"Absolutely," Galina agreed crisply with a nod of her head, "Although death will not be necessary, I assure you. Why would I linger in Tokyo, near your clan, when there are Americans to hunt?" She was very well aware that her words might be a touch too light, that there might be more than a hint of laughter in her voice, but sweet Heaven above help her, it had been all she could do to keep those nervous giggles down in her belly. 

The matter of the too-few chopsticks had required she find the most interesting spot on the wall right behind Souma's head and just a little to the left, and bite the inside of her lip, [i]hard.[/i] But when Ai downed not one - but [i]two[/i] - cups of Souma's own [i]sake[/i] in less than half a minute or so? Little pink half-moons from her fingernails were gouged into the palms of her hands, evidence of just how hard she fought to keep down the skittish laughter that wanted to shake her to pieces.

"And since Souma is not Takahiro - [i]currently,[/i] of course? Well how perfectly convenient for the life and health of our working relationship!" Galina did not miss the look Souma gave Ai when she had said as much, and the Russian spymaster pushed her own mostly full cup of warm [i]sake[/i] to him with a playful, knowing little lift of one eyebrow, to soften the blow.

"To say nothing of my own - oh, and I do believe I will simply have tea. Truly, do help yourself Souma." Galina took a deep breath, knowing very well she was not going to be able to eat another thing, her nerves singing a shrill tune through her whole body. 

"We were talking before you arrived Ai, your brother and I," she said as her dark gaze returned to Souma, a small smile turning one corner of her mouth upward impishly. "It seems we will be here for four more days in Tokyo, before the ship leaves port. We will be gathering provisions especially for hunting Americans before we disembark on our journey."

God above help her, she just could not stop the words falling from her lips - worse yet, she really did not [i]want[/i] to stop them. She was [i]so[/i] going to Hell for this one. "Souma has generously offered to teach this poor, silver-tongued Russian woman a whole new skill set and, God as my witness, I swear it is true: I am [i]very[/i] excited to learn!"