Order Please

[Shinrya Riko]

Susukino District.The Dawn Bringer’s plaza was the heart of the district. The evening had brought a strong chill to Cloud, but the warmth of friendship, good company, and the shop lights lining the plaza made the place feel insulated against the chill in the air. There was a place on the plaza that had boasted of being a fine eatery with the mysterious cuisine of the Sand country. It was a casual restaurant that the regular folk could enjoy, and there were even a few shinobi whom had no doubt found a fondness for the food during their travels, but there was also Komora.

Komora hadn’t even really been paying attention to how she ended up at this place or even in the Dawn Bringer’s Plaza. Recently she had been doing performing with Honda Chou, a lot, and had naturally found herself holding the woman’s hand as she was dragged whichever way. Along the path she had somehow manage to slip free, and now she was alone and quite lost. The idea of a lost Komora was more frightening to the Mochizuki clan than to Komora herself. The world was a place of curiosity after all.

The hostess standing at the front door was a little confused when Komora first walked in. She wasn’t performing today, and thus minimal effort had been made by her family on her wardrobe. Today she was wearing a dirty white shirt that seemed several sizes too big for her and that hung off her shoulders. It was long enough that only the hem of her skirt could be seen. Her feet had a pair of wooden geta. Even for casual dress she looked more like she was ready to go to a slumber party. The nine year old entered and looked around at all of the strange people eating. The Hostess approached her, leaning forward a little bit so that she could face Komora a little bit better.

”Umm… Hello. What can I do for you?” Komora didn’t answer the woman. She just pointed over at a table that had several people already sitting down at it. They had already been served their food and seemed to be having a good time. Oh, is that your family? Okay go ahead then. The hostess told her. Komora hadn’t really been waiting for permission, but when she looked up at the hostess she realized that the woman wasn’t really understanding what she wanted, so she was done talking to her anyway.

She promptly walked up to the table of the family. All of them one by one fell silent and looked at her in confusion. Komora giggled at them, adding to their confusion. ”Look!” She pulled up her shirt and stuck a hand up into her shirt. When she withdrew she had a handful of kunai. ”Look what Komora can do!” Komora began to juggle the blades. The parents of the family began to look extremely nervous as they pulled their kids as far into the booth as possible. They gazed about wildly looking for a waiter to give them some assistance.

”Ex-cuse me!” Called out the maternal figure of the family. ”This girl seems lost - could you perhaps help her?” She asked. The waitress looked at Komora with a concerned look, knowing that it was her duty to help her customers she tried to approach the juggling girl.

”Miss? Where is your family?” She asked.

Komora’s frustration was that she often couldn’t understand what people were asking her even when it was something plain and simple. Komora had fallen quiet not sure what she should say. This is of course when the Waitress had decided to grab Komora’s arm. ”No!!” She shouted. With her arm limited a pair of knives clattered against the ground. One of the sharp blades dug knicked the side of her foot. ”No! You hurt Komora!” She huffed angrily. She probably looked threatening with a kunai in her hand as she turned slowly to face the waitress with a look of fury.

The waitress took a step back clearly intimidated by the knife wielding girl. ”You hurt her. Why would you hurt her...” She curled into a ball and began to sob.She clearly had the attention of the entire Restaurant.

 

[Sugawara Hikari]

”Are you ready honey? called out a tender but bass-laden voice.

”Almost! Give me another minute! squeaked a significantly younger and girlier voice. Inside of a room nearly swallowed by towers of books, was a diminutive young girl busy tossing things out of a closet. She normally relished the weekends because it allowed her to crawl under a blanket with her pet hedgehog and read, but this weekend her parents insisted on a family outing to the livelier side of town. All the groaning in the world couldn’t keep Hikari’s parents from forcing her to change out of her pajamas and dressing up. Now, the practical but slightly cute dresser obsessed about what she would wear. She tossed a number of currently impracticable thick woolen coats, splendidly colored leggings, and increasingly out of fashion shoes until she gave up and fell into a pile of books.

A slightly younger than middle-aged woman peeked into the room. She near-winced at the sight before letting out a sigh of exasperation. ”You’re not anywhere near ready, are you? she asked with slightly desperation. ”All right, get over here.” Hikari normally fought with her mother as to what to wear, but she felt particular drained of energy this particular night and surrendered herself to the inevitable style. A couple of fastidious minutes later, Hikari was outfitted with a vanilla fuzzy sweater slightly too large for her, a black long-arm shirt underneath, a white long scarf, a skirt that was long enough to be appropriate but short enough to avoid appearing matronly (just because she’s a mom doesn’t mean she is completely uncool), black and white striped leggings, and simple girl’s dress shoes. If Hikari didn’t groan, it was only because her face gave it away. Regardless, her mother shooed her out of her room so they could finally leave.

The family went to the Susukino District. Although the district had the reputation for being the seediest of Kumogakure’s avenues, but it had a hidden benefit. Seedy reputations lead to lower rent prices and as a result, a more interesting selection of experimental stores, theaters, and stores. The bearded man with kind eyes held the hand of his youngest daughter as they walked through the brightly lit streets alive with merchants, rambunctious performers, and splendid decorations. ”Satome told me that there was a theater with a really funny play somewhere around here. You’ll love it.

Yet his cheery assurances did little to sway the moody pre-teen from the totally lame family outing. They walked a bit further until Hikari got a glimpse of an old lady selling a bunch of beauty wares. ”You there, pretty girl. How would you like to try some lip gloss? Hikari stopped out of curiosity. Her mother didn’t approve of any talk of make up, but as she got older she couldn’t deny she was at least mildly curious about what she should wear. It didn’t take long for Hikari’s astute mother to notice her fussy cub had dragged a little too long and turned back to see Hikari at the merchant’s stand. Hikari’s mother was about to say something when Hikari’s father approached and whispered something to her. Her mother looked a bit fretful and borderline look like she would disapprove, but decided to heed her husband’s advice. ”We’ll be at the Akiyama Theater. Don’t take long!” The young girl nodded as she yelled out ”ok!”

Hikari spent a small time at the stand looking through the various colors the merchant had. The older lady kept recommending the garish colors of her youth and insisted on having Hikari try it (and Hikari was far too polite to reject her outright even though the older lady said she looked fabulous). After trying out about eight different colors, Hikari settled for a light pink color which brought out the natural fullness of her lips without making it too glaringly obvious that she was wearing something. Having paid the 1,200 yen requested by the older lady, she started walking in the direction of the theater. However, truth be told, she wasn’t exactly rushing as she took the opportunity to meander and catch the sights. Even though she wasn’t too far off from becoming a genin, her parents didn’t approve of her wandering the Susukino District by herself. She only ever caught glimpses of the wonders when they went out or when she happened to pass by. Hikari almost couldn’t bear the giddiness as she walked around.

Half an hour later, after looking through a bookstore and watching an artist paint for a bit, she began walking towards the Akiyama Theater, albeit lazily as if the writer had simply decided to get to the point. However, as she was passing a strange restaurant (one that her father had said had given him heartburn during a work outing), she heard a strange commotion. Out of curiosity, she stood on her tippy-toes to see if she could see anything in the restaurant from the street. Hikari caught the glimpse of a particularly wild child that had begun sobbing while two waitresses stood around fretting about what to do. Hikari had no idea that the child had earlier thought it was a great idea to play with knives around strangers but the big sister in her didn’t exactly feel right about just not doing anything. She let out a small groan before she paced into the restaurant.

Hikari rushed in quickly before she spoke, ”There you are! I thought I lost you.” She calmly walked over to the sobbing child before she took out a hanky and used it to wipe away the girl’s tears. Hikari turned around and bowed to the two waitresses. ”I’m so sorry. I should have kept a better eye on her. I hope she didn’t cause too much trouble.” Hikari tried to smile sweetly although her face although she was unable to avoid giving a tinge of nervousness. She tried to stand in front of the hopefully calming down but who the hell knows what’s up with her little girl.

 

[Shinrya Riko]

”There you are! I thought I lost you.” Komora didn’t protest when a complete stranger began to dab her tears with a napkin. The stranger bowed to the waitresses ”I’m so sorry. I should have kept a better eye on her. I hope she didn’t cause too much trouble.” Komora sniffled as she looked up, She still had a kunai embedded into the side of her foot, with the point stuck in her geta. ”She hurt Komora.” Komora tugged on the stranger’s clothes from her position on the ground. She is hurt! Komora pointed at the kunai slicing into the delicate flesh of her foot. She reached down and nonchalatnly pulled out the kunai. Blood began to ooze from the fresh cut. It spilt onto her geta befor cascading to the ground. ”Komora is hurt!” She sounded more scared than in pain now. A small puddle was forming on the ground, and Komora was managing to get blood all over herself. The maternal figure at the table held her hands over her children’s eyes.

Komora sniffled and calmed her breathing for a moment. She put pressure on the cut and forced the seem to close. Her hands were covered in red now as she withdrew them looking at the delicate cut that had already somehow managed to coagulate and seal itself. It seemed that from all of her times getting hurt with her own weapons her body had gained something of a healing factor.

”Ah well...” One of the waitresses began. She fidgeted like she didn’t know what to say. Then a man approached the table. He wore an apron similar to the waitresses, but he also had an air of authority. ”Its fine. Just take her out of here and we won’t press charges. Please leave. You’re disturbing our guests.” While he spoke Komora fetched her other Kunai from the ground. She now had a kunai held in each hand and one in her foot. Somehow the kunai’s disappeared into the baggy shirt. The man leaned to one of the waitresses ”Get a mop.” He then looked at the guests at the table. ”I am so sorry for all of this. Your dinner is on the house.” He tried to placate his guests.

 

[Sugawara Hikari]

O-oh.

She wasn’t exactly sure how to react to the small fountain of blood that spurted out from the seemingly named Komora’s tiny foot. Although the language-challenged girl had apparently healed herself, Hikari wasn’t exactly convinced that the proper protocol for closing and sterilizing wounds as delineated in Kumogakurian Emergency Practitioner’s Manual #31 was followed. After Hikari was told to take the girl away, she turned back to the tiny girl wondering whether it was safe (and sanitary) to move her. Typically, when one of her siblings got injured, she would administer first aid (albeit usually they didn’t stab their own feet with kunais). However, she didn’t believe that she had the necessary skills to address this kind of injury. With a resigned sigh of a person acting with a responsibility beyond their years, she scooped the wild child into her arms, regardless of any protest, and slowly walked out of the restaurant.

It didn’t take long for Hikari to realize that this was a Sisyphean task at best. Hikari was a tiny thing. She weighed roughly 78 pounds soaking wet. Although her body was firm from her physical training at the academy and she was stronger than the average person would suspect, she was definitely not used to carrying the entire weight of someone over half of her size. She rushed to gently put Komora down after she felt her knees started to buckle. Hikari used the same handkerchief to wipe away the few beads of sweat on her forehead before she sat down on the sidewalk.

She looked towards the wild child. Hikari wasn’t exactly sure what to make of her. Underneath the spots of dirt was a poorly groomed blonde child in quite an unorthodox garment. Hikari gave a slight frown mixed with disapproval and resignation before she spoke. ”You’re lucky I passed by when I did, it didn’t look like they were too happy.” She took a look at the bloodied but healed foot for a second before she got an idea. The bookish girl extended her handkerchief and placed it under the Komora’s foot. She then gently wrapped it around her foot before tying it in a snug, but hopefully not too painful knot. ”That’ll do until we can get someone to look at it.”

She stood up to look around. Komora and Hikari were in the midsts of the brightly light Susukino District. Lights glared at them from every angle as they tried to advertise every product under the sun. The voices of merchants hollering at pedestrians mixed with those of loud drunks, loose women, and a symphony of pachinko parlors. The whole thing almost made her feel dizzy. Yet she couldn’t help but feel a thrill of being in the midst of it all. She almost felt like she wanted to run through the streets filled with happy people chattering away with each other, men playing street games, and boys dancing to impromptu street performances. She pushed the urges deep down as she turned back to bloody girl.

”My name is Hikari. Are you ok?”

 

[Shinrya Riko]

The Escape was at hand. Hikari had scooped up the youngest Mochizuki in a bridal carry and promptly walked out the door. It seemed to Komora that Hikari was stomping, but it may have been because of their combined weight her steps sounded so much heavier. The door opened and the small bell near the top chimed to let all the restaurant know that the hurricane that had somehow ended up inside of their shop had passed. Peace at last. Komora could feel the weakness in Hikari’s knees even if she wasn’t able to see it. She was placed down on her feet again. You’re lucky I passed by when I did, it didn’t look like they were too happy.”” Hikari knelt. Komora put a figure to her lips as she watched with a quizical express at the life saving handkerchief operation that the girl was performing on her foot. ”That’ll do until we can get someone to look at it.” Komora let out a brief yelp as the knot of the handkerchief became taut.

She squatted down and began to poke the impromptu bandage on her foot. ”My name is Hikari, are you ok?” the girl introduced herself. Komora straightened to her full height. Internally she struggled with herself as she tried to find the proper response for what to say. She tried to study Hikari’s features, but she felt like her expression was like sand slipping through her fingers. It was a useless struggle to read. Of course she knew what she wanted to say, but that isn’t what came out of her mouth. ”S-she likes kunai.”

No. That wasn’t the right thing, although it was easiest. What had Chou said about situations like this? Just breath and organize her thoughts? Something like that. Komora gripped the kunai still in her hands tightly. She suddenly began to spin them by the rings, one on each hand. The whirring was very relaxing, and the order to the way they moved felt like it helped the puzzle pieces in her brain fall into place. She caught both blades. ”M-my n-name is K-Komora.” She struggled to say. There were thousands of words that had threatened to spill from her mouth, but she had managed to keep herself centered on the right words.

She gave an awkward smile as she stood covered in her own blood, with a bandage on her foot. ”Oh my god!” A woman halted in her place. She then ran across the street, where she looked at the dual wielding knife girl covered in blood. ”Somebody call the police!” The woman’s words seemed to be drawing the attention of the people of the district to the blood covered Komora. She pointed her kunai at the woman and then flipped the into the air to juggle the blades again. The little girl wasn’t sure what she was trying to do, but it wasn’t helping. The woman broke from her petrification and straight out ran down the street.

Disappointed, Komora caught her kunai one by one. With three kunai in one hand she looked up at the sky as she thought about what she was supposed to do now.

 

[Sugawara Hikari]

The tiny girl opened her eyes wide at the sight of the woman freaking out. Her mouth flustered with the million responses that would have explained everything if she had the good sense to speak up. Her endocrine system flared up. Fight! Hikari looked around at the throng of people that seemed to be surrounding them (or maybe it was just in her mind). Somehow, the idea of fight was becoming less appealing as she started to realistically gauge her odds. Flight! The bespectacled girl grabbed the bloodied Komora and tossed her over her shoulder. Hikari didn’t know how far they ran. Through the long night, they ran past shops, the neon signs of the red-light district, and various occult bookshops that tended to appear only during full moons. It was only after Hikari finally ran out of breath did she stop and put the bloody girl down. Once again, she collapsed before looking around her. A quick observation revealed that she really needed to work out more.

”She’s right over there! Someone stop them before they get away!,” said the woman who had halted in her place.

Hikari audibly groaned as she grabbed Komora’s hand and began running again.

 

[Shinrya Riko]

After being carried for Miles by Hikari, and running a distance that felt like it had lasted for over a month, Komora decided that it was perhaps her turn. She swung about and tossed Hikari over her shoulders and began to run. She wasn’t sure where she was going, but even given her small size she was very strong and agile. It wasn’t long before they lost all hints of their pursuers. Reaching some where that managed to be both the middle of no where and in middle of everything at the same time, Komora finally put Hikari down.She held up Hikari’s hand and forced her to give her a high five. She then would let Hikari’s hand fall back down to her ide like a limp doll. The street lights were in full strength now. Lights beamed from the windows and filled the chilly night air with a kind of magic that Komora could almost ride on, yet it was also a very important reminder. It was dark and thus Komora needed to go home now.

”Komora must leave now.” She explained. It seemed that her foot had mostly healed, although the red stains hadn’t managed to leave her clothes yet. ”Komora wants you to come to her house someday! You have to! She wants you to!” She explained before running off into the throng of people wandering around the district still. Like a strange little street urchin she seemed suited to a life running around and scurrying beneath the heavy foot steps of the common folk.

Komora was Komora.

[exit]