all the highs and none the lows. (Earinor & Akira)

How sticky would this situation get from here on out? Gin wanted an answer but couldn't procure one, much like he couldn't tell himself that Rokuro didn't have any idea why he panicked like an idiot right now. Was he really that easy to see through? He couldn't say. Alas, it did depend on how he behaved half the time - and it was easy for him to slip into this house when he knew how it looked, how it worked and where he found whatever he needed, but at the same time, it carried an awful air of unfamiliarty with it, especially when he hadn't been here for a while. No matter what, Gin figured, he'd make it all fit in his memory and take care to map this place out in his mind so he wouldn't look like an absolute idiot the next time he wandered in here. The shoes were off faster than he could admit to being happy he was free, and his eyes looked for anything new on any of the shelves; for any changing decor, or a sign of Rokuros life in this place. Nothing ever changed though, did it? No. It was extravagant but mundane at the same time - it fit his bosses character perfectly. Gin, on the other hand, lived in what one would probably describe as a jungle, surrounded by as many plants as he could find, and yet, this place didn't seem too empty to him. "You're right about that.", he chuckled and undressed, throwing the stained clothes into a bin and getting into the shower soon enough.

Gin cleaned up, he had to, lest he'd have this annoying red stain on his chest all night, but he also knew that he didn't smell all too exceptional after a night in the Yasenyumei; long hair was like carpet and soaked smells up over time, which also meant that he better wash it. Still, he was throughout but quick, not wanting to leave Rokuro waiting, and as he finished his rinse, not marbling at the expensive shampoos his boss had, or the fact that the shower had way too many settings, he dried off, slipped into the robe that was meant for him and joined Rokuro, at least on the side of the whirlpool, which he refused to slip into just yet. "You go through all the trouble of getting me this nice robe and then you want me to immediately undress and join you? Shouldn't I put on a show for you or something?", he giggled. Wasn't it obvious that he was supposed to join his poor boss? Oh, well, yes, but Gin didn't feel like it just yet. There were many more questions he had and much more time he could stall if only he was allowed to. Why cut the chase when he could prolong it? "Has anyone ever told you just how sweet you are, Rokuro-san?", Gin giggled. "Too sweet for me or anyone, and yet, I'm sure Anzu won't think that way."

Rokuro enjoyed the warm water after another long day and he enjoyed being rid of his suit as well. He poured himself a glass of wine and slowly savoured it, it wasn't meant to be jugged down. He knew Gin spotted a good wine when he tasted it as well, he did come from a rather rich family after all. Maybe it was the fact that all his house was wasn't too shocking and new to him, other people he brought here were stunned and looked at every little detail, while Gin was impressed, but not overwhelmed. "Do you want something to eat?", he asked him, knowing that Gin albeit being used to it from his childhood, still enjoyed expensive things and expensive food whenever he could. Maybe he missed it too, at the very least he acquired that taste all his life, until that fateful moment he lost everything. Rokuro knew very well that Gin thought he couldn't go back home and maybe he didn't even want to. Why would he? Rokuro treated him well and he didn't seem to mind his profession that much. A shame he was a man, there wasn't enough demand for male escorts here, it would suit him far better, but Rokuro refused to let an asset be wasted.

Rokuro didn't watch Gin shower, instead he looked out of the giant window. He heard when the water stopped running and still waited until Gin tiptoed around the whirlpool so Rokuro didn't need to turn his head too much. "I'm sure you'll need it when we go to the bedroom.", he answered calmly, still giving Gin a proper look from head to toe. He looked good in the robe, he knew it and he didn't simply stand there flatfooted, he made a point of always presenting his body as if he was in a photoshoot. "I wouldn't mind a show though." Although Gin already wore almost nothing so that wouldn't be a long one. Then again, Gin had his ways. "Sweet?", he asked, it was funny how Gin viewed him, but there was never the need of treating him badly. "As long as people respect me, I will in turn treat them with respect as well, but I am sure you have plenty of customers that behave differently." Rokuro still looked at Gin, his arms lay on the edges of the tub and with two fingers he held his glass in place. "The actions of others are hardly your fault, if they were, Anzus actions would be my mistake too."

There were rules to learn at home and there were rules to learn in the brothel - they weren't the same, but they all had something to do with how he presented himself, what he should have paid attention to and what others liked about him; subtle nods to his posture, something that made him seem rather haughty or perhaps give him an air of noblesse. The easy things in life combined themselves into something so ethereal, Gin was loved and praised for it by both his peers and his boss, even if it didn't happen aloud, he was the one waltzing around a monumental bathroom and showing off his body that was barely hidden by the sheer fabric he was given to wear. If one didn't know better, maybe they'd assume him to be Rokuros muse, or perhaps nothing but a little side fling that neither of them had anticipated once it happened. The truth, however, was much more grim and different than Gin figured it out to be. "To eat? Hmmm." Gin considered his options. If he told Rokuro he wanted lobster, he probably wouldn't say no, but actually, he didn't even know what he wanted. Generally speaking, food wasn't a bad idea, but theoretically speaking, what would he even eat? "Cheesecake?", he exclaimed without a second thought. Someone would spare him a slice, right? There had to be some late-night bakers around.

Gin let his body sway and danced around the tub, or rather the pit, a bit. Not too far out of Rokuros sight, but he let his limbs stretch and moved his body delicately, concealing the important parts that one might want to gaze at. A show wasn't anything if there wasn't enough clothing, and yet, he chuckled and still slowly slid out of it. "Touché, you got me there.", he replied with a smile on his lips and slowly inched out of the robe he had just put on. Inch for inch, showing a bit of shoulder, then a bit of back, and then turning around; he wasn't bad at putting on a show, but theoretically, Rokuro saw everything that he could see if he wanted to, given that this robe wasn't meant to cover anything at any point in time and he was just a bit too lazy to admit that, wasn't he? Swamped with ideas, Gin continued, until he was finally free of the single piece of fabric he wore and neatly stashed it away so it would get neither crumpled nor wet - he slid into the whirlpool instead, looking for Rokuros company instantly. "Sweeter than honey, yes.", the redhead giggled, putting one of his hands on Rokuros. "I had, though, some still need an attitude check sometimes. But tonight isn't about that, or am I wrong?" They had left work behind for something else, something much more enjoyable, and now, they were back to talking about it. "You couldn't have known - she seemed alright at first, didn't she? But ... lets forget that for now, I don't want to ruin your mood."

"Cheesecake it is.", Rokuro answered and reached for his phone to write a message, ordering Cheesecake for Gin at this late hour. Nothing like that would ever be a problem and Gin seemed to enjoy the fact that Rokuro spent money on him even though he didn't need to. Why would he try to impress him, if he already worked for Rokuro and didn't have much of a choice whether he wanted to be here or not. There was no need to shower him with gifts and yet Rokuro did it, simply because he could and it didn't hurt his wallet. Watching Gin dance around the tub wasn't a reward, it was required of the redhead, still Rokuro enjoyed the view, slowly sipping on his wine meanwhile. Gin seemed to have fun as well, dragging this out with just one piece of fabric that barely did its job. Rokuro smiled at him when he was finally finished and joined him in the warm water. He wondered if Gin was a good actor, or if he enjoyed his time here, though it didn't matter much.

Rokuro kept smiling at Gin, then reached for the second glass of wine he had filled before and offered it to him. "You're right. Tonight is about a relaxing end to an eventful day.", he nodded and in fact he was still happy about it turned out. The deal he wanted to make turned out better than expected, because Suzuki was way too nice for his own good, also proven by the fact how the situation today was handled. "Maybe I should send you boys and girls to some training for events like these.", he suggested than sighed deeply. "Tell me, do you think you have to spell out how to behave in front of important people? Then again, you are an exception, aren't you? I doubt you can speak for them." Rokuro but his hand on Gins cheek, smiling at him as if he was precious, something special in between all the other boys and girls he owned. "Don't worry about me, I will never stop working and all of you are m work too. You work and live with them, so I value your opinion, even though your judgement has proven wrong twice. What did you know about Anzu before this?"

Why would nobody ever deny him a wish? His parents gave Gin whatever he wanted, whenever he asked for it as long as he did his chores first and Rokuro was no different. Maybe it was their way of showing affection, or perhaps a reward for all he had done, but even then, he could never truly appreciate or decipher what it was for and why it was given to him in the first place. All those treats and nice words that he received, all the simple love that they embodied, they were somewhat lost on him and he had to admit, even if he tried to do anything silly, nobody would ever punish him for it. Gin was the embodiment of a perfect son, of something haughty by nature, yet incredibly well-adjusted to the demands of society. Rokuro had potentially refined him, made him who he was today, and Gin grabbed the glass of wine he was offered tonight, figuring that it was one of those things that his boss enjoyed, and swirled it around in his glass before giving it a taste test. Refined, yes, but it definitely could use some work, much like him, even if he had racked up quite the bill with all the booze that he had ordered tonight - mostly for the girl that got herself into more trouble than she needed to, though, Gin figured he'd not have to tell who consumed what, unless asked.

As he sipped on the glass, he looked at the man that was all smiles and wondered if he, too, could be like him someday and then realized, no, that wasn't what he wanted. In a few years time, he probably wouldn't be useful to Rokuro anymore - it was all about beauty and bodily standards in their little cluster of the world and with aging came, well, the unfortunate time in his profession. "I wouldn't want it any other way, especially for you. I'm sure we've cause you quite the headache, and for that, I do apologize." Him, Anzu and Kosuke, that was. They were a merry band of idiots, trying to solve something that had needed intervention from square one. Wouldn't it have been funnier to just ignore the issue, or let Kosuke handle it? Definitely, but he didn't want that poor guy to be the one that got the slap from Anzu, or even be the one that had to answer for anything if he made mistakes. The Yasenyumei staff was different, but even then, now it didn't matter, not that late at night, when Gin was holding his glass of wine and enjoying Rokuros embrace. "Physical discipline, maybe?", Gin blurted out while he furrowed his brows - if one looked past the odd ends of make-up that were almost all washed off and the red hair dye, they'd probably see some gears turning in his head as he tried to focus, his mind addled by both worry and alcohol. "Personally, accompanying you anywhere is like a reward for me, but neither Anzu or Rika seem to think of it that way. That's the way I see it. Maybe they do need some discipline, every single one of them." Some of them had it, but they weren't that sweet to look at sometimes, as they bore scars on their faces, or perhaps already had aged past their prime. They all eventually wouldn't be boys and girls anymore, especially in Rokuros eyes, and those who had reached their expiration date, well, they weren't long-lived. Gin met the gaze he was subjected to this time and returned the smile in earnest; would that ever happen to him? In moments like these, it didn't seem likely, not when he was so good for a single man who needed him more than anything in times like these. "I don't interact with all of them outside of work, it'd be a chore. Some I get along with, others I don't, but Anzu always seemed well-behaved, rather introverted and shy, and a bit envious of the more outgoing ones, which definitely isn't a bad trade to have. Still, I didn't take her for a thief ... and I do apologize for my misjudgement in both cases. As I've said, I will gladly accept any punishment."

"Mhm, I appreciate that.", Rokuro answered swiftly, he didn't need apology after apology, what had happened already did and it had worked out fine. He didn't want to be angry at Gin, he wasn't yet ready to show him his true face, for now he appreciated someone that wasn't scared of him as long as he didn't need to be. Gin was naive, maybe that too came with a rich upbringing and all that homeschooling he received. Before he got here he never saw a glimpse of normal life and thus he fell, hard. First drugs, then dept and now he worked in a brothel to repay a man that viewed him as an object, something he could sell and make business with and if he didn't need him anymore, he'd just store him on a shelve. He watched Gin drink the wine and he saw how much his little brain was working. What was he trying to figure out? Then again sometimes he could be rather short sighted and dense. Rokuro meanwhile alwas planned ahead and he rarely stopped working.

Suddenly he grinned for a second. "That almost sounds like you want all of them disciplined.", he pointed out, then shook his head with a sigh. "Sometimes it seems to me people around here only understand violence, so you are probably not wrong. Then again, even a bruise will keep them from working for a while, which makes tactics like that quite expensive. Maybe an example would suffice, something for everyone to see. Yet, the actions of a single person hardly justify punishing all of you, don't you think?" Sometimes Rokuro took Gin a a rather selfish and rash person. It didn't seem like he carried much empathy for anyone but himself, which wasn't necessarily a bad trait. "If not a reward, what would they see it as?", Rokuro wondered out loud though. Then he chuckled a bit. Rokuro sat his glass aside and reached for Gin. He pulled him over and onto his lap, his hands traced his body from his ribs to his butt. "You are beautiful now, but you won't always be. You should be thinking of your future. If you can prove to me that you understand those girls and that you can advice them, maybe I'll have use for you in twenty years still. It would be a shame to throw someone like you away. You have potential."

So much for being thrown away eventually. Regardless of that, Gin was either to inebriated or too lazy to think it through and every single selfish thought he had was currently climbing right from his brain to his mouth, outward and formed into precious words. What was he to do? Raise a mutiny on behalf of his coworkers by accusing Rokuro of things he hadn't done? Someone like Anzu would like that, but Gin didn't understand why there always had to be someone that was at fault, be it an underling or the boss of someone - demantling power structures and hierachies wasn't easy, but that also didn't mean that they had any worth aside from their perceived one. As he wasted his time pacing around in his brain, he snickered at Rokuro and the remark he made. "That's not how I meant it, but it's how I phrased it.", he agreed, giggling softly and searching for some skin on skin contact. There was nothing happening between the two if he didn't want it to, but it was an understatement to claim that sometimes, he didn't wish Rokuro saw him as his one and only. Being nothing more than this guys pet would suffice to keep him happy, but that way, he'd have little value since he didn't bring in any money; he'd simply be wasting it, not having earned a single penny of what he spent in any way.

Gin put the emptied glass aside, on the floor outside of the tub and let himself be helped on Rokuros lap - one of his favorite spots, even though he wasn't so sure if that was, what he was in the mood for tonight. A soft blush swept across his body, either because of the actions of the older man or because Gin was embarrassed over being treated like the pillow princess he could be; regardless, he accept it and leaned in close. "You're right, but who would you even use to set an example? Maybe someone you don't need anymore, someone that you can't profit off of any longer. But then again, maybe the easiest way to set an example is to use the one you like the most, you know? That might get into their empty brains.", Gin mused as his fingers trailed along the exposed chest of his partner, his liaison, his owner. Was there any reason for him to adopt a filter in situations like these? He knew how to be cruel and yet didn't leave himself out of it, told Rokuro what he thought about, truthfully at the very least and afterward, as he realized that maybe, his choice of words might be a rather offending one, he realized that they both shared one and the same sentiment. "A chore. Missing out on potential customers. Having to be all uptight and neat around you, you know? Some of them just can't act like they're a nameless, faceless person for a few hours. They haven't hit rock bottom at some point and would do everything for anything." Some of them were addicts, others had fought against it and won, while a small percentile had tried and failed and paid the price. Gin didn't value himself any differently, he just knew that this life wasn't for everyone and that, if he could have made the choice, he would have never committed to it. "I have some good years left in me.", he whispered as he traced invisible lines across Rokuros chest. "But you are right, even if you flatter me a bit too much. I should work on myself and set a good example for them. Maybe that'll help."

Gin revelled in the touch Rokuro gave him and Rokuro in turn smiled about him. A moan could be faked, a laugh too, but he doubted someone could blush on command. Gin truly was naive and his boss wondered if he'd try to run if he ever saw Rokuros true face, if he saw what he was capable of and did every single day. He liked keeping him in the dark for now, but he meant what he had said and if Gin were to rise up, he needed to know more. For now it wasn't necessary though. All in all Gin didn't seem like he'd care too much however, he ratted out Anzu in a heartbeat after all and without flinching. "Someone I'm throwing away anyway will not yield results, Anzu might do, but to be honest, I rather have her out of my sight." Rokuro looked at the red haired man and shook his head. Gin was either daring or stupid. "Are ou suggesting I punish you? Or is that your way of asking if you are still my favorite? You are, who else accompanies me as much as you do?"

Next Rokuro laughed a bit. "I didn't know you all love your jobs so much, you rather stay in the club than join me on a night out that might not end up in sex." Apparently there were some that wanted that, money or missed customers hardly were an issue, all of them got well compensated and rewarded for a successful evening, Gin knew as much. "If I didn't know better I'd start suspecting you of keeping the good girls from me, so I don't find another favorite. That indeed would call for punishment." He was joking, but not 100%. Gin could be cunning and selfish if he wanted to be, of that he was sure. "Sure you have, but eventually even you will grow old and ugly.", Rokuro blatantly said right into Gins face. It was fact after all. "And if it doesn't? I thought you were smarter than that, maybe I misjudged you." Gin truly was a bit dense, or maybe the alcohol he drank today got to him.

For a man like that, someone like Gin was easy to read and nothing more than a quick snack, wasn't he? Even if he was his bosses favorite and even if he persisted against time, Rokuro wasn't wrong. He was beautiful in his own right, in a way that made him wonder if he, too, wouldn't do better in a profession that needed his beauty and not his intellect, but regardless of that, he was surely glad to call that person his boss and nobody else. "And you're right for that. Why give her the limelight once again when you've already cast her out?", he asked, without even knowing what happened to the girl. Gin figured she'd be gone, and he had to admit that he would miss her a tad bit, maybe for a few days, until someone else took her place and she'd eventually become a distant memory that would haunt him in his dreams, or in vivid daydreams. As he directed his attention elsewhere, Gin wondered just the slightest bit how he ended up where he was and then, almost unprompted, buried his face in the space between Rokuros neck and shoulder. This man was something special, to him, at the very least. "I know I'm your favorite, no worries. I doubt that ever changed after you took me out with you for the first time. But yes, I am saying you could punish me, that way you'd have all eyes on you. But nothing permanent, yes?", Gin giggled.

The alcohol was indeed getting to his head, but he had a grand old time regardless and wasn't worried about anything. Why would he be? Gin liked Rokuro, he trusted him and he knew that if he acted out of line, he'd just be told that his behavior was off - but they'd been close before and been more personal, at least when nobody else was watching. "Some of them don't think that far. Can you blame them if they don't want to sleep with their employer, though? They think it'd make things more awkward." While other thought that they had special privileges once they lay their lips on Rokuros, or allowed him to take them as they were, but even then, a few of them were just silly and not in the mood. In the end, they were all human with their own preferences and Gin wouldn't fault them, not for something they purposefully missed out from. "Why would I? I'm not that insecure and if you ever love someone more than me, well, I'll either have to bear it or get rid of them - but it's not like I could know that upfront, or that I care about something like that in the first place. Sometimes you do think of me just like the others, a bit shallow and jealous, am I wrong?" There were some giggles and Gin, who was supposed to enjoy the water, buried his hot face even more in the croon of Rokuros neck, enjoying the slightly colder skin as his fingers looked for a place on Rokuros body that they fit on. "Eventually, but I have time to become valuable in a different way, at least until then." Everyone lost their beauty eventually and that wasn't anything to be ashamed of; why would it be? Aging was natural, just not as beautiful as it probably should be. "Then I can be the one, free of fault, and snicker at the others. Bad for you, yes, but good for little selfish me, you know?", Gin confessed, but he stopped the incessant giggling eventually. "I am smarter than that, though. They just need motivation, a possible reward, you know? Cash, or drugs, or maybe ..."

"Do you feel like you deserve to be punished?", Rokuro asked. Why was Gin so adamant about this? He doubted it was his pride or sense of duty, that was nothing this man possessed. What would he even do with him? Beat him up? No, not Gin, not until he needed to and the other girls and boys would probably just be happy about their bosses favorite little pet to fall from grace, nothing more. Gin wasn't very good in deciphering peoples nature, wants and needs, he actually was worse at it than Rokuro thought and he lost interest in trying to push him upwards, so he'd not end in a ditch somewhere somewhen when his outwards qualities faded. Even now he didn't understand what to do and instead just purred around Rokuro to please him, when he should have known him better at this point. Did he even have an ounce of an idea on how Rokuro did business? Who he really was? How he acquired all his wealth? Probably not and Gin lived too much in the moment, not thinking ahead the littlest bit.

"I didn't take Anzu to sleep with me, I took her to impress my guest. Sometimes I wonder how little you all understand about the world you are working and living in. I might actually acquire a proper escort service and leave you all out of my business.", Rokuro sighed. At least Gin should understand it. Rokuro wouldn't have brought Anzu here after all. "Well you just said it yourself, you'd have to get rid of them, but I wonder if you are capable of doing that. Even after Anzu did today, you spent the evening by her side and consoled her if only for a short while. But yes, I think you are jealous and shallow." At least after their conversation now he reevaluated what he thought about Gin. "Why not starting to work on it now? You might even get out of sleeping with random strangers for cash." Maybe Gin didn't want that? He wouldn't get any more gifts from Rokuro once he was past his expiring date and if he took too long to climb up, someone else might just take the spot. That's how their world worked. "If I need to spell it out for you, you are not up to the task. Now get out and dry yourself. Your cheesecake is probably waiting and afterwards there are things your mouth is better in than talking."

Incidentally, Rokuro wasn't wrong. Gin was shallow, selfish and jealous to an extend and now, he'd spoken too much and soured his poor bosses mood - whatever, he figured, as he diverted the topic, masterfully as always so he wouldn't have to deal with it, and settled for other things, more mundane and less concerned with what would happen to him once he was old and ugly, no longer for the people that enjoyed him now; he'd be, at best, dead and burnt to ash, or at worst, alive and struggling to survive. Whatever future would he have? Even the night with Rokuro didn't help as that message singed itself into his addled brain, his hunger for the cheesecake gone and his own brows furrowed more often then not, as he moped about what he had just heard and felt. Gin would be a man of his word if he had to be, frankly, he'd do whatever he needed if he was asked of it, but for Rokuro, that was something different and he felt awful - was the red hairdye getting to him? Possibly, but even then, he still had a somewhat enjoyable night, one where he talked less and did more, something that Rokuro was right about; talking sometimes wasn't his forte, and yet, Gin couldn't help but think about what he'd do if he were just like that boss of his.

At some point, he'd passed out, or maybe he'd been laid to rest next to Rokuro, he couldn't recall, but he desperately needed a shower after he awoke, naked, in an empty bed, while his head was killing him. Almost with a sense of familiarity, he reached for the nightstand for something, but there was nothing, and thus, Gin heaved himself out, rubbed his eyes, and trotted to the first bathroom he could find. He washed his face and looked at his miserable reflection in the high-end mirror, completed by too many lamps blarring down at him and making him squint his eyes and question his life choices. First, he washed his face and afterwards, he drank from his hands before he took a long and throughout shower that was a much needed diversion. Rokuro wasn't home, was he? Not only could Gin not hear or spot him, he'd left the bed and he figured that an important man like that didn't need to enjoy some aftercare, no, he was probably already busy by the time he'd risen from the confines of his fluffy, luxurious bed that Gin graviated towards, as he did, in fact, find some clothing that had been laid out for him on a whim. Not his usual style, given the fact that yesterdays stuff was trashed, but he wore it regardless, as it probably was what Rokuro wanted him to wear or figured his style was like. In the end, he simply scrambled to the kitchen - after making the bed, that was - prepared himself a meal and collected his belongings that he'd strewn around the place, before he left. Gin checked if the door locked itself, which it did, before he waltzed off. The black card was still his and he'd gotten orders to buy a new suit - but before that, he turned on his phone as he walked home, out of this place, back to the first public transport he spotted. There wasn't a single missed call, but some missed texts from other people - some silly things he vaguely gave a damn about, but no Kosuke. >ko-ko! i'm free now ₍ᐢ ̥ ̞ ̥ᐢ₎ < Gin finally replied to the guy after yesterdays event. >are you busy? i'm going out to pick out a new suit! oh, and a book or two!< As Gin boarded one of the trams, he eventually texted Kosuke again. >are you home? can i bring some books over? ₍ᐢ ̥ ̞ ̥ᐢ₎ ♥<

Kosuke read Gins message right before going to bed and decided to not bother him any further. He simply went to sleep and sometime next morning woke up. He'd been beat anyway and since the longest time had a day off. Unpaid of course, but they told him to stay home today and he didn't argue or question it. He decided to skip his morning jog and training and instead went to the baths straight away. There he washed himself, because he had been too tired the day before. He took his time, given that he had the day off and didn't even know what to do with so much free time. Only when he was about to dress again did he look at his phone and saw Gins message. For a moment he wondered if he wanted Gin over, he didn't feel too well, but he also wanted to see him and check on him a bit. >Sure<, he answered therefor. >Have the day off today, so I'll be home< If Gin went shopping, he couldn't feel too bad, Kosuke was happy everything worked out for him.

He went on his way home soon enough and wondered if he should clean up a bit. It wasn’t dirty, just messy and the multiple 10,000¥ bills still lay on his coffee table. He didn't even count it and it felt weird to him being paid for acting against policies, almost like a bribe, but not really. He decided to put the money away in the only drawer he had, the one that also held his gun. The business card of Gins boss also landed in there. Then he tried to find suitable places for all the other stuff laying around. He only had one drawer and one shelve but it worked reasonably well and everything looked less cluttered. He also took the opportunity and brought some clothes and his sheets to a self service laundry shop, given that he had the time and Gin was probably busy shopping for a while. He wondered if he should get a movie, but Gin might not even plan on staying that long and he didn't want to impose. Once he was done he finally sat down on his freshly made bed and granted his body some much needed rest.

Gin didn't wait on a reply - he simply went out as he was, given that he had everything he needed and could afford to buy another bag, either one of those expensive brand store bags or maybe he could find a fabric one somewhere and then brag about the fact that his tote bag collection was about fifteen bags big, only used once and ... he was shallow, wasn't he? The redhead sighed deeply as he went about his day and got himself some coffee first, then went for the suit and kept an eye on his phone, in case anyone needed anything. Nothing. Of course. Until Kosuke replied, that was, and Gin was smiling from ear to ear, forfeiting his earlier troubles as he realized that, yes, they were meeting then and yes, Kosuke had the day off - nice! The suit shopping went better than expected, and while he couldn't pick anything that clashed with his hair, he definitely played around with colors and kept asking the store clerk fifty questions, to the point where the poor guy was looking at him dumbfounded and ran out of answers. This suit was expensive, yes, it was made of those and that fabrics, imported from then and there, dyed with this and that, but no, he had no idea who made those buttons and how well they'd hold up. Surely, he was just playing with this guy, but in the end, Gin paid and left, still stuck on Rokuros initial and stupid assumption. His head hurt from the booze yesterday, which wasn't a welcome change, but he was an idiot for thinking a certain way. It was time to become useful, huh?

>do you want me to bring anything?<, he texted Kosuke, not expecting an answer as he browsed a bookstore next. His eyes fell upon the latest version of one of his old study books and he sighed deeply; he hadn't touched that thing in years, it was insanely expensive to boot and he had no use for that thing, besides, he probably had that ... thrown away. Right. Would Rokuro be mad if he spent some more of his cash? Probably not, he never was, and this would ... did he need it? Would he really commit to the bit? Kosuke had told him he could go back to studying and Gin forgot about whatever poetry book he wanted to buy as he picked the hefty course book up - fine then. He paid for his stuff, went home, and was miffed out about the decision he'd made just now; as soon as he got home, he put the course book on his desk, hung the suit in his dresser and reminded himself to send a picture that he'd taken earlier, at the store when he was trying it on, to Rokuros phone - or whatever number it was that Gin had saved in his phone with his bosses contact info - before he packed the books he wanted to bring Kosuke. It wound up being five books instead of two that he'd initially wanted to take, but there was no time, he'd already said he'd be over and by the time Gin got out of his apartment, it was already afternoon - good thing that Kosuke didn't live on the other side of the city. >ill be there in a bit<, he wrote, only to not waste any more time and eventually, with a nice coffee stain on his shirt that he hadn't noticed earlier, he showed up at this guys doorstep. First, Gin rung the doorbell and then, he started knocking. >kosuke, are you ok?<

Kosuke didn't exactly know when Gin would arrive and thus he didn't really know what to do with himself. He read a bit, but in the process fell asleep. He didn't dream much and was ripped out of his sleep once someone knocked on his door. He was tired and it took him a while to get up, at least his door wasn't far. He opened the door to find Gin there, which wasn't very surprising at all. "Sorry, I fell asleep.", Kosuke greeted him and looked at what Gin carried. That was more than two books. "Do you wsnt to come in?", he asked, stepping aside so his guest could enter if he wanted to. Other than the last time it was in fact rather tidy, even though the shelve carried way toomany things. There was not much clutter though, only the bed wasn't freshly made anymore after he slept in it. Today he didn't wear a suit though. Because of a lack of comfortable clothes, he just wore jogging pants, a plain T-shirt and a sweater jacket fitting to his pants.

In regards of the insures he sustained, they weren't visible like this, maybe he stood a bit more crouched than usually and casually leaned against the doorframe, but that was all. If he got back to work, they didn't want their guards to look like they were easily beat up, no one ever went foe the face for a simple punishment like the one he received and no one broke any bones either, besides maybe a cracked rib, but it wasn't that bad today Kosuke believed. He was happy about the say off, despite there being no pay however, it at least gave him some time to recuperate.

Being with Kosuke was a different experience entirely. He wasn't like Rokuro at all; while they both were sweet in their own way, either Kosuke was good at masking his disdain for people as shallow as him, or he generally liked Gin for what he was. Did it matter much if things changed? He figured that it wouldn't and summarized that he was happy here, that Kosuke had better insight into things, but as he waited at the door, he wondered if the ravenheaded goon had changed his mind - maybe he was too much for him, or perhaps Rokuro had already figured out what was really going on between them, effectively sabotaging their entire relationship with one another, despite it never truly existing outside from a few chance encounters. As he thought about it, the door creeked open and his expression shifted to a much more mundane smile; his worries were swept away once he laid his eyes upon Kosuke, but replaced with different ones. Was he alright? Did he eat? How did the night end for him? Before Gin knew it, he had his foot in the door and he sighed apologetically. "I was worried something happened to you. Sorry, that was stupid of me.", he confessed.

"Are you okay?", he still inquired, worried about the man before him as he let himself into his home upon being asked if he wanted to come in - he answered but with a nod and immediately took off his shoes as he entered, neatly putting them aside. By the time Kosuke closed the door behind him, Gin had already tiptoed to the table and set his bag aside there, only to approach the taller man again. The redhead was still smiling at Kosuke, even if he wasn't sure about his own mood. "Did you sleep well? You kind of look like your bed swallowed you whole ... not that that's a bad look! Actually, you look pretty relaxed to me, huh ..." Was he that bad at reading people? Probably. That was why Rokuro didn't want him as a successor, or something like that. Regardless, Gin hadn't even set his eyes on that, not ever, not now when he rescued himself into Kosukes arms and hugged him. "Sorry about yesterday. Anzu's been ... well, my boss took her care of her, I think. I hope she didn't get you into too much trouble? And if she did ... I sincerely apologize."

Gin seemed somewhat relieved when Kosuke opened the door, did he take that long? "Hm? Like what?", he asked Gin. Why would something happen to him? "It isn't the Yasenyumeis style to send goons to someones home if that's what you mean." Gin already came inside and Kosuke closed the door behind him. Shortly after he joined him by the table, but it wasn't like they couldn't talk to eachother without yelling wherever they stood in the small room." I'm fine, yeah.", he answered, figuring there wasn't much to complain about and it wasn't important either. "I didn't want to disturb you yesterday, I'm sorry. I just wanted to make sure everything worked out on your end, given how the evening went." He looked and Gin, trying to read his expression, but he wasn't very successful. "I shouldn't have butted in... I'm sorry." Pulling Gin away to talk to him about his thieving friend, it probably wasn't the right call and ir seemed they weren't friends either. Then again Rokuro came back and paid him a huge sum of money.

"Ah yeah, I did some chores and that tired me out more than expected I guess. I'm fine now... Do you want something to drink? I have water and beer, but I can get something else from downstairs.", he asked his guest, but soon was interrupted by a hug that made him flinch a bit when Gin pressed his arms against his stomach and ribs, still he hugged him back." Ah... No... It was my fault for breaching protocol. And in fact your boss came back telling my boss to drop it... He also gave me a lot of cash and offered me a job actually... ", he reported, but after a short break added :"I won't take it though." It would be awkward and Kosuke felt like it would only complicate whatever he had with Gin. "Anyways... I should treat you to something with it, dinner maybe? Not today though, I don't feel like going out, sorry. Or what about that suit you needed to replace? I could pay for it."

Was Kosuke always like this? The mood seemed much more gloomy than it had to be, but on top of it, not only was he wondering when and why their conversations had turned into something like that, he also had to admit that, whatever it was that bothered either of them, it was creeping out of the other when they were together, was it not? Instead, todays topic of conversation was ... everything but happy and Gin figured he should have brought Kosuke another tiny Tokage to cheer him up. It was too late for that now, however, and all that he could do was sigh deeply as he let go of the mess of a man who's tremors were apparent, even to him. "No, no. I thought, you know, yesterday? Maybe they did a number on you and they probably did." If there was a way to discern who had it worse, it definitely seemed like Kosuke got the short end of the stick regardless. Gin gave him a smile and a slight pat on the shoulder, like an old friend would, but those two hardly knew each other, still. "No need to apologize, you were within your right to do that. I messed up, too. Should have told my boss from the start.", he explained, but then shook his head. "I wasn't punished, I just spent the evening with him so I was busy - you aren't at fault, really! I'm fine!" He even got stuff out of it, and Rokuro refused to punish him. Just why?

As Gin failed to figure it out, he wondered just how much they punished Kosuke instead - did Rokuro even make it in there in time? It didn't seem like it, but he wasn't one that liked invading the privacy of others, let alone make them feel like they couldn't just keep some things to themselves. Was there any way for him to even figure that out? "No alcohol today, I already had a bit of a headache from yesterday ... hm. How about I go get you something from downstairs? My treat, not yours, and don't you dare bring up age again. It's the least I can do after yesterday.", he claimed, and he was right. Kosuke got into a load of trouble, partially because of him and Gin would never live that one down, especially when the slightly hunched figure before him seemed like it was so tired, it had no interest in any interaction whatsoever. Like a wounded, dying cat, trying to lick its wounds clean, but ... he was an idiot, wasn't he? Reading people had never been his forte. Gin steeled himself, almost as if he expected Kosuke to crashland at any given point for whatever silly reason. Instead of Kosuke crashing, however, a bombshell landed on him and Gins eyes widened. "Why not take it? Rokuro is probably the better choice, he pays well, and while he has higher standards than your current boss - probably - he also allows opportunity, you know? And besides ... uh, we'd be closer together, you know! And you get paid days off!", Gin scrambled to word all the benefits he could think of, though, eventually, he just let his shoulders go slack. "Kuwahara-san replaced the suit, I already picked one out and bought it earlier. Also, that's your cash and I bet you got it because they already beat you up first, didn't they? He has a habit of doing that ... does it hurt a lot?", he asked, almost worried now. "Go lie down, I'll get you something."

"It's fine, don't worry.", Kosuke quickly answered, it would solve itself in a few days time. Gin let go almost too fast, Kosuke didn't intend to worry him. They lived in somewhat of the same world, but Gin probably didn't see violence all that often. No one wanted to pay for someone damaged. In Kosukes case it was but a matter of being effective at work and if he couldn't be, then he was the only one paying for it... By not being paid for a day. Although he didn't want to worry Gin more and it was somewhat impolite to sit down first, Kosuke planted himself back on the matress on the floor. "Well usually I would have told my manager, maybe I should have done that from the start... No one asked me for their protection after all." Kosuke looked up, wondering if he should be jealous, but he wasn't. What was tge point given Gins profession? Whatever they had wouldn't last long if that was a problem." I'm glad then. In the end we both dragged you into her mess, right?"

Kosuke shook his head smiling. "You don't owe me anything and I don't need anything either.", he answered and Gin didn't need to pay all the time. "I don't think it's a good idea if I worked for him... Don't you think he'd be against us meeting then?", Kosuke asked somewhat worried. "My job isn't bad, really. Your boss would need to buy my off mine and I don't think I want to owe him that... Besides, I'm better at following orders than thinking for myself like yesterday, it's much easier, you know?" Kosuke wasn't sure if Gin understood his reasoning, in the end comitting to change wasn't something Kosuke wanted to do, especially not when he didn't know what it entailed. "Well he entered in the middle of it... But I think he gave me the money because I was saving him from trouble? Oh, I'm not sure if you noticed, but your colleague gave him what she stole and he slipped it back in Duzuli-sans pocket. So if I would have told my manager, maybe he would have given it back instead... Or something. Anyway, I don't realy want that money... I just took it out ox politeness." Kosuke shook his head again." I don't need to lie down, really. It's not that bad."

Was he, truly? Whatever. Gin could take a guess, he could enjoy what he had or worry about what didn't matter. Either way, he was just making hard on himself, wasn't he? Kosuke was an adult, he could think for himself and he didn't need someone like him to tell him what was right and what was wrong. Regardless of that, was it wrong for him to decide on his own what he wanted and what he didn't want to do? Studying someone he was closer to than a customer was going to help with how he viewed humans, sure, and he might learn something about them at the same time, but he had to admit a few things: Mostly, that he wasn't without fault and secondly, that he was not going to use a friend as a test subject for a thought that had been planted in his empty head the other day. "Kosuke ... we're just shifting the blame around.", he sighed and came to terms with the fact that, yes, he wasn't going to be the guy that won this one, was he? This was getting stupid, ridiculous even, and yet, the back and forth that they had wasn't something that Gin didn't truly enjoy. "It's fine, I picked her to accompany us, so she was my mess from the start. Either way, I got away unscathed and you ... well, I wish it was different for you ... I'll go put some cooling cream on it, do you have any?", Gin asked, raising his eyebrow as he considered where Kosuke could have hidden it, if he even had it.

"Fine, I give up. But don't you dare spend that money on me, you hear? It's yours. Treat yourself to something, like, I don't know, a debtfree life?", Gin suggested, without even knowing how much Kosukes boss would want for him. Perhaps Rokuro didn't pay him enough, or possibly he did and now Kosuke couldn't tell what to do with his life; he could be a free man if he so chose to be and Gin wouldn't deny him that. "Huh, he might me.", he concluded and sat down next to Kosuke, slowly unpacking what he had placed on the table earlier, only to stack the books in a nonsensical way and shove them closer to Kosuke, who was feeling just fine now, wasn't he? "What if he doesn't like it? I could change his mind.", he suggested instead. Gin thought he could influence Rokuro, even if that was nearly impossible - he didn't even realize when he was the one that was being played like a fiddle, and even then, he decided that he was going to do nothing but assume he could do anything he put his mind to. "Then safe the money, you might need it at some point at the future, perhaps? At least don't spend it on me, I have enough and I'd feel horrible if you did. Please, lets just ... forget about money for a while. Look at the books I brought, anything catch your eye?" After that, he'd ask Kosuke, if everything went smoothly, that was, and if not, he'd mop about it for a little while longer. "Oh, yeah, sounds like my boss. Hm, still ... are you hungry at all?"

Gin was too worried in Kosukes opinion. It was sweet however, yet somewhat of daily business for Kosuke. He rarely deserved punishment, but sometimes things were not in his hand, or a customer or debtor threw a fit, he was used to being hurt. "I don't think I have any. You don't have to do this, really." He already saw Gin storming out to get some cooling cream, searching downstairs or running to the next pharmacy to get some. He didn't need to do any of that. "I get hurt all the time, it's no big deal and I got a free day out of it. I'm just a bit tired is all, but that's because I decided to do some chored until you'd show up." Maybe he overdid it a bit with those, but that was his fault alone. Did Gin even notice that he tidied up the place? Ge seemed too occupied with other things. "It's not that much money. 150,000¥ or something like that, I didn't count it... And I feel bad for taking money for doing something wrong, even if it was right from Kurakawa-sans viewpoint."

Gin eventually sat down next to Kosuke too and unpacked the books he brought. "Do you think he'd ever be fine with it if I worked for him?", Kosuke asked while looking at the books. "That's too many.", he smiled, reading the titles. "Have you read all of them?" He suddenly had an idea. "I feel bad because you've only brought me these, but maybe it'd be fun to read a new book together. We could talk about it every now and then." Not that they didn't have other topics to discuss, but he was just thinking how much insight he could gather with Gin sharing his opinions. "Treating you to one meal won't make me a poor man.", he chuckled, but soon enough nodded. "I don't think I've eaten anything today. We could order something if you want? There's also a Ramen shop down the streets, if you want to pick up takeout..." He didn't want to send him if he didn't want to though.