Tea (Youka)

Once again, there it was, the odd sense welling up inside her at the mention of Akihana making him happy. While she was certainly glad he was contented with the choices he'd made, it was different actually hearing it. Perhaps she'd never heard the same words arranged in that order but they were certainly an arrangement she could see herself getting used to. Even if all she did was more out of concern and duty rather than an active effort to please him, the side effect was not entirely objectionable, far from it.

"All I wanted was to help rebuild Kumogakure," she answered quietly, the warm candlelight reflected in the glow of her eyes. "And you allowed me to do that. So I have everything I truly want thanks to you." She would never presume to know what he wanted but at least she could rest easy in the knowledge that he was satisfied with what he had, at least by his own admission. For her part, Akihana had long learned to want little and get even lesser than that. It was the way her life had been structured from the start and it showed. From small habits of never eating too much or speaking too loudly to never expecting gratitude or praise for her service, the kunoichi always found it surprising when fate allowed for a reprieve.

At the mention of him accompanying her to hoshigakure, the blonde wanted to say yes, more than anything she wanted to entrust her biggest secret to him and had it only involved her, she would have agreed in a heartbeat. As it was, Haven was home to many more than just her and she couldn't be as careless with the lives of everyone within the country. "Perhaps one day we can," she attempted, lowering her eyes once more to her untouched glass of wine. Her lips did lift into a small smile at the mention of taking someone with her.

"When I left my previous country, I was told to take my guards with me, now I will do the same. it seems my travelling proves quite the hassle to local shinobi. I must bake them an apology cake." It was a lighthearted joke, she fully intended to honor Youka's wishes. And she and Vaneda had plans anyway, ones she wasn't sure he had divulged to the Raikage but that was non of her business.

The medic lapsed into silence as he spoke of his plans for the gathering, though a small gasp escaped her when he mentioned someone trying to assassinate him within the village. She had seen the paperwork for the mission while working through the mountain of administrative work she had inherited as First Lady of Kumogakure no Sato but had assumed it was either a prank or something of times past. Youka however appeared to be taking it very seriously.

"I'd much prefer if there was no murder to clean up after. Bloodstains are harder than wine stains to remove, I've had to do both in our line of work." Finally reaching for the delicate wineglass, the blonde took a polite sip before setting her drink down once more. "Besides, you'd be surprised at how few people mean you harm in our village. I'd even say you could walk down the streets of the first district without encountering any threats." Of course, she didn't mention the reason behind that. She had been to the worst parts of the village in her months here, talking to the people who had initially opposed the new regime, reassuring them that Kumogakure was still theirs if they submitted to the Kage, even putting some of them to work within their own communities to help manage the reform projects she'd been running for months now. Youka couldn't be everywhere but she could help, and it didn't matter as long as the end result was unity among her people.

And as always, she did her task quietly and without fanfare. Youka had quite the army growing in his favor among the neglected district if he kept track of her work. All these people really needed was reassurance that someone still cared for them, and Akihana had been trying to provide that reassurance every day.

"Perhaps we could host it in the ravine? Make it as a large informal picnic?" she suggested tentatively. It was not too cold yet and even if the weather grow chillier closer to the event, there was always a good bonfire. Nothing spelled comfort as much as roasting marshmallows in the snow.

Hearing Akihana speak on how she was simply pleased to be able to help rebuild the village and garner trust made Mortarion nod his head slightly. Smaller things had to be given up in order to gain a much greater prize in the long run. As long as he could properly defend his village he cared little for the changes she made as long as it didn't effect his defenses. In the end they both got what they wanted and that was all that mattered.

He found his fingers idly tapping slightly on the table before him as she spoke. It was something that had become much more prevalent in his life and he had noted that it wasn't under his control anymore. he'd have to cut open his arm to ensure al the nerve endings were working properly later. She had gone on to speak about how she needed to take nin with her when she was traveling here, it only made him more curious as to where "there" was.

"I don't mean to assume you need it as I've stated earlier. it's simply for my own designs and my own ease of mind. If you feel compelled you can tell them to stay here."

He'd have to speak with Vaneda once more to ensure the Anbu was indeed going with her. He'd make sure to have the priest escort her even if it had to be done from the shadows. Knowing the military power of where she hailed from would be of grat importance for the future plans. Aki of course mentioned her disdain for possibly having to clean up blood which made the kage chuckle lightly as he leaned back into the chair.

" I respect your views of Kumogakure and appreciate all you've done to help her grow. However I do know combat and I do know the hearts of majority of the ninja under me. Someone will be all to happy to attempt the mission on a gathering of this size. Not all of us can just live in peace till the end of times. A village born in chaos will always end in chaos so they need to be prepared."

He thought on the prospect of having the meeting in the ravine, it was recently cleaned out so there wouldn't be any remnants of what had happened that night. It was definitely big enough to house the gathering as well.

"Very well at the ravine it shall be, I'll make the invitations. I'm sure they'd love to see both of us together. I'll make a mission to take you on as well, now that we are married I'm sure threats will be made. This will train them to attack and defend you as I'm sure some will."

Upon her jest of needing guards to travel, the young Kage quickly explained his views, making Akihana smile slightly. "I don't mind either way," she answered honestly, the only way she knew how. "But it would please me to know your mind would be at ease if I do take some guards, and travelling can be a lonely affair so I'm sure I'll enjoy the company."

The blonde pushed her food around in her plate thoughtfully as he spoke of combat, of being sure that someone would attempt to kill him. A few months ago, she would have interpreted his proclamations as sign iof distrust in his people, now though she knew him better. Death, attacks, threats, violence, it was the language Youka knew how to communicate in, it made sense to him for more than kindness and compassion and while it saddened her that the language barrier would exist between them, keeping him from every truly understanding her, she also had faith that maybe one day if she believed firmly enough, the barrier would come down.

"If that is what you wish," she concluded, leaving her fork, she doubted she would be able to eat much anyway. "I'll get started on the organizing aspect of the event. We can get some of the kids to set up tables and benches, store wood for he campfire and set up canopies in case it starts to snow." The weather had turned decidedly colder of late, leading Akihana to commission more Genin to distribute blankets, hot food and firewood to the local shelters.

"I'll do all the cooking, I think they might appreciate a home cooked banquet... maybe," she trailed of, unsure if her assumption was true or not. Back home, her food was always a source of delight for the people but here, she was uncertain. "Or do you think I should maybe look into professional catering?' she asked, looking up at him uncertainty. After all, he did claim to know his ninja better.

Mortarion listened to Akihana speak on the varying things they would need to do in order to prepare for the children they would be hosting. His attention stayed on her as she ran through a mental list without pausing. She was indeed a work of art when it came to ensuring those around ehr were at ease no matter what might come.

"Very well then, I'll leave the details to you as I'm sure you have a better picture for these types of things than myself. I'm more of a open field, sit on the ground and not eat person. So if I had it my way that's what we'd be doing. Luckily I do have you, if you need my help however please don't hesitate to ask."

With that the young Kage got up from his chair to make way to his study. There were still a few things he needed to do before the day would be truly over. Of course he cleaned his area and moved his dishes from the table to the sink. He wasn't so absent minded to leave things lying around.

"If you need me I'll be in the other room finishing up some paperwork. have a good night Akihana."

He smiled and drifted off into the darkness of the hallway with the last of his presence only being the sound of a closing door.

(exit)

Once the rough outlines of the upcoming event were drawn and the dinner finished, the pair cleaned up the dining table, Youka carrying the things to the kitchen while Akihana stored away what was left. No food went wasted under her watch despite how little appetite both the residents of this house had. All of it would be taken to the local shelters and community centers where it would be put to good use. In the olden days, Akihana would have delivered it to the shrine of Goddes Etro but those days were gone now.

As he mentioned he would be in his study, the blonde smiled to herself, her back turned to him as she prepared to do the dishes. 'And if you need me," she began, turning to look his way... only to see the young kage had already melted into the shadows. Giving the empty space where he'd stood a few moments ago a bemused nod, the kunoichi whispered anyway. "I'll be right here."

Maybe if she said it long enough, one day he'd finally hear her. Hear and believe.

(Exit Akihana)