Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
|
Post by Tensei Kaori on Aug 29, 2010 11:48:31 GMT -5
Ayaka nodded. "I never got to really talk to her or anything, but everyone in the cafe speaks really well of her. You're pretty lucky, Tsutomegi. Most regular people almost never get to talk to her unless it's just for a little bit, but she's taking such good care of you. You must be pretty special for that to happen, right?" Lord of the Crows? That was the last thing he needed floating around the village right now. Especially with the Elders already pressuring him about what had happened with Tsutomegi. "You sure about that?" he asked the little girl with a grin, straightening up a stack of papers that had looked about ready to fall over. "I'm not exactly the Lord type, you see."
|
|
strangevisitor
ANBU Squad Leader
Only a man looking for a dream
Posts: 1,754
|
Post by strangevisitor on Aug 29, 2010 17:39:52 GMT -5
"Perhaps...more like a special case." Utsuro replied softly, lightly shrugging his shoulders. "I am...fairly certain not many visitors to the village arrive in the condition I did. One of the first places in Konoha I truly saw was the medical tents. I think it was, perhaps, more that she is....the only doctor capable of taking on a task such as myself.." "No? Hmm...well, you DO seem good at stacking papers. Receptionist of the Crows, then?" Atsuko giggled, grinning teasingly at the older boy. She was having FAR too much fun with this. But then, why was some of the staff looking at them so oddly? "That's it! He wanted you to take a memo!" More giggling followed, as she clasped her hand behind her back in a very serious manner, pacing about as she spoke in an overly stuffy voice. " 'To whom it may concern, CACAAAWWWW!!! Sincerely, The Crows' "
|
|
Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
|
Post by Tensei Kaori on Aug 29, 2010 19:50:02 GMT -5
"Oh, I see," Ayaka replied softly, looking worried again. "But... you said she can do it, right? She can take care of you if anything happens, right?" Takeo gave a wry grin. "Heh. Receptionist to the Crows, eh? Well, you're right about that. Seems like all I do these days is push papers around. Still, I'd rather do errands for people who can understand what I'm saying to them, and who I can understand too. It'd do no good if I can't distinguish between 'caw's, now would it?"
|
|
strangevisitor
ANBU Squad Leader
Only a man looking for a dream
Posts: 1,754
|
Post by strangevisitor on Aug 29, 2010 20:14:09 GMT -5
Nodding, he did his best to look reassuring. There was no point in worrying her further, after all, even if he did not have a definite answer to that particular question at the moment. He would rather be optimistic for her sake than go on about every possible bad thing that could happen to him. "I gave her...what documents I had on my Clan. With those, she should be able to handle...most anything that comes my way." "Well, that's no fun! Paper is pretty boring. Unless it's wrapping paper..or used for Origami. Those are fun!" Atsuko prattled on, returning the nearly forgotten sucker to her mouth again now that more serious matters had been tended to. Picking up a discarded feather from the ground, she tiptoed and tucked it into the Uchiha boy's hair. Amusingly enough, it almost blended in perfectly. "There! Maybe now they'll think you're one of them and leave you alone!"
|
|
Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
|
Post by Tensei Kaori on Aug 31, 2010 19:45:35 GMT -5
Ayaka smiled in relief at Tsutomegi's explanation. "That's good," she said, finally releasing her friend from their hug and settling back into what was becoming her usual spot on the edge of his bed. Suddenly a thought occurred to her, and her face lit up. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "Did you get what I left for you last night? Everything happened so fast just now, I didn't get to ask you about it yet." Unfortunately, I'm beginning to think that's the problem, Takeo sighed inwardly. He left the feather where it was, though, at least for now. He would take it out when there wasn't a little girl around to upset by doing so. "You think?" he asked her with a grin. "So if they think I'm one of them and follow me around even more, guess I know who to thank, huh?" he added, making it clear with his tone and expression that his teasing was meant to be friendly and innocent.
|
|
strangevisitor
ANBU Squad Leader
Only a man looking for a dream
Posts: 1,754
|
Post by strangevisitor on Aug 31, 2010 20:08:38 GMT -5
"Ah, yes!" The reply almost sounded excited. Almost. Truth be told, he found himself just slightly saddened by the end of the extended hug. Utsuro smiled slightly all the same though. "Thank you, very much. It is a wonderful gift." One of the first he had received in a long time, as well. " 'Coursh!" Atsuko grinned around her lollipop, wagging a finger. "I acshept gifftsh too if ya dun wanna pershonally fank me." It was only appropriate to respond to a teasing remark with teasing, after all.
|
|
Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
|
Post by Tensei Kaori on Sept 4, 2010 19:16:02 GMT -5
"You really like it?" Ayaka asked a little nervously, surprised that something so simple as a paper star would really be considered 'a wonderful gift.' "I wanted to leave you something happy, so even if I wasn't around when you woke up, you wouldn't be totally alone. And..." she added, still with a fond smile but also a touch of sadness, "I have happy memories of stars like that. So... I thought maybe, they might make you happy too." "Good to know," Takeo shot back smoothly. "I'll have my legions of crow minions deliver something to you. Maybe..." He smirked, eying the girl's sucker. "Ah! I've got it! I'll send you a whole crate full of natto!"
|
|
strangevisitor
ANBU Squad Leader
Only a man looking for a dream
Posts: 1,754
|
Post by strangevisitor on Sept 8, 2010 22:35:37 GMT -5
"I really do. Stars are very important to the Tsutomegi, after all, so it is a very thoughtful gift, Ayaka-san." Utsuro stated reassuringly, smiling softly. "Thank you for being so kind. You shall have to show me how to make them sometime." Then I can help you have happy memories again..Atsuko balked, face scrunching up into one that was still somehow adorable despite its disfigurement. "Natto?!" A shudder raced down her spine. "If that's what you give your friends, I'd hate to see how you treat your enemies, onii-san!"
|
|
Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
|
Post by Tensei Kaori on Sept 8, 2010 22:45:48 GMT -5
"Okay!" Ayaka exclaimed brightly, leaping up off the bed and dashing over to a nearby table, where she picked up a handful of strips of yellow paper. She'd had to return the scissors to the nurses' station last night, so she had cut a bunch of them out in advance in case either of them wanted to make more stars later. "You start with one of these strips," she explained, sitting back down in her spot on the bed and setting all of the strips but one on the rolling table nearby, where they would be in easy reach of both Tsutomegi and her. "And you just start folding it. Like this, see? Just... over and over, until you fold the whole strip up like that. "My mom taught me how to make these when I was little," she told him as she folded, her tone distant and bittersweet. "I would always get really worked up and energetic when it rained for some reason, so she used these as a way to get me to calm down and stop running all over the place. We would sit there for hours, making tons of these little things in all sizes. My grandparents threw a lot of them away, but I managed to save a jarful of the last ones we made together before she..." Ayaka trailed off, shook her head, and put on a forced smile. "Anyways, after you finish folding it," she explained, "you have to take your fingernail and push down on the edges to make it puff out. And then you have a star, see?" she finished, holding up the finished product with a grin. "It's really easy." Takeo grinned. "Well, fortunately," he told her, ruffling her hair a little bit, "you won't have to worry about that, will ya, kiddo? In fact, I think I have..." he reached into his pocket, "Aha! I do! Here ya go," he told her, extending a securely-wrapped piece of candy. He usually kept a few pieces on him to give out to the local kids, or to keep him going until mealtime. "As thanks for helping me clean up the mess," he explained.
|
|
strangevisitor
ANBU Squad Leader
Only a man looking for a dream
Posts: 1,754
|
Post by strangevisitor on Sept 8, 2010 23:06:53 GMT -5
He had to stop and blink in surprise at Ayaka-san's foresight. It was incredibly impressive, really. Once she returned with the strips of paper, there could have been a room full of noisy people around them, and Utsuro hardly would have noticed. His focus was entirely on her. Taking up one of the strips of paper, he watched her motions carefully, studying them, doing his best to mimic them. And in the end he had.... A...duck. "Ah...I...think I did something wrong..." The little girl grinned as her hair was mussed, and then let out a small squeal of delight. Accepting the colorfully wrapped gift, Atsuko beamed up at him. "Arigato~ Onii-chan! And you're welcome! I like to help!"
|
|
Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
|
Post by Tensei Kaori on Sept 8, 2010 23:17:07 GMT -5
Ayaka blinked. "Um... well, I think I can see what happened," she mused, inspecting the accidental origami quite thoroughly. "That part of it was kinda hard for me too, at first, but you can't just fold it all over the place. You have to keep folding it around the same shape." She grinned softly. "I dunno how you can get a duck out of a star," she observed with a smile, "but I like it. It's cute." She had picked up another strip as she spoke, folding it until it formed a basic pentagon. "Here," she continued, offering Tsutomegi the newly-started star. "Keep wrapping it around that, and make sure it stays in that shape. Then you can puff it out and turn it into a star." "Heh, you're welcome, kiddo," Takeo replied with a grin. "You earned it!"
|
|
strangevisitor
ANBU Squad Leader
Only a man looking for a dream
Posts: 1,754
|
Post by strangevisitor on Sept 8, 2010 23:37:26 GMT -5
"Oohhh..." Truth be told, it hadn't exactly been an accident. Origami was actually one of Utsuro's favorite hobbies, though he did truthfully not know how to make the tiny stars. It had made Ayaka-san laugh, though, and that was what was important. "I am...not quite certain myself. But if you think it is cute....you can keep it." He smiled, setting the fowl origami creation down near her on the little table, accepting the pre-made pentagon from her. "Like..this? I can see why your mother chose this activity. It is very intricate and time-consuming at first. Very smart to task it to an energetic child." Still beaming, Atsuko responded enthusiastically. "If any more mean ol' crows bother you, just come find me!"
|
|
Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
|
Post by Tensei Kaori on Sept 9, 2010 0:03:24 GMT -5
Ayaka nodded. "Looking back, I only realized later just how genius it really was. Ah... yes, like that," she confirmed, starting on her own strip. "It's intricate and takes a lot of concentration at first, but eventually you get used to doing it, and your fingers just kind of move on their own. Then, making these becomes.... really calming. I used to wish it would rain every day, just so we could spend all our time making them together." Takeo grinned. "You got a deal, kiddo!"
|
|
strangevisitor
ANBU Squad Leader
Only a man looking for a dream
Posts: 1,754
|
Post by strangevisitor on Sept 9, 2010 0:22:10 GMT -5
Nodding as he listened to the rest of the story, he slowly continued working on his star. He could arguably work a little quicker, but he did not wish to rush this time with her. Or make an improper star in his haste. "That is.....very understandable. When it would rain in Tengakure, Okaa-san would play her biwa for us, since we could not play outside. When I was a little older, she began to teach me how to play, as I liked the instrument best of my brothers. But more than that... The time alone with her..it was special." After a couple of attempts, he managed to get the little star to puff out properly. "Ah! I did it.." Nodding, she giggled, tucking the candy away for safe keeping until her sucker was demolished. "Deal! I should prolly go, though. Everyone's looking at us funny, and there's more sick people to visit! Take care, Uchiha-nii!" Waiting for a response, Atsuko turned and headed off down the hall with a wave, singing a little song to herself. As she turned into a stairwell to head up to the next floor, the empty area echoed her song back to her. "...Oh crap.."
|
|
Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
|
Post by Tensei Kaori on Sept 9, 2010 21:13:44 GMT -5
"Ah! Yes!" Ayaka agreed, giving a delighted clap. "It looks really good, Tsutomegi! It's really easy, isn't it? And it's really fun, too." She smiled, picked up another strip, and began her third star. "And... I'm really happy I could share this with you." After bidding farewell to the strange little girl, Takeo took one last look at the cart to make sure it had been righted, then turned to go on his way when an idea struck him. Hm... think I'll go bring something back for the others...
|
|