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Post by Rise Kujikawa on Mar 30, 2009 21:09:47 GMT -5
[[Tag for Naoto and Rise]]
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It was rare, seeing one of your strongest friends crumble from one of humankind's tiniest enemies. After watching such a person chase after bad guys during the day, search for clues on the mysterious murders of Inaba with such determination, and kill shadows in between it all, one couldn't help but find the person a strange sight. It was like you were seeing them in a whole new light. Rosy cheeked and sneezing at regular intervals, this particular Detective Prince sat on her bed, the handsome face dirtied with a frown.
A smile lit Rise's face as she trotted softly into the room where Naoto was supposed to be resting. She just couldn't get used to seeing her classmate bedridden from something like a common cold. For the Detective Prince to fall into such a trap was surely some kind of omen for the apocalypse -- Naoto was supposed to be invincible. And yet here she was, putting herself in the idol's care for the day (though not so willingly), letting the other girl prepare her soup and tend to her needs.
In Rise's small hands was a bowl of chicken noodle soup (extra chicken, because Naoto needed her protein!). Rise had practically ravaged the Shirogane kitchen, admiring all of the shiny cooking utensils and cupboards full of ingredients. Bottles of spices and yummy seasonings... She had to hold herself back from picking them up and adding it to the soup -- she was sure that kind of flavor wouldn't benefit a sickly detective, and despite what a lot of people seemed to think, Rise could cook... They just had different tastes.
It wasn't just the kitchen she had to hold herself from. The whole house in general made her eyes go wide, the inviting and well-kept rooms just waiting for her company. All the furniture was placed perfectly, and not a speck of dust coated a single cabinet. Everything looked almost too nice for Rise, though; those Shirogane's sure were a persnickety bunch, it seemed. Though she was an idol, and she had a fair amount of money from the business, Rise wasn't used to houses this nice. Just being inside of one was exciting enough.
Turning her eyes away from the expensive furniture and paintings, she had to remind herself once again why she was even here in the first place. Rise moved toward her short-haired friend, gingerly placing the white bowl on the wooden end table next to the bed. She made sure none of the broth splashed over the sides, careful not to ruin anything. She had practically ended up forcing herself on the detective, not taking any of the constant insisting that she could take care of herself. But because of this, she also wanted to make sure she wasn't too much of a hassle, not wanting her friend to regret giving in to her pestering. This meant keeping her obnoxious tendencies to a minimum, so that she didn't knock anything over.
"Eat up, Naoto-kun, before it gets cold, okay? Cold soup will do nothing for your poor immune system."
She grinned lightly; she wasn't really sure what caused herself to want to help Naoto get better so bad. Probably because Rise knew that if she didn't, the detective would probably be up and about, trying to solve mysteries instead of get over her own ailment. That, and it just made her sad seeing the strong Prince fall for something like the common cold.
Rise wouldn't deny that it was pretty fun switching roles for a day though, considering it was usually Naoto that was taking care of her on the battlefield, keeping the shadows at bay while she tried to scan the enemies.
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Post by Naoto Shirogane on Apr 5, 2009 21:12:09 GMT -5
Oh, how the mighty had fallen.
But a mere day ago, Naoto Shirogane had been doing the usual- going to school and easily acing every pop quiz and test due to the fact that she already knew everything they were teaching, dashing back to the manor... sitting in her grandfather's study, either hand-writing reports, doing heavy research, or browsing on her laptop... and yet the assassin must have struck in the middle of night. There were no eyewitnesses and no evidence- the criminal snuck in without a trace, and there was no way to hunt it down. Naoto Shirogane had finally met her match, the detective's bane rearing its ugly head.
Of course, it just had to strike in the form of some blob mere hundredths of nanometers in size. Her throat was aching, and her body seemed to have every intention of forcing the virus out as she sneezed and coughed every few seconds. The detective was absolutely, in every sense and idea of the word, miserable. Occasionally shivering despite the fact that she had hidden herself under the several pristine white sheets that lined her bed, as well as a large blue comforter, she knew very well that her discomfort was only amplified by the fact that Rise had invited herself over at the first sign of Naoto's illness, ringing the alarm the minute she realized how congested and hoarse the detective sounded over the phone.
A ghost of a grimace marred the Detective Prince's face the minute the sturdy door opened, fine brass doorknob slowly turning before Naoto saw the idol walk in- and with food, nonetheless. Now, of course Naoto knew very well that Rise just had an... intriguing palate when it came to such earthly pleasures as food. Apparently, the spicier the better- salsa, peppers, anything. If it made the eyes water, it was delicious. Of course Rise could at least make simple food- unlike both of her female senpai, it appeared that Rise didn't contaminate everything she touched, unlike them. She hated to admit it, but from what she had seen, she could confirm her hypothesis that everything those two got near became inedible, and possibly toxic.
After scrutinizing and nitpicking at the visual appearance of the soup, she concluded that a skull and crossbones did not appear as apparitions in the small plumes of warm steam that emanated from the bowl- actually, Naoto was pleasantly surprised to find that the aroma alone seemed to relieve the pounding headache that assaulted her senses. Rise made a dish that wasn't just edible, but seemed absolutely delicious before Naoto even had a bite? Maybe they were both experiencing the apocalypse today.
Awkwardly shifting and attempting to prop herself up, the Detective Prince found herself slightly glowering at Rise's statement, muttering in what sounded like the slightest annoyance.
"...R-Rise... t-the idea of s-soup b-being a cure for the common cold is j-just an old myth... t-there's no evidence s-supporting i-its benefits..."
Sometimes, Naoto found, it seemed as if Rise was just the largest annoyance in the world- the most complete and polar opposite that she could have ever tried to find. And yet, despite not wanting to admit it, it was comforting having her here, actually wanting to take care of her- the bright, clear weather outside contrasted Naoto's recent thoughts, and the fact that Rise cared enough to stay here and watch over her was a large comfort- though she certainly wasn't going to readily admit it.
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Post by Rise Kujikawa on Apr 5, 2009 23:08:41 GMT -5
Rise could feel the ghost of a smile curve her lips upward, her expression one of amusement. There sat Naoto, staring at the perfectly normal chicken noodle soup, scrutinizing the steaming bowl for any sign of danger. Was she looking for some kind of poison that Rise could have possibly added without her knowing? She wasn't really sure what she could have possibly gotten wrong while making it; simple ingredients such as noodles, chicken, broth, a few veggies... It wasn't that hard to make.
Still, the idol smiled at Naoto's obvious discomfort at the food. It was just like the Detective Prince to analyze whatever was handed to her, even if it was a bowl of soup. Rise's homemade bowl of soup that was made with lots of love and care, but that was beside the point.
"Maybe it's not the soup itself that'll cure you, but I think the nutrients will help, right? Look, I even put extra veggies and protein in! I promise there's nothing wrong with it, Naoto-kun," Rise plopped herself down on the edge of the bed, ignoring any protests the other occupant might have, "I mean, I know I don't have that great of a reputation when it comes to meals, but I know how to make chicken noodle. Just give it a try..." she smiled slightly, "Please? With a cherry on top? I'll feed you myself if I need to~"
She watched the other girl expectantly, hoping her big eyes would do their persuasive job. She wasn't sure whether a tough cookie like Naoto could be suckered in by puppy eyes, but it was worth the try anyway. Besides, now that she had her gaze aimed at the other girl, she finally had the chance to actually take in Naoto's appearance fully, for the first time since she got here.
The fact was that the Detective Prince was in her pajamas.
The Detective Prince was also without a hat.
Basically, she looked super cute (not that she wasn't every other time of the day; it was just seeing Naoto so... under dressed that was such a new sight to behold). While the girl's skin had paled slightly from her illness, her nose and cheeks were pink, and her hair was mussed more then normal, Naoto still looked fine in Rise's eyes.
She was a little envious; whenever she was down with something, even the cold, she'd be making it all dramatic and stuff. Her nose would be red and stuffy, there would be bags under her eyes, her hair a long tangled mess... She'd definitely have demanded someone be there to do her bidding too -- probably Souji. Yet here was the Detective Prince, still as modest and handsome as ever. She didn't break her strong, smart demeanor, even for the common cold.
Then of course there was Naoto's fun choice of pajama's. Not only did she dress rather manly during the day, but apparently she did at night too. Boxer shorts adorned her torso (which, sadly, Rise didn't have much chance to catch a glimpse of since they were under the covers), while she wore a fitting t-shirt on top. It wasn't really the pajamas that were spectacular though...
It was mostly the fact that Naoto didn't have her boobs taped down.
The way that girl kept those things flat was a miracle unto itself, since Rise had now idea how. Naoto had a pretty decent bust size -- bigger then her own, or Chie and Yukiko for that matter. It was pretty cool seeing the Prince be comfortable enough to be in her pajamas with Rise. She had seen how protective Naoto was when it came to her feminine side. The idol really had to keep herself from staring... She felt like she was being a creep or something.
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Post by Naoto Shirogane on Apr 26, 2009 19:23:47 GMT -5
Naoto would later thank her illness for flushing her face, the Detective Prince's cheeks tainted and rouged... however, they probably would have been a distinct crimson if she hadn't been ill and heard Rise's words. She could hear her heart skip a beat- Rise feeding her? She wasn't even embarassed so much as horrified, knowing very well that Rise was tenacious and infamous for following through with her threats, no matter how innocent they may have been.
Naoto's gut twisted at the mere idea- no! She wanted to be the pinnacle of independence- she needed no crutch! She could handle herself perfectly fine, and she needed nobody else to keep an eye on her. She had been asserting this philosophy on her grandfather since she was a mere little girl. Needless to say, he just chuckled and made Yakushiji take her to school anyway.
This really didn't help Naoto's ego at all- she could at least excuse her grandfather watching over her, because it was a familial obligation and she really couldn't blame him. But Rise? Perhaps she wouldn't have been so bothered if it wasn't for the fact that her Shadow was such a terrified, sobbing little creature. She didn't want anybody to think that Shadow was anything like her... she hated the thought of any of her comrades looking down on her because they assumed she was suppressing some sort of cowardice and weakness.
Needless to say, she hesitated showing any of this off to Rise- of course they were close, and Naoto's friends always suggested that she should at least loosen up in front of her girlfriend, but old habits died hard. This soup could be the difference between Naoto maintaining a shred of dignity and losing it all... she'd have to take a chance.
"...A-All right, R-Rise-chan. I suppose your hypothesis that the nutrients will consequently help my immune system is valid. I'll hope that I won't be poisoned if I have it."
Was that just the slightest bit of light-hearted sarcasm? Perhaps Naoto was just trying to take her mind off of the slight humilation of all of this, though she'd just shake it off and tell herself that her and Rise were together, and something like this was inevitable, whether she was the one sneezing or not.
She found herself taking the bowl, briefly setting it on the nightstand and deciding that eating it all at once wasn't exactly wise. "You... really didn't have to come do this, Rise-chan. It's a long walk... please don't tell me you walked this whole way by yourself."
She had been shocked and flattered enough that Rise made her soup... but the detective's mind was suddenly in high alert, snapping into lines of inquiries and interrogations as she realized the implications of coming here considering the situation outside.
That crazy monster... that bloodthirsty predator knew who all of them were. It would only be a matter of time before he attacked... and picked them off, one by one. Naoto had seen it happen before- he was a typical crazed murderer... but his pattern was so random that the police had absolutely no idea what to do, which only made Naoto feel sick as the days passed by.
Her fellow officers couldn't stop him. They had no idea that he was operating an organization that was far more solid and connected than their own. No... no. Today really wasn't the day for Naoto to worry- she had been told that when she got worried, she often put a heavy damper on the atmosphere and caused an oppressive air to form around everybody around her.
She just... wouldn't worry about it right now. Really, she thought cynically, she doubted she could do anything right now in her current condition anyway. Right now, she should just worry about small, simple things. If she voiced more of her concerns at the present moment, it would probably just result in Rise scolding her and telling her to stop being such a worry-wart, anyway.
But, alas, Naoto Shirogane was as stubborn as a bull, and about as oblivious as one when it came to others at times.
"...Rise... please. You know it's not safe to walk alone in Inaba right now." She tried to sound intimidating, despite her weakened voice... and she knew very well that she didn't look intimidating at all. Wrapped in a cocoon of blankets while sitting in nothing but boxers and a simple shirt really didn't give off the impressive aura that she always tried to maintain in public.
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Post by Rise Kujikawa on Apr 27, 2009 20:38:22 GMT -5
A warm smile tugged at Rise's thin lips, amused by Naoto's sudden concern for safety. How typical that the she would find error from Rise walking to the Shirogane residence, when it was the detective that was laying sick in bed. Clad in pajamas and red cheeked, Naoto wasn't exactly the epitome of an intimidating officer, and thus Rise was clearly the one with the upper hand today. The scolding only made her smile.
"I can take care of myself, Naoto-kun. If some crazy bad guy comes after me, I'll kick and claw my way out," a playful poke to her girlfriends nose before continuing, "You should worry more about yourself once in a while. At least I know how to protect myself from a little virus!"
Speaking of the virus.
Rise leaned forward suddenly from her position on the bed, gingery brushing the blue hair from the other girl's forehead and placing the palm of her hand on it. Her temperature still seemed pretty warm, but nothing too serious. Definitely not warm enough to hinder the detective's abilities for more then a few days, hopefully.
Good, at least she doesn't have some deadly disease or something. And she thinks I need to watch out for myself? Still, Rise smiled. With a content sigh, she took her appendage back, muttering a soft "You should be fine in a few days". However, just as she was moving back again, something shiny and white sparkled somewhere in her line of vision.
The chicken noodle bowl, sitting quietly on the nightstand. Alone and forgotten by the person that it was made for.
A pout played on the corner of the idol's thin lips as she eyed the untouched soup, the bowl perched carefully on the stand next to the bed. Was the detective hoping to dispose of the light meal while Rise wasn't looking? Hoping perhaps that she would forget about it? Oh hell no.
Rise had spent lots of love and care making that soup, and she wasn't going to let the other girl get away that easy. Not to mention that it was cooling quickly, and the last thing she wanted to do was feed Naoto a nasty bowl of cold chicken noodle. She would never trust Rise's cooking ever again!
... And it had taken enough time to earn even a smidgen of that trust when it came to meals.
The idol scooped the bowl up into her palms in one fluid motion, smiling playfully at the other girl while she tapped the silver spoon against her lap. "Thought I'd forget about your soup? You know you need your nutrition, Naoto-kun! I'd be ashamed of myself forever if I didn't do a good job taking care of you when you were sick."
The redhead had already made up her mind on the matter as she proceeded to take a spoonful of broth, holding it up in a way Naoto would probably think was evil and menacing (Rise could never figure out why the other girl was so wary of her every move). Unable to keep the grin at bay, the idol put the utensil before the girl's mouth. "Open up! Here comes the choo-choo train~"
However, there was no pause to let the detective refuse the offer, for as soon as the mouth was open to protest, in was the spoon.
Rise smiled. Triumph!
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