[D11 EN Closed] Benten's Blessing

[Bayushi Hinata]

*Ding!*
"H- hey! Hillside by the Shrine of wealth, overlooking the b- b- beach! I'll be waiting!"

It's been a blur of activity, games, drinking and gifting. Of dragging each other around the festival, drinking deep of the joy of youth and community. As the toasting event comes to a close, Hinata walks away from the festival, wobbling slightly as the drinking got to him. He goes to the 'agreed upon' spot, he had scouted out the place a couple nights prior.

Secluded for the most part, even if some people hung at the foot of the hillside and the trails around the shrine, hidden under the inky shadow of trees in the night Hinata found a small piece of sanctuary. He sits, then lays flat on his back, eyes staring up into the night sky. Twin moons overlook the grassy slope in between blotches of shade, constellations, Amaterasu's sisters, fortunes overseeing every virtue and vice.

The Scorpion has little to do but wait. Words get caught in his throat as he imagines what comes next. Why was he so nervous? Why was he so jittery? Was it the alcohol? Or something else?

[Susumu Sumiko]

Sumiko hadn't realised it was going to be this late so when she didn't get contacted she had started heading back. Turning back, she made her way quickly to the agreed spot. Pausing nearby, she looked around. It was an odd place to agree to meet. Secluded but not so much that people wouldn't hear. She hid a frown behind her usual smile and approached, finding the man laying on the ground.

"Hinata-san?" she said quietly as she got closer, bowing.

[Bayushi Hinata]

The man perked up at the sound of her voice, sitting up and wobblying for a moment before he found his balance. "Sumi-chan! You made it!" He bowed, and almost, almost, goes off rolling face first down the hillside. He leans back, finding support on his arms and putting up a big dumb grin for her.

"Sit sit! This is a great spot, I had a look around for somewhere nice to watch the fireworks!" Even in the dark of the hillside she can tell. The slight slur in his words, the smell of sake on him, the almost imperceptible flush on his face and neck. He's drunk off his rocker right now.

[Susumu Sumiko]

"I think you should have picked a less high spot Hinata-kun" Sumiko said with a laugh, moving closer and sitting down next to the man "what if you fell and hurt yourself?"

She looked out across the view.

"Still...this will be a great spot for fireworks."

[Bayushi Hinata]

"That! I... Oh yeah I was a lot more sober when I picked this. Crab-san really wanted me to participate in the toast."

He says with a smile, leaning back and finding support on his elbows.

"I'm b- bushi! Getting hurt is what I do! I got shot yesterday even haha!" He lifts up his shirt, an ugly bruise on his abdomen, some burnt skin, a hit from a radiant weapon.

"Man those... Those... What were they? I don,'t remember they were NOT happy to see us!"

[Susumu Sumiko]

"You were what?"

Sumiko had turned around wide eyed.

"What were you doing to get into a fight? Have you had proper treatment?"

[Bayushi Hinata]

He waved dismissively as he let the short fall back over the bruise. "Hai hai! I helped dislodge the... Criminals! From that Temple! A pretty officer lady shot me real close."

"Kitsune-,Sama... Which one? The famous one! He treated my wounds right after, the painkillers do the rest!"

[Susumu Sumiko]

"Ah...the temple in Tenjin Town?" Sumiko sighed "perhaps its good that I didn't enquire into that further then. I'm glad you were able to seek treatment, Kitsune-sama is a talented priest. Still, if you need anything more please do let me know. I am a trained medic along with my other abilities."

There was a small shake of the head.

"Really though, the Crab shouldn't have been putting guests in such danger. What if you had died?"

[Bayushi Hinata]

"Yeah! He was super quick! Even took care of me after that Kuni tried to drag me away! I was super lucky that day."

His expression turns from amicable to haunted at the last declaration, softly it transitions into contemplation, his eyes staring off at the beach. "I... I'm terribly aware of that fact. I have to admit it's the closest I've ever been to dying..."

"I'm not ready." He curled up, hugging his legs to his body, hiding his face behind his knees. "I fought, I kept going. But I was terrified. More so after seeing Moto Shiwahime-san..."

[Susumu Sumiko]

Sumiko slid over closer to the guy as he started to curl up. She placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I understand. I really do, I went through something similar on your clans planet when helping recover those samples Hinata-kun. You survived though, and you can grow from the experience. You're still alive after all. We can't change the past but we can shape our own future."

[Bayushi Hinata]

He remained in his position, he did not retreat at her approach, only looked onward, as if waiting for some cue that wasn't coming.

"It... Put quite a few things into perspective. Made me rethink quite a few things." He opened up again, his hand resting between the two of them.

"I..." He doesn't continue, the words caught in his throat.

[Susumu Sumiko]

Sumiko looked at the man concerned. He seemed to be lost in a train of thought, so she moved her arm around him and pulled him closer. Hugging him gently.

"It's ok Hinata-kun, I'm here if you want to talk" she offered quietly.

[Bayushi Hinata]

He remains there, feeling the warmth of her gentle embrace, he doesn't look at her still, as if entrances by the reflection of the moon's on the water. Perhaps it is the brother's of Onnotangu that coax his next words, and next actions out of him. "I'm not spending another moment without you knowing Sumiko-san."

He wraps his own arm around her, and pulls her in, the other arm around her waist, in one fluid motion she is sitting on his lap facing him, the light of the moon reflecting off his eyes like burning blue suns.

"I want to be with you Sumi-chan." His breath crashes against her skin, almost scalding in comparison to the night breeze. "I want to spend my days with you. Tomorrow, after..." There is a pause, his chest heaves with nerves, even as his fingers dig into the fabric of her kimono or his legs adjust under her his eyes bore into hers as if staring into her soul.

There is no warning for what came next. As his face reveals itself out of the darkness like wildfire took over the night sky. There was no artifice on his features, there was longing, there was yearning, there was aching in every bend and angle of his expression. The distant crackle of fireworks is heard as the sky burns brights to show her the face that lies beneath every mask he's ever worn.

"I love you." He declared, close and loud enough to be heard over the deafening show.