After a long search, Akira finally located her target in the rose garden. Her brother was staring deep in thought at the white rosebushes, the snow white blooms as downy as the longish locks on his head. Akira tapped his shoulder and he turned, red eyes boring into her.
"What?"
Akira brushed off his defensiveness and held out the silver dagger to him. "I think you should have it." He glared witheringly at her. "Stupid woman. I already gave it to you; stop trying to give it back." He pushed her hand away. Akira shook her head. "Your knife served its purpose. I will thank you for that." From behind her back, she withdrew a second dagger, forged the same as the original one with a sleek blade and a ruby gem as red as her brother's eyes encrusted in the hilt. Akira gave him two choices. "You can have your old one back, or take this one." She level his gaze head on.
After having a staring contest for over a minute, he sighed irritably and stuck out out his hand. "Fine. Give it to me." Akira's lips curved. She deposited the ruby dagger into his hand and closed his fingers over the hilt. "There. We match now."
Rubbing the back of his neck, Subaru carefully pocketed the dagger and peered at her from under his lashes. "Why give it to me?'
Akira sat down next to him, reaching out to pluck one of the roses in full bloom. She brought the flower to her nose, inhaling the cloying scent. "I said I'd return the favour, right? You always protect me, even though you have such a short fuse." Akira grinned at him as he looked away, frowning. "Your hair is pretty today." She reached up and brushed his bangs away from his eyes. "Don't hide your face, okay?" Akira pressed a kiss to his cheek. Subaru's eyes widened as he recognised the line. Akira laid the rose in his lap. "That's what Mother Christa would want, too."
