(open) out and about

[tsuridasu]

DATE March 11
INVOLVED Kiyoha & YOU
ACTIVITY Kiyoha is out running errands on a day off. Feel free to bump into her anywhere, just specify where! And prose or action is fine.
RATING PG

Comments

Hibiscus, near Komainu

[noboatbigenough]

It was only a brief escape, Kisame knew that. He would have to return to "work" very soon, but he needed a moment. The house had grown stifling in the worst way and the teasing of the servants had only gotten worse lately.

Still, aware of the consequences of being late, Kisame didn't stray far, just far enough that it wasn't in his direct line of sight. With nothing planned and nowhere to go he settled himself under an awning and watched the passers by. It was a very pleasant surprise to pick out Kiyoha's figure in the crowd and he was moving forward before the differences in her appearance registered. "Kiyoha-san!"

His look of surprise a moment later was probably a little comical. "You look very different today."

[tsuridasu]

Indeed it was. Kiyoha brought her hand up to stifle some of her light laughter at his surprise before her tone turned gently teasing. "So I do. It's my attempt to not be noticed, but it seems that I can't fool Kisame-san, even with my mask off."

Kiyoha smiled softly, and it was indeed as she had taken a mask off. Without the bright red lips, her smile was something more gentle than seductive. It was a stark contrast.

"I just have today and tomorrow off of work, so I'm trying to relax a little bit."

[noboatbigenough]

"Mask or not, some part of you always shines through, eh? I recognized the way you move." Kisame gave her a smile that wasn't one of his usual grins and bowed politely in greeting. Unlike Kiyoha, Kisame was dressed as the house demanded in a very expensive kimono. It suited his complexion well, but he was obviously not very comfortable in it--movements tight and constrained so as not to chance even brushing the silk against something that could harm it.

He grew a little pensive at her statement, but maintained his smile. "I'm a little jealous. But those are the benefits of not only being obedient but truly skilled at this, I suppose."

[tsuridasu]

Kiyoha bowed in return, though her expression was lightly surprised once she had straightened. "The way I move? Ah, that isn't what I expected anyone to remember about me. Should I be flattered? At the very least, I should be impressed for Kisame-san's careful eyes."

Her eyes briefly turned down, though not in deference, but in a quick appraisal of his attire. She had learned to carefully examine the other entertainers in Yoshiwara, measuring their house's worth by how their employees were presented. So she recognized the price of the kimono, but criticisms still rose to mind at its construction right away. Still, she smiled.

"Truly skilled and working to death," she corrected without so much of a beat, "I've been terribly busy this past month. After all that fuss at the beginning, I've been working far too hard."

[noboatbigenough]

"Knowing a comrade's movements versus the enemy pretending to be them's movement has saved many lives in my world; it's something we're taught." But Kisame gave a little nod at her compliment anyway. "But I'm pleased I could impress you regardless."

Well constructed or not, Kisame was extraordinarily careful not to damage the clothes he had been given in the least. He was on alert, and took a half step forward to avoid being brushed against by one of the people coming up behind him and walking past. From the look on the man's face as the touch was avoided, brushing against Kisame had probably been his plan but nothing was said and the man moved on.

"Then I'm especially glad they are giving you a break, if you've been so busy. You deserve to relax sometimes." He gave her the same open smile as before, a rare treat even if she didn't realize it. He was very glad to speak with her again. "But perhaps now that there's been a little time things will calm down to something more manageable for you."

[tsuridasu]

"Perhaps," she said warmly, "It is a great honor to receive a break at all. In Yoshiwara, the ukiyo's idea of a break was spending a night with a client you liked." Which was lucky for Kiyoha, since she had only let people she liked come to call. She didn't have quite the reputation for that, yet.

Her eyes followed the man that had passed by, and though she didn't glare, her stare had a cold intensity to it. "But it seems you could use a break yourself, Kisame-san. Are you free right now?"

[noboatbigenough]

"That must have been tiring, at least for the mind, if not the body too." Though Kisame had an idea of how tiring it was for him, now that he was working as an entertainer. The waiting wore on him, and dealing with clients themselves was a chore. Even though he warned them before even the first engagement that he would refuse sex for many, many engagements they still pushed and pushed and pushed. Especially now that he'd given in and accepted one.

He glanced at the man when she said that and shrugged a little. "Only a little longer, I'm afraid. I'm expected to return to...work soon." Not that sitting still was work in his mind. It was his daily practice in the dojo that usually got people interested in being clients, not sitting in the display.