Things in Little Asia had temporarily settled down, though there was a certain amount of tension in the air that suggested the conflicts were nowhere near over. It was just a lull in the storm, so to speak. Hayato and Arisu were approaching the Matsumara Compound after a long walk through Little Asia from Moshi-Moshi and as usual, he was quiet and reserved and focused on the city around them as though they were under the constant threat of attack. He never forgot his duty when they were out in public, especially so close to the heart of all the recent chaos. "Here we are."

Ari had been very quiet during the walk to and from today. Her pride was smarting from a conversation held with her father the night before, in which he had informed her that she was still a child and incapable of making decisions for herself. Hayato had not been mentioned at all, and yet she had the distinct impression that someone had gone telling tales with no proof to back up their story. She came to a halt outside the compound, biting at her lip, and turned to look up at Hayato. "Have you spoken to any of my brothers recently?"

"Yes," he replied, pausing to tilt his head curiously at her. "Eiji-san followed me into Moshi-Moshi one day after I had escorted you to work. We had a brief talk," he frowned and thought about what Eiji had said and wondered how much of that had gotten back to Arisu. "What's happened?"

E.J. It would have to have been E.J., wouldn't it? Ari's jaw set for a moment as she rolled her eyes. She loved her brothers, Eiji especially, but some of them had no concept of minding their own business. She blew out an impatient breath, returning her attention to Hayato. "What did he say?"

"He doesn't approve," was all Hayato would say. The details of the conversation she would have to work out on her own. "I assume he spoke to you? Or your father?"

"You know what they're like," she complained quietly. "Nothing's ever said straight out. But I think he must have spoken to Papa-san. We had ... words ... yesterday." Her skin flushed dark with angry shame at the memory of those words. Her frown deepened at the thought of Eiji going behind her back to discuss anything to do with her with either Hayato or their father. "Why didn't he just talk to me?"

"He knew you would be upset with him," he replied. "Or he didn't think he could convince you. He believes your father will have better luck." Hayato frowned. "What did he say?"

"It doesn't matter what he said." She shook her head, still frowning deep for a long moment before her gaze snapped to his. "Would you still loan me the money to get a place outside Little Asia? I would pay you back, I swear it."

"If you want it, yes," he nodded and turned his back to the compound. "How soon will you need it?"

She turned her back with him, her mouth hidden from any spying watchers from the buildings within. "End of the week?" she asked hopefully. "Shouldn't take much to get a job outside, and I won't be working my notice at Moshi-Moshi. They can't force me back, either, not without drawing attention to greater numbers outside the gates."

"All right." He offered her a small smile and nodded. "Need help looking around? I know the city pretty well by now, I can probably help set you up for a place for a good deal, if you want."

"I'm not picky," she chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Clean and cheap, and preferably on the other side of town."

"I can set that up," he replied. "What are you going to do until then?"

"I'm going to be a good little girl and do what I'm told," Arisu flashed him a cheeky little smirk. "I'll do my job, I'll argue with Obasaan, I'll go out with my friends. I'll find a new job without the interference of my family. They lost the right to know my plans when they started discussing me behind my back as though I was property."

"If you need anything at all, you know you can ask me," he continued, nodding toward the compound. "Am I taking you in still?"

She sighed, looking back at the compound that was slowly becoming more of a prison than a home. "Yeah," she said reluctantly. "Much as I'd love to just walk away right now, I'm not that dumb."

"Tell Obasaan I said hello?" he smiled and turned back toward the compound. "I think she stiill likes me, at least. She might be able to help you a bit with that, if you ask her in a really indirect way."

Ari couldn't help chuckling at that. "You think so?" she asked curiously. "She's the one always going on about the honor of the family. I still say you should get me pregnant."

"I still say that it isn't happening anytime soon." He shook his head at her. "Definitely not while your brother and father are so displeased with me."

"They're never not going to be displeased with you," she pointed out quietly, coming to a halt by the gate. "You're kyodai. It's not like any of them would choose you for me. But it's none of their business. I want you. That's what matters."

"Even so, getting you pregnant right now would be like salt in the wound. Better to let them get used to the idea." Hayato shook his head again. "Besides, I don't think you're old enough to be a mother."

Her expression darkened at that. "Don't you start that," she warned him. "I get enough of 'you're just a child' and 'you're too young' here."

"It's got nothing to do with being a child," he replied. "It's just a matter of having a few years to yourself, first." He smiled, leaning forward to kiss her cheek. "Are you going in?"

She couldn't help answering his smile with her own, her lips brushing his cheek in an echo of his kiss. "I don't want to, but ... yeah, I'm going in," she nodded reluctantly. "See you in the morning?"

"Naturally," he replied, taking a step back from the door. "Goodnight, Ari."

Her smile widened to the impish grin he was familiar with by now, and she lunged forward, looping an arm around his neck to plant a proper goodnight kiss on his lips. After all, if E.J. was telling tales, why not bring things into the open for a while? The worst they could do was assign Hayato elsewhere and yell at her some more. "Goodnight, Hachan."

He was about to turn away as she lunged for him, grunting and chuckling as his lips were stolen from hers. His arm slid to curl around her middle and he held her close and relished in the kiss before slowly and gently releasing her. He flashed her a smile and took a step back from her.

Cheeky it might have been, and as much calculated to irritate the men of her household as it was to prove to him that she didn't care what anyone else thought, but it was a good way to say goodnight. Wriggling her fingers in a wave, Ari stepped back and turned away, skipping in through the nearest door. She'd be able to handle the arguments tonight, no problem.

((Thank you, Hayato-san!))