Choices [Ayaka]

[Tensei Kaori]

"What.... are you talking about?"

"Just what I said," answered the terrifying woman seated in the booth across from Ayaka. "I'm here to talk about the future. More specifically, your future. Mmm. Good tea, by the way."

"I'm... not sure what you mean," Ayaka repeated hesitantly. "How do you even know my name?"

"Oh, I have my sources. Apparently it was mentioned that you've got quite a bit of potential.

"But... what? Why would anyone... but who...?" The only person who had talked about anything like that was Ryuurei-san. But did he even know this strange woman? And why would he be talking to her about a stray from a tiny village?

"That doesn't matter. What does, however, is what you intend to do about it."

Silence.

Those eerily piercing eyes flashed at Ayaka over the strange woman's teacup. "Well?"

"Well what? What are you even asking? If I'm going to try to get into the Academy or not?"

"Ahhh. Now you're catching on."

This woman was starting to bother Ayaka. The mix of direct and indirect speech was making her head spin, and that authoritative aura was oppressive. It made her want to hide behind her hair again. "I... haven't decided yet," she answered sullenly.

"Haven't decided yet! Child, the entrance ceremony is coming up soon! If you miss out now, you'll have to wait a whole year to get another chance. And I daresay you've lost enough time as it is."

"... I...! Just.. just what's that supposed to mean!?"

"It means, child, that most shinobi your age have already been going on missions for two years. And you're just starting out."

"So what? Tsutomegi's just starting out too."

"Yes and no. Your friend's case is quite different from yours, after all. And I think you know that quite well."

"Well, yes, but..."

Now Ayaka was starting to get upset. Just who did this woman think she was, going on like she was so important? Just someone else who thought she was better than the girl with weird hair?

"But what?" Did she look... amused!?

"But nothing. I'm more mature than the kids in the classes now, right? So I can make up by taking it more seriously."

"It'll take more than an attitude adjustment to make up for years of training, you know. If you think otherwise you really are just a silly girl."

"So what am I supposed to do, then? Just give up because people tell me I'm not good enough?"

"You tell me. You came this far, haven't you?"

"Well, yes, but..."

"Again with the buts! You'll never get anywhere if you're always this indecisive, child."

"Hey! This is a big decision, you know. I can't just jump into it without thinking."

"So instead you're just going to think about it until it passes you by and you don't have to worry about it anymore."

"That's not---!"

"When I was your age, girl, it too more resolve to make it in a ninja village. You're no good to anybody if you can't make up your mind."

There it was. That snapping feeling again. The utensils on the table danced as Ayaka's palms slammed into its surface. Before she knew it she was standing up, glaring down at the woman still calmly seated across from her. Did she feel a little flushed?

"Would you just stop it already!? Just what is your problem!?"

"Hm? Stop what? I'm just telling you the truth."

"Stop talking like you're better than me just because of something I can't control!"

"And? Am I better than you?"

"You're not! And neither is anybody else! So just stop already!"

Ayaka sighed, took a deep breath, and continued in a softer voice. "I dealt with that my whole life. That's why I ran away. So... I don't need it from you. Or anyone else."

The woman nodded, leaning back in the booth. "You're right. Well said."

... wait... was she... smiling!?

"And now, my dear," the woman continued in an... almost kindly... manner, "my next question for you is this: if the rest of us are no better than you, do you think that what I say, or what anyone else says, should stop you from doing what you know you want to do?"

"... Well, no. I guess not?"

"You guess not!? Girl, is that any way for you to answer after telling me you left home because of that very thing?"

Ayaka sighed, adjusting her tone but not quite meeting the woman's eyes. "Fine," she nearly pouted. "Then, no. I don't. I don't need you to tell me that."

The white haired woman raised an eyebrow. "Oh, but you did."

"...."

"Think on it a moment, child. When did you wake up and realize there was nothing stopping you?"

"It was... after I yelled at you, right? I just... I got really mad when you started hinting that I can't do something just because I'm different. And I remembered that that's why I came here, and I got even more upset because I was letting the same thing happen again so I just.....

".... oh."

Realization dawned, and a wide-eyed Ayaka dropped back into her seat.

"You mean you really...?"

The other woman nodded.

"Just to get me to....?"

Another nod.

"But... how? Why? Why do you care anything about me?"

"Oh, I suppose I just have something of a soft spot for you underdogs," was the bemused reply. "After all, it's not every day a blind woman becomes a ninja."

"A blind...? But that's impossible, isn't it?"

"You're looking at one."

"Ehhhh!? No way! But you... I mean... there's no way you're actually blind, is there?"

"Would I lie to you?"

"You made me mad just to prove a point."

The woman laughed. "A little off the mark, but well played. Fine, I'll revise it. Would I really tell you I'm blind when I'm not? Especially since, as you noticed, I can get around just fine on my own."

"Well, I guess you have a point...."

"No one wanted to let my brothers and I become ninjas because of our various disabilities, but we didn't let what they said stop us. And neither should you or that friend of yours, you hear?"

Ayaka nodded., then remembered what the woman had just said about being blind. "Yes," she added.

"Oh, they'll try. You'll be treated differently, the both of you. So it's your job to turn that 'different' into something special. Into something they'll have to respect. Do you understand?"

"Not really, no."

Another soft laugh. "Well, I don't really expect you to. That's one lesson you'll have to learn for yourself. But remember that I told you about it, and you should recognize it when it comes. Now. I need to be going, so I'll just have that nice young man at the counter help me with the bill. And remember, child. Don't let anyone stop you. You make your decision based on what you want to do. Nobody else matters."

And then she was gone, gliding to the register to pay. Ayaka immediately glanced up at the clock, and noted with great relief that she still had some time left on break. Normally she wouldn't consider doing this, but seeing as how the entire cafe had witnessed her outburst, she didn't really care anymore.

Ameno Ayaka, totally drained and overwhelmed by what had just happened, folded her arms on the tabletop and buried her face there. Hair or no hair, right now she just needed a few minutes to just hide from the world.

[strangevisitor]

The heck is SHE doing here?

Utsuro really could not bring himself to care at that exact moment. He'd had a bad feeling about today, and upon arriving at the cafe to make sure Ayaka was okay, was not pleased to find her putting her head down as Tensei Shirayuki walked away. He knew all too well what dealing with that woman could do to someone.

And so he wasted no time in moving to where his friend sat, placing a gentle hand upon her shoulder before speaking quietly. "Ayaka-san....are..you okay?"

[Tensei Kaori]

... how on earth did he do that!?

Ayaka shifted, turning her head so that one eye peeked up at the familiar figure now sitting next to her. "I... guess," she mumbled into her arms, then sighed and pushed herself up so she was leaning with her elbows on the table. She still kept her gaze lower than usual, though.

"I'm just... a little worn out, I guess you could call it," she offered at last, trying her best to give a hesitant, reassuring smile.

[strangevisitor]

He tilted his head, not completely buying her explanation, but he sat down across from her anyway and moved his hand to her forearm. "Forgive me...had I known Tensei-sama was going to want to speak with you...I would have warned you about her.

"She can be...such an overwhelming presence."

[Tensei Kaori]

Ayaka nodded, giving a weary laugh. "You can say that again. At first I thought she didn't like me, and I couldn't figure out why. Then she kept saying all these things and I got really upset... and I kinda ended up yelling at her.

"But it turns out she was trying to help me. Or something. And now I have all this stuff to think about, and it feels like all my energy left when she did, and now I'm just tired and confused and everyone in the cafe saw me lose it. I just..."

She sighed, her free hand rising to where her bangs were tucked into her headband. One tug, and her protective veil would fall in front of her eyes once more. "I... really have no idea what to do or even think right now, y'know?"

[strangevisitor]

The boy's eyes widened as he listened to her tale, soft voice taking on an astonished, almost conspiratorial tone. "Y...y--you yelled at her?

"Ayaka-san is truly an amazing person.."

[Tensei Kaori]

"Well... yeah," Ayaka replied a little confusedly. "I mean, I didn't really want to, but she just got me so worked up that I didn't realize what I was doing until I was doing it. But that made me realize a couple things, so I guess it's fine. She wasn't mad or anything.

"The problem," she sighed, "is that the entire cafe saw it. I can't believe I did that in front of everyone. That's why I was hiding my face just now when you came."

[strangevisitor]

"I see...." Nodding softly, he looked around the cafe slowly. "They...do not seem too upset to me.....a few actually look concerned....I am sure they understand, Ayaka-san...especially if Tensei-sama was deliberately antagonizing you.."

[Tensei Kaori]

Ayaka peeked up a little more, and finally allowed herself to sit up, though she still appeared to draw in on herself. "Are they really? I... don't really wanna look at them right now.

"But... yeah, she upset me, but she did it to help me. It kinda makes me mad, but I'm kinda glad, too. At least... I think I am. I realized some stuff, y'know?"

[strangevisitor]

Utsuro nodded in partial understanding. The woman had done much the same to him, to a somewhat similar response, after all. It placed him in a rather unique position to sympathize with his friend, thankfully.

"Yes, I do know. And it is understandable. You do not have to face them if you do not wish to do so...Perhaps...it is slow enough that Obaa-chan might give you leave the rest of the day? If you have much to think about, it would clearly impact your ability to work.."

[Tensei Kaori]

"I guess," Ayaka sighed. "I don't like asking for time off work, since everyone here takes such good care of me, but it might be a good idea." She sighed, appeared lost in thought for a moment, and then brightened up considerably, as though a sudden thought had struck her.

"Oh! But you came to see me!" she observed happily. "That makes me really happy."

[strangevisitor]

"Of course I did. We are friends, after all...unless....do friends not visit each other at work? Is that bad?" Utsuro replied, in such a fashion as if to imply that the thought of not coming to see her was completely inconceivable to him.

[Tensei Kaori]

"Of course it's not bad!" Ayaka denied, shaking her head so emphatically that she felt dizzy for a moment and had to take a second to regain her balance.

"I told you it's okay to come visit whenever you want, didn't I?" she asked rhetorically. "And besides that... just having a job... and a friend who will come see me at work... makes me really happy, y'know? And you really picked a good time to come, too. Now that you're here," she continued in increasingly softer tones, "I don't.... feel as scared.... or alone."

[strangevisitor]

"Ah....I...uh..." Utsuro mumbled, scratching the back of his head as he shied away a bit, face feeling rather warm.

Tch. Ain't me, pipsqueak.

"I am g-glad you do not feel that way, Ayaka-san."

[Tensei Kaori]

"Of course I don't," Ayaka insisted, honestly looking a little confused that he would even think like that. "You're my friend. Why would I ever not like it when you come to see me?"