[ml1201]

Seems her telling him a bit about her past makes things a bit awkward between them. She doesn't know what to say or do for the rest of the walk until they reach the shop. She quickly takes a look around the shop, taking in everything that she sees. Having never been to a shop before she was curious about everything in it. Taking note where the kitchen is and where the staff went to get their stocks from the back.

Taking a seat opposite from Akira, she continues to take everything in, studying the layout of the shop, where everyone is sitting and vaguely listening to what everyone is saying. When the server comes back with the food she blushes in embarrassment and says her thanks before eating the ramen. Her eyes going a bit wide in surprise, "This tastes good, just as good as my sisters' ramen."

[CycloneKira]

Akira is happy to know she likes the ramen. "I'm glad you like it," he says, before trying the ramen himself. It is really delicious, he thinks. Soon, he forgets where he is and gobbles up the ramen, relishing it like anything. It has been too long since he had ramen like this.

When he's done, he tells Yusa that he's going to pay and gets up. He thanks the man who made the ramen, pays and goes back to Yusa.

[ml1201]

She can't help but giggle some when she hears Akira slurping, her sisters had never made ramen often and she usually didn't eat with them. Though she soon realizes its not something you can eat without slurping, and decides to just enjoy the food instead. When Akira says something about going to pay she just finishes up her ramen and waits for him to get back.

"Was there anything else you wanted to do, like get supplies for the road? We can also ask what the next town is east of here. I have a feeling it will probably be a few days away but it would be best to make sure we've got the direction and everything set."

[CycloneKira]

Akira thinks about her question. She's right, he thinks. He has to pack some things for the trip. He's never had to think about that because he's only just started this lifestyle. He nods at her.

"We could start off with getting some water, I suppose," he says. "But it can wait. Let's just head back to our room at the merchants' place for now. We can think about getting supplies in the morning."

[ml1201]

"That's best, don't want someone trying to swipe the stuff from us before we leave since we probably won't be able to buy everything today." Getting up when Akira does she follows along behind him. She walks for a bit without saying anything, then decides to explain the situation about how the merchant ignored her.

"Remember when I signaled for you not to say anything to the merchant when he ignored me? Apparently his wife left him for a traveling merchant when he came through one day. I overheard that while I was taking care of a job at the inn by one of the maids that work there. So he's had a very bad opinion of women in general since."

Several eyes turn to watch them, mostly because of how they look together, Yusa herself being slightly taller than normal and men watching her because of that, while women watch Akira because of his handsome appearance.

[CycloneKira]

Akira listens in interest as Yusa explained the story with the merchant. He shook his head. No wonder, he thinks. Still, he feels it isn't enough to make such a generalization. One woman is just a speck compared to the rest of the world.

Akira looks around him, slightly uncomfortable at the looks the two of them are getting. He can imagine why Yusa is getting stared at. She's taller than most men, and quite beautiful. But why him? Instinctively, he moves a little closer to Yusa, suddenly feeling a little protective of her. He's too preoccupied by the stares to question his own actions.

[ml1201]

Yusa doesn't like the looks of the men at her, nor the women towards Akira, but she knows Akira is not stupid and wouldn't do things to draw women to him. Otherwise he would have tried to seduce her when they first met face to face, but that wasn't the case. Though him moving closer to her did surprise her, she'd not used to others looking out for her since most of her missions she was sent out on her own to do.

They finally make it back to the merchant's home, who was getting ready to close up his shop, motioning for them to hurry along. Yusa picks up her pace a bit so as not to keep the merchant waiting and bows to him before heading up towards the room.

"That was delicious, I wonder if they might have meals for breakfast that people can order before leaving the town. Or in our case before doing some shopping."

[CycloneKira]

Akira looks at her. "I'm sure they do," he says. Most ramen shops served at breakfast time, he was sure.

"Well, let's write down a list of things to get tomorrow before we leave," he says and takes out some paper and starts to write. Water and food are primary, he thinks, writing them down. That would be taken care of. He then adds "medicine" to the list.

"Is there anything you'd like to add?" he asks, showing her the list, wondering if there was anything he missed.

[ml1201]

Taking the list she reads it over, "We'll needs things to cook with, like a simple pot and chopsticks since I didn't bring any with me. We'll also want to get some whetstones for sharpening our tools, and string for when we go fishing."

Walking into the room while reading the list she gets grazed by a kuni flying by her and making a thunking sound as it gets stuck in the wood. Ducking to the side she creeps up along the walls, avoiding the light and making herself an easier target for whoever threw the kuni. Her eyes begin loosing focus and she curses under her breath, making her way the best she can to the corner where her bag is, away from the open window. Finding the medicine she's looking for she fumbles with the container, trying to get it open so that she can take the medicine that was the antidote. She hears other kuni thunking into the wood as the ninja attacking her tries to get her and Akira with them.

[CycloneKira]

Akira's eyes widen in shock as he notices the wound on Yusa. "Yusa!" he yells as he rushes forward to get her away from the window. He sets her down on the floor, letting her lean against the wall and goes over to the window, bolting it shut fast enough to stop any of the kunai from hitting him.

He rushes back to Yusa, who is fumbling with a medicine container. Gently, he takes it from her hands and begins putting the medicine on her. She seems to be in pain, as her eyes are losing their focus. Akira curses inwardly, but puts up a calm front for Yusa. He glances at the closed window, before turning back to Yusa.

"Are you alright, Yusa?" he asks, his face full of concern.

[ml1201]

"I'm fine, its just the poison that Hiro uses, so its probably him out there. It's not one that will kill me, but it's one that's really nasty when trying to fight someone. It basically paralyzes a person and the only reason why I realized what it was is because of having trouble seeing. One of the flows in the poison he uses. My father really doesn't want me to leave, and not he's waving me like a steak in front of the men of the clan. It's quite pathetic of him really. The one time I actually want to do something for myself and all he cares about is the clan having a powerful assassin as the leader." She tries to look at Akria but can't keep her head up, still suffering from the affects of the poison. There's a tinkling before the shutters are broken open and a smoke bomb thrown into the room.

The merchant can be heard quickly running up the stairs and opens the door only to see smoke in the room.

"What the hell is going on here!?"

[CycloneKira]

Akira listens to her story, a grim expression on his face. Something would have to be done about this. They couldn't possibly live like this, having to worry about someone or the other from Yusa's clan following them.

Suddenly, the window bursts open, followed by a smoke bomb thrown into the room. To make matters worse, the merchant comes bursting into the room, at the noise. Akira takes a cloth and ties it around Yusa's face, so she won't breath too much of the smoke.

"Sir, you need to leave the room for now, please let me take care of this!" He tries to shoo the man away, while a few kunai are being thrown at him through the window again. He manages to lock the merchant out without getting hit by any of the kunai.

Akira bolts for his bag and unsheathes his katana. He hides by the window, waiting for the hostile ninja to enter. He is poised, ready to attack.

[ml1201]

The ninja quickly tumbles in, having a kunai in hand to deflect blade attacks at him. He's quick enough and strong enough to dodge and deflect the attacks, but not enough to strike back at Akira. Though he does jump back and away a few times to catch his breath in order to study Akira's actions and to catch his breath.

Recovering some of her strength Yusa grabs some needles and applies a paralysis toxin onto them, then waits for her chance. During one of the times that the ninja jumps back she throws the needles at him, pricking him slightly. Surprised, he looks over at Yusa and lunges towards her.

[CycloneKira]

Akira is surprised at the speed that the man before him possesses. Most people would buckle at his strength. But he does not seem to have enough skill to actually land a blow.

He is surprised to see a few needles flying at the other man and pricking him. Yusa has recovered enough to throw some needles, it seems. The other man tries to lunge at Yusa, but Akira is too quick for him. Plus, he is weakened by the toxin from Yusa's needle. He throws himself in front of the man, making him some kind of wall between the man and Yusa. The man staggers and falls on his back. Akira points the katana at the man's neck.

"It is not my intention to kill you," he says, eying the man coldly. "I will let you go now, but if you turn out to be a threat to my life or Yusa's in future, I will not hesitate to kill you."

He retracts his sword, allowing the man to get up. His eyes are dead serious as he watches the other, to see what he will do.

[ml1201]

The ninja sits there for a moment, glaring angrily at Akira, then looks over to Yusa, "And here I thought I could become the head if I took you home. Too bad this guy had to interfere with clan affairs. All you're worth to your father is your combat abilities, so you're nothing more than another weapon to him."

Yusa looks away from him, hiding her face from both of them as she cries, angry that he pointed out what she'd always suspected and just now had confirmed about her father. Quickly pulling out a kunai from a strap under her sleeve, she rushes forward and stabs the ninja in the shoulder, a look of sheer fury on her face.

"You'll never have me, Hiro. I'd rather die than be with the likes of you. And you can tell my father that anymore of our clan sent after me I will kill them. I'm taking control of my own life and tied of being the clan head's 'pet' ninja." Twisting the blade a bit as she pulls it back out, fear can be seen in the ninja's eyes. He hadn't expected her to do that. She turns her back to him, "I suggest you leave now before I change my mind."

[CycloneKira]

Akira shakes his head in disgust as the other male says his piece about Yusa, causing her to cry. Once again, he is reminded of the reason he stopped being a ninja. They are a cruel bunch and he just doesn't fit in with a crowd like that. Neither does he want to.

Then Yusa suddenly strikes, leaving Akira shocked, but then it subsides. The man had it coming, after insulting her like that. But it is not the way to deal with things. He will have to talk to her about that. And there is something else he will have to do after that. Best to do it when she's sleeping. He wonders whether she will be able to, though, after what just happened.