About Last Night (closed)

[Moto Ichiro]

Ichiro had left word for Nobuko to meet him in as private an area as he could find here in the dojo, which was just an area outside behind a building that wasn't often used. Ichiro stood leaning against the wall of the building waiting for his guest.

His constant companion Zurui sat on his shoulder as the two observed some wildlife in a nearby tree for some time.

[Otomo Nobuko]

Nobuko eventually arrived. Not because she did not wish to see Ichiro, but because she had other obligations she had to attend to. Some fun - in the case of playing the koto for Ginkarasu - and some very much business - in the case of the meeting with the Ruby Champion. This time with Ichiro...

She hoped it would be pleasant, but feared he would wish to cut ties with her for the trouble protecting her had brought.

When she found him, she offered a smile and asked tentatively, "Ichiro-... kun?"

[Moto Ichiro]

Ichiro turned toward the voice and a smile touched his own lips and Zurui scuttled under the Moto boy's collar his little head peeking out.

He stepped towards her looming over he a bit with his height "Nobu-chan." he said softly and reached out putting a large hand on her arm and rubbing it slowly "I am glad to see you are alright." he paused briefly "I am.....sorry for being upset with you last night, I was worried and my worry turned to anger." he said looking down to her

[Otomo Nobuko]

The relief he was not upset with her was obvious. Her on slipping away in this private moment as she reached up and rested a hand over his, her eyes shutting as she allowed herself the luxury of leaning into the touch.

"I am sorry to have worried you," she murmured. "I cannot defend my choice to run to you. All I thought about was that you had fallen and I could not let you die there. Truly, I am not sure I thought past that at all. My actions put you more danger."

[Moto Ichiro]

The large Moto chuckled "I was already bleeding out on the ground it was hard for me to be in more danger. Just remember that if me or your yojimbo or anyone else goes into danger to defend you don't rush in after them, our job is to fight and protect, yours is a different danger that the empire needs you for. How would you feel if I thought you were disadvantaged at court and i rushed in to help eh?" he finished giving her arm a slight squeeze and a smile on his lips.

[Otomo Nobuko]

"I would wonder how much sochu you had before entering court," she answered with a sad laugh. "I have never been in such a position before. I... am learning more about myself in very short order than I have in many years."

She stepped closer, moving her hand from his to his chest, "I have learned that I can have feelings for someone I have no right to feel. My position should not allow it. And yet... my heart does not care."

[Moto Ichiro]

"Thats exactly what this place is Nobu-chan, it is a place for us to learn not only kata and lessons but also about ourselves." His hand went over hers and he leaned down his lips finding hers kissing her softly, tenderly, surprisingly tender for the brutish giant he appeared to be his hand on hers was rough and calloused but also gentle as it held her smaller one.

[Otomo Nobuko]

Her breath caught. She stood shocked. Even with all that she had allowed that he had not asked permission to do, this came as a surprise. Nobuko pulled away, stepping back and whipping her head around to see if anyone had seen.

What little she knew to seek the signs of an interloper told her they had not been.

A moment later, she was pressing into him, pushing up on her toes for her lips to reach his. Both hands pressed against his chest, trying desperately not to curl and catch lest she be unable to let go. Never had she felt so giddy and light headed.

-----
FLUFF, cause she's worried about propriety~
D8 Rooster Investigation/Perception - Are they really alone?: 3d10o10k2 13

[Moto Ichiro]

His powerful arms wrapped around her less hesitant and restrained than she. He hoisted her off the ground and kissed her deeply. It was his first time kissing a girl, he lacked practice and perhaps skill but not enthusiasm, he had the passion only the truly young do, young hearts untempered by time or heartbreak felt deeper allowed themselves to open more. He kissed her long and deep enjoying her softness against him.

But every new thing must become old and every good thing must end far faster than what feels right and just. He pulled back from her butstill easily holding her aloft so she was at eye level with him his deep brown eyes looked into hers "I have feelings for you too Nobuko, you didn't treat me as a stranger, or judge me because I don't always say the right thing or sound mean. You didnt just think I was a brute because I am large and quiet. You have been nice to me and shown that you are as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside." He said seriously as he gently set her down.

He didn't really know where to go from here, this was all very new and scary to him, facing down a goblin hoard had been easy but facing the way she made his heart pound in his chest this was a foe he was ill prepared for.

[Otomo Nobuko]

She squeaked a little as she was lifted up, but he held her so firmly that she didn't fall and then he was kissing her like the tales in the pillowbooks... she was overwhelmed - and would be again when she remembered it later. Emotions becoming too much and crowding out all thoughts.

When he set her down, she was out of breath and breathing heavily - trying to return what had escaped her. She did not pull away from him, content to stay within the safety of his arms.

"You... were the same," she answered. "I have always had expectations upon me. I know my place in the world and I accept that. But you did not put any on me. You were the first to ask me what I wanted since I was small enough to be spoiled. I did not lie when I answered you, but now I wonder what it would be like to have the freedom you do in choosing how to serve... And yet, I am content."

She laughed softly, "Because you have given me this moment. This time here. Because you have been so large and gentle... And not judged me, either."

Nobuko smoothed her hands over his chest, feeling his heart beneath her fingertips, "I hope that you will be considered... when this is over... that you will be considered a worthy candidate... by my family. I have asked... that all here... be considered... for my marriage."

[Moto Ichiro]

he looked a little surprised but smiled and pecked her lips again as he set her down "Nobu-chan, don't you think you should see how I live before you hope for something like that?" he said with a smile his hands resting on her hips "The proper Otomo living with the savage Moto in their city of gaijin pleasures?" he chuckled "I could do much worse for a wife." he said smiling down to her.

[Otomo Nobuko]

She kept her head against his chest, "It does not matter how you live. Truly. My position is to be wherever my spouse will be and to live as they ask of me. If that takes me to mountains ever-covered with snow, then that is where I will go. If it takes me to the isles where I can never see the mainland again, then that is where I will go."

"If it takes me to the gajin pleasure city that the savage Moto call their home..." Nobuko reached up to scratch at the chin of Zurui, eyeing Ichiro amused, "then that is where I will go."

Then she let her hand curl around his neck, "Agasha-sama has given me leave to give letters of inquiry to all who I find appropriate. It will still need approval from my family when the time comes, but it will allow all those who I offer the letter to, to be considered when they may never have thought of before. I will not be able to hand out only one letter as that would be dismissed out of hand as clear favoritism from someone with no training. But I can limit them the number. And I can have a say in the final outcome. I am... being given much leeway in this matter. So I must be careful."

[Moto Ichiro]

He smiled and leaned down pressing his lips to her head as his big arm wrapped around her his voice was low and soft but held a slight gruffness to it that promised one day to be a booming base voice of command "but what do you want? You can be prepared to do your duty without question but still have personal desires in your heart. Is coming to live with me in Khanbulak, to be immersed in our strange culture and learn how to interact with gaijin what you really want Nobu-chan?" he leaned back a little and looked down at her "I just want you to be happy."

[Otomo Nobuko]

"I am..." she was about to protest that she was happy. Which, in the moment, was true. But as for her future? She still knew her purpose.

"I can be happy," she said. "I will be content so long as I am able to perform my duties, no matter where that takes me. It is what I have spent my life working towards, to be the wife my spouse needs me to be... but..."

Nobuko's voice lowered, "I could be happy anywhere... if it is with you."

[Moto Ichiro]

It was a declaration made by a young heart, one that people with more experience realize is foolish and driven out of infatuation and being caught up in the moment. Unfortunately the Moto boy was not experienced and was also caught up in the moment, so few people are romantics until they are caught up in a real romance. It is not that Nobuko didn't believe her words but it was an over simplification and only time would tell if her words rang true. But for now the Moto boy was just happy to hear them.

"I think....I think I would like that." he squeezed her a bit in an embrace "So....who else will you be giving letters to?" he asked and the slightest shadow crossed over his face as a new emotion entered his heart a twinge of unfamiliarity he would later learn was called jealousy.

[Otomo Nobuko]

Nobuko was sixteen and having her first real-life taste of the sort of things she read about and saw in plays. Always tragic when pursued improperly. Celebrated when done by the rules of society. She really had no other roadmaps to follow. All she knew was that she was happy now and wanted to feel like that every time she welcomed her future spouse home.

She pulled away from him so she could look up at his face as she spoke, "Outside yourself, I am currently considering Bayushi Jiro-san, Asako Saburo-san, Kuni Yotsuo-san, Yasuki Ginkarasu-san, Utaku Nesrin-san, and Yogo Otoko-san. Of course, all who were invited here and have proven themselves are worthy of being considered if they ask it of me. Even Miya-san, though he will not be considered past the formality stage. My family has been very clear that outside of someone higher among the Otomo or a Daimyo's heir, I will not be marrying into the families. My role is to strengthen ties with the clans. But of those here... they are the ones I have seen to be of a temperament my own would compliment."

A short list that didn't actually exclude the possibility of anyone but her fellow Imperials, but as her marriage was a political bargaining chip, that was rather normal.

"I must not play favorites in this part. But once the invitations are given, and returned with intention to pursue or not, I can weigh in on my preferences for a marriage. Compatibility is important to ensure harmony, it is simply not the most important thing."

[Moto Ichiro]

he nodded and took a breath to control the pounding of his heart "I have thoughts on those listed but I don't believe it appropriate ot even useful to say it out loud." he paused and chewed his lip uncertainty filing his features. "Nobu-chan....I know you are a person of duty first and a fine samurai but...may i ask.....Do you feel for any of them....the same way you feel for me?" it was a dangerous question but one he knew wouldn't leave his mind unless he voiced it. It was the kind of question that begged to be asked even if the answer could hurt more than not knowing.

[Otomo Nobuko]

She pulled one of his hands into hers and then brought his fingers up so that she could kiss the back of them, "Ichiro-kun, you are the one my heart flutters for. No other I have encountered has caused this feeling within me."

Nobuko, for her part, did not particularly care if he had ever felt the same about another. He felt this way for her, now. And so long as that remained true and she could see it in his eyes when he set them upon her, then she would know joy. Well, at least, that's how she thought she felt. Feelings struck like lighting in the young. Bright, full of noise and light, and the fires they lit died down quickly enough if it did not strike where there was enough fuel to stoke the flames.

"And you are the only one I have ever been so... free.. with."

He had stolen her first kiss and she had thrown herself against him for more.

[Moto Ichiro]

Ichiro smiled and let out a sigh of relief that he hadn't even known he was holding he chuckled lightly and sighed as he felt her soft kisses on his fingers "Well what else are we Unicorn known for besides being wild and free, i am glad I inspire such feelings in you as well." Lords know she inspired many a feeling within the boy not entirely alien but new in their intensity

"No matter what happens I'd love for you to visit my home someday I suppose after the tournament as I'm sure we'll both be too busy with training between now and Topaz." The thought of six months without seeing her is saddening but he doesn't let his disappointment show instead smiling "I want you to see where I come from. See how you might live someday." He says as he rubs her fingers with his large thumb.

[Otomo Nobuko]

"I want to see it, too," she sighed, "And I do hope I will be invited. I had not hoped for that before, either. But I do, so that I may see you again. There is no doubt that you would be a strong contender for the title. And that would go a long way to securing a marriage... you doing well."

More so if he won, but the competition would be very fierce and the odds were often stacked in the favor of the Crane, who usually sent the most candidates since it was held in their lands. Just competing, so long as he did not fail spectacularly, could be enough to tip the scales in his favor.

"And my family has a house there," she added, coyly, "In Tsuma. My mother came from the Kakita and my Great Aunt is still of their clan. She favors me. I am certain to be allowed guests for visits during the tournament."

Chaperoned, sure, but far more private than the usual housing.