A Quiet To Do About Stalking

[xkxixaxbx]

Actually, the books that Akarui had were nothing particular but history books and also some non-fiction stories that she was planning on reading. After all, she was into Japan's history and such. As well as other things concerning the content that connected to her family and all.

"A whale that would seem to last me enough for a months worth of sushi," replied Akarui. Since it obviously had a enough large mouth that could totally bite upon the bait that she would be using of course. And there it was, Suishoku's laughter that is actually pretty entertaining to watch. While sitting there, Akarui just watched Suishoku laughing until she also heard footsteps. And of course it was none other than Nobuyori Azai.

"Fine...and thank you," said Akarui in her normal tone. From there though, no expressions though, just back to the regular straightforward face again. Moving on, Akarui was surprised at Suishoku's movements as she handed him back his cloak. And furthermore...what to do now?

[Nobushige]

"Fine...and thank you," she said. It was hard to view someone as a stalker or a threat after seeing them cry in front of you over something you consider an every day occurrence. Being handed his robes back from Suishoku the young future clan head unstrapped the naginata from his back, carefully placing it on the ground as he put his clan jacket back on. The golden symbol of his clan gleamed against the light blue and white robe. Picking up his weapon he once again strapped it to himself, on the back of his robes. With his weapon and robe back on he once again felt his ego be slightly restored.

As he looked at the Akarui he lowered himself to one knee to look at her.
"I apologize for my words. I really didn't think my words would cut into you so deep. If there is anything I can do to make it better, please let me know." now sitting cross legged on the ground below Suishoku and Akarui, it was the best way he could think to show that he was honestly apologetic. In olden days for a person to sit below another meant either defeat or respect, hence why he almost always stayed standing when others sat save for class.

Looking over at Suishoku he asked her a simple question.
"More and more lately, all people talk of is how I have some massive chip on my shoulder. The boy who lives with us, you, Akarui, the ninja. Everyone always says I am some stuck up brat. Is it that I really am, or do they simply not understand the things I go through?" Suishoku was the only person Nobu ever felt like he could talk about social situations with since at this point she really was pretty much his only friend at the academy.

[alida]

"If the sushi doesn't spoil first." she instantly remarked about the topic of catching whales. Modern day refrigerators couldn't possibly store all that sushi. What would an Azai orca taste like anyway? Her only guess some something satisfactory and sweet given the situation. With Onmyoujin-san continuing to bend over backwards to gain appeal from Akarui, her eyes shifted as she sat back on the bench to the door to check if someone was eavesdropping. The room is mostly soundproof to a degree but it won't prevent the odd mutters and hums through the walls.

"More and more lately, all people talk of is how I have some massive chip on my shoulder. The boy who lives with us, you, Akarui, the ninja. Everyone always says I am some stuck up brat. Is it that I really am, or do they simply not understand the things I go through?"

Turning away from the door, Suishoku placed her hands in her lap to think on a few things. He's a clan head and it's a bit expected to have higher callings and what not and being 'lonely at the top' from the shows and things. Also, with him sitting like that, he looked like he wanted a blunt answer than sugar coating thing. She wondered if that would come across as such.

"When you look at me, what do you see? When you look at Akarui or anyone else, what do you see? We're just students with our records in the school data base. You have the Azai clan symbol and like to remind people of different social classes. You don't have to be storming around saying who you are and how important you are. If this was a normal school, we'd thinking you're eccentric for dying your hair blonde and having the coat around. That or the drama club is having a costume party. Here though, we may as well be calling ourselves cadets instead of students. If your plan is to gain vassals or something in these three years, who is willing to follow your lead besides creepy Azai suck ups or kids mailed to you by family debts? Honestly, with high family names, that just means you'll be a shoe in for whoever wants to use us in the government."

She sighed a little for some breath, feeling like she's redundantly reminding herself of why they are here than Onmyoujin-san. Possibly leaking her own inner thoughts of being here. "More importantly, the school brought us here because of those items. Not because you're of the Azai clan; that's second. Yes, it's a bit stupid to repeat that but isn't that what it is? I'm not saying you have to lower yourself to civilian level but if actions speak louder than words, will anyone believe your words to be an Azai without your flag of identification? Are members of the Azai clan all stuck up and rooted in the whole high nobility? You could be as bad as those rich tycoons who throw money and bodies down the river if the charitably of being noble wasn't a virtue in you."

Finishing, she looked down at him in a focused stare that seemed to amplify her soul searching colored eyes. She was neither angry or upset with him. As she leaned forward and moved her hands to be folded for her chin to rest on, it looked like she was giving him judgement. "For today, you're not at fault of saying something casually. No one in this room knows the other to fully be aware of what sort of event flags we might trigger due to the things we say. Even death flags."

[xkxixaxbx]

Akarui looked to the side as she didn’t want to see the sight of Nobuyori Azai. After all that, he finally ends up just saying those words to her? In truth, she should be more like, “that’s it?” but it seems directly that he was very apologetic indeed. And not only that, he even formally did the one knee position as well. Okay, so yes, Akarui could understand that he was royalty and all but to even add the word “noble” to describe him was not in her dictionary under her category for him. However, in accordance to his question, Akarui was surprised that he actually would be asking something from her. ”Get off your high horse,” replied Akarui only to realize she just stated something of a metaphor. Oh well, hopefully he understand something out of what she said.

While listening onto what seems like Nobuyori’s asking of opinion about himself to Suishoku Yuubae, Akarui gladly opened her ears, while now slightly facing Suishoku. And bravo, Suishoku hit it straight on. Which made things even better because Akarui’s reply that she gave early contradicting to Nobuyori’s question. Even Akarui was glad that the academy had someone like Suishoku who also knew how to see things at a different angle.

"More importantly, the school brought us here because of those items. Not because you're of the Azai clan; that's second. Yes, it's a bit stupid to repeat that but isn't that what it is? I'm not saying you have to lower yourself to civilian level but if actions speak louder than words, will anyone believe your words to be an Azai without your flag of identification? Are members of the Azai clan all stuck up and rooted in the whole high nobility? You could be as bad as those rich tycoons who throw money and bodies down the river if the charitably of being noble wasn't a virtue in you."

From there, Akarui also added, ”We’re like dolls on a single string in this academy. Here, status does not matter to the instructors as long as we, the so called students understand the basics of what they are teaching. Sides, there is really no such thing as a ‘special treatment here’ in Bugei Academy.”

"For today, you're not at fault of saying something casually. No one in this room knows the other to fully be aware of what sort of event flags we might trigger due to the things we say. Even death flags."

With that said, Akarui grinned away at Suishoku. From the way Akarui sees it, even one day Suishoku would achieve something great. Heck, she could even be a philosopher! With her strong speech, she could even be a great leader. Something that mister Nobuyori Azai could DEFINITELY LEARN FROM!!! From there though, something came over Akarui as she muttered the following words after Suishoku’s gaze of judgment statement, ”Even if you are the last male in your clan does not mean you could go around giving the look to women as if they are stalkers among you…”

[Nobushige]

"When you look at me, what do you see? When you look at Akarui or anyone else, what do you see? We're just students with our records in the school data base. You have the Azai clan symbol and like to remind people of different social classes. You don't have to be storming around saying who you are and how important you are. If this was a normal school, we'd thinking you're eccentric for dying your hair blonde and having the coat around. That or the drama club is having a costume party. Here though, we may as well be calling ourselves cadets instead of students. If your plan is to gain vassals or something in these three years, who is willing to follow your lead besides creepy Azai suck ups or kids mailed to you by family debts? Honestly, with high family names, that just means you'll be a shoe in for whoever wants to use us in the government." Suishoku said to him. Of course he could never tell her that what he saw when he looked at the two of them the world around them seemed to become far less important, and his hearing felt like it faded away as his heart rate went up a bit. Those kind of things didn't seem necessary to comment on.Though considering how little exposure he got to people his own age growing up, it seemed fairly normal.

Nobuyori listened as the two girls said their honest opinions of both his actions as well as the school they went to. He expected to kind words from Akarui or Suishoku, but at this point these two where the only ones even close to what could be considered friends to him. As they talked Nobu removed the naginata from his person, and placing it beside him put his back against the floor. As they explained things to him he gazed at the ceiling taking in what the two said as well as trying to form a response.
"Actually, I never really wanted to go to this school to begin with. I would have been fine going to a school for formal training in kabuki or tea ceremony." As the boy reflected on his first year at the academy, and this being his second, all he could remember where combat training courses and political stuff he really didn't care much about. He much rather preferred the tea ceremony club, and occasionally archery as well.
"In truth, it is all over compensation. The jacket, the attitude, it is all to spread the name of a clan that doesn't really exist." and with that he sat up, and looked directly at Suishoku.
"It never seems odd to anyone that the Azai clan still exists? The clan that was completely destroyed during the warring states? After they lost to the Oda the clan lord took his life, and most of the clan's men died in the fighting. The women all got married off as well. There was no more clan formally. In truth it was my grandfather that founded this current clan. He found out from a scroll that we are technically a branch family. Already being a high ranked naval officer he wanted more recognition. Pretty much in exchange for complete loyalty to the government the shogunate allowed him to revive the Azai name." Without even realizing it he had started moving the hem of his robe through his fingers as he talked of his family. On one hand they where in fact related to the famous family, but at the same time Nobu never felt as though they really where that clan.

”We’re like dolls on a single string in this academy. Here, status does not matter to the instructors as long as we, the so called students understand the basics of what they are teaching. Sides, there is really no such thing as a ‘special treatment here’ in Bugei Academy.” Akarui had said to him. Nobu knew that well, since despite his actions he had never gotten any special treatment from the teachers here.

"It is sad isn't it? We barely understand our own powers and yet the government is convinced we have to use them for the good of the country, and be the leaders....."
He couldn't help it, his face grew grim. He didn't really know how to lead people, and didn't really want that weight on his shoulders. In truth he was glad most of his powers involved healing and protection, it meant that he didn't have to watch as a lot of people he fought with and grew close to got slaughtered mindlessly around him. The thought of it alone was enough to make him go mad. That was of course until he heard.
”Even if you are the last male in your clan does not mean you could go around giving the look to women as if they are stalkers among you.." and the moment he heard it Nobuyori starting laughing uncharacteristically.
"I'm not really use to other people. When they look at me I really can't tell if they are looking at me because they are interested, or looking at me because i'm weird, or heck, even looking at me because they hate me. I know i draw a lot of attention with the robe and the hair, but in terms of reading others that really isn't a skill i possess. Sorry."

With all that out Nobuyori felt something he hadn't felt in quite some time. He felt...actually pretty good. Putting out his arms and falling back on the ground, for the first time since he had come to the academy he actually felt like a regular student who could just normally talk to people and not even have to worry about his clan name because he knew the two people he was talking to truly didn't care what clan he was from. For the first time in quite some time he had a genuinely happy look on his face.
"I'm glad that you two can be so honest with me." he said in a light tone. It was obviously referring to the two women with him, but his voice had a calm, casual tone to it that nobody was probably use to hearing. It wasn't the commanding tone of a future clan head, but instead just the voice and tone of a normal student, stuck in an academy like everyone else.

[alida]

With Akarui's input, Suishoku nodded without the personal intent Akarui placed behind her comments but hoped they weren't on a personal case between the two. Seeing him disarm himself and lay back on what little floor space there is, her eyes blinked once as she remained seated in what looked to be him absorbing their combined lengthy input. The next few sentences from his mouth were refreshingly honest, leading to her stare of judgement softening. Hearing someone else who didn't want to be in the school, Suishoku felt she was rather selfish in thinking she was the only one ill suited to be here and everyone else would be well on their way to more accomplished roles ever since the qualification exams. Back then, she could have failed them on purpose but that'll lead to being forced to apply again. In the end, due to being an item wielder, it may have been unavoidable. It would be shameful to attempting suicide and have her parents suffer the aftermath.

She was wrong to think Onmyoujin-san was an ambitious person who wanted the Azai name to be recognized more than anything but in the same hand, her suspicion weren't far off that there was a reason to keep up a bold front and possibly even more but there was no need to try prying any deeper.

"I'm not really use to other people. When they look at me I really can't tell if they are looking at me because they are interested, or looking at me because i'm weird, or heck, even looking at me because they hate me. I know I draw a lot of attention with the robe and the hair, but in terms of reading others that really isn't a skill I possess. Sorry."

"I'm glad that you two can be so honest with me."

Standing up from her seat, Suishoku smiled at Akarui then carefully walked to the side and squatted down near his shoulder with the same smile directed at him. The grim appearance on his face not replaced with something more honest, more clear with himself and to the girls felt rewarding enough. At least in her mind along with not much of a need to serve him the burnt pancakes.

"We'll keep all this between us but hopefully there won't be as many storms now then before. Doesn't hurt to be strict sometimes, ne?" Suishoku tilted her head slightly, wondering what would his answer to that suggestion be before chuckling and offered a hand to him. "So...how long are ya going to lay on the floor, Nobuyori?"

[xkxixaxbx]

What a twist! To think that everything was going downhill so fast only to just rebuild itself into a normal conversational topic. Well, not really but it was either something that all the three of them could agree on something at the same level. Akarui didn’t really give a care at the moment though. She just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible to deem from any other rumors to spread. Heck, the people back there already saw her crying enough as it is but to think that the three of them were together in the multimedia room was a total different type of speculation. However, the talk that the three of them were having was quite interesting indeed.

”It doesn’t even matter if we are in different schools anyway. We, those who are item wielders , are still a part of this system even outside of Bugei Academy alone. So no matter where we are in the world, whether we decided to come here or not, we’ll still be put to use. This is why some students just try to live a normal life as any other normal student would in a normal school,” states Akarui.

Well, with that said, Akarui was out of there. If she was to stay any longer, not only would it kill her mind off. Plus, she didn’t want any attention attracted upon her behalf. Also, she even found it strange that Nobuyori Azai has been sitting on the floor this whole time when he could be sitting on the bench, since there was plenty of room anyway. Getting up after Suishoku, Akarui went by the stack of books.

”By the way, you two…might want to clear up that ‘couple rumor’ that has been speculating around the academy, ” states Akarui as she puts on her black framed glasses and reached for the book stack.

[Nobushige]

The young boy smiled a bit. Suishoku may have been glad that she found people that trusted her so much, but in truth it was actually he who was glad to have found someone he could trust in. It wasn't easy spending his entire freshmen year holding all of that in. As the girl knelt down smiling she asked him when he was going to get up. In truth he didn't really want to. Staying like this really wouldn't have been so bad would it? Though, slowly he got up off the floor and looked at the two of them. After sitting down he gave his arms a light stretch and then wondered what would happen next.

Luckily for him Akarui had no intention of keeping either of them waiting as she stood up from the bench she was on.
”It doesn’t even matter if we are in different schools anyway. We, those who are item wielders , are still a part of this system even outside of Bugei Academy alone. So no matter where we are in the world, whether we decided to come here or not, we’ll still be put to use. This is why some students just try to live a normal life as any other normal student would in a normal school,”
She talked of how even if they weren't in the school it wouldn't matter since they where still item users. Which was fairly true considering that even the new in town houses, meant to help them better communicate with the people of the city, where monitored by the school, the castle, the people living near the house, and who knew how many bugs and ninja.
"I guess in the end coming here isn't so much a privilege as it is a bit of a prison sentence." he said with a sigh. It was true that going to this school meant you where railroaded into a high government position, but it also meant that by being an item users you where very tightly under the shogun's monitoring and control.

As he was getting into a fairly negative frame of mind a few simple words shook him out of it as Akarui began to walk away.
”By the way, you two…might want to clear up that ‘couple rumor’ that has been speculating around the academy, ”

Nobu paused and blinked.
"Um...pardon?" he said. He was hit straight out of left field and looked at her, then at Suishoku, then back to Akarui with a completely dumbfounded look on his face.
"Couple? Me and her?" he then turned to Suishoku with a confused looking, waiting or an explanation from at least one of them.

[alida]

Withdrawing her hand, Suishoku moved away when he sat up and took a seat on the bench. With a shrug, she stood back up to decide on calling him back to the usual Onmyoujin-san than his usual name. Akarui was getting her books together as the pair talked about the school being their prison. Nice to slowly feed her worries. Guess she'll have to put those to rest hopefully before graduation. "The wheel of fate is turning..." she sighed.

It has been awhile of their little trio hiding out here and talking among themselves that she took it upon herself to be the first to take a peek outside to check how busy the library looked and if anyone looked like an odd whispering group for the humor cycle.

”By the way, you two…might want to clear up that ‘couple rumor’ that has been speculating around the academy, ” Akarui warned them, causing Suishoku to look back stunned and ending up closing the door on her own fingers. Puffing her cheeks a the sharp pain, she quickly shoved her hand into her pocket as she looked at Onmyoujin-san with the same confused look as he had. "Couple? What couple?" It only then clicked a little in her mind of the whispering in the hallway as she held her chin with a wide eye look of realization if a different matter. "Ooh! So that's why people turned their heads on my way here. And here I thought it was about the whole thing of Mr. Il but this...sure changes that. When did this start?" It never occurred to her that the whispers and looks had that sort of implication. Just when they all have gotten to be more friendly, this was all out of the blue.

[xkxixaxbx]

OUCH. Did that hurt alright. Not only was her hand still there between the crack of the door but her balance on holding the stack of books, with the other hand, almost lost its balance as well. Now, while trying to alleviate from the pain for a bit, Akarui couldn't help but think that the reations of them both was so out of this world. Well, at first, she didn't think that they be this dense though considering how they were, especially that Nobuyori Azai of course. But Suishoku Yuubae? Come on, even Akarui thought she might have noticed but as a guess, it seems that they both never noticed at all.

"Suishoku Yuubae...my hand hurts," said Akarui openingly without actually showing any emotional pain on her face. It makes you think if Akarui was even alright at all - even Suishoku Yuubae herself! From there Akarui also added in assurance to their wonderful expressions of surprise..."And yes, the couple rumor is about you two..."

Akarui then turned her gaze to the eavesdropping people and gave them a glare while also stating, "It's spread so far online and around the academy that so many want to see if it is true, ne?" From there, she obviously scared the eavesdroppers but of course they couldn't move due to being discovered. With the knowledge knowing that Akarui would track them down and rid them of their lives to make their mouths considering Akarui knew speculations about her would arise now as well.

[Nobushige]

As the door slammed Nobu stood their wide eyed. What kind of rumors had been spreading about Suishoku and himself? Did people honestly think they where a couple? How deep of a couple? Did people think they had done adult things together? What if people started thinking he got her pregnant? What if they started thinking that Suishoku, himself, and Akarui had some weird love triangle going on? Would people think Akarui was his lover on the side? What if people thought that the two girls where lovers and he was just a third wheel? Was he a third wheel and just didn't know it? All of these thoughts going through his head made him not even notice the door slamming. Instead Nobu simply stood there wide eyed and blank.

Did he like her back? did she like him? Did Akarui secretly like either of them? Did either of them want to do adult things? Had either of them already done adult things before? All these thoughts made Nobu's face turn more and more red as they kept racing through his mind. A brief image of the two girls together flashed through his head and he almost passed out until finally it occurred to him he should say something.

"Do we....act like a couple?" was all that came out. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't think of how to respond to these rumors. he had never heard rumors about himself before. Whenever people whispered about him he just assumed it was because of the hair or the large jacket with his clan crest on the back. It never occurred to him people could think that he and this could be a couple.

[alida]

"Ah, s-sorry 'bout that." Suishoku quickly apologized while flexing her own hand in her pocket slowly with relief that she didn't lose any of her digits. Maybe some antiseptic and a bandage is all they'll both need but back to the main topic.

"It's spread so far online and around the academy that so many want to see if it is true, ne?"

People want to see if it's true? Why?! Suishoku looked at Akarui, hoping that was a joke but turned her eyes to the floor. This wasn't a joke. Do they even look like a couple though? She looked up at Onmyoujin-san's face but blinked at his flushed cheeks, getting herself a bit flustered on what is going on in his mind? He isn't that bad looking to be honest and they go to the same building. What exactly is it that people see them to be a couple? Who knew there would be people that do slash pairings in a military academy! The students here had more free time than she thought.

"Do we....act like a couple?"

"That's...a good question. Did we do something out of the ordinary for everyone else?" Suishoku held her chin again to try and think of how this came about when all she did was things she felt natural to do and a bit respectful, despite avoiding to use his name to simply 'Onmyoujin-san' except for that brief moment just now when she did use 'Nobuyori'. All she did was touch his head and each time they met around that was oddly cautious till now, even after Kamui tried to attack the sushi bar and the stealth training class. It's on the internet so who else knows about this? Her parents? His parents? That would be bad if it was his parents if they're that strict to tell him act all pompous! Hopefully nothing scary would happen on either side from that. "It's just a rumor though so it'll die out, right? This isn't going to be a show for them and it's not like in anime where the parents pick a random time to ship a clingy fiance over." If she learned anything from tv and comics, people pretending to be a couple usually ended up too comical and confusing for everyone. Oddly, she didn't seem completely negative on the idea but she didn't want to put out signs that she doesn't want to be friends anymore.

[xkxixaxbx]

From the corner of her eye, Akarui could see that Nobuyori Azai was lost in thought to what she had seem to reveal. However, from just his gestures alone, Akarui knew that he was thinking the unthinkable. As she finally removed her hand, luckily it wasn't broken or anything. Minus the tiny bits of cut but no major blood loss. Though it does hurt for gracious sake! Turning her head to facing Nobuyori she really wanted to throw something at him again but of course that was not going to help. "Stop with the naughty thoughts Nobuyori Azai!" exclaimed Akarui as she slightly licked her cuts.

Boy, was their reactions priceless! How could they have not notice?! The rumor has been going on for almost one month now. Even the gaze was making Akarui to want to laugh. However, she was able to contain herself since she was being focused to ride of the feeling of pain to go away. Now...of course Akarui just couldn't stand there and not answer their questions. "You're actions towards each other just makes people speculate things is all. Anyway, it maybe just a rumor but usually rumors don't die out around Bugei Academy here easily. And trust me, I know so..." states Akarui as she opened the door to leave with her stack of books.

[Nobushige]

All Nobu could do was blink a couple times and keep looking at Suishoku
"Stop with the naughty thoughts Nobuyori Azai!" exclaimed Akarui. instantly Nobu snapped to attention and got himself together. Akarui seemed busy gathering her stack of books together as Nobu held out his hand. A small slip of paper with Buddhist scripture on it slipped from in between the pages of one of the books and back inside of his robes. As she tried to leave Nobu shouted to Akarui
"Please stay safe Akarui. I'm actually glad we finally talked." It was then, looking past her, that Nobu noticed the students watching them. Laughing a bit he gazed back at the students who quickly scattered as Akarui moved towards them.

"Well, we have to leave at some point. Might as well go with Akarui out of this room. I still have to go to get the book I came here for." he said to Suishoku with a smile.
"Rumors are dumb things anyway, I see no reason to worry about such things." there was a hint of his usually cocky attitude within those words, but at the same time a clear sign that she was his friend and what other people had to say on the issues really didn't matter to him. Today had helped to put his priorities and views on people straight, so why should he care how other students view his world today?
"Let's go, Suishoku." he said with a smile.
Though as they where leaving he turned to her and ask
"Ummm, by the way...." he asked in a whisper to her
"Is Akarui a ninja? She moves around quickly, and didn't even seem to care about the door."

LEFT THREAD

[alida]

"You're actions towards each other just makes people speculate things is all. Anyway, it maybe just a rumor but usually rumors don't die out around Bugei Academy here easily. And trust me, I know so..."

Suishoku tilted her head slightly on the lingering of her words. Are people that stubborn or just wants to entertain their lives a little longer now that she's more open to consider other people were forced into the school.

"Well, we have to leave at some point. Might as well go with Akarui out of this room. I still have to go to get the book I came here for." Onmyoujin-san motioned and she nodded, returning his smile in agreement. They've hid out in the media room long enough and it turned out to be a rather good idea to have Akarui stop crying and they all got along better than expected. Mission accomplished.

At his word, Suishoku replied with a quick 'Hai', having her own small needs for a book or two. Filing out after him and Akarui, she did halt in her tracks as he took a moment to turn to her and whisper something about Akarui being a ninja for her movements and didn't care about the door injury. Clenching her own smashed hand in her pocket, Suishoku laughed openly on how Akarui handled it. "I'm pretty sure she felt that one. Anyway, maybe it's chanced fate of things working out like this. If you believe in that stuff, Onmyoujin-san."