Book Smarts (Arai and Mika)

Arai browsed through the Suna book store (particularly the fiction section) to find a few new novels to replace the ones she had finished. Having recently completed a mission regarding the night, a man, a shovel, and a graveyard, Arai was in the mood for a book with a more... creepy tone. Strange how humans are effected by phenomena like that... Arai browsed lightly until she came across a title that caught her interest.

"Thirst of Dawn..." Arai whispered to herself as she pulled the book off the shelf. The book was a large, thick hard back with the picture a large rising sun over a desert, sky red as blood. In front of the sun stood a human figure, specifics obscured by the shadow that trailed behind it which appeared to be more monstrous... Wolf like... Arai flinched a little as she came to realize that the shadow was meant to symbolize a werewolf, the very thing she was. The clan had always told her NOT to be ashamed of what she was, that it was an honor to be counted among the moon-blood. They had told her that the ability to fight and run with the animals was a gift, a blessing to be loved and used rather than shunned and spurned. Arai couldn't help it though. Every time she saw herself in her wolven form, she saw a beast. She didn't see herself at all. The only thing that didn't change was her deep blue eyes and even those seem tainted by the curse. Arai brushed a strand of her black hair out of her face so it hung limply over her shoulder and continued to stare at the book's cover. Arai blinked and realized that she had been staring at the cover for over 2 minutes. She blushed a little, imagining how stupid she must have looked and hurried over to the counter where a middle aged man waiting to check out someone's text. Arai handed her book to him and he went about his business doing his job. The wolf-girl, mind began to wander again, back to her curse of lycanthropy.

Mika was walking through the village her feet leading her to the Suna Bookstore a place she had fallen in love with years ago. She had just gotten back from a mission which involved her stealing some information from the bandit camp nearby. When she entered the bookstore she was in the middle of loosening the long braid that she kept her hair in when training or on a mission. She was idly looking through the books in the fiction section having decided that she wanted to read something that did not involve bettering herself or training. 

A thick book with a leather cover caught her eye and when she looked at the Cover it had the title printed neatly in elegant italics across the front of the cover Beastly  with the Y looping down and connecting with the lone rose on the cover. Mika smiled slightly upon reading the small summary which was about a boy who was cursed to look like a beast and the girl that would change it all.

Having decided that this was the book she wanted to read she headed towards the Cash register only to accidentally bump into the girl in front of her since Mika had started to read the first few pages of the book as she walked and had gotten lost in the book. Mika blushed scarlet when she looked up feeling mortified that she had bumped into someone.

"I am so sorry please forgive me. I was not paying attention to my surroundings" Mika said as she bowed quickly. She could not believe that she had been such a klutz to just bump into another person, especially another ninja. She only kept proving what her old classmates had said about her, that she would never make a good ninja because she was to weak.

Arai tumbled forward having been pushed from behind. The wolf girl was quick enough to stop herself, however, and reached out a hand pushed against the counter between her and the man checking out her book. Having stopped her fall, Arai turned around and saw the girl who had bumped into her. In some ways, she was a lot like Arai, though, noticeably shorter and thinner. Her black hair was tied back in a braid and eyes seemed to be a deep blue, like Arai. However, where Arai was a people person, always inquiring and forgetful of harmful things, this girl seemed to be her polar opposite. She seemed quite shy and distracted, as evidenced by her face blushed red and how she bowed and apologized for bumping into her. In response, Arai smiled kindly and put a hand on the girl's shoulder.

"Hey..." She said warmly. "It's okay. We all make mistakes." The man behind the counter tapped Arai on the shoulder and handed her the book. Arai took it, hugging it to her chest with her other hand. She stepped out of the girl's way, but still eyed her curiously. The girl also held a book, though it seemed to be thinner and with a leather cover and backing.

"I'm Arai by the way." She said, holding out her free hand for her to shake. "What are you reading?"

Mika smiled shyly as the girl accepted her apology. " I'm Mika pleasure to meet you" Mika said softly as she softly rubbed her thumb across the worn leather cover a habit she had developed over the years. When she heard the other girl ask about the book she was reading. She tightened her grip on the book out of reflex before she answered. "It is called Beastly, its one of my favorite fiction books and I was ecstatic to find a copy so I can finally have one of my own" Mika said shyly as she approached the counter handing over the book reluctantly so that it could be rung up.

Arai's smile widened as the girl introduced herself, just as shy as she was a moment ago. Arai often found that it was... not exactly funny... but interesting how people can be so shy towards others of their kind. How was it that people couldn't trust one another, even sisters-in-arms such as they? This kind of reaction confused her, but didn't put her off. Very few things did that to her.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mika." Arai said, putting her hand down and instead, nodding in greeting. When she said what she was reading as a fiction book, Arai was practically glowing. She LOVED fiction, almost with a passion. It was her main source of entertainment when she wasn't training. It had been for many years. Her eyes flicked back to the book the girl carried, noticing how her fingers tightened around it's casing before she passed it to the man behind the counter for processing.

"I love fiction." Arai said, stepping out of the line that was forming quickly behind them. "It's the best way for me to wind down after a long day of work." Arai's belly started to rumble loudly and she realized that she had COMPLETELY forgotten to grab a bite to eat on the way here. Arai chuckled out loud at the sound and her forgetfulness before looking back at Miko. Perhaps she would like to join her for lunch. They could talk a little about their respective books on the way there.

"Mika, are you hungry? I know a little restaurant up the road. I'm buying." Arai offered. She hoped Mika would accept. Suna had been unusually quiet these past couple of days and the wolf-girl would appreciate a companion. Especially one that could speak knowledgably on her favorite subject.

Mika smiled slightly as she listened to the girl speak to her and she loved the look on her face when she mentioned that she was reading a fiction book. Ever since she was a little girl she had loved reading fiction books. Even more so. Mika smiled giggled slightly as she gratefully took her book back after she handed the money over.

When she was reading the books she could escape her world and be whoever she wanted to be without people judging her for what was beyond her control. She smiled when the girl said that she loved reading fiction books as well. "Reading Fiction is one of the best genres to read. They have so many sub genres as well. You can read just about everything. Far off places, daring quests, a Prince in disguise" Mika said with a grin her face lightening as she happily spoke about her favorite thing to do besides train.

Her voice raising to that of a normal level as she spoke excitedly. When the girl offered to allow her to eat lunch with her Mika was going to turn down the offer since she did not want to intrude but her stomach seemed to have other ideas. Her stomach let out a loud growl causing her to blush slightly. She had forgotten that she had forgotten to eat before the mission and had headed here directly after.

"Hehe I guess my stomach is telling me I had better take you up on that offer or it will rebel" Mika said with a laugh as she rubbed the back of her head sheepishly.

Arai laughed as she heard Mika's stomach agree to her offer before she did herself. Often, the body knew what it wanted before the person did. When Mika did agree, Arai stepped outside the shop, gesturing for Mika to follow. She noticed the substantial transformation the shy little girl had gone through once they'd started talking about the Fiction genre. She had turned from being a shy one, a person drawn inward to fully expressing the pleasure she felt when reading one of Fiction's great works. Arai liked this girl. She liked her a lot. She reminded her of herself a bit once she opened up. Arai couldn't help but smile at how much they had in common. They look similar, both love fiction and at the moment, both hungry. One might mistake them for sisters. She giggled to herself at the thought of having to explain the truth to a stranger. It would be a few minute walk yet and Arai had a question to ask Mika. She never found out what that book she was reading was about.... She was curious... at least a little.

"Hey Mika, what's that book about? I don't think I've ever read it." Arai inquired politely. They would arrive at the restaurant a few moments later whether Mika told her or not. It was a small place, the smell of baking break and cooking meat radiating out of the shop. The wolf-girl would duck inside the little flag-door, smiling and waving at the one cook inside. He smiled and waved back. Obviously, the two knew each other.

"Ah!" The cook said, leaning over the counter on his elbow. "Arai! What'll ya have today?" Arai looked over the menu that hung over the counter but she knew exactly what she wanted. "I'll have a grilled steak sandwich, extra steak, light on the lettuce. And for my friend..." Arai looked over at her friend. "See anything you like, Mika?"

Mika smiled slightly as she thought about the book. "It is my favorite book to read. Well at least it currently is. The book is basically about this boy who has a secret that nobody knows about. He turns into this wolf like creature and he hates himself. He locks himself away trying to hide from everyone only this girl somehow gets in and sees him in his Beastly form. Basically the whole story is about the girl trying to convince him that he is not a monster. " Mika said getting excited about the book as she spoke her hands waving around when she spoke causing her to get a few strange looks though she did not notice nor care.

When they got to the restraint she followed the girl to the table and looked over her menu. She listened quietly as she ordered and decided that the meal that she ordered sounded  good so she would order the same thing. "I would like the same only hold the lettuce please" she said quietly. She blushed slightly when the girl referred to her as her friend.

Arai turned to the cook when Mika made her order, catching her blushed face. If she blushed any more... well... it might become a habit.

"There you go, good sir." Arai said to the cook, taking a seat on one of the stools. The wolf-girl thought about Mika's description of her book, slightly disturbed. The funny thing was that the description was basically that of her life. She was a wolf-like creature, she was struggling with her self identity of being human or beast. The only difference being that the character in the book was a guy. Maybe that would happen too. The world was weird. Arai smiled at that. At least she could laugh at herself and enjoy it. Not many people possessed that kind of self-esteem.

"There's a trick I'd like to show you once we're done here." Arai said to Mika. "Perhaps you'll appreciate it, considering the description of your book." The wolf-girl grinned at her lightly. Arai picked up her book and began to skip over it's description on the back. From what she could tell, it was about a girl who is infect with lycanthropy, but nothing like which Arai was infected. The transformation took place over a series of days and once it was complete, it was permanent. The girl must seek out a cure before she fully transforms and looses her mind. Cliché? Perhaps, but there was also this poetic vibe to it... It was something worth reading, that's for sure. Arai looked up as the cook rang his "order up" bell, handing Mika her steak sandwich with no lettuce and Arai hers with. Arai clapped her hands together, staring at the food in front of her in awe. It smelled so good.... the wolf inside her was almost begging to be let out... to partake in such a feast... Arai was almost tempted to abide it. Almost.

"Lets eat!" Arai exclaimed happily before picking up her sandwich and taking a big ol' bite out of it. Almost a fourth of it was gone in the first chomp. Arai glowed with the deliciousness of the food, enjoying every moment of it. The cook didn't seem surprised by her ravenousness. She came to his shop enough to know how she eats. She looked at Mika and her sandwich, swallowing the food in her mouth before letting out a sigh of contentment.

"Enjoying your food, Mika? This guy over here," Arai said, waving at the cook. "Is, like, the best griller I know! That's no small statement, let me tell you."

Mika smiled shyly as she took a bite of the sandwhich that she had been given and a brite smile spread across her face as the sweet juices exploded in her mouth causing her to let out a little moan of pleasure since she had a bad habit of making noises when the food was really good and she was hungry. Unfortunatly for those around her more often than not she completly forgot about the fact people where around her. Mika looked up when she heard the other girl ask about the food and she looked up with an expression on her face that could only be described as pure bliss.

"This is so good! I have never ate anything that tasted this good and my mother is a Chef!" Mika said in surprise before she finished off her sandwhich and blushed slightly as she realised what she had just said. "Eh sorry i get carried away when it comes to food... and books... and animals... I am a strange person" she admited pausing often as she looked at the girl before she idly played with the end of her braid slightly out of habit whenever she was nervous.