Sakura sighed and slumped in front of one of the embassy computers.

This time!!!

She carefully watched her fingers type out. B.a.y.u.s.h.i. M.o.r.i.k.o.

Yes. Finally!

The search engine seemed to sputter out some results.

OOC:
D8 EE Use Computers/Intelligence, Bayushi Moriko, tn 25 | 6k4 ⇒ 39 (TN: 25)

After a few hours of searching, Hotaru Sakura would find information regarding this Bayushi Moriko. Moriko herself wasn't a great secret but the local Scorpion networks very much appreciated that non-Scorpions kept themselves out of the private lives their own. The information would return with a Bayushi Moriko, who was a local resident of this province, formerly a Hiruma Moriko. Married to a Bayushi Seki. Sakura would find their apartment of access and her contact number. It seemed that her current occupation was in the Scorpion security forces, although currently on reserve from immediate duty. Her last duty was perhaps two weeks ago.

Was there something else she wanted to find out after Bayushi Moriko?

"Long day?" The sympathetic voice came from behind Sakura.

Rei was there, looking at her and smiling. He wore his usual work clothes, but carried his jacket, holding it draped over his shoulder like a half-cape. His eyes flickered briefly over to the screen, but he avoided letting his gaze linger there.

Sakura was just sending over the details to the friendly neighborhood Kuni, when Rei showed up. She quickly changed the search terms, just to keep Konuyi's secret from prying eyes.

And that is how Rei was met with various pictures of Mariko in glamorshots on the computer.

"Yes?" She replied tentatively.

Rei looked at the monitor, then back at Sakura, his eyebrows going up. "A fan of hers, are you?" He asked, amused.

He looked back at the screen for a few moments, smiling, then turned to Sakura. "Sorry. I don't mean to pry. It just seems like you've been putting in long hours lately. You okay?"

Sakura smiled, then brought a picture she received from Seika, it showed Mariko, Seika and Sakura together, at the party, in some sort of weird pose."I am, hai. You too?"

Rei looked like he was about to say something, then looked at the picture, smiling. "That's a cute picture. From your victory party, yeah?" That much was obvious from what the three of them were wearing.

He shrugged. "Yeah, I'm fine. Been long hours for me too, actually. I forgot how much of a thing Winter Court here is."

'Well, I never knew, so bravery if of the ignorant, or something, I guess." She smiled, then indicated towards a seat.

"You been doing well, Rei-sama?" She asked. IT was strange to call him by his chosen name, but also...kind of familiar?

"You look...better. Somehow. I mean, you always looked good, but you seem a bit more...content, I guess?"

Rei sat casually in the seat, stretching his legs out.

"Me? You think so?" Rei smiled at her, but his eyebrows went up in mild surprise. "I don't know. I suppose as Winter Courts go it's been one with... many pleasant experiences. Of all sorts." He shot her a quick sly smile.

Then he tilted his head, considering her. "Have you spoken with Yurei-san lately?" He asked.

Samura winked back.

"Well , I'm happy to hear that. Oh ywah, I did speak this morning with hdr."

"Yeah?" Rei said, eyebrows going up. He watched her for a few moments.

Then he shrugged. "That's good. I couldn't help but notice that she seems very special to you. Ummm..." Rei chewed his lip a moment. "She is, isn't she?"

Usagi Rei wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 24, 2022 6:44 pm

"Yeah?" Rei said, eyebrows going up. He watched her for a few moments.

Then he shrugged. "That's good. I couldn't help but notice that she seems very special to you. Ummm..." Rei chewed his lip a moment. "She is, isn't she?"

Sakura smiled shyly. "She...is. I mean, when you live with someone else, you share a bond. And we hit it off, really, from the first day onward. She's one of my best friends. Who's a girl. And now my girlfriend." She said the last part quietly, unsure how Rei'll react.

Rei grinned. "Well. I can't say I'm surprised, actually. I had a feeling." Reaching out, he gave her chair a playful nudge with his foot.

"That's great, Sakura-san." He said, still smiling. "I like you two together. I can hardly think of a cuter couple."

Usagi Rei wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 24, 2022 10:18 pm

Rei grinned. "Well. I can't say I'm surprised, actually. I had a feeling." Reaching out, he gave her chair a playful nudge with his foot.

"That's great, Sakura-san." He said, still smiling. "I like you two together. I can hardly think of a cuter couple."

"Oh, you had a feeling, have you?" She winked back at him. "You'd better had something." She whispered.

She did blush. "Ah...we're not that cute."

"Oh, I definitely did." Rei chuckled softly at her grin. "And it was very good, too."

Smiling, Rei shrugged. "Hey, I know cute when I see it. And the two of you are definitely cute together. You were cute when you were getting ready for the party, you were cute the other night, and I bet you'll be cute as an official couple." He shrugged again. "Sorry, that's just how it is."

Usagi Rei wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 25, 2022 11:43 am

"Oh, I definitely did." Rei chuckled softly at her grin. "And it was very good, too."

Smiling, Rei shrugged. "Hey, I know cute when I see it. And the two of you are definitely cute together. You were cute when you were getting ready for the party, you were cute the other night, and I bet you'll be cute as an official couple." He shrugged again. "Sorry, that's just how it is."

"Oh, I see the Cutie Expert has spoken. But then, what am I expecting from..."her eyes shone with mischief. "A cute bunny."

Rei leaned a little closer, smirking. "What can I say? I can't deny either label."

He sat back, smiling. "So. Are you going to keep it quiet? Or should I expect to start seeing her around here more often?"

"Depends, is there food in the fridge?" She smirked. "Though probably going to meet more outside. She's cute and all, but wouldn't want to anger Hotaru-sama. This is a place of business after all, among other things."

She smiled. "What about you, Rei-sama? Any luck with relationships?"

"Of course." Rei said, smiling. "Well, I look forward to seeing more of both of you. Out and about, I mean." Another teasing smirk.

A grin briefly flashed across Rei's features. "Oh, well, you know me. I always have some amount of luck." He shrugged, then pursed his lips thoughtfully. "There is one that's becoming a bit more serious, though. We'll see. Sorta feels like there's something there."

"Certainly! We might go to the Wasp, have a small party, just to unwind. You know, no politics, just dancing and drinking, feel free to come! Not sure when." She stifled a small yawn. "Well, I know you always have luck with the ladies, but not one of them seems to hang around. So, happy for your if she does stay around. You deserve someone nice"

She rubbed at her eyes. "Care for some tea? I'm knackered and still have this party to go to. Yogo Masafuni,eh? I heard his parties are a thing to see."