[Day 2 - Mid Afternoon, Tian] Cool Nebula Wave

[Matsu Eriko]

Eriko did narrow her eyes momentarily, not sure where Koyuki was going with this line of questioning. If Hide thought to get a Kuni marriage counsellor, she would think that she would tell her first at the very least. Koyuki was easier to talk to but still, the line of questioning was peculiar. "Maybe prior to being married, I did let her down by breaking a promise. I kind of let my confidence and my selfless-selfishness get the better of me, which landed me in a lot of trouble. By the end of it, the skeletons in my closet were pretty much out and shooting at people. We survived, thankfully. I couldn't put her through something like that ever again, so lying is not even an option. Not at all."

[Kuni Koyuki]

Listening, Koyuki broke into an earnest smile that the paint on her face only accentuated further. Yet, earnest as it was there was something lonely to that smile, it was in the way it didn't quite reach her eyes where only pain showed. One swirl of the cup she put it to her mouth and drank until she got one, two. Chewing them one after the other as she sat with that.

"Thank you, Eriko-san. For answering. That was more than I had a right to know, I think.." she said, eyes still cast down as to look at the edge of the table but they seemed to look further. "She might ask you about it," she came back, her expression shifted slowly and not suddenly but it returned to a sort of neutrality. "She might ask you if you would ever lie to her. I apologize, but I might have meddled some in your marriage. Though, you both seem good souls. I am sure it will cause you no grief to be able to affirm that love again, if she asks."

[Matsu Eriko]

Eriko did quirk a brow on that note. "She might? I guess you asked her the same thing then? Or, she's kind of concerned? I might not be the perfect spouse but I'd like to think that I managed to pass the test with flying colours, well, pretty darn close for a partner," She said confidently, giving a few sure nods to add to that message.

"It's been an entertaining thought exercise, at least..." she said on the matter, still curious what has gotten Koyuki this curiously. "It wouldn't be the first time that kin has meddled in my affairs. I suppose it's a bit of a standard procedure among Kuni, you can't ever be sure and it's always safer to pry than not. We know what happens when we just let things slip without a second thought. So no offense taken, because you're so thorough. I've got to say, however, do you have some marriage or prospect down the line? Almost sound like your gathering material for a study...or your up to bat next, so to speak."

[Kuni Koyuki]

Koyuki shakes her head briefly when it's first said, offering later, "She wasn't concerned. Her exact words, I don't believe she could fake the involuntary smile when I come into the room. I posed the question to her, suggested she ask because she didn't think you could," she said, her voice somewhat more eased. Looking back to her drink she took more from it, but this time the process was almost a bit mechanical while her brain worked out the math on what else to say. It wasn't noticeable in her brow, or anywhere else save for her eye. There was a concentration there that betrayed the thinking.

Sighing, she set her cup down on the table in front of herself. Crossing her hands over one another at the point of her leg just before thigh meets knee. Inhaling, "I haven't seen the woman I love in over five years. This is the first time I've been so close to possibly seeing her again, and yet it is still probably much too far. She could be anywhere, I don't know. Yet being so close brings a certain kind of insane hope that I might see her again, even if every braincell I have calls me an idiot for believing such a thing is possible."

[Matsu Eriko]

"I smiled?" Eriko perked up curiously on that note. "...I suppose I did and here I thought I was putting on my best Lion face for the meeting we had. Okay, I guess I'm pretty terrible at doing those. Of course, I'd smile, I haven't seen her in about forever. She's probably lucky that I didn't hug her and embarrass her in front of all of our kin."

Eriko took a long slurp from her cup that she perhaps started to reach the bottom with the sound she was making. "Sorry about that...for the bubble tea too. Five years, that's a very long time, hard to imagine. And here, I was gushing that a month seemed like forever ago. I wouldn't call yourself an idiot, especially if you still think so and you must have a good reason. Feelings and intuition can't lie, especially in our kind."

She looked a bit uncertain at Koyuki. "I would say that you should just get on the horn and give her a ring...but I take it that it's complicated, five years complicated..."

[Kuni Koyuki]

Koyuki's eyebrows raised on that note, a subtle confirmation of that very fact. Five years complicated. What a wonderfully succinct way to put it. With enough attention, Eriko would see the sigh in her chest, the way the shoulders raise, and the slight parting of her lips but Koyuki kept it mindfully silent before she grabbed her drink once more. She had more left, but by the larger sips she was taking it might have been apparent now that she was somewhat pacing herself. Finishing off her drink then and there.

"You both want to make your relationship work, so make it work," she said, as if it were a lightly given command. Shifting she digs into one of her pockets, pulls up her communicator into her hand, and hands it over to Eriko. "I never got the chance to share details with your wife. You can feel free to share it with her. Think of it as a family calling card, if you need something don't hesitate. I'll try while I'm here. You're both sweet girls," she says, strangled mirth in her voice.

[Matsu Eriko]

Eriko blinked when Koyuki handed over her communicator to her. At first, she wondered if it was a short-range radio where they could call each other from their respective embassies but that was a rather silly thought. She gave her a glance, perhaps recalling her earlier body language but considering that she didn't exactly follow up with a verbal response, she figured that she might have pushed as far as she could on the topic, especially when she didn't know anything about their separation.

"Sure, of course, Koyuki-san," she said as she fiddled and put their communicators together so that they can trade contacts securely. Beaming did have some risks in a Scorpion city. "You know, it almost feels like we should take you out for dinner together for being such a concerned friend at the very least. It seems only fair, you know."

With that, she handed back her communicator.

[Kuni Koyuki]

Hand coming out as soon as it was ready, and Eriko was handing it back, Koyuki was ready for the return exchange and promptly shoved the communicator back into one of her pockets. Shifting in her seat to regain a sense of comfort before she would inevitably rise. She nods, "I don't know if I would consider it fair. I hardly asked if it was alright that I meddled. However, I would not say no to a dinner invitation from the both of you. I would enjoy it," she said, feeling the need to be clearer on that.

"You now have my information, and soon your wife will as well. Feel free to call anytime and we can set something up," she says, and offers a rare but muted smile.

[Matsu Eriko]

Eriko couldn't help but snicker on that note with a shrug of her shoulders. "Kuni, ask if it's alright to meddle? That's like investigation 102. Eh, it's not every day I get to hang out with a cousin, former cousin, and I guess it's only fair play to be meddled. I'm kind of flattered to be interrogated. No sweat at all. You could be our first...well, one of our first guests, to host as a couple. It probably won't be at our place though, considering how tiny it is but there are a dozen places where we could go, so long it's not the club or anything. I don't think we're typically too busy."

[Kuni Koyuki]

"You are a unique woman, Eriko-san. I do mean that as a compliment," she says, shifting forward on her seat she collects her cup that's more or less empty and stands. Stretching briefly, subtly as to maintain some level of public decorum. Waiting until she finishes, and returns her gaze back toward Eriko, "I am usually quite busy myself, but I am also certain that whatever day you and your wife might be free I will be able to move things around to accommodate. It is the one benefit of my work. I shall leave the decision on where to go to you and your wife? But if you want my opinion you only need to look me up."

One brief glance around the room, "Thank you for taking the time to sit with me. Was much better with company than alone."

[Matsu Eriko]

Seeing as Koyuki was getting up, Eriko decided to do the same as she stood from her seat to follow with the same thought. There was an evening gathering later on tonight and she also had a date with her wife later on in the afternoon.

"Hey, this was kind of fun," she smiled optimistically on that note. "You can't be alone all the time, right? Don't worry, I'll be sure to not be a stranger. We'll work out something in the range of...before the end of the week. We're also going to talk about you a bit potentially, that only seems fair, right?"

[Kuni Koyuki]

"Sure," she says, a half strangled chuckle, "that seems fair. I'll expect to be hearing from you before the end of the week then. It was a pleasure, Eriko-san," and without much more fanfare Koyuki walked off. Hitting a garbage receptacle first with her cup, tossing it within with carefree accuracy and then pushing out the door all in a matter of seconds. Without much delay, the woman quickly disappeared out of sight within the traffic of the mall.

/exit Koyuki

[Thank you for the scene, it was great]

[Matsu Eriko]

"Hey, pleasure's all mine, really. And the end of the week, you got it," she said as she gave her a wink on the matter. "See you around, Koyuki-san!"

She gave her a quick bow with another slurp in her cup to ensure that was the last of it. There was another shake given to make sure there was nothing else before she tossed it into the garbage as well and strolled out.

/exit
/scene!