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

[Kaiu Seiko]

It was hard for Seiko not to stare in adoration at Sugita.

"That... was... very good!" Her eyes were a bit round.

After a moment, she realized that she needed to toss a rope end down to him. Racing over to the rope, she tossed the end over towards the Crane, then ran back to one of the mast. Since she didn't have the strength, she went around the mast several times to give the added stability.

Bracing her weight, she looked over the edge.

"Climb on up, Kakita-kun!" she called, grinning at him.

[Kakita Sugita]

Sugita misses the rope the first time due to a rolling wave, then catches it as he falls. "Utz!" Hand over hand, he pulls himself to the deck.

Once on deck, Sugita sits upon the side of the boat. "Haha! That was fun. I tried seeing through the water, but the storm has kicked up the earth. Isn't clear enough right now."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko laughed, a sound clear and pure with joy. The storm, her dive, Sugita's dive... she loved it.

"You told me to seek you out next time there was a storm for a good time! Are you always this much fun?"

Her eyes lingered a little on Sugita as she asked this, then looked back up at the storm, the grin widening just a little.

[Kakita Sugita]

Sugita snickers. Dunno how to take that, but he can always choose a way. "I like to think so."

"I remember telling you that, but as I recall I found you." He gives a wink, whatever that's supposed to mean.

[Kaiu Seiko]

For some reason, that just made Seiko laugh again, although it seemed a touch less manic and more... companionable.

"Careful there, Kakita-kun!" she teased, her eyes almost glowing with amusement. "I might think you were deliberately looking for me! And then what would I think?"

The rain on her face made her seem even more alive than before.

[Kakita Sugita]

"I have no idea..." Really. He doesn't. He shakes his head. "You make me think you're Osano-wo and Suitengu's offspring."

[Kaiu Seiko]

"Iie, I'm not!" Seiko easily replied without thinking about it. "But if you were, I'd marry you on the spot!"

Okay! Just a touch too much excitement there, Seiko! Don't let yourself get swept away in the storm!

The slight bit of internal chastisement was not enough to stop her from grinning though. She started to wrap the rope they had used back up so that it was tidy and out of the way.

A thought occurred to her, and she gave Sugita a sideways glance with a wry smile.

"You're not, are you?"

[Kakita Sugita]

She does the what... who. I... Sometimes Sugita can't react in time. "Me? ... HAHA! No. No. I don't think so. At least, if I am I haven't been told. And that would be rather sudden, Kaiu-san."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko couldn't help but to grin even more at Sugita's reaction.

"Oh good! I wouldn't want to marry you just yet!"

She stopped as she realized what she just said. Despite the enthusiasm of the storm, even that wasn't enough to stop the Kaiu from blushing a little - not that anyone could see it in the rain, of course.

"Um... that is to say, not that I was planning! Not that there is anything wrong with you, but..."

Oh, jigoku!

For some strange reason, Seiko was rather conscious of the fact that she was wearing white, wet chest wraps.

[Kakita Sugita]

An honorable person would look discretely, and not point it out. Right? Well, that's what Sugita would do. Except that he's further distracted that that. Defense mode: humor. Activate.

Kakita Sugita has a fit of laughter. "Don't worry, fair maiden. I take no offense."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko almost blushed again, but refrained.

But I'm...

"Not a maiden," she finished the thought aloud. She had recovered a little of her equilibrium. For some reason, that was the only thing she could think of saying.

[Kakita Sugita]

"I..." She could have said nothing. "That isn't..." This is awkward. "What I meant was..." That isn't how I meant to use the word. Remember details, idiot. "It was a turn of phrase. Um... Not that I have a problem. It's just. Didn't have a need to question in the first place? Bother..."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Smooth. Real smooth.

It took a moment for Seiko to realize that she wasn't disparaging Sugita's words as her own.

"Iie, iie. Gomen," she rushed forward with her words. "It is not you to blame. It's... just... all I could think of was... I was married once. Was."

She stopped, and then shrugged a little. At this point, what else was there to say? She was a Crab. What do you think happened?

[Kakita Sugita]

"Oh. Sorry." Sugita glances nervously to the side. "What was his name?" Best thing he could think of on the spot.

[Kaiu Seiko]

"Tadahiro. He was Yasuki Tadahiro." She paused. "It was..."

What is a polite way to put this?

"...an arranged marriage. We... we did our duty. I no longer wear white."

Not technically true, as her chest wraps were white, but somehow, Seiko wasn't thinking about that just now.

[Kakita Sugita]

"Only to be expected, Kaiu-san. But um... you know what my plan is?"

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko smiled, a bit more easily.

"I would hope that it at least involved showing me a good time," she said. "Which you did."

Nevermind that it had been the Kaiu's idea to go diving and that Sugita had only gone along with it.

[Kakita Sugita]

"Oh, of course! Also..." Without another breath, Sugita falls backward over the side of the boat to plop back into the ocean.

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko stared after him for a moment.

What in the world...?

Then she kicked into action. Grabbing the rope again, she tossed one end down to him, then looped the other end around the mast again.

Now? Now!? He had to wait to do this after I finished coiling the rope!

It was... absurd. Annoying.

...amusing.

Despite herself, Seiko felt herself starting to grin again. Then she laughed.

[Kakita Sugita]

Not even a problem for Sugita. The rough water prevents any fanciful swimming, but he's getting around fine. "Haha! Take your time, Kaiu-san. You can jump in once you've tied that up if you want. Promise I won't let you drown."