A Caricature of Intimacy

[Amy]

Hayami had heard tales of beasts that were so large they could swallow entire wagons whole. Horses and all. When she was a child, visitors to the manor loved to scare her and her siblings with the horrors of such creatures. The way their over sized bodies would crash through the forest, felling trees and shaking the earth they stood upon. How their roars would echo through the chests of even the toughest warriors, causing their knees to knock together. Some of them, the sun would glint off of their armor like scales. Others had dark, slippery skin that seemed to absorb the sunlight. And still, even others were covered head to toe in fur so thick it was nearly impossible to pierce the skin. She and her siblings were duly terrified of each creature that was described to them. But now, as an adult who realized that many of those stories were over-exaggerated, Hayami wished that one of those very creatures would show up to swallow her whole.

She stood in the front drive of her family’s manor, surrounded by at least fifteen members of staff all dressed in their traveling best. Surrounding them even further were four large piles of chests, crates, and boxes. Hayami had told her father, several times over, that she didn’t want to over pack. It could look bad, was her first reasoning. ‘What if the Tsuchikage thinks we’re implying he can’t provide for me?’ Her father had easily shot that down saying that if the Tsuchikage was that insecure then they had much more serious problems. Next, she had tried to appeal to his logical side. ‘Most of my things are for a much more formal setting. Surely, I will be expected to dress more casual in their village.’ But he had firmly informed her that though she would be living with the Tsuchikage in his village that she was still a representation of the Daimyo’s family and she would present herself as such. When she opened her mouth to present a third argument - that she was absolutely mortified and couldn’t he please have some mercy on her - he interrupted her and sent her on her way. And then immediately assigned her task of packing to the maids instead as he could no longer trust her with the task.

But now, everyone was stood outside, staring at too many bodies and too much luggage. Even getting it all to the dock was going to take multiple trips unless her father sent every one of the carriages they had. She didn’t know what he had thought. No, she corrected herself, she did know what he thought. He thought that because he would have chartered a massive ship to transport him somewhere that the Tsuchikage would do the same. The look of shock on his face when informed that a small vessel had brought him and Lord Akari to Sawara was something to be remembered. He had been so shocked that for a moment he forgot to hide the repulsion he had at such an idea. Her father traveled from Sawara rarely, insisting that people travel to him instead. But when he did travel it was nothing short of a grand affair.

“What is he going to do?” Mio whispered so quietly that Hayami wasn’t sure she had spoken at all at first and that maybe she was just hearing her own thoughts on the wind. Her sister had been a mess since she found out the news. She was depressed that her only sister was leaving and would be unable to help plan her own wedding. She was thrilled that Hayami was marrying such an influential man. And attractive, she had giggled shamelessly at Hayami. But there had also been the righteous anger that matched Hayami’s own feelings. That it wasn’t right to give her hand away to someone who was already married. Mio wasn’t as well-versed in the political side of things as Hayami was but she was quick to figure out why her own marriage was happening so quickly.

“I have no idea,” she breathed back at Mio, squeezing her sister’s hand that was wrapped in her own. Their father had been doing his best to look put off by the whole matter, as though this had all been orchestrated to make him appear incompetent. For the first time since hearing the news of the engagement, Hayami was glad that she was leaving the manor. At least this way she wouldn’t have to listen to her father rant about this circumstance for the next two weeks.

“Well,” her father finally said, his nose pointed towards the sky. “I suppose there’s always the train.”

[Niro]

The chartered boat they had arrived in wasn't too grand; a smaller yacht with a deck for passengers to enjoy the trip with a few rooms below deck serving as a space to retire to when the sun became too much or the skies were overcast. Tatsuo had enjoyed the vessel during their initial trip here as it wasn't very often he was able to just kick back and relax without having to focus on some worry or another. The staff on the ship had kept him well fed and he had taken a liking to the particular chef's ability to cook. Tatsuo kept it to himself but he had been excited to get back on the boat after the last couple days filled with life changing surprises and tension thick enough he could almost cut it to rewind just a smidge before once more diving back into the duties of his office.

Only for his small hope to be utterly and completely crushed as his eyes fell upon the veritable mountain of luggage Hayami had decided pertinent to bring back to Iwa. There was no way the yacht could handle the amount of cargo present before him. His lone joy on this trip crushed, Tatsuo released an accepting sigh. The trip back would be in no way as easy as the trip here. Part of him was tempted to take Hayami and spirit her away by himself letting the rest of the staff worry about the logistics of transporting everything but the presence of Musashi served as a firm deterrent. Unlike the staff, Tatsuo had changed from the more formal wear into his usual black slacks and white button up with his duster draped over his shoulders loosely, the sleeves flapping about freely. He shot Kotaru a side eye that very clearly translated into a sense of disappointment and frustration. The sooner they were away from Musashi's influence, the better.

The look on Musashi's face when he realized they would have to travel by train instead of yacht due to whatever stunt he was attempting to pull and his scheme had backfired was one Tatsuo would laugh about for the foreseeable future. It wasn't often the Daimyo was so caught offguard by something and rather than try to appease the man's sense of pride, Tatsuo was perfectly fine to let it be bruised for the moment. It served him right for ruining his last parcel of peace on the boat. And his peace in general for a long, long time.

Tatsuo walked down the steps of the mansion and came to a stop behind his new fiance and future sister-in-law where he let out a long, low whistle as he surveyed the pile of luggage before a soft chuckle rumbled in his chest.

"Quite the inventory to bring with us." Tatsuo teased as his eyes shifted down to Hayami and her sister for a moment before refocusing once more on the luggage. It could always be worse. A decade ago they'd have to cross the country by horse and carriage instead of the luxury of comfortable train cars. His eyes drifted to the staff who would be coming with them to Iwagakure and the look in them was anything but friendly. He wasn't going to load this up, they could suffer for Musashi's incompetence. A hard stare was all it took for the entourage to begin loading each parcel into carraiges set for travel back to Iwa. With everything finalizing to leave the train station, Tatsuo moved to the door of the carriage and pulled it open for Hayami before offering her his hand in assisting her into its cabin.

[Kao]

A thick vein at Kotaru’s temple pulsed rhythmically as he stared at the unreasonably large pile of luggage that the daimyo and his dear daughter evidently decided was absolutely necessary for her move. His gaze dragged to the group of overdressed women nearby, and he shook his head at the amount of staff gathered. The bannin returned Tatsuo’s side glance, and then he rolled his eyes as the kage ambled down the mansion’s stairs. This development guaranteed that an already annoying journey back to the village would be borderline unbearable.

The two men usually commanded a wide berth from others, and it was especially true in this situation. As they approached, the staff shifted away from the pair like a school of fish fleeing from the shadows of hungry sharks. Kotaru initially lingered a few steps behind his brother, his gaze just as piercing and disarming as Tatsuo’s as he glared at the staff.

”And I’m sure Natsumi will love making room for all of this in her home,” he added snidely, eyeing the two women as he moved to stand beside Tatsuo. He didn’t care what kind of reaction any of them had, choosing to ignore the lot of them completely until they were at the train station. ”There’s still time to back out of this,” the bannin grumbled just loud enough for Tatsuo and his blushing bride to hear. The train they were taking was just ahead, a thick cloud of grey smoke erupting from its chimney with a long hiss. Kotaru looked at it dubiously, his lips turned downward into a frown that was somehow deeper than usual.

He’d never ridden in a train before. The new technology called locomotives had never interested him, especially since his own two legs worked just fine. Trains were loud and they smelled, and he was distrustful about how safe a bunch of giant metal boxes zooming down tiny metal tracks could be. Any hope that they would abandon the entire debacle was dashed when Tatsuo helped Hayami aboard.

The train’s interior looked better than expected. The walls were adorned with polished wood paneling and artwork, and the warm lighting was rather inviting. Still, Kotaru sneered at the cramped cabin. The seating's rich, plush upholstery did little to diminish how confined the area was. Kotaru sighed and shoved his hands in the pockets of his loose pants, and he glowered at the couple until someone made a move to sit.

[Amy]

The carriage ride to the train station was short but also the longest carriage ride Hayami had ever been on. Goodbyes with her family had quick and without fanfare. Soft hugs and kisses on the cheeks with promises to write and to see each other soon. Her own mother could barely look her in the eye and the only thing her father said to her was We’ll talk soon. The ominous nature of the phrasing should have been enough to keep her mind busy and distracted but she was quickly brought back to the present by Lord Akari’s biting remark. She didn’t know him well enough to know if he was being intentionally hostile or if he was simply incapable of keeping such remarks to himself so she chose to give him the benefit of the doubt. With the initial shock of the surprise announcement faded, leaving a bitter but tolerable aftertaste behind, Hayami had no issue maintaining her composure. She gave a small nod of her head in Lord Akari’s direction as she settled herself onto the bench of the carriage. “Should anything not fit I will ensure my father pay to have it retrieved. I do not intend to cause-” Hayami’s brow dropped slightly. What was the appropriate term for the Tsuchikage’s wife? She had never heard anyone speak of her before, save for the two men in the carriage with her, and they both called her by name. Something she dare not do. To avoid calling her the incorrect title, Hayami simply switched her gaze to the Tsuchikage, offering a small smile. “Your wife any inconvenience.”

Despite being confident in her response, she found that she was still rather put off as they pulled up to the station, the whole area bustling with people from her father’s estate. As soon as the Tsuchikage assisted her out of the carriage a maid ran up and passed her three tickets before scampering off as quickly as she appeared. It did not seem that anyone from her own staff was going to be of any help to her. She bit back a sigh and straightened out her skirts, lifting her foot to begin the short walk to the platform. Before she could complete the single step though, Lord Akari’s remark had her foot freezing mid-air. Her shoulders straightened, visibly stiffening. It only lasted for a moment before she continued her movements, her foot hitting the ground with just a smidgen more force than necessary. He certainly wasn’t speaking to her and thus she felt no need to respond to him. Especially since it seemed like she had incorrectly chosen to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Even that was soon put out of her mind though when they all three stood in the narrow hallway, looking into what used to seem like a fairly large cabin. She had been on the train several times with her family and was quite used to the luxuries the train had to offer. It was usually a pleasant if not somewhat boring experience. However, she had only been expected to share a cabin with her sister who was similar to her in size. Once, she had shared a cabin with her father and even that had been perfectly fine. But now, with two large men standing behind her and two somewhat short benches in front of her, Hayami didn’t know what to do. She supposed that she could excuse herself to find one of the maids and have them book another cabin for Lord Akari. She doubted he would accept that solution though, she thought with a slight grimace. If she sat in the middle of one of the benches it would leave the men with the choice of either requesting she move over or try to fit side by side.

Hayami cleared her throat slightly before she made her way into the room and adjusted her skirts, pulling them underneath her as much as possible before sitting. She sat with her shoulder against the wall and her hands folded in her lap, ensuring that there was plenty of space next to her for one of the men to sit. Briefly, she gazed out the window, appreciative of the natural light and the small sense of openness it gave the cabin. Once the door was shut, the room was going to seem suffocatingly small. “I hope the change of travel plans won’t affect your schedule too much,” Hayami said to the Tsuchikage sincerely.

[Niro]

Unfortunately for Hayami, Kotaru suffered from both being intentionally hostile and being incapable of keeping his remarks to himself. Fortunately for Tatsuo, he was used to ignoring both his mood and his words after almost two decades. The labor of moving the luggage was the worst part, Tatsuo was more than sure there would be enough space in the mansion for whatever had been stuffed into the baggage whether Hayami had picked it out or not. Taking a seat next to her in the carriage rather than let her suffer next to Kotaru during the short ride, Tatsuo shook his head at her words.

"Your luggage is nothing to worry about, I'll just miss traveling by boat. It's not very often I'm able to employ one for my travels. Usually, it's trains," Tatsuo nodded at the sight of the train coming into view of the carriage window as the horses began to slow and then came to a stop. "At least it isn't horses and mules." A cheeky grin broke out across his face at the thought of a princess having to traipse across the country while riding some dingy mule.

The staff were quick in loading the luggage onto the train and it didn't take much more than 10 minutes for the conductor to signal they were ready to leave. The final whistle screamed out above them as Tatsuo pulled the cabin car closed behind them. The cabin awaiting the trio was...not ideal. Tatsuo gazed over its proportions in comparison to the three of them and already had a feeling he was going to make himself smaller, as the tallest and widest, in order for the other two to be somewhat comfortable. He was surprised when Hayami took the initiative to do exactly what he was resigning himself to and squeezed herself up against a wall to make space. A soft chuckle tumbled free of his lips as he sat down next to her on the barely padded bench and his hands snaked around her waist in a flash, wrapping around her almost entirely, as she was pulled onto his lap and he relaxed against the bench with a stupidly large smile on his face as if he had no idea what he had just done.

"Either Kota or you and he's got a bony butt." A teasing tone very obviously lacing his voice as he turned to said brother. "Sit down, will you? I know you've just gotten another growth spurt but no need to show off." As soon as the words left his mouth and passed by Hayami's ear, the brakes on the train released and the horn sounded once more as they wheels begin to spin and they were off to Iwa.

[Kao]

Kotaru couldn't believe his eyes.

He had expected Tatsuo to do the chivalrous thing and sit across from Hayami so that Kotaru could sit next to him, letting the woman have a seat to herself. Instead the bannin was flabbergasted when his brother instead pulled her into his lap. His lap! The man had been engaged for less than a week and already he was acting as though this situation wouldn't result in Tatsuo's balls ending up on skewers. Jaw dropped and eye twitching, the younger Akari balked for several long seconds and was finally able to regain some semblance of composure when Tatsuo spoke again with what Kotaru could only describe as a slimy, leering tone. His lip curled in disgust as he eyed the empty seat.

"You're dead." A vein, even bigger than the one from earlier in the day, popped and pulsed on his temple as he closed his eyes and nodded slightly to himself. It was hard to tell if the threat was a response to Tatsuo's outrageous actions with Hayami or to his more outrageous - albeit correct - comment about Kotaru's height. "Natsumi's gonna kill you and I'm gonna help her." He chose to ignore the quip about his butt since it was decidedly not true, the evidence clearly there for all to see. The gods were bakers when they created Akari Kotaru.

Once seated - on his shapely and firmly cushioned bottom, thank you very much - Kotaru pursed his lips and stared at the pair, still practically scandalized by what was in front of him. He shook his head almost imperceptibly and let his gaze drift from Hayami's face towards Tatsuo's lap. "I'm telling." When he looked back at his brother, his expression was somewhat more serious. "Aren't you supposed to be keeping a low profile about this? Musashi will have an aneurysm if word gets out about this before the other daughter's wedding happens first." Kotaru looked to Hayami, his green eyes colder than the steppes of Rock Country in midwinter. "I'd hate to ruin her dearest father's carefully concocted plans prematurely."

[Amy]

She could persevere through anything for a few hours, Hayami quietly assured herself while she waited for the men to sit. It wasn’t as though she had never been in close proximity with men before. Just not usually alone. Actually, she corrected herself, her stomach flipping, not ever. Sure, she had escorted guests around her father’s home and the gardens by herself but there was never a sense of privacy about it, not with her family and staff milling about. Which took her to her next thought, that one of her maids was almost certainly supposed to be in that car with them. There was simply no way that her father intended for her to be alone in a train car with the Tsuchikage and his brother alone. Did she blame the woman for avoiding her duty, risking the wrath of the daimyo over facing the two Akari? For a brief moment, the answer was no. Right up until the point a large set of hands grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her onto an equally large lap.

Her soft hands wrapped around his wrists, squeezing tightly as she smothered her startled cry in the back of her throat. “Lord Tsuchikage!” She meant to sound admonishing but in reality, she just sounded flabbergasted. He was so casual, speaking to his brother as though he hadn’t just-just “Lord Tsuchikage this is-” She stammered, her hands still holding onto his wrists. Inappropriate? Crass? Uncouth? Indelicate, for certain. Brash, even. Indecent, that was the word she wanted. But she couldn’t say that to him, not as her face burned. Perhaps, she thought to herself, already somewhat exhausted, he was just trying to be kind. Perhaps he thought this would be more comfortable than squeezing side by side. Or, perhaps, she was simply entirely unequipped to handle the Tsuchikage with ease. “Highly irregular.” She finished her thought thoroughly deflated, her eyes darting every which way to avoid looking at Lord Akari who had finally seated himself across the way.

With great restraint, Hayami pulled her hands away from the Tsuchikage’s wrists, blushing even harder when she realized how hard she had been holding onto him. She clasped them together in her lap, squeezing so tightly her knuckles turned white under the pressure. Even this, even this she could persevere through, she encouraged herself as she looked around the cabin, her weight shifting slightly with each movement now that she wasn’t holding onto him anymore. But when Lord Akari spoke again, her head snapped back around to the front, surprised to find her eyes suddenly locked into his gaze.

For a moment, she simply considered her past and her future. The role she filled for her family had always been clear. Listen, observe, ask the right questions, keep her opinion to herself, and report back to her father who would take things from there. But her father wasn’t there anymore. And whether she liked it or not, whether she wanted to or not, she would be marrying the Tsuchikage. If not his love, she would at least need to earn his respect. It was going to be an uphill battle, already finding herself overwhelmed with how different the two men were from any others she had met before. Hayami didn’t know the exact right thing to do but she did know that staying a silent coward wasn’t going to cut it.

She took a slow deep breath, channeling every ounce of royal contempt she could muster as she continued to hold Kota’s gaze. “You are the only one in this cabin not directly affected by my dearest father’s plans. And yet, you seem to have the most complaints. If you would like, I would be happy to transcribe a list and send it to my father to consider.” Hayami wondered if she was strong enough to break her own hands she was clasping them so tightly. Though that did seem like the better option when compared to vomiting on the floor. “Additionally, I would appreciate not being spoken of as though I am not here. You may call me Hayami if it suits you, otherwise, Lord Akari, my official title is Hime.” Hayami humphed slightly, turning her gaze up and away from one of the most, if not the most notorious men of the country. Or maybe the world. That she had just chastised.

Hayami kept her gaze averted, busying herself with wondering if the window opened and if it was big enough for her jump out of.

[Niro]

At least this wouldn't be a boring train ride. Between the look on Kotarus face and the exasperated princess gripping desperately at his wrists, Tatsuo had to fight himself to keep the loud, hearty laughter from spilling out and instead released a more restrained, deep chuckle at both of their antics. The steel wheels beneath them churned with mechanized fury as they picked up more and more speed along the tracks that crisscrossed the country and the scenery passing them began to become nothing more than a slow blur to the average citizen. While he wouldn't keep her on his lap the entire ride, the two of them would serve as enough entertainment to keep him satiated until they reached Iwa.

Free of Hayamis death grip, Tatsuos arms slid along the back of the bench as he stretched them out and leaned back into what little cushion the bench provided in an attempt to get comfortable for the next few hours. His left elbow bent and his loose fist served as a place to rest his head against as the bench was decidedly lacking in comfortable headrests for someone of his height.

"That's fitting, then. I've never been regular, have I, Kota?" Tatsuo answered her statement but spun his attention to his younger brother momentarily, a mischievous light dancing in his eyes. "Even with both of you and that stupid dragon of hers, I think I like my chances." Tatsuo winked at the younger Akari, wondering just how much he had to push for the veins pulsating on his forehead to actually pop in frustration. His thoughts of messing with his brother were interrupted by the fiery words of the princess forced onto his lap. A look of happy surprise overtook his face as she finished and he could no longer keep in his laughter. It erupted from him and he couldn't help it as she threatened to tell on Kota to Musashi.

"Look who has some fight to her after all," Tatsuo teased as his laughter began to subside and she looked out the window, or well, tried to as best she could with his leaning head blocking the view. "Better listen to your future sister-in-law. Don't mind him, Hayami, he's just worried for little ol' me and besides, Musashi said the announcement would be then. I don't see anything wrong with trying to actually develop a relationship in the meanwhile. Well, besides the whole 'already married' thing."

Their conversation was interrupted by a trio of knocks on the privacy screen door granted to their seating. It wasn't surprising given the other members of the staff also travelling but Tatsuo was slightly annoyed by the fact he hadn't been able to feel the person coming down the train's hall due to its own vibrations. Something he'd make a note of and forward to the engineers in Iwa. Moments after the last knock, the screen was pulled open by a member of the house staff pushing a cart full of snacks and drinks.

"Perfect timing! I could use a drink."

[Kao]

Kotaru held Hayami's gaze as she spoke, his brow lifting slightly at her tone. It was practiced and haughty, perfectly cadenced to reflect her high-born status. Normally the bannin hated the type immensely and made no effort to hide the feeling, but with Hayami sitting in Tatsuo's lap he could hardly put his ire on full display. Despite the sharpness in his eyes and tone, Kotaru was largely unfazed by her admonishing. In fact, as she spoke he slid down slightly in his seat and propped his elbow atop the armrest, then rested his cheek on a slightly closed fist. A perfect mirror of Tatsuo's relaxed posture. "Worried isn't the right word. More like pissed about the audacity of it all."

At that moment they were interrupted by a tiny mouse of a woman pushing a cart of treats. It was reminiscent of the meeting with the daimyo where Hayami had served the two brothers, except instead of tea they were offered much stronger beverages. Frowning at the memory, Kotaru waved away the bottle that was offered to him and instead started picking out his share of sandwiches and desserts. "The thing about this family is, what should affect him," he inclined his head towards Tatsuo, "tends to affect me. While he's busy being all important on the international scale I'm usually the one stuck dealing with bullshit family matters. I’m much more than his staff." The bannin said the final word with such spiteful venom that it was abundantly clear he had been ruminating on the daimyo's insult for days. But then his contempt fell away in an instant, and Kotaru blinked several times as if having a startling revelation. "I'm the head of the family, technically."

He shook his head in disgust, practically trying to physically shake off the thought. It was something that he still found horrifying. "But sure. Go ahead, Hime." The formal title fell from his tongue in a derisive drawl. "No one’ll stop you from writing letters. Just like how no one will stop me from reading them." His eyes flickered to Tatsuo, half anticipating a rebuttal. But before the kage could give it the staff member offered him a different bottle, and Kotaru bristled and sucked his teeth in irritation. "Don't you have anything other than alcohol? Some of us don't drink that shit."

[Amy]

His boisterous laughter surprised her but she was glad to hear it. It meant that despite the way the beat of her heart still hammered through her chest she had made the right choice. If he had chastised her the way her father would have for speaking out of turn, out of place, she wouldn’t have known how to recover. But it emboldened her slightly, briefly, to know that she had earned at least a small amount of his respect for not backing down. For sticking up for herself. She couldn’t deny that it had felt good - aside from the gut wrenching terror, of course. She was still considering her response when the knocks cascaded through the enclosed room.

Time seemed to slow as Hayami turned her head from the window, realizing the predicament she was in. Alone, in a train car with two men was already dubious. If you added in the fact that she was sitting on one of their laps it was downright scandalous. She had just enough time to prepare herself for the shocked gaze of one of the train employees. Afterwards, she would be able to comfort herself knowing that she would never have to see them again. Instead, she found herself blinking back and forth with one of her own maids.

“Hime?” The small woman practically whispered.

Hayami’s eyes fluttered closed. “It was wise of you to borrow a cart from the train staff,” she forced out. “Please serve the refreshments.” Her prompt seemed to shake the woman out of her stupor, at least enough to begin offering drinks to the Tsuchikage and the Lord Akari. She felt her patience waning further and further with each inconvenience and new problem that arose. By the time they got off the train, every single member of the staff that had joined them would know about the scandalous position she had found herself in. Which meant it would only be a matter of days before word made it back to her father. Which meant a matter of weeks before she heard about it from him. Which was probably what had her accepting a bottle of sake from the maid but declining all food.

The royal sneer was gone from her face, replaced with a run-of-the-mill glare when Lord Akari continued to speak. She had simply been trying to make a point about not ignoring her presence. She had no expectation that he would actually use her title - few did. His use of it annoyed her even more than his ignoring her did. “Yuna,” she said to the maid who was frantically searching the cart for something for the Lord to drink. “Please go to the dining cart and request several of their non-alcohol options. They can bill it to my father’s account.” The woman bowed quickly in relief and closed the door, leaving the three in brief privacy once again.

“If you have a desire to read my letters, I can simply hand them directly to you. My own staff usually handles simple deliveries but if the Lord Tsuchikage doesn’t mind I don’t have a problem with delegating the task out to his.” A too sweet smile turned up the corners of her mouth. She held the bottle of sake in her hand but didn’t quite know what to do with it. For some reason, drinking while sitting on the Tsuchikage’s lap seemed worse than sitting there doing nothing. Instead, she half turned, trying to crane her neck around in such a manner that she could look at the man whose lap she was sitting on without falling off of her perch.

“As long as no official announcements are made and things remain rumors, my father should have no complaints. He is well aware that my presence in your home will draw question and scrutiny.” Her tone and eyes were much softer when speaking to the Tsuchikage, even while being colored with a hint of embarrassment. “Were there any drinks you preferred? I can send Yuna for something more, if needed, when she returns.”

As though she had heard her name, three soft knocks sounded on the door again, Yuna back with a newly stocked cart. She immediately picked up one of the new bottles and offered it to Lord Akari.

[Niro]

"Someone can't handle their liquor." Tatsuo stated, a smug smirk pulling at the edges of his lips as he watched Kotaru scowl at the selection on the cart. While he wasn't in the mood for anything to eat, he could always use something to wet his lips. He could almost feel the embarrassment radiating off of Hayami in waves as her and the maid both realized the position she was in. The cart was a bit too forward for him to reach it from his compromising position so he just pointed at one of the sake bottles for himself similarly to Hayami. It was delicately handed to him by the mousey woman manning the cart and taken by his unoccupied hand.

"I can't imagine there'll be much to send back besides details of our budding romantic life." Tatsuo switched his teasing to Hayami for just a moment as the pair verbally clashed. In an effort to diffuse the situation somewhat and possibly turn the ire onto himself instead, he wasted no time including Kotaru in his prodding once again. "I do hope you paint me as a generous lover to your father. And Kota, you really want to be regaled with what's going on in my bedroom? Color me surprised."

Tatsuo thumbed the cork of the sake bottle and it escaped from the opening with a dull pop before falling onto the bench cushion. He took a short drink from the bottle and closed his eyes as the liquor washed over his tongue and down his throat with a gentle swallow. "No, the sake is fine. And exactly that, he's already expecting rumors at the very least." Tatsuos eyes shifted downward to meet Hayamis as she looked back at him with much softer features than he imagined Kotaru received.

"It could always be worse," Tatsuo began as he felt the footsteps of Yuna come back up the train hall this time after being made aware to search for separate vibrations from the trains own. The smug smirk from earlier remained plastered on his face while he leaned down and drew his face closer to her own as Yuna pulled open the door once more. "Imagine if we were lockin' lips when she walked in instead."

[Kao]

Kotaru shrugged his shoulders dismissively at Tatsuo's taunt. It wasn't his fault he had a palate that had evolved beyond the capability of enjoying alcohol. Even the smell could make his stomach church. The man picked up a strawberry tart and bit more than half of it off in one go, and he was pleased how how delicious it was. But he stopped mid chew to glare at Hayami's insinuation that he was - again - staff for Tatsuo to boss around. Of course Tatsuo was no help; he was too busy making disgusting implications about Kotaru's interest in his bedroom activities.

Kotaru stared at them both, unblinking, as he finished off the rest of the dessert and with his free hand reached to the cart to get two more. But instead of eating them himself, he put one directly on Hayami's lap, placing it upside down and smashing several strawberries into the expensive fabric of her clothes. Before she could react he set the other tart atop Tatsuo's sake bottle, smooshing it so that a chunk of it splashed into the liquid. "They're delicious. Try 'em."

The maid appeared utterly confused in the doorway, looking as though she would rather be literally anywhere else in the world. She hardly noticed as Kotaru snatched a pitcher of juice from the cart, her attention instead on how close the Tsuchikage and Hayami were now. It didn't seem possible that Hayami could have been in a more compromising position than she had been in only minutes before, but evidently she and these men were full of surprises. The maid squeaked as Kotaru snapped his fingers in her face several times, her eyes fearful and apologetic when she turned to him. "Are you done gawking?" he spat, pouring himself a drink of what smelled like grape juice. "Try to keep what you see in here to yourself." He figured it was a useless request, but no one could later say he hadn't attempted to keep the rumor mill from churning.

"You're not even trying to be discreet, Tats," Kotaru continued on, still poking through the treats and desserts. "I know you don't care about what the village or what anyone else thinks but the way she's in your lap with alcohol while you make eyes at her makes her look like a prostitute. And I would know." He popped another tart into his mouth, this one cherry. "Rumors about her are one thing. But rumors that you're using her like some cheap whore?"

Again Kotaru shrugged and didn't bother to make Hayami feel included in the conversation. Maybe it was better if this ridiculous situation went wrong quickly. "If that's how you want her presented then by all means."

[Amy]

Hayami stared at the Tsuchikage with bated breath, leaning back so far she felt like she might tip over at any minute. He wasn’t actually thinking of kissing her, was he? Obviously, he was just teasing her, right? Right, she told herself. Because that would be much too bold. Much too soon. She blinked, hard, surprised to find that either no time had passed or he still hadn’t moved away from her. Or maybe both? She didn’t know because she didn’t think anyone had said anything. Probably, she thought, she should say something. Or laugh. Or do anything except stare at him stupidly, making it completely obvious that she had no idea how to react.

It was the sudden weight of the tart in her lap that broke the spell. Not just the weight of it. It was the soft, wet, oozing sensation that brought her back into her right mind.

She didn't know what his problem was but she was certain she hated him. She had two brothers of her own and they would never dream of acting so terribly. Not around their family and certainly not around those who were practically strangers. It was barbaric. With their eyes still locked together the Tsuchikage would be the only one able to see the way her eyes narrowed before she drew her gaze down to the tart. She pried it gently off of her dress in an attempt to not make more of a mess while Lord Akari continued to spout his personal opinions as though they mattered to anyone except himself.

She said nothing to him. Not as she set the tart right side up on the cart that Yuna stood frozen with. Not as she gently tugged at the bottle of sake in the Tsuchikage’s hand and set that next to the first ruined tart. Not even as she replaced the bottle she took with the unopened one she had still been holding did she respond to the disgusting things Lord Akari said. Each movement she made had an exactness and deliberateness to it that suggested an immense amount of self-control was being used to perform it.

“Yuna,” she said, her voice cool and calm, even as her heart pounded erratically in her ears. “Please retrieve one of my travel bags and take it to the washroom.”

The maid was gone with the cart so quickly that she didn’t even shut the door to the cabin behind her. With as much dignity as she could manage, Hayami climbed off of the Tsuchikage’s lap and stood in the center of the small cabin before walking towards the door. As she took the few steps to get there, she began speaking, her voice still calm.

“My father never allowed us to have pets. He claimed that they were difficult to train. They often throw fits when they don't get their way and make messes to amuse themselves, much like children enjoy doing.” Hayami turned once she was in the doorway. There was no attempt to hide the fury in her gaze as she directed it first at the Tsuchikage and then at Lord Akari. Her voice was no longer calm, shaking slightly from the anger she was quickly losing a grip on. “I have no complaints if you enjoy keeping pets yourself, Lord Tsuchikage. But I would prefer it if you kept them on a shorter leash.”

Hayami slid the door shut with so much force that it was still shuddering on the tracks as her footsteps disappeared down the hall.

[Niro]

Click.

The moment the door to their private section rolled across the track and shut, signaling Hayami was gone, Tatsuo was on Kotaru like a tom in heat.

He flew across the train car, his form only a blur of white, black, and red as he straddled Kotaru and pinned him to the train car where he would be unable to escape his brotherly fury. The look in his eye screamed rage and indignation as one hand grabbed a fistful of his tunic and began to violently shake him back and forth while his other was raised up high and came down in a flurry of righteous slaps across the younger Akaris face.

"What. The. Fuck. Is. Your. Problem!" Tatsuo screeched each word with a slap following right behind each them, the meaty echo of flesh on flesh punctuating each. The older Akari twisted his hips to force Kotaru's body to conform to his desires and the two changed positions so they were leaned over with Kotaru locked in a headlock with one arm and Tatsuos free fist violently assaulting the crown of his head with a diabolical noogie.

"We're in private! This is a private train with private staff! The only way this gets out is if you make a bigger deal out of it than it is!"

"And I know I'm married but my life is easier if my newly forced upon me fiancée does like me! You being the embodiment of a toddler does not that help that!" He hissed as his knuckles grinded away against Kotarus scalp and ruffled his hair every which way. Sufficiently released of his anger for the moment, he climbed off of Kotas lap with one yell of exasperation.

"Stay here!" Tatsuo violently pointed at his little brother before he turned and pulled open the privacy screening to walk down the hallway after Hayami.

He took long strides as he moved throughout the train car and ran his hands back through his hair as a way to calm himself. Resisting the urge to punch something, Tatsuo followed the faint smell of strawberry tart to a closed room.

He cleared his throat and straightened his shirt out as best he could after the tussle with Kotaru before knocking thrice against the door.

"Hayami? Are you okay?"

[Amy]

Yuna had already made herself scarce, soiled dress in hand, by the time the Tsuchikage made it down the hall. The maid had tried to stay to help her clean up and redress but Hayami didn’t want any help. She didn’t want any company. She simply wanted some peace and quiet. Her hands braced on the edge of the small sink, head dropped between her arms. In no uncertain terms had she told Yuna that what she had witnessed and any thoughts or opinions she had about it were to remain her own. It was enough to keep her mouth shut, for now at least. Eventually, she would have a few too many drinks or get too engulfed in gossip and the story would come out. But that would be a problem for a different day.

More than how much she hated Lord Akari, she hated how much his words bothered her. It wasn’t her fault that they were in this position. She didn’t suggest to her father that he marry her off to the already married Tsuchikage. She didn’t force the Tsuchikage to accept. She didn’t decide that she should move to Iwa, move into his house, with his wife. She didn’t want to disrupt his life like this. She certainly didn’t want to pulled onto his lap or be forced to endure being spoken of like an object.

Hayami stared harder at the sparkling porcelain of the sink, refusing to let the heat behind her eyes turn into tears. She would not give Lord Akari the satisfaction of knowing the nerve he had struck within her. It wasn’t what he said. Nobody she had ever met before would have dared to compare her to - her face colored slightly even just thinking the word - a whore. It was the way he spoke around her. The same way everyone always spoke around her, her sister, her mother even. She could show off as much as she wanted but the eloquent speech and the beautiful dresses and the pristine manners only made her into a more valuable object. Never more.

She looked up and met her gaze in the mirror when the knocks sounded against the door. It had taken him longer than she anticipated to check after her. Hayami had no illusions that he cared about her more than he did any other random woman but he at least seemed to somewhat understand the position they were in. At least he was trying, like she was, to make the most of what they had.

“Yes, thank you,” she called through the door, wincing to herself at the exhausted tone of her voice. Slightly brighter, she continued. “One moment.”

The dress that Yuna had left hanging on the wall was much simpler than the one she had been wearing before. A dark navy blue color made of a much thinner fabric and without all of the extra lining and skirts. It would make it much easier to fit back into the small cabin. The thought of walking back into that enclosed room made her stomach turn as she carefully pulled the dress over her head and quickly tied the ribbon around her waist.

When she opened the door, there would be few people who could tell that anything was wrong. An almost perfect imitation of a pleasant smile adorned her face, not a trace of agitation or disgust anywhere to be found. “I apologize for my unbecoming behavior,” she said, bowing her head slightly. For as fake as it all felt, she sounded perfectly sincere. “I will of course apologize to Lord Akari also. I shouldn’t have spoke of him in that manner. Thank you for coming to check on me.”

[Niro]

Tatsuo waited patiently on the other side of the lavatory with bated breath as Hayami composed herself. A sense of shame had filled him at Kotaru's words and actions in the train car as he paced back and forth slowly in wait for her along with a small sense of dread. There was no way this wasn't going to make its way back to the Daimyo and he could only imagine what sort of repercussions he'd have to face for Kotaru's tantrum. Finding no use in worrying too hard at the future, Tatsuo pushed the thought to the back of his mind as Hayami stepped out in a much more tame dress compared to the previous one which had been adorned with enough frills to make him flinch.

He was silent as she spoke with a small frown plastered on his face. Tatsuo shook his head and folded his arms across his chest.

"There's no need," He started, his tone carrying an edge to it he hadn't used in the last few days. "Kota was out of line. You were right to reprimand him like you did and I was wrong to let it get to such a point. I'm sorry. It won't happen again." Tatsuo promised her as he stared down into her eyes and took in the sight of the obviously fake smile painted across her lips. While it might have fooled anyone else, he had actually been privy to the events in the room and knew there was no way she was actually as happy as the look on her face tried to portay. "You should also stop with the mask. Be pissed if you're pissed. It's something to be upset about. He's an asshole but the less genuine you are the more suspect he'll be and the worse he'll be."

Tatsuos arms dropped back to his sides as he sighed and looked over his shoulder back to the train car. "Let's get back to our seats. The next section of this trip can be a little bumpy and being standing won't be safe." He led the two of them back to their private seats, making sure to open the doors for Hayami where appropriate but follow along just beside and behind her otherwise. He knocked once, loud, violent, and heavy, against the door before opening it and motioning for Hayami to take a seat first this time.

[Kao]

Kotaru didn't have any time to react to Tatsuo's brutal attack that he somehow didn't see coming. Frozen as he took the beating, he sputtered something unintelligible between slaps, and before he could fully process that he was being throttled he'd been turned around. Knowing what was coming but unable to do anything to stop it, Kotaru shouted and growled as Tatsuo viciously rubbed his knuckles onto his scalp. "Stop it STOP IT!! FUCK YOU! " In the moment he heard nothing the older Akari said, but it was obvious from his tone that Tatsuo was genuinely upset.

With a groan he fell forward, face first. His head hit the edge of the seat, only adding to the pain and misery that had been inflicted upon him. For a long while Kotaru didn't move. His cheeks were on fire. The top of his head was on fire. Eventually he dragged himself back onto the seat, his entire head throbbing. "Fuckin' loutish oaf, goddamn meathead. Fuckin-" The grumbled, colorful insults fell from his lips as slipped out of his jacket and then lied down. He placed it over his head, still mumbling darkly, then gingerly touched his puffy, red cheeks with chakra-coated hands. The green glow was barely visible from beneath the jacket but it was noticeable enough that Tatsuo would know what he was doing.

The bannin ruminated over what Tatsuo had said. Private train this, private staff that. 'It doesn't matter if it's private or not,' he thought with a deep frown. 'Maids are some of the most gossipy bitches on the planet.' It's what he would have said had Tatsuo used his words like a person instead of just reacting. The irony of that thought was completely lost on him. Kotaru was planning his revenge when the warning knock came. Shoulders stiffening, he lifted his jacket just enough to peek out with one visible eye when the pair sauntered back into the room. By then he was nearly finished with mending his aching cheeks and head, and was too irritated to engage much with either of them. He waited for them to sit and then, with one eye on his brother, slowly raised a middle finger. Without a word he let the jacket fall back in place over his head, and slightly turned his body away from them. His anger was practically visible, radiating from him in potent waves.

JutsuShow

*[Iijutsu • Mystical Palm]

[Amy]

“I’m afraid that’s easier said than done,” Hayami said quietly as they walked down the hallways towards their car. She appreciated his apology especially as she hadn’t expected one. But it shouldn’t have been a surprise to her that she couldn’t predict what he, or Lord Akari, were going to do. She had grown up in such a small world, she was starting to realize. In a world where people were expected to act a certain way, present a carefully curated personality to those around them and keep everything else hidden. It was expected. It meant that no matter the situation you always knew how to act and how those around you would act. But that wasn’t going to work anymore. These men weren’t following any scripts. And if they weren’t, it meant that likely nobody in Iwa would be. Which meant that she was going to have to relearn…everything.

She wanted to say more but she didn’t know what. A million thoughts were running through her mind, a million feelings coursing through her veins. Hayami believed what the Tsuchikage said, that she should stop putting on a brave face. But even if she was ready for that she didn’t know what the real her was feeling. She was sad, angry, frustrated, tired. She wanted to refuse to go back into that train car. She wanted to make him promise not to put her back on his lap. She wanted to go home. She wanted…she wanted…

A heavy knock startled her out of her thoughts. They were back at the train car already. Before she could say or do anything the door slid open, Hayami’s breath hitching in her throat. She almost laughed in surprise at the sight that met her. Lord Akari, laying on the bench, his jacket covering his head. Whatever had kept the Tsuchikage from following right after her must have been effective. She wasn’t exactly pleased that this was a result of her being there but she was glad that there would be no more verbal sparring for the time being. She sat back against the far wall, hands once again folded in her lap, and matched the Lord’s silence. Even briefly wishing that she had a jacket that she could use to hide from the world.

Hayami didn’t bother trying to think of any small talk to fill the silence of the car. She kept her eyes glued to the window, watching the scenery rush by in a blur. True to what she had been warned of, the train began shaking periodically as the tracks became rougher. Hayami winced at the loud mechanical sounds that came from underneath the floorboards, bracing her body against the wall in an effort to stay upright. It was normal, at first. An unfortunate side effect of being able to quickly travel across the countryside. But the sounds of the train were only getting louder.

And then suddenly, the loud clanging sounds turned into a high pitched whine that had Hayami throwing her hands over her ears, screwing her eyes shut. The high pitched whine gave way to an even louder bang that sounded almost like an explosion before the train rapidly lost speed, throwing all of its passengers off kilter and causing several smaller crashes as luggage and crates tipped over.

Hayami opened her eyes slowly, looking around. Outside, the scenery was no longer flying by, a simple and still landscape stretching as far as the eye could see.

“What happened?”

[Niro]

Tatsuo felt his eye twitch at Kotaru's gesture upon their return along with a vein on his forehead pulse with anger. The desire to shove it up Kotarus own ass was immense but he kept his composure together and instead of assaulting his little brother again, he gestured for Hayami to take the empty bench where they had been previously seated. This time, rather than sit with Hayami as the previously jovial mood of the cart had been replaced with a heavy, anxious silence, Tatsuo elected to sit next to Kotaru on the opposite bench. He wasn't gentle in moving the younger Akari's legs into a position where he could sit down but wasn't the roughest either in doing so.

Rather than recline back into the relaxed position he had enjoyed during the earlier leg of the trip, Tatsuo elected to just fold his arms against his chest once more while closing his eyes and letting his chin dip slightly towards his chest to take advantage of the silence to attempt a short nap in an effort to improve his ruined mood. The creaking of the train, however, had other plans. The sounds only grew louder and louder as they continued on until finally reaching a disastrous crescendo. An explosion at the front of the train followed by a rapid deceleration led to the vehicles passengers and contents being tossed about internally. Tatsuo braced himself against the seat and floor while his right arm flew to Kotaru's shoulder to hold him in place and his other was poised to catch Hayami if she was thrown from her seat.

Luckily for them, the trio had managed to stay in their seats as the train came to a rough stop. Bereft of any words, Tatsuo just let out a long, exasperated sigh as he stood up and peaked his head out of the door into the hall. Throughout the train, groans of pain echoed along the corridors along with shouts of staff members moving to help each other. The lack of any follow up explosions or other impacts comforted him as it didn't seem like the train was under attack. It was looking like a mechanical issue, if anything.

"Kota, you wanna go check out what's going on?" It'd give the bannin something to do and focus his attitude on while allowing everyone some time to simmer and relax, if only a little bit. "I'm going to go check out the outside of the train, see if there's any issue with the tracks. Hayami, would you like to come with me?" Rather than leave her alone in the middle of the wilderness in a broken down vehicle, he thought it better she stick with him than anything.

Tatsuo walked over to the back of the train car where the entrance door was located before popping it open. A fierce gust of freezing cold air took the door and swung it wide open to reveal the tracks were running through a large mountain ridge. From the tracks to the end of the ridge measured at least 50 meters but from the top of the train stairs, one could see over the ridge where a vast blanket of snow stretched endlessly across the valley filled with towering pines and firs, their branches heavy with the fresh powder.

Tatsuo walked down the steps slowly while he looked around before hopping off of the bottom step. Fresh snow crunched underneath his boots as he held a hand up to assist Hayami in stepping down. Another gust of freezing air blasted by them and Tatsuo was quick to remove his duster and place it over Hayami's shoulders. The item was lined with sheepskin to assist in battling the usually-cold weather of Iwa and, although not perfect, would help to keep her much more comfortable than without it. He'd survive without it for now, even if a quick glance at his chest spoke volumes to the chill he was experiencing.

"Let's go take a look."

[Kao]

It was difficult to ignore the two of them in such close quarters but somehow Kotaru managed. He'd sat up and let his jacket fall from his face and onto his chest, then let his hands settle on his stomach with his fingers intertwined. Careful not to let his shoes touch Hayami's new, clean, and far less fancy dress, Kotaru slouched in the seat and crossed his ankles. He closed his eyes. And he did his best to relax despite having singlehandedly exacerbated the tension enveloping the group. Relax, with a frown, and contentedly ignore the situation he had created.

The explosion burst his bubble of brooding. His eyes snapped open as the chakra circulating within him surged and flared in preparation to go on the defensive. The feel of Tatsuo's hand on his shoulder made him even more alert. The problems between the trio were briefly swept away as a tide of unease rushed in, but it soon ebbed when Kotaru realized they weren't in any immediate danger. Already on his feet he huffed through his nose and glanced at Tatsuo, then with an affirmative grunt he pulled open the door and headed towards the front of the train.

Chaos had already spilled into the hall. Confused shouts mixed with calls for first aid and pained cries from injured passengers filled the narrow spaces of the train. Each scene Kotaru passed was part of a jumbled tableau of disarray. In one compartment a man clutched his head, a dazed look in his eyes as two women stood over him. In another a child sat alone, screaming as tears ran down her face. Despite the mess no one appeared to be seriously injured.

The air was thick with the smell of smoke and something metallic. When Kotaru was a few cars before the train's locomotive at the very front, he found his way blocked by several members of the train's staff, each of them wearing very official looking uniforms. "What happened?" The nearest man turned slowly, almost reluctantly, with irritation in his eyes as if he had better things to do than to deal with a passenger. But when he saw Lord Akari standing in front of him he instantly straightened his posture and his expression eased into something more neutral and respectful. Kotaru took a moment to consider him. A former shinobi, perhaps. He didn't repeat himself, instead tilting his head as he waited for the man to respond.

His answer was esoteric at best. He used technical terminology that meant nothing to the bannin. "...Meaning?"

"Something's wrong with the wheels and the tracks. Other things seem to be wrong with the engine, maybe, but we're not sure what."

Kotaru's lips twitched downward. "How long until you figure it out and you get this deathtrap moving again?"

The engineer's gaze drifted to the space behind Kotaru, and he appeared to be making calculations in his head. But eventually he sighed and said, "I have no idea until we get under the train and into the engine room. But we might have a better idea in an hour or two."

Perfect.

Kotaru turned on his heel and headed back towards where he came, unsure whether to try to find someone with more information or go ahead and report back to Tatsuo. When he saw their compartment empty he simply kept walking, making mental notes of all of the passengers and staff he passed. Someone had to know something. At least, that's what he hoped.

[Amy]

Icy wind whipped around Hayami as she stood at the top of the steps, still questioning why she had so easily agreed to follow the Tsuchikage into the outdoors. Perhaps it was because she knew, somehow, that he wasn’t going to let her sit alone in the car and wait for one or both of them to return. Which meant that if she didn’t go with him, she would be forced to go with Lord Akari. And as much as she would have rather stayed indoors, where it was warm and at least comfort-adjacent the thought of spending even a second alone with him was entirely unbearable. Though, she admitted to herself as she placed her hand in the Tsuchikage’s and slowly made her way down the steps, it seemed slightly more bearable now that she was actually standing outside.

Her shiny black boots contrasted sharply against the pure white snow. Hayami’s eyes traveled slowly around the open landscape. It wasn’t anything that she hadn’t seen before but there was something that felt much different about standing out in it rather than viewing it from a carriage or the train. It was beautiful but there was something decidedly unsettling about it. A violent chill raced up her spine and set her teeth chattering, stealing her attention from the ridge line. She was about to suggest that she return inside to collect a coat from her luggage when a heavy weight settled on her shoulders.

Warm, she thought to herself as she pulled the front of the coat closed, sealing in as much residual body heat as she could. Her eyes turned upwards to meet the Tsuchikage’s. He wasn’t wearing much else when considering the weather and as impressive as he was, she didn’t expect that he was impervious to the harsh cold. There were at least four politically based reasons that she could think of to use as excuses for why she shouldn’t try to return his coat to him. But as she breathed in deeply, pulling it tighter around her shoulders she knew that the reason she wouldn’t was much more simple and frivolous in nature. Rather than spend idle time thinking on that, Hayami smiled at the Tsuchikage.

“Yes, let’s. Thank you, for the coat,” she said as she stepped up to his side and they began walking towards the front of the train.

Due to the space they had needed they were placed in some of the last cars which meant they had a ways to walk. Luckily, the snow surrounding the tracks wasn’t so high that it was difficult to walk though each step elicited another pleasant crunch. Hayami did her best to keep her eyes focused forwards, glancing between the train and the ridge, looking for…something. Anything. But despite her best efforts she found herself continuously glancing over at the Tsuchikage, remembering the last time they had been alone together and the conversation they had had. Really, Hayami knew he could have left her inside. There were more than a dozen member’s of her father’s staff in that train and she could have waited with any or all of them. But he was making an effort to include her, to give her the chance to prove what she promised him in the gazebo just a few days ago. Undeniably, a spark of joy flashed her in at the thought and kept a small smile playing on her face.

“I’m afraid that ‘train expert’ is not something I can boast about being,” she said a short while later with a playful tone as they neared the front portion of the train. “But I believe that may be the issue you were looking for?” Thick smoke oozed out from beneath one of the train cars, melting the snow immediately around it and dirtying what it couldn’t melt. Her footsteps slowed as they got closer, wondering what he would do with this new information. Not being a train expert, it meant very little to her.

[Niro]

Tatsuo suppressed a shiver attempting to crawl down his spine as his boots sunk into the fresh powder with a satisfying crunch as he walked along the length of the train with Hayami at his side. While he was used to the freezing temperatures plaguing Rock Country much more than most, especially considering the altitude Iwagakure's highest peaks boasted, it was still miserable out here in the wilderness. The sun gazing down on them only helped so much but Tatsuo found the slight warmth on the back of his head and neck slightly comforting as he crossed his arms and hid his hands under each. His gaze drifted as they walked through the snow and took in a visual of what lay beyond the other side of the train as they passed each car. The forest from below the ridge off to their right continued as if the ridge and train tracks were bumps of a log. The land begun to slope into another mountain peak looming high above them with its tip hidden in the clouds.

He was pulled from his observations by Hayami as they neared the front cars of the train. The smell of smoke was strong here and it didn't take long for his eyes to pick up on where it was billowing from. Tatsuo waved a hand in front of his face in a futile attempt to clear the smell from his nostrils but it was in vain as his face screwed into a look of disgust.

"Me neither," Tatsuo told her truthfully. "Never been one for these sorts of things. Engineering and putting stuff together really isn't my forte. That lies...elsewhere." He laughed as he approached the smoking train car from an angle that best kept the smoke from consuming him. Tatsuo crouched down and leaned onto his knees as he looked around the bottom of the damaged train car. Through the smoke, Tatsuo could see, and faintly smell, the exploded remains of some sort of animal. It was big, based on the chunks coating the undercarriage of the car and how it had busted something, but not big enough for him to grab any remains free of. The car would need to be hosed down, cleaned, and repaired before they could get under way.

Another rod slipped or a gasket burst and the next thing Tatsuo knew, he was choking on thick black smoke as it swallowed up his head. Immediately throwing himself back from where he had been kneeling, Tatsuo landed in the snow with a groan as soot and smoke covered his hair, face, and upper body.

"I wanna reiterate, I ain't a train expert." He complained as he sat up and used the bottom of his formerly pristine white shirt to wipe his eyes and face. "I miss the ship."

[Amy]

There was no hiding the grimace on her face when the Tsuchikage dared to get closer to the dense smoke pouring from the train. Rather than continue closer and risk setting herself into a coughing fit from inhaling too much smoke directly, Hayami circled slightly around the Tsuchikage so she was standing behind him. Her brow drew together curiously as he seemed to be looking intently at something. Despite herself, she was curious. She leaned forward, her head tilting to the side, hoping to catch a glance of whatever he had found. There was nothing special that she could see though. Billows of smoke and the back of his head. Though, since she didn’t know what she was looking for she may not have even known what it was if she saw it. The whole thing seemed quite silly. She stood up straight and huffed slightly through her nose.

“I suppose we should let those whose forte does lie in engineering kn-” Hayami cut herself off with a gasp as there was a sharp clang and a refreshed surge of smoke filled the area the Tsuchikage was, knocking him back. Her feet cut through the snow quickly as she dashed to his side, falling to her knees in the snow. “Are you okay!?”

Her hand fell gently onto his shoulder as he sat up, now covered in the filth she had been trying so desperately to avoid. “Oh, you shouldn’t have given me your coat,” she chided not unkindly. “Your shirt is certainly ruined.” For a moment she watched him try to clean his face using his shirt but, though he couldn’t see it, he was mostly just smearing it around. “Wait,” she said, her fingers brushing the back of his hand to stop his movements before she opened his coat and patted around the pockets of her dress. “Yuna is forever hiding handkerchiefs in my pockets,” she said with a triumphant edge when she pulled one from her pocket.

“Keep your eyes closed,” she said as she began wiping the soot off of his face. It was not for his sake. Mortification bloomed in her eyes as she realized how close she was to him. That she had just casually touched him several times. She usually had a much better sense about her but the day had been so trying that clearly she was not thinking straight. By the time she spoke again, she had calmed the look in her eyes and was smiling genuinely, if not a bit weakly. “Much better. I’m afraid this won’t do much for your hair or the rest of you, though it may do well to get the excess off at least.” She placed the now black stained cloth in his hand gently, keeping her hand on top of it for a moment.

The snow beneath her was beginning to melt, soaking into the part of the coat and her dress she was kneeling on. It was uncomfortable and cold. She could have, should have, stood up. Yuna was going to scold her for dirtying another dress. Instead of getting up, she opened her mouth to speak again but was cut off before she could get another word out.

“Hey! What in the hell are you two doing out here? Don’t you have any sense about you!? Get your asses back-back in-inside the-” The man stumbled over his words as he got closer. He was an average man in nearly every way imaginable. The only markable thing about him was the blue jumpsuit he wore that was smeared with grease and who knew what else. “Lord Tsuchikage?” As furious as he had sounded when he walked up, he now sounded petrified. “My deepest apologies! I-I didn’t recognize you. I’m terribly sorry.” The man bowed low as he apologized.

[Niro]

Tatsuo's lips pulled downwards into a frown as his visage shifted into a grimace at the feeling of the grease and soot just smudging against his skin and smearing itself more than anything as he attempted to rub at it with his shirt hem. He was half-tempted to stick his head in the snow in a vain attempt to assuage some of the muck smeared on him but the thought was swept from his head, however, as he felt Hayami's touch on his hand and her command at him to wait. Instead of being obstinate or refusing, his hands fell to his lap and his eyes remained closed as he waited for her to find one of Yuna's hidden gifts, the frown on his face now softened considerably albeit still present.

He felt the gentle swipes of her handkerchief against his eyes as she wiped away the grime and soot to a point he could open his eyes again without fear. Her touch was much gentler than he was used to; a firm yet somehow tender touch usually accompanied whatever aid was beset upon him. Tatsuo's eyes blinked open as she placed the dirtied cloth into his hand and rested hers atop his own. His hand reflexively closed around hers for a moment engulfing it with the difference in size between the two before she was interrupted by one of the train workers scolding them.

Tatsuo looked over at the man as he got closer and realization began to settle in upon his face. A genuine laugh overtook Tatsuo for a moment as the man lost his wits and he bowed. The Tsuchikage waved away the man's bow and motioned for him to stand at rest as he got to his feet before offering Hayami a hand to assist her to hers. Now that someone with an idea about the situation was here, there was no need for them to stick around in the cold even if the view was beautiful.

"At ease, please. It seems the train struck an animal or it ran into the train or something. Either way, have fun cleanin' that outta there." Tatsuo called back to the engineer once Hayami was back on her feet, throwing a thumb over his shoulder at the smoking train car right behind them. "Let's get back inside so I can clean up." He offered her a hand to pull her free of the melted snow and rather than let it go immediately, his hand lingered for a long moment before they began the short trek back to their train car.

[Kao]

Kotaru's head throbbed as a random engineer he had pulled aside went into a very technical diatribe about everything that was wrong with the train. He clearly needed someone to vent to, but his decision to confide in the bannin was questionable at best. He seemed completely unfazed by Kotaru's general unfriendly and intimidating demeanor. On and on he ranted about how the engine failure shouldn't have happened because of a mere collision with an animal, no matter how huge it was, and it had only happened because his coworkers had done shoddy work with their recent inspections.

"All I asked," Kotaru interjected when the engineer finally paused to take a breath, "was how long the repairs would take. I don't know what a valve gear or eccentric rod are-"

"Eccentric crank-"

"YOU'RE AN ECCENTRIC CRANK just tell me how long!"

"I dunno, uh, Lord Akari sir." It was if he suddenly realized who he was talking to. "We're in the middle of nowhere with limited resources so several hours at best. Maybe we can get going again by sunrise tomorrow?"

Kotaru stared. The engineer stared back. Finally Kotaru turned on his heel and headed back toward his shared compartment, practically livid that his very first train ride had gone as poorly as he had feared. When he was only a few doors away from his compartment he blinked when he noticed Tatsuo and that woman walking in the opposite direction and moving towards him.

"Where have you - why are you wet and dirty?" He looked between the two of them suspiciously for a moment and then shook his head. "Nevermind, don't care. Bad news, we hit some animal and it somehow...ricocheted? Reverberated? I don't remember the word the engineer used but it fucked up the engine and we'll be stuck here for hours. It'll stay warm and lit since that part of the train is still working but I refuse to sit idly on this death trap in a teeny tiny room." He squinted at Tatsuo, still dubious about where he'd been but not in the mood to bug him about it. "So what are we gonna do instead, Lord Tsuchikage?"

[Niro]

The oil and grime still clung to his skin in spaces although his face had been mostly wiped clean. Tatsuos usually pristine white shirt was anything but between the backfire and his attempts to use it to clean himself so it was no surprise the sight drew a comment from Kotaru. His face transformed from a grimace of having been caught with his proverbial pants down that swiftly shifted into an unamused look.

"I went lookin' to see if it was something my dumbass could handle and get us movin' again. Turns out, the problem is already paste but in figuring that out the train decided it doesn't like me as much as I don't like it." Tatsuo held his arms up on either side to show off the filth covering him. "You know how long I'm gonna bitch about not taking the boat?" He grumbled as he rubbed a bit of grease between his finger tips before reaching out and thumbing Kotaru's chin so he'd also know the disgusting skin feel of the lubricant.

Rather than wait on Kotaru's reaction to being dabbed in filth so Tatsuo wouldn't be alone, the Tsuchikage looked past him and into the train as staffers moved to and fro behind the bannin in a hurry. Tatsuo heard them calling out to each other and picked up the words 'cabins', 'convert', and 'beds' in the hubbub. It seemed they would be stuck here overnight at the very least. Thankfully the trains engine was still in working order and the utilities on the train would still be available so no one would have to worry about freezing to death or a lack of food. The real issue floating around in Tatsuos mind was Hayami sharing the cabin with them when it came to sleeping. Between the staffers and the massive amount of luggage Hayami had brought with her, there would be no room for them as well. With a big sigh, he turned to look back out to the snow and then to Kotaru.

"We haven't camped in a while but...if it gets too cold we can cuddle. I call big spoon."

[Amy]

Everything was a mess. The day had started poorly but with expectations, at least. She just had to survive the few hours trip to Iwa. Once there, she was certain - she hoped - that she would be given private quarters. A place to retreat to when things got to be too much. A place where she could breathe and settle herself and sort through her feelings slowly and without being witnessed. But nothing had turned out right. Between fighting with Lord Akari, struggling to navigate the residual tension, dealing with her staff, being dragged out into the cold, she was done. And that was without thinking about how it had felt to hold hands with the Tsuchikage, even if it had been just for a brief moment. That was something she refused to think about at all.

Just a little bit longer, she promised herself as they re-entered the train and she quickly shrugged off the coat, hanging it over her forearm, careful to not let it drag on the ground. Just a little bit longer and she could finally have some peace and quiet.

She stood off to the side as the men spoke about what discoveries they had each made. In spite of herself, a small smile slipped across her face at the antics between the two of them. Perhaps their closeness would help to mend things between her and Lord Akari. She had reacted to his poor behavior but in truth she took no issue with him. Unlike her father, Hayami found nothing to gain from judging others based on rumor. Maybe, she thought to herself, she would apologize after all. The Tsuchikage had said it wasn’t necessary bu-

“I’m sorry, what?” The words left her mouth before she could even register the thought. Surely, she had been so wrapped up in her thoughts that she had misheard. “What do you mean, camping? We’re staying on the train.” Any trace of joy on her face or in her voice was gone.

“Oh, thank goodness you’re back!” Yuna ran up behind them, her hands wringing together. “Have you heard the news? They’re going to have us - Hime, you’ve dirtied another dress!”

Hayami raised her hand with a shake of her head. “Not now, Yuna.”

The maid’s face grew concerned, her eyes darting all around, her knuckles growing white as she clasped her hands tighter. “Well, you see, this really can’t wait. No one really knows…knows what, what to do, about-” Yuna was suddenly focused on the Tsuchikage and his filthy appearance. “Should I get him, you, sir, something to clean up with?” The young woman glanced rapidly between Hayami and the Tsuchikage as though she didn’t know whom to address.

“Pardon me for a moment,” Hayami said with a tight grin before she grabbed Yuna by the arm and led her several paces down the hallway, her heels clacking loudly. “Take a breath, Yuna. You’re not making any sense. What is going on?”

“Well, they’re not going to have the train fixed until tomorrow. The rooms are only big enough for one cot each and many are filled with luggage.” Hayami nodded, which only encouraged Yuna to continue. “The train staff has been around and said that they’ll set up the rest of the cots in the hallway. But even then…it’s very full. We’re just not sure it’s…appropriate for, well, you know…”

Hayami rubbed at the bridge of her nose until it turned a rosy red. She almost burst into laughter. A minute ago she would have said that camping was the worst idea anyone had ever had. But the idea of spending the night crammed into the train car, surrounded by her father’s employees, trying to navigate things with the Tsuchikage and Lord Akari…

“Go find me my warmest coat, Yuna. Tell everyone else to work with the train staff and to please do whatever you can to help.”

Yuna bowed slightly before dashing down towards the rest of the rooms while Hayami walked the opposite direction back towards the two waiting men. A weak smile flashed across her face.

“Camping it is, I guess.”

[Kao]

"Eww EWWW EWWW?!" A shiver of disgust rocked Kotaru's body, traveling from the crown of his head down to his feet and back up again. He wiped the gunk away with the inside of his jacket near the hem then shoved Tatsuo's shoulder. The bannin knew it would be like trying to push over a building but he did it anyway, if only to show how utterly irritating he found his elder brother in that moment. Then, to make matters worse, Tatsuo made a suggestion that completely caught him off guard.

Kotaru let out a long groan, his shoulders dropping as if the weight of having to go camping physically pulled them down. Just when he thought the day couldn't possibly get any worse. "Seriously?" He and Hayami spoke at the same time, but of course Kotaru ignored the fact that she was speaking. "Fucking shit, that's a terrible idea. We should just...ugh." It took only a second for Kotaru to realize that staying in a cramped train overnight would be even worse. There would be no privacy on the train, and if Kotaru was forced into such close quarters with a bunch of strangers he was sure he would actually snap. As Hayami and her maid scurried off to chat in private, Kotaru pressed his fingertips to his temples. "Try to spoon me and I'll kill you."




It didn't take long for Kotaru and Tatsuo to gather the bare minimum of the camping supplies they'd need. They carried a decently-sized tent, food and cookware, and three sleeping bags a half a mile or so northeast of the train tracks. Once they found a suitable location Kotaru cleared the area of snow with a well-controlled katon technique, and he spread out a large tarp over the still-damp ground. He took several opportunities to pause and roll his eyes at Hayami, who he wasn't the slightest bit surprised to see was completely out of her element. Holding his tongue for once, the bannin focused on lighting a fire and getting dinner started.

[Niro]

Tatsuo responded to everything with a long, slow blink as it seemed his words were misunderstood by everyone. His grin crawled back over his face as he shook his head gently and laughed at the confusion. He could see how his words could be misinterpreted, especially with the chaos and confusion already going on around them. While Kotaru's reaction to the grease was a fine reward considering the circumstances, it'd be best if he cleared it up now rather than before it got too misunderstood. Tatsuo waited until she finished the update on the train's status before clearing his throat to draw everyone's attention back to him again as Yuna was sent off.

"Let me be more clear; you'll have the entire room on the train to yourselves. Kotaru and I will be the only ones suffering the beauty of the countryside. You, please, stay here and enjoy the heat and amenities." Tatsuo flashed her a wide smile before turning in place and grabbing Kotaru by the elbow to begin collecting supplies for themselves. "And that'd be attempt number what with success zero? C'mon, little spoon."

A soft splattering of snowflakes across his nose and cheeks greeted Tatsuo as he stepped off causing him to look up. Dark gray clouds swirling above them meant more snow was on the way. Not wasting any more time, Tatsuo and Kotaru had set off to their camp site where Kotaru was quick to clear the snow. During their trek, Tatsuo had chopped down small trees where he saw them with his hand and gathered smaller branches for kindling. The bundle of firewood was unceremoniously dumped to the side while Kotaru set up the tarp and started on dinner and Tatsuo began placing the tent stakes and setting up the shelter as snow began to rapidly fall around them.

A quick cross handseal followed by a small explosion of smoke preceded a second Tatsuo appearing at the camp site. The original merely pointed into the nether as the clone went to act as a sentry for both the camp and the train while he and Kotaru tried to get a warms night sleep.