[ml1201]

"You could say that's my handiwork, it also helps that my reputation is not all that great either. And those poor souls wouldn't be in that condition if they didn't try to force me back." Shaking her head she turns to Akira, when she looks at what he had bought for her she slightly looks away, her face turning a few more shades of pink.

"Um...thanks, you didn't have to do that you know. Do you want me to change into them now or do you just want me to wait until we reach where we're going to rest for the night?" She's really happy that Akira thought of her, though she's a bit too embarrassed to tell him that.

[CycloneKira]

Akira smiles as he notices her face going red. She looks really pretty when she does that, he thinks. Then he catches himself and wonders why he even thought that way. "Please, it was my pleasure," he says, smiling. "And you can wear them whenever you wish. Nobody's forcing you to do anything."

"So, we should be on our way," he says. "If we have any hopes of reaching the next town by nightfall, we have to get going now." He looks at her. "Are you ready to leave?"

[ml1201]

Taking the clothes from him she quickly goes into the bushes to change, soon coming back out with his clothes neatly folded to be tucked away.

"I figured it would be better if you had your own clothes back since it would be awkward going into the next town wearing men's clothing instead of women's clothing. That would probably draw a lot of attention we don't need." Adjusting her pack she nods in sanctification. "Ready to leave when you are. So the next town is Northeast of here, part of the path will be rocky and steep so you're going to want to watch your step. Since I've been there before do you want me to lead?"

[CycloneKira]

Akira scans the landscape as Yusa goes into the bushes to change. Nothing in sight, except for brown earth and a few trees and bushes. As she comes out, he smiles and freezes for a moment. The surprise on his face is subtle. But the difference in how she looks is somewhat... surprising.

He nods as she says she can lead the way to the next town. "Please, feel free," he says. It means that he won't have to keep asking for directions like he had to, to get to this town.

[ml1201]

Yusa does notice Akira's slight freeze, and gets embarrassed that her appearance can change so much.

Since she's traveled the many times its easy for her to lead Akira to the next town, and no one attacks them along the way either. Just as the sun is setting they reach the town, Yusa moving a bit closer to Akira.

"Let's not go to the big inn here, I've had an assignment there before so its best to avoid that one. There's a merchant in this town that will house people for a slightly cheaper rate, though we'll probably have to share a room."

[CycloneKira]

Akira follows Yusa as she leads them to the next town. She seems to know what she's doing, he thinks. He's still in a bit of a shock about how she looks. As night falls, Akira can't help but notice that the distance between them has decreased.

Akira nods. "Sharing a room is fine with me," he says, although he's not sure. He has shared a room before, just not with a woman. There's no choice, he tells himself before he lets her lead the way to the merchant's house.

[ml1201]

"Alright this way then." Yusa doesn't want to say anything to Akira, but she's noticed how his expression is while he looks at her, which is not something she's used to. She doesn't mind it, just there's never been a guy to look at her that way.

Reaching the merchant's home she walks in and knocks on the counter to get the owner's attention. "Be right there!" A robust man comes out, smiling at the two of them. "What can I do for you sir?" The owner completely ignores Yusa and addresses Akira instead of her. Yusa makes no indication that this bothers her, but gives him a look saying she'll explain later.

[CycloneKira]

Seeing Yusa's look, Akira hesitates a bit before beginning to speak to the house owner. "Umm, we were looking for a room to stay in, for the night, and were told that you could rent us a room," he says, regaining his polite and calm manner. The merchant smiles at him and leads them into a small but neat room. Akira thanks the man and shuts the door.

He takes out his bag and looks at how much money he has left and notices he's running out. He turns to Yusa. "I'm just going to go hunting for a bit, because I'm running low on money. Will you stay here?" he asks.

[ml1201]

She follows the merchant and Akira to the room, putting to pack on the floor in the corner opposite the door. When Akira says something about hunting and wanting her to stay there she looks up and raises a brow at him.

"I'm assuming you mean a different kind of hunting than what I had done the other day. That's fine, I'll just get situated here with the room." With that she begins unpacking her things, which mostly consists of basic ninja weapons, gear to maintain the weapons, some travel food and the clothes that Akira had gotten her. While he's gone she arranges the room so that there's a nearly invisible string going across the window, so unless you looked really hard for it you wouldn't see it. But she also places one along the windowpane on the outside where they can't be seen and so if someone touches them the closet door will slide open, making a wood on wood scrapping sound.

Satisfied she changes into her sleeping clothes and lays out a futon for herself and Akria. The merchant won't make them a meal like the actual inn would, so she's wonder if Akira wants to look for food with her when he gets back.

[CycloneKira]

Akira nods at her and leaves, taking two knives with him. Outside, he goes around looking for a butcher. Spotting one after walking around for a while he walks in and asks the butcher what he'll give for a fairly large animal. Once they agree on a price, he walks out and goes to look for a wild boar, or a similar beast. Hunting takes his mind off his life. He completely loses himself in the task at hand. Once he's caught and killed a couple of boars, he walks back to the butcher's, carrying them over his shoulder. Pleased with the kill, the butcher pays him a little more than the agreed price. Smiling, Akira thanks him and leaves.

Back at the merchant's house, Akira is about to go upstairs when the merchant stops him for a little chat. Akira humors him, but grows a little weary when the merchant begins to ask questions like how long he's been married to Yusa. Finally done with the conversation, he goes upstairs and walks in. "I was able to get some more money," he tells Yusa, happy with what he's made.

[ml1201]

She knows Akria is back because she can hear the merchant talking with him so she's not surprised when he returns. While he's talking she quickly changes back into her regular clothes, thoughts of a quick nap gone now. When he returns she's a bit caught off guard by his smile, but for some reason she likes it.

"That's good, we can probably get some decent food then. There should at least be a place to get ramen or something to eat for travelers. If I remember correctly there might be one on the other side of the town near the river. Does that sound good for you? I really don't care what we eat as long as it doesn't taste awful."

[CycloneKira]

Akira smiles at her as she suggests they go and get some ramen. He considers the option. "Let me go and ask the merchant, I'm sure he'll tell us," he says and goes downstairs to ask the man. The merchant seems happy to help, as he gives Akira the directions to what he thinks is the best ramen spot in town.

Thanking him, Akira goes back upstairs to Yusa. "The merchant said that there is a good place not far from here," he says. "We can go there if you want. It's been quite a while since I ate some good ramen."

[ml1201]

Nodding Yusa waits for Akira to come back, listening to teh talking going on down stairs but not paying attention to what's being said. When Akria returns she nods, a faint smile on her lips. She's never really gone out to eat, just mostly ate at travel locations on the go or ate whatever her sisters made her. And when that wasn't possible she would catch fish or hunt for food.

"This will be interesting, I've only ever had ramen made by my sisters, never really had a chance to have ramen from somewhere else."

[CycloneKira]

Akira smiled at Yusa. "Shall we go, then?" he gestures towards the door as they begin to leave. As they are walking. Akira finds himself wondering about her life, before now. He does know that he was trained like him, to be the ultimate weapon. He knows that she didn't like it, took inspiration from him, and left. He tilts his head toward her.

"I was wondering, didn't you learn to cook for yourself?" he asks. Dumb question, he thinks, almost immediately. But he can't help himself. He wants to know about her and he has to start somewhere. He looks forward and continues to walk.

[ml1201]

Yusa sighs a bit at the question, not really having thought he'd ask but decides to answer him anyways, "No, nothing except for when I was out in the wilderness, which was usually just roasting fish or game over a fire. Since I was the oldest and my mother never bore a son, my father trained me to be a killer as soon as I was old enough. My sisters were only a few years younger than me, and so they received some training as well. But as they got older they were more interested in flirting with guys while I was forbidden from interacting with anyone outside of my family unless it was for a mission or something. My mother also died not long after having my youngest sister, she had always been in poor health and having children just made things worse for her." She shrugs, not having really known her mother because of how young she was, but had seen some drawings of her.

[CycloneKira]

Immediately regretting asking the question, Akira simply nods his head. "I'm sorry," he says, earnestly. He walks the rest of the way in silence. Finally reaching the ramen shop, Akira is greeted by a wonderful aroma, which immediately reminds him of his mother. Well, she wasn't his mother, actually, but she had brought him up.

He turns to Yusa and motions towards the counter. "Please sit down," he says, a little awkwardly. Why is it so hard to act normally, he wonders. He knows the answer. He's never interacted with a woman for more than five minutes before. He sits down and asks for two bowls of ramen, one for each.