Peace Time in Paris (Private)

It was certainly one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and Ryou had the best seat in the house. With the darkness of the night blanketing the town, it seemed like the ground below had lit up with lights that echoed the stars in the sky. Sitting on the top deck of the Eiffel Tower, the Captain could remember when it had first been built… yes things were even nicer back then. The lights of the ground didn’t do such a good job, of killing the lights of the sky. He guessed that this was why this was his favorite spot. It was so high up and away from all the people and the noise… even if they couldn’t see him. Ryou preferred his privacy when he was like this… out and about in this part of the world. Paris was a city that he had always found himself drawn to, and the Captain sometimes wondered if it had anything to do with his human life. He had never been sure, but could only draw on clues, such as his age and well... now that he thought about he had nothing to go idea. The absurd leap of his assumption, brought for a maniacal laugh form Ryou’s throat as a cold wind blew across the deck, causing him to huddle up in his cloak.

Just when he was starting to become comfortable, a heavy spiritual presence began to fill the area. The annoyance in the Captain’s sigh was almost palpable. He had just finished off one particularly strong hollow, and now he had face something else… and this time, he had the feeling it wasn’t exactly something he could handle. A smirk crossed Ryou’s face, as he realized that this was starting to be a habit, though his experience from before, made curious on whom it was he would be parlaying with this time. So the man just stayed seated where he was, trying to remain as well hidden as possible, though if they looked in his direction, he knew they would be able to see him. The Captain did find himself a bit surprised though, at what did finally appear over the railing in a rather dramatic fashion. For a moment Kurosawa began to wonder if he was staring at some sort of hollow-esque creature… at least until it started to transform into the shape of a young lady. Now this was certainly a new one on him, and the fact she seemed to be enjoying herself over the transformation did not escape his notice either.

He quietly waited to see if she would notice him, not wanting to disturb her if she was only seeking peace like he had been. At the same time though, his child-like curiosity could not hold back for too long. So after tucking his hair back, the Shinigami held his arms out and began to clap… a smirk spread wide across face, “Very good… Very good indeed… that isss quite a nice ability you have there. Ssseem like you got quite a bit of enjoyment out of that little climb of yoursss. I know I alwaysss have fun with it… running up and down the building. Well then let me welcome you to the top of tower…” Suddenly he stood up, and spread out his hands towards the city, “Bessst view around… if I mussst say ssso myself.” Pausing for a moment he tilted his head as he looked at the other curiously, “You may call me Ryou Kurosawa.” With a bow, he held his hat to his heart as he said this before playfully asking, “May I asssk your name?”

The Captain found himself almost instantly intrigued by this young woman who seem to have a child like nature about her. The Shinigami face palmed and simply shook his head, as he realized that this really was becoming a habit after what had happened in the graveyard. Plus the fact that in both seemed to be more powerful than him, made the man have that feeling that he was getting old… or slow. Not like either of those things truly mattered to the Captain whose child like self was more interested in fun than anything else. So the fact that there was a hint of a similar type of playfulness in this person’s eye is what made him so interested. Even her voice added to the affect that her childlike nature had… though Ryou could sense her power and acknowledged the fact that he was indeed standing in front of superior. The only expression you would see on his face though was that Cheshire cat like grin was he watched play near the edge of the tower, giving the other benefit of the doubt on the fact that she could handle herself.

Bowing again in his usual chivalrous nature though he said, “Yes Madam Priscilla… I guesses last names can be left by the wayssside for now.” He though could not help but call her by something other than just her name. It was his way of showing respect, but he wasn’t sure if he wanted to call her ‘Mistress’ yet. The main reason was that he wasn’t sure how she would take that, so he decided to start with one title first, and move on to that one if it went over well. The Captain could not help the laugh that escaped his lips at Priscilla’s suggestion, but the smile on his face showed his amusement at it, “Why Priscilla-sssama I mussst say that you can certainly call me Hatter… it would be quite the compliment. I have been called many different thingsss with the word Mad in front of it. That name certainly ssseems to be the mossst appetizing of them all.” He just continued to laugh in that amused manner as she walked in his direction… it was obvious that Ryou didn’t think of her as a threat either. His reasons were a based around the fact that Priscilla didn’t seem like a threating person. Even less though than the hollow that he had met in the graveyard, still he knew that the power difference also played a role in the way that he was hoping she would treat him.

“Well Madam Priscilla I have alwaysss found Parisss to be a wonderful place to visssit. Sssadly today I wasss here on businesss, defeating an usssually powerful hollow, which now that my work is done… I have a bit of time to enjoy being here. Have you ever been to a place that makes you feel like you have been there before… sssomewhere you feel drawn too. That isss what bringsss me here.” The Captain found himself a bit surprised by the sudden drop in reiastu that was coming off the girl as she approached, making him mutter to himself, “Alright what are you?”… The instant she touched him and began to walk around him Kurosawa found his thoughts thrown off a little bit. Ok now that was a new on him… not exactly something that happens to, really at all in Soul Society. In fact it caused a soft blush to appear across his pale cheeks as he kept his balance easily enough when she spun around. His reaction to her compliment showed that it was much appreciated, but also the fact that it wasn’t one he usually received, “Oh… Thank you Priscilla…” The man scratched his head with that playful grin of his quickly returning as he said these words.

Her question though only made that smile grow wider, as he made sure that she could see his face quite clearly. “Priscilla-sssama, I can promissse you that I am not a mean perssson, and alwaysss try to be nice. I don’t really have much love for thossse who are mean myssself.” He wasn’t sure what more to say to that statement. The Captain just hoped that wasn’t failing at a test of some sort. He was trying to be as careful as he had been before, but he didn’t want to lie to Priscilla either… which he wasn’t.

Sighing softly the man looked out over the city lights, and to the night sky above, “Oh you don’t have to worry about that Priscilla-sssama. I have alwaysss found that generally people here are pleasssent to you, asss long as you are pleasssent to them.” He paused for a moment to watch the almost carefree nature of the strange human. At least that was what she seemed like, considering the way she was able to hide her reiatsu so well. Kurosawa also prefer to keep his mind open to any possibly when it came to figuring out what a person was, and it had been quite a while since he had run into anyone… who left him so curious. While she stood there on the edge of the platform the Shinigami realized that his new thrill seeking friend had just made life a bit more interesting, “Well I am glad you are happy with the people of France Madam Priscilla.”

Walking over to the edge the man stood their next to the human, balancing just she was, “It can certainly be a nice place to visssit… though I would like to point out that it isss a place that people come to relax. Ssso beyond the many gamesss I am sssure we could think of with the Eiffel Tower.” Her sudden rant though, was really starting to bring out Ryou’s own child like nature, as his Cheshire like grin spread over his face, “Indeed Indeed I mussst agree. Thisss world isss quite a fun place to be.” Doing a little flip so that he was balancing on the edge with his hands, the Captain walked back and forth along it, “Oh there are ssso many gamesss to play Priscilla-sssama, and there are even higher places in the world to visssit that much I can sssay.” The look in his eyes was one of an excited child as the Shinigami jumped back into a standing position just about the time that Priscilla backed away from the edge. Walking over closer to where she was standing Kurosawa asked, “Yes Pri-sci-lla-sssama?” His words were not spoken in a tone that mocked the other, but instead where quite playful.

He listened to her with that amused grin on his face, as the Shinigami instantly began to go over the many ideas for games they could play… and frankly not any of them were all that safe. Form what he could tell though about Priscilla was that such things thrilled the young women. She seemed all over the place like a child, and yet at the same time… received real psychical pleasure in the more risker thrills. Kurosawa stared into her now yellow eyes with his own dark black ones, which now seem to hold their own monstrous taint to it. Reaching out he gently placed a hand on her shoulder and swept the other out towards the city in an overly dramatic fashion, “Then I would sssay Priscilla-sssama you have come to the right place. I could carry you for run… we could jump of thisss building… though I mussst admit thisss isss the bessst building for thrills. Ssso whatever you want I think we can manage… all one mussst do is asssk.”

Letting go as she walked back over to the edge again to look back over the city Ryou quietly watched her. Wondering exactly what sort of game Priscilla was going to come up for them to play. He always enjoyed having someone new to play with, though he usually didn’t run into those who were as child-like as Priscilla. It was certainly a refreshing mix, especially with that risk taking nature that was buried within her personality.

For once Ryou truly did feel like he was talking to a kindred soul. Someone who seemed to be on his level of thinking… a childlike mindset that loved to play and take risk. He did have his serious side though, and wondered if Priscilla was anything like him in that aspect also. The Shinigami decided though that he would save such questions for later, either that or just let the questions answer themselves… as such in the normal course of things. As the Captain left it up to his new young friend exactly what it was their activity of choice was going to be, he began to wonder exactly what it would be that she would come up with. In fact he had a feeling that he had probably just opened up a can of worms by telling Priscilla that it was up to her. Then again, it wouldn’t really be that fun without a little chaos involved in the mixture. The whims of fate and chance having an influence on his night excited the Shinigami. Kurosawa wasn’t stupid… he was still going to be somewhat cautious, but in general it was going to be hard to find something that he wouldn’t do.

He tilted his head to the side regarding the human curiously, as she stood there with a hand to her chin. Suddenly her exclamation filled his ears as he replied, “Ok P….” Anything else he wanted to say was cut off the instant that she tackled him. The Captain had been taken almost completely by surprise, and was only able to regain himself just in time to reach out and grab hold of his hat, as they started to fall away from the platform towards the ground below. Plummeting down at constant free fall Ryou didn’t hesitate to let out a yell of excitement, and laugh along with Priscilla as he was pulled along towards the ground. The Captain didn’t even try to do anything which would have halted his own fall… taking a complete risk by trusting this person he didn’t know. There would be no fun if he did not and it was as the ground grew even close that a grin spread across his face while adrenaline coursed through his veins. Just as suddenly as it began, the whole trip came to an end. Ryou felt that the ground caused them both to bounce up and down… tumbling along as though on a trampoline… they eventually came to a stop.

The way they had land though, was one that for Kurosawa was a bit of an awkward position. Even if this fact put another blush on his fact, the man didn’t let it ruin the thrill of the moment, “Yesss Yesss Madam indeed it wasss… though I would sssay that not knowing made it that much better. How can we have a thrill if we already know that we will sssurvive.” Giggling a bit in what could almost be consider a school girlish tone, the way he spoke then changed to something of nervousness, “Though it does ssseem Priscilla-sssama we have landed in quite the… ‘awkward’ position.” Despite the nervousness the was almost a hint of that not being such a bad thing there. Whenever she finally let go of his waist Ryou was able to roll over to the side and simply laid there next to his new friend, looking up at the sky. The Captain’s wide grin was spread across his face matching that of Priscilla, “Of courssse, but it would be no fun if there was no risssk. It isss the risssk that makesss the jump fun, but there are plenty of other fun thingsss, but certainly asss you have ssseen this building isss the best when it comesss to thrillsss for death.” He realized though that a bit of fun would be drained out of it now that they knew they would not die with the use of Priscilla’s ability.

While she may not have cared, it was something made the Captain a little shy. Do to his reputation within Soul Society Captain never found himself; in such a position with anyone. At least not on purpose anyway, and especially not anyone who was giving him the look that Priscilla was giving him at that very moment. In fact just the site of someone regarding him in that manner caused a very obvious blush to paint itself over the man’s pale features. Form the position that they were both in the human would obviously be able to see this, and it was part of the person that Ryou rolled over to the side. Since he wasn’t exactly sure what Priscilla could possibly have in mind behind those mischievous eyes of hers.

He was still caught off guard a bit by what she did next, as the man felt his new friend rolling to the side he asked her… “Is there something you…?” Kurosawa found his words cut off though, as their lips closed… and for a moment he thought that she was about to kiss him, only to have her tease him with soft words instead. The whisper innuendo that caresses over Ryou’s ear as the skin of their cheeks touched for that one moment was enough to make the Captain shiver. Again that adorable blush appearing over his face… obviously Priscilla had found Ryou’s weakness. Kurosawa never had much of a chance to reply though, as suddenly the human pulled away from him and jumped up to her feet, and for a moment the Shinigami mentally kicked himself for having his mind in the gutter. Though her suggestion of going out to get food was one that made him wonder who exactly was going to pay for the meal. Standing up slowly the Ryou laughed softly as he took hold of her hand to help himself stand up the rest of the way.

He wondered for a moment though exactly how Priscilla expected to pay for any food. Considering that most of the good places to eat in Paris were quite expensive… and not only that, but they usual required people to be a little bit more dressed up than the pair of them were. He could not help but ask though, “Where is it you would like to eat? Personally I am not too picky myself about where we could go… though I have to admit I don’t normally eat out while I am here. So something a bit nicer would be good.” The Shinigami was more than willing to pay if that was what she needed him to do. The male had a feeling that this might not have been the case the instant that he heard her mention something about a suitcase. Looking back at the Eiffel Tower just as she did a large grin appeared over his face, as Ryou knew that he was about to have some fun. Turning back around to Priscilla he gave her small bow saying, “Pleassse wait here Madam… I will be back with that sssuitcassse lickity sssplit.” The instant the words left his mouth he disappeared, flash stepping his way to the top of the tower… and back to Priscilla within a short period of time. Now with the suitcase in hand… holding it out to his new friend, a devilish grin spread across his features, “Here you go Priscilla-sssama.” He wondered for a moment were they were going to be eating… or if it was going to be a restaurant at all.

Once he had brought the suitcase down and handed it over to Priscilla the man had half hoped that the other would have some money for them to go out to eat somewhere a bit nicer. The instant that she opened it though, he knew that this hope was to no avail. In fact the contents of the case seemed to border on that of a person who was trying to be miserly. Everything about Priscilla seemed so sparse and worn down to a spartan nature, that he really was curious about why. Her power exceeded his own, and it was only now that he was refocusing his mind back on that fact. Kurosawa realized he had to figure out where she came from, and hopefully make sure this developing friendship became permanent. Not so much for Soul Societies sake, but instead for his own… Who knows when would need friends that they could turn to one day in a time of crisis. The Captain stood there waiting until Priscilla was done drinking her water as he tried to potentially think of where they could go eat until he remembered… he knew of a place that they could get something for free.

“Don’t worry about it Madam, I think I have an idea about sssome where that we could go and eat. Plussss the food will be absssolutely free, becaussse the owner kind of owesss me.” The Shinigami then added in with a grin as he scratched his forehead sheepishly, “Though I guesss I need to ssstop visssiting him next year or the one after, or elssse he is going to ssstart thinking that sssomthing is up since my featuresss don’t change.”He didn’t like the thought of his new friend having to pawn off something that belonged to her just to get them a meal, when there was really no need for it. So with that thought in mind the Captain walked up to stand next to his new friend and held out his hand for her to take. When she did the man began on one of his little rambling speeches as they walked, “Oh you are going to love thisss little place, kind of one of thossse little nooksss in the wall if you know what I mean? They ssserve every type of food you could think of form around the world. Not really sssure how he does it, but the chef there isss very versssatile I mussst say.”

His little rambling speech was interrupted though; buy the offer she gave him of a kiss for food. Staring at the human he tilted his head curiously. The Shinigami was also trying to maneuver his hair into covering the blush that was back on his face. Frankly he wasn’t sure what to even say to an offer like that, especially after what Priscilla had done a few minutes earlier. In fact it was not that he didn’t like the idea, but for some reason the idea that she was doing out of some sort of payment... quickly he realized he was thinking about it too hard. In fact Priscilla was just being her normal childlike self by saying that it seemed… frankly it sounded like something he would do. Not that his ‘kisses’ had any value. So after a moment of overly act mock thought, he looked at her with that large grin and said, “Alright then… that is a deal, you can pay me however you want… though Prissscilla-sssama… you really don’t have to do anything like that. I don’t mind getting usss food.”