Settling In

Madrigal arrived at Ota as instructed and got himself settled in. He didn't know how long he'd be waiting for the Mizukage to come speak to him however the hint that he was given a room to stay in while he waited was a clue that it might take a day or two. This didn't bother him however, as he had always intended to pay for a hotel room anyway and wait patiently for an official meeting in the woman's office. So he would spend the time meditating, sleeping, or practicing simple gentle fist katas. He wouldn't leave really, intent upon following the directions given and being there when the Mizukage arrived to speak with him. He kept his attire neat, his well fitted suit and tie giving a business like appearance and his movements in the Gentle Fist were graceful, they weren't quite as 'practiced' as he might like, yet. He simply hadn't had the practice with the forms yet. Although his natural coordination was helping greatly to help assuage that minor issue.

His long black hair would be neatly combed and he himself would be perfectly presentable unless someone arrived at night when he would obviously be asleep. Then he would appear a bit more bedraggled, but not unkempt. At best he'd have a dress shirt and slacks on and his hair might need a brush but otherwise he would still look ready and willing to meet with whomever arrived. The Mizukage after all would undoubtedly be busy, and this meeting would occur at their convenience, not his. Something that he was perfectly accepting of. He had come out of effectively nowhere from their perspective and they would probably have to double check his claim with the Hokage himself before it was all said and done and he was allowed to potentially be a Kirigakure shinobi. If they decided to accept him at all, which it was always possible they might not want to.

Spoiler:

Mail, mail, mail. It was one of the less fun aspects of being a clan leader and a council person. The incessant demands on Sayuri’s attention and energy were boring. Boring was a word that was entirely inadequate to what she felt at the social constraints, homicidal was a better word. But even that didn’t begin to describe her displeasure. She had been sent a request to check in on the trade districts on Hozuki Isle, for. . . some. . . reason. She didn’t know exactly, probably it was just some stupid ploy to show that the Yuki were looking at all, keep everyone on their toes or something. It was at least a thinly veiled excuse to wander around and take in the scenery, and if people were smart they would keep their distance. As it turned out, people were not smart. Which was not surprising. But what was surprising was that Sayuri didn’t immediately rip out anyones throats. The solitude of travel had given her some semblance of peace and instead of flaying, she perfected her withering glare. That resulted in smarter people, more silence and less being jailed for murder.

Her white gown sparkled in the setting sun, she had taken her sweet time travelling as she had been enjoying simply being alone. It had been so long since she had just existed, outside the realm of demands and missions and people that she relished every moment. Perhaps for too long. She had only barely made it in time to sign some papers on some shipments the clan had requested. She didn’t bother looking too closely at what they had asked for, she couldn’t care less. Some fabrics and metals, crafting materials it looked like. But of course her family couldn’t allow these things to work as they were meant to, trusting in those whose literal livelihood depended on their goods being shipped properly. They always had to meddle. She’d had half a mind to tell them to do it their damn selves, and had very nearly done so before she’d realized it meant at least one whole day of being unavailable. So in the end, everyone was happy and not dead.

She had of course forgotten to eat, again. It wasn’t something she thought of often, and even less so when her mind was preoccupied with having to interact with unknown circumstances. She wandered the streets of the trade district, looking for something to eat when she happened upon a hotel that included a restaurant, partially outside with adorable iron tables and chairs and pretty lights and flowers strung along a short wrought iron fence that neatly separated the dining area from the road beyond. What drew her to it was that it was very nearly empty of people. Her blue eyes scanned the area to find a more suitable entrance than ‘jumping over the fence’, and seeing a door she would make her way inside and walk past the waiting host and sit herself down at one of the ‘balcony’ tables. They were not on a balcony at all, it was ground level, and had she cared to internally comment on it she would have decided that it was just another social construct designed to make the experience seem more valuable than it was.

They host had been flustered as she ignored him, and after standing with his mouth agape for a few moments had hurried along to attend to her. She could see from the look on his face that he was annoyed and yet not paid nearly enough to do anything about the lack of etiquette. She would smile sweetly up at him, a silent nod given when he asked if she would like a menu. It was a single page, and held nothing that didn’t include fish, save for their drink list. She was mildly disappointed, as she had been hoping for some red meat, hopefully as close to uncooked as she could get it. But fish would have to do as she was entirely unwilling to find a new location after already having sat down. When the host returned and asked what she would like, she replied in her quiet way. “Omakase” And turned her attention to the setting sun as her small hand cooled the glass of water she held in it.

It had been a week.

For fucks sake it had been a goddamn week. He could understand a few days, having someone drop in on you effectively unannounced from an allied village wanting to transfer villages and having permission from his own kage might be a tad be unexpected. It might warrant someone contacting said kage and double checking the legitimacy, that was all fair and valid. He had come expecting that, but a week?! He wouldn't have minded a bit if someone had at least sent some kind of word, he was a patient individual, always had been. However to have a week go by and be treated as if he didn't even exist was insulting. The tall, long haired man finished getting dressed, another custom fitted suit, black with a red scarf down the front. The scarf was more for decoration than for the cold. Upon his head he wore a black, white rimmed hat. Most would know it as a 'fedora' and it fit him nicely and matched the suit perfectly. With that he put on his black shoes and double checked himself one final time in the mirror before nodding and going downstairs.

At the end of the day the village was paying for the room and that meant that they were paying for his food too since the restaurant in the hotel was included in the deal with the room. So long as you had your room key on you then any meal was free. Since the village was picking up the tab while they made him wait, he would take full advantage of it in this situation and get some food. So without further adieu the Hyuga went down the stairs, since elevators can't exist without a technophobe or something trying to blow it up for some reason. Upon reaching the bottom he waved at the desk clerk who waved back before he stepped into the restaurant through a set of double doors. The place was nearly empty but one patron caught his eye. She was a pale slip of a thing with blonde hair and a stunning white dress. She was sitting outside and facing him give or take a degree or two. His eyes would fall on her and he would look at her for a moment, taking in the bright blue eyes of the young woman.

He briefly considered going over to speak to her, and he tilted his head to the side just a bit as he considered her, and that prospect. After a moment he would decided to do so. Why not right? She was attractive, seemingly alone, and sitting alone outside. What few patrons were there was scattered about inside so any conversation they might have would even be private. Besides, the worst she could say was 'no' after all. The tall, and well dressed, Hyuga moved across the restaurant to the doors leading outside and stepped out onto the patio. He took a moment to enjoy a sunset that scattered various colours across the sky. Purples, pinks, and oranges flowed across the sky drawing the eye of many to it's not quite so otherworldly canvas. Once he had enjoyed that for a moment he turned and moved toward her table. His steps were careful and measured, and when he arrived he would look at her and give her a small smile as he removed his hat and set it upon his chest as he bowed slightly. "Good evening madame, if I might say, the artwork of the heaven's above pale in comparison to the masterpiece that is you. My name is Madrigal and if you allow it I would join you at this table for a meal and a conversation. Might I have your name?" He would say, his voice polite before he stood up straight once more and set his hat upon it's perch upon his head.

At some point there had been a waiter and they had brought Sayuri some more water. She didn’t pay them much mind, since fortunately you weren’t actually required to make conversation with the staff. It was one of the few rules in her home as a child that she had actually liked to follow, since it meant she had a valid reason to be silent.

The sunset was beautiful and she watched it for a time, quickly growing bored of the sameness of it, and more so it’s unbearably soft colours. Soft pink and blue and orange were all well and good, but what she really wanted to see was crimson. Always she wanted to see that colour, and all others paled in comparison. As she let her attention wander she was struck by a sudden slash of bright red in her vision, and she wondered for a moment if perhaps either the world of blood in her mind had returned, or if she had unknowingly created it in front of her. But as the slash of red walked up to her and spoke she realized that the bit of blood red was actually a scarf.

On a person.

Who was talking to her.

Slowly she would let her gaze trail up from the man’s torso where she had first seen the scarf to his face. Out of habit she smiled sweetly up at him, taking note of his features and finding his deference to be. . . intriguing. If she had caught it rightly, he was asking to join her for dinner. Which under ordinary circumstances would have been met with a shake of her head and grim silence. But seeing that flash of colour was tantalizing and instead of turning him away she would gesture to the empty chair at her table. “Sayuri, and it is a pleasure to meet you Madrigal.” There was the tiniest bit of emphasis placed on the word ‘pleasure’ as she greeted him. “You have found me in an adventurous mood, so please, join me.” She would wait until he had seated himself, if he chose to, before remarking slyly. “A masterpiece am I? I suppose that would imply that I have a master.” Sayuri would look at Madrigal innocently as she spoke, her words and tone of voice holding none of the innocence that her expression currently did.

When her gaze left his torso, more accurately, his scarf, and trailed up to meet his eyes her sweet smile would lighten his mood. Such an expression was doubtful to be met with denial of the request to join her for the meal. When she waved for him to take the other chair he would sit down. She introduced herself as Sayuri and her miniscule emphasis on the word 'pleasure' caused a mental eyebrow to raise. Her following comment regarding his would prompt him to freeze in his tracks as the innocent gaze speared him like a boar in a hunt. The tone of voice held no such innocence and he recognized the joke for what it was immediately. The resulting reddening of his features would prompt a good natured chuckle for him as he motioned toward her politely. "Point in your favor Miss Sayuri, I concede the round." He would say with a small smile as a waiter came to ask him for his order. Without even taking his eyes off of his new companion, giving her all of his attention with the exception of the single work that came from his lips at the water. "Omakase" He would say simply, causing the waiter to nod and turn back to the kitchen to give the request.

"What brings such a beautiful woman as yourself here this fine evening?" He would ask his tone polite and conversational. Unconsciously he reached up and tilted his hat back to ensure it didn't get in the way of his face as he leaned back against the chair with a casual grace that his height belied entirely. His pure white eyes would never move away from hers of crystalline blue and as the waiter returned with a glass of water for him he would idly take it up and take a slow drink before setting it down. He crossed one leg over the other in a comfortable fashion. All the while that small smile would be on his features, giving the distinct impression that all of his attention was on her, and that he was enjoying having it be there.

Sayuri was in a state of heightened emotion. The colour of Madrigal’s scarf was all it had taken to ignite the spark that was her desire. She was doing her best to remain cordial and polite but inside her mind a voice whispered to her. His voice was soothing and familiar and told her to ignore the socially acceptable and to indulge her desires. ‘Fear me.’ Her desires were many, but at that exact moment all she desired was the colour red. Without warning it became a need and even as she smiled at the dark haired and white eyed man she knew she wouldn’t be able to sit quietly much longer.

It always felt like this, her vision beginning to tinge at the edges with crimson, her skin pricking and her muscles tightening. She found it to be the closest feeling to what others described as true pain. It was unpleasant and the only thing that ever cured it was inflicting pain. On others, herself, it didn’t matter which. Somewhere in her past either her nerves or her mind or perhaps both had been significantly altered, or she had had the misfortune of being born with crossed wiring. All pain, the type that most people associated with discomfort was curiously pleasurable for her. She had never given it much thought, it simply was what she had always known. And had resulted in many memorable events, so it was hardly something that she thought of as ‘bad’ or ‘abnormal’.

She would laugh along with Madrigal, more out of habit than true mirth. She heard his acknowledgement of her ‘winning a round’, and while she relished the swell of power that was sent to her head, it did nothing to subside the ache for carnage that she felt. If anything it stoked the flames. ‘Love me.’ The voice was louder and more insistent. She barely heard her dinner companion’s question over the melodic voice that spurred her towards violence. She would blink and turn to face Madrigal directly, her gaze filled with intensity. “I’m here on business. Something that apparently is important enough to waste a clan leader and princess’s time on. Approving the shipping of fabrics and metals or some such nonsense.” She wasn’t nearly as annoyed as her tone of voice would have suggested about the whole ordeal, her irritation at that moment came from a lack of release for her bloodlust.

She knew she had to do something. Sitting there would only result in her lashing out at the closest person, which she very much didn’t want to do. She rather enjoyed Madrigal's face on his face. With a smile that barely concealed her rising desires she would make an effort to soften her voice and purred out a command to the Hyuga. “Wait here. I need to. . . attend to something.” She would reach out a small hand and make to pat his arm before standing and making her way in the most likely direction of a restroom.

--

Sayuri did not have a plan, as usual. Her only thought was to distance herself from her desire in the hopes of being able to suppress it. Even as she moved away she was still filled with visions of the terrible and wonderful things she wanted to do to the elegant man. ‘Do as I ask.’ She wanted to scream and tear down the world, to hear it beg for her mercy, which she would never give. Her skin crawled and her heart pounded as she made her way down a long hallway and pushed her way through a heavy wooden door.

She hadn’t seen anyone other than Madrigal since she had left the table. The waiter was most likely in the kitchen, either doing his job or avoiding it, and there were no other patrons. So when she entered the restroom and heard a voice she was startled and whipped around to face a woman around her age wearing a suit and holding. . . towels? “What did you say?” her voice was low and threatening as she glared at the now uneasy looking woman. The woman, to her credit, kept her composure and repeated herself “Good evening, Miss.” There had been no plan, but that suited her just fine. Sayuri was a creature of impulse. Love, desire, rage, violence. She had wanted a release and now one stood directly in front of her, practically gift wrapped in the uncomfortable and restricting looking suit. With practiced ease Sayuri’s eyes would lock onto the attendants and an inviting smile would slightly part her red lips. ‘I shall be your slave.’ The woman would relax as prey is wont to do in the presence of an inescapable predator, and in one smooth movement the Ice Queen would lean in and tear her throat out with her ice fangs. It was over faster than she wanted, but as the warm blood poured across her tongue and down her throat she felt the ache subside and she sighed softly. The woman struggled for a moment, even tried to call out but found both impossible as Sayuri ripped out her vocal chords and held the woman’s arms to her sides. Even with Sayuri’s limited strength compared with other shinobi, to an untrained and unskilled mundane she was practically a god. Or so she imagined in her own mind.

Mere moments were all it took until she felt her prey relax in her arms, quickly succumbing to the rapid blood loss and shock. Sayuri slid to the floor with the woman, still greedily drinking in her lifeblood. It seemed to take no time at all before she felt the flow of blood slow and she released the woman’s throat and dismissed her fangs, sitting up to admire her leftovers. There was still a look of horror on the dead woman’s face, her eyes wide and glassy and her mouth open as though to scream in terror or agony. As she studied her she noted a beautiful necklace around her prey’s neck, a silver chain with swirling patterns and she was struck with an idea. Standing again she would move to the sink and rinse off the blood that had spilled onto her face, neck and hands. Waving a hand she would remake her clothing in a sparkling display of hyoton manipulation. As with her previously created outfit she was once again clothed in a stunning white gown, though this time she had recreated the necklace the attendant was wearing. With a satisfied smile and nod to her reflection in the mirror she would pause before exiting the restroom to address the cooling body on the floor. “Good evening.”

--

All told she had been gone under ten minutes, a sadly short amount of time to indulge her favourite hobby. But the woman had served her purpose well, she was now much calmer and she moved back towards her table, a contented smile on her pale face. Assuming Madrigal was still there she would sit down next to him and level her gaze on his, her white eyes still regaining their brilliant sapphire colour. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting. How can I make it up to you?”

Used - Frostbite, The Cold Never Bothered Me Anyway

Her laughter at his small joke made him smile and when she answered his question on what brought a woman like her here his hopes began to rise. If she was a clan leader, and a princess at that, then perhaps she could assist him in the matter of his getting into the village? It would certainly be a worth a shot in asking. The worst she could say was no after all. Although if she felt like he was simply trying to use her then it might mean she would feel insulted. He would have to be careful in what he asked. Perhaps just request that she put in an inquiry when she returned? That would require very little effort on her part. He was about to bring the topic up when she laid a hand upon his arm and excused herself to attend to something, her voice was a silken purr as she spoke and he nodded that he would wait. He had ordered food anyway after all and she would proceed to go inside.

He waited sipping his water and in a little less than ten minutes she would return. Sitting down next to him with a contented smile upon her features, sapphire eyes shining at him as she apologized and asked how she could make it up to him. He felt a small pang of his original desire for the woman but he pushed it aside, not before he felt his cheeks redden a bit though. His voice would be calm however when he spoke. "First allow me to welcome you back." He would say as her held a hand for hers, should she place hers in his he would kiss it politely before letting it go, his pale eyes never leaving hers of sapphire. "In regards to 'making it up to me', I was wondering. You say you're a Clan Leader and a Princess, which means you must have some measure of Authority within the village. You see Miss Sayuri, I've been waiting for a meeting with the Mizukage for a week. I'm trying to join the village as a permanent member of it's forces. I was told at the gates to come here and to await the Mizukage but it's been a week of nothing but waiting. I'm going stir crazy here, I was hoping if perhaps you might be able to put in an inquiry when you return?" He would ask politely, a small apologetic smile on his features at having to ask her such a thing at all. He'd place a hand on the table between them, resting it there as he spoke, almost seemingly reaching out to her. Although the distance between them was so short it wouldn't seem like that any who watched.

As Madrigal’s face reddened at her question a wicked grin would form on her lips. ‘This one will be fun.’ She was happy with her choice to leave his face on as she found it rather handsome while blushing. She placed her hand in his and smiled as he kissed it politely. Remembering the last time someone had kissed her hand and what it had led to a small blush of desire formed on her own cheeks. ‘Very fun.’  

His explanation as to why he was in Ota was an interesting one. While Sayuri had only met the Mizukage once, given the lack of decorum she had shown at the banquet she wasn’t overly surprised that Madrigal had been left without word from her for a week. Sayuri didn’t see Hana as the responsible type, and coming from her that said a lot. It occurred to her though that what Madrigal was saying was correct, she had a lot more power politically than she often considered. And while she could do exactly as Madrigal asked and just enquire about the visit, she could do one better. “You know, it would be such a waste to leave someone as devastatingly handsome as you in a backwater village like this. Instead of leaving you here, you will come with me. It will be a simple matter to get you into the village and from there a meeting done in a timely manner can be arranged. I’m sure we can keep you occupied until then.” Her smile was just barely not a smirk as she presented her idea, her hand reaching for his and, if he didn’t pull away, drawing small slow circles across his skin.

The small blush of desire that formed upon her cheeks after he kissed the back of her hand sent his heart racing. He wasn't particularly experienced with women yet, his only experience thus far being with Zoe, if one didn't count when he was Azalea, which he didn't since back then he was effectively asexual and focused solely on work and money. Now however his experience with the flower girl from another world had opened him up to a whole new world. A brand new place he never knew. He had started to be able to pick up on more obvious cues of desire from woman, and if the blush on Sayuri's face was any indication then she currently desired him, or at least wanted him to keep doing these types of things.

With that in mind a little bit of mild flirting probably wouldn't go amiss but he would wait for his chance. He wasn't particularly good at it yet, it was definitely something he needed to practice with but what was the worst that could happen? She not help him and he just wait for the kage meeting like he was already doing? Tell that to the dead body in the bathroom, but of course he knew nothing about that. Either way, when she responded to his request of her inquiring on his behalf she responded with denial. Not however in the way one might expect. For she was doing so much more than simply making an inquiry. She was going to take him back with her, get him in, and see about getting him a meeting as soon as possible. That was better news than he could have possibly hoped for and when she reached for his hand, him letting her take it, she would begin to lazily trace small, slow, circles on it. His heart rate would increase significantly but he'd keep it under control for the moment before speaking. "Well now that's so much more than I could have reasonably requested as repayment for keeping me waiting. I'll accept that offer, but I feel I owe you now. So, how can I repay you for such a service?" He would ask with a small smile, his pale eyes not moving away from hers of sapphire.

Sometime during the exchange the waiter would return, bringing him a glass of water and both of their meals but he wouldn't even notice and the man was unobtrusive enough that he didn't draw Madrigals attention away from Sayuri, his pale eyed remained glued to hers as the man came and went, dropping off their meals. His would consist of a traditional meal for an island near the sea. A sashimi plate with tuna, yellowtail, and salmon, all thinly sliced with daikon radish, and a small bit of wasabi. Alongside the plate of sashimi sat a bowl of steamed brown rice and a bowl of miso soup. A cup of green tea joined it and the waiter would already be gone.

Sayuri was completely aware of exactly what she had inferred. Her appetite for blood had been sated temporarily, though her appetite regarding other things was ceaseless. She was considering pushing more, since she’d had such a fun time with others in her manipulative endeavours she couldn’t see much of a reason to not engage now. She kept her hand on his, a flirtatious smile fixed on her red lips as she continued to gently caress the back of his hand.

Her intentions were put on hold as the waiter returned with their ordered food, and as she glanced at it Sayuri realized that she actually was hungry. The blood she had consumed earlier had helped but it didn’t exactly contain all of the nutrition she needed and her stomach insisted that she eat real food. Moving her hand from Madrigal’s she would attempt to stroke his cheek with her fingers before moving to begin eating her meal. A genial cessation of contact with the unspoken promise of continuation after the interruption. She picked up the fish and began eating, chewing thoughtfully as she considered Madrigal’s statement that he owed her. She rather liked the idea that he felt he owed her something. As for what she would want in return she didn’t quite know, so she would wink and swallow her food before answering. “I will let you know how best you can repay me, I’m sure between the two of us we can come up with something mutually beneficial.”

As the waiter returned again to check on them Sayuri would request a pen and paper, to which the man would raise an eyebrow slightly though would retrieve the requested items. “Your last name?” She would ask before writing anything. Assuming he answered her she would take a moment to push her plate out of the way and write down a letter for the guards at the Kirigakure Eastern Gates, and once finished would fold it once neatly and hand it to Madrigal. “This should suffice to allow you entry. I don’t usually speak to the guards, out of habit now more than anything, but this type of exchange will not seem odd to them.”

Note:

She kept her hand on his, a flirty smile on her features that sent his heart racing as she continued her gentle tracing on the back of his hand. When the waiter arrived with their food her eyes would glance up at the it before she removed her hand from his and instead stroked his cheek, brushing against it with her fingers. An unspoken promise, a silent agreement from him that he was sure she knew would come. When she began to eat he would too, taking his chop sticks and taking up his own sliced fish and beginning to eat. He would keep his eyes on her as she ate, mostly because he wanted her to believe that she was the only thing around that he wanted to give attention to. What he didn’t expect was for her to wink at him before swallowing her food and informing him that she would have to think on how best for him to repay him. The unspoken implications in the ‘something mutually beneficial’ a sort of flirty promise of it’s own.

The water would return to check on them and Sayuri would request pen and paper. When the waiter returned Sayuri would ask him for his last name, which caused him to look sheepish. “I have none I’m afraid. I’m simply ‘Madrigal’.” He would say. Assuming she still wrote the letter he would take it from her and read it curiously as she explained. Smiling gratefully he would nod his head at her before setting the note in his breast pocket, safe and sound. “Thank Sayuri, I look forward to figuring out what sort of ‘mutually beneficial’ arrangement we can come up with together.” He would say, a small smirk on his features as he slowly began to get more comfortable. Afterwards he would begin to eat again, moving through his meal with a quick efficiency that still managed to be extremely polite in the process. “Dessert?” He would ask her, an eyebrow quirking as he offered. He was already planning to cover their meal anyway. It was the polite thing to do and if she wanted something sweet he could wave the waiter over to order.
-

Sayuri was thoroughly enjoying herself, despite having begun this day trip with resentment in her heart for being sent at all. While she still didn’t like the idea of being able to be bossed around by the ingrates that called themselves her clan, she did appreciate the serendipity of meeting Madrigal. He seemed quite receptive to her playfulness and she tucked away his reactions to her advances as fuel for future entertainment. She knew she would see him again, at least one more time. He was heading to her village after all.

After she had written and handed off the letter that would grant passage to Kirigakure to Madrigal, she would follow his hand with her eyes as it went past the slash of red again. She barely recognized that he was even speaking as he apologized, her attention solely focused on the bright, life filled colour. Her hand would reach across to him and attempt to slowly pull one end of the red scarf off of him and towards her, murmuring a repeat of the words ‘mutually beneficial’ as she did.

‘It is not the same. You know that.’

‘It is enough.’

‘Is it?’

‘For now.’

If he didn’t stop her she would eventually tear her eyes from the scarf to look into Madrigal’s white pupil-less eyes as she slowly wrapped the scarf loosely around her own neck and shoulders. The exchange in her mind was brief, and as much as she hated to admit it to herself, Jareth was right. The colour alone wasn’t enough, it never was. She didn’t remember exactly when the obsession had first started but she found that just taking a piece of someone, even if it was just their clothing, made her feel more complete. As though she was more connected to them somehow, and that connection helped to ease the gnawing ache she felt that led to her violent outbursts. With the scarf around her shoulders her face would relax into a blissful smile as she gazed up at him, though if Madrigal did interrupt her scarf theft, she would merely pout and attempt to ease her urges by continuing to consume the fish flesh that was on her plate.

“I rather like you Madrigal. You’re. . . enjoyable.” By now the words he had spoken had settled into her present thoughts and she wanted to reiterate her desire for his continued company. “Are you, or am I?” Was her quick reply to his question about dessert, a sultry yet still relaxed smile on her features.

As she reached out to pull at one end of his scarf he would raise an eyebrow at her in surprise and curiosity. He wouldn’t stop her though. Frankly, if she liked it, he didn’t mind parting with it. He had more just like it, it was one of his favorite parts of his attire really so he had plenty of back ups just in case whichever one he was wearing became damaged. So when she looked into his white eyes with hers of blue and wrapped the scarf slowly around her neck and shoulders, the two ends trailing down her front a bit as well, he would adorn a small smile to his features. Telling her that it was alright. When she spoke, informing him that she rather liked him, and that he was enjoyable his smile would widen. “I’ve rather enjoyed spending time with you too Sayuri.” He would say and when she responded to his offer of dessert he would pause for a moment.

He hadn’t expected that, but he should have given her flirtatious nature so far. He would respond immediately, and instead look into her cobalt eyes before reaching with two hands. He would slowly reach over to the ends of the scarf that she had tied around her shoulders and provided he was not stopped would pull her closer. If they were close enough for her to casually reach over and take the scarf, then they would certainly be close enough for this. As he pulled her forward he would move forward as well, as if making to kiss her, however he would stop, sheer millimeters betweens their lips, their breath intermingling and his eyes on hers as he spoke, his voice barely more than a whisper. “Why not both?” He would ask simply, before closing the remaining space and kissing her, only softly though, barely a brush of his lips against hers.

The tease worked on him as much as he hoped it worked on her but he would quash that flame outright. Frankly, he wanted to get to Kirigakure and get into the village. He wanted to become a member of their forces already and start his new life as a shinobi of Kirigakure. He wanted to become closer to Sayuri too, but there would be time for that later. After he brushed his lips against hers, provided he hadn’t been stopped of course, he would pull himself back and slowly loosen his hold on the scarf. The pull of it would have been forward, so the garment wouldn’t have been able to cut off the air flow, merely force her closer. “Perhaps we can finish up here, and we can travel to Kirigakure together? I hate for you to have written the letter for nothing since if you’re with me I doubt we’d be stopped. However it would allow us to spend more time together and perhaps when we get there we can talk about that ‘dessert’” He would say, the final word being said with a small smirk on his features.

If she agreed, he would nod before standing and offering a hand to her to help her up. He would pay the tab, and he would leave, hopefully with her joining him. He hadn’t really bothered to unpack really, his various spare clothes were in scrolls he had on him. He didn’t want to unseal them since he’d needed help sealing them into the scrolls in the first place. No, the only way his clothing came out was if he needed a change, or he had arrived at his new ‘home’ and he was unpacking. If she didn’t agree, he would simply sit and listen, to any response she might have.

[Potential Exit]

Madrigal’s smile was beautiful, and it made Sayuri smile along with him. She smiled all the wider at her question about dessert. It was the type of answering she was hoping to evoke when she had first asked. What she hadn’t expected was him leaning closer and pulling her towards him by the scarf she had appropriated. She felt heat rise into her cheeks as he stopped just before their lips touched. She wanted to close that gap, to climb onto his lap and demand he take her right there in the middle of a hotel restaurant. But the masochistic side of her was revelling in the torture of waiting, of being denied.

When he did kiss her, though it was brief and soft, a tiny gasp escaped her lips as he pulled away. She was frustrated and delighted, and both emotions showed clearly in her blue eyes. Her own hands would rise to grasp the ends of the scarf around her neck while she bit her bottom lip. She wanted to complain, but she also enjoyed Madrigal’s teasing, so instead she would answer his question placing her hand in his to rise from her seat afterwards. “I would very much like to spend more time with you Madrigal, travelling together would make the most sense. And not to worry, the letter won’t go to waste. I really don’t speak to the guards, I’ve always communicated via letter with them. Shall we then, my handsome escort?” She would then thread her arm around Madrigal’s as they left Ota heading to Kirigakure, stopping only long enough to pay the waiter and gather Madrigal’s things if he had any.  

[Exit Thread: Ota to Kirigakure with Madrigal]