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[He can tell that the doll is coming back with company, so he doesn't bother sending his response over text. Instead, he waits, arms crossed with a small frown of annoyance.

It doesn't occur to him how long it's been since Matoba saw him looking like this-- in a yukata at a festival, no fake glasses or hideous bucket hat, a romance star in full summer inaka boy mode-- but he does notice that Matoba looks a little different than normal. It takes him a second to place it. Once he does, he blinks, momentarily distracted from the scolding ex shtick.] ...Isn't it even easier for an ayakashi to grab your hair if you have it up like that?

[Which isn't to say it's bad, just that it's different.]

Anyway, very funny. You got me. [translator's note: he uses 'wagahai' here just to show he gets the joke, and also to express that it isn't funny or clever.]

Hm? [Matoba looks up from his candy to glance behind him, with the effect of flicking the ponytail with the jerk of his head. It sways.] What about it?

...Ahaha, you don't seriously think any of the smallfry here would dare something so rash, do you? [To attack an Alliance Lieutenant in the midst of another Sutoku-hosted event... He nibbles at the edge of his treat, cracking off a piece.] Though it would amuse me to see them try. And start another war.

[He walks until he is close enough for them to be side by side, and beams merrily at the wording.] Oh, but did you see that charming smile~? I was going to buy Nana-kun a grilled squid, but it seems he's more interested in chicken skewers. Alas...

[Matoba seems to truly lament this fact, and sulks into his candy.] ...Anyway, since you have nothing better to do than chasing me down with dolls, shall we? [Meaning: You're free, right?]

No, I suppose not. Especially not after we've just negotiated the end of one. [And everyone gets to play around in the stinky sewers again. Insane, but whatever.

He rolls his eyes in exasperation (and just exasperation, if asked) as Matoba starts cheerfully baby-talking about someone else's cat, and doesn't notice that they've fallen into step alongside each other until Matoba just invites himself along.] Shall we what, buy food for a cat you met? [that is NOT A REAL SUGGESTION, SEIJI] ...Well. I guess it's nice to have the opportunity to go to a yatai while we're here. [Meaning: yes, let's.]

[Shouldn't have asked, then.] Oh, did you see a grilled squid stand? [His head swivels this way and that.] I suppose I was just going to get more yakiniku for him instead, so I hope Suizenji-san has not gone too far...

[Yakiniku, then. That's where they're headed.]

[They can follow the trail of grilled meat quite easily as they walk. The Shuten clan has a great many grilling yatai set up throughout the festival, big-shouldered oni with hachimaki about their horns stuffed into the small carts and turning the skewers. Matoba invites himself up to one with empty seats, and considers his candy apple for a moment before helping himself to set it stickily on the side of an empty dipping dish.]

--Oh. That's right. [Before it's crushed at his waist when he sits, Matoba plucks a vividly fuchsia pinwheel-striped petunia from his obi, and holds it out to Natori. It's already looking a little battered, like he's had a number of adventures with it tonight already.] Here you go.

I've bought enough snacks for cats. [Like Natsume's fat glutton (affectionate). The last time he's been to a festival like this was with Natsume and the cat, in fact, though that was within the human world with the ayakashi on the sidelines. It is an interesting experience, watching the reverse. Natori finds himself enjoying it, even if they're apparently going on a mission for a stranger's cat.

Natori pulls his nose as Matoba plops the half-eaten candy apple down in a viscous mess, pausing as he takes his seat.] Ugh, are you going to keep eating that? [Never mind going from candy to yakiniku, he's already accepted that shift, but going back? He makes a mental note to 'accidentally' knock it off the counter. He's eyeing the options when there's a very colorful, slightly crumpled flower suddenly thrust in his face.] --What is it?

[A nasty laugh wracks Matoba’s body.] That "kitty" is not a cat. Letting yourself be dragged around by something that low-class is pretty sad, you know.

[But whatever, Natori is the expert in wearing shameful behavior like a badge. He ignores the daggers from both Natori and the stall-runner, who reluctantly and eventually acknowledges them with a grunt.] What? I paid for it, [He scoffs as the menus are tossed at them, a Sutoku Lieutenant and a Tamamo nobody, both nothing impressive to an oni, both humans with the stench of exorcism. He takes it, and then stares at Natori’s question like he’s stupid.]

… A flower. [Squint.] Have you been drinking?

Mhm. [Except for how Sensei is more powerful than anything Matoba (or Natori himself) could hope to obtain!! But there's no need to argue it; he and that fat beast have settled into... more of an understanding than he'd have expected.

Also excuse you, yatai-san, Natori is not a nobody.]

No. [He scowls, and does not blush. It's simply the cast of the lanterns around them.] I mean, why do you have it? Why are you giving it to me?

Oh, I bought it on a whim. But you know I’m not very good at keeping things alive, so it seems to me that it would suit you more.

[The flush of purple suits the blue of Natori’s yukata perfectly, if he were to say it plainly. He glances at it with a smile, and then returns to his menu.]

[Hmmm…. Would Nana-kun prefer chicken livers or thigh pieces…? Matoba mentally maps out a meal for a cat he’s probably not going to catch up with the rest of the night, half listening to Natori grumble beside him.]

Four chicken loin. Four liver. Two beef tongue, four negi, and two bacon-asparagus.

[Take a guess how many of those are actually for him.]

...Alright. [Natori looks at the flower again before tentatively taking it. It doesn't feel like there's anything particularly magical about it, so for good or not it seems like it's just a flower.

...He doesn't have his bag on him, but tucking it into his obi feels like making a particular kind of statement. He puts it down on the counter alongside the menu before putting in his own order (one grilled chicken, one bacon and quail eggs) and waits for the oni to turn back to the food.]

...You must really be sucking up to this cat. You know the bakeneko have started to talk about you?

[So cagey… Matoba sighs to himself. Just a flower, and he even overthinks that. That said, he wonders if he really doesn’t know where it came from. Aerith-san was one of his colleagues, after all.]

Nana-kun isn’t a bakeneko, [Matoba sulks, then turns in a hushed and serious tone, leaning towards Natori.]

Really….? Do they like the snacks? Should I bring more salmon or chicken? Which one do they like better?

[The earnestness of Matoba's reply makes Natori hesitate to tell him what the bakeneko were saying-- there's a creepy one-eyed exorcist who will give you free food if you tease him! Matoba is so rarely earnest about anything. After a moment:]

They haven't mentioned. Just that a man that matches your description will give out food. [Pause.] So they must like whatever you bring them, if they're telling each other to look for you.

I see…

[Phew… What a relief. Well, good word of mouth among the cats would certainly help them get past whatever reservations they had about the curse’s aura, right…?]

[Matoba gives a little puff of relief, and watches the skewers turn on the grill.]

Then, perhaps even after the curse’s increased influence, it will not be too difficult to get close to them again…

[He gazes into the glow of the charcoal, looking a little more peaceful. This night was going quite well so far, all things considered.]

[The curse, huh... Matoba hadn't outright confirmed that it was here the last time Natori asked, but that seems to settle it. Of course it would come up when he's worried about the impact it had on the cats. Natori sips at the glass of water that the oni apathetically shoved their way, and considers asking about it. Instead, he gently pushes the flower over to make room for the skewers, especially since he knows Matoba won't be eating most of them.]

I guess not, if you always bring this much food with you. So that's what your promotion money goes to, huh?

Don't be ridiculous. I have a number of ventures to spend that on.

What the clan invests in me, I invest in the clan. [He tugs over his own lukewarm water, and sips.] I pay for these with the money from my side job.

[Which was also... from the clan, but at least it wasn't what was directly coming from his promotions.] Of course, you don't have any need of, ah, good luck charms.

[A smile curls his lips. It is hazy and warm, even hotter in the yatai than it is outside of it. But he doesn't mind it, somehow.] And you are just plugging away, hm? Coasting off work that was already done and not much else.

I wonder when Tenkohime will put you to work, a little.

Excuse you. I work hard at the host club, you know. [Because it does take some effort to keep up the act when Matoba arrives, though maybe working "hard" is a bit of a stretch. It's always come easy to him, the pretending.] But I suppose she values this face of mine more than anything else.

[He's wondered, sometimes. If his abilities were still limited for a reason. If there was something about him not giving it his all that caused her to hold back his techniques in exchange. Or if it was truly just more profitable to have the actor instead of the exorcist.

He doesn't have to ask the same question of Matoba. Like always, Seiji was surely giving his all to the clan.]

...Does the Daitengu meet with you? When they return something to you.

Are you really shameless enough to call that work. [Matoba scoffs, gulping water to stave off the heat, and happily makes room on the counter when the first set of skewers is pushed towards them.] ...And yet you put the least effort into it. Even foxes are fooled by your cheap smile, I suppose that is worth being impressed by.

[Matoba picks up one of the asparagus skewers and blows on it gently, taking a bite.]

Mm? ...Yes, when they can. Haha, well, they have been "dead" or ...incapacitated for a few of them, though, so I have had some unorthodox meetings.

[Actually, the most unorthodox of them all have been the ones the Daitengu was present for. The tennis up on the roof was quite fun, though.]

Because they were with someone else, or...? [He can't imagine that, say, Matoba knew that the Daitengu was alive before anyone else did because the Daitengu had to be the one to return his wards in person, but truthfully, his own meetings with Tenkohime are also what he would call "unorthodox" to the extent that he wouldn't be able to guess what a normal meeting is meant to look like if he tried. It could be quite literally anything.] I'm going to guess that at least the Daitengu doesn't flirt with you.

[Natori starts nomming on his own skewer, watching them pile up in front of Matoba with a hint of fondness.] So are you going to go around with a fistful of skewers in one hand and the apple in the other?

Yes. The Tengu elders handled some of my early meetings. And after the recent mission, the Daitengu had to call me from the hospital.

Of course, when they were able to meet with me. Well...

[He cheerfully munches the rest of his asparagus.] The Daitengu seemed to really enjoy themselves, just as they did during the volleyball.

[???? He doesn't explain further.]

[Matoba continues to chew through his food, and when the rest of his skewers are finally delivered, he finishes off his current one to gather them.]

Don't be ridiculous. [He reaches over for a napkin, and begins to neatly bundle all the chicken ones up for Nana-kun.] I'm not an animal.

Well. That's diligent of them. [The look Natori gives him is less questioning than it is cautiously tired; if Tenkohime's methods are any comparison, he's sure there was some nonsense going on.

In any case, he watches Matoba bundle up his skewers as he fiddles with the stem of his flower, ultimately tucking it in his obi so that the head is still visible. If it hadn't been for the photo, Natori would have sworn the cat was just some excuse Matoba came up with to see the festival. (Cats like fish, right? he asks, failing to keep a straight face as he points to a goldfish scooping game.) He keeps his hands tucked into the opposite sleeves of his yukata, and enjoys himself despite himself. It's been a while since he could just wander around a festival like this, not worrying about any of the ayakashi around them.

He nibbles at some grilled corn and watches Matoba watch the crowd.]

[Work that had to be done had to be done, if you were alive, Matoba insisted, making it ever clearer just why he was part of the Alliance. Their dinner goes by with similar matter-of-fact chatter, and when they're roaming the aisles of the festival in search of a cat they may or may not even still be present, it continues.]

[Matoba stops to watch the goldfish game with undue seriousness at Natori's suggestion, but decides that a live goldfish wasn't as interesting as some prepared food. He makes this declaration with the same seriousness as he had addressed Natori's teasing about the bakeneko with.]

[If he's self aware about it, he's never shown it. Not then, not now.]

[The night wears on and he seems to eventually, somewhat dejectedly, admit that they are probably not going to find the cat again. But by then they have already been walking about for long enough to forget mostly about it, and Matoba ends up stooping to leave the skewers for a small circle of bakeneko by the Tamamo stalls instead, waving and cooing to them and embarrassing Natori in front of his senpais, the cats.]

At least there are no fireworks to hide an assassination behind, this time, [Matoba dryly remarks as they stand shoulder to shoulder on the edges of the crowds, bathed in the dark glow of lanterns as the Daitengu makes their announcement of the truce. They're standing close and his head is cocked, near-tilted to Natori's shoulder.]

[Natori does his best to be looking elsewhere as Matoba drops off his leftovers and makes baby talk at his senpais. (I don't know her dot gif) But aside from that, it's... It's nice. It's a nice night, and a nice end to the festival. He snorts at Matoba's comment, digging his elbow into Matoba's side.]

Don't jinx it. With their luck they'll get hit by a big chunk of falling stardust. [He's keeping his voice low, and therefore the only option is to lean in to mutter into Matoba's ear. A perfectly innocent and normal thing to do. He doesn't straighten up again. The sideways glance accompanying his smirk lingers longer than the sarcastic aside as well; he watches Matoba out of the corner of his eye instead of looking up at the stage.

He's very aware of the flower in his obi. He feels flushed in that carefree way of boyish summer nights, after just a few hours of them getting to ignore everything else that was going on in favor of a wild goose chase around the festival. After a moment of his heart pounding in his ears, his right hand casually slips into Matoba's left where they both hang at their sides, hidden by their yukata from a crowd that isn't watching them anyway.]

Edited (I'm shallow I just used that icon) 2022-07-20 03:11 (UTC)

Please, do not tempt fate.

[Matoba grumbles. The last thing he needs to deal with tonight is another all-nighter of politics, half covered in blood, and another ruined yukata. In fact, he was going to strangle Ryouma if this led to another assassination. He's deciding it. He'll just take power his damn self.]

[...While he's distracted in his worse-case-scenario power fantasies, he doesn't even notice how close Natori is until he feels the brush against his hand, and then the warmth of fingers interlocking. Blinking once, his head turns- Natori is on his left, as is customary, so it hardly takes much for their eyes to meet, his own lightly baffled.]

[How long has it been since he saw such an open gaze from him? Long enough he can barely remember, he thinks, but he's too distracted to put the thought into it. He can feel the other man's breath against his bottom lip, and his own almost quivers.]

CAW CAW

[The shiver of panic over the crowd as the Tengu familiars swoop in at the Daitengu's closing remarks breaks the glow of the moment and Matoba's hand breaks free from Natori's with the same smooth movement which he uses to draw an ofuda from his sleeve, guard raised with the hairs on the back of his neck. It takes a moment to take in the situation, but after immediately turning his gaze on the Daitengu- who looks perhaps troubled, but not alarmed- his eye narrows.]

--I suppose Sakamoto-san did mention there would be detractors, [He mutters under his breath, and slaps one crow away who dares to go for his hair pin.] Ours.

[Matoba doesn't pull away. When their eyes connect, the look in Matoba's sole visible one isn't a rejection. They always have to take steps this way, both of them inching along a little further until they're both in deep enough that they can close their eyes and let it happen. Matoba is close enough that Natori can still smell the hint of yakitori lingering after a few hours of carrying them around the festival. He's filled with a sudden inexplicable fondness, one that makes him smile before he takes that last small step to bring them back together.

And then some ayakashi ruin it. Natori reacts as instinctively as Matoba does, breaking away from Matoba to give them both room to maneuver.] --Magpies? Really? [For Tanabata??? This is what's interrupting them from--

He stuffs his hand into his own sleeve for his paper dolls with more force than is really necessary, then tosses them into the air around him. He knows without having to say anything that Matoba is going to have to break off and do crowd control, knows that even if he weren't a lieutenant the brief moment they had was broken, but he doesn't want to be the first one to step away. It's silly and childish of him, and a stupid thing to be thinking in the middle of this crowd, even if the birds seem more focused on being nuisances than causing any actual danger. But still.]

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