"Oh, wasting time mostly", he said. "Though apparently there's a cult running around out in the fungal forest that wants to unleash chikushudo onto the planet. Probably the same people who are stalling the governor's plans to develop everything around here."

he held up his bowl. "you wanna race after all? I mean, the bowls are disposable so it's not like there's dishes to do."

Akemi slowly raised an eyebrow without stopping to eat. She managed to squeeze a question between two mouthfuls:

"You're pulling my leg right?"

"No idea, really. Kitsune-san and some others talked yo disturbed spirits near the shrine, didn't sound good I guess."

He ate too. Fast.

The news almost ruined Akemi's appetite. Almost, as she engulfed yet another big portion before answering:

"Fuck. If there is any truth in what you've said, we've sent Nishida to his own slaughter and the backfiring is going to roast the entire Crab clan. Cause that means that what we thought was an isolated incident might turn to be... well, religious therefore political. And we suck at dealing with political issues.

Should have forgone subtlety and tried to solve the issue on the spot with a tetsubo to the head. Nobody would have ever found the corpse."

She pouted, looking a bit like a hamster with her cheeks full of food:

"Could have told me earlier."

"It's still under investigation", he said and tipped the bowl to finish. Slapping it down he leaned back in his chair, satisfied. "Telling a Crab about possible trouble just stirs up action, if I'm wrong I get a chuckle while you get in trouble. Amusing as that might be, I'm giving it a little time."

"I... cannot exactly disagree with the fact I might have slightly overreacted to that rumor had I heard of it sooner.

Well, no use crying over spilled eggs. We'll play it by ear as usual. Worst case, you're an expert at getting your friends out of legal trouble by this point, aren't you?"

She stuck a food-colored tongue out at that last affirmation.

"I can have things done, offer aid", he comfirmed. "Was there trouble you were thinking of getting into today?" He tapped her toe with his under the table. "Other than with me, that is."

Akemi pranced around to her communicator and gave it a look.

"So far no message. So everything's fine up to this point."

She shrugged:

"I'm just guilty of having put my muddy Hida feet in places I shouldn't have. Outside this room I mean. Not much you can do for me except convince the judge I'm more dumb than dangerous."

She grinned:

"And honestly, you giving testimony in my favor to the local authorities is far more likely to make everything worse."

he shrugged. "Not so sure about that, but I won't interfere where I'm not wanted." He drank some coffee and seemed to come a little more alive and looked at her for a bit, taking in her messy hair, waking eyes and the way the shirt fit her frame. He seemed pretty satisfied with the moment and sipped again.

Akemi swayed back to the table, sitting directly on it instead of bothering getting to her chair, one buttock in the air the other on the (imitation?) wood:

"Well... Eriko was worried the local authorities wouldn't take the full measure of the problem and we would be forced to take the matter into our hands ourselves... But sorry to tell you that Shoko, but the Spider wouldn't be called as backup for that issue even if we were on our last straw.

At least not directly. If you want to send your men into the forest to kill some wild beasts that might prove dangerous eventually, be my guest."

She took her chin under her fingers:

"Just don't risk it yourself please? The death count of people I care for is already stupidly high for a miai."

He shrugged at first to her comments, still sitting.

"I don't expect an official call from the Crab clan, though I don't mind you ringing me if you're lonely", he smirked.

To the rest he stood up and walked in front of her as she sat on the table and leaned in for a kiss.

"But if I don't go with people I send, I'm a shit leader. Though I'm not above having someone like you watching my ass if I do go stomping through the mushrooms."

The kiss was short and sweet, and went with a huge hug, the latter not stopping when the former ended.

Akemi whispered in Shoko's ear, her arms firmly locked behind his back:

"Then don't send your friends there. There are like a billion beasts in these woods. I was just trying to get a few Spider killed. Old habits die hard I guess."

It's unclear how much she jokes and how much she is serious.

"There's nothing wrong with that", he said into her ear in return. "Let's just try and enjoy moments that should be enjoyed, the rest is what it is."

And he rolled the the shirt up her sides, if she didn't raise her arms, he'd find a way.

Oh, she didn't resist.

/ftb?
/scene?

Works for me.