Roundabout [Closed]

Busy with work, his squad, and his family, J decided to find time for Maaya today. Though they slept in the same bed every night, it was not the same as spending true time together. Maaya had asked for this day, which came as a pleasant surprise. He was sitting quietly in his office, signing a few papers that decreased the budget for training equipment within his squad. His men were slacking and he was planning on working them to the ground this year. When Maaya entered, he held up a single finger and signed the last of the paperwork. With a sigh, he set the pen down and nodded to her before getting up and taking off his Captain's haori. "So what did you have in mind?" he asked, walking with her.

They arrived at her location of choice and J remembered their first lunch here. He took in a breath, enjoying the fresh air and the nice view. When he thought of the view, he wasn't looking at the flowers or pond, but the woman next to him as she spread the food. He didn't even realize what she was taking out until she spoke up about it. He looked around and felt a twitch at the side of his lips. He picked out one, then two, and three. Everything was very well done. "It is a wonderful skill for a mother and wife, and it's very well done. I'm impressed. I'd not mind getting a meal you cook every now and then, though I still prefer you not always being in the kitchen. It's more comfortable with you at my side."

J was enjoying a bite of one of his favorite meals when she began. It soon turned sour in his mouth and he forced himself to swallow it. When she finished explaining, he stared off at a wall while deep in thought. His expression was the same, though he had hardened some. A few things began to make more sense and so he looked down at the food, then to Maaya, and then away again. "What you've done is shameful, Maaya." J said and stood up from his seat, "I will send a maid to help you clean this up and then will be returning to my paperwork. Do not disturb me; I will speak with you about this later tonight, after I've cleared my head." J walked away and did as he said, sending a maid to help her or just clean it up for her. He returned to his office and sat down in silence and deep thought.

J did not catch the "M" that was coming out of Maaya's mouth as he left. He was too deep in thought about what he had just found out. He had to figure out how to deal with this the correct way.

Kaii enjoyed his time at the Saionji Manor. With the noble tensions, he used it as an excuse to come check on things whenever he could. He arrived and within moments had ran into Maaya. Well, she kind of walked into him, but he wouldn't say that out loud. "Finally, someone who actually calls me Kaii in this house, not Master or whatever..." he said and then smiled kindly at her, "You alright, Maaya? Wait... You said at least by you. Did something happen? I mean, obviously it did. You can't really deny it when that pretty face of yours looks so down. Come on. What happened?" Kaii put his hands on his hips and listened to her. If she refused, he'd insist more, "Come on. Let's sit and talk for a bit."

Kaii immediately felt sorry for Maaya when she explained what happened. He rubbed the back of his head and glanced off. "I know Captain Saionji of the Sixth can be a bit of a hardass at times, but I doubt he's going to throw you at." he said, trying to reassure her, even if he wasn't sure himself, "I doubt my Captain would let him, for one. And for two, from what I've heard he cares quite a lot about you. He may just be disappointed and need a bit of time to think on it..." Kaii sighed and shook his head. "So you snapped? I can understand that, I think. I'm not exactly the type to snap over something, but I can kind of get where you're coming from. Do you think there's anything I can do to help? I can try to talk to... my Captain. I will not talk to yours; he scares the shit out of me."

Kaii smiled. "I understand." he said and then quickly wrapped his arms around Maaya, picking her up, and swinging her, "Don't worry! Don't worry! A pretty little lady like yourself will always have somewhere to go." He put her down and pat her head, "I'll go talk to him. Stick around here okay? Don't go runnin' off. I have a feeling once I tell my Captain, yours will be coming after you very soon. Oh... What you should do though... When he's coming near you, make sure you have tears in your eyes. No man can handle a woman crying and it'll pull at his heart strings, I promise. Just try it." Kaii stepped passed her and began heading toward his Captain's office. He waved back toward Maaya before continuing on. As he walked, he was deep in thought, wondering how to help Maaya.

Once he arrived at Kazuo's office, he knocked and called out. "Captain! It's Kaii. Do you mind if I talk to you for a bit?" Once he got confirmation, he stepped inside and bowed like he usually did. "How are you today, Captain?" he asked. He hesitated for a moment and then spoke up after Kazuo finished. "Well, I know it's not really any of my business, but I ran into Lady Maaya outside of the Manor. She doesn't feel safe entering the Manor right now..." Kaii raised an eyebrow and let that information hang in the air for a bit, "It seems she gave Captain Saionji of the Sixth a bit of information about her snapping and continuing to stab her sister to death. He told her that her actions were shameful and that she should not disturb him. She's very upset and scared she's going to be shunned and left homeless."

"I'm doing well. Nothing new to report. However..." Kaii went on about what Maaya had told him. He felt odd telling Kazuo about this, but he had the information and should do something with it. "Of course, Captain." Kaii smiled and proudly accepted the gratitude of his Captain. "Hm?" Kaii closed the door as instructed. He then listened to what Kazuo was asking of him and was a little surprised. He took a moment to think whether he had heard anything recently, but he hadn't. He nodded. "Yes. I will start on this immediately. If I run into the intruder while they're in the act, should I confront them or leave them be? Confronting them may be dangerous, but it may be better if doing so will prevent them from collecting any important information. I could also just call for back-up in the process, but that could alert them to my presence as well. What do you think Captain?" Once Kaii got his answers, he stepped out of Kazuo's office and said his farewell, but... "It is none of my business and I will keep it to myself, but please help Lady Maaya. She's very upset and scared to death." And with that, Kaii left.

J was back at his paperwork in the silence and peace of his office. When he heard his brothers voice, he could feel the annoyance leaking out. J looked up to his brother and immediately stood. He leaned to the side and watched Kazuo lock the door. J raised an eyebrow and reached for his Zanpakutō, pulling it out and pointing it at Kazuo. "If you're here to challenge me for the Head of the Family, I have expected this day to come. I accept your challenge little brother and will not go easy on you." J said and funnily enough, he was joking. This was how J joked: badly. He kept his straight face, waited a moment, and then sheathed his Zanpakutō. "So what's the problem?" he said and sat back down.

J was stuck. Did Maaya go and tell on him or something? J sighed and thought for a moment. "She explained to me how she snapped and stabbed her sister repeatedly until Captain Hayashi had to stop her. What more is there to tell? I am not going to kick Maaya out over that. Why would that scare her? Don't you think I would be a bit of a hypocrite when I reacted the way I did after that disgusting excuse for a man attempted to violate her in my own home?" J raised an eyebrow, placing his elbows on the desk with his fingers entangled as his chin rested on them. Kazuo would know that there were a few things that J would not be and a hypocrite is close to the top of that list. So why was he mad?

J Saonji narrowed his eyes an annoyance at his brother. "I told her that her actions were shameful and they were, but my words had nothing to do with her becoming enraged and losing control. That is a feeling that we all understand, especially after a situation she was in." J stood up and placed his hands on the desk in front of him, leaning over and glaring more angrily at his brother. "I have said nothing about kicking her from the Saionji Manor, nor have I even implied. I merely asked not to be disturbed. I am angry with Maaya, not because of her rampage, but because she waited this long to tell me. Kazuo, I will not be lied to in my own home. She should have told me immediately."

"Also... I have no doubt she asked Captain Hayashi, and possibly others, to keep the situation from me, which only angers me more. I have every right to know what is going on under my own roof and Maaya kept something very important from me. Not only that, but when she finally comes clean about what she had done, she uses her cooking ability and knowledge of my preferred meals to coax me into reacting in a favorable manner to her. Understandable or not, she has betrayed my trust because of this and I am not yet ready to forgive her. This was too serious of a situation for that. You and Maaya are the two people in my life that I am supposed to be able to trust completely and on that she has proven me wrong. I do not take kindly to being betrayed and you know it. However, I have no intention of abandoning the woman I love over a single l-..." J just realized what he had admitted then and looked away from Kazuo, "Still... She's lied to me and I am not happy about it. I can't and won't be."

J listened in silence to his brother. Kazuo was the one person he'd take the advice from and even allow to scold him. The only other person that had that ability was the midget he called his leader, but even then he wouldn't take her advice. "And J, you're a damn scary man." J gave a short chuckle at that. He looked off toward the wall, thinking on what his brother was saying. Once Kazuo was done, he just nodded, unable to say anything more here. The person he needed to talk to was Maaya. "Alright." he nodded and stood up again, "Alright." He rubbed the back of his head and walked out of his office, leaving Kazuo there while he thought about what he was going to say when he found Maaya. When he came up with something that sounded nicer, at least in his head, he pinpointed her location.

J made his way out of the Manor and then shunpo'd toward Maaya. He landed behind her as she was beginning to walk back in through the main gate to the manor. Her head was hung low, which made him feel a little guilty, but he was able to push that off. He stepped up behind her and wrapped an arm around her and leaned over to look down at her as he used his free hand to lift her chin so she was looking at him. "Maaya..." he stopped when he looked into her eyes. He could see how upset she was and gently turned her to face him. He ran his finger along side her face, leaned down, and kissed her cheek. "Listen. I am a man of my word. You will always have a home here. The only way for that to change is if you betrayed the Saionji in an unforgivable way. I am not going to throw you out."

He let that sink in for a moment and then stood straight, staring down at her. His expression had been softer up until then, but he went more serious now. "I need you to understand something. I am not angry because you were enraged enough to do what you did. That emotion is understandable. I can relate. Do you not remember how I reacted the night you were almost... assaulted under my own roof?" he tried using the nicer word since 'violated' felt harsh to say right now. He got his answer and then nodded. "Exactly. I would not punish you for doing the same thing I did. However, Maaya..." he narrowed his eyes, "I do not like that you withheld this information from me. You should have told me this sooner. I understand why you did not; you have been through hell. I merely felt betrayed when you came clean. Do not bribe me with food again. I want honesty and loyalty from you."

J was easily able to accept her words and her apology. It made him feel better when he heard the words as well. He raised an eyebrow at her claiming revenge if anyone she lov-.. Loved? Did she just let something slip that he had let slip to Kazuo a few minutes ago? He wanted to ask her about that, but when the finger came up, he went cross-eyed to look at it and then looked passed it to her. He was a little shocked. That's not what he meant! "I didn't mean it like that." he quickly corrected, but in a way he hadn't spoken before. He said it like he was worried about her thinking that. J had an issue when it came to loyalty and honesty, so to accuse her of something like that would bother him. To J, that was a mistake that needed to be corrected. "Those are two things I value and want from you."

J sighed and then shook his head. "Maaya..." he motioned for her to follow. Once she did, he wrapped an arm around her waist and held her close while they walked along through the gardens. "A moment ago, you said you would seek revenge if those you love were harmed and specified myself. I do not know if it was merely a slip of the tongue, but I feel the need to ask what that meant." he asked, keeping his gaze forward, though he did look around the garden every now and then. "The implication is that you've come to love me." he said and then looked back to her, "Is this what you meant to say?"

J noticed Kazuo out of the corner of his eye and shot a brotherly glare at the man. J watched Maaya closely and was surprised by her behavior. He stopped walking when she ran in front of him. He had put her on the spot and wasn't able to tell whether she was okay with that or not. She went on, beating around the bush for a short bit instead of answering his question. He was equally surprised by the jump-kiss on his chin, but holy shit was that absolutely adorable. He couldn't express how cute he thought she was in that moment. However, the moment she confessed her love for him, J felt his heart flutter a bit. His eyes widened and he stared directly at her. "Maaya..." J hesitated out of his own surprise, but with a moment of thought, J smiled. He smiled a soft and genuine smile.

J leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead, but at the same time placed his hand under her chin. Once he finished kissing her forehead, he lifted her chin up and whispered a kind and sincere question. "May I truly kiss you, Lady Maaya?" But it didn't take long for her to smile and simply say "Of course." J smiled a bit more and leaned in. His eyes closed as he pressed his lips gently against her soft ones. He held the kiss for a few moments, pulling her into him before he went for a gentle dance with her tongue. The few moments seemed like hours to him, but when he felt right and satisfied in a way only she could provide for him, J finally pulled away, breaking the first passionate kiss the two of them ever shared. "I love you too, Maaya." he said, kissing her lips once more before holding her close.