Bathing in Ember Rays [p]

[Trigga]

The sun was beauteous.

Rays of golden ginger danced from the heavens with a rather eloquent advance upon the bastion of Konohagakure no Sato. Birds chirping aimlessly, dividing the firmament in flocks equating to numerous, with their sheer volume of wing-engrossed specimens soaring without purpose, yet having all the direction in the world. The streets were inundated with concrete attractiveness; fine architectural design masking the paddock beneath as the sidewalks and lanes made navigating the vastness of the village that much more tolerable. A populace spanning into the tens of thousands, such space and luxury was needed, of course. A home was only as convivial as its appeal.

With that said, the Kazekage was welcomed with open arms. Upon ingress into the village, and a gradual succession towards the heart of the Hidden Leaf, citizens of all races, beliefs and professions gathered randomly in blotches of multitudes to wave off her highness as she passed with their own Leader. While Ryūsuke held his own reverential and diligent nature, which should have been obvious, it was more discernible that the population of Konoha was long-established people of admiration. Admiring their peers and superiors, and bathing their enemies in a shower of relentless blitz, the Hidden Leaf was a fine-running machine- its oil obviously changed on a regular and showed no signs of slowing down, even after the War and hellish Bijū Attack.

As the two adventured further into the City, signs of construction and rejuvenation were evident. While not necessarily reconstructing loss endeavors, it appeared as if the Hidden Leaf was renovating. “Excuse all the clutter. “ Ryūsuke exclaimed, smiling as he continued to move alongside the pink-haired nobility, easily evading the far-off industrialized restorations as he looked up into the sky, allowing the bright, transparent waves to bath his lightly tan skin anew. “Are you hungry, Lady Kazekage?” A simple inquiry with the expectation of a simple answer. The Uchiha knew the journey from Sunagakure was one that forwarded no latitude, and it seemed she was unequipped with a standard battalion of guards. Her trip must have left her famished.

[addy-hime ♥]

Konohagakure is not as I imagined it.

This was my singular thought as I trailed the Hokage through the streets, turning my head this way and that to absorb the myriad of sights available to me. Here, there was not a brutal wind whipping sand in every direction, and so the people were more inclined to be outside. In that sense, I understood why we passed so many citizens, and yet ... I could not comprehend why they smiled, waved, and bowed to me, as if I was a guest of honor instead of the leader of a shinobi village that had ravaged them in the past. There may have been one point where we were allies, but that time was not now; my shinobi held a deep resentment toward Leaf, as if it was the elder sibling that could do no wrong, whilst we, we, could never please.

"Clutter?" I repeated, aghast, as I turned my attention fully back upon my companion. This, too, went above my head. Konohagakure was without a doubt in a stage of repair, but to say it was cluttered or messy whatsoever seemed like a deep overstatement. I bit back a laugh, instead allowing my lips to curl into a wide, almost feline smile, and then I picked up my pace so that I might be more fully at his side. "Please, you don't need to be so formal with me, Hokage-sama. You may call me Etsuko Youka, or ... simply Youka, if you so choose. I have never been one to demand my subjects call me Lady Kazekage, and I certainly won't do so of you."

If I was being honest, I found this man's company quite enjoyable. He was not the old, miserly character I pictured in my head when I thought of the village hidden in the leaf, nor was he as brash and egotistical as myself. If anything, the Hokage was the perfect level of courteous and kind, and I felt at ease in his presence. Should I? Absolutely not—Asato would yell at me later when I told him of this, but it could not be helped. I felt almost like I was around one of my brothers, and in that sense I knew a playful side of my personality was soon to become obvious.

Too late I realized I had never answered his question, and with a laugh as I turned to him I added in, "I'm starving, actually! It's been quite some time since I was afforded a comfortable meal, you can imagine. Why don't we find someplace to eat whilst we talk? I always thought important conversations should be had over a good dinner ... there's less chance of a fight breaking out when everyone is full."

[Trigga]

It seemed the two’s opinions of one other completely diverged with the fantasy of reality. Whereas the Kazekage assumed the man she was standing with dissolved with age and egoism, her mind’s illustration was some ways off. In retrospect, the imperial, haughty and equally devout ruler who decided when the sun rise and the moon to descend wasn’t who stood to his right. She was cut from a different breed, and held a relaxed atmosphere that resembled the Uchiha’s own. It was frightening when you looked from an abstract corner of the psyche while attempting to merge realism with imagination. Odd what the mind sometimes conceived to fill a void of ignorance.

In truth, her joviality filled the essence of content that normally depleted itself when in the presence of an equal or superior. “Thank you, Yōka-san. I’m fairly new to my position so needless to say… I have little experience in dealings with others of such a stature.” He exclaimed with a smile, easily catching on to the connotation of the woman and showed he would respect her wishes. It was revitalizing, knowing someone other than himself who held such an imperative vocation could be as normal as anyone around them. Never too serious, and seldom ignorant, Ryūsuke held an inimitable balance that would guide him a long way on his journey on the road of life. Nonetheless, he had much to learn, and even more to experience.

It wasn’t until the conclusion of her last statement that the young man allowed a soft laughter to escape his lips and expelled into the world. Yōka was beautiful, kind and casual; a comedic was something the Uchiha didn’t expect. “Hahaha, I can only imagine.--- I know the perfect place to relax cosset into conversation.” With that, he would soon guide the pink-haired nobility through the complex, though equally beautiful maze of avenues and districts of the Hidden Leaf. The sights of working citizens were only surpassed by the jollity of the village’s youth enjoying the company of another in games designed after the Shinobi that protected its tranquility. Several moments seemed like nothing more than a fraction of its actual duration as the two found themselves in front of a rather casual looking diner. Though small in its overall design, the architecture was beauteous as plants of numerous species and coloration hung from the partition above the door and the grass was neatly cut expressing true care for the décor itself.

“Ah! Ryūsuke ma boy!” Exploding through the front door, a man who appeared to rest in his mid-forty’s rocketed onto the public eye. Garbed in a traditional chef’s garb and a thin, though elegantly curled beard to compliment, the man bowed. “No need to be so formal Futtota.” Ryūsuke smiled derisorily as he looked on, attempting to hide the blush. The Hokage was never one who was in the light, and with the new exposure of popularity, it was overwhelming at times. “So you’re going to stand here, and not introduce the best cook in Konohagakure to this lovely young lady?” A bow would ensue, showing his respect for one who he didn’t know as Kazekage, but simply a woman.

“She’s a very special guest to the Hidden Leaf--- Lady—Yōka.” He announced, halting his progression into the ceremonial blunder the Kazekage once noted he should allow to fade. “Ah, well welcome to Konohagakure. You have the best tour guide in the village you know. hahaha!” At the expense of Ryūsuke own bearing, the older man chuckled, and soon turned, opening the door for the two. “Usual place?” He inquired, which was only responded to with a nod from the Hokage himself. From this point, the Uchiha would lead the way. As the two entered, they would walk pass a series of tables—carved from fine wood as citizens of all races, beliefs and opinions sat in content; bonded by the food that transcended petty differences itself.

The scarlet-haired would wave as he passed by, navigating through the moderately crowded diner and soon reaching a series of stairs. “Ladies first,” a gentleman by nature, he’d allow his guest to pass, which would soon lead the two upwards a spiral well until a door obstructed them. A turn of the knob allowed the white-painted door to open outwards and soon, on the roof—surrounded by nature’s beauty of plants, small trees and the bouquet of roses themselves an amazing view of the Hidden Leaf itself topped the ornamentation. The “House table” was set on the roof of the construction, a modest 10 meters elevated into the heavens with a finely crafted table which occupied two as evident by the number of chairs. The sweet aroma of nature nurturing the senses as Ryūsuke sighed contently.

Walking out a modest five meters, his senses captured all, even to his rear as he motioned towards the table. Upon hitting the right side, he spun on his heel and faced the chair. With his hands, he pulled it out gradually and looked towards Yōka. “Here you go.” He called out with a smile awaited her to take her seat and thus would be properly pushed back in. He’d take his own seat from there and as such looked across the table. “He’ll be here later and take our orders. However we have tea for now.” He exclaimed, pulling two saucers and dexterously poured both with the contents of a mocha-esque essence—sweet in smell as he handed one to Yōka.

“So may I ask? What brought you here?”

[Comatose]

Ryu: 20
Addylove: 10(1.5)=15

[Trigga]

Until Addy returns, I'll be postponing this thread. ^{Need my availability, yo ;[}