifts to put it on then pauses, afraid she'd catch the delicate chain in her mess of hair. "Uhm, would you mind?" she doesn't finish her sentence, instead pointing to her neck with the necklace still in hand.

"Of course." Kurama smiled as he stood, making his way around the table to stand behind her. Their fingers brushed as he took the necklace from her. He gently moved her ponytail out of the way, then unclasped the necklace so that he could secure it around her neck. The length of the chain allowed for the pendant to settle just above her breasts. As he fixed the clasp into place, his fingers pressed against the back of her neck. He marveled at the smoothness of her skin against his own and wished to touch more of her, but he held himself back.

Rather than return to his seat, Kurama leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Beautiful." He didn't pull away, hesitating at first, and reached over to turn her chair so that she faced him. "Botan," a soft, almost imperceptible, blush colored his cheeks, "Being forthright and honest has never been something that came easy for me. Especially when it came to my own emotions." He cleared his throat, glancing away a moment before meeting her gaze again. "I want to start changing that. If I may, I would like to be forthright and honest with you. Would that be alright?"

Botan's fingers twitch slightly at the passing touch as the necklace switches hands. She drops her hands into her lap, wringing them together almost nervously. It only takes him a moment to clasp the necklace, but it seems to take an eternity. She's holding her breath, exhaling slowly as his fingers seem to linger on her neck, only to inhale a quick gasp as he whispers into her ear in the next moment.

He easily turns the chair with her in it, coming face to face with her. She looks up at him, pink still painting her cheeks as his own take on a similar colour for a moment.

"We have the opposite problem," she chuckles, trying to ease the tension a little. "My emotions are always written all over my face." She smiles at him, nodding her consent. "I'd love to know what you have to say."

"I wouldn't consider showing your emotions to be a problem." Kurama gave her a fond smile, "It's actually something I enjoy most about you." With Botan sitting, he didn't wish to tower over her before continuing their conversation. He wanted to be on equal ground and make himself a bit less intimidating, so he pulled out the chair next to her and turned it so that he could sit and still face her directly.

"In fact, Botan, there are many things that I have admired about you over the years." Now came the hard part. With a small frown, he clasped his hands together in front of him and leaned his arms on his knees. He cleared his throat. "There was... someone... that I lost a very long time ago. My first love, I suppose you could say." Kurama glanced up at her with a sad smile, "Ever since their loss, I've held my emotions close to my chest, careful with who I would show them to. It's come to my attention somewhat recently that I've been holding them a bit too close."

Slowly, he reached out and took one of her hands into his own. "I don't want to keep my feelings to myself anymore. I want to share them with the people I've come to care deeply for over the years. Botan," his smile warmed, "you're one of those people." He gently squeezed her hand, hoping she understood what he meant, waiting for her to understand. Surely he hadn't been too vague with his words? Kurama really was trying to be better about that.

She smiled at his compliment, glad that her comment had seemed to ease the tension for a few moments. Her gaze followed him as he moved to grab a chair and place it before her, sitting now face to face rather than her peering up at him. She watched a bit in concern as he frowned, worried about his suddenly more serious demeanor.

She listened intently, returning the sad smile as he spoke of the one he lost. She hadn't had to experience such a loss, but even just losing Genkai back during the dark tournament had been hard on her and she had known it was coming! She wondered if she should console him when he reached forward and took her hand.

She felt her ears warm as he spoke, confessing to her that she was one of the people he wanted to share his feelings with, that he cared deeply for her. She beamed, positively bubbling at his admission.

"Oh Kurama, I'm so happy you consider me someone you'd trust so deeply! Of course you can tell me anything. I've a great ear when it comes to listening, and I'm always ready to give a hug if you need one. I don't mean to brag, but I'm also great at giving rela...tion......ship." The word seems to snap some nerve in her brain and she suddenly reevaluates the situation she's in.

Kurama has made them dinner. Presented her with a lovely, thoughtful, personal gift. Has confessed about his difficulties with emotion and sharing them since he'd lost his first love.

"Oh. OH!" Botan explodes into several shades of red and pink as realization seems to suddenly dawn on her.

Ah. She wasn't getting it. Kurama had feared he was still too indirect. It seemed he would have to - Botan suddenly slowed down and he could see exactly when the proverbial lightbulb went off in her head. A slow smile spread across his lips, fondness shining in his eyes.

"Oh?" He repeated her questioningly. The way she blushed was simply adorable; beautiful, even. His thumb brushed over the back of her hand as he tilted his head at curiously. "Was there anything else? I believe you were about to say you were great at relationship advice?" Kurama leaned forward just ever so slightly, hardly moving at all, "I wouldn't mind gleaning some of that advice, if you would give it."

Her hand trembled in his from the touch, her body now suddenly hyperaware of him. She could feel the heat radiating from her face, ears burning now as they turned red. She groaned in embarrassment, glancing away as he teased her.

She pouted, lips pursing a bit. "Well, you could use to be a little more obvious when you're telling someone that you like-like them." She huffs a bit, but looks back to him smiling.

She shifts a bit, her free hand moving up to fiddle with the charm on her necklace. "Though I suppose that in turn I should probably be a little less oblivious," a small laugh escapes her. "And to think I brought flowers while you had such an elaborate plan." She's not upset by the revelation, in fact she finds it funny that she brought flowers to what now appeared to be a date.

Kurama laughed softly, sounding a bit sheepish. "Yes, I'm sorry. I appreciate your feedback. I keep working on being more direct with you. I promise." He smiled at her, true happiness coloring his features. "The flowers are lovely. I'm very happy that you brought them, even if you didn't know what my intentions were for tonight."

After giving her hand a gentle squeeze, he let go and leaned back in his chair. His posture before had been open and inviting, but now he looked more guarded as he shifted in the chair. "Before we continue this conversation, there is one subject I must address that I'm afraid I cannot be indirect about." No longer calm and collected, his expression took on a note of nervousness. "There's not an easy way to say this, so I'll just say it."

Despite his words, he takes his time, still attempting to be delicate. "I... have never been interested in monogamy. It never made sense to me and I have no interest in changing that part of me. So, before we move forward with the evening, I have to ask - will you be okay with that?" Kurama fixes her with an unreadable expression. "Will you be able to share me with others; there very likely will be others. Please understand, however, that I will always give you my one hundred percent. I always give all of me to whomever I decide to call my partner - even when there are multiple."

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She's pleased to hear he enjoyed the flowers, still pleasantly surprised how they had worked out in the end. She knew he would care for them too, and only add to their beauty.

Botan looks him over in concern as he sits back and has a change in demeanour. She worries she may have upset him another way when he starts to speak. His seriousness worries her until he finishes explaining his situation and asks her her own opinion.

She eases and lets out the breath she was holding. "I have no problem with that. I expect you'll lend me the same grace?" She smiles brightly, "I don't mind, though we definitely would need to discuss if there is to be sharing on the same date," she chuckles a bit, reassuring him with some light teasing. "Otherwise A-OK!

Botan hums happily to herself as she floats her way towards the shopping district. She's excitedly swinging her legs as she makes for a square just outside of it, lined with trees and smaller carts where vendors sell all sorts of food. She lands with a quick hop off of her oar and skips to a nearby bench. She twists and sits with a flop, skirt twirling about her knees. She smiles wide as she pulls out her phone and opens her messages.

'Oh Jin~ I'm calling in that favour! Could you meet me at this square outside the shopping area?'

She sends an aerial map view for him, marking the square with a pink x.

'Also attaching the map pin directly, but I'm not sure you know how to use the app yet.'

She attaches the map app pin as well, though she fears he may only get more confused trying to use it.

She's not worried if he is too busy to meet today; she was fine to go shopping on her own and enjoy an ice cream. She continues to hum and swing her legs as she waits for his reply.

@askjinthewindmaster

Given the Week of Hopeless Moping Jin is living in, Botan calling in her favour comes as a welcome surprise. So much for reapers being harbingers of death. Botan, much as she was a guide to the dead, was more a harbinger of pastels, bubblegum giggles and soft-pawed kittens. And now, apparently, she wanted Jin to meet her for some... shopping? Truth be told, Jin could use the trip. His wardrobe was limited, and while he wasn't sure it would matter, the number of times he'd wished he owned something a little nicer to wear to finally go knock on Touya's door to apologize did give him additional incentive. Plus, Botan was always in good cheer, and right then, good cheer would be a welcome friend.

Good day t'yeh Botan! Aye, yer timin' couldn't be better. Won't be but a few. Will text yeh if I'm findin' meself lost.

So, wearing his only pair of jeans and a simple white v-neck, Jin made his way to the x on the aerial map view, because just as Botan suspected, he hadn't the first clue how to work the map pin, much less understand how to use the map app. X Marks the Spot was a simple enough instruction to follow, and even better that he could find his way coming from a bird's eye view.

Wearing denim while flying always felt wrong. The fabric was heavy and inflexible, and all in all a miserable experience, but when in the human world, Jin learned to do as the humans did. He would never understand Yusuke's devotion to jeans, let alone ever understand how he fought in them, but there was no denying that they looked good on. And it helped that Jin called a little less attention to himself if he wasn't dressed in his preferred white robes.

He alights in a quiet alleyway just across the street from the square Botan marked for him and joins the bustling crowd of humans in the crosswalk, onto the sidewalk and into the park where he quickly spots the cotton candy blue hair of one unfailingly bubbly reaper.

"Oi, Botan!" he calls with a smile and a wave, making his way towards her. "'ope I've not made yeh wait too long, lass."

Botan hops to her feet as she hears her name called, the familiar way Jin spoke clearly announcing his arrival. She hops the last few steps towards him, stopping short and leaning forward with a glimmer of trouble in her gaze. "Oh no not at all!" She grins brightly, looking at him like a cat stalking it's prey.

A giggle escapes her as she turns on her heel and points towards the many stores nearby. "We're going shopping for Yusuke's birthday party!" She announces loudly, glancing back to him still wearing that frightening grin. "And I'll be dressing you up!" If possible her smile widens, eager and excited to drag him along with her plans.

Jin's sure most of the color drains out of his face at hearing Botan's declaration of intent. Sure, he thought he might be doing a bit of shopping, but Botan dressing him up? He's not sure if that should make him nervous.

Despite the way Botan grins at him like he's her next meal, her giggle endears her to him, and Jin was always a sucker when it came to honest charm. And for all that the idea of coming out of the mall dressed head-to-toe in different shades of pink makes his blood run cold, there's a quieter but perhaps more honest part of him that's maybe just a little curious, if not eager, to see what shenanigans Botan has in mind.

Jin's smile is still a little hesitant when he turns it on Botan, sure there's a visible bead of sweat at his temple. "Right, it's that 80s-themed party, ain't that so?" Jin knew basically nothing about human fashion, if his limited human wardrobe was any indication. So other than a precursory internet search for 80s fashion, he really didn't know what to expect.

He falls in step with the reaper with a nervous chuckle and a scratch to the back of his head. "An' how's it yeh plan t'dress me up then?" he asks, hoping to have some of his more immediate fears put to bed before they set foot in the mall.

"It is 80s themed yes!" She cheers most excitedly, bouncing along with every other step. "See, the street style would have been similar to when you met Yusuke, but since this is a party we're going to go more," she pauses and taps her protruding bottom lip in thought. "Dramatic!" she declares, satisfied with her choice of words.

"Oh! And actually, you'll be matching style with Yusuke! Though, I suppose I should have asked if you and Touya were doing anything first," she frowns a bit, slightly embarrassed by her lack of forethought. "I suppose he could always join in if he wanted, the idea I have for you two could work with a whole band of people," she chuckles at her own joke.

She shifts, guiding them towards some old thrift shops first, to hopefully find the base of the outfit there. With older styles coming back she was sure she could find some pieces in regular stores, but thrifting was much more fun. Besides, it was more nostalgic this way.

"Let's go here first!" She grabs his arm gleefully, tugging Jin in towards the first of many shops she had looked into. Tugging open the door she could smell the telltale signs of mothballs and old worn leather goods.

Perfect.

"Yeh mean jeans?" Jin asks, absolutely clueless. "Far as I can tell, those haven't gone out o' style. How d'yeh figure makin' it more dramatic?" He feels like he's mostly filling air with all his questions, because he's sure Botan will show him soon enough. Still, the reaper's bubbly tones were pleasant to his ears, and Jin liked having an excuse to keep on hearing her.

When Botan tells him he and Yusuke will be matching each other for the party, he still struggles to imagine what that means. "Have these pair o' denims if they're good fer somethin'," he ventures, gesturing to his straight cut pant legs hanging loosely around his shins with his sneakers peeking out beneath them.

He'd had to have the shoes made to order just to fit him. He knew even Kuwabara struggled to find footwear in his size, so naturally, Jin had learned to go the bespoke route or to order from the United States to find footwear that would fit him comfortably. A part of him still didn't believe that he lived in a world, let alone a life, where he ordered clothes online of all places. How times had changed. He may as well sit himself in a rocking chair and call himself pappy Jin with how old he felt.

"Sure Touya wouldn't mind taggin' along any way we end up choosin'," he says thoughtfully. "Not that he's a one fer dress up were we talkin' day to day, but Touya's one to show up as he's asked by ones he calls his friends."

Jin would never get tired of Botan's enthusiasm. If anyone could inspire him to see the wonder in the world despite all its shadows, he thought Botan might be the best girl for the job. Her glee is infectious, and when she maneuvers him into the first shop by the arm, Jin does her one better by hooking his elbow with the reapers with a toothy smile. Which fades just a smidge as his nose is assaulted by the smell of old ladies and ancient dust. Before them are rows upon rows of clothes organized by type, but not much else. From what Jin can see, each rack features a kaleidoscope of options, from different styles to colors and no discernible relation between them. Despite the smell, Jin's eyes light up and his smile widens with delight.

"Botan, yeh've brought us to a right chest o' treasures, yeh have!" he exclaims, pulling Botan forward to the nearest rack of used clothes. "Reminds me o' me raidin' days. Always old abandoned villages, mind. Never went lookin' fer trouble in places people made their lives, y'know. But the things we'd find goin' through old houses was a treat I always looked forward to. Weren't allowed t'own much as Shinobi, but I found me first scroll o' a paintin' o' the sky one time, an' I kept it on me wall as a reminder to never give up hope that one day we'd be free."

His smile turns a little melancholy, tinted with nostalgia and knowing. They were free now, but there were decades of sacrifice and suffering that predated his debut in the light. "Feels so long ago, yet not so long at all."

Botan laughed a bit, "Oh Jin, jeans changed with every decade; you've no idea just how many styles there really are! And not just pants; shirts, vests, dresses, suits and the like can be made with denim." She spouts off facts as she takes a look around for a few more moments before Jin has picked a rack and pulled her over towards it.

She starts browsing through the rack of clothing, listening as her tells her of his experiences. She casts her peony pink eyes in his direction, noting the slight change in his expression. "That sounds like a lovely discovery, do you still have the scroll?" She asks, curious.

She pulls out a few shirts and grabs Jin by the shoulder, turning him to face her. She compares them against his chest, using both hands to stretch the fabric across his body. "Just getting an estimate on your size, not that sizing tags are always reliable," she states. She knows sizing can differ brand to brand and has changed slightly over the years. It was worse for women's wear, but she didn't want to worry him with such a trivial detail.

She had a good estimate on his clothing sizes, as she'd help him get settled in human world a while ago, but you could never be too sure how much someone's body could change over time. Besides, the boys use their muscles and most had voracious appetites, so it was always possible their proportions changed.

"We're going to be going with a hair metal style for you," she finally explained as she put the shirt back on the rack. "It was a music style popular in the eighties." She shifts and pulls out her phone to pull up some pictures of glam metal bands. "You definetly have the hair for it, and Yusuke is going to let his grow out for the party too."

Botan's laugh is such a pleasant sound that Jin is smiling as he hears it before he knows it's happened. Ah, this really was exactly the kind of day out he needed to get his mind off his fight with Touya.

"Guess yeh'll have t'teach this ol' demon a thing 'r two, then, Botan," he laughs. "Even the kids on the island be callin' me a grandpa with how little I know about the human world. Say I'm prehistoric OG, whatever that be meanin'." He knew he was old, but come on. By demon standards Jin hardly qualified as having hit his quarter age. At her question about the scroll, he gives her a bright smile and a nod. "Aye, have it up at home. Could show yeh sometime if yeh like."

Jin actually surprises himself by extending the offer. Botan hadn't been to the island much since the Dark Tournament unless it was to drop by with a message from Koenma or to ferry off an island resident. The idea of inviting the reaper over for a friendly visit feels... nice.

That train of thought is distracted by the way Botan whirls him around and holds a shirt up against his chest. Her knuckles rest on either side of his pecs, and it's an unusual sensation to literally be sized up by someone who's not an opponent. Botan's so natural about it too. Her petal pink eyes measure him between her hands, and Jin really needs to get out more if having Botan this close is making him blush. But there's not much space between them, and the aisle between the racks is narrow, and Botan smells so sweet.

Yep, enough of that now.

"Hair metal?" he asks, blinking curiously. He's sure Botan doesn't mean hair made of metal, but that's all he can imagine. Or some sort of spray metal that's applied to the hair? "Dun know what yeh mean 'xactly, but me hair's not so tough to be metal if that's what yer sayin'." He reaches up to pinch a few strands between thumb and forefinger and holds it out for Botan. "See fer yerself."

Botan smiles at the invite to see the scroll at his home and happily accepts it. They'd have to figure out another time, of course, as with the party and her usual reaper duties she was rather busy at the moment.

She resumes her search on her phone and turns it to Jin, displaying a few hair metal photos. "It didn't mean literal metal hair. Metal is a music style, and hair metal and offshoot of it," she explains. "Might be rude to play the music in here so I'll let you listen to some later," she adds, not wanting to interrupt any others who may be shopping.

"It was all about big hair, makeup, tight clothes and androgeny. Leather and denim became lace and spandex and like the rest of the eighties, a pop of bright colours was often thrown in." She shows him a few more examples on her phone. "Gaudy and big accessories were also a fun part of it."

She rambles on for a bit as she explains, barely leaving a pause for Jin to jump back into the conversation.

"Any of these examples you like? I know they're a bit out there, though I have seen demons wear much stranger... but, not the point!" She smiles brightly, giving him his chance to speak up now before she finds herself taking over again.

Jin's excitement bubbles up the more Botan shows him, and she's excited enough for the both of them if the fact Jin can hardly get a question in edgewise is any indication. He wonders how it came to be that human musicians started using big, voluminous and unruly hair as a style choice tied to what Jin imagined had to be Megalliga's music Yusuke liked so much. The tight pants and lack of apparent gender performance felt foreign to him, but to be fair, a lot of things felt foreign to someone who'd grown up in what he'd call a cult.

"I'm likin' the jean jacket look," he says pointing to one of the pictures on Botan's screen. It's really a jeans everything look. Jean pants, jean jacket. The graphic t-shirt is about the only thing on the model that isn't denim. The jeans have tears in them and the belt on the model looks like it's made from bullet shells. The edges of the jacket sleeves are frayed, too. "Poor sod looks worse 'an I do comin' out a bout o' fisticuffs," Jin snickers. "But I like the cut o' his jib."

The female models are dressed similarly: frayed clothes, big hair, dark make up and accessories 'til the cows come home. But they did have a fair bit more skin showing. One model has lace up peek-a-boo slits up each black leather pant leg, and Jin can't help imagining Botan wearing them. He blushes.

"How d'yeh fancy this look then? Fer yerself?" He tries to act casual about asking. No ulterior motives here, no sir. "Or what sorta look did yeh have in mind?"