Trials, Tribulations, and Training(Suzuhime)

[Toraono Kuro]

Kuro could do nothing but nod there was still four more hours before dinner time so his mother would be in her personal sparring chamber doing one of things she loved the most sparring with Kuro’s father Kaibudo. As Kuro escorted Suzuhime to the Maw of Baranyx he debated just how he should introduce her to his mother. She would be in a cheerful mood but it would still be a bit of a challenge to get any woman passed his mother. Luckily Suzuhime was a very exceptional fighter so that would score her a great deal of points with Queen Azame, she could truly appreciate a female warrior that had managed to actually strike Kuro. After reaching one of the main platforms that led up and out of the 'Maw of Baranyx' Kuro placed his hand on a well hidden panel which responded to his chakra and revealed a well lit service elevator that could take them to the exit/entrance of the Maw.


As they traveled upwards to the surface via a chakra crystal powered, endoskeletal elevator that would have been one the many routes which once led to Baranyx's stomachs which digested its prey for over a thousand years. Kuro took a moment to look at the massive structure that had once been the skeletal structure of one of the greatest enemies Sunagakure had ever known. To have seen the remnants of the First men and the Kazekage bringing Baranyx down into the depths of the desert to die in a manner similar to all those whom he himself had murdered must have been a sight to behold.

"Well we should reach the dojo an hour before dinner time which will give you plenty of time to impress my mother. I can only say that you are more than halfway there as you have already deeply impressed me."<i></i>

 

[Toraono Suzuhime]

Suzuhime had only been within the village for a few months now. And she felt somewhat empty when she was at this forsaken maw again. The diamond dust maelstrom was hard enough to pass, she hoped this dojo wasn't beyond that. Which reminded her of something...she had very much already grown to this place as home, but she was still technically a foreigner, even after attending the Steward Kage's lecture for scientists. She had no mentioned this to Kuro had she? She just showed up one day to challenge him to a fight, lost, more recent events happened, and here she was.

"Uhum...Toraono-Dono, I should probably have mentioned that i'm not from this village...I hail from the Yamazaki homeland, Key country..."

It was a little late, but it helps to know about your potential mate's background at least. She didn't know much of Kuro's but it seemed he had lived in Sunagakure his whole life. Whereas she had only been here less then 5 months. At least she was making more progress in life with the Sand village then in Key. They had so much more material for her to use in her machines. She had already built countless things for the further progress of mechanical science. Much of them weapons or high utility items. But that was a story for another day.

Suzuhime would be lying if she said she wasn't nervous. This Azame woman seemed very protective of her children...and Suzu would get no more better treatment then the others. Which sparked a question.

"So...Toraono-dono. Obviously there have been other women who tried to have a relationship with you...what did you think of them?"

Blushing lightly from his compliment, the dwarf of a woman stood silently in the elevator, awaiting her judgement by the queen. She felt more like an inmate before a prejudice court.​

<i></i>

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Kuro blushed ever so briefly at the mention of his previous two attempted suiteresses. "Well yes, there were two women whom attempted to gain my mother's favor. One woman by the name Hashigaki Sihaya was the closest thing to an accepted suiteress, she was a Princess from Song Country and a master swords-woman. She had all but received permission to marry me until she received instructions from her mother to disregard her proposal and wait for a more suitable husband... demon ninja sages aren't exactly popular at feudal tea parties. She was broken hearted but once she obeyed her mother's decree her bid ended and my mother simply let her leave with her blessings although she could have forced her to stay and fulfill her initial obligation, seeing Sihaya-san coldly obey her mother must have sent the wrong message. My mother disobeyed her family to be with my father and now ahead of two other siblings she is Queen of Steel Country. The other woman I never met but she never made it past the entry way, apparently she felt that she could call my mother a coward for not simply challenging her to battle for her rites to use me as a sire or male concubine. Needless to say I found my mother's trophy from that incident quite funny as there is a large mass of blue hair carefully tended to and groomed daily that represents the hair of the poor woman that was summarily yanked from atop the woman's head. All in all, I don't think your being from a different country will pose much of an issue with my mother."

They neared the exit to the Maw...

 

[Toraono Suzuhime]

"I'm doubtful it makes much a difference. But that be somewhat prejudice otherwise."

She was somewhat not as 'confident' as she was. But it didn't really answer her question. He completely dodged the real part of her question.

"Kuro, I asked what you thought of them..."

She looked down in a small bout of shame, she was being pushy again. So one of his suiteresses was a sword toting princess of a whole damn country. She wasn't of royal blood, noble maybe, but not royal. The unfortunate soul that disrespected Azame seemed to be long gone now. With her hair as a trophy. Suzuhime unconsciously grabbed at her lush crimson locks. She put a lot of work into her hair, 1 of 3 things she was proud of herself with, along with her successful engineering projects, and her outstanding fighting technique that motivated Suzuhime to challenge Kuro blindly in the first place. But her assurance in her chances dwindled significantly after hearing of the Sihaya woman. She knew her abilities, bu depending on what standpoint Azame chose to view her in, would probably be what makes or breaks her relationship with the demon sage. Although to break the awkward silence, she decided to comment on the 'tea party' statement.

"Our clan are excellent house guests! Demon's in human skin though we may be."

She joked of the Yamazaki's very limited sense of humanity. Their philosophy was to further the advance of science to matter the cost. Although Suzuhime's field of expertise didn't require much contact with other humans, she had helped her brother more then once in his experiments. And helped him in just about everything.​

<i></i>

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Kuro finally answered her question directly... "I am sorry I was taught not to speak of women in a less than noble manner, the truth of the matter is there have been 2 attempts and only one did I find it in my heart to like. Sihaya was very kind to me and had I been older and wiser she probably would have taken me as her sire and I would have went along with her willingly, she was very persuasive. Many believed she had 'THE VOICE' a power that could control the minds of others with suggestion. I certainly don't doubt that she might have that ancient ability. I simply don't like to speak of her, my mother did not see her face when she was told to abandon her claim to me. She did not see the tears or hear her heart stutter. I had to bear witness to that as she ran off into the desert to complete her mother's orders. We have not spoken or conversed by message since."<i></i>

Kuro took Suzuhime's hand and looked her directly in the eyes, before leading her out of the maw and along a twisted broken half trail. The trail eventually avoided the Diamond Maelstrom entirely as a massive fortress began to come into view. Kuro's pace subconsciously picked up, no longer wanted to be nervous or feel like a little school boy before a teacher he liked but was unable to speak with.

 

[Toraono Suzuhime]

He would finally explain his own vision on Sihaya. So he did like her... that wasn't very assuring. But as he continued, she felt a little better when it seemed she possess some kind of hypnotic power through speech. The woman seemed to have genuine mutual feelings for Kuro. But apparently not enough to disobey her mother. It seemed that was the only reason she was being given the chance to stick her own hand into the hat. Though this sprung up more questions. Suzuhime had already been in a bad relationship, she didn't want to feel like the second choice. She couldn't handle a hard break up again. Suzuhime was a strong person, but eventually her craziness would catch up with her.

"Then...what about me...? Would you disobey your family for me? It's a little soon to be asking that of you. But I have been in rather bad relationships..."

The assurance, false or true, would ease her mind. Finding it difficult to look at Kuro with the current doubts in her head. She followed him by the arm, through a somewhat hidden trail, that avoided the diamond maelstrom completely...she would have to remember this place. She could almost feel Kuro's own resolve, so she must steel her own. Push back and bury her doubts. She must have faith in herself, as well as Kuro if this was going to happen.​

<i></i>

 

[Toraono Kuro]

"Then...what about me...? Would you disobey your family for me? It's a little soon to be asking that of you. But I have been in rather bad relationships..."


Kuro laughed out loud, not meaning to be silly when she was being serious but her question was outlandish. "My dear I am already breaking the rules leading you to my home instead of letting you face the Maelstrom, advising you on how to be your best around my mother and I am even keeping non student-sensei contact with you outside of the dojo. I am pretty sure my mother is going to hand me my ass ,but if I am going to see our future unfold then I would rather face the hard stuff now. This will make you actually have to face not only my Mother but my twin sisters I am the third child from a set of triplets, two girls, one boy and oddly enough we still all manage to look alike. Since you are a martial artist like father though they will like you a lot as that will give them someone to compete against."<i></i>

 

[Toraono Suzuhime]

</COLOR>

<COLOR color="#800000">Suzuhime looked over abruptly when Kuro laughed heartily. Listening to him explain himself. He already was? Then how did women even petition themselves to him? It must have been a more complicated process then she realized.

"Ah...I didn't realize that..."

Now she had to present herself to his sister's as well? Who else did she have to impress for this? But he had a point, if they were to have a future together, they should get the hard stuff out first.

"Maybe if she likes me enough she won't punish you...? I guess i'll just have to try even harder right?"

She giggled at her statement. An unusually girly giggle that showed more of her feminine side.

"I'm doubtful that I could compete with your sisters. I could barely land a blow on you, and you defeated me in one shot..."

She reminded Kuro of how one sided their duel was. And he had beaten her in a single shot to the gut. She could still faintly feel the sting of the wound. But she remembered the pleasant dinner they had afterwards.

Yes...if she could face his family. Then she could finish the hard part.

"I'm ready Toraono-dono."

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[Toraono Kuro]

Topic Left for the Toraono Dojo...

Toraono Kuro led Suzuhime to a hidden entrance to the dojo and took her through an ancient and seldom used path into the dojo's fortress walls that only special seals and his blood could open.

Topic continues at the Toraono Dojo Outer Village.