( And So Am I. B'D ) - Blog Posts
smiletorn:
Personal space wasn’t an issue, it seemed. She remembered when they both were uncomfortable with each other. Their first mission together, finding out that she had to ride on a horse with him, had been dreadful even for the youth that adored hugs. At that time, even if he didn’t show it, it must have been awkward for him, right? Well… even if it had been, she supposed it was that shinobi part of him, accustomed to carrying out missions no matter the awkwardness.
Since then, his touches had been scarce, careful even. Establishing that mutual respect between them, at least, the willingness to work together despite her own grievances, led to many things. The adventures she listed, for one… but? This moment of intimacy, in a hug that Isanami would deem common to her, was kind of…
For lack of better words? It was kind of embarrassing. Even for someone as shameless as her. Being around Hanzo didn’t make her uneasy anymore. She even accepted his head pats time to time. But she wondered why she felt self-conscious of herself — silly Isanami, maybe that’s how you made everyone else feel when you hugged them out of nowhere — before shaking it off mentally. She was fine with the hug and Hanzo. She just needed to figure out the mysterious reason why it was different, but that was a thought for another time.
Accepting her terms, she let out a soft giggle. It wasn’t too much to ask, right? She could only imagine the reactions of the other Braves if they happened upon Hanzo running an errand for her, however strange it may be. Or maybe they were used to it? Briefly, she wondered if any of them saw the time where she decided to bake cookies on his arm…
Anyway! It was his next words that brought her out of her stupor. Rolling her eyes playfully, she reached up and pinched his nose. A scolding gesture, showing her disapproval of his choice of words.
❛ Idiot. It’s not that you want to be human. You are human. ❜ Letting go of his nose, she gazed up at him with a gentle smile. Though the word ‘idiot’ was one of her rarer ‘curse’ words, she figured it was fine to use it for him again. One of her weirder endearments, so to speak, but this time her tone of voice lacked a bite. ❛ Hattori Hanzo-san, you are a human. And humans are allowed to make mistakes. Humans are allowed to be clumsy. Humans are allowed to learn. ❜
Lifting up her hand again and poking him on the forehead, she maintained that smile, though it spread out into a cheerful grin. Getting rid of that solemn mood and hoping to bring his spirits back up. ❛ I’m here, aren’t I? I’ll take your promise for — ah, no, I have another condition for that promise. Do you know the yubikiri? It’s what I did with my shrine sisters whenever we made promises. ❜ A childhood classic, but given their different pasts, she didn’t know if he actually knew it. Admittedly, it was a little childish thing, but he knew by now it was no big deal for her.
So, she wriggled a little in his embrace, a silent message that they needed to separate for a little. Then, she grabbed his hand and brought it to the level of her eyes, which were sparkling with mischief as she hooked their pinkies together.
❛ Yubikiri genman, uso tsuitara hari senbon nomasu. ❜
Humming a little aftertune, she swung their hands back and forth. ❛ Tell a lie, get your finger cut off, and swallow a thousand needles after being punched ten-thousand times. Sounds painful, right? That’s why I’ll trust you won’t break your promise. ❜ When she had been told the meaning, she admitted it was a little gruesome, but it was just a display of words. Not to be taken seriously. Just a little fun for children back then.
❛ But… I’m glad you won’t push me away. I’ll wait. I’ll wait as long as you need the time. I think it’ll be worth it. Show me what a Hanzo living in the future looks like. ❜ And her next steps towards him, laughing and tackling him into a friendly hug, she kept her head tilted so she could watch his reaction. ❛ And when that time comes, you can be the one to hug me first again. Just so I know it’s the real deal. ❜ Sticking her tongue out playfully, she reached up and ruffled his bangs, having an idea of what his answer would be.
When the youth pinched his nose, Hanzo flinched a little – not because it hurt, but because he was sorta the king of over-exaggeration, and he was trying to keep her smile there. He wanted her to be happy, and given that he’s the one who had created this uncomfortable situation for the two of them? He wanted to help remedy it the same.
“… I’ll keep that in mind, Isa-chan.” Hanzo responds earnestly. Finally, it appeared that his tears had entirely stopped, and he seemed to have settled a little. The tightened feeling in his chest was still there – but it was no longer pain. It was no longer DREAD. “Seems like I’m a few steps behind, but I’ve always been good at learning things if I really set my mind to it. So, it seems I have a new assignment.” He adds with a laugh – he’d always been a SPLENDID shinobi. Quick to learn abilities and quick to manage his F I R E despite it being an absolutely chaotic element.
When she pokes his forehead, he laughs a little – it was a soft noise, still dampened by his earlier mood. But? He was genuinely amused by her response. “Another condition? Alright, I’m willing to hear you out.”
I mean, the BRAVE of FIRE had no idea what she meant by YUBIKIRI. He’d never heard of it before, it wasn’t exactly the sort of thing you would find people using in the Iga Village. Shinobi were serious people – they had no time for childish things like that. But, he was willing to hear her out. It was a curiosity for him anyways.
When she wiggled a little, he gave her the distance she seemed to need – and when she reached for his hand, the crimson-haired man gave it to her without question. Allowing her to hook their pinkies together and recite the phrase. “Am I supposed to say it too?” He asks, curious, before listening to what she explains what it means. Laughing a little, he comments: “Priests and priestess’ used to say this? I’m a little concerned.” I mean – it sounded like a like average torture for enemy shinobi, but? Hey, who was he to judge others. “… I won’t lie to you, Isanami-chan.” Hanzo replies, nodding a little. “But, I will remember this promise. You have my word.”
At some point – he would be able to approach Isanami and show her what she was hoping to see.
Someday, he hoped to be Ueda’s BRAVE of FIRE more then a shinobi of IGA. Someday, he’d be happy to show her what a Hanzo who lived in the present and lived for the future would be – And though he didn’t know what that looked like, and had no idea how he would go about doing just that… the thought of a future like that? Had him smiling regardless.
“It’s a deal. I’ll remember that.” And when that day came – he would wrap his arms around his smaller friend, and tell her what he’d accomplished.
( … but more then that… he’d like to tell her what a big part of his life she’d become. As his friend. And in many ways, as the person who encouraged him to keep t r y i n g. This GENTLE darkness… had saved him from his own scorched earth policies on life. )
With that, he finally releases his friend. Smiling as the other ruffled his hair a little. “When I have accomplished all you’ve asked of me,” He starts, standing upright before putting his hand over his heart – bowing slightly, playfully, he winks. “I’ll sweep you up into a proper hug, partner.” And with that, he stands up again. Closing the distance between them once again for a moment, before very carefully moving her hair from her forehead with a careful sweep of his hand and kissing her forehead gently. A chaste and honest thing that he’d never done before. “Until then, you have my apologizes. I know… I can be a bit slow at these things. But if you’re patient with me, I will do my absolute best to meet all of your expectations of me. I want… to be a proper friend to you. So I will figure it out, you have my word.”
However – when he’d first arrived, he’d just gotten here after a mission. And the exhaustion from it was finally hitting, now that the adrenaline from his own anxiety was wearing down. He looked tired, and his molten eyes looked weary still. However, the smile that sat on his lips was earnest – soft, awkward, but? Kind.
“… thank you for meeting with me, my friend. I caused a bit of a scene, but? I’m really glad we talked. I need… to rest now. But, when I wake? You should expect that I’ve got some things I’ll be working on.” He says with a laugh. Amusement in his eyes. “I’ll see you later, Isanami-chan.”