Stitched Together

Chapter 12: New Toys

"Hmm," I groan and groggily open my eyes. There is a knocking at my door. What in the world... I prop myself up on my elbows and look around. There's a book on top of me and my clock reads 6:45. Lazily I push the book and covers off of me and swing my feet out onto the cold ground. What the hell is going on? I trudge out my room and to the front door. "What do y-" I stop when I see Suzuya.

"You're not a morning person huh Reina?" he giggles. To my knowledge he's not either; waking him up is impossible some days. The night he stayed after the raid, I ran errands and everything, and when I got home he was still asleep. It takes a moment, but I soon realize my appearance right now isn't the best. My large t shirt is off one shoulder and my plaid shorts are peeking out from the bottom of it. My hair is every which way, and I'm almost positive I have dark circles under my eyes.

"What the hell are you doing at my front door at 6 in the morning?" I growl. The sun is hardly up but here he is.

"Well it's actually closer to 7 but okay. I couldn't sleep because I was excited about my quinque, so I sat and thought that you might be awake too so I came over," he smiles big and answers.

"Fun fact, I was asleep. I had trouble getting to sleep all night, but you just showed up and interrupted what little sleep I got," I mutter in aggravation.

"Oh really? Oops sorry Reina. You can go back to bed then, Ill just wait here, Shinohara should pick us up around 8 I'm guessing, could you tell him I'm with you?" he says bluntly and walks past me into my house. I stand in the door way for a moment just staring before slamming the door behind me. He rummages through my kitchen. "I ate all the candy last time huh," he mumbles to himself, displeased with my practically bare cabinets.

"The cabinet to your left," I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. He opens it and brightens up when he finds an assortment of lollipops. I more or less expect his surprise visits now a days so I keep sweets stocked. "Knock yourself out just keep quiet," I hiss and drag myself back to my room.

"Aw you're not really going back to bed are you?" he pops his head into my room and whines.

"Of course I am! Get out stitches," I yawn and flop face down back onto my bed. Ah yes still warm. I close my eyes and bury my face into the blankets.

"That's no fun," he whimpers and stands over me with his hand on his hips.

"Mmm go away," I groan and put a pillow over my head. This is what happens when I get a white haired maniac knocking at my door before dawn. He lingers for a moment before making a small sound of realization and running off. Finally, sleep time. After a few minutes I'm nearly asleep, but there is a sudden prodding at my side. I turn over angrily. "Juuzou I swear-" I am cut off my him shoving a mug in my face. "What?"

"You drink a lotta coffee when you look sleepy at work so I made you some to wake you up," he smiles proudly. The anger melts from my expression and I take the mug in my hands and sip it.

"Thank you Juuzou," I sigh quietly, giving into him.

"No problem, but that stuff's pretty bitter, don't you think?" he scrunches up his face and sticks out his tongue.

"Only weak people add stuff to their coffee. Do you see Shinohara putting any sugar in his?" I chuckle as Suzuya nods with understanding. "Coffee has its own complexities. Different kinds have completely different flavors. I can only afford instant, so this stuff isn't very good, but I still like it. Anteiku probably has the best I've tasted," I say and stare into my mug.

"That's pretty complicated for just a drink," he mutters.

"Well to you I'm sure you'd think so," I look up at him. I giggle and set my mug on my nightstand. "Do you even own a hairbrush." He just blinks and runs his hand over his hair. I didn't notice before, but it's more messy that usual. He did say he couldn't sleep, so maybe he didn't even think to fix it up. Actually, now getting a good look at him, he looks awfully disheveled. One of his suspenders is completely off his shoulder, his hair clips are crooked, and his shirt isn't even buttoned right. "Oh dear," I sigh and get to my feet, disappearing into my bathroom briefly to grab a hairbrush. "Juuzou, please rebutton your shirt." He nods and sticks his tongue out in concentration and redoes his buttons. I hook a finger around his suspender and pull it back up onto his shoulder. "Much better, now sit, I'll brush through your hair," I smile and he sits on the ground, and I take my seat in the edge of the bed. I take out his hair clips and his bangs fall right over his eyes. He lets out a distressed sound, making me giggle. "I've never seen you without these in," I laugh and ruffle his hair. It was kind of cute. I brush the tangles out in no time and run my fingers through it.