Slurp (D5, ME)

[Otomo Saisei]

Still a bit wet from his previous activities out in the open, Saisei waits a bit longer nearby the warmth of the noodle shop he had mentioned to Yuuwaku to meet about this time.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

He is not waiting long; Yuuwaku happens along for their appointment at the established time.

She bows to Sasei, saying "Otomo-san appears to have been busy this day. I trust he has been successful thus far?"

Her fan is in her obi, of course, and closed. Her forehead jewel catches the light of the lanterns being lit and the sun slipping away.

[Otomo Saisei]

An instant grin strikes his face as he moves his eyes toward her voice, "Good evening, Kakita-sama. Not entirely sucessful. I hope for more progress soon. Has Inari-kami provided her blessings?"

The young man rubs his kimono sleeves to warm him up, yet they are bit too moist. That doesn't stop him to move his eyes back to the counter to offer, "Please, sit nearby, I haven't ordered anything yet. So, what would Kakita-sama like to have?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Otomo-san recommended the noodles" Yuuwaku says. "I would be pleased to try them--because the Fortunes' blessings are always to be sought.

"What have you been about today, if I may ask?"

[Otomo Saisei]

"I've been, hai. First talking with Kakita Masao-sama, then Doji Yama-san and a few other errands at the docks. Perhaps not the best decisions, But a very good decision is Kakita-sama's . She won't be disappointed," He nods and looks to the cook to order. Yet, he stops in the middle to ask Yuuwaku, "How spicy?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"How much would you recommend?" Yuuwaku asks. "I like quite a bit of flavor, but you've more experience here than I."

She finds her way to a seat. No sense standing out in it, after all.

"But I encourage speaking with my Clan-mates," she adds with a smile. "It does a world of good for me!"

[Otomo Saisei]

"Doji Soon-ja-sama wasn't too keen on spices. So I am unsure if the Crane are used to it. I rather get some spice –– I am not that used to it get extra spicy. Just a slap. Not a kick."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Auntie is a good woman and an exemplar of the Doji," Yuuwaku replies. "I am a Kakita; some spice would be nice."

[Otomo Saisei]

"Alright, then two bowls of your traditional slap spicy noodles and vegetables, please." He asks the vendor, and then snatches a bottle of sake, to fill a cup for Yuuwaku.

Setting the bottle nearby the other empty cup, he leans on the counter –– since she didn't want to sit –– and inquires, "I imagine Kakita-sama has been busy, too. Anything to share?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Oh," Yuuwaku says and takes a seat, "meeting people, talking together, working to form friendships for today and for the days to come." She shrugs her slim shoulders. "So much what one expects of my Clan. But there is a peace in doing what is expected, is there not?"

[Otomo Saisei]

He takes the seat right next and turns himself slightly so they face each other. He nods, as she recounts, and asks, leaning a bit closer to whisper, "Any information about fixing the repetitions?"


--
I misread the sitting thing. Sorry.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku withdraws her fan from her obi and fans herself idly. That the motion serves to shield their lips from the street-side is surely coincidental.

"Nothing on my end that I can speak of, unfortunately, although I trust that Kakita-bugyo is heading efforts to that end," she says, her player still being early in the day and the character trusting that discretion is always appreciated.

"And, in truth, I have been focusing more on what might come after this is resolved. Because I know it will be so, and soon."

OOC: No worries.

[Otomo Saisei]

He takes the opportunity of the cover to relay his piece of what they agreed before the meal arrives, "I have to confess to Kakita-sama..."

The cook arrives and places the steaming bowls in front of them. With a smile, the Otomo thanks the man and leans back to complete, "I believe Hitomi-shiryo chose me. I have had visions of herself and her ancestors. Mine, too. But that is a different matter altogether. I should speak with Kakita-bugyo."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

The food arrived, Yuuwaku changes the motion of her fan, sending the smell of the noodles up to her. She smiles, sighing contentedly, and says "I would recommend such a thing, and sooner than later.

"But for now," she continues, "these noodles look and smell excellent. But this whole village has been a delight to the palate for me; I am glad to have come."

[Otomo Saisei]

"They are a treat, indeed. I am glad to have come. Although, as good as it is here, and one could say that time could stop at this very moment for us to enjoy, we know better not to." He mentions, looking at Yuuwaku with a grin. Then, he takes chopsticks, claps once and begins, "Itadakimasu!"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku echoes the invocation and tucks in. After the first noodles clear her lips and she chews and swallows them, her tongue lightly touches her lips.

"Quite good, these!" she says. "But where else would Otomo-san take pleasure?"

[Otomo Saisei]

"Wherever I get such good company as Kakita-sama's I take pleasure." He says, genuinely, and resumes the slurping. In the midst, he confirms, looking at the noodles, "Don't want to brag, but I know what's good. Trust me."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

There's an old saying about a man who has to tell you to trust him, Yuuwaku thinks. She does not say it, of course; aside from being rude, it's potentially dangerous with an Otomo. Instead, after another couple of bites, she does say "I am glad Otomo-san finds my company so pleasurable, then, although I confess confusion at his having pulled away from me before."

She looks at him, somewhat upwardly, as the differences in their heights are not so noticeable at the table. "I had thought we were dancing well together, and that Otomo-san had been enjoying himself quite a bit."

[Otomo Saisei]

"Too much water and one drowns." He mentions, taking a moment to savor the food, and look at the damage already caused. "I did not imagine Kakita-sama would have felt pulled away."

Looking back to her, he bows his head, saying, "I apologize again if I acted in a rude fashion."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"I would not accuse Otomo-san of rudeness," Yuuwaku replies, taking another bite of noodles. "But I had not thought him so deep within me as to die even a little."

She sits back from the table slightly, breathing deeply. "I do so love the sauce on these."

[Otomo Saisei]

He tilts his head a bit. "I humble myself to say that anyone in Kakita-sama's presence would... as herself said... die a little."

He swallows dry a bit, adding, "Specially if they indulge too much. I've learned to keep my eyes low to Lady Sun, as she warms and lights my path. The same respect and admiration I carry for honorable ladies that are pious and gentle."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Have I slain Otomo-san then?" Yuuwaku teases. "I had not thought my blade touched him so deeply. But perhaps it is that he feels himself moved by my art more than he would have expected?"

She raises an eyebrow at the last and maintains eye contact with him as she brings a single noodle to her lips and slowly sucks it in.

[Otomo Saisei]

"Hopefully, it takes more than expert moves and clear cuts to slain me." He rolls his shoulders a bit with an internal laugh but that soon wanes as her eye contact intensifies with the noodle sucking.

Another swallow and he gets back to his own bowl for a moment.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Does Otomo-san feel himself wounded other than in his arm?" Yuuwaku asks. "Because I do not recall that I touched you elsewhere."

[Otomo Saisei]

With his noodles in the bowl finished, the only thing remaining is the spicy broth, which he saves to time with her pace. "Wounded?" He asks rhetorically, still looking to his reflex on the liquid in front of him. With a shake of the head, Saisei replies, "Iie, I do not feel so."

He turns curiously back to her, "My previous apologies do include my stepping on Kakita-sama's feet. I warned there could be potential damage. Does Kakita-sama feel hurt?"