Ichiraku Ramen! Come to where the flavor is.

[strangevisitor]

..everything happens for a reason....wouldn't want us to suffer...find someone or something else....something precious...but....what? Utsuro's head swam as memories of both joy and sorrow surged, blinking back tears. He felt very confused, just staring at the ever-cooler bowl of partially eaten ramen in front of him. Could I even find something like that? And even then, could I protect it?...I'm not strong enough to..I just...don't know.. The boy fell silent as the grave, lost within his own thoughts, desperately trying to find something.

[Kiri]

Taka studied the boy's response to his cousins' words. For the briefest moment, he thought he saw tears welling up in Utsuro's eyes. Hotaka was momentarily afflicted with guilt. Although their intentions had been good, just who were they to give this boy advice? How could they pretend to know him, or what he had been through?

Still, the shinobi put his acting skills to good use and kept his emotions hidden.

"Well," he began, keeping his tone as casual as could be, "I think that's enough of that talk. It's his first day in town, and here we all are making such depressing conversation and trying to counsel the poor guy."

Outwardly he seemed to be scolding his cousins, but inwardly the words were directed only at himself. He had started the whole sordid mess, and his lighthearted advice had only sent Utsuro spiraling even farther into angst and misery. He should have just kept his mouth shut.

"Sorry about that, Utsuro," he apologized, allowing his tone to grow gentler, "we were just trying to help. I think we're a little too well-intentioned for our own goods." The soft smile that crossed his face was almost genuine.

[strangevisitor]

Someone...was talking to him. Forcing himself back to reality, he blinked the tears out of his eyes.

"..g..gomen, Hotaka-sama....you, nor your cousins, have done anything wrong...I am...not used to people wanting to help me." Picking the chopsticks back up, he tried to get the focus off himself, as he had long since gone beyond his comfort zone. "..I appreciate your kind words though.." Offering a semblance of a smile, the odd, quiet boy went back to his ramen. Hopefully they would find something else to discuss.

[Kiri]

"Of course," Hotaka replied. "Though I have to say, you might want to get used to people helping you." He paused to grin slightly. "It's just kind of a 'thing' here in Konoha... but I'll let you find that out for yourself." Sensing that the boy preferred that the conversation be directed elsewhere, the ANBU turned his attention to his cousins once again.

"So," he asked with a grin, "what mischief are you three planning for today?"


OoC: It lives agaaaaain. Crappy post, but IT SHALL LIIIIVE, I say!

[strangevisitor]

Hearing Hotaka-sama question his cousins, Utsuro breathed a silent sigh of relief. It was far too uncomfortable to be paid attention to, he had decided long ago. He had actually come to enjoy being overlooked by people. It saved him from potentially awkward situations.

Finishing what he could of the ramen, he demurely requested something to take the rest of it back to his room with him, listening to the conversation around him.

[Tensei Kaori]

"Well....." Daichi began, only to be interrupted by his brother.

"We're going to the Crimson Phase concert tonight over at the Kaomoji Cafe!" Eiji explained, sounding absolutely thrilled. "You comin'?"

[Kiri]

Hotaka raised his eyebrows. "Hey, they're playing tonight?" he asked, a grin spreading across his face. "You'd better believe I'm coming!" Shaking his head a little, he added, "Good thing I ran into you guys! If I'da missed the concert, I woulda been real mad."

[Tensei Kaori]

"I'm even gladder we met up, then," Daichi answered with a grin. "The show starts at seven. I heard they even got Keiko-chan to be their opening act! Her parents are thrilled."

[Kiri]

"Keiko-chan? Really?" Taka asked, a grin betraying his pleasure at the idea. "I'll bet they are proud. She's so young, too!" Resting a chin in his hand, he sighed. "I wonder if she's nervous, eh?"

[Tensei Kaori]

"Knowing Keiko-chan?" Daichi asked with a chuckle. "I doubt it. She's probably having the time of her life."

"I bet Jiro-kun's a nervous wreck, though!" Eiji interjected, grinning. "You know how he is when it comes to his siblings. He's probably hired his own team to be her bodyguards tonight!"

"What about you two?" Hideko asked the Yanagawa twins as the boys continued their chat. "Are you coming?"

[Hatake Hiroshi]

Looking up from their bowls, Kane and Kyoko turned to face Hideko.

"Yeah!" Kyoko sqeaked as she quickly slurped a few dangling noodles into her mouth.

"Definitely!" added Kane.

"Sounds like fun!" they chimed together, flashing bright smiles in the Tensei's direction.

[Tensei Kaori]

"Great!" Eiji chimed in, joining in on the conversation before his sister could reply. Daichi, still conversing with his cousin, couldn't help but roll his eyes. "It's a party, then!" Eiji continued with a huge grin. "It should be a great crowd; they've been getting more popular lately," he added to the entire group.

[Kiri]

Taka grinned, glad that his cousins had reminded him of the concert. He hadn't gotten out and done anything particularly fun in what seemed like a long while, and he knew that any Tensei concert was guaranteed to be a thrill. Not to mention it always interested Hotaka to see just who from outside of the clan would show up. More and more outsiders had been attending the concerts as of late.

And he definitely had no complaints about that.

"It better be a party," he finally interjected into the conversation. "I need to cut loose and rawk out or something," he finished jokingly, making the horns with one hand.

[Tensei Kaori]

"Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!" Eiji cheered, making the horns himself and locking his against his cousin's. "You, me, and the mosh pit tonight - whaddaya say?"

[Kiri]

Hotaka laughed at Eiji's rockin' lockin' hand technique. "Oh, you'd better believe it!" he said, a grin spreading ear-to-ear. "It's not like I could sit still once the music started, anyway!" he added with a wink.