Open Meeting a man's worst enemy....

[Tamashi Seto]

With her eyes closed, Shizu took a sip of her tea, her lips touching the rim of the tea cup before setting it down on the table below. When her head perked up ever so slightly, she made a friendly stare at Kei with a smile. "I'm sure our girls will appreciate it. It's not very often one compliments them~" Picking up her tea cup again, Shizu eyed Seto from the corner of one eye. Hearing her voice aimed towards him, he froze momentarily in place. He rose an eyebrow before tilting his head in her direction, a skewer in hand, now void of any delicious meat that was once there. "What? Don't look at me like that. I always show gratitude." He than turned away, tilting his head ever so slightly in the opposite direction. For a few moments, there was only silence. "Ok, look...we both know I was....different when I was Kei's age. Lets not try and mix up the two shall we?" After a few more moments, he returned to his regular posture before he placed down the skewer on one of the empty plates littering the table. He made a heavy sigh, with air escaping his lips before he turned back to the long table sitting before him, it still containing a large amount of food. He thought to dig in more, given his stomach was still reeling in to go. "Believe me, I'm thankful for any kind of real food nowadays, especially after fighting that Daiyoukai~" With a faint smirk now formed on his face, he nearly began drooling once again before composing himself. He had to remain an adult figure to some extent while Kei was present, even If he couldn't compete with Shizu in the room with them. Speaking of Kei, with his apprentice now on his mind, he tilted his head over his shoulder and peered over at him, who was clearly comfortable just as much as he was satisfied. He wondered IF he was still hungry, but than he remembered he was still growing like himself. A man gotta eat right? "Someone looks satisfied. Well, feel free to dig in if you want more. Don't wanna it goto waste do we?~" With a soft chuckle, he kept his sight on Kei for brief moment later before he turned his attention to the Kitsunes. Izumai was still eating from the same bowel of rice, and so was Azumai with her cake....or was it the second one? He was gonna raise a eyebrow again, but he knew better given her need for sugar...​

 

[Hayashi Kei]

Kei blinked at Seto’s words, chopsticks still in hand. For a moment, he just looked down at his plate - already picked clean of rice, only a couple stray grains clinging to the edge. A faint laugh slipped out of him, quiet but genuine, as he rubbed the back of his neck.

“…Yeah. I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.” His gaze flicked toward the spread still on the table, the corners of his mouth tugging upward. “Honestly, it feels like I could eat for a week and still not make a dent in all this.”

The words carried a note of lightness he hadn’t realized he had in him tonight. It wasn’t forced, wasn’t covering over anything. Just the plain truth, softened by the warmth of the food in his stomach and the strange but steady company around him.

He reached out again, this time with far less hesitation, snagging another skewer before settling back in his seat. “Guess I’ll just… do my part to make sure nothing goes to waste,” he added with mock seriousness, though his grin betrayed the joke.

The grin lingered a little longer this time, enough that even when he bent his head back toward his plate, it didn’t fade completely. For the first time in longer than he cared to admit, Kei was eating without looking over his shoulder or worrying about where his next bite would come from. Life on the farm had kept him fed, but he'd rationed through his Yen faster than he'd hoped and since reaching the village, he'd been looking for some small jobs or other things he could do to earn some coin.

Actually, now that I think about it... Kei finished the bite in his mouth before lifting his gaze again, a different question on his mind this time. "Is there any chance you guys are looking for an extra hand? I could definitely use a side job until I learn enough to go out on missions," he voiced, looking between Seto and Shizu for a response.

WC: 341
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Kei Speech
Kei Thoughts

 

[Tamashi Seto]

Relaxed in contentment now, he found a small smirk forming on his face at his apprentice's words, having found himself somewhat amused by them. "Ooh? Is that right? Well, just wait until we start our combat training~" His eyes momentarily glanced in her direction. The massive cat lady that was both his mentor and bodyguard, was now laying on the ground, up against the wall behind her while the tip of her boots sat on the edge of the long table, with a bottle in hand, surrounded by several littering the ground. This woman truly did have a liver of steel. He quickly reverted his attention to Kei, one of his eyes laying on his form from the edge of it's socket. "I may not be Sunako, but I 'm certainly not going to go easy on you." His tone had turned serious, and it remained that way for a few more lingering moments, before he turned himself loosening up again. "Or If your really unlucky, I may just drag you out to the battlefield~" He chuckled softly, clearly amused, and he was. "Trust me Kei. When your out there fighting for your life...or facing down a menace in training, you work up a appetite faster than you know....And If your far enough away from home for long enough, well...lets just say no meal will survive your assault on it~" With another soft chuckle escaping his lips, he reached for a tea cup that had survived Sunako's prior assault on the long table and poured himself some tea, before holding it both in his hands, not wanting to drop it. That's when he heard a high pitch sigh escape from Shizu. Before he could peer over his shoulder, ever curious, even If it was only his instincts telling him otherwise, he felt a strong ping in his stomach as she spoke. "If you had only spared that much energy on training, as much as you chased after me, just imagine how much stronger you would have become dear~"" Shizu's words cut him deep, even If he knew she was only teasing, and meant nothing by it. His face turned a very slight shade of red, before he closed his eyes. He went silent, refusing to give his wife to be the satisfaction she desired. While she was right....from a certain perspective, she knew she was also wrong, having been a hopeless romantic herself, not that Kei would know that. He than drank some of his tea in silence...

At the mention of wanting a job for some extra money however, the mischievous fox beat the two Samurai at the punch, her tails sprucing up like a predator who had just corned their prey, her tiny frame coming within inches of his, that smirk on her face..."Oooh I could use some help Kei, or are you going to let a beautiful, young woman and her young daughter live in ruins? That wouldn't be so honorable now would it? Turning away those in need...Fufu~" With her finger pointed, she pressed the tip at his chest, keeping her mischievous glare as she stared him down, challenging him to say no. Hearing the kitsune speak, his eyes remained shut, still in discomfort, and Izumai wasn't making it any easier. "For once......she's not wrong..The Otomo Great Shrine is in dire need of hands...and...well.....it's probably still in needs of repairs....being in partial ruins....." His cheeks remained a ever slight shade of red, knowing full well of the situation at hand, knowing that accepting Izumai's offer was a death wish most likely, BUT If he managed to keep himself intact, or better, thrive there, he knew Kei could become strong, quite stronger than than any normal Genin in the village. Still, he wasn't going to throw him off the deep end. That would have to be a decision he would have to make on his own. At the same time, Shizu had been listening while she joined her husband to be in enjoying her tea. Her eyes too were shut during the duration until a few seconds after Seto had finished speaking. When her eyes reappeared, revealing her amethst like eyes, she tilted her head towards Kei's, her hands still holding her nearly empty cup."I'm sure we can find a place for you Kei. After all, the keep and our village are busy all year long. Me and Lady Reina, as well as the village elders, are always on the hunt for capable hands.....Although...." Shizu takes the last mouthful of her tea before finishing it. "I will admit....Lady Izumai here...could use your assistance, whether that be in the aid of restoring such a sacred temple, or simply performing duties as described for capable hands." Shizu than rose a eyebrow, curious on what he would choose, or choose at all. Seto himself, expected his Genin apprentice to run for the hills at the thought of being trapped with Izumai without protection, metaphorically and literally, unless It was for Azumai, but that rose more questions than he was ready to think about, especially since the two were still just children, not even juveniles like him and Shizu.

But....just when he thought things couldn't get any worse, from the edge of his eyes, he saw two fox ears twitch. Before he could even look in surprise, his mind still reeling, needing time to process what just occurred, he first heard the sound of two chop sticks hitting the plate underneath, triggering a loud "clank" like noise, than another as one of the cousins near him flew into the air before slamming against the wall. Before he even knew what was happening, he found Azumai positively glued to Kei's right arm, her eyes engulfed in what he could only describe as stars as she began tugging for attention, her tails wagging back and fourth, showing clear excitement. "Kei! Kei! Did you hear that? We could be friends?! We could train together...and you could help out Mama fix up our home! Doesn't it sound perfect???! I'm so excited!!!" Between watching his daughter erupt in excitement, and witnessing the new chaos seed be planted, he found himself turning away yet again, a modest groan escaping him, unable to hide the fact that this little charade had just sentenced his apprentice to death. There was no way, he be able to save him, let alone watch over him, not while he was in her home court. He wanted to speak, but his lips went dry. There was nothing he could say or do to save his Genin from the chaos he was going to enter, knowing his nature by now....though honestly, seeing his daughter act in such a way, apart of himself wondered If his daughter was part dog sometimes.....


​

 

[Hayashi Kei]

Kei froze when Izumai leaned in close, her sly smile and sharp words leaving him with no clean escape route. His mouth opened once - then closed again when her finger tapped his chest. The mischief in her gaze made him swallow, a little too hard. For a second, he was ready to stammer out some excuse, but the sharp clatter of chopsticks against a plate cut the moment short. Azumai’s sudden grip on his arm jolted him more than any of Izumai’s tricks could have. He glanced down at her, wide-eyed and practically glowing with excitement, her tails thrashing like a pup promised a festival. Stars shone in her gaze, and whatever half-hearted refusal had been forming in his throat vanished in an instant. Kei let out a breath that was almost a laugh, though the nerves behind it were plain.

“…Guess I don’t really have much of a choice now, do I?” His voice tilted wry, but softened when he looked back at Azumai’s eager face. “Helping out with the shrine sounds… like a lot. But if it means making sure you and your mom don’t have to live in ruins anymore…” He trailed off, meeting Izumai’s gaze just long enough to acknowledge the unspoken challenge there before dropping his eyes again. “…then I’ll do my best.”

He scratched the back of his neck with his free hand, still a little awkward with Azumai glued to the other. “Not sure if there's any formalities to shrine building, but… I can swing a hammer, carry lumber, patch holes in a roof, if someone shows me where to start. Spent more seasons than I can count hauling fence posts, splitting firewood, mending walls the storms knocked down back home.” His mouth tugged faintly upward as he thought back. “Even learned a bit about mixing mortar the last time we rebuilt the shed - though I won’t swear it was the prettiest job.” His father had been a huge helper around town - the best local handyman - and Kei always wanted to be just as helpful.

A small grin lingered on Kei's cheek for a beat before he shook his head. “Point is, I don’t mind getting my hands dirty. Farming didn’t leave me much room to be picky. Fixing up a shrine can’t be all that different from keeping a barn standing or a roof from leaking, right?” He looked between Seto, Shizu, and Izumai then, as if making sure they’d actually let him walk away alive after saying yes.

WC: 421
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Kei Speech
Kei Thoughts

 

[Tamashi Seto]

After witnessing the fold of something new, a new chapter of chaos, he closed his eyes and smiled slightly, sighing just above a whisper with a "Hmph". He wasn't sure why, considering he already knew full well what would happen, but he saw this as a opportunity for growth for his apprentice, whether he knew it or not. He would be tested in ways his mind couldn't even comprehend at this age. He would know, he underwent the same thing at his age. Peering his attention back to the remaining food still on the table, still a considerable amount, with his chopsticks in hand, he plopped piece of steak into his mouth, relishing it's juicy flavor. Whether It was his paranoia or something else, he kept one eye of Kei, just in case. After all, he did have two loli kitsunes seemingly fighting for his attention, which in some wicked way perhaps, was kinda cute, despite the danger the two posed. Watching the three made him ponder on just how long he would last. Kei had shown optimism as usual, but he knew that would only get him so far, even If he was somewhat envious of his enthusiasm, remaining him of himself at his age before the battle that changed his life forever. With with all that positive thinking, he couldn't help but say "Good luck Kei, your gonna need it~" in his mind. He really hoped Kei knew what he was getting himself into, even If the fox's were being somewhat truthful. His line of thought was broken however, when he heard Shizu speak up. Looking over towards her, he could see her smiling, clearing returning Kei's intention with a warm smile, her purple eyes beaming down on his smaller frame. "A most honorable declaration, Kei, but I wouldn't expect anything less from my beloved's apprentice." Shizu than sighed happily, closing her eyes. "If only more men understood what true sacrifice looked like~" Taken back ever so slightly by her words, he blinked twice at her. Was she talking about him? He understood more than anybody what sacrifices she made for him and especially the clan. It wasn't as If he took her for granted now....

Hoping she meant men in general, nothing was stopping from Azumai from continuing her assault on Kei, her hands still rocking his arms, as If trying to keep his attention on her. Was she? No, she too young for that. He wasn't sure since she was a Kami and not human. If her radical swerving tails flocking in all directions was any indication, she was still, at the very least, still excited. "Yay! Were gonna have so much fun! You see!" Her eyes steaming with stars, It was pretty clear Azumai couldn't wait for Kei to become a regular at the shrine. That would make him the shrine's second visitor in a thousand years, or whenever IT was destroyed, he couldn't remember. "Hmm, a most wise answer Kei, and so generous~ Do not worry, I'll take care of you~ No man has ever turned down my hospitality. You feet right at home Kei~ Fufufu~" Watching her pur like the sly fox she was, honey dressing her words with charm, and her tails, slivering up Kei's legs and one free arm like a snake, like some predator who's caught their prey, caressing it's skin before the final strike being made, he wanted to vomit on the inside, but Kei made his decision. There wasn't much he could do....well, at least not without making a scene....and becoming her next victim......​

 

[Hayashi Kei]

Kei beamed at Shizu’s praise, a warm, almost bashful smile lighting his face as he ducked his head slightly. Praise from her carried a certain weight - like being acknowledged by someone carved straight out of the legends Komi used to tell him by firelight. He stole a quick glance at his mentor, as if to check whether the older man had seen that moment, then turned his attention back to Azumai before his nerves could catch up to him.

Her excitement was… honestly, kind of infectious. The way her tails swirled behind her, like ribbons caught in a playful breeze, reminded him a little of the kids from his village when they were about to start some grand game. That thought alone steadied him. “I’m looking forward to it!” he said brightly, leaning into the moment despite the flutter in his stomach. “I’ll have to show you some of the games the other kids played back home - and maybe you can teach me some new ones from around here, too!”

Of course, that little burst of confidence faltered the second Izumai’s tails began slithering over his legs and arm. The touch wasn’t painful, just strange - like being tangled in soft vines that had a mind of their own. A sharp shiver shot up his spine before he managed to compose himself again, forcing a small laugh that sounded more nervous than he’d have liked. He couldn’t exactly swat her tails away; not only would that be incredibly rude, but he doubted he’d win that kind of battle.

“I… uh, I really appreciate the kindness,” Kei continued, bobbing his head in gratitude as he tried to redirect the situation with words alone. “But the good news is I’m pretty self-dependent! I can cook some simple dishes, too - so maybe I’ll be the one taking care of you guys more. It’d only be fair, given how kind you’re all being with offering me a job and all this food.”


There was a flicker of mischief in his eyes as he said it, a subtle attempt to reframe himself not as prey being doted on, but as someone useful - someone who could contribute. If he could make himself helpful, maybe Azumai’s slithering tails and honeyed teasing would lose a bit of their predatory edge. Still, he could feel his heart thudding a little too fast in his chest. Between Shizu’s approving gaze, Azumai’s unrestrained enthusiasm, and Izumai’s serpentine charm, it was like being caught in a whirlpool of attention he wasn’t quite used to. But Kei straightened a little anyway, determined not to flounder. This was part of the opportunity his mentor saw in him, right? He’d faced worse than a few overly affectionate fox spirits… probably.

Kei Speech
Kei Thoughts