[Day 5, Early Afternoon] - It's not at sea, but still...

[Kaiu Seiko]

Using her feet to "walk", Seiko made it up the side of the Half Moon thanks to Sugita. She hopped over the railing and grinned at the Crane.

"Diving high into stormy water, singing to try to rival Osano-Wo... isn't there anything to do for fun around here?"

Despite all that had happened, she was still full of enough energy to try round two already.

[Kakita Sugita]

"OK... OK. What's next." Sugita isn't reluctant. He's got to catch his breath. So he's making the woman think for him. "Your turn." For something...

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko considered. As much as walking the wet railing or racing up the rigging sounded like fun at the moment, she doubted that such activity would be considered proper. And he did say that he was tired.

A thought came into her head.

"Tell me." She leaned forward so she didn't have to yell. "You were talking about what you like to do during a storm. What exactly is it?"

[Kakita Sugita]

"Today or before?" He asks with a sly smile.

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko's eyes lit up.

"More than one possibility? Why not tell me both?"

[Kakita Sugita]

"Well. The first was supposed to be an open ended dirty joke." Would squint further if it didn't mean his eyes would close. "Ya did get that right?"

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko laughed.

"You mean you were just joking? All talk and no action?" she teased.

[Kakita Sugita]

"Without knowing how it would be received, or even testing the waters?" Sugita wshakes his head. "I'm not suicidal!"

[Kaiu Seiko]

"Haven't you tested the waters enough by now, Kakita-kun?" Seiko continued to tease. "Or do you need to take another dive first?"

[Kakita Sugita]

"Maaaaayyybe once more." I punish for teasing, thinks Sugita. He's already advancing. Three slow steps until he's inches from Seiko. Both hands rest upon her shoulders. And he pushes softly. Back and back, toward the edge of the boat. "So, what do you think? Head first?" he asks in what is a whisper to the storm.

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko only smiled. Her back was to the railing, she was leaning over it, and her balance was such that she was only inches away. Driven by the excitement of the storm, she did the only thing acceptable to her.

"I always like to dive in head-first," she replied.

This close, she couldn't miss. She leaned up and gave him a kiss.

To distract him.

Her hands gripped his clothing, and holding on as tightly as she could, she pushed herself backwards and over, into the water.

[Kakita Sugita]

"Mm-phhh!" Thoroughly surprised, Sugita goes right along. "Ack!" SPLASH!

"Dammit!" Sugita curses as he surfaces, spluttering. "That's what I was gonna do! Well, more or less... ... hehe... heh. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko laughed again, thoroughly delighted.

"What, all of that? Including the distraction and making sure we both were in Suitengu-kami's good graces?" she grinned.

In some distance part of her mind, she was thankful she had put her tools away before diving in the first time. After the second splash, there was a good chance she would have lost something by now.

[Kakita Sugita]

"Not precisely that, no." The surprise had kept the blush away, but now it's starting to show. "You were going to go in first. And my distraction was um... less sophisticated."

[Kaiu Seiko]

The excitement of the storm had certainly loosened Seiko's inhibitions. Sugita's blush was like blood in the water to the Kaiu.

"Is something the matter, Kakita-kun?" The wind howling made it impossible to coo at him, although Seiko did swim a little closer so as to speak a bit quieter. Of course, this meant she was very close to him once again. "Do you think that I used an unfair means of distraction?"

More teasing, more flirting. She batted her eyes at him innocently.

"Or... did you not like it?"

[Kakita Sugita]

He levels a playfully stern gaze. "No. It wasn't fair. Specifically because it's something I'd like. And batting your eyes isn't fair either. So..." His answer is to wrap his arms around Seiko, and dunk them both.

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko wasn't quite expecting that.

As soon as she could, she got free, spitting out the little bit of seawater that had gotten into her mouth.

"Ack!" She leveled her own "you're-in-trouble" look at Sugita. "That was mean!"

Then she laughed, although it was a little more like a giggle this time.

"Although I deserved it!"

For a moment all she could think of doing was swimming there and grinning at Sugita.

Snap out of it!

Or maybe...

There was something different in her eyes as she continued to grin at Sugita.

"So, tell me... Kakita-kun... since you liked it, would you want another? Just for fun?"

[Kakita Sugita]

Despite what outside observers might think, Sugita was trying to be playful. Not flirty. So, to him, either this outcome is a joke, or classifies as unintended consequences. Both require a head first approach. Only fair. "I uh... I... " Few hiccups on that approach. Words don't work. And this is a brilliant time to realize that he's still clinging on to the woman. Tha-dump! Tha-dump! "Yeah?"

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko could have planned something sneaky. But her mind wasn't in it. She had been swept away with the storm, even as "mild" as this one was. What she did, she did because it was fun, and she wanted it.

She kissed him.

Unlike the first time, it was slow and sweet.

[Kakita Sugita]

Sugita wants to. But he's also anxious, so it's difficult to get into it. He He goes with the flow and gets lost in the moment. Treading forgotten, the two sink back under the waves. Slowly this time. Sugita makes no effort to part, and is content to continue underwater.