practicality

I found something of interest taped to my door this morning.

[He goes and takes a seat at the low table, and looks up at Tian, rather bluntly]

But first... I know you're angry with me. Why?

[There's a brief nod at the first statement. The tape had been rather annoying to peel off, too.]

It isn't. Humor me.

[The usual childish grin is gone, for the moment, and there's a slight edge to his words, because dealing with a grumpy, evasive dragon is not how he has wanted to spend the last few days.]

[He's about to answer 'since we've been in a relationship', but at Tian's mention of the dream, his eyes go wide with surprise]

....Oh.

The dream of the battlefield. And the man who's name I can't hear.

He was my superior, before - vicecommander of the Shinsengumi.

[A pause as he contemplates his tea, takes a sip, the continues]

Rain-san thinks we may have been lovers. When I got my name back - he was the one speaking it.

I also do not choose what the Sphere chooses to share - would you have preferred it to be one of the many dreams of you, so this entire place can know of our relationship?

[He doesn't struggle - he knows Tian's strength is far greater than his, and he'd rather not go into work looking like his lover beats him. There's definitely a cold formality to his words that show his own anger, though]

A man such as yourself cannot claim to have had no lovers before me. But they are not here, and he is not here.

Then my current relationship with you would come first.

[And the look in his eyes says that he expects the same from you, mister >|]

[Now that they're closer across the table, Souji closes the distance with a rather forceful kiss.]

My word is my life, in this case. If I break one, you may take the other.

[Someone is definitely feeling a little possessive there today. Souji finally pulls away after a moment, looking definitely flushed, but trying for a semblance of composure.]

The other matter I called you here about is... this.

[He pulls a vial of multicolored sand out of his kimono, note still attached, and puts it on the table between them.]