Open No Smoking

[Shinrya Riko]

It had been two years since her father’s death, yet the Aesculapium, the hospital of the Village hidden in the Clouds was still a familiar place. A second home. There had been many nights she had practically lived here while her father remained in the emergency care of the physicians. He hadn’t been a shinobi, and hadn’t been from the blood of the Shinrya Clan, and so the care hadn’t always been to the same standards as to that which was provided to shinobi. The hospital’s sterile atmosphere did well to hide the truth of its own history, but it still had the layout of an asylum, only the barred doors had been replaced and were no longer locked. In here time here though, Riko had become friends with some of the doctors and had been invited to the Hospital Cafeteria for a quick lunch break. Only, they never came. She understood how it went when one was on call.

Shinrya Riko stood just two inches shy of six feet, whether that made her tall for a woman or not she hadn’t ever bothered to learn. It had always just been the right height for her. Despite her years out of the academy, she had still developed strong muscle and tone from the constant need to perform transfers from beds to wheelchairs and wheelchairs to beds. It was often the case that the nurses didn’t have the physical strength needed to do so as cleanly as Riko had been able to. Despite her boyish haircut and height, there wasn’t any denying that she was a woman. She may not have been voluptuous in figure, but she still had a figure. It was one that she had built and was proud of, and that showed in how she stood.

’I can’t help but feel just a little disappointed though.’ She thought to herself. She struggled with the knot of feelings at having been invited out only to have been cancelled on. ’Should I just go? No, there wouldn’t be enough time and I’d have to go report for my duties by the time I went anywhere else.’ As the minutes ticked by her thoughts became more resolved. She approached the deli line at the hospital and proceeded through and paid for a sandwich and a bottle of water. The stress had made her feel like smoking. She moved to sit down, and without even thinking she had pulled a cigarette and stuck it in her mouth.

 

[Hashigaki Honome]

Hashigaki, Honome was late because she had no one to escort her to the hospital. Her bright iridescent eyes shone in the morning sun, which felt warm upon her cool skin from walking all this way. Her kimono wound around her body, and her obi situated perfectly around her waist, she walked along with her braided long hair trailing behind her as she prodded the ground with the walking stick that she had acquired from the foyer of her home. Her kimono felt warm and heavy in the cool morning breeze, and she was thankful that she had layered as she did. She wore her traditional wooden sandals, and couldn't tell what the others around her wore, but did catch the hurried footsteps of a couple out of her way, and some of their conversation which steered towards her attire. She caught snippets of 'so old fashioned' and then a remark about how it was 'traditional wear.' They left, pondering if she was going to be in some play or was on her way to take pictures and that left Honome in a rather sullen mood.

She didn't feel like she should have to dress up 'for' an occasion, she just felt like she could dress up because she wanted to. Coming to a cross-roads she listened both ways and then took a tentative step when she heard a vehicle approaching and backed up onto the walk-way for pedestrians, waiting for a chance to go again. she tugged at the kimono as a sign of comfort, her hand wrapped tightly around the fabric as she stepped back out onto the street and went across. That made four streets to the... north, since the sun was on her right, which meant that the hospital should be right around here.

Listening for some of the tell-tale signs and smells of a hospital, she wandered around the walkway until she found herself in the food court.

 

[Honnou]

Epiloguing the slaughter on the lycanthropic marauders haunting a certain village out in the aromatic fields of Lightning Country, Hon managed to complete his mission… and his reward was stress. Stress of all sorts of levels brought upon him by the cockiness, the rudeness, the insubordination of a very certain spear-wielder with a filthy mouth to boot. Not to mention her bravado at carrying the damn mission as if her dan disrespect hadn’t almost put Miyazaki in the history books…

He couldn’t take another high-ranking mission without retrieving another Byakugan to substitute his lost one. That was why he found himself at the Aesculapium once more, simply undergoing a much-needed eye transfer… but Kitsune-sama’s prosthetic genius might’ve influenced a few. Instead of receiving an organic, stored Byakugan, why not await her return and obtain something a bit more mechanical?

But he was impatient, wasn’t he? Besides, as progressive as technology was becoming here in Kumogakure, the true power of a Hyūga could not be released without the use of two Byakugan eyes- not one, but TWO! If he wanted to utilize the full potential of a school of Taijutsu honed and optimized throughout centuries, then he’d need two Byakugan eyes- not one and a mechanical invention from an otherwise unnaturally keen genius like Kitsune-sama.

Listen, his prosthetic left arm was as far as he was willing to go. No more than that, please…

But now, right now, at a table near the deli line, he had planted his face riiiiiiight down with clouds hanging above his head in paranoia. His food lied uneaten next to his head, while a huge sack of everything was spinning in his brain and giving him the worst headaches ever. His right eye, and most of the right side of his skull, was covered in bandages as a result of past procedures, so many had the right idea about what he’d been through. Since he was a damn regular at this place, he also donned the mint-green shirt and leggings to boot as many other patients did. He missed his tai chi shirt and his baggy Taijutsu leggings, but even he caved in for the norm once in a while… unlike a certain other lady who arrived later...

But why he was so beside himself was- wait, what was that smell? Smoke? The sudden arrival of strong ashen taste in the back of his throat made him raise his head up to glare at the other person who sat at the table – a lady somewhat around his own age, short chocolate hair and a very nice jawline, with a cigarette in her mouth… in the cafeteria? Oddly familiar color of chakra…, he thought to himself, glaring up at her with his left, exposed Byakugan – unlike the typical Visual Prowess of his clan, his left eye was a pure, azure-blue crystal-like dome. It looked like someone had shoved a large, blue orbee into his eye socket, but that was merely the natural evolution of the Byakugan thought to have been a myth in times past.

“Excuse me…” he spoke up to her from his slightly lowered head, his single red bang swaying in front of his face, “Perhaps you got a second… cigarette on you?”

Speaking of, said lady in a kimono from before... with hair white as snow and marble... she would quickly notice a rather large, yellow fox walking up next to her. “Hooooooooooon! You’re not the only one who sticks out like a sore thumb anymoooooooooooore~! Good for you, I guess…!”

WC: 583 [MFT]

 

[Shinrya Riko]

When had she lit the cigarette. Riko didn’t even register it. She was fiddling with the paper wrapper of her sandwich with one hand while she held the cigarette between her fingers - an easy trail of smoke was wafting from its lit surface. She paused to assess the man who had joined her at the table. He was a striking figure with his crystal like eye and bandages. She couldn’t help but note the familiar hospital gown that he wore. These types of injuries. Riko scrutinized them, and recognized them for what they were. His wound were serious enough to need hospitalization, but he was well enough to walk around and eat at the deli instead of having food brought to his room. He was on his way to recovery, although Riko didn’t envy his situation in the least bit. It was a shame because he seemed so young too.

”Excuse me…” He said. Riko turned her attention away from the paper sandwich bag and look after at him, his hand bowed like he was about to ask her a question. ”Perhaps you got a second… Cigarette on you?”

”What?” Riko realized for the first time in a few minutes, the lit cigarette between her fingers. She swore under breath and dropped the cigarette to the floor and ground it beneath her foot. She felt like an idiot. First of all it was a habit she was trying to quit, and second - well the blatant no smoking sign on the walls of the deli should have been ample reminder. Riko gave an apologetic look to the staff - hopefully they wouldn’t kick her out of here until she had lunch first. She was about to respond to the young man with the singular crystal eye when the voice of someone shouting caught her attention. Its voice had an odd quality to it. Not human.

Riko looked over her shoulder and saw…

Well she did see the yellow fox, but shinobi animals were all over the placec with so many shinobi these days. It was a curiosity of course but something else stole Riko’s attention. She honestly looked like a heroine out of a story. The platinum hair in the braid. Her eyes were mysterious, even more so than the crystal eyeball of the young man. She moved easily like a dancer would. Riko found herself starring at the young woman with her jaw having gone slack. Riko returned to herself recognizintg she still had company at the table and cleared her throat. Riko had never even considered her sexuality before. She had always been too busy with her own personal life and had never had time for a romantic partner. Looking at the woman had been a revelation to her. ’I’m into women? No, thats not important - I need to talk to her.’ She suddenly felt butterflies in her stomach as she looked around for solutions.

The burned boy!

”Hey.” Riko leaned towards him. He had asked for a cigarette right? She pulled out her pack and smacked the pack so that one extended and squeezed the box ever so slightly to keep the lone cigarette being offered extended. ”You can have the whole damn box if you wanna be my wing man? I gotta talk to that girl no matter what.” Riko pleaded of the wounded young man.

 

[Hashigaki Honome]

Honome stopped, smelling something faintly that smelled like dog breath. It came closer, speaking to her. She groped toward the creature, sticking her hands out straight in front of her, it had to be a dog of some sort right? "You're a dog, aren't you?" she mimicked the question she had in her head, "or you've taken that form for some odd reason." She groped, found long luxuriant fur under her hands and balled her fists around it, "How big are you mister doggy?" She asked, going off of the timbre of the voice and the size of the animal she wondered whether or not she was correct in assuming that A) it was a dog, and B) that it was a male. Still, it was better to assume in these situations and be told differently by the animal in question. "And who do you belong to?" Her iridescent eyes looked up and past the assumed dog's shoulders as she continued to prod with her open hands after releasing the fistfuls of fur that were tangled in her fingers.

She sniffed again, definitely a dog breath smell, and the faint smell of wet dog fur solidified the picture in her mind of a very large malamute type of dog. Basically a walking fur-bush with no eyes, all fur and tongue. She giggled, her light pink lips parting as the corners of her eyes crinkled in the motion, "Mister doggy, can you take me to the hospital? I have to meet someone there."

 

[Honnou]

That was a random what. A very random ‘what’. Her throwing her cigarette down and stepping on it was also random… until Hon noticed the ‘no smoking’ sign on a pillar further back. Then again… no way… did she forget that sign? Surely not… wait… then why was he asking for one?

Putting that aside, her attention was quickly drawn towards Ayaka, who 100% welcomed it. Ayaka had always been a sort of an attention seeker, but Hon had used a rougher word to describe her instead of ‘seeker’ at the end of that term… but she got on his nerves sometimes. Especially at the beginning, when she thought that she could seduce him to do her every bidding like a dainty, tricky little vixen- no way in hell. He shut her whole business up real quick, and their relationship had been chaotic ever since…

But she was oddly professional in missions. Maybe her heart was in the right place and she just liked to fool around, but it wasn’t his job to analyze her!

“…” Her jaw was hanging… and Hon saw the other woman keeping Ayaka company behind him. The way she stuck her hand out, the odd hand gestures as she caressed Ayaka’s silky fur… while Ayaka cooed in approval, Hon wondered if she was blind. Her gestures did suggest that strongly, and her question to Ayaka confirmed it without doubt. “Uh, canine, actually. I’m a cute, little fox~!” Ayaka replied joyously to the blitz-haired beauty, “A miss fox, too. Not so big, about 1.2 times fox-sized wonder right here~!”

Hon, in the meantime, had his attention grabbed by the short-haired lady who dearly wanted to talk to the blind, blitz-haired girl back with Ayaka… somewhat through his role as a wingman. A very peculiar turn of events, but why not run along with it? “S-Sure… uh, let me see-“

“I belong to no one! My own, little agent here… although I’m contracted to Honnie-boy over there~,” Ayaka replied, pointing her puffy tail towards the Hyūga at the table with Riko. The fact that she referred to him by such a dumb nickname was… urrghh. Anyway, he could use this opportunity to draw Riko towards her.

Ayaka would gladly lead Honome towards the table, which was technically part of the hospital that she wanted to go to. Hon rose his gaze towards the kimono-clad woman with hair bright as snow, still only capable of glaring with his left, crystal-like eye. “I’m her Contract Master-“

“No Master in that title, boy!”

“Shut uuuuup… urgh, anyway, you here for a check-up, too? Means the miss here with me can help you find the way, unless if you’re hungry right now… w-wait, your name was?” Hon had switched his gaze back to Riko’s face, asking for her name before even giving his own. Like a weirdo.

 

[Shinrya Riko]

Riko watched Hon as he made his decision. She gave a silent cheer at his agreement. She wasn’t sure what was going to happen next, but as she agreed, she slid the box of cigarettes over to him. Riko turned back over to where the woman who had made her feel star-struck was engaged with the fox still. She was a little surprised to learn that the fox had admitted to being in a contract with the young man next to her. She kept her face even and cool. She was starting to notice the way that she moved. The cane in her hand and the way that her body seemed to move independently from her eyes. It was the telltale sign of blindness.

Riko was suddenly surprised at the offer that the young man offered her services to the blind girl. She wasn’t completely opposed to it. Riko knew that people didn’t come to the hospital to eat at the deli though. Typically they were on their way here or there. Apprehension filled her chest, as doubts flooded her mind briefly about the interaction. Doubts about what the girl would say. What if she wasn’t interested in girls? The anxiety built until Riko remembered some of the wisdom of her father from when she was much younger. ’ Take a deep breath. You know how sometimes we start to think about all the ‘what ifs’ and worst-case scenarios? Well, try to push those thoughts aside and concentrate. Break the problem down into smaller steps. Do you have control over the situation? Great! Make the change. If you don’t have control - why are you worrying about it?’

Riko cleared her head with a deep breath and regained her composure.

”The name’s Riko.” She answered the question, not even questioning the fact that Hon had yet to introduce himself. She stood and walked over to the petite girl. ”I know the hospital pretty well so I would be happy to help you get around, and perhaps when you have some time would you care to visit a restaurant with me? I suppose Deli fare will do, but there was a new place that opened up and I had been looking for an excuse to try it out.” She directed this statement to the pretty blind girl. ”Oh, could I perhaps get your name as well?” She asked directly of Honome.

 

[Hashigaki Honome]

Honome was suddenly bombarded by three people, counting the fox, talking to her at once. She looked between the three of them, her eyes staring through them rather than at them before she lowered her head in a quick bow, "I um, I am here to apply to become a medical kunoichi." She stated before raising her torso again, her hands still in the fox's fur. She moved her hands to the fox's cheeks, feeling the sleek fur trail through her fingers, tickling her palms before she rubbed her nose against the fox's wet nose and released the poor four legged creature from her grasp.

Honome bowed once more, this time more formally and stayed bowed, "I am Hashigaki Honome, of the Hashigaki clan." She wondered whether or not she should answer the ask for a restaurant. Her stomach took the opportunity to answer for her, a loud growl echoing from under her obi and reverberating in her chest. She blushed a deep red and snapped back up putting a hand behind her head she rubbed her neck, feeling her face grow hot and start to sweat. How embarrassing!

"I um, I suppose I should eat before going to apply though." She answered, reluctant to be a drain on anyone else's resources. She plucked a coin purse, embroidered with flowers and brail letters that were the words to her favorite poem, she opened the smooth metal snap clasp that held the opening closed and stuck her hand inside. Rummaging around, she felt several bills, which didn't help at all. She enjoyed the feel of coins, as she could actually count her money. She rubbed a couple of 500 yen coins. Enough to get her a good melon bread and perhaps some cinnamon butter to slather between the soft sweetbread. She nodded, "I-," Honome faltered, wondering if they could see the slight shoulder slump and deflation and would be put off by it. Her obi felt looser because of it. She straightened before continuing. "I don't have much, but I would love to eat somewhere." She wondered what kind of new place had opened up. Even if she was limited to the appetizers, smelling was free, and that was half the fun of restaurants. She hated the noise of the inside, so she would request to sit outside, she decided. Her iridescent eyes glittered with hope that they wouldn't be put off by her words and still take her with them to eat. The ever-shifting colors were blotted out by a slow blink, which ended in her looking in the general direction of her purse, with pursed lips and then nodding, before looking back at the other two.

[wc: 445}

 

[Honnou]

Hon quickly picked up the box of cigarettes slid over to him by the nice kunoichi after agreeing to her quite adorable request to have him act as a wingman. He’d planned to try one out, but… another Medical Ninja present in the deli line had swiped the box off of his hands and pointed at the sign on the pillar. “You’re still recovering. No smoking for you, Honnō-san,” the tall, masked Medical Ninja expressed before returning to the line, with no greeting nor farewell to the group.

And Hon felt exposed and tricked, and slightly idiotic to boot. He’d forgotten about secrecy under these extremely peaceful conditions… his fault.

Ayaka had grown to adore Honōme a lot, the latter whom replied that she was here to apply as a Medical Ninja. Hashigaki Honōme… the Hashigaki clan. From what he’d read about Kumogakure’s present bloodlines, weren’t the majority of the Hashigaki blind? The purpose of which they embraced their blindness was kept a tight secret, however – which didn’t bother him too much. This eye-catching shinobi had a level of fanciness to her that Hon hadn’t seen in years, honestly… it sort of reminded him of a place, but he couldn’t pinpoint the exact location.

“…” Hon smiled at the event – Honōme was eager to eat somewhere with Riko and seemed accepting of the latter’s advance. Damn, Hon was a good wingman. “If you’re here to apply, you’re probably looking for the Medical Sennin. Riko knows her, right?” Hon questioned the brunette with a playful grin on his face, leaning his face on his palm with an elbow to the table as he continued, “I’ve seen her a few times myself… but hey, that’d make her your junior, Riko. Make sure to treat her well-“

“Hey, Honnie-boy, if she’s blind, why don’t you just give her one of your eyes? Make her see everything~!”

“Who the hell asked you?!”

 

[Shinrya Riko]

Riko watched how she seemed to dance about with her eyes. It was as if to confirm her earlier assessment that the girl was in fact blind. It was a shame in same ways, but maybe an opportunity in others. She introduced herself as Honome of the Hashigaki clan. Riko had spent so much of her life tied up and working with her sick father that she hadn’t learned too much about some of the other clans, but she saw in the side of her eye that Hon seemed to have an understanding look. Everything came to a sudden halt when the blind girl’s stomach answered for her the fact that she was in dire need of something to eat.

Ah but Honome was cute. Her eyes like pools of mercury danced with all the colors of the rainbows. They were like mirrors of the world. Though they saw nothing, they reflected things as they were, and the iridescent colors that danced in them were entrancing to poor Riko. She thought if she stared for too much longer she might just drown in them.

Hon made an excellent Wingman and laid the introductions on thick. Riko rubbed the back of her head at having so suddenly received so much praise. Hon had really put his trust in her so she would need to do her best to carry this home. It had only cost her a pack of cigarettes too! Ah! The cigarettes! Riko realized that the masked medical ninja who was returning to the line of the deli had now pocketed those cigarettes from earlier. Damn, she would need to find Hon some other way to pay him back instead. She didn’t consider it fair that the promised prize had just walked off. In her heart it felt like she had cheated Hon. She couldn’t live with that kind of one-sided arrangement.

”Sure I’ve heard of the Medical Sennin and I’m reasonably sure I can get you to her office. I’m not quite the medical kunoichi, but maybe I should inquire about joining ?”

Hon’s fox seemed capable of speech and offered an outrageous suggestion. Riko reached out and held Honome’s hand with the two coins. ”You don’t need to worry about that. I’ll get you something here from the deli for now to tied you over and than after we meet with the sennin why don’t we head for a real meal? It would be my treat of course.” She pushed Honome’s hand back towards her purse. ”Does anything strike your fancy from the deli? They have some bread, but also there are deli sandwiches as well. ”

WC:453

 

[Hashigaki Honome]

Honome bowed to the fox and then scratched behind her ears, the soft plush fur of the ears rippling between her fingers as she spoke again, her hushed voice murmuring over the din of the people around them, “Thank you miss fox, but I don’t need to see to enjoy the world.” The world was made for the people who had sight, it was a boon to many different animals of the world, and often the blind would be picked off by the stronger predators. Honome, however, was part of the Hashigaki bloodline. She was told from a very young age that when she came into her own she would be able to see without sight, and that was enough for her. She already interacted with the world in a way that the other three in the party couldn’t.

She could hear the sounds of the muttering crowd, the crack of someone’s cane as they walked down the opposite side of the street, the keening of a sparrow high above them, attempting to find a mate. She could smell all of the wonderful smells of the deli, including what meats had obviously gone past their sell-by date. Not that they’d expired, but they wouldn’t taste nearly as good as the others. She could smell Riko’s strength, Honnou’s hurt, and the fox’s excitement at making new friends. She could feel the air rushing around her, twisting off of the rooftop and cascading down into the courtyard. Trading that for sight just didn’t seem like a good idea.

Honome felt the warmth of Riko’s hands wrap around hers, apparently to take the money, she suspected so she released the two coins into Riko’s hands and smiled, “Thank you, I’d like the melon bread with-” Honome sniffed the air once more, the scents wafting to her nose and let her pick out the good from the bad smells, “The ginger butter smells good today, let’s go with that.” She nodded twice, solidifying the thought in her mind. She swallowed, as her salivary glands kicked into high gear from the smells.

“Do you want me to wait for you here or come stand with you in line?” She tapped her walking stick twice against the ground in front of her, making sure there were no other critters that wanted to make her acquaintance. “And after we see the medical sennin, I’d love to get something more substantial to eat.” It was one of her passions, eating, as it brought colors and sparks of what could only be described as light to her palate and those transferred into vague shapes and images in her head. Her favorite dishes were sweet, of course, for the way that they made her feel cozy, and reminded her of the comforting times that her mother and her would share a nibble of a candy or perhaps a pastry. She would comply with whatever the other three wanted to do, and then would need to ask again for someone to show her the way to the sennin’s room.

[wc:505]

 

[Honnou]

Yeah, Hon was a little down due to the unfairly confiscated cigarettes, but there was little he could do in that regard. Rules were rules, after all, and he should’ve seen it coming sooner.

Hon had yet to meet the Medical Sennin, though. Strangely enough… but Riko proved braver than she gave herself credit for. ‘Am not quite the medical kunoichi’ sounded like self-loathing, but the way she held Honōme’s hand spoke volumes. Hon’s eyes widened in approval at the sight of her bravery approach regarding her crush Honōme, and deep inside… he might’ve felt a little out of focus. Like a third wheel or some sort.

Ayaka got more pats, so clearly this Honōme girl was in her book of best friends forever. Unlike Honnie-boy, who was still in the ‘He Pretends To Ignore My Advances Like The Virgin He Is’ book, even though her entire shtick was trolling people like the Kitsune spirit she was. Seriously, the signs were all around her, and he wasn’t stepping into a bear trap with Christmas decoration all over it. Not to mention the moral issues concerning her lack of care for human decency-

But noooooo, in front of someone like Honōme, she pretended to be the sweetest little furball- it almost made him gag at the sight, but he couldn’t act like that in front of the two kunoichi.

“Aww… fiiine. But I like your style, pretty princess~” Ayaka replied with a deep purr, rolling her entire head in delight, “You should make a Contract with us wonderful, trustworthy Foxes~! We got pretty sharp noses, too!” Honōme appeared to be able to determine that the deli had ginger butter on display based on smell alone, a feat that Hon couldnt’ replicate. She had a point when she said she didn’t need eyes to enjoy the world.

... Okay, these two kunoichi definitely had a lot to talk about, but he couldn’t tell them about his position in the ANBU. Nor could he talk to them about the events concerning the Revolutionists, the Tenouzans, the bomb at the Academy a while ago, or anything classified in that regard. However, the deli line was quickly filling up right now, with plenty of people trying to push at each other due to impatience and incompetence when it came to decency. Hopefully, Honōme wouldn’t trip or anything.

But Riko was with her, and it could be a good opportunity to strengthen their bond. BUT! He didn’t have it in him to do the deed himself. Coward.

 

[Shinrya Riko]

Riko had never been jealous of a fox before. She watched the way those gentle fingers scratched the ears of the fox and Riko found herself wishing that those fingers were touching her ears instead. ’Damn, I really got it bad don’t I?’ Riko thought to herself. It was true that Riko had never dated before, but then it hadn’t ever appealed to hear in the past. She wasn’t sure what was different now, but Riko felt like a thousand iridescent butterflies were dancing in her stomach. It was a sickly sweet feeling - not unpleasant exactly, but something like she was on the edge of a cliff and about to fall over. Like an instinctual sense of fear that you would lose a gamble. Only this wasn’t a gamble. Not exactly, right? She gathered herself as Honome revealed the order she wanted to place.

Riko had been so caught up that she hadn’t realized that despite her effort to foot the bill, Honome’s money was now in her hands. A flustered look came across her face, as she thought she was trying to come off the silent and cool type - girls liked that kind of person right? Well Riko knew that it didn’t exactly float her boat, but then she wasn’t trying to be someone she was attracted to, but rather someone that Honome was. She calmed the storm of nervousness, as she took Honome by the Elbow. ”Would you come with me?” There had been excuses for why Riko had wanted to be alone with Honome - It would give Hon a chance to escape, and not only that, but Riko had wanted to give Honome excuses for why she should come with her. None of those excuses came out of her lips outside of the genuine earnest request.

’I just really want to at least be friends with her.’ Riko justified to herself. ”You know I have some experience with home nursing, maybe I should apply for a position among the medical kunoichi as well. What do you think? We could see the Medical Sennin together after this and we could take the training together? Ah sorry. I didn’t mean to be so forward.” Riko rubbed the back of her head with an open hand as a sheepish look crossed her face. ’Dammit why am I turning to mush? I feel like my wit is melting! I normally can express myself better than this. She must be thinking that I’m such an idiot, and you know what? I deserve that.’