It only took the next day before Usagi Rei would hear from Bayushi Mariko once more. Much like their last meeting together, their arrangement would start off with a text from the Scorpion actress herself.

To: Usagi Rei

<<Bayushi Mariko: Hey. >>
<<Bayushi Mariko: How are you doing there, Rei-san?>>
<<Bayushi Mariko: >>

Well well. Rei had rather been hoping he'd get a message from her. While it may have been an exaggeration to say that he was losing sleep over it, he was definitely keeping his communicator close at hand. He smiled as he spotted the message.

To: Bayushi Mariko

<<Usagi Rei: Hey you >>
<<Usagi Rei: I'm doing pretty good, u?>>
<<Usagi Rei: just a little worried about my health...>>

Without any need for drama, Mariko easily returned a reply soon after.

To: Usagi Rei

<<Bayushi Mariko: I'm always worried. >>
<<Bayushi Mariko: Just your friendly resident medic...actress. 🩹>>
<<Bayushi Mariko: Hope you're not sore about losing. Obviously, I didn't win either.>>
<<Bayushi Mariko: So.>>
<<Bayushi Mariko: All this talk about a drink, when are we going to make good on that?>>

Pursing his lips, Rei considered a moment before sending back a reply.

To: Bayushi Mariko

<<Usagi Rei: u free now? >>
<<Usagi Rei: I've got this bottle with our names on it>>
<<Usagi Rei: just let me know the place>>

Her response would be...

To: Usagi Rei

<<Bayushi Mariko: I was thinking you could come over to my place.>>
<<Bayushi Mariko: Somewhere nice and private...the two of us.>>
<<Bayushi Mariko: No false stalkers this time, I promise.>>
<<Bayushi Mariko: Wonder what I should wear...>>

Reading the text, Rei took a deep breath, then smiled.

To: Bayushi Mariko

<<Usagi Rei: Sounds nice >>
<<Usagi Rei: Golden frog at your place>>
<<Usagi Rei: can't wait to see it >>

That applied to both her place and to whatever outfit she wore, of course.

Keeping an eye on his communicator for the follow-up with directions, Rei began to dress as well, changing into his formal greys, freshening up his appearance a bit. He wanted to make sure she knew he was putting in effort, after all.

To: Usagi Rei

<<Bayushi Mariko: House of Blooming Nightshades.>>
<<Bayushi Mariko: Room 1508, see you then. >>

There would be no incidents of drama preventing Rei from getting to his destination. The hotel lobby would allow him easily enough to his destination. Even from the windows of the hallway, the hotel had a very impressive view of the city and Rei could likely see the embassies from where he stood. Of course, this wasn't his first visit here and that sight might have seemed a little familiar.

When he reached the door, Mariko would have it opened without him so much as knocking. She stood at the threshold wearing an outfit with thigh-high white stockings that might have some nods to the one she wore at the battle royale. She smiled playfully at him and gave a presenting gesture for him to enter. "Good evening, Rei-san. Please, come inside and make yourself comfortable."

Rei had been to the House of Blooming Nightshades several times before, in fact. But there was a little bit of extra excitement in him, a tiny bit more spring in his step as he made his way to the designated room. An excitement that would be visible to Mariko when the door opened, along with the small briefcase Rei carried.

"Thank you." Rei murmured as he stepped inside, pausing a moment to hang up his jacket. And to let his gaze trail up and down Mariko's form, a playful smile touching his lips. "You look lovely tonight, Mariko-san." Eyes flickered to her lips, but he waited while the door remained open.

Still holding the little case, he stepped further in, his gaze sweeping the room curiously before returning to her. "It seems like forever ago that I promised you a drink." In truth, it had only been a week, but time certainly went quickly. "I've certainly enjoyed our other meetings..." THAT was certainly true, "-but I was beginning to feel like I wasn't keeping my promise."

Her gaze did look down curiously at the briefcase Rei carried, looking a bit bemused as she look at the briefcase and back at Rei. While a part of her assumed that he did indeed keep the bottle in the case, but another part of her wasn't entirely sure about that. She supposed that Rei couldn't exactly just keep the bottle in a paper bag or have it just hang awkwardly from his coat pocket. She gently closed the door and look back at him with a quaint smile on her lips after the compliment. "Thank you, this was honestly...my second choice."

The hotel room was rather standard, not exactly a suite. It might have been likely that her real place was somewhere close or just outside of the province but the dense nature of the city often had locals even stay at hotels to cut down the fuss in their schedules, if they can afford it. She had several rolling suitcases for her massive wardrobe by the closet and it seemed that she had lived in the hotel for a few days now.

"A while now," she smiled softly. "It almost made me wonder if it was going to happen at all. I know court can be rather busy and people often promise people things. If this got tossed in the wayside, that would be normal, wouldn't it?"

With that, she gently placed her arms around his shoulders and coaxed him to lean lower to that she could give him a soft kiss.

The suitcases were curious. She had a home here, didn't she? Perhaps one of her patrons needed her to stay closer to the center for some project? Perhaps there was some sort of problem with her home? Or maybe she just wanted a change of scenery.

The thoughts were dispelled at the sound of the door shutting. Rei looked at Mariko, smiling, suddenly giving her all his attention. "Too true. That's fairly normal in my line of work, and I'm certain yours as well. Especially this season." He took a deep breath as her arms encircled his shoulders, his own free arm sliding around her waist. "But this promise I've felt very motivated to keep..." Rei murmured as her touch urged him closer.

His lips met hers gently, but lingeringly, not wanting to break the kiss too soon. It had been several days since they'd spent their passions with each other, and Rei could had felt that want for her now.

Finally, he pulled back, just enough to separate his lips from hers. "What was your first choice?" He asked curiously, eyebrows going up.

Her kisses were gentle and she did indulge herself with a few kisses as they held each other, keeping it playful for now. It had been just yesterday when they met on a foam-padded battlefield but that only allowed her to push the boundaries of being flirtatious in public. To say that she missed him might be strange but together like this certainly felt entirely different and she did miss him.

She wouldn't be so willing to release him after another kiss. One hand would drop from his shoulder but she kept the other on him as she took one step to the side so that she could regard him entirely, likely extending the same opportunity for him to appreciate her.

"Oh...Well," she said hesitantly as she put a hand on his chest, her fingers feeling the buttons of his shirt casually. "I had been thinking about wearing a little lingerie number but I get the feeling that might have been too strong of a message. You probably didn't need that much pressure on you after a long day..."

Likewise, Rei's hand trailed after Mariko as she stepped slightly away, his fingertips lingering on her hip. Taking a deep breath, he did let his gaze trace up and down her once more. As much as he did enjoy seeing her in public, there was an extra thrill here and now...

"Mmm..." He murmured, his lips curling up. Shifting slightly, he set his briefcase down, letting his now freed hand come up to touch hers as it toyed with his buttons, chest rising and falling under her touch, his heartbeat quickening just a little. "If the door had opened to that sight, I'd probably have been kissing you before you got it shut again. Mariko." He said, his voice a little rough.

Smiling, he stepped closer, bringing them together again. "But now I find myself very, very, curious." Rei said, smirking playfully. "I think I can handle a fair bit of pressure actually, if you care to test me."

It was difficult to hide some delight in her eyes as she watched his reaction to her proposed idea, certainly where her hand lay gave her the pleasure of feeling his heartbeat. She merely gave a shrug at that, trying to brush off the idea nonchalantly despite having his interest piqued. Her hand would move up to his neck and her fingertips gently brushed him curiously, although perhaps more in a manner of a doctor doing a check-up on him. She couldn't play a medical professional without an idea of some medical procedures. "Mm, you do sound a little parched there. A bit thirsty, perhaps?"

As he stepped closer, Mariko would actually step back, keeping them apart but still in close proximity than proper. "Curiosity does much to leave things to the imagination. Maybe something a little for next time. I hope this doesn't make you disappointed now to be here with me. You're just only here for a show, right?" She would look at him expectantly for his answer as a faint pout formed on her lips.

Rei grinned, laughing softly as she teased him. He certainly was, ah, intrigued by the mere thought of her in lingerie. At the same time though, he respected the rules of her game, and was more than willing to play it.

"Oh, that lip!" He teased as she pouted, still smiling. "Of course I'm not disappointed. That sounds like a treat worth waiting for. But, well, I did promise you a drink after all."

Bending again, he picked up the briefcase. "Where shall we sit? I can get this open while you get a couple of glasses. I've kept it chilled, but a cube or two of ice in each would be good."

"That's your side of the bargain but I suppose I've never quite promised anything on my end in exchange. Of course, I do hope that you're here because you appreciate my company and not because you're here because you're hoping to play. Not that I mind play, of course." She gave him a shrug on the matter and there was even much of a beat because she continued again. "The sofa would be wonderful, please."

She gave a gesture of the sofa in question, on the other side of the half-wall where the bed would be found. Walking over to the cabinet under the informator screen, she retrieved two glasses for them and a bucket of nearby the mini-fridge nearby. She set them on the table and settled into the couch comfortably, crossing her legs. "I already know this was well worth the wait.

"Play or not," Rei said, "-your company does have an element of fun." He looked at her, smiling gently. "And I've been appreciating your company a little more each day."

Sitting on the couch next to her, Rei set the briefcase on the table, opening it with a click. The contents were simple: the bottle of shochu and an ice pack, wrapped together and padded with a couple of silk scarves.

With a twist, Rei opened the bottle pouring shochu into one of the cups, handing it to her with his free hand. "I do remember discussing a little more, though. Straight talk, honesty, possibly a bit of soul reading?"

Mariko gave an impressive few nods at the preparation that Rei did in bringing the shochu. Certainly, far more than just picking it up from the refrigerated section of the store and going straight to her accommodations. She would accept the glance and inclined her head in a subtle bit of thanks. The glass was held close to her but she didn't indulge quite yet, running her finger idly over the glass as she waited for Rei to prepare his own drink. If allowed, she would gladly return the favour by pouring him a glass in return.

She smiled faintly at the topic and nodded once. "I do recall mentioning a bit about that in one of our meetings..."

He'd been going to pour a glass for himself, but noting Mariko's body language, he allowed her to return the favor. "Thank you." He murmured softly as she did so.

Lifting up his glass, he shifted on the couch, facing her as best he could, leaning against the back of the couch on his elbow. It would be easy to put his arm around her, and he wanted to. But he didn't just yet.

"Well then." Rei said. Smiling, Rei raised his glass to her, ready to clink together. "Let's toast to tonight, have a drink, and see where it takes us." He really did want to know more about her, to share not just passions, but also thoughts, secrets. His gaze was warm as he looked at her.

As Rei settled down on the couch, she would scoot a few inches closer so that they were indeed bumping into each other at the very least. She smirked slightly after she did so, leaving the ball in his court what he wanted to do next. She clinked their glass together and smiled softly. "To tonight and the future then, Rei-san. To good drinks and company."

Mariko brought the glass to her nose for a moment to get a sense of the drink before taking a gulp, allowing the slightly indignant take to burn her throat slightly. She let out a slow sigh afterwards with her eyes closed. "Mmm...I suppose, in a roundabout way, you were sort of shopping for me that day."

"To the future..." Rei echoed, his pale eyes going briefly distant as he took a generous sip, letting the familiar burn slide down his throat. "I haven't toasted to that in a while." In a way, his future was on pause as the last few months of his marriage counted down.

Feeling her lean against him, Rei's arm came down, settling around her, easing her against his lean form. His eyes briefly closing at the pleasantness of it, his lips briefly brushing her temple. He was warm, the masculine scent he wore mild and pleasant. "I suppose I did." He said, chuckling softly. "You caught my eye right away; if I hadn't been paying attention to you, I might not have bumped baskets. I wish all my mistakes turned out so well."

He took another drink, eyes flickering briefly to her glass; he'd make sure it stayed filled "I saw you, but you made sure I was paying attention. And I am, you know. You know that, right?" It seemed like it was a worry she had, mentioned at their first meeting, highlighted on their first date, rather dramatically proven at their second.