Liquid Fire

Even though he asked Leon to meet him here at this establishment named 'The Golden Ocean’, he couldn’t help but think that the smell of the food was always worth stopping for. Halting at a spot that felt as safe as any, Kaimera finally looked up and took in what was around him. The Yakedo had been lost in his own world. His mind stuck on the pretend game he had created to make walking bearable, had filtered out the growling sounds of his stomach. However, the village had its fair share of lunch rushes. 

He had always disliked this time of day and cursed himself as for choosing this to be the time to take Leon out. Why couldn't he say an hour from now? Maybe an hour before would have been better? Kaimera thought that he could wait. Allow the couples to share their meals, the business folk to rush through their break. ‘He could watch,’ he thought. There were a few familiar faces. The old man always had coffee with his sandwich even when it was hot outside. There was the elderly group of female friends whose laughter was infectious - sitting around a table with tea. He'd waited before. But this time he was not going to as he sat at a two-person table, wholesome lonesome, and ordered his drink.

"Your wine, Kaimera. Would you like something to eat?" The voice of the owner of the small restaurant interrupted his thoughts. 

“Yes, for the wine. I am waiting on someone to accompany me,” the heterochromia-eyed male would nod his head and give him a small smile. It wasn't uncommon for people from the village to know him by name, especially given his rather borderline problem when it came to alcohol. He basically had to have at least one drink a night, perhaps developed through the years of being a Yakedo and shinobi. Like one had a caffeine addiction, but his was with plum wine. And there was nothing to not like about the liquid, slightly sour, sweet and acidic. There was no way of drinking it that wasn't pleasant, although he himself preferred on the rocks. It was the best way to taste the alcohol at its finest and purest.

‘Kisatsu-tai…’ he thought to himself, picking up the tall glass of wine, the ice cubes bumped into one another inside the glass, creating music of its own. The male looked absent-mindedly at his drink, twirling his hand so that the substance turned with the motion. He took a sip from it and closed his eyes. The first taste that hit his tongue was the sourness of the plums, which then turned into almost sickly sweet as it traveled down his throat. Kaimera's body felt warm when the liquid slid down his throat and made it into his system. Just as good plum wine should. He put down the glass gently on the counter, his mind wandering to the recent events lately as he waited for Leon to arrive.

TWC: 501

Leon was making his way towards the restaurant, no point in hiding the fact that he was actually a big nervous. Normally Leon was engulfed in learning about anything that he hardly ever goes out to do anything that's always been his problem Leon would put studying and training ahead of a lot of socializing. He had to switch up his attire this one time, he was always in his lab coat but this time he decided to go in some nice looking pants and a T-shirt. He would be in a blue hoodie but it was open to reveal his shirt, his hair has taken its natural curl as it bounced with each step he made as he came closer to the destination. The sides of his head was shaven down as his blue eyes bounced around the area, do to his appearance he garnered a lot of attention especially when those sparkling ocean blue eyes danced around and landed on the many people.

As he walked through the district he would take in the many smells as he started to get hungrier. "Maybe going without a snack at least wasn't the greatest idea. Can't be looking like a slob out here." He mumbled to himself as he continues to walk until he spotted a familiar hair color. A soft smile would spread across his face as he started to walk over to the table as he gently placed a hand on the back of Kai's back and shoulders as he swipes his hand slowly across. "Hey there, I hope I didn't make you wait too long. This is quite a nice place." He told him as he smiled as his brown skin just seemed to glisson in the light as he moved to sit across from him. Leon would move his hair from his face with the back of his hand as he started to look around admiring the venue they were in.

WC 325
TWC 325

Was he extremely diligent? Not exactly.

Did he really want to be a ninja? Not entirely at first.

Kaimera had become a shinobi because it was something new as well as it was the right thing to do, as a Yakedo, and having been from the scorch-release family. Unlike most of the others who joined, he had no personal qualms with other nations, none of his family were really attacked by them for him to feel any type of way. The same thing could be said about him as well. But as time progressed, so did his attitude towards the situation. Watching friends pass away and go missing by someone not from Kirigakure’s hand. One could say that his ideology was shifted to the norm. Thus, he merely took another sip of his wine and signaled the owner for another, careful not to drink his entire stock of plum wine.

As the owner filled his cup up once again and left, he felt hands placed on his shoulder softly. A smile soon crossed his lips as he felt endorphins begin to flood in; especially, when the hand caressed his back. Taking a drink from his glass his eyes began to move to identify the individual who touched him. His gaze fell on the one and only, Leon Rentei. His dark skin seemed to glow against the sunlight ray making him seem otherworldly.

“Oh no, you are right on time.” Kaimera said in response as his eyes glued to Leon as he took his seat across from the Yakedo. He would watch him move his hair out of his face to reveal the deep, ocean blue eyes that continuously seemed to pull him in like the waves of the sea. “You’re right, it is quite nice.” He said as he shifted his focus to look around the place that he was familiar with.

It's as lovely inside as it is on the outside. Marble beams support the upper floor and the sconces attached to them were gold plated. The restaurant itself is packed. The upper class were most of the clientele here in this extravagant setting. Several tables are occupied by what looks like couples, business meetings, and anybody else who enjoys great company. Even most of the stools at the bar are occupied, though nobody seems to mind more company.

However, this restaurant isn’t famous for its high-end dining and luxurious settings. It was more for the angelic voice who just started singing, the owner's wife. Luckily, Kaimera’s parents and the owner and his wife are close family friends; so, acquiring a table was not any trouble.

Turning his focus back to Leon, he flashed him a bright smile. “I’m glad you’re able to make time for me with all that you have going on. I really appreciate it,” Kaimera said as he stretched his foot over and began caressing Leon’s calf with the side of his foot with his smile becoming slyer. “Anyway, you should look at the menu to figure out what you want. Or I could just keep distracting you.” Kaimera let out a mild laugh as he retracted his foot back into place. “Although, if you’re having trouble. The Kujira is to die for,” he said as he rested his cheek on his fist that was supported by his elbow on the table. Keeping his focus completely on Leon.

WC: 563
TWC: 1,064