What A Lovely Web She Weaves (D6, EA) [Closed]

[Usagi Rei]

Lips quirking, Rei settled on showing it to her for a few moments before tucking it into his jacket pocket. Unlike Koyuki, he kept to holding Yakumo's hand, strong and comforting.

Pursing his lips, Rei considered. "The MCA embassy has some impressive archives. Kuni-san, would you care to drop by sometime for a study session? If I'm not there, give them my card, tell them I'm there at your request. Hotaru Sakura-san can assist you if she's there. Or Hotaru Katsutoshi. Discreetly, of course." He gave Yakumo a reassuring smile. The thought of kissing her hand came to him, but that seemed like a step too far in front of the Kuni.

[Susumu Yakumo]

Her hand held by Koyuki was certainly relaxing as it eased some of the tension there, which in return let her other hand also relax more in Rei's grasp.

"I... he seemed to have cared for her, so I don't think he'd be responsible for her death, but you never know. People can be complex, as can love be."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei looked over at Koyuki, massaging Yakumo's hand with obvious tenderness. He looked down at Yakumo's hand that he held reassuringly with both of his, one thumb rubbing gently. He looked at Yakumo, smiling wryly. "You don't say." He murmured.

His expression turned more serious. "But you're right. I don't think we're dealing with human crime here, or a human criminal. The Lord Magistrate's wife is supposed to have died in a supernatural encounter. He has a... for a Scorpion, I would call it a good reputation. Although sorting out how much of that is true and how much isn't..."

Rei grimaced, shaking his head. "It's hard to speculate. We'll need to learn more."

[Kuni Koyuki]

Silently, Koyuki shakes her head to herself. Nothing she can recall coming to mind about this situation. It felt like something was right there, on the edge of her mind, that sense that she vaguely had an idea of something related from an old study but it amounted to nothing. Can't even think right, can you. Grimacing she focuses herself, attention coming back to the moment. Looking more directly to Yakumo than anywhere else, just trying to distract herself. That unease of the situation she was sitting in holding to her but focusing away from it helps. Focusing on Yakumo helps.

"I am familiar most with corruption," she says, almost absently. "I do not recall anything that this could be that you would not otherwise notice, or that would have maintained the man he was. So.." she shrugs, not sure what else to say after that.

[Susumu Yakumo]

"My uncle is a shugenja, and he was the one who raised me, but I am rather lacking in understanding of spiritual matters myself," mostly because she just didn't want to know most of the time, and it felt less scary to just not know what he was doing most of the time.

"But..." Yakumo looked at Koyuki, nodding firmly, "I do have funds. I probably shouldn't give out too much, as this is money that could be traced back to me, but I will take that should it happen. So funds, if you need transport, you can take my car."

[Kuni Koyuki]

"I can make use of that," she says, meeting Yakumo's eyes for a moment. That connection itself calling up a small smile, despite herself and the situation. However, the thought took her gaze to shift toward Rei. Offering the man a nod as per their previous agreement on working at that together, for safety. Toying with the thought a moment she turns back to Yakumo however, brow knit as she thinks at it one last time before actually putting it to words.

"Should.. should.." she shakes her head, "May I make use of it to seek out my other issue. Just some.. light searching, nothing extensive. I do not wish to waste too many resources on it but someone there may-" she glances to Rei, feeling her throat close. Swallowing hard she focuses back on Yakumo herself before shifting gaze back down to the other womans hand. Moving from fingers to the hand itself, massaging it out with some skill. Considering how tricky hand massages could be to pick up it was perhaps a little surprising.

[Usagi Rei]

Rei chewed on his lip a moment. "Kuni-san, do you think you could stop by the embassy tomorrow? Our research library is actually fairly extensive. Between you and me, I think we could find some answers."

He started to thoughtfully tap on Yakumo's hand, stopping after a moment with an apologetic smile. "I'd like to bring in Hotaru Sakura-san as well. She's the embassy's research expert. We can keep the details light, and I trust her."

Glancing back and forth between Yakumo and Koyuki, Rei frowned. Then, slowly, he gently released Yakumo's hand, turning to look out the window. "I think it's a good starting point." He said, his back still turned.

[Susumu Yakumo]

Catching the look in Koyuki's eyes, Yakumo understood and nodded. "You may use it for that too. I did ask about it, and... I'm sorry, nothing." She gave a helpless shrug. It had perhaps been a longshot to ask about someone just by name, but she had kept her promise - and she didn't think Mineichi had a reason to lie about it.

She watched Rei frown, and releasing her hand. For now she avoided calling attention to it, and merely watched him for a moment. Maybe they could talk about it later.

"I'll give some coin for you guys today to work with, and once I get the money from the concert I can put that to use for the investigation as well - it might take a bit more time before that goes through the system, so it might make it a tad more difficult to trace, in case someone finds out we're snooping around. After tonight I'll start asking around too. I should stay out of the seedier places here, but I might be able to catch some gossip or rumors about it in the higher circles."

[Kuni Koyuki]

Regardless of the helpless shrug, the lack of received information, there's a moment Koyuki's lip brightens into a smile. Still focusing on that hand before her, the warmth of toying with the embarrassment of being in front of Rei like this mixed with that of something she hadn't felt in years. Trust given, and returned. Success wasn't important, she'd tried, and that was more than Koyuki would have allowed herself to consider possible mere days ago.

"You are best served where we cannot go," she says, looking up to Yakumo directly at that. "I would also feel much more at ease, Yakumo," she admits, and swallows hard at how it causes that heat to crawl up her neck and give her a bit of a shiver. Such a strange mix of feelings to content with. Eyes narrowing slightly by means of focusing herself away from them she looks toward Rei but not directly at him as if it would help him not see her somehow.

"Usagi-sama and I are more apt for the task of making use of these resources. I am certain between the both of us we can find what we need to know, if it is out there to be learned," she says, offering a quick nod of assurance to the man as well. Gaze glancing down to that separate hand, but it wasn't even really her place to consider it more than that and so refocused herself.

Adding, almost like an afterthought, "I agree, as well, to your suggestion for research Usagi-sama. I will help as much as I can."

[Usagi Rei]

Still looking out the window, Rei nodded. "Very good. I'll message you, let you know when Hotaru-san and I are ready."

He half-turned, closer to facing the two women without actually facing them. "I wouldn't mind getting started on this. And I've got something else going on." He smiled, still only half facing them. "Is there anything you need me for, immediately?"

[Susumu Yakumo]

Koyuki's change in expressions registered with her, and she saw the small glimpses of trust and appriciation there, as well as something that might be concern? Yakumo wasn't quite sure.

"Mm..." she looked between the two of them. Two very different people, but she did like them both a lot, she could tell. It reminded her of someone she had been close to once, not too long ago. You would'be been great to have here Yu. This spy-thing was your strength. But those two ships had passed eachother in the vastness of space, and while she held it dear to her heart, her heart was here now with these two. "I... think that's it. I wish I had more, really. Uhm, hm..."

She took a moment, trying to think if there was anything else to remember. "The press seem to like to have written bad stuff about him in the past, so maybe they have something related to what happened. Or if they wrote anything about his wife." Yakumo delicately bit her lower lip. "I can't think of anything else now, but I remember something that might be useful, I'll let you know, ok?"

[Kuni Koyuki]

Two thumbs, smoothing out the top of Yakumo's hand. Two long intentional brushes of pressure to make sure everything was flowing, and pleasantly soothed. Taking that moment, listening to Yakumo and Rei. Narrowing her eyes a bit at Rei with a slight furrow of her brow. There was a question there left unspoken but she wasn't the kind of woman to push and ask it. Rei wasn't hers to hold concern for regardless of the pleasantness of their teased and potential working partnership. Especially the one which was agreed on in this room.

A question she non-vocally shares with Yakumo in the way she shifts her glance on to her and meets the other woman's eye for a moment.

"Is there anything else you might need? Not about this, about anything else," she asks, positing the question that perhaps needed asking most. At least far as she was concerned, and if she'd spared the thought likely suspected Rei would as well.

[Susumu Yakumo]

"I..." oof, that was a hard question. There was a lot of stuff, really. One of them being that she just wanted to not have creepy or scary stuff around the ones she chose to be her lovers, and things could be more normal.

But then she had never lived a normal life, so who was she kidding.

"... I just need you both, as silly as that sounds," Yakumo said, her voice soft but confident in the words. "You both mean much to me. And I don't want either of you hurt, alright? But I am not as strong or tough as any of you, so... just your support. That's all I can ask now, within reason that is."

[Usagi Rei]

Drawing a breath, Rei turned to face her fully, smiling. "Of course. You've got it. You don't need to ask, Yakumo-san." He gestured at Koyuki. "And Kuni and I have some experience. Don't worry. We'll be careful."

Biting his lip, he glanced at Koyuki, and then back to Yakumo. "Ah... would you prefer that I stay?" He frowned, trying to figure out the best way to voice his concern. "I think perhaps everyone's a bit tense." He said. "I thought it might be best to give you some time..." he didn't glance at Koyuki, "-perhaps work some things out a bit? I can check in later." His tone was gentle, as was his smile.

[Kuni Koyuki]

Finishing with the hand she'd been working on, she sets that hand down atop her leg. Resting her hand over Yakumo's in that comforting embrace. Swallowing, fighting something down she looks up to look at Rei with his answer. She does intone, before Rei continues, "You have me," and then leaves room for Rei to say his additional piece.

Waiting, till the end, when the moment settled to add something to it, "I understand Usagi-sama and you have a connection as well. I respect him, but for that is why I will ensure he does not come back harmed. I am certain he is a man as capable as I, meaning it will not come to such a threat," she brushes Yakumo's hand with her thumb. With some quiet insistence seeking Yakumo's other hand, starting over that whole massaging process again should it be granted.

"I am certain he as much as I wants to be here for you in what ways he can. In this way, at least we have an opportunity to use out skills for something that brings us meaning," she says, a sort of embarrassed detachment to her tone. Looking as well to meet Yakumo's eyes, when they were granted her direction at least and waiting until they were with a patience. "Where we are different is that he is kinder than I am and will leave to grant me comfort. Rather than to stay, and be close to you much as he can."

[Susumu Yakumo]

While listening to both of them, Yakumo did let Koyuki have her other hand. She wasn't going to refuse being treated to a hand massage.

For a moment, she looked a bit flustered, a very unusual blush on her face. "You two... you're both wonderful, really," she said with a breathy chuckle, barely containing her own feeling of being overwhelmed in a very strange way, and also struggling a bit with putting her feelings into words.

"Thank you. I... this is rare for me, but I have no other words. Thanks just feels... not enough to tell you how I feel." Violet eyes sought Koyuki's and Rei's eyes, holding their gaze firmly.

[Usagi Rei]

Rei smiled wryly. "Kuni-san's directness has some advantages." He bowed.

And then, meeting Yakumo's lovely violet eyes with his pale brown ones, he bowed again, holding her gaze as he did so. "Well. In that case. Yakumo-san. Kuni-san." With an easy wave, he let himself out of the apartment... although he did glance back over his shoulder as he did so, somewhat spoiling his casual air.

/exit

[Kuni Koyuki]

With Rei's departure, Koyuki doesn't look toward him as he leaves. Leaving that moment between him and Yakumo more, in part. However, in another more earnest place she could feel the tinge of guilt well up in her. Hiding beneath the warmth that filled her chest from Yakumo's words. A strange mixing happening, separate and yet joined. There were not words she knew how to describe the way it really felt altogether. So, she focuses her attention down to that hand she cared so much for. Making sure that she did all she could to relieve what discomfort lay within.

Not speaking again, first, until Yakumo would. In part just being happy to spend the moments she has with her. That guilty nugget in her chest re-substantiating itself every time she realizes how much easier she breathes being this way in front of only Yakumo. With no other to witness the display of her affections, the weakness of her heart.

[Susumu Yakumo]

"I'll see you later, Rei-san," she said in parting to the Hare, nodding to him as she noticed the last look over his shoulder.

The sheepishness of her expression remained as Rei left, and Yakumo looked back to Koyuki, noticing the woman's silence. Which for her spoke volumes. "Sorry if I put you in a difficult spot there... calling you both over at the same time."

[Kuni Koyuki]

"You have nothing to apologize for."

Koyuki slowly continues, working at Yakumo's hand with a great deal of intention. Finishing with the last of her fingers joints before turning her hand over and working from the pads of her palm and pushing inward toward the center. With each push creates a pull on the muscles of the hand and releases the tension a little more each time.

"We came for you. This moment was for you. Do not worry for how I feel; I chose my path each step of the way," she reassures with that gentleness easily returned to her voice. Not quite prepared to look up, but that was further masked by the fact that she truly was rather focused on making sure she finished out the massage just right.