sweetdeath | [17 | voice, Japanese]

Souji sits down neatly on top one of the cushions, smiling gratefully. "You're very kind, Tsuzuki-san, but I can handle it. Ah, I brought several types of tea, which one would you like?"

He holds up three different bags, obviously pleased at the fact he can show off a little under the circumstances.

"Wow, where'd you get all of those?" Tsuzuki stared at the bags. "...And what kinds are they?"

"I got them by cleaning for Cid-san~" He beams again, putting the bags down on the floor so Tsuzuki can take them up. "He was very kind to share it with me, and I only had to tidy up a little. I have a little Gyokuro left, some regular green tea, and... Well, I can't read the name on the bag," he says with a little laugh. It's 'Earl Grey'. "It's a little dry, though. Quite odd."

"Hmm," Tsuzuki said, chuckling. "I wonder if Cid-san needs a..." What marketable skills did he have, really? He doubted anyone would pay for having their dirty laundry kicked behind the couch, and it was hard to cook with no spice rack. "...A dance instructor?"

He picked up bag number three. "'Earl Grey.' Wow, he really had quite the selection, didn't he? ...The regular green tea should be fine."

The sound of bubbling behind him reminded him of the water. "Just a minute!" Bouncing back to his feet, he hurried back to take the pot off the heat.

Souji laughs at Tsuzuki's suggestion. "For some reason, he doesn't seem the type. He's very, hmm... gruff. Ah, but Tsuzuki-san can dance?"

He moves to put the other two bags back in his sleeve. He's muttering 'U-- Uru--', trying to pronounce 'Earl Grey', just like Tsuzuki had said it, but it's harder than he'd expected.

"A bit!" Tsuzuki laughed, suppressing his impulse to show off a step or two. After all, he was carrying boiling water, and he'd learned just how long it took blisters to fade after accidentally touching a pot his first week here.

Guiltily, he missed his Shinigami powers at least as much for the convenience. Burned mouths actually lasted for humans. He hadn't remembered that, either.

"Aaru Gurei," he added, helpfully, as he set the pot down on a bit of broken tile next to them.

He looks up with a start, clearly having been in deep thought about this pronunciaton matter. He smiles, thankfully. "What language is it? English? It sounds English. I mean, from what I've heard, at least~"

He slowly goes about preparing the tea for the both of them, smiling. "I'd love to see it sometime, Tsuzuki-san. You seem very graceful for a man your height." Of course, that sort of comment leads him to think about Hijikata dancing, and that's just too silly for words.

"It's English," Tsuzuki confirmed. "I don't really speak it either, but I can read a little. ...And there's a box of that kind that keeps showing up in the break room!"

He blinked as Okita took over making the tea. He was the host.... "You don't have to do that," he protested halfheartedly, "-and really the dancing thing is just a hobby, but I'll tell you if I ever get the opportunity to dance around here..." There was that party, wasn't there? Had he missed it? Tsuzuki winced. He'd been planning to drag Hisoka.

He waves Tsuzuki off easily, clearly not wanting another word out of him. He just came here to make the tea because Hijikata was home, after all; he's treating Tsuzuki.

"Is it... traditional? Or Western dance?" He always feels a little awkward asking questions about the future, or about the West.

"Western," Tsuzuki said, smiling at the other man in an attempt to smooth over the awkwardness. "My sister taught me."

He finishes preparing the tea and hands over Tsuzuki's cup. His eyes are wide in surprise. "Really? What do they dance like in the West?"

Accepting the cup, Tsuzuki took a careful sip from the top, breathing over the tea to cool his mouthful. "This is really good, Okita-san. Thanks."

He cradled the cup in his hands as he tried to think of a way to explain ballroom dances. "Well... a man and a woman dance together, usually, with a set pattern of steps. You can vary it with flourishes, too, like kicks, dips or twirls...." He sighed. "It's hard to describe!"

He brightens up. This, he can deal with. Dancing can never be physically straining, right? Not like what he's used to, anyway.

So he puts his tea down and jumps up, grinning a little mischeviously. "Then, Tsuzuki-san! Please show me~ I can pass for a woman, right?" He preens a little, grinning.

Tsuzuki nearly choked on his tea. "Are you serious?!" He stared up at the younger man. Okita's grin was enough of an answer.

Well, he asked himself, why not? It beat trying to explain in words. Setting the cup down, he got to his feet.

"Like this," he explained, taking Okita's hand and settling his other hand on the younger man's waist. "Your other hand goes on my shoulder."

Souji is practically glowing with enthusiasm as he complies, his free hand settling on Tsuzuki's shoulder. Dancing is about footwork, right? It's just a more peaceful kind than he's used to. He should be able to do this.

"So this is how they dance in the West? What do they call it?"

"This is a waltz," Tsuzuki explained. "-Just follow my lead, and I'll go through the basic steps."

Softly, he began to hum a tune in three-quarter time, guiding Okita through the dance. One two three, one two three....

He doesn't seem to have much trouble following things for now, his feet following Tsuzuki's rythm smoothly. He's lead easily, a quick learner with fast feet, and he's smiling as he moves.

"I wonder what kind of music they play during this dance? What's it like, Tsuzuki-san?"

"Western classical music," Tsuzuki offered, "piano or strings -" Would Okita have ever heard those? Maybe not. He cleared his throat, and began to sing, more loudly, a waltz.

He broke the tune for just a moment to add, "You're good at this!"

He moves smoothly, losing himself in the easy rythm. He hadn't heard of any of those instruments, but when Tsuzuki sings it it sounds pleasant, easy to move to. This is more like fighting than the traditional dance he knows, quick steps, avoiding collison.

He laughs a little at the compliment, the hand on Tsuzuki's shoulder tightening momentarily in response. "Thank you~ It's not so difficult. It seems like a natural rythm more than anything."

"It does, doesn't it?" Tsuzuki laughed, and shifted his grip, sweeping Okita into a sudden dip. "The fun part is the flourishes!"

He laughs, delighted but a little surprised at the sudden move, and sweeps one leg up in the air. The move seems to call for it, and he holds on to Tsuzuki's shoulder tightly to keep from falling down. He knows he's light, but you never know!

Hijikata's sandals made hardly any noise on the hard floor of the school. What was taking Souji so long, anyway? Hadn't he just gone next door for a cup of tea?

It hadn't really been that long, his better sense reminded him. Hijikata ignored it.

A laugh echoed from the room ahead, and Hijikata paused, surprised by the sound. Souji, undoubtedly, with another man's chuckle underlying the sound. Guilt pricked him. His friend hadn't laughed like that in days. He shouldn't interrupt if Souji was having fun.

Maybe he'd just look in. He glanced through the open door and stopped in shock.

What was Souji doing?

Tsuzuki held the pose for a moment, surprised by how light Okita was - he could feel solid muscle under his hand, but the other man still wasn't much heavier than Hisoka. Well, maybe a little. Than Hisoka soaking wet.

Laughing at his own thoughts as much at the silliness of the situation, he lifted Okita back up and spun them back into the rhythm of the waltz.

And stumbled as a shadow at the door caught his eye. No, not a shadow, a man in black - a stranger, but the old-fashioned clothes and powerful build fit his mental image closely enough that Tsuzuki thought he knew who it was.

"Uh," he said, slowing to a halt. "Hi!"

He'd been laughing, indeed, completely in his element as Tsuzuki pulled him up and spun him around. It felt so nice to be doing something like this, something to cheer up a friend, something easy and funny, and even Hijikata's appearance doesn't wipe the smile off his face.

"Hijikata-san~ Tsuzuki-san is learning me how to dance! Ah!" He lets go of Tsuzuki, finally, and walks over to Hijikata, only to take the older man by the sleeve and drag him over to his other friend. "Hijikata-san, this is Tsuzuki-san. Tsuzuki-san, Hijikata-san. It's nice to meet you~"

Hijikata let himself be dragged, still a little in shock. Dancing? He shook his head.

"Tsuzuki, huh?" he said to the other man - Western clothes, short hair, nervous grin. He looked like a disheveled merchant. "Pleased."

With the niceties taken care of, he glanced back at Souji, bemusement back on his face. "Dancing?"

[17 | voice, Japanese]

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