It would seem that Nobunaga and Sakaki had both taken the majority of their forces to go chase down some kind of lead on whatever it was that they attempted to find, which left Naomi mostly to her own devices for the day. Whomever or whatever it was that they were trying to find, she felt sorry for, but it was only because of it that she ever managed to leave the extensive estate that Nobunaga was based out of, so in a way, she was selfishly grateful for that. She hoped they never found it and continued always to look. Better for everyone but them, that way.
With her free day, sheād chosen to go into the city, or rather, the lake right near the city. Naomi did not ordinarily look like a woman who enjoyed nature, but actually, she found it very soothing to be out here. Sheād even managed to shed her usual finery for the occasion, though there was no mistaking the elegance of her carriage. Some women could make the simplest of things look like the finest, and sheād been trained to be one of them. So, though she wore a very loose manās red gi and brown hakama, there was no mistaking that she was female. Sheād braided her hair into one long plait, which was now coiled behind her as she sat seiza in front of the lakeshore, idly feeding the ducks from the onigiri sheād brought with her.
Her expression was little wistful as she watched them nibble contentedly at the little bits of sticky rice she broke off, though it would have been easy to miss. She was long accomplished at hiding her feelings, after all, and even as much expression as she now allowed herself was only because she was, for the moment at least, quite alone. Sighing quietly, she raised the remainder of the rice ball and took a bite herself, chewing slowly as she gazed out over the water. Sometimes, she entertained fancies the like of being a duck, or some other kind of bird, or some other kind of person. Really, anything but herself would do. Such things were, however, only idle imaginings that would never get her anywhere. She had chosen this path for herself, in a sense, and she was committed to it now. Stillā¦ she wondered what her life would have been like if it were truly hers to live in the first place, were she not always beholden to someone else.
"They say it is not wise to feed wild animals. They become tame once you do," Yujin stated, lacing his hands behind the back of his head as he rested in a tree limb. He had chosen to nap in the tree situated near the lake, having found the sounds of nature a bit soothing than the typical hustle and bustle of the city. It was comforting to just listen to the sounds of the ducks swimming, the birds singing, and the bugs flying by. He wasn't one for such things, however; someone in the city had found his presence to be a little intimidating. And the last thing he wanted to do was cause trouble for his siblings. So, he opted to leave the city for the day, and take up rest in the tree. He cracked one eye open, spotting Naomi sitting by the ledge as he studied her.
"I take it the boss has either croaked, or he's chasing another lead," he stated, putting an emphasis on the word. Yujin was no longer part of that group, and he was silently thankful for that. He couldn't say the same about Naomi, though. He'd only been around her a few times when he was still a part of the Yakuza, however; he didn't need to know much to know what exactly Nobunaga always intended. "Judging from the way you are still here, Oni would have to say that he's chasing another lead," he continued, rolling so that he dangled from the limbs of the tree, which surprisingly, held his entire weight.
He released his legs from the limbs and landed upon his feet, trudging towards Naomi before taking a seat next to her. He pulled at the satchel laying at his waist, and handed her a small box. "Tsu-Tsu made Inoshishi Ramen yesterday. She packed an extra box that this one does not need. You may have it, if you want it seeing as you just fed the ducks your onigiri," he stated, offering her a toothy grin.
Naomi arched a perfectly-sculpted eyebrow at the oni beside her. The moment sheād heard another voice, all trace of genuine emotion had erased itself from her visage, leaving her with a sort of soft blankness that passed for polite, at least in the company she tended to keep. She recognized the one seated next to her, though only dimly. He had once been part of Nobunagaās yakuza, but had somehow managed to escape with his life. That was not common. It was rather bold of him to be here, in the same city as his former comrades, but Edo was big enough that he could stay out of their way if he really wanted to. She was not nearly so fortunate.
Since he already seemed to know the answer to his query, she did not do so herself, rather looking with a trace of wry skepticism at the food being offered. āAnd if this Tsu-Tsu,ā she began, placing a delicate emphasis on the obviously-affectionate nickname with some trace of amusement, āfeeds an oni, does she tame him, I wonder?ā The crystalline blue eyes that marked her own half-blooded heritage slid to his face, the corner of her lips tilting just slightly upwards. It was an expression equal parts sly and the sort of natural hint of sultriness that she never quite managed to lose. It was just too much a part of her now.
She made no move to take the box, nor, however, did she refuse it. āPerhaps,ā she ventured, āsome tame things are still wild, after all, and only pretend to be otherwise in order to be fed.ā It was unclear if she referred to him, herself, or something else entirely, and that was quite intentional on her part.
"Well, when you put it that way, I suppose she has," he replied in a nonchalant manner. He hadn't really thought of it that way, honestly. "If that is the case, then wouldn't we all be tamed by the one who cooks for us?" he questioned. He placed the box in her hand, though she had made no move to accept, nor refuse, the box. He contemplated her statement for a bit. There was truth in the words either way he looked at it. Wild animals became tamed simply because they had a need for something that someone could provide for them. But that did not necessarily mean that they were not still wild. An animal could still turn and bite the hand that feeds them, tame or wild.
"We all have to eat, and if there is an easier way to obtain it, then perhaps, we are all just tamed animals who merely think we are still wild. And that the word wild still means unattainable," he continued, taking a bite out of his lunch pack. He intentionally ignored the sultry behind her smile and fixed his gaze upon the ducks, watching as they idled in their spot. He reached over, grabbed the roll stuffed in the box, and crumbled it in his hand. He then sprinkled the crumbs into the water, mimicking the motion Naomi had when she fed them the sticky rice.
"You shouldn't feed birds rice, it tends to expand in their stomaches, and you'll make them implode. Or is that with dry rice, I can never remember," he continued speaking, though he knew full well which one it was. He just didn't have the capacity to care at the moment. He was making conversation, and her answers were a little entertaining to leave well enough alone. Masurao wasn't around to pick on, and Tatsuki was always at the restaurant, cooking. He needed to find his entertainment in one way or another.
Naomi made a breathy noise somewhere between a huff and a scoff, though it still somehow managed to sound rather feminine. For the briefest moment, she almost rolled her eyes skyward, but in the end, that would have required a level of comfort she simply didnāt have here. She had little idea what Yujināfor that was his name, she was almost certaināwanted, and until that was clear to her, it was best to be cautious. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she looked back out to the lake, for the moment setting aside the ramen and folding her hands demurely in her lap. Chances were good that what he wanted was amusement. That was all anyone ever desired to use her for. It meant something a little different for everyone, and sometimes depended on the day. She took his today to be largely benign, at least by comparison to, say, Nobunaga.
āIn truth, I think it matters little what we really are. Itās what we think we are that makes the difference. Well, that and what we can convince others we are.ā The statement was unusually blunt, coming from her, but true nevertheless. Idly, she smoothed the hakama she wore with her palms, a gesture that perhaps would have made a little more sense with a kimono. Considering she was much more accustomed to wearing those, this fact likely made sense of a sort. She lifted both shoulders in a delicate shrug. Her entire profession traded on impressions and deception; it was hardly illogical for her to think as she did. Perhaps his perspective was different, but even if so, it wouldnāt really change hers. He wasnāt someoneās pet.
"On the contrary," he spoke, picking up one of the ducklings in his massive hand and holding it with great care. He placed it near his face, watching as it sat in his hand. "It matters all the same what we are, because what we are leads to us being who we are," though in honesty it was a bit of a lie. He was an Oni, and by standards, Oni were to be big dumb brutes. He was nothing of the sort, however; he tended to play the part. After all, why would he give someone reason to believe that he was more dangerous than what he already knew? He sighed softly through his nose and set the duckling back into the pond, watching as it swam away to rejoin its family.
"Tell me something, Naomi, what is it that you wish to convince the world you are?" he asked, laying back in the grass with his hands folded behind his head. For him, he wanted nothing from the world other than for it to believe that he was an oaf, an ogre who couldn't see ten feet in front of him. "Or rather, what is it that you are trying to convince yourself?" he added as an after thought.
He lived in a much nicer world than hers if he really believed that. Then againā¦ she wasnāt sure he did, not exactly at least. He was unlike many of his kind, after allāif who they were really blossomed out of what, then it was unlikely he would have ever attempted to become anything other than what he once had been, an enforcer for the yakuza. The question returned the wry smile to her face, and though she reached delicately for a duckling, it skittered past her into the water, and she resisted the urge to sigh. There was no hiding what she was from such a simple creature, perhaps. It could not see enough to be deceived by the same lies as everyone else.
āAn interesting question,ā she admitted. And one with many answers. āThough itās a little rude to ask it of someone you hardly know, isnāt it?ā Despite the words themselves, she didn't sound at all offended that he had. That did not, however, mean that she was going to answer. When one survived on deception and artifice, one did not give the truth away very freely. She glanced down beside her to where he lay, though she remained seated with the same flawless posture. āPerhaps I wish to convince the world that I am hungry, since I seem to have received free food out of the endeavor,ā she teased, referring of course to the leftovers sheād been gifted with.
So saying, however, she picked up the box and flowed gracefully to her feet. It was a little too easy to talk to this one. For a moment, she met his eyes, then shook her head minutely. āGood day, Yujin-san, and do pass my thanks to your Tsu-Tsu, hmm?ā
"Oh, you wound Oni so, with your harsh words," Yujin replied, laying his hand over his heart in a mocking gesture. He, however, chuckled lightly. Perhaps it was a question that should have been reserved for those more close. That didn't stop his lips from tilting into a light smirk though. "I wouldn't say I hardly know you, rather, I do not know you all that well. But, as you say I do not apologize," he replied, shrugging his shoulders lightly as he sat up, meeting her gaze before she shook her head. He imitated the gesture of shaking his head, and stood up.
"Oh, I shall express thanks to my Tsu-Tsu. I am not so sure that she'll appreciate the gesture of being called so, but it might be a little interesting. You should go by the restaurant, I'm sure she'd like that," which she probably wouldn't if Yujin knew his sister. She'd get upset at him for making Naomi do that, if she did that, and she'd end up scolding him. She'd probably apologize to the Hanyou in the process. "Good day, Naomi."
With her free day, sheād chosen to go into the city, or rather, the lake right near the city. Naomi did not ordinarily look like a woman who enjoyed nature, but actually, she found it very soothing to be out here. Sheād even managed to shed her usual finery for the occasion, though there was no mistaking the elegance of her carriage. Some women could make the simplest of things look like the finest, and sheād been trained to be one of them. So, though she wore a very loose manās red gi and brown hakama, there was no mistaking that she was female. Sheād braided her hair into one long plait, which was now coiled behind her as she sat seiza in front of the lakeshore, idly feeding the ducks from the onigiri sheād brought with her.
Her expression was little wistful as she watched them nibble contentedly at the little bits of sticky rice she broke off, though it would have been easy to miss. She was long accomplished at hiding her feelings, after all, and even as much expression as she now allowed herself was only because she was, for the moment at least, quite alone. Sighing quietly, she raised the remainder of the rice ball and took a bite herself, chewing slowly as she gazed out over the water. Sometimes, she entertained fancies the like of being a duck, or some other kind of bird, or some other kind of person. Really, anything but herself would do. Such things were, however, only idle imaginings that would never get her anywhere. She had chosen this path for herself, in a sense, and she was committed to it now. Stillā¦ she wondered what her life would have been like if it were truly hers to live in the first place, were she not always beholden to someone else.
"They say it is not wise to feed wild animals. They become tame once you do," Yujin stated, lacing his hands behind the back of his head as he rested in a tree limb. He had chosen to nap in the tree situated near the lake, having found the sounds of nature a bit soothing than the typical hustle and bustle of the city. It was comforting to just listen to the sounds of the ducks swimming, the birds singing, and the bugs flying by. He wasn't one for such things, however; someone in the city had found his presence to be a little intimidating. And the last thing he wanted to do was cause trouble for his siblings. So, he opted to leave the city for the day, and take up rest in the tree. He cracked one eye open, spotting Naomi sitting by the ledge as he studied her.
"I take it the boss has either croaked, or he's chasing another lead," he stated, putting an emphasis on the word. Yujin was no longer part of that group, and he was silently thankful for that. He couldn't say the same about Naomi, though. He'd only been around her a few times when he was still a part of the Yakuza, however; he didn't need to know much to know what exactly Nobunaga always intended. "Judging from the way you are still here, Oni would have to say that he's chasing another lead," he continued, rolling so that he dangled from the limbs of the tree, which surprisingly, held his entire weight.
He released his legs from the limbs and landed upon his feet, trudging towards Naomi before taking a seat next to her. He pulled at the satchel laying at his waist, and handed her a small box. "Tsu-Tsu made Inoshishi Ramen yesterday. She packed an extra box that this one does not need. You may have it, if you want it seeing as you just fed the ducks your onigiri," he stated, offering her a toothy grin.
Naomi arched a perfectly-sculpted eyebrow at the oni beside her. The moment sheād heard another voice, all trace of genuine emotion had erased itself from her visage, leaving her with a sort of soft blankness that passed for polite, at least in the company she tended to keep. She recognized the one seated next to her, though only dimly. He had once been part of Nobunagaās yakuza, but had somehow managed to escape with his life. That was not common. It was rather bold of him to be here, in the same city as his former comrades, but Edo was big enough that he could stay out of their way if he really wanted to. She was not nearly so fortunate.
Since he already seemed to know the answer to his query, she did not do so herself, rather looking with a trace of wry skepticism at the food being offered. āAnd if this Tsu-Tsu,ā she began, placing a delicate emphasis on the obviously-affectionate nickname with some trace of amusement, āfeeds an oni, does she tame him, I wonder?ā The crystalline blue eyes that marked her own half-blooded heritage slid to his face, the corner of her lips tilting just slightly upwards. It was an expression equal parts sly and the sort of natural hint of sultriness that she never quite managed to lose. It was just too much a part of her now.
She made no move to take the box, nor, however, did she refuse it. āPerhaps,ā she ventured, āsome tame things are still wild, after all, and only pretend to be otherwise in order to be fed.ā It was unclear if she referred to him, herself, or something else entirely, and that was quite intentional on her part.
"Well, when you put it that way, I suppose she has," he replied in a nonchalant manner. He hadn't really thought of it that way, honestly. "If that is the case, then wouldn't we all be tamed by the one who cooks for us?" he questioned. He placed the box in her hand, though she had made no move to accept, nor refuse, the box. He contemplated her statement for a bit. There was truth in the words either way he looked at it. Wild animals became tamed simply because they had a need for something that someone could provide for them. But that did not necessarily mean that they were not still wild. An animal could still turn and bite the hand that feeds them, tame or wild.
"We all have to eat, and if there is an easier way to obtain it, then perhaps, we are all just tamed animals who merely think we are still wild. And that the word wild still means unattainable," he continued, taking a bite out of his lunch pack. He intentionally ignored the sultry behind her smile and fixed his gaze upon the ducks, watching as they idled in their spot. He reached over, grabbed the roll stuffed in the box, and crumbled it in his hand. He then sprinkled the crumbs into the water, mimicking the motion Naomi had when she fed them the sticky rice.
"You shouldn't feed birds rice, it tends to expand in their stomaches, and you'll make them implode. Or is that with dry rice, I can never remember," he continued speaking, though he knew full well which one it was. He just didn't have the capacity to care at the moment. He was making conversation, and her answers were a little entertaining to leave well enough alone. Masurao wasn't around to pick on, and Tatsuki was always at the restaurant, cooking. He needed to find his entertainment in one way or another.
Naomi made a breathy noise somewhere between a huff and a scoff, though it still somehow managed to sound rather feminine. For the briefest moment, she almost rolled her eyes skyward, but in the end, that would have required a level of comfort she simply didnāt have here. She had little idea what Yujināfor that was his name, she was almost certaināwanted, and until that was clear to her, it was best to be cautious. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she looked back out to the lake, for the moment setting aside the ramen and folding her hands demurely in her lap. Chances were good that what he wanted was amusement. That was all anyone ever desired to use her for. It meant something a little different for everyone, and sometimes depended on the day. She took his today to be largely benign, at least by comparison to, say, Nobunaga.
āIn truth, I think it matters little what we really are. Itās what we think we are that makes the difference. Well, that and what we can convince others we are.ā The statement was unusually blunt, coming from her, but true nevertheless. Idly, she smoothed the hakama she wore with her palms, a gesture that perhaps would have made a little more sense with a kimono. Considering she was much more accustomed to wearing those, this fact likely made sense of a sort. She lifted both shoulders in a delicate shrug. Her entire profession traded on impressions and deception; it was hardly illogical for her to think as she did. Perhaps his perspective was different, but even if so, it wouldnāt really change hers. He wasnāt someoneās pet.
"On the contrary," he spoke, picking up one of the ducklings in his massive hand and holding it with great care. He placed it near his face, watching as it sat in his hand. "It matters all the same what we are, because what we are leads to us being who we are," though in honesty it was a bit of a lie. He was an Oni, and by standards, Oni were to be big dumb brutes. He was nothing of the sort, however; he tended to play the part. After all, why would he give someone reason to believe that he was more dangerous than what he already knew? He sighed softly through his nose and set the duckling back into the pond, watching as it swam away to rejoin its family.
"Tell me something, Naomi, what is it that you wish to convince the world you are?" he asked, laying back in the grass with his hands folded behind his head. For him, he wanted nothing from the world other than for it to believe that he was an oaf, an ogre who couldn't see ten feet in front of him. "Or rather, what is it that you are trying to convince yourself?" he added as an after thought.
He lived in a much nicer world than hers if he really believed that. Then againā¦ she wasnāt sure he did, not exactly at least. He was unlike many of his kind, after allāif who they were really blossomed out of what, then it was unlikely he would have ever attempted to become anything other than what he once had been, an enforcer for the yakuza. The question returned the wry smile to her face, and though she reached delicately for a duckling, it skittered past her into the water, and she resisted the urge to sigh. There was no hiding what she was from such a simple creature, perhaps. It could not see enough to be deceived by the same lies as everyone else.
āAn interesting question,ā she admitted. And one with many answers. āThough itās a little rude to ask it of someone you hardly know, isnāt it?ā Despite the words themselves, she didn't sound at all offended that he had. That did not, however, mean that she was going to answer. When one survived on deception and artifice, one did not give the truth away very freely. She glanced down beside her to where he lay, though she remained seated with the same flawless posture. āPerhaps I wish to convince the world that I am hungry, since I seem to have received free food out of the endeavor,ā she teased, referring of course to the leftovers sheād been gifted with.
So saying, however, she picked up the box and flowed gracefully to her feet. It was a little too easy to talk to this one. For a moment, she met his eyes, then shook her head minutely. āGood day, Yujin-san, and do pass my thanks to your Tsu-Tsu, hmm?ā
"Oh, you wound Oni so, with your harsh words," Yujin replied, laying his hand over his heart in a mocking gesture. He, however, chuckled lightly. Perhaps it was a question that should have been reserved for those more close. That didn't stop his lips from tilting into a light smirk though. "I wouldn't say I hardly know you, rather, I do not know you all that well. But, as you say I do not apologize," he replied, shrugging his shoulders lightly as he sat up, meeting her gaze before she shook her head. He imitated the gesture of shaking his head, and stood up.
"Oh, I shall express thanks to my Tsu-Tsu. I am not so sure that she'll appreciate the gesture of being called so, but it might be a little interesting. You should go by the restaurant, I'm sure she'd like that," which she probably wouldn't if Yujin knew his sister. She'd get upset at him for making Naomi do that, if she did that, and she'd end up scolding him. She'd probably apologize to the Hanyou in the process. "Good day, Naomi."