| [Jan. 26th, 2009|12:20 pm] |
"If you were looking for me," Natsumi said dryly, "you were heading in the wrong direction."
It was ridiculous, really, the way his smile made her own mouth twitch in response. Even as a boy he'd been solemn, almost stern, with an uncanny ability to make even upperclassmen at the Academy think twice about their plans to bully the new kids. But when his scowl split into a grin, Natsumi had never quite been able to keep from smiling back.
He knew it, too. And he was using it. Natsumi closed the distance between them in a few quick steps and stopped an arm's length away. Surely he wasn't any taller than he'd been the last time she'd seen him, but he still seemed to loom more than she remembered. Maybe it was the uniform, high-collared grey tunic and trousers under the heavy black coat, black gloves hiding his hands. Maybe it was that unmistakable salute, a gesture she'd never seen him make before. And yet he made it as easily, almost unconsciously, as her father did, with the familiarity of old use. No awkward fumbling, no itching bandage under that sleeve...
"How long have you been here?" She crossed her arms, bathing bucket dangling from her hand. "Why didn't you tell me?" |
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