Linguistics

[mistkitt]

Originally posted 8/15/2014 

Shameless promotion of the crossover, eeeey. TY!Ulqui and M!Hime.

~

“You know, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to these Japanese floor-bed thingies,” Orihime said as she settled into her side of Ulquiorra’s bed for the evening. She’d rapidly stopped feeling embarrassed about having to share it with him if she wanted adequate sleep, and he didn’t seem to mind. Unless she chattered too much. Or snored. Not that she did – Paco was probably lying when he said so. “What do you call these again?”

“Futon,” Ulquiorra replied.

Her brow furrowed. “I thought futons were couch type deals.”

“Not fu-tahn,” he said, “fu-ton.”

“Fu-tone,” Orihime tried.

He stared at her, his face impassive, but she could tell from experience reading her Ulquiorra’s expressions that he was amused. “It is not ‘tone’ either. Fu-ton.”

“Fffu-ton,” she said.

He leaned closer. “Do not allow your teeth to touch your lip.”

Orihime’s frown deepened. “But then wouldn’t I just be whistling? Like hoo-ton or something?”

“Futon,” Ulquiorra repeated slowly.

She blushed, struggling to fix her pronunciation. “H-F-Futon.”

His green eyes softened. “That is correct.”

“Woo!” Orihime threw her fist into the air. “Score one for me! Orihime doesn’t suck that bad at Japanese!” She wiggled under the covers excitedly.

Now it was Ulquiorra’s turn to look confused. “How do you 'suck’ at Japanese?”

She turned her head in his direction. “Huh? Umm… Oh! It’s a figure of speech. When you suck at something, it means you’re really bad at it.”

“Ah.” Ulquiorra lapsed into a thoughtful silence. “Then you suck at Japanese.”