Private A Name That Ties Strangers [Request Ryota]

[Kyuji]

Sometime after the Summon of Clan Leaders, I found myself in the Commerical District again. Maybe, it was because I craved that delicious cake from that one shop again or simple boredom because I was told to take a day off from the Hospital. Lady Yanshi told me to go converse with the villagers since I had not spoken to many people since I was allowed to come back to civilization and I needed to learn to make more time for myself than continually going for the Byakko Clan and the village. It was hard though because we had an immediate threat on the horizon in the coming days in the form of the Baron Twins and whatever they brought with them that could result in either a successful campaign against them for the village or our very livelihoods shattered in front of our eyes and likely being indentured to them. If I had any say in the matter, we would win even if the odds were stacked against us even if that meant the Descendant of Byakko had to make the ultimate sacrifice.

It was around noon and I could hear my stomach growling as I continued to stroll through the streets, eyeing the numerous stores, vendors, and stalls. Eventually, I would stop at a street vendor selling crepes and order myself one - a ham and cheese one to be exact! We would exchange the crepe for money and I would continue on my stroll through the district enjoying a yummy treat for myself. It wasn't the same as cake like the other day when I met the new squad assigned to me but it was a different kind of taste - it still made my belly happy though as my ears on my head twitched in satisfaction. I was in happy bliss and nothing could ruin this mome---

Someone ran out from one of the alleys and bumped right into me causing me to drop my food on the ground. My food was then crushed under the footwear of numerous passersby - there was no way to salvage it at this point. Well, fuck. Tears would begin to form as I lost a tasty crepe and now, I was a sad lady. Lowering my head, I kept walking as I mourned the crepe that had an untimely loss - it should have been in my stomach.

 

[Toraono Ryota]

Ryota had just stepped out of the crepe stand, the warm paper sleeve a comforting weight in his hand. The sweet scent of fresh strawberries and whipped cream wafted up, a small, perfect victory after a long day. He was about to take his first, coveted bite when a blur of motion erupted from the alley to his left.

A person, face obscured by a hoodie, sprinted out and collided hard with a woman walking past. She let out a soft gasp, and the paper bag she was carrying flew from her grasp. It hit the pavement with a wet splat, its contents, what looked like a carefully packed crepe, spilling across the sidewalk. Before anyone could react, the fleeing figure’s foot came down squarely on the center of the meal, crushing it into the concrete.

The woman stood frozen, staring at the ruined food. Her shoulders slumped, not in anger, but in a profound, quiet disappointment that seemed to swallow her whole. A single tear traced a path down her cheek, followed by another. She didn’t sob; she just looked utterly defeated, turning to walk away as if the entire world had greyed out around her.

Ryota’s heart clenched. He looked down at his own prize, the golden crepe dusted with powdered sugar, still pristine. Without a second thought, he stepped forward. “Excuse me,” he said, his voice softer than he intended.

Ryota held out the crepe. “Please, take this. I… I didn’t get run over.” He offered a small, awkward smile. “It’s a strawberry. I haven’t touched it.”

 

[Kyuji]

It was a tragedy that the small treat that I bought myself had been quickly and utterly taken from my grasp and crushed right before my eyes. While it was not a financial burden considering the family that I was a part of, it was an emotional strike to the heart as that crepe looked so good. Now, it was taken from me and I was embarrassed to allow something so precious to be stolen from my grasp. I wanted to treat myself and I was treated to defeat and anguish - why did this have to happen when I was hungry! Continuing down the busy street, I was walking away from the scene of the crime or so I thought before someone spoke to me and I would turn to them.

This figure was tall as he towered over me and he had red hair which was seeming to become more common in this village as time went on. It could be due to the environmental changes and generations that had reproduced since I began to live here and marry Lady Yanshi, but it was still not all that common to have this color of hair. The only other people that I had seen whom had similar appearances to him were Kaen and Kasen: two old shinobi that I knew quite well that unfortunately had disappeared off the face of this world like many others that I remembered. It was unfortunate but life and time eventually caught up to all of us.

This boy man person would hold out his crepe with an awkward smile at me. He was actually offering me his food which meant he likely saw the incident with mine and my reaction to it. I would be lying if I didn't blush at the offer that he made, but I held out my hand and waved it at him in a gesture meaning 'No'. I would return the smile and with friendliness in my voice: "I appreciate the offer, but you bought that with your own money. Please enjoy your food." I would then turn away and pull out some money from my pocket before turning back to him and saying: "If you would though, could you buy me a ham and cheese one with this money. Maybe you will have better luck of not having it fling from your hands and be crushed right before your eyes." A slight giggle would come from me as I was trying to joke about what happened to lighten the mood and also not dwell on it. But, I did wonder if a replacement would be as good as the original or if my expectations due to being crush would not think it was as good.

I guess I would need another in front of me to test these thoughts. Yes, I wanted another one as I was hungry. My belly was going to start to rumble if I didn't have something soon.

 

[Toraono Ryota]

Her... reactions were one thing; seeing them happen in real life was another. It was quite strange to see her this beat up about it, and he would slightly tilt his head waiting to hear her yes or no on the crepe... But it seemed to be a yes, but answer. Ryota would internally sigh. Why were women this good at giving off mixed signals? It was always the case! He would look at the blond in front of him and hear her out. Seemed like she really wanted a ham and cheese one... but.. only that? He looked at his own fruit crepe and was wondering if it was just... too extravagant or anything. With that.. He would hold out his crepe. "Sure... But hold this one for a moment, please." And with that, he would go back in line, not even bothered that he didn't have his own crepe or about the joke she made. People would often joke to lighten the mood anywhere.

The line was going relatively fast, luckily, and with that, he would return in a few minutes towards the blond. "So... I wasn't sure if you were joking on the ham and cheese or not... So I got a sweet one and the one you requested. Now... you don't need to eat both." He said and would hold out the two of them. One of the crepes was with plain ham and cheese, the other one was with strawberries, whipped cream, and sprinkles. Now he only hoped that she didn't notice he never took the money from her.

MFT

 

[Kyuji]

The taller male would accept my request to go get another crepe and I smiled at him. Before I could remind him to take my money and buy me one, he was gone and I was in possession of the one that he had been offering before. My stomach growled looking at it, but I needed to resist temptations and hunger as this was not mine and it would be rude to ask him to get me one and then eat his while I waited. Though if it was a small nibble of it, that could be okay right as I could hide the evidence easily enough and still feel my stomach a little while I waited. The temptation was there and Lord Byakko, the aroma was trying to take a stranglehold on me and have me lost the battle.

Fortunately, he returned when he did and the battle was not lost to hunger today by stealing food from a stranger. He came back with two crepes on top of the one that I was already holding - we had three fully delicious, mouthwatering crepes to enjoy together. I was so overcome with happiness and joy that I got on my tippy-toes, as I was short, and gave the boy a quick kiss on his cheek. It was not meant to be anything romantic - I was just appreciative that I had someone so easily follow my requests without any arguing and bringing back more than I asked. He was a good boy and my womanly charms must have rubbed off yet again.

Now, the decision was to be made which one that I wanted. My original request or the sweet one that was strawberries, whipped cream and sprinkles. My sweet tooth wanted that one, but I had cake the other day when meeting with my squad so I should probably not overdue it and have to get work done on my mouth because I went on a sweets rave. No, I had to be a good responsible woman for this younger boy and the village so I extended my hand out for the ham and cheese crepe, immediately diving into it as I was hungry. It was SOOOOO good and fluffy that my ears moved uncontrollably as a big grin was on my face.

It would only be after I took many bites that I remembered that the boy came me his original one and I never gave it back. I was a silly lady sometimes like that as I extended the crepe back to him and said with a smile: "You have made Lady Byakko Kyuji a happy woman today! That was so delicious that I forgot to give yours back. Haha! I am sorry about that!" Then, I tilted my head to the side and spoke again: "I never asked for your name! What do you go by?" He did not look familiar at all to me and I doubted that he was related to me at all, but stranger things had happened before.

 

[Toraono Ryota]

"So... I wasn't sure if you were joking on the ham and cheese or not... So I got a sweet one and the one you requested. Now... you don't need to eat both."
While he was waiting for a reply, you could see that he tilted his head a little to the left; he had all the time in the world to wait for her reply. While he stood waiting, he could see her closing in on him. He frowned slightly as a reply and gave her a rather puzzled look, but that was when she 'grew'. Thinking she wanted to say something, he leaned in the bare minimum, but there it was. Planted on his cheek. A small kiss on his cheek. He quickly straightened his back, and a small flush got over his cheek. A healthy-looking one, not a major blush one. "Uhm..." He managed to mutter out as he saw her take the ham and cheese crepe.

When they exchanged the Crepe, Ryota walked to a small child and gave them the overly sweet one. After a quick thanks from the parent, he returned to the odd lady... who.. 'Those... are ears... they look fluffy....' his eyes darted to the face she was making... ' guess she must have been really hungry... I mean... look at her ravaging that poor thing. Does she not eat enough where she is from..?' Questions arose when he looked her over. 'nah... she plump enough, she ain't starving.' a little absent-mindedly, he looked at her sheepishly.

He was still waiting patiently for his own Crepe... and soon she noticed that after a few bites, she was still holding two of them. He took the crepe and looked even more suprised then when he received that small kiss on his cheek. "Heeh... Really..?" He then took his own bite, looked to the side before he answered. "Toraono Ryota, Byakko..." He said and would then turn to look at her, a little smug.

[Valentines Cheek kiss received!]
[mft: 330]

 

[Kyuji]

I would smile at him as he introduced himself to me. He was a part of the Toraono Clan and mentioned Byakko in his response, tilting my head some more as I looked at him. His response did not provide a certainty of his family lineage, but the mention of the branch that I was a part of peaked my curiosity. I wanted to know more about the boy if he was a part of the branch as I had no recollection of him nor did I see him at any point. Returning to an upright position, I would eat more of my crepe until it was gone and my belly was gone. That was one well-cooked and delicious crepe - possibly even a new vendor to visit when I was in these parts of the town. It was fortunate that it was also near that restaurant that had the to-die-for cake that I could not get enough of the other day when I was meeting my new squad. Definitely wanted more of that cake when I had a chance and try a few other flavors!

Allowing the man to enjoy his treat to himself, I would scan his body from top to bottom, stopping at the top where his hair showed minor signs of grey or white hairs. Either he was experiencing greying at a young age or that was his natural hair and he was dying his hair - an observation that I could ask with time. After a little bit observing the scenery around us to allow Ryota to consume his treat at his pace, I would turn back to him again and smile as I put out a hand for him: "Nice to meet you, Ryota! You mentioned you are a part of the Toraono Clan branch? Did you take any guidance from Brother Toraono Kuro or ever have the opportunity of sparring with him? I know he is getting up there in age like me, but I am sure he at least spoke to you before especially if you were raised under his sub-branch." If he did not shake my hand, I would simply put it to my side and give a little giggle. When I was not on duty, I could let loose and be myself more than when I needed to actually be responsible.

Once I gave him a moment to respond, I would then smirk at him and say: "You mentioned Byakko before looking at me earlier. Is there a secret that you are not telling me?" Well, that was straightforward and to the point even though I barely knew the guy. Sometimes, you had to get right to the action and skip the foreplay - this was a time for that and it did no harm either way.

 

[Toraono Ryota]

While he was munching, he did notice he got checked out... Did he spill his food? He took a glance at his shirt himself, pulling it to see the rim. Nope... that was clean, so where was she looking at? He took a last bite and then heard her out once more. Yet... hearing her talk about the clan, and a person, along with guidance? What was this again? His brows furrowed a little before tilting his head in a rather confused manner. Yet he did take the hand she offered in the form of shaking it before letting go. Letting her finish before answering himself. "Sorry to say... But I have no idea who this kuro person is... I grew up at a foster home bit away from here... When I came here, Micchi adopted me. Ever since, I have been living on the rim of the Dojo in my own home. It's small and cozy and more than enough..."

"You mentioned Byakko before looking at me earlier. Is there a secret that you are not telling me?" Ryota sighed. Was she really fishing for something he may know? He would probably be the most clueless one there was. "Well... you said it first, so I thought that was a thing... the reason I know it when I was on death row, a cub came to me and told me..." He started to rub the back of his neck at those mentions and started to avert his gaze. "Does... that answer that? Or... Does it need more in-depth knowledge, because I know nothing of my parents?"

 

[Kyuji]

A tilt of the head as I looked at him after his responses, there was no indication of lying or deception in his body language or words. It was slightly concerning that he was a part of the Toraono Clan and did not know anything about Brother Kuro - the head of the overall clan and the one who had helped me become part of it and meet my love, Lady Yanshi. That was something that should definitely change when he was available to meet with people considering Toraono Kuro was a busy man and seemed to be in and out of things often due to life. Would this tall individual even want to meet Brother Kuro if I was able to set up a meeting with him? That was an answer that I did not know, but could reassess at a later time depending on how our little conversation went.

As he continued his response, I would tilt my head to the other side when he was not providing much information in response to my simple, harmless questioning of why he mentioned Byakko. From his mixture on his head, he very well could have been part of the clan but he didn't seem to have any knowledge or recollection of things. The mention of a cub coming to him and telling him was not normal, but Lord Byakko and his followers worked in mysterious ways sometimes that even I was not sure about. There was never any information provided to Lady Yanshi or I about a child meeting with a cub, but it might have been an act of mercy from Lord Byakko to summon someone to look over him in a time of need and survival.

So, this boy was very unknowledgable about the clan even though he used the Toraono name in his introduction. He was an orphan from the sound of his explanation because he had no knowledge of his parents and he was adopted. This made an interesting situation to put it mildly as he didn't look like he was suffering or enduring any true hardships in his life. He was also in shape and his height was not stunned by trauma or a rough upbringing. Yes, this would allow me to steer the conversation in a different direction as he was not informed in things that he should know - shame on whoever Micchi was.

Putting my hands behind my back giving a stretch, I would speak once more: "Your answer is sufficient, but I would take time to learn more of the Toraono Clan if you are going to use the name. Changing subjects, were you out here for leisure as well or were you busy on an assignment?"