[b]Characters: [color=ffaa33][u]Kirei[/u][/color] & [color=fdabc7][u]Anna[/u][/color][/b]

[hider=Part I]Kirei entered through the front door of Nerd's Paradise.  [color=ffaa33][b]"I have returned Anna."[/b][/color]  She nodded at Anna.  [color=ffaa33][b]"I have your Ice Cream.  It's still cold, so I hope you enjoy."[/b][/color]  She walked over and handed over the catgirl's carton of Ice Cream or she was going to, but the girl was busy with one of her games.  [color=ffaa33][b]"This game seems to be different from the one you were playing earlier.  A little older as well."[/b][/color]  She didn't know much, but things that looked like diamonds in the place of circles of real anatomy was probably much older.  [color=ffaa33][b]"Are you enjoying yourself?"[/b][/color]

Anna perked up and quickly paused the game, looking up at Kirei. She felt a bit odd looking at her roommate all of a sudden, but it was probably stress. She smirked and quickly swiped the ice cream and wheeled her chair away from the computer just a few inches and started to unwrap it. [color=fdabc7][b]"You are a life saver ... day just started and I'm already having all sorts of stress."[/b][/color] Though she didn't really explain much further, she didn't exactly seem in the mood to deny questions. [color=fdabc7][b]"Yeah, it's pretty fun.. this one is all in real time.. so you kind of have to think on your feet and all that."[/b][/color] Anna didn't bother explaining too much further, since Kirei seemed completely puzzled by her games and instead just went about eating her vanilla ice cream. It was one of those generic things on a popcicle covered in a chocolate outter shell - not her favorite, but she wasn't complaining. [color=fdabc7][b]"Thank you,"[/b][/color] she murmured between bites, smiling at the spider woman, even in spite of her roommate's stoic stare.

[color=ffaa33][b]"It is no problem.  I have procured for myself a microwave dinner.  They are cooked quickly and taste fairly well."[/b][/color]  Kirei said with as trumphant a look as she could have on her stoic face.  [color=ffaa33][b]"But did you say you have stress?  I hope I have not been the one to give it to you."[/b][/color]  She just looked into her roommates eyes with, perhaps, a slight bit of worry.  [color=ffaa33][b]"Did something happen?"[/b][/color]  Really, it wasn't her place to ask, nor had she known this girl for very long at all.  Perhaps she was just trying to seem like a good roommate.  [color=ffaa33][b]"Or is it just something I shouldn't ask?"[/b][/color]  She was going to continue on the subject but she just remembered, [color=ffaa33][b]"Do you have a microwave here?"[/b][/color]

'No way!' she thought to herself. Was that an [i]actual[/i] expression she almost saw? That thought was quickly distracted by the slight worry Kirei seemed to have about the situation, which was actually kind of sweet and made the cat smile slightly. She then chuckled softly by the sudden change of pace into the subject of microwaves. [color=fdabc7][b]"Hahah... yeah, I do. It's upstairs in that small kitchen, remember? I don't use it much, but I forgot to tell you that you can use the fridge as you see fit."[/b][/color] She paused then and gracefully tucked one of her feet under the other leg as her tail swayed happily. [color=fdabc7][b]"But, uh.. you know, go get your food and I can tell you about it... and no, I'm kind of glad you asked. I'm not forward in a lot of ways, so .. haha, it's a good thing you decide to prod."[/b][/color] She gave up a very quick, but shy smile before biting back into her ice cream.

[color=ffaa33][b]"I shall return then."[/b][/color]  Kirei told her roommate before heading upstairs to use the "microwave".  It was still as exquisite a device as she had ever known it.  She was happy to talk with her roommate and discusing whatever she was having issues with.  She was not a. . . What was it? Psychiatrist? Whatever it was, she was not one, but she did typically notice things.  [i]Beep Beep Beep[/i]  The microwave resounded.  Had it really been three minutes?  [color=ffaa33][b]"Quick indeed."[/b][/color]  Grabbing herself the meal, and this fork contraption, she returned downstairs.  It was some kind of weird food she had never had the. . . Pleasure, of eating.  It looked good enough at the least.  [color=ffaa33][b]"Now tell me, Anna, what is it that is the problem?  I'm here to listen to what you need to speak of."[/b][/color]  Her face definitely showed concern, or maybe interest, in what was going on in Anna's life that would give her stress.

She had just finished her treat by the time Kirei made it back down and bit her lip a little at the question, though her tail still seemed to be swaying cheerfully. [color=fdabc7][b]"Well ... there's this naga I keep seeing go into the cafe for some time now and I was always curious, but she finally showed up in my shop. It was.. uh.. kind of interesting. I mean she kept calling me kitten - which was oddly nice.. and she seemed really into my games and stuff, but of course she was just a customer. Anyways, I guess.. she's one of those predator creatures?"[/b][/color] she offered, shrugging a bit.

[color=fdabc7][b]"Guess something triggered her instincts and she started getting all.. ready to pounce and stuff - which is whatever. I just didn't want my computer to be broken, right?"[/b][/color] She looked at Kirei expectingly just to make sure she was still listening, but she as she was, Anna continued. [color=fdabc7][b]"She got a hold of it and excused herself, but ... eh... I dunno. It was just.. strange."[/b][/color] She paused, pursing her lips for a quick moment as her ears tilted down slightly and she even blushed ever so slightly. [color=fdabc7][b]"I guess I liked someone being interested in what I do and she had this .. like .. dominance about her.. but then she left so suddenly on such a bad note. I guess with what we talked about earlier, it's just been stressful."[/b][/color] She looked right at Kirei and gave her a more cheerful, but defeated smile as she shrugged again, her ears tilting back into place.

Kirei listened to Anna carefully, paying attention to every word she said, thinking all the while.  The only Naga she really knew was the cop, Oerba, something she decided she might want to share.  [color=ffaa33][b]"If it's Naga. . . Then maybe it is the cop, Oerba.  Sometimes her attitude makes me think she doesn't have the public interest in mind, but she hasn't all too fatally injured anyone."[/b][/color]  She wasn't too fond of the smile her Neko roommate was wearing.  [color=ffaa33][b]"But you liked being called 'kitten?'  I suppose you are part cat so it makes sense."[/b][/color]  

Mentally, Kirei had to analyze everything the girl had said while finishing her food.  [color=ffaa33][b]"Well, perhaps it's related to what you talked to me about earlier.  Someone showed interest and maybe you started to develope feelings? I can't tell you what you feel though."[/b][/color]  After putting her food down, she turned to Anna again.  [color=ffaa33][b]"Still, that sad expression doesn't seem to fit you.  Well, no offense, but it is mostly what I've seen on you today but I mean that you needn't have that look on your face.  Did you need a 'hug?'"[/b][/color]  She asked.  If she had come to understand things about western culture, it was that physical contact wasn't as taboo as it was in the east.  Not that it mattered to her much as she had done much worse in the past with strangers.  [color=ffaa33][b]"I think I have understood that they are a means to make one feel better."[/b][/color]

Anna let out a sigh and folded her hands on her lap. [color=fdabc7][b]"Sorry... I really try not to be sad.. just a lot of painful memories of.. pretty much being alone, all the time."[/b][/color] She paused with a thoughtful expression on her face. [color=fdabc7][b]"Feelings? Eh, probably not - interest maybe. I just have this curse. I've been rejected so much that pretty much any pretty woman that pops in and displays any sort of interest in me.. I can easily daydream all these romantic things.. but, it's been like - seven years? Something like that since anyone actually wanted to be my girlfriend, so.."[/b][/color]

She bit her lip softly and seemed to examine Kirei for a few moments, sort of wondering where the seemingly sudden interested came from. [color=fdabc7][b]"But! Um ... I mean, only give me a hug if you want to, haha, but I don't need one.. I've had to tough it out so far by myself, so I can keep doing that, right?"[/b][/color] She shifted her foot from under he leg so her knees were together again. [color=fdabc7][b]"Yeah, weird though, huh? Kitten ... guess it's one of those cutesy, romantic nicknames you might give a girlfriend, huh? I mean, I doubt the naga meant it that way - haha."[/b][/color] She smiled a bit more happily than before, but it was easy to tell the hurt was still there for now, since Kirei had just seen it.

Kirei stood up and walked over to Anna extending her arms and giving one of the stiffest most awkward hugs one could give.  She thought there was a difference between one you'd give friends and one you'd give family or a lover, so she attempted to tone it down to a "friend" level.  To experience human expressions and actions were quite a different ordeal, at least pertaining to western civilization.  People back home were much more reserved. Perhaps it wasn't helped by the backwater village and people still wearing traditional clothes all the time.  Still, she wasn't sure what else to add to it to make Anna feel better.  [color=ffaa33][b]"Well, I'll be here if you need to talk to me, Anna. . . 'Kitten.'"[/b][/color]  She attempted to use the name, but it didn't feel right coming out. She looked upward not feeling right about saying it like that.  [color=ffaa33][b]"I don't think that's quite right. Sorry."[/b][/color]

The catgirl smirked at the stiff hug and just took it upon herself to show Kirei how to really hug, wrapping her arms around the spider's waist (since she was still sitting) and squeezing her tightly against her chest. It was kind of embarrassing in a way for her though, but at the same time, maybe it was because she felt shy and she wasn't used to being forward. However when she heard 'kitten,' no matter how awkward it sounded, she felt her ears tilted back again and her cheeks flush. Huffing a little, in a more playful manner, she pulled away from the spideress and looked up, staring her straight in the eyes. [color=fdabc7][b]"It sounded fine, but you better not be throwing that around unless you plan on flirting with me or something,"[/b][/color] she teased. Though as Anna sat there looking up, she felt her cheeks blush even brighter as the spider-woman was standing over her and lightly swallowed, her ears tilting all the way back. Gods did she feel shy as ever now, but didn't want to shun the attempt at comfort. It seemed a bit hard for Kirei to actually give and not only would it be rude, but might make her roommate feel bad. This position though ... kind of set her head spinning a little.[/hider]

[hider=Part II][color=ffaa33][b]"Oh, so that is how you hug a friend."[/b][/color]  Kirei whispered in awe.  She thought there was a difference, but it appeared that there was not so much one.  [color=ffaa33][b]"Well, I was testing out calling you by a 'nickname' but that one didn't feel right.  I'd have a better chance calling you "Neko-chan" or something."[/b][/color]  Then she noticed the cat's blushing cheeks.  [color=ffaa33][b]"Are you okay?  Your face is all red.  You're not suddenly sick are you?"[/b][/color]  She put her hand against the cat's forehead, [color=ffaa33][b]"Well, you feel fine at least. Do you need anything?"[/b][/color]  It would be weird for her roommate to fall suddenly ill, maybe it was something else, but she couldn't figure it out either way.

And that's where it went a bit downhill, first with wanting to refer to her by a polite term and then asking if she was ill - of all things. Even though she liked the feeling of the hand in her forehead, she couldn't help but give Kirei a defeated, but dumbfounded look at the reaction. How could she notice the blushing and then assume it was being sick - all of a sudden. Anna let out a slow sigh and attempted to give Kirei a friendly smile before letting go and rolling away a few inches. [color=fdabc7][b]"Well, you're [b]obviously[/b] not the romantic type ..."[/b][/color] she muttered, but it was definitely loud enough. [color=fdabc7][b]"No, Kirei, heh.. I don't really need anything, but thanks.. just, um.. thanks for the hug."[/b][/color] She didn't like acting so rude to her roommate, but she was just blown away by how oblivious she was and now felt embarrassed for even blushing in the first place. [i]'Goodness, I can be so stupid sometimes,'[/i] she thought to herself.

[color=ffaa33][b]"I'm not the romantic type?"[/b][/color]  Kirei replied.  She wasn't sure what was meant by that.  It's not like she was all too good of a person to fall for.  Her past was not exactly pure, like this roommate of hers, so there was no likely way that she would hold any feelings like romance.  Not towards Kirei at least.  [color=ffaa33][b]"It's not exactly like I would think in the terms of romance for the most part.  I'm not a desireable person, so no need to worry about that, right?  Unless you do?"[/b][/color]  Now she was just trying to figure out why Anna even attempted whispering it.  Her head just tilted to the side slightly while she tried to think on the subject, looking straight at Anna.

[color=fdabc7][b]"I- .. I dunno.. maybe? I mean, why's it matter?"[/b][/color] she asked, apparently getting slightly defensive for being put on the spot, but it was kind of hard to deny what she was saying too. [color=fdabc7][b]"You're nice and everything and.. taking time to cheer me up even if you feel awkward about it.. and you're pretty .... so is it so strange that you made me blush?"[/b][/color] Apparently Anna could be quite stubborn at times as she huffed after and crossed her arms over her chest, looking towards the front door instead of at Kirei, her tail twitching nervously. She wasn't blushing quite a much as before and her ears had tilted up some, but it still seemed to linger.

If she was sure of anything at this point, it was that Anna's tail told a lot about her.  That being in her mind, she wasn't always sure what the tail swishing type meant.  She also kind of knew at this point but had to mention it, [color=ffaa33][b]"So my looks and being nice to you made you blush?"[/b][/color]  Then she followed Anna's vision to the entrance with nothing there.  'Avoiding me with her eyes, is she?'  Now she wasn't sure.  [color=ffaa33][b]"What should I feel about that?"[/b][/color]  She muttered to herself, practically asking Anna.  She tried her best to look in Anna's eyes to see if she could read anything, but with her averted gaze, it didn't help much. Jokingly, she mentioned, [color=ffaa33][b]"Perhaps I should just eat you up."[/b][/color]  She found it funny, though she didn't think far ahead about whether or not Anna would.

[color=fdabc7][b]"Well.. there.. were a couple.. others thing, but whatever,"[/b][/color] she replied to the first question, still holding onto her stubborness, though when she was asked the second question, all she could do stare out at the window thoughtfully. Anna wasn't even sure what she felt herself right now, as if feeling anything was forbidden and yet Kirei was someone she could potentially see herself with, making it very confusing. The last comment is what shocked Anna from her stubborness though as she looked over to Kirei with wide eyes, her pupils even growing huge like any cat, but instead of fear it seemed her cheeks grew red again. [color=fdabc7][b]".. eat .. me ..?"[/b][/color] she repeated softly. [color=fdabc7][b]"Uh.."[/b][/color] It was pretty obvious that she wasn't exactly thinking of being literally eaten like Kirei may have implied, assuming she got things like that.

It took a few moments before Anna could recollect her thoughts at such a suggestive remark, whether it was meant in such a way or not. [color=fdabc7][b]"Yeah, uh.. you might.. um, have to... y'know, flirt with me some more or something before you can eat me ... and I'm assuming you didn't mean literally.."[/b][/color] Somehow that seemed to make her open up a little more as she gave Kirei a slight smirk. Now she was shifting her body so her knees were drawn to her chest and she was peeking her eyes out from them - almost like a kitten that was looking to play. Her ears had mostly gone back to their upward stance and her tail was flicking nervously still as she watched Kirei like a hawk.

[color=ffaa33][b]"Literally or not.  Good question."[/b][/color] Kirei said slyly.  [color=ffaa33][b]"I will say though, I've never been especially good at 'flirting.'  I never needed to be really."[/b][/color]  She was sure this isn't where she needed to be going in this conversation.  It was something like that that seemed to get Anna down in the first place.  [color=ffaa33][b]"Well, perhaps I should try."[/b][/color]  She whispered lightly to herself.  What exactly would she do though?  Perhaps she, like felines Kirei had encountered before, enjoyed having behind her ear scratched.  Still, there was this small desire inside her that wanted to feel the fur of her roommate.  [color=ffaa33][b]"Now I'm curious."[/b][/color]  She mentioned as she reached to scratch the back of Anna's ear like one would do a cat.  [color=ffaa33][b]"Is this acceptable?"[/b][/color]

Her ears tilted back for a moment as she looked at Kirei seriously. [color=fdabc7][b]"You better not mean literally.."[/b][/color] but soon they bounced back and she smirked playfully, [color=fdabc7][b]"not like it'd matter. Kind of hard to eat a spirit."[/b][/color] Anna seemed to just watch Kirei, even as she talked about not being able to flirt, because it soon seemed she was whispering to herself about something and it made the cat curious. The next thing the spideress did was rather unexpected though as she reached forward and started to scratch the back of her ear, instantly making Anna blush again. Her ears stayed tilted forward this time though as her tail swayed back and forth in a shy-like manner. [color=fdabc7][b]"I-.. um.. yeah,"[/b][/color] she replied shyly. However Anna was soon cursing her own body. As much as she loved being a cat, sometimes it was a bit too obvious how she felt. Kirei could likely hear a slight rumbling coming from Anna'a chest - she was apparently purring, which only made her more shy as she practically buried her face into her knees.

[color=ffaa33][b]"So you do like your ears being scratched.  I still don't understand why you're not going out with anyone.  Most people would consider this behavior 'cute.'"[/b][/color]  Kirei said, almost with a small smile on her face.  It was adorable, just the combination of stuffing her face into her knees and purring.  Not to mention how soft her ears felt.  [color=ffaa33][b]"Embarrased, I take it?"[/b][/color]  She mentioned as she lightened up on scratching.  [color=ffaa33][b]"You are much more like a cat than I had originally thought."[/b][/color]  With a slight pat on the cat's head, she retracted her hand, [color=ffaa33][b]"I think that's good enough."[/b][/color]  She didn't want to feel too happy scratching the cat's ears.  [color=ffaa33][b]"Would that be considered flirting?"[/b][/color] She had to ask, somewhat unsure.

It took a few long moments before Anna finally came up from burying her face, still purring very slightly. [color=fdabc7][b]"Yes.. cheater.."[/b][/color] she said in a cute stubborness. [color=fdabc7][b]"Though.. there are different types, but that's definitely physical flirting.."[/b][/color] She huffed at Kirei playfully and slowly uncurled her legs so her feet were on the ground, but her tail was swinging happily and quite excitingly from side to side. [color=fdabc7][b]"... as for not going out with anyone ... you'd have to ask everyone else that. I mean.. not being forward.. you'd still think someone would have the interest and courage to ask anyways.. so I really don't know,"[/b][/color] she replied honestly, looking up at the spider. She didn't sound so sad this time and was speaking more matter-of-factly, but she still wore a cheerful smile.[/hider]