Mousetrap. [Ayumu]

[Kokomo]

Aksuko Katzumi

iNPC

[This is a Retired PC that has been rewinded in age. If you did not know Aksuko Katzumi before the age of 20, you no longer know her.]

* * *​

"Nameru! Nameru, sit!" A voice echoed through the empty house as a tall blonde scolded a young pup who sat on a touch with puffs of cotton in his mouth. His chubby skin rolled as his large sad eyes looked up at his master and his tail patted nervously against the couch. "I got those pillows from my mother for my birthday, Nameru! And you ate them!" She hissed as she moved over and snatched the cotton from his mouth, sinking to sit in front of the couch as she made an attempt to stuff the cotton back into the shredded fabric of what was once a couch-pillow. "Ugh..." She grumbled as the pup laid his head down and placed his paws over his eyes, Kat's large caramel eyes turning to look at him. "Oh, come on..." She said apologetically as the puppy whimpered, picking him up and snuggling him to her bosom as he whimpered. "Honestly, it was a pretty ugly pillow." She whispered as she stroked his head with her dainty finger tips. "Brown. Who makes brown pillows?" She asked, trying to coo the dog, as though he could understand her. "It's okay, Nameru... don't worry. We'll get lace pillows next time--pretty ones." Kat smiled, setting the pup down next to her as she leaned her back against the front of the couch and smiled.

"Lady Katzumi!" A voice called as the little house-maid came scurrying in with a shirt in hand, "You still haven't given this to Master Ayumu!" The girl shrieked in surprise, "Why is it still here? You better take it back! He said it was his favorite!" Katzumi looked up at the young girl, giving her a cool smile as she closed her eyes for a moment, leaning back and smiling for a second. "Oh! Lady Katzumi! Are you trying to lure him back?" Mizuki said excitedly as she moved over in front of Kat, crouching down and look at her as Kat opened her eyes to stare at the ceiling. "That's so sneaky!"

"No no, I'm not Mizuki. Why don't you go grab the headset and call someone to fetch him for us, hm?" Katzumi would say as she slowly stood up and brushed herself off. "It's been awhile since we've had a guest, so he might as well come for a well over-due visit, hm?" Flipping her blonde hair, she smiled and took the shirt from Mizuki, folding it up delicately and setting it on a nearby table as she made her way into the kitchen, Mizuki scurrying off to call the ANBU to hunt down and find Ayumu and send him to the Aksuko Estate (not aware that Ayumu actually was an ANBU.).

Katzumi was dressed in a spring outfit that was justifiable in the heat of the house. It seemed as though the wood stove had been turned on so high that it was summer in the large estate. Her blonde hair curled and tossed lightly down her back, and her eyes large and round as always. stirring a pot of steaming curry on the stove. Nameru sitting at her feet and begging for something to fall from the pot to the floor. A steaming pot of spicy beef curry for her guest with the big appetite--as all men have. Two glasses of red wine and two china bowls on china plates on the decent-sized table in the dinning room in the next room--across from one another.

Katzumi poured the curry into each individual bowl, taking care of the dishes as she moved to look at the little setup, Mizuki wandering in and pausing beside Katzumi.

"Looks like a date."

"That's what I was thinking."

"Should you change it?"

A knock echoed through the house, and Katzumi gave Mizuki a cool look, smiling slightly. "Too late." She said as Mizuki moved across the house to the door of the mudroom, opening it and then opening the front door.

 

[Santaru Rin]

Takayama cleared his throat. Apparently, a well to do clan really wanted to see one of the trainees, and felt like using the ANBU was the best way to do it--instead of sending a courier or perhaps tendering a call. The Commander won't be happy if she hears about this, he thought. Best not let it reach that far.

So he took it upon himself to tag along with the ANBU the family had called, meeting up with an individual named "Mizuki."

"Please tender my regrets to the Aksuko clan," he said softly, bobcat mask tethered in place. "The ANBU should not be called as an escort service... It is also my understanding that Kogami Ayumu-san is currently in the countryside."

A call came in over his headset.

"Hm. Well, I'm needed at the Gates." He bowed politely and departed.

 

[Kokomo]

"Hello! And--Oh. Hello." Mizuki's confused voice chimed as she tipped her head at the masked men at her door. There lacked a certain person in front of her in which the two had both been searching to see there. Katzumi back in the kitchen, sitting at the dining room table as Mizuki, dressed in her brown servant robes, stood at the door. "I didn't exactly expect to see you." Mizuki said, tipping on her toes to peer around them. One of the masked men spoke, and Mizuki scowled a bit. Why did they travel all the way here to tell her that? They could have told her via headset. "The countryside?" Mizuki would say, her childish behavior apparent as the man listened to his own headset for a moment before bowing out. "Yes, well, goodbye." She said coldly as she shut the door and hurried back inside.

"He's in the countryside." Mizuki would say, standing in the doorway of the dining room. "Oh really? Then who was at the door?" Katzumi inquired, taking the moment to switch the plates to the bar in the kitchen to appear less "date" like. "The ANBU. They traveled all the way out here to personally tell you--well, me." Mizuki said, trailing behind Kat as she moved from one room to the other. "Is that so?" She inquired, smiling a bit to herself as she motioned to the food, "Well, don't let it get cold. Go on, Mizuki, dig in."

"Really?!" The young girl chippered as she crawled into the bar stool, cracking a pair of chopsticks as she began to slurp up the food. Katzumi giving her a pleasent and warm smile before moving from the dining room and into the sun room (a large room made of all glass with a pool in the center), feeling the warmth of the rays as she sat on a wicker couch, folding her legs under her with her book in her hands again. The waters of the pool glistening and glimmering brightly in the sun's rays as she cracked open the book, slowly turning the page.

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

It had been a good while since Ayumu had arrived at the gates and even longer since Mizuki had contacted the ANBU to locate him. When he finally got back to the Sileo after debriefing and other things, a fellow ANBU asked him about why a woman was calling him via ANBU's contact radio. He spent a while explaining that he had not told her to do so, and a little while longer assuring them that he had not revealed that he was an ANBU Trainee to anybody. Then there was some teasing about how he had a woman calling him to come to her home, much to Ayumu's embarrassment. At last, Ayumu was able to leave the Sileo once again. It had gotten fairly late, but he recalled that the first time he and Katzumi had met it had been quite late as well. He figured she wouldn't mind.

Ayumu made his way back to where he remembered Katzumi's house being, leaping rooftop to rooftop as he always did. He had changed in to some more casual attire after arriving at the Sileo and was now dressed in jeans and a black short-sleeved shirt with a dark gray jacket. It was a light jacket, because the heatwave recently had allowed the temperatures to raise just above freezing for once. 'It's getting downright hot now,' Ayumu thought as he leapt over an alley. It didn't take long to reach Katzumi's, the location was still fresh in his mind. He had promised to stop in some time, but unfortunately since then he had been slammed with missions, including the most recent which had taken him out of the village.

Arriving at the front door, Ayumu knocked gently and waited. He recalled that she had said he was welcome to just wander in, but he wasn't used to that idea yet. He heard soft footsteps approaching from the other side before Mizuki, Katzumi's servant, opened the door. She looked surprised to see him, which he understood. He had heard that they were told he was out of the village. "Master Ayumu! We heard you were out of the village!" she exclaimed. Ayumu was going to have to do a bit of creative storytelling here. "I was, but I got back tonight. Some tall, imposing brown haired guy met me afterwards and asked me to be sure my friends didn't try to use ANBU to find me again. He was really polite but kind of scary... you probably shouldn't do that again. Anyway! Is Katzumi here still? I know I'm a bit late," Ayumu explained and asked, glancing around Mizuki.

"Of course! She's in the sun room, by the pool! Come in, she'll be happily surprised!" Mizuki responded cheerfully, stepping aside to allow Ayumu in. There was also something a bit mischievous about her smile, but Ayumu had no idea why. He stepped in to the mudroom and removed his shoes before walking in to the main room. It was as extravagant as he remembered. Nameru rounded the corner from a separate room and immediately bolted towards Ayumu as soon as their eyes met. "Nameru!"<i></i> Ayumu said, dropping to a knee to greet the dog. He rubbed the dog's head affectionately for a few moments before standing back up. He continued on to the sunroom.

Upon entering he immediately spotted Katzumi, lying by the poolside. "Katzu-" he started, but stopped short when he noticed something. She was asleep! Now the mischievous smile of Mizuki made sense. She probably knew Katzumi was sleeping. 'Now what do I do?' Ayumu thought, scratching his head. He felt a bit awkward waking her, but he couldn't just stand there like a creeper watching her sleep. "Uhm... ahem... Katzumiiii..." he called out quietly, hoping it would be enough to wake her. Why couldn't Mizuki have done this instead?

[MFT]

 

[Kokomo]

He was a tall man, sugarcoated really. It was hard to believe he existed, honestly. The way his eyes looked at her as he slipped those glasses off his face and set them on the nightstand as his hand caressed her thigh so lovingly. To be touched as though you were made of glass was a true honor, a true experience. He caressed her, his fingertips running through her endless locks of cornsilk hair as though it was delicate lace. Holding it up to his lips as his endless blue irises watched her carefully. Slipping close to her as her knees pressed on either side of his hips, and his fingers dropped her hair to run across her high cheekbones.

To be wanted. To be daunted on and craved. It was the most wanted emotions. To be needed by another human, be it emotional, mental, or physical. Simply the idea that you're worth something to someone made it all worth it in the end.

He moved closer, his lips brushing hers for a moment before kissing just beside her lips and slowly edging down. Kissing her neck as he moved in closer and closed his arms around her slender waist, pulling her into him as he cherished her for what she was. Her fingers playing nimbly as they slowly unbuttoned his shirt. His lips rising to kiss her lips for the first time.

Oh! A moment of pure ecstasy! Her long legs around his waist as he pressed against her and tasted those supple cherry lips of hers. Her hands pulling on either side of his now-unbuttoned white dress shirt to drag him closer as he used both hands to push down the straps of her dress, lowering them as they kissed and took the simultaneous breaths of unity! Lower and lower as the kiss heated and his hands--

"Katzuuuumiiiiii....."

The blonde angel had found herself curled up in a ball on the wicker couch, her book on the floor where she had dropped it in her sleep. The moon reflecting in the pool and causing her fair skin to glow as she slept. Her waist-length blonde hair curled and waved around her head and mimicked as a pillow for her make-shift slumber. Still wearing the outfit from early but the top few buttons undone to give her breathing room around her neck.

"Mmmmm..." Kat nuzzled her head into the endless pools of blonde hair, smiling slightly as her dream started to fade. Her artistically made eyebrows scowling as it slowly dissipated. "Mmmmm.....no...." She slurred and grumbled as she scowled in her half-wake stage before she felt his presence, her eyes slowly opening--large caramel beautiful eyes--before slowly shutting again...and then fluttering open.... and then shooting open.

"Oh!" Katzumi sat up quickly, running her fingers back through her hair to push it from her face, "Er...uh..." She stumbled over her words, her legs folded under her ass as she looked to him with those big and unsteady eyes. "Hi!" She said hesitantly, but with the same amount of enthusiasm. "I thought you were....in the countryside....I..." She moved over so he could sit down, patting the spot beside her as she laughed hesitantly, "...I gave your curry to Mizuki." She began to laugh again, noticing the irony as she smiled sweetly, brushing her fingers through her hair as she watched him.

It didn't feel like he had just arrived. It was almost like he had been there the whole time? Had he been watching her sleep? How long had he been there? Wh--Holy crap, he was the guy in the dream. Katzumi's eyes widened out of no where as she shifted uncomfortably and backed up a bit to lean against the side of the couch and look at him, pulling her knees to her chest. She avoided eye contact.

Oh, wow, nice Kat. Real nice.

 

[Kokomo]

[BUMP]

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

Ayumu's call seemed to have done the trick as Katzumi stirred in her sleep. She seemed to be having a dream as she made some noises and whispered a word, but her eyes slowly opened. Then, they started to close again and Ayumu wondered if he should just come back the next day. And then they shot open as she realized that he was present, jumping up to a seated position and adjusting her hair. She seemed flustered, understandable since she had just been woken up. Ayumu chuckled lightly at her confusion as she steadied herself and said hello. "Hi there," he responded before she continued. Of course she was confused, Takayama had told them he was out of the village with very little detail. He failed to mention that he was returning that very day. She moved over and offered a spot for him to sit, so he spun around and plopped down beside her gracefully.

Apparently she had made food for both of them, and his had been passed off to Mizuki as a result of his apparent absence. 'Ugh, damn Takayama-taichou, I love curry...' he thought, looking down in depression for a moment. "That's alright, you didn't know. I was in the countryside, but I came back earlier tonight and now I'm here. Some guy from ANBU came to warn me about the use of ANBU as couriers, so I found out you were looking for me that way. In the end, I guess it worked!" he said with another chuckle. It was funny, in a way, though Takayama was very serious and if Rin had found it he could have gotten in trouble.

Suddenly, Katzumi's eyes widened and she shifted uneasily. Was she uncomfortable about him waking her up? Or perhaps it was something she had dreamt. "What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare? What was it?" he asked, obviously having no idea what her dream was about. She was avoiding eye contact, he could tell, which was strange. "Was I in it or something?" he wondered, hoping to be let it on the secret. He remembered the last nightmare he had, something about his academy teacher inviting the students in to the academy only to reveal that the ceiling was going to fall and crush them and there was no way out. Scary stuff- Katzumi's dream was probably something like that, he wagered. Poor thing was probably still a little shaken up.

[OoC: Sorry about that, had company since Thursday, no time for more than a bit of light browsing on NC.]
[MFT]

 

[Kokomo]

The tall, dark, and handsome man sat beside her, leaning back comfortable as could be. He didn't seem to be so hasty with her as she was with him. It was almost as though Ayumu was relaxed and at ease in her presence. This idea made the woman feel a little better as she settled in the seat as he explained the countryside deal. What was he doing out there anyways? Probably something that a guy would do, right? Like... blowing things up with jutsu, or something. What was it people did? Was he even a shinobi? Probably. Kat didn't know many civilians who could handle themselves around thugs like he had back in the alley when they first met. Or, maybe, she wasn't meeting right civilians?

However, despite her ability to drift off in thought, the man was very observant, and took note of her sudden uptight behavior. Katzumi gave a nervous laugh, raising a hand and waving it, gesturing for him not to worry. "Oh, yeah. Just a nightmare." She quickly made up the story as she went along. "I must have heard your voice in my sleep, because you appeared randomly--and you..." The images from her dream flashed in her brain. It was so apparent, she could almost hear the breathing beside her ear. She stared for a moment before blinking back to attention. "You died." She blurted, maybe too obviously, in an attempt to throw him from her trail.

"I still have some curry, if you'd like." Kat said, standing as she faced him and gave him a light smile. It was clear that she was shaken up--which was a good coverup for a 'nightmare'. Cupping her hands together behind her back as she rocked back on her heels, she gave him a light smile. "It's beef curry with some spic--" Too far! Too far!

Being the graceful shinobi she was, Kat had let her memory and emotions get ahold of her. As she rocked back on her heels (on the edge of the pool, remember?) the balls of her feet were quick to give in as the woman found herself slipping backwards into the pool. It was warm from the sunshine, but embarrassing nonetheless.

Once under water, the blonde hair swirling around her like seaweed, Kat stayed under longer than expected. Staying underwater as she waited for the red in her face to drain out. Her white dress shirt clinging to her as she broke to the surface, her hair slicked back as she grabbed the edge of the pool, spitting the water left in her mouth out onto the concrete as she opened one of her large, round, caramel colored eyes to look around her.

There was something funny about this woman. Her joyful spirit and happy-go-lucky ways that gave her such a confident glow. In reality, she was quite an awkward girl when it came to people. She loved people, definitely, but she didn't quite no how to react around normal people. Aksuko Katzumi: Rich, blonde, spoiled bourgeoisie who only knows how to interact with rich, spoiled, bourgeoisies.

Oh, reality, you're such a bitch.

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

Ayumu showed a bit of concern at her mention of a nightmare- if it had caused her to react so badly it must have been truly terrible. When she mentioned that he was in it, his look turned intrigued. What was he doing there? He hoped he wasn't the villain in the dream or something. Then it took a dark turn. "Oh. Damn. That sucks..." he said, taken slightly aback by the bluntness, just because he wasn't expecting that particular outcome. 'Hope she's not prone to premonitions,' he thought, though that would explain her troubled demeanor. She hurriedly changed the subject back to the curry which made him more suspicious still. Fortunately for her, food was a perfect distraction for Ayumu. He was feeling the slight edge of hunger at the moment, and the promise of curry intrigued him in to forgetting about the "nightmare" for the moment.

As she spoke of it, he closed his eyes momentarily to picture what the dish might look like and imagine the taste and smell of curry. His eyes remained shut just long enough to miss Katzumi's peril before she fell in to the pool. The sudden splash brought his eyes open as he leaned over the edge of the pool to look for her. She didn't come up immediately which made him think perhaps she needed rescuing, but from the looks of her she was not panicked and staying under on purpose. She was most likely embarrassed. At last, she emerged and reached the edge of the pool where she spit out some water. She was wet, but she was fine. Ayumu was silent for a moment, but then a slight snicker erupted involuntarily followed by light chuckling.

"Ahaha oh, I'm sorry it's not really funny... ahem, are you okay?" he asked, approaching the edge of the pool on his feet and reaching out his hand in an offer to help her out. He felt a bit bad about laughing, but couldn't deny that it was a little funny. He hoped she wasn't mad- at least he was trying to help, right? Unless, of course, she fancied some revenge for his laughter.

 

[Kokomo]

A mermaid. Yes, that is the most efficient word for the moment. The best way to describe the appearance of this golden goddess was, in fact, a mermaid. Her torso pulled up by her elbows on the concrete edge of the pool, her large round eyes watching Ayumu carefully. The waist-length waves of blonde hair pooling behind her and clinging to her back as her beautiful face changed from embarrassment to...almost...evil.

Ayumu chuckled, seemingly trying to stifle it as a spark matched through Katzumi's eyes as his hand reached forward. What did he expect? To get away with laughing? He was asking for it by trying to help really. Her hand taking his as she gave him a quick jerk to pull him right over her head and into the water behind him. See, that was the funny thing about revenge, was that, no matter what, it was always sweet. Always.

Katzumi pulled herself up on the edge, sitting on it with her legs in the water. Her jeans sucked against her long slender legs and her dress shirt suffocating her torso as she pulled her hair back, braiding it out of her face as she waited for her partner to arise from the water. Her hair sticking to her soaked shirt as she kicked her feet in the water, a wicked smile dusting cross her pretty face.

[OOC: Interactive, short.]

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

A split second before the disaster, Ayumu could see the change in Kat's demeanor. He felt it, too. For that brief moment he could sense her intent, almost like the killing intent of an enemy shinobi in the heat of battle. He went to pull his hand away, but it was too late. Katzumi's smaller hand grasped around his fingers with surprising strength and pulled. Ayumu was strong, but it was much easier to pull somebody down than it was to lift them up. The floor beneath him was damp from Kat's own splash and he had no traction, no chance. He immediately slipped forward and fell face forward in to the pool, sinking under the surface by a few feet.

Ayumu, like Kat had, remained submerged for a few moments, wondering how he had ended up in the pool. It was probably the laughter that had done it, now that he thought about it. She had felt the need to place him in the same situation after he so cruelly laughed at her misfortune. He could have seen it coming had he thought it through. He sighed underwater resulting in bubbles which rose to the surface before he did so himself, his torso emerging soaked from the water. He had left his jacket with Mizuki, but of course his pants and shirt were thoroughly soaked. Fortunately he had not lost his glasses in the water, but they were covered in countless drops of water on the lenses now. He couldn't really see with them now, so he took his glasses off and folded them in his hand before slicking the hair back from his eyes.

"Guess I deserved that," he said solemnly as he began to wade through the water to the edge where Katzumi had pulled herself up. He set his glasses off to the side and then planted his hands on the concrete before lifting himself out of the water to sit next to Katzumi. His glasses may have been off, but he could see the mischievous smile she had gained since her stunt. "Gee, invite a guy over and then make him fall in the pool, what kinda hostess are you?" he said with a slight smirk himself.

He pulled at the fabric of his wet shirt, pulling a section away from where it was stuck to his stomach. "Well, at least it isn't blood this time. Won't need you to get Mizuki to wash this one," he said, dropping the fabric. He was glad the pool was indoors, else the water would have been frigid. "I would say this is still going miles better than our first meeting," he concluded, recalling the relentless thugs and the unfortunate dust up they had gotten in to. He had gotten stabbed, just a little, but came out of it better than them.

 

[Kokomo]

It was delightful. Was that wrong? Katzumi was honestly delighted as he slowly pulled himself to the surface and looked at her as he pulled himself to sit beside her. He knew he deserved it and his glasses were unharmed, thankfully. It seemed Ayumu had a brain in that handsome head of his--enough to know what he deserved, at least. Perhaps Kat was being a little too hard on him. After all, he wasn't the reason that she was upset in the first place--not that she was exactly upset.

Oh, women, why are you so complicated?

She was upset. But not at him. But sort of at him. She was mad that he laughed, but more in a playful way. In fact, she was more flirty with him than actually mad. But she was mad at herself too, but it was because of him--but not really, because he hadn't really done anything, dream-him had done something. So something was wrong, but not really. It was a mix of sexual tension and anger and flirting and embarrassment all at the same time. She wanted to blame him but it was actually her but it was sort of both of them but not really--

Oh my god, this is too difficult. Women's emotions are like trying to read a dutch manual on the meaning of life with Japanese characters.

"Hostess?" She laughed, giving him a look. "Hostess?" Kat would repeat, challenging him. "You came in here by yourself, I didn't let you in. If anyone, Mizuki is your hostess. I'm simply that really pretty girl that you found sleeping by a pool." Katzumi liked to taunt people--mainly him at the moment. "And decided to sneak up on--assuming that you were just trying to wake me..." She shifted giving him a playful and suspicious look. "Maybe I was right in the alley...was now your chance to get you all to yourself? Oh, Ayumu, I must say, that is quite low!" She shook her head in faux disappointment, "I let you play with my dog!"

Katzumi smirked, slipping back into the water now that her hair was pulled back. Why not? She was already wet after all. "Well, now's your chance." Her eyes watched him viciously. "Do your worst."

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

Ayumu blinked as as repeated after him, preparing to tell him what was what. He leaned back slightly as she laid into him, talking about how he had snuck up on her by the pool with ill intentions. She suggested that this was just his opportunity to get her alone and all to himself. She feigned disappointment, and Ayumu smirked as she shook her head. "I'm sorry to disappoint you with my devious nature," he said as she slipped back into the water with her hair pulled back. She dared him to do his worst.

"Hah, I'm not sure you realize how immature I am," he said. Without warning, he kicked his foot sending a small wave of water at Katzumi. He slipped into and under the water using the wave as cover. Under the water he moved off to the side a bit and then emerged again, using both of his hands to splash Katzumi again, because he was like a child in a man's body. He couldn't remember the last time he had gone swimming. There wasn't exactly an abundance of swimming pools in the village, and nobody he knew had any. There were lakes, of course, but who had time for that?

"How's that?!" he asked, chuckling and waiting to see the results of his splash attack.

 

[Kokomo]

Immature. A let down with some perks. No one really liked people who were outrageously immature. The type of people that whined and cried and didn't know when to stop. Those types of immaturity were the kinds that drove people mad. But Ayumu wasn't that kind of immature--so it appeared. He gave off the vibe of someone who was a child at heart. Someone who knew how to smile and joke, and bring laughter to a room. To play and to sing without a worry in the world. The kind of person to play hopscotch with the local kids, because it made them happy. The immaturity that was made to create a joy that was otherwise not there.

His foot kicked, splashing in. She had been thinking and caught off guard by his notion as she hissed for a moment, rubbing her eyes. But when she opened them, he was gone. But there was something that Ayumu had underestimated. Katzumi had a pool for a reason--not because she enjoyed swimming, but because her element was water. There was a lesson to be learned here:

Never start a splash fight with a shinobi proficient in water.

Focusing her chakra in her hands, she pulled herself out of the water, and focused her chakra to her legs as she leaned back and sat on top of the water as Ayumu emerged and splashed her again. She raised an eyebrow as she looked at him, sitting on top of the water as she lifted a sphere of water and tossed it between her hands a few times. "Pretty lame for a shinobi." She teased as she juggled the sphere between her hands before she gave it a vicious throw towards him. It would be like a water-balloon, of sorts, without the balloon.

"Come on, you've got better than that!"

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

Ayumu swam pretty well, and he moved swiftly underneath the water. He was pretty confident in his aquatic proficiency, so when he emerged for a subsequent splash he was prepared to unleash a mighty wave with his hand. His movements stopped immediately when he noticed the sphere of water in her hand. The fact that Katzumi was sitting on the water was not as shocking as it should have been, given that shinobi were capable of using chakra to move on water. The sphere of water was also an effect achieved through the use of chakra, but not one Ayumu could do himself or had even seen before. To manipulate water like that, one needed some proficiency in Suiton Ninjutsu. That said, he was clearly in her playground, her being a Suiton user in a pool of water.

"Hey, let's not be hasty her-" he started to say but had no time to finish as suddenly Kat chucked one of the water spheres at him. It caught him off guard so he only managed to turn his head to avoid getting hit straight in the face. He raised his arms in front of himself to block the next two, though it was mostly futile as they splashed over and through his arms upon impact all the same. He couldn't combat her with splashing when she was able to play with the water like it was clay, but her taunting spurred him on anyway. He stretched out his hands both to one side and then swung them across his body, skimming along the surface of the water and sending a pretty large splash, if only because of the strength behind it.

Upon completing the splash, he paused momentarily for reflection. 'Am I REALLY attempting to have a splash fight with someone who can use Water Style Ninjutsu?' he thought, coming to realize the folly in his ways. There was only one solution to pursue here. "HEY, you know what, I actually am kind of hungry- how about we get out of here and go dry off, maybe get some of that curry?" he said quickly, trying to catch Katzumi before any retaliation. He was trying to negotiate a truce before she annihilated him in this little splash battle with a few more water jutsu. The problem was, he had nothing to bargain with- but surely she was merciful. Ayumu inched towards the side of the pool, hoping to climb out.

"Sound good?" he asked hopefully. It wasn't entirely an excuse, he was getting slightly hungry. It had started beginning with the mention of the curry. For now, though, he just wanted to escape the situation before Katzumi decided to get serious.

 

[Kokomo]

Perhaps she was being a little harsh. It was to be expected from a woman who had just been embarrassed. The feminine creatures were known for retaliating in a time of weakness, for they so much feared the vulnerable state. It was ironic, though, that they fought against it, when in reality, they were thought of being so. Women were supposed to be the supple and dainty humans that walked the Earth. They were made with soft and nurturing features to coddle and love things that needed it so. The crown jewel of beauty and the artistic edge of mankind. But, when they were alarmed (mentally or physically) they became wild and violent, their skins becoming hard as they fought back with an iron fist. This hard outer shell was not the face of the women, but rather the face of fright, pain, and abuse.

And there it was before him.

Ayumu flailed his arms, trying to avoid the hailstorm of the water ninjutsu she wielded. Honestly, he had picked the wrong fight to tangle himself in, and it became obvious as he fit the last attack in, Katzumi standing to her feet on the water as she hovered above him and he raised his arms in defense, suggesting a new idea. The water rippling beneath her toes as she watched him suspiciously, deciding to spare him as she walked across the water as he pulled himself to the edge of the pool. Once at the end, she used the water ninjutsu again to pull the water from her clothes, hair, and body and put it back into the pool--being totally dried off by this.

"I'll see what I can get for you--after all, I did put the beat down on you." She said, moving across the room and into the living room, her blonde braid swaying behind her--completely dry--as she walked across the room and pointed to Mizuki off in a corner, folding napkins. "Master Ayumu needs a towel and a robe." She'd say simply as she moved into the kitchen, warming up the curry in another pot again.

---​

Mizuki would rush into the room, a stupid smile on her face as she handed Ayumu a fluffy white towel with a fancy black 'A' hand sewn in one of the corners, as well as the same servant robes he had been given last time he was there. Pointing to a large bamboo changing screen off in the far corner of the pool room. "You can change behind there." She stifled a few mischievous giggles, knowing she had caused some trouble by letting him in the room earlier. "Master Ayumu," she teased before exiting the room.

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

Ayumu winced, preparing for the retaliation once more, but slowly opened his eyes as it did not come. He was being spared. Lowering his arms from their defensive position in front of his face, he watched as Katzumi strolled casually across the water's surface to the edge of the pool. Ayumu breathed a sigh of relief before jumping straight up above the water and then landing on its surface himself, applying chakra to the bottom of his feet to stop himself from sinking again. He shook his head a bit, flinging some water from his hair though this was mostly futile. He followed Katzumi to the edge of the pool, then watched in awe as she used another water jutsu to pull all the water from her skin, hair, and clothing back in to the pool.

"Wow, that's a neat trick, gotta learn that one," he said, though it was very unlikely that he could without putting in some serious training. Katzumi, now completely dry once more, said she would look in to preparing some food for him and taunted him one last time. "Yeah, yeah, you won that round... remind me never to splash you," he said as she moved in to the living room. Ayumu followed her, but stopped short of entering the next room- he didn't want to track water in her living room. Fortunately, Mizuki was quick to find him a towel and robe. She entered the room and handed Ayumu a very soft (and fancy, as usual) looking towel as well as the robes he had worn the last time he was there.

She pointed him to a bamboo changing screen in the corner of the room and giggled quietly, he could guess why. He was beginning to learn that she had a bit of a mischievousness streak in her. He wagered that she knew full well Katzumi was asleep. She teased him one last time before leaving, presumably to return to whatever she was doing before. Safely behind the changing screen, Ayumu lifted his shirt off over his head and draped it over the top of the screen, then began to dry his hair and torso. Finally, he removed the remainder of his clothing and finished drying before slipping in to the robes he had been provided. He wrapped the robe tightly around himself and then proceeded out from behind the screen, walking past the pool and in to the living room. He continued beyond that in to the kitchen and Katzumi once more.

"How is it I always end up in this robe? I wonder if this is going to become a tradition," he said, running his hand along one of the sleeves to feel how soft it was. He had thought about getting one of these for his own the last time. It was now beginning to seem like a reasonable investment, if only to bring to Katzumi's home whenever he came just in case.

[MFT: 493]

 

[Kokomo]

[OOC: Thanks for being SO patient. This is a pretty wild final semester, and it's only getting worse. But I'll try and fit it in a little more. <3]

Her long and slender fingers twirled around the wooden spoon that rested in the bubbling pot of curry. Warming it back up, as she was not aware, exactly, how long she had been in her slumber. She had fallen asleep sometime in the afternoon, with the bright sun on her face, and awoke to a strange man--who just so happened to of been in her dream--and the moon befallen on her rosy cheeks. It had to of been a decent amount of time, then, she was sure, as she stirred the pot of curry.

Her was was still braided back, and trailed in a long symmetrical tail down from the back of her head to the upper portion of her thighs. Her hair was golden with the slightest sun-kiss of white-blonde highlights from the training outside, and it seemed no hair was out of place. It was strange, how a figure so mundane as herself, could be so perfect, in hindsight. She wasn't really perfect, but rather, played herself off that way. She gave the idea that she was some sort of goddess in a beautiful angel's skin, when, in reality, she was nothing but a confused and messed up individual with the same human problems everyone else had.

Ayumu came up behind her, surprising her as she turned quickly and smiled, a bowl in hand as she offered it to Ayumu, allowing him to sit down as she gave him a knowing-look. Her hands reached over, grabbing two wine glasses again, as she poured them each a glass. "Oh, I don't know, it's probably because you look good in it." She suggested as she leaned in towards him and gave him a quick wink, "It's sexy~" She would breath, turning quickly on her heels to spin back around and take a sip of her glass, the tease she was showing a bit more blatantly. "Feel better? It's pretty good, if I do say so myself." She said, hinting towards the curry.

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

Katzumi spun around as Ayumu entered the kitchen, bowl in her outstretched hand which he gratefully accepted. The bowl was warm, but not hot as he had been worried about when he first took it. The curry looked and smelled amazing, and he could feel the warmth emanating from it on his face as he took in the smell. He took a seat as she answered his question, blushing slightly at the compliment, though he tried to roll with it so he wouldn't be embarrassed. "Well what don't I look sexy in, really?" he responded before taking a spoon full of curry and raising to his lips. He blew on it lightly, though the temperature seemed to be fine, and then took his first bite. Her next comment was accurate, it was delicious. It was a wonderful combination of salty and spicy, he sat there with the spoon in his mouth, savoring the flavor before taking it out again to answer.

"It's so good I could cry," he said, truly enjoying the flavor. This was, after all, the first home cooked meal he had enjoyed since the mission had begun. Rations provided for traveling were a travesty flavor-wise. On top of that, Katzumi was clearly a talented cook to have created something this delicious. Despite the warmth of the home, he also had a bit of a chill since being pulled mercilessly in to the pool. The warmth of the curry and the spiciness was warming him right up in a a hurry. He scooped up another bite and savored it for a few moments before pausing to ask a question.

"Where did you learn to cook like this?" he asked curiously. His guess would be parents, but on the other hand it also seemed likely she had servants that cooked for her growing up. His parents were both inept in the kitchen being full shinobi through and through. Fortunately for him, at least in this sense, his parents spent a lot of time out on missions so his grandparents were left to care for him and cook for him. His grandmother was much, much better at cooking than either of his parents. He himself had never learned to create anything fancy, but could manage some minor meals, enough to survive at least.

[OOC: No problem, I know how college can get so I understand. >.>]
[MFT: 383]

 

[Kokomo]

When didn't he look sexy? What a good question, really. Katzumi didn't answer, knowing doing so would simply be inappropriate. Her raspberry lips touching the wine glass ever so gently as she gave a slight smirk, the glass tipping down to let the smooth red alcohol drain down into her mouth.

Her caramel eyes dropped to look to him as his own lips moved and separated to blow a cooling air onto the curry that she had made. Katzumi's eyes watched hungrily as he did so, his focus on the food, it seemed. She gave a tip of her head as he complimented the food, and she smiled, turning around as he took another bite.

Why was he paying attention to the food? Was he really that hungry? Maybe she wasn't looking as attractive after torturing him in the pool...

Katzumi looked down, shifting her bra upwards, and unbuttoning another button on her shirt discreetly as she filled her wine glass again, turning to refill his.

What the hell was she doing? She paused after pulling the bottle from his glass after filling it. What a harlot sort of move she had made, but it was a tad bit irreversible now... Her hand pulling away to place the bottle back in the refrigerator as he addressed her with a question.

"Oh, my Nanny taught me." She inquired with a light smile. Oh yes, Aksuko Katzumi was that daughter. She was raised to believe that her parents loved her so much, when, in reality, they didn't even raise her. Straight from the womb into the arms of a Nanny. To be fair, her parents did always work, but they were also notorious for taking all the credit for their daughter's success. But young Katzumi learned from the elderly woman that taught her to walk and talk and sing--how to be a lady, and when to be a pain. The true mother to the young woman, in hindsight.

"She was such a wonderful woman. I'm glad you like it." There was that light smile again as she waited for Ayumu to finish his meal, refilling his glass as need be (trying to convince herself that she wasn't low enough to try and get him drunk) to make sure he stayed comfortable. But, yet, her mind kept wandering. She was having issues focusing on anything but her own thoughts, including on anything he would say.

"Do you want to go for a walk... I mean, I know you've probably been doing a lot of that on your trip, but the property is just so beautiful in this night time weather--especially during this season."