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Post by Naoru Asuhara on May 30, 2024 15:28:19 GMT -6
Naoru chuckled looking over at his little brother, "I just don't want to chase her off because she thinks I am moving us a long too quickly. It's been a really long time since I have met a girl this great." His eyes wandered the marketplace, his eyes seeing a few bright kimonos.
"Oh! and," he looked Riku's way giving him a soft shove, "something I did not tell you. She serves Lady Tori." He chuckled when Riku looked at him with serving platter sized eyes. "I thought you would like that bit of news."
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Post by Riku Asuhara on May 30, 2024 15:35:30 GMT -6
Riku clutched the china with one arm and grabbed Naoru with his other. "You have to get me a kimono! Please! I'll do anything! I would give everything I have for one of her kimonos!"
Naoru chuckled, "calm down. Lady Tori has not even ventured into painting kimonos like she was before. Koko said she just barely started painting on canvas again, but I promise when she does I will look into getting you one. Though, I did get to see one of Lady Tori's kimonos up close and personal." He looked his brother's way, "and it was not in a shop, outta reach."
Riku was still lit up like a candle. "Was Koko wearing one on your date today?"
Naoru shook his head, "Lady Tori's daughter was wearing one the first day I met Koko, and it was beyond beautiful. It was a cream-colored kimono with a lovely garden scape of Sakura blossoms and lavender Wisteria, a pair of ruby-throated hummingbirds feeding from the flowers. The detail and brush strokes were beyond amazing."
"Awwww~" Riku let out a noise that was a mix of adoration and envy. "I want one so bad! I've never wanted anything more in my life. I've been hoping to find one on my excursions but..." He sighed, shaking his head. "No such luck. Which makes sense. There's no way she would give or sell them to just anyone."
He beamed and squeezed his hands into fists. "What I would love more than anything is a commissioned one, special made just for me." He sighed and pouted. "But that will never happen. Even if you do end up courting Koko. It would be easier to learn how to make one myself than to get a commission from Lady Tori."
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Post by Makino Tori on May 30, 2024 21:57:53 GMT -6
"That's not true," a sign song voice rang out as the person stood behind them. "That's how most of my mothers kimonos make it out to the public."
Naoru turned quickly as did his little brother. "Lady Makino," Naoru bowed, Riku standing there gawking at the dark haired girl. Swiftly Naoru's hand shot up, quickly going to the back of his little brother's head, bending him in half.
"Hey!" Riku grumbled, "The hair! Watch the hair!"
Makino looked on at the two and giggled softly. "Hello, Naoru. How are you doing on this lovely day?"
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Post by Riku Asuhara on May 30, 2024 22:14:36 GMT -6
Riku fixed his hair with a huff as Naoru responded to the girl named Makino. She was rather beautiful. Suddenly her greeting to them hit him. He gasped and beamed at her. "Wait, did you say your mother?! Your mother is Lady Saya Tori?!"
Makino smiled brightly. "That's what my brothers tell me." She looked Narou's way when he chuckled lightly. Her attention then turned back to the young girl standing next to Naoru. "And you are?" She offered her hand. "I'm Tori, Makino, but you may call me Makino. Unlike some people." She gave a discrete side glance at Naoru.
"Hey, now! I am just being a gentleman," Naoru defended himself.
"My name is Riku. Asuhara Riku," Riku smiled brightly at her, bowing properly this time after shaking her hand. He looked up at his brother. "And you've met my brother Naoru already."
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Post by Makino Tori on May 30, 2024 22:47:05 GMT -6
Makino smiled brightly at Riku and hummed softly, "mhmm, we met yesterday when Koko and I were at the fair."
She looked over at Naoru. "I did not know you had a baby sister close to my age." She looked back at Riku. "You are what, Riku? Fifteen, sixteen years old?" She heard Riku and Naoru chuckle and Riku nodded her head. Makino looked at both of them confused, "did I say something wrong?"
"I'm fifteen, and also..." Riku smiled with a hint of mischief in his eyes. He pointed at himself. "I'm a boy. But I appreciate the compliment."
Makino blushed, giggling softly behind her hand. "I am so sorry, Riku. I am so glad you did not take offense to that. Some guys just get all upset over things like that." She smiled brightly at Riku once more. "You know I should have known. The way you act and speak you remindme of my youngest brother, Shirou. He is quite the eccentric." Her eyes widened and her hands shot up, "not saying you are that way." Her cheeks warmed again. "I think I will shut up now."
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Post by Naoru Asuhara on May 30, 2024 23:06:48 GMT -6
Naoru laughed at Makino as he patted her shoulder. "It's alright, Makino. Riku is rather easy going, not much offends him."
Makino nodded slowly, "You know, Riku. Maybe you can come over one day when Naoru has a date with Koko and I can show you some of my mother's kimono collection."
Naoru watched as Riku lit up again and tried with all he had to contain his excitement. "I think he likes that idea Makino," Naoru chuckled looking back at his brother.
Riku was practically vibrating with excitement, the china in the bag in his arms softly clinking together. He bit his bottom lip to keep from letting out any noise. He nodded his head quickly. He managed to squeak out a "please!" without losing it.
Naoru chuckled looking back at Makino, "I guess that is a date for the four of us then. I am seeing Koko on Saturday. Is that day alright for me to bring Riku over?" he looked to Riku. "Is that soon enough for you? You won't die of excitement before than, right?"
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Post by Riku Asuhara on May 30, 2024 23:16:07 GMT -6
Riku's hand snapped out to grab Naoru's arm, his nails digging into his brother's flesh through his kimono. "You're lucky I'm still standing right this second! I feel like I'm gonna pass out!" He released his brother's arm and dug his palm into his eye, wiping away the budding tears of excitement. "I'm really gonna get to see Lady Tori's kimonos! I can't believe it! I've only seen pictures before."
"Well..." Makino slightly turned from side to side. "This can be your first then. I am wearing one my mother made me last year."
The base color of the kimono was a rich, deep navy blue and was matte instead of glossy. Along the sleeves, shoulders and skirt were painted sakura blossoms, but not in pink. These were multicolored in small groups of green, yellow, red, orange, and purple. Also scattered along the flowers and taking up some of the empty space were speckles of yellow dots that looked like stars. Her obi was a double wrap of red and yellow gold with a white obijime cord that was tied off with a camelia blossom pin on the right side of her waist. It reminded Riku of seeing fireworks above the sakura trees at night during a festival. It was insanely beautiful and looked so soft. There was something inherently satisfying about looking at it. Makino looked like a princess dressed immaculately in the kimono. It brought tears to Riku's eyes.
"I... I don't know what to say... it's so beautiful." He looked up at Makino, his eyes growing wide and glossing over slightly. "Do you think you would be willing to sell-- MMMPH!" He was suddenly cut off by Naoru wrapping his arm around Riku's head and covering his mouth with his hand, pulling him against his side to shut him up. Riku struggled to get free so he could breathe, gasping for air when he was finally free. He glared up at Naoru. "I was kidding! I wouldn't take her mother's kimono away from her!"
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Post by Naoru Asuhara on May 30, 2024 23:44:55 GMT -6
"You have to excuse my little brother. He's a dragon and your kimono is his type." Naoru explained.
"If he likes this one, then when you come to get Riku Saturday after yours and Koko's date," she giggled softly, "he might not be the person you remember dropping off. My youngest brother, Shirou, has kimonos that I would love to snatch from him, but to wrestle one away from him would mean your head." She looked at Riku again, "but he will let you borrow one after you sign a contract in your own blood."
Naoru chuckled hearing Riku groan with a heavy sigh. "This showing is going to kill my poor little brother."
Riku turned and placed a hand on Naoru's chest. "Nii-san... I was honored to have you as my brother. Tell mother and father I love them." He turned back to face Makino. "I am prepared to sacrifice any amount of blood your brother deems necessary."
Naoru chuckled and shoved a hand into Riku's shoulder. "Oh, stop being so melodramatic." he looked back at Makino, "He is so dramatic."
"Then he and my youngest brother will get along great." Makino giggled softly. "And my mother will absolutely fall in love with him." She looked at Riku, "Don't be shocked if she adopts you."
Riku jumped softly for joy, clapping his hands carefully so as not to drop his china, "All the Tori kimonos I could ever want! I could die right this moment and be happy!"
Naoru shoved Riku again with a chuckle, "You're so materialistic. Shame on you."
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Post by Riku Asuhara on May 31, 2024 10:35:22 GMT -6
"My nickname isn't Riku the Dragon for nothing," Riku smirked. "If I see something I like, I have to have it. The more valuable the better. And once I have something in my claws, I'm not letting go for anything." He trotted up to Makino and wrapped his arm around hers. He grinned at her. "And that goes for people too. Once I have you, you're not getting away~"
Naoru chuckled shaking his head as the claimed Makino stood beside his little brother, "So, Makino. How does it feel to be claimed by a dragon?"
"Well," Makino looked at Riku and then back at Naoru, "I have no problems with being claimed, but I am curious since I have never been claimed before."
"About what?" Riku asked still arm in arm with her.
Makino looked back at Riku with a straight face and an ever-so-slight smirk as she asked, "Does that make me your pet?"
Naoru's eyes snapped open and he nearly busted out in laughter, palming his face he turned away from the two. "I can't. I just can't..." he fought hard to keep the laughter back.
Riku giggled and shook his head. "Only if you want to be. You're free to do as you please, as long as you don't run away~"
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Post by Makino Tori on May 31, 2024 15:31:22 GMT -6
"Nah, I won't run away, but I have been known to bite from time to time if you push the wrong buttons," Makino lifted her hand, her index finger tapping her chin as she got a far away look in her eyes. "or maybe its the right buttons, hmm."
Narou stiffened, turning away from the two a little more, his hand still covering his face. He did not think this girl could astonished him any more than she already had, but she proved him wrong. "I--I think I am going to walk over here." He slightly glanced at them. "Have fun you two." He took a step forward then remember who is little brother was. Quickly he spun and pointed at Riku. "I take that back and don't you leave this spot with her." He then turned and left them there to chat.
Makino with raised brows watched Naoru walk over to a merchant's table, she glance at Riku and then back at Naoru. "Is he alright? I didn't get you into trouble did I?"
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Post by Riku Asuhara on May 31, 2024 15:43:22 GMT -6
Riku shook his head with an amused grin. "Nope. He just exhausted his battery for dealing with me." He led the two of them over to a nearby stall, looking at all of the things that were for sale, seeing if anything caught his eye. "He has a time limit for my 'shenanignas' and when it runs out he needs a break."
The stall they had stopped at was a fabric merchant. Riku looked over the fabric, seeing if there were any colors or patterns he would want his mother to make into a kimono. "So, I take it you must wear your mother's kimonos often? Or is it a 'once in a while' kind of thing?"
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Post by Makino Tori on May 31, 2024 16:15:14 GMT -6
Letting the fabric slide between her fingers, Makino nodded. "I wear them out mostly. Unless the family is entertaining. Most days I am wearing a yoroi. With four older brothers there is always some sort of training going on," she smiled brightly looked over at Riku.
"And I always seem to get drug into a sparring match at some point through the day."
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Post by Riku Asuhara on May 31, 2024 16:25:40 GMT -6
Riku blinked in surprise, tilting his head at Makino. "A yoroi? So you're... with the Stealth Force? I didn't realize the Tori family was part of the Shihoin Clan. Unless you joined the Gotei young like Captain Hitsugaya."
Makino giggled, her eyes still searching the table of fabrics. She looked up at Riku once more, who was also searching the table. "Nothing like that. It's just easier to spar in a yoroi than a kimono. My father served with the Gotei for years," She inhaled and held her breath, exhaling slowly, "we lost him during the Winter War. He was the one that taught us kids how to fight."
She paused for a second, her eyes finding a beautiful peacock green fabric on the table. As she dug it out she continued. "Hand to hand, Kido, swordsmanship." She pulled the bolt out letting it rest on the top of the other fabrics on the table, "all that good stuff... This is beautiful." She looked to the merchant, "how much?"
"1000 kan per meter, young miss," the merchant smiled and bowed to her. He grabbed another swath of fabric. "And if you're looking to make a kimono with it, I recommend this baby pink color for the obi. These two colors are a great complement to each other. And I'll tell you what, if you buy a full bolt of the green, I'll give you half off on any color you'd like for the obi."
"Ooooh, now that's a great deal!" Riku beamed at Makino. "I might do the same for myself in a different color."
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Post by Makino Tori on May 31, 2024 17:17:56 GMT -6
Makino smiled with a nod, "I want the kimono to reflect the color scheme of a peacock." Makino went back to looking through the fabric. "Do you have an indigo or a purple, or maybe a charcoal to help set it off." She continued looking through the fabric.
Riku's eyes lit up, "that will look so beautiful together, and in your mothers talented hands I can only imagine what she would transform it into."
"One second, young miss." the merchant replied gesturing with a raised finger, he turned and stepped away from the table.
Makino looked up watching the merchant step away, she hoped he had what she was looking for, she then looked over at Riku, "did you find anything good?"
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Post by Riku Asuhara on May 31, 2024 17:27:32 GMT -6
Riku nodded with a smile. He picked up a swath of deep violet. "I already have so many purple kimonos, but I want this one to have both sakura and plum blossoms on it. Or maybe wisteria." He turned back to Makino. "My mother is great at embroidery. I'm thinking embroidered pink and white sakura and lavender plum blossoms and that pink obi the merchant recommended. I want to wear it for the next sakura viewing festival."
Makino's eyes went wide she had seen so many kimonos with stitching--beautiful stitching--and she had always wanted one. Suddenly an idea came to her. "Riku," she batted her lashes at him, "I'll do a trade with you."
Riku's eyes lit up and he smirked at her. "Ohhhh? A trade?" He tilted his head at Makino, tapping his lips with a finger. "I wonder what the mighty dragon has that the captive is willing to trade for it? I don't give up my treasures easily, so it had better be worth the heartache of parting with it." His tone of voice conveyed that he was only half joking.
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