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Description
As you lazily made your way down one of the many over-sizeda halls of your guild, heading nowhere in particular, you heard a familiar voice call your name. Stopping mid-step, you turned around to see E-Sumi-Yan slowly stepping towards you. “Oh hey!” Happy, as always to see him, a smile instantly lit up your face. “What are you doing here? Got some more top secret business with someone or something?”

“No.” His expression far more serious than yours, yet not quite as serious as it normally was, he shook his head. “Not exactly.”

“Then why are you here?” Not giving him even a full second to answer your question, you jokingly offered another reason for his visit. “Don't tell me you've decided to switch guilds all of the sudden. I don't think this one is quite right for you.”

Sighing, as if already annoyed with your antics, E-Sumi-Yan pressed a finger to his temple. “Again, no.”

“Well I'm all out of guesses, and you don't seem super eager to tell me, so I won't pry.” Having learned long ago that arguing with him never got you anywhere, you could do little more than shrug and accept that you weren't getting an answer. “Good luck with whatever it is you're doing.” A wide smile still pulling at your lips, you bowed your head slightly and turned to leave.

E-Sumi-Yan was so shocked by your actions, he had grabbed your sleeve to keep you from going before he could stop himself. “What?”

“Huh?” Just as confused as he was, if not more so, you looked down at your sleeve, which he was still tightly gripping and then at him. The look on his face wasn't one you could remember seeing before. His eyes were wide, his brows raised and his jaw just barely ajar. Though on the surface he looked completely shocked, you could also tell that for some reason, he was offended. “Why are you making that face? Did I say something weird?”

“I should say so.” Only now releasing your sleeve, he nodded. “Since when do you simply accept no for an answer? I've never been able to get rid of you that easily.”

“Wait, you're upset because I'm not going to stick around and bug you?” Sure there had to be more to it than that, your confusion grew. “That's pretty weird too you know. I mean like, really, really weird. I would have thought you'd be relieved, especially since you're always trying your best to get rid of me.”

“That isn't true.” His arms now crossed firmly over his chest, E-Sumi-Yan lifted his nose into the air. “I'm glad you've matured, obviously, just surprised it happened so suddenly.”

“It's pretty true, but I'm not going to argue.” You still didn't know why he'd stopped you, but judging by the way he was no looking at you, you'd done something to upset him. Not about to hang around and make matters worse, you once again prepared to leave. “Anyway, good luck, again.”

Looking even more aghast than the first time you'd tried to walk away, E-Sumi-Yan immediately called after you. “You certainly are in a hurry, aren't you?”

Stopping again, you silently tried to figure out what was going on with him. E-Sumi-Yan had never actively tried to spend time with you, so him not wanting you to leave was painfully out of character for him. “Okay, am I going completely crazy or are you actually trying to get me to stick around this time?”

Rolling his eyes, as if your question should have had an obvious answer, E-Sumi-Yan gave an almost sarcastic sounding response. “Seeing as I came here to see you, I suppose you aren't completely crazy, no.”

“You came here to see me?” He had said those words with such ease, it actually took you several seconds to make sense of them. “Are you sure you're feeling alright?” Unsure if this was some sort of joke, or if someone had used a spell of sorts on him, you gently pressed the back of your hand to his forehead and checked for fever.

“Of course I am.” Quickly swatting away your hand, E-Sumi-Yan took a single large step back. “I simply wanted to see how your injury was healing, that's all.”

“My injury?” Honestly, you had hurt yourself a couple of times since you'd seen him last, but there was no way he knew about that. Or, at least you hoped as much. If he didn't know about any of your new injuries, however, then he could only be talking about the little cut you'd gotten while fighting alongside him. “You're not talking about that little scratch I got, are you?”

“Yes, I am.” He nodded. “And if I recall correctly, it wasn't just a scratch.”

“You can call it whatever you want, but it wasn't a big deal. I'm pretty sure it was pretty much healed up before I even got home. It's been what, a week since then?” Unable to remember the exact date, you shrugged. “There's not even a mark left there.”

Narrowing his eyes, as if he didn't believe you, E-Sumi-Yan's tone reminded you of an upset parent or disappointed teacher. “Is that so?”

“It is.” Though you were still confused about this entire exchange, you nodded as you pulled up the side of your shirt just enough for him to see. “Take a look for yourself.”

“There's no need for you to disrobe yourself in public.” Pulling your shirt back down without even attempting to look at where your cut had been, E-Sumi-Yan scolded you. “I would have taken your word for it.”

“But you didn't take my word for it.” Actually getting a little frustrated with him, you took a sharp breath in. “You're acting really off today. Are you sure there's not something else bothering you?”

“You've already asked me that once, and my answer now as the same as it was then.” Nodding firmly, he assured you once more. “I'm sure.”

“Alright, if you're really, really sure, then I won't ask again.” Usually, this would be where he turned around and left you. He'd already done what he set out to do, so you weren't sure why he hadn't even attempted to leave. Seeing as he hadn't appreciated it when you tried to leave first, you somewhat awkwardly cleared your throat as you tried to decide what to do next. “So um, was there anything else you wanted me for or was that it?”

Another strange expression you hadn't seen him wear before contorting his face, E-Sumi-Yan avoided answering your question by asking one of his own. “Are you really in such a rush to get away from me?”

“Okay, now you're just taking things way too personally.” That was the last straw. Something was going on and you were going to find out what. “What's going on here?” Firmly crossing your arms over your chest, you waited for him to answer you. When he made no attempt to speak, you started making threats. “Either you tell me or I'm going. Begging you for information has never worked for me before, so I'm not about to do that.”

Caught off guard by your sudden attitude, E-Sumi-Yan became even more defensive. “I don't appreciate your rude tone.”

“I'm leaving in like three seconds, so you'd better get to talking.” Honestly, you weren't sure if you could make yourself leave, but you had to say something to get him talking.

Even with you threatening to leave, E-Sumi-Yan didn't explain himself to you. “You're so very rude. I come all the way here to check up on you and you act like I'm wasting your time.”

“Well just standing here, staring at each other is kind of a waste.” You really weren't trying to be rude, you just wanted to get to the bottom of this, and patience wasn't exactly your forte. “I mean, I've always liked hanging out with you, even if you are way too serious and stiff, but you've always treated me like I'm a bother. I just didn't want to keep being a bother by sticking around where I'm not wanted.”

“I see.” Lowering his gaze to the floor, E-Sumi-Yan thought for a moment before speaking. “You can be a bit difficult to handle, loud, obnoxious, and haphazard at the worst of times, but I wouldn't call you a bother.”

If that was supposed to make you feel better, it most certainly hadn't. “Yeah, all those things seem pretty annoying, especially to someone like you.”

“They can be, yes.” He nodded.

“Then why are you trying so hard to get me to stay?” your question, as expected, received no answer. “Don't tell me I was actually right about you liking to spend time with me.” You had expected him to scold you for making such a suggestion, or at the very least deny it, but yet again, E-Sumi-Yan said nothing. “You know, I was just joking around because you're fun to tease and all, but now I'm actually kind of curious.” When he remained silent for a third time, you roughly took him by the shoulders and began shaking him. “Come on, say something.”

Making no attempt to stop you from shaking him, he simply let out a disappointed sigh. “You've gone back to being pushy I see.”

“Don't you change the subject! I'm already way too confused for that. And on top of everything else, I'm starting to get hungry.” Gripping his shoulders just a bit tighter than before, you stared directly into his eyes. “So you'd better stop being difficult and just tell me what the heck's going on.”

“Nothing's going on.” He assured you, though rather weakly. “I was just under the impression that we were friends.”

Friends? That wasn't at all the word you would have thought he'd use to describe you. You were happy to hear this, of course, but if he really did see you as a friend, he had an odd way of showing it. “You've never treated me like a friend before. More like an annoying younger sibling, or something.”

“You're making this far more difficult than it needs to be.” Looking both annoyed and embarrassed, E-Sumi-Yan's next sentence was almost too quiet for you to hear. “Of course we're friends.”

“So then, you do want to spend time with me?” Still not sure you quite understood him, you struggled not to get too excited. “I don't know why you didn't just come right out and say that.” Pausing, as if you had just thought of something, you narrowed your eyes on his. “Unless...”

Covering your mouth before you could say another word, E-Sumi-Yan glared at you fiercely.
Had his ears and cheeks not already started to grow pink, that glare might have actually scared you. As he was now, however, that glare had only made you sure that you were right. “Don't say it.”

“I won't, but only because I don't need to.” What you had suspected to be true for quite some time now finally confirmed, you tossed an arm over his shoulders and began walking down the hall with him. “So, since you're here, what did you want to do today, friend?”

Thoroughly embarrassed and unsure how to deal with that fact, E-Sumi-Yan attempted to excuse himself from the situation. “On second thought, I think I have somewhere else I need to be.”

“Oh no, you don't. I'm not letting you run away after all that.” Clinging to him with all your might, you refused to let him go anywhere. “Like it or not, today you're stuck with me. And I've got a sneaking suspicion that that's exactly what you wanted.” His silence said everything his pride wouldn't let him, bringing a wide, victorious smile to your face. Giggling at his almost awkward expression, you placed a quick kiss on his cheek before continuing on down the hall. “Thought so.”

Description
As you lazily made your way down one of the many over-sizeda halls of your guild, heading nowhere in particular, you heard a familiar voice call your name. Stopping mid-step, you turned around to see E-Sumi-Yan slowly stepping towards you. “Oh hey!” Happy, as always to see him, a smile instantly lit up your face. “What are you doing here? Got some more top secret business with someone or something?”

“No.” His expression far more serious than yours, yet not quite as serious as it normally was, he shook his head. “Not exactly.”

“Then why are you here?” Not giving him even a full second to answer your question, you jokingly offered another reason for his visit. “Don't tell me you've decided to switch guilds all of the sudden. I don't think this one is quite right for you.”

Sighing, as if already annoyed with your antics, E-Sumi-Yan pressed a finger to his temple. “Again, no.”

“Well I'm all out of guesses, and you don't seem super eager to tell me, so I won't pry.” Having learned long ago that arguing with him never got you anywhere, you could do little more than shrug and accept that you weren't getting an answer. “Good luck with whatever it is you're doing.” A wide smile still pulling at your lips, you bowed your head slightly and turned to leave.

E-Sumi-Yan was so shocked by your actions, he had grabbed your sleeve to keep you from going before he could stop himself. “What?”

“Huh?” Just as confused as he was, if not more so, you looked down at your sleeve, which he was still tightly gripping and then at him. The look on his face wasn't one you could remember seeing before. His eyes were wide, his brows raised and his jaw just barely ajar. Though on the surface he looked completely shocked, you could also tell that for some reason, he was offended. “Why are you making that face? Did I say something weird?”

“I should say so.” Only now releasing your sleeve, he nodded. “Since when do you simply accept no for an answer? I've never been able to get rid of you that easily.”

“Wait, you're upset because I'm not going to stick around and bug you?” Sure there had to be more to it than that, your confusion grew. “That's pretty weird too you know. I mean like, really, really weird. I would have thought you'd be relieved, especially since you're always trying your best to get rid of me.”

“That isn't true.” His arms now crossed firmly over his chest, E-Sumi-Yan lifted his nose into the air. “I'm glad you've matured, obviously, just surprised it happened so suddenly.”

“It's pretty true, but I'm not going to argue.” You still didn't know why he'd stopped you, but judging by the way he was no looking at you, you'd done something to upset him. Not about to hang around and make matters worse, you once again prepared to leave. “Anyway, good luck, again.”

Looking even more aghast than the first time you'd tried to walk away, E-Sumi-Yan immediately called after you. “You certainly are in a hurry, aren't you?”

Stopping again, you silently tried to figure out what was going on with him. E-Sumi-Yan had never actively tried to spend time with you, so him not wanting you to leave was painfully out of character for him. “Okay, am I going completely crazy or are you actually trying to get me to stick around this time?”

Rolling his eyes, as if your question should have had an obvious answer, E-Sumi-Yan gave an almost sarcastic sounding response. “Seeing as I came here to see you, I suppose you aren't completely crazy, no.”

“You came here to see me?” He had said those words with such ease, it actually took you several seconds to make sense of them. “Are you sure you're feeling alright?” Unsure if this was some sort of joke, or if someone had used a spell of sorts on him, you gently pressed the back of your hand to his forehead and checked for fever.

“Of course I am.” Quickly swatting away your hand, E-Sumi-Yan took a single large step back. “I simply wanted to see how your injury was healing, that's all.”

“My injury?” Honestly, you had hurt yourself a couple of times since you'd seen him last, but there was no way he knew about that. Or, at least you hoped as much. If he didn't know about any of your new injuries, however, then he could only be talking about the little cut you'd gotten while fighting alongside him. “You're not talking about that little scratch I got, are you?”

“Yes, I am.” He nodded. “And if I recall correctly, it wasn't just a scratch.”

“You can call it whatever you want, but it wasn't a big deal. I'm pretty sure it was pretty much healed up before I even got home. It's been what, a week since then?” Unable to remember the exact date, you shrugged. “There's not even a mark left there.”

Narrowing his eyes, as if he didn't believe you, E-Sumi-Yan's tone reminded you of an upset parent or disappointed teacher. “Is that so?”

“It is.” Though you were still confused about this entire exchange, you nodded as you pulled up the side of your shirt just enough for him to see. “Take a look for yourself.”

“There's no need for you to disrobe yourself in public.” Pulling your shirt back down without even attempting to look at where your cut had been, E-Sumi-Yan scolded you. “I would have taken your word for it.”

“But you didn't take my word for it.” Actually getting a little frustrated with him, you took a sharp breath in. “You're acting really off today. Are you sure there's not something else bothering you?”

“You've already asked me that once, and my answer now as the same as it was then.” Nodding firmly, he assured you once more. “I'm sure.”

“Alright, if you're really, really sure, then I won't ask again.” Usually, this would be where he turned around and left you. He'd already done what he set out to do, so you weren't sure why he hadn't even attempted to leave. Seeing as he hadn't appreciated it when you tried to leave first, you somewhat awkwardly cleared your throat as you tried to decide what to do next. “So um, was there anything else you wanted me for or was that it?”

Another strange expression you hadn't seen him wear before contorting his face, E-Sumi-Yan avoided answering your question by asking one of his own. “Are you really in such a rush to get away from me?”

“Okay, now you're just taking things way too personally.” That was the last straw. Something was going on and you were going to find out what. “What's going on here?” Firmly crossing your arms over your chest, you waited for him to answer you. When he made no attempt to speak, you started making threats. “Either you tell me or I'm going. Begging you for information has never worked for me before, so I'm not about to do that.”

Caught off guard by your sudden attitude, E-Sumi-Yan became even more defensive. “I don't appreciate your rude tone.”

“I'm leaving in like three seconds, so you'd better get to talking.” Honestly, you weren't sure if you could make yourself leave, but you had to say something to get him talking.

Even with you threatening to leave, E-Sumi-Yan didn't explain himself to you. “You're so very rude. I come all the way here to check up on you and you act like I'm wasting your time.”

“Well just standing here, staring at each other is kind of a waste.” You really weren't trying to be rude, you just wanted to get to the bottom of this, and patience wasn't exactly your forte. “I mean, I've always liked hanging out with you, even if you are way too serious and stiff, but you've always treated me like I'm a bother. I just didn't want to keep being a bother by sticking around where I'm not wanted.”

“I see.” Lowering his gaze to the floor, E-Sumi-Yan thought for a moment before speaking. “You can be a bit difficult to handle, loud, obnoxious, and haphazard at the worst of times, but I wouldn't call you a bother.”

If that was supposed to make you feel better, it most certainly hadn't. “Yeah, all those things seem pretty annoying, especially to someone like you.”

“They can be, yes.” He nodded.

“Then why are you trying so hard to get me to stay?” your question, as expected, received no answer. “Don't tell me I was actually right about you liking to spend time with me.” You had expected him to scold you for making such a suggestion, or at the very least deny it, but yet again, E-Sumi-Yan said nothing. “You know, I was just joking around because you're fun to tease and all, but now I'm actually kind of curious.” When he remained silent for a third time, you roughly took him by the shoulders and began shaking him. “Come on, say something.”

Making no attempt to stop you from shaking him, he simply let out a disappointed sigh. “You've gone back to being pushy I see.”

“Don't you change the subject! I'm already way too confused for that. And on top of everything else, I'm starting to get hungry.” Gripping his shoulders just a bit tighter than before, you stared directly into his eyes. “So you'd better stop being difficult and just tell me what the heck's going on.”

“Nothing's going on.” He assured you, though rather weakly. “I was just under the impression that we were friends.”

Friends? That wasn't at all the word you would have thought he'd use to describe you. You were happy to hear this, of course, but if he really did see you as a friend, he had an odd way of showing it. “You've never treated me like a friend before. More like an annoying younger sibling, or something.”

“You're making this far more difficult than it needs to be.” Looking both annoyed and embarrassed, E-Sumi-Yan's next sentence was almost too quiet for you to hear. “Of course we're friends.”

“So then, you do want to spend time with me?” Still not sure you quite understood him, you struggled not to get too excited. “I don't know why you didn't just come right out and say that.” Pausing, as if you had just thought of something, you narrowed your eyes on his. “Unless...”

Covering your mouth before you could say another word, E-Sumi-Yan glared at you fiercely.
Had his ears and cheeks not already started to grow pink, that glare might have actually scared you. As he was now, however, that glare had only made you sure that you were right. “Don't say it.”

“I won't, but only because I don't need to.” What you had suspected to be true for quite some time now finally confirmed, you tossed an arm over his shoulders and began walking down the hall with him. “So, since you're here, what did you want to do today, friend?”

Thoroughly embarrassed and unsure how to deal with that fact, E-Sumi-Yan attempted to excuse himself from the situation. “On second thought, I think I have somewhere else I need to be.”

“Oh no, you don't. I'm not letting you run away after all that.” Clinging to him with all your might, you refused to let him go anywhere. “Like it or not, today you're stuck with me. And I've got a sneaking suspicion that that's exactly what you wanted.” His silence said everything his pride wouldn't let him, bringing a wide, victorious smile to your face. Giggling at his almost awkward expression, you placed a quick kiss on his cheek before continuing on down the hall. “Thought so.”