[ml1201]

"Yeah, let's. And this time let's not go to that merchant, he doesn't seem too keen on us coming back. I'm ready for a nice, long soak in the baths. We can stay at the inn there, at this point I don't care if they recognize me." She looks back to where Akira had indicated and laughed softly, "Well, it was bound to happen. My sisters are probably not going to explain anything, not after they realized how I felt. They had tried in the past to get me to hang out with them and father got angry with them, but I never spoke up either. I guess I was just so used to my life that I didn't see a need to change it until now...Anyways, I'll race you back to the village, loser gets to pay for dinner!" Jumping up into the trees she takes off, very much like a bird freed from its cage.

[CycloneKira]

Akira smiles at Yusa. She seems quite cheerful all of a sudden. Well, it isn't like he doesn't understand. He remembers how free he had felt when he'd left. It wouldn't be going too far to say that Yusa felt exactly the same way.

His expression changes to one of surprise, followed by one of excited happiness as he follows after her. He soon catches up with her. "Don't think I'm going to go easy on you just because you're a lady!" he half yells at her as he goes. The two of them race through the trees, neither one having the upper hand on the other for more than two or three minutes.

In the end, however, Akira slows himself down subtly and allows Yusa to win. As they reach the end, he lets out an exhausted sigh. "Whoo! That was fun," he says to her. "You might have won this time, but don't get too confident. I won't let you win the next time." He says this with an almost childish happiness. Being set free was one thing, but having a partner with you to share your freedom with makes him feel a different kind of happiness.

[ml1201]

Too busy enjoying herself, she doesn't see Akira purposely slow down. Smiling she pants a bit as she looks over at him. "I'll have to keep that in mind, we can't go slacking off, now can we?" Giggling she leads them to the inn, smiling as she goes up to the hostess.


"A room for two please, Akira do you want a meal with that? Or did you want to go out and eat somewhere? Oh! And baths for two."

"Just so you know after a certain time its a mixed bath, so if you don't want to be in the mixed one be sure to go at the posted times outside the baths."

[CycloneKira]

Akira is quick to make his decision. He suggests that they take their meals at the inn itself. Better to try different kinds of food rather than eat ramen everyday. He finds himself hoping that the inn serves Takoyaki.

"I'll keep that in mind," he says to Yusa. "Thanks for telling me. Why don't you go ahead to our room and unpack your things? I'll join you in a while, there are some things I have to do."

[ml1201]

"Alright, a room for two with baths and a meal." The host leads Yusa to their room, bowing in thanks to the host. Closing the door behind her, Yusa sets their stuff down and begins unpacking her own, not sure what Akira wants done with his belongings. Taking some of her gear she stealthily sets up some alarm systems to warn her if someone intrudes into their room.

"Well, today has a been a long day, the women's bath is still open so I'll get a bath before dinner." Changing into her robes she heads out to the baths, not even thinking about it she strips like normal when she hears the women behind her gasp.

"Miss! Who's been mistreating you so much?" Caught off guard Yusa is confused, looking down at her body and seeing the scars from her missions and training.

"Mistreating me? Oh, these are just from errands I've done and part of the upbringing I've had. It's not anything to worry about." She laughs a bit nervously, hoping that the women don't question her any more.

[CycloneKira]

Akira reaches an isolated place somewhere in the woods, next to a stream. He washes his clothes in the water. He did not want to get it done at the inn, for some reason. Or maybe he just needs a distraction.

He immerses himself in the washing, forgetting about everything else. He has a tendency to lose himself in whatever he is doing, giving it all his attention. It is probably why he was one of the best ninjas in his clan.

After he is done with the washing, he checks the water, but it is far too cold to have a bath in. He goes back to the inn, only to see that he can only go to the mixed bath now. He sighs and decides to wait for the crowd to thin a little at least. He briefly wonders what Yusa might be doing.

[ml1201]

Yusa, finishing her bath before supper is ready, decides to have a look around the inn to get an idea of the layout in case something happens. She notices Akira waiting out of the baths after making a full circle around the inn, Looking at the sign she sees that it says its now the mixed baths that are open.

"If you're waiting a bit we can see if supper is ready ad just have dinner first. Oh, and don't get too close to the largest rock in the pools, that's the hottest spot."

[CycloneKira]

Akira looks up as he hears Yusa's voice coming from his side and nods. "Dinner sounds good," he says and smiles at her. "And thanks for the advice. I'll keep it in mind when I get in there." He frowns in the direction of the baths. "Doesn't look like that'll be happening anytime soon, though. It's a mad rush in there. And I get uncomfortable bathing in the middle of too many people."

He walked with her, not sure where they were going. "Are they going to give us our meal in our room or is there a dining room of some sort? I haven't been to an inn like this before, actually." It was true. Most of his missions had involved no more than three steps: go, kill, return. There had never been time for anything else.

[ml1201]

"Well, when I went by our room there wasn't anyone there nor any food. And when I checked the dinning area they seem to have separate tables for group and such. So we'll probably have our own place to sit and eat at by the looks of it. I've never actually stayed at an inn either to be honest, it was always camping in the woods." She leads him back in the direction of the dinning area since she's already memorized the floor plan of the inn.

[CycloneKira]

Akira allows himself to be led by Yusa into the dining hall. He looks at her briefly before looking back at the ground and following her silently. He silently cursews himself for entertaining such thoughts. He has only just met this woman and yet...

It has to pass soon, he thinks. Otherwise travelling with her could be a big problem. He has never felt like this around any woman before and he has no idea what he might do.

"This seems like a nice spot," he says, pointing to a small table next to a window.

[ml1201]

"Yes, not crowded or anything so it will be easier to avoid people trying to sit with us." Taking a seat she looks around, taking in the details of the room around her. Looking back at Akira as they wait her mind wonders a bit. She realizes that she finds Akira very interesting, having a good appearance, is a strong ninja like herself, but also kind. He's the kind of guys her sisters would have easily fallen in love with, thinking he'd make a good father. As soon as that thought crosses her mind, she pales slightly, then gets a slight blush. She tries not to draw attention to herself as the servers come up with their food.

"Thank you very much." bowing slightly in thanks.

[CycloneKira]

Akira too bows in thanks to the servers as they come with the meals. He looks at the tempura-soba in front of him. He picks up the chopsticks and starts eating, his mind constantly thinking about Yusa. He finds it tough to eat, because of his own thoughts that are bothering him.

"Would you like some sake, sir?" a server comes over and asks. Akira nods and allows the man to pour him some of the drink. Soon, though, Akira asks the man to leave the bottle on their table and pours himself more and more sake, until he is a little drunk.

[ml1201]

Yusa picks at her food, not because she doesn't like it, but the realization of her thoughts in regards to Akira. When the server comes over she's tempted to have some sake herself but thinks better of it. Though as the night goes on she sees Akira becoming less and less sober. Sighing she reaches for the bottle, "I think you've had enough, if you drink anymore I'll probably have to carry you back to the baths and wash you myself. Then take you back to the room." She blushes a bit at the thought, but if this continued it would result in that.

[CycloneKira]

Finally drunk, Akira's head begins to spin as a few laughs escape him from time to time. As Yusa reaches for his bottle, he pulls his hand back, almost as though he were a child trying to keep his mother from taking away a favorite toy.

"I would like that," he says and laughs, and then frowns and tilts his head to the side, in a childlike manner. "Now, why on earth did I say that?" He looks at Yusa for a brief moment and laughs again.

[ml1201]

Sighing, Yusa accepts that she's going to have to take him into the mixed bath and wash him up. Summoning the server she thanks them for their service, then turns to Akira.

"Alright, we're going to go take a bath now, I'm going to help you walk there so you don't hurt yourself." Cautiously she reaches out and wraps her arm around his back to help hold him up as they walk towards the baths. She does get some strange looks for helping him that way since women don't normally hold men up like that. When they reach the baths it seems empty so she helps Akira inside and starts to undress him.

"I don't know what's up with you today, you didn't seem the type to drink much. Did what happen at my village really bother you that much?"

[CycloneKira]

Despite being drunk, Akira goes obediently with Yusa to the baths, though not before he has made sure that all eyes are on them, with his antics. Of course, he is completely oblivious to the stares, so he is completely unbothered.

At the baths, he goes silent and stares off into space as Yusa begins to undress him. He looks up at her question. "No," he says. "Itsoo." The alcohol has made his speech slurry.